DR. PULLER'S
WORTHIES OF ENGLAND,
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. in.
PRINTED BY NUTTALL AND HODGSON,
SQUARE, LONDON.
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
WORTHIES OF ENGLAND:
BY
THOMAS FULLER, D.D.
AUTHOR OF " ABEL REDIVIVUS," " THK CHURCH HISTORY OF BRITAIN," &C.
A NEW EDITION,
CONTAINING BKIKF NOTICKS OF THE MOST CELKBRATKU WORTHIES OF ENGLAND wno
HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE THK TI.MB OF FULLER;
\VITH EXPLANATORY NOTES AND COPJOUS INDEXES.
BY P. AUSTIN NUTTALL, LL.D.
AUTHOR OF THE ' CLASSICAL AND ARCH^JOLOGICAL DICTIONARY}"
TRANSLATOR OF HORACJJ, JUVENAL, &C.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. III.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG, 73, CHEAPSIDE.
M.UCCC.XL.
DR
Qg
pa
CONTENTS.
VOL. III.
OXFORDSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. l. Natural Commodities: Fallow Deer, Parks, Wood, l, 2.
Buildings : Oxford University, the Library, 2-4 Proverbs, 5-7. Princes :
Richard son of Hen. II., Edmund son of Edw. I., Edward and Thomas sons of
Edw. III., Anne Beauchamp, 8-10 Saints: St. Frideswide, St. Ed wold, St.
Edward the Confessor, 10, 11 Cardinals: Robert Pullen, Thomas Joyce, 12.
Prelates : Herbert Losing, Owen Oglethorp, John Underbill, John Bancroft,
13,14= Statesmen: Sir Dudley Carleton, 15 Soldiers: of the Norrises and
Knowlls ; Henry Lord Norris, Sir Francis Knbwlls, Sir John Norris, 15-18.
Writers : John Hanvile, John of Oxford, Robert Bacon, Robert of Oxford,
Jeffrey Chaucer, Tho. Lydgate, Sir Rich. Baker, Wm. Whateley, John Balle,
Wm. Chillingworth, Dr. Daniel Featley, John White, 19-24 Benefactors:
Tho. Tisdall, 25 Memorable Persons : Anne Greene, 26. Lord Mayors :
Gentry, ib. List of Sheriffs ; with notices of Wm. Taverner, Robt. Doyle, Wm.
Clarke, Rich. Fiennes, Rich. Wenman, 31-35. The Farewell, 35 Worthies
since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County, 35, 36.
RUTLANDSHIRE.
Etymology, &c. 37. Buildings : Burgley on the Hill, ib. Wonders : Proverbs,
38 Saints : St. Tibba, i6. Benefactors : Wm. Browne, John Harrington, 39,
40 Memorable Persons: .... Jeffrey, 40. Gentry, 41. List of Sheriffs;
with notices of Christ. Browne, 42-50 The Farewell, 51 Worthies since the
time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County, ib.
SHROPSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. : Natural Commodities : Iron, Coal, 52 Manufactures : Build-
ings, 53 Medicinal Waters : Spring at Pitchford, ib. Proverbs: Princes:
Rich. Plantagenet, 54. Saints : St. Milburgh, St. Oswald, 55. Confessor's :
Tho. Gataker, 56 Prelates : Robt. of Shrewsbury, Robt. Burnel, Walter de
Wenlock, Ralph of Shrewsbury, Robt. Mascal, Rich. Talbote, Geo. Day, Wm.
Day, 56-60 Statesmen: Sir Tho. Bromley, Sir Clement Edmonds, 60, 61.
VOL. III. b
i CONTENTS.
Capital Judges: Edm. Plowden, Sir John Walter, Edw. Littleton, 61, 62
Soldiers: Sir John Talbot, Sir John Talbot, jun. 62, 63 Writers: Robert
of Shrewsbury, David of Chirbury, Robt. Langeland, Thos. Churchyard, Dr.
Thos. Holland, Abraham Whelock, 63-66 Benefactors: Sir Roger Achley,
Sir Rowland Hill, Sir Thos. Adams, Wm. Adams, 66-67. Memorable Persons :
Thos. Parre, 68. Lord Mayors, 68, 69. Gentry, 69. List of Sheriffs ;
with notices of Nicholas de Sandford, John Cornwall, Roger Kinaston, Thos.
Mitton, Gilb. Talbot, Roger Owen, Rowland Cotton, Rich. Newport, 70-82
The Farewell, 82. Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the
County, 82-84.
SOMERSETSHIRE.
Boundaries, Etymology, &c. 85. Natural Commodities : Lead, Lapis Calaminaris,
Cheese, Woad, Mastiffs, 85-87. Manufactures: Taunton Serges, 88 Build-
ings : Bath Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Montague House, Hinton St. George
House, 88-90. Wonders: Wockley Hole, 90. Medicinal Waters: Springs at
Bath, ib. Proverbs, 91, 92. Saints : St. Dunstan, 92. Martyrs : John Hooper,
ib Prelates : Joceline of Wells, Fulke of Samford, John of Samford, Thos.
Beckinton, Rich. Fitz-James, 93-95. Statesmen : Sir Amias Poulett. 96.
Capital Judges : Sir John Fitz-James, Sir John Portman, Sir David Brooke,
Sir Jas. Dyer, Sir John Popham, 96-98 Soldiers : John Baron Courcy, Mat-
thew Gournay, 99, 100 Seamen: Sir Amias Preston, ib. Writers: Gildas,
Maurice Somerset, Alex, of Essebie, Adamus de Marisco, Hen. Cuffe, Sir John
Harrington, Saml. Daniel, Humphry Sidenham, John Gibbon, Robt. Person,
John Fen, John Collington, 101-106. Benefactors : Lady Mohun, Nich. Wad-
ham, Philip Biss, 106, 107. Memorable Persons : Sir John Champneis, Tho.
Coriat, 108 Lord Mayors, 109 List of Sheriffs ; with notices of John Paulet,
109-112 Modern Battles: at Martial's Elm, at Langport, 112 The Fare-
well, 113.
BRISTOL.
Etymology, Situation, &c. 113. Natural Commodities: Diamonds, ib. Manufac-
tures : Gray Soap, 1 14. Buildings : Ratcliffe Church, 1 15. Medicinal Waters :
St. Vincent's Well, ib. Proverbs, ib. Martyrs : Rich. Sharpe, Tho. Benion,
Tho. Hale, 116 Prelates: Ralph of Bristol, Tobias Matthew, ib. Seamen:
Hugh Eliot, ib Writers : Tho. Norton, John Spine, John of Milverton, Wm.
Grocine, John Fowler, 117-119. Benefactors : Robt. Thorn, Mary Dale, Dr.
Tho. White, 119, 120._Lord Mayors : The Farewell, 121.
Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County, 121-123.
STAFFORDSHIRE.
Boundaries, Fertility, &c. 124 Natural Commodities : Alabaster, ib Manufac-
tures : Nails, 125 Buildings: Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield Close, Tutbury
Castle, Dudley Castle, 125-127. Proverbs, 127 Saints: St. Bertelin, St.Wol-
fadus, St. Ruffinus, 128 Cardinals: Reginald Pole, ib. Prelates : Edm. Staf-
ford, Wm. Dudley, Edm. Audley, 130, 131. Lawyers : Sir Thos. Littleton, Edm.
Dudley, Sir Thos. Bromley, 131-133. Soldiers: John Bromley, John Dudley,
theBagnols, 133, 134 Seamen: Wm. Minors, 135 Writers: John Stafford,
Wm. de Lichfield, Robt. Whittington, Hen. Stafford, Sampson Erdeswicke,
Tho. Allen, Wm. and Robt. Burton, Edw. Leigh, Elias Ashmole, Dr. John
Lightfoot, Dr. Wm. Gifford, 135-138. Benefactors : Marten Noel, 139
I
CONTENTS. Vll
Memorable Persons: Tho. Tarlton, John Sands, Walter Parsons, 139, 140.
Lord Mayors: Gentry, 141 List of Sheriffs: with notices of Ranul. com.
Cestr. et Henr. de Aldicheleia, John de Aston, Brian Cornwal, Roger de Wir-
ley, Thos. Stanley, John Delves, Walt. Wrotesley, John Dudley, Wm. Bowyer,
143-155 Battles: at Hopton Heath, 155 The Farewell, ib. Worthies since
the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County, 156, 157.
SUFFOLK.
Boundaries, Extent, Air, 158 Natural Commodities: Cheese, Butter, ib. Manu-
factures: Clothing, 159 Buildings: Churches in Bury, Town of Bury, Long
Melford, Somerley Hall, 159, 160. Proverbs: 160, 161 Princes : Edm. Mor-
timer, 161. Saints: St. Edmund, Robt. Grosseteste, 162, 163. Martyrs:
Rowland Taylor, Robt. Samuel, 164. Cardinal: Thos. Wolsey, 165 Prelates:
Herbert Losing, Rich. Angervile, John Paschal, Simon Sudbury, Thos. Ed-
wardston, Thos. Peverel, Steph. Gardiner, John Bale, John May, John Overal,
Leonard Mawe, Ralph Brownrigg, 166-171. Statesmen: Sir Nich. Bacon, Sir
Wm. Drury, Sir Robt. Naunton, 173-175. Capital Judges : John de Metingham,
Sir John Cavendish, Sir Robt. Broke, 176, 177. Soldiers : Sir Thos. Went-
worth, 178 Seamen: Thos. Cavendish, 179. Physicians: Wm. Butler, 180
Writers : Humph. Necton, John Horminger, Thomas of Ely, Rich. Lanham,
John Kinyngham, John Lydgate, John Barnyngham, John of Bury, Thos.
Scroope, Rich. Sibs, Wm. Alablaster, Saml. Ward, John Boise, Robt. Southwel,
181-187 Benefactors: Elizabeth Countess of Ulster, Sir Simon Eyre, Thos.
Spring, Wm. Coppinger, Sir Wm. Cordal, Sir Robt. Hicham, 187-189. Memo-
rable Persons : John Cavendish, Sir Thos. Cook, Sir'Wm. Capel, 189-190 Lord
Mayors, 191. List of Sheriffs ; with notices of John Higham, Robt. Jermin,
Nich. Bacon, Thos. Crofts, Simonds Dewes, 192-195. The Farewell, 196.
Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County, 196-198.
SURREY.
Boundaries and Soil, 199. Natural Commodities : Fuller's Earth, Wall-nuts, Box,
198-200. Manufactures: Gardening, Tapestry, 200,201. Buildings: Richmond
Palace, None-such Palace, 202 Medicinal Waters : Ebsham, 203. Wonders :
The Swallow, Subterranean Castle, 203-204. Proverbs, 204. Princes: Henry son
of Henry VIII., Henry son of Charles I., ib Martyrs, 206 Confessors : Lady
Eleanor Cobham, ib Prelates: Nicholas of Fernham, Walter de Merton, Thos.
Cranley, Nich. West, John Parkhurst, Thos. Ravis, Robt. Abbot, Geo. Abbot,
Rich. Corbet, 206-21 1 Statesmen : Thos. Cromwel,Wm. Howard, Chas. Howard,
206-211 Seamen: Sir Robt. Dudley, 212. Writers : Nich. Ockham,Wm. Ock-
ham, John Holbrook, (*eo. Ripley, Dr. Hen. Hammond, Nich. Sanders, 213-
216 Benefactors : Henry Smith, 217. Memorable Persons : Eliz. Weston, ib.
Gentry, 218-220. List of Sheriffs; with notices of Hilarius Episcopus Chiches-
ter, Family of the Sacvils, John Ashburnham, John Lewkenor, Matth. Brown,
Nich. Carew, Thos. Garden, Sir Geo. Goring, 220-235 To the Reader, 235.
The Farewell, 236. Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the
County, 236, 237.
SUSSEX.
Boundaries, Fertility, &c. 238 Natural Commodities : Iron, Talc, Wheat-ears,
ii CONTENTS.
Carps, 239, 240. Manufactures : Great Guns, Glass, 241, 242 Buildings:
Chichester Cathedral, Arundel Castle, Petworth House, 242, 243. Wonders :
Proverbs, 243. Martyrs, 244. Cardinals : Herbert de Bosham, ib. Prelates :
John Peckham, Robt. Winchelsey, Tho. Bradwardine, Tho. Arundell, Hen. Bur-
wash, Wm. Barlow, Wm. Juxon, Acceptus Frewen, 245-250 Statesmen :
Tho. Sackvill, 251. Capital Judges: Sir J. Jeffry Soldiers: the Abbot of
Battle, Sir Wm. Pelham, Sir Anthony Shirley, Sir Robt. Shirley, Sir Tho.
Shirley, 252-255 Physicians : Nich. Hostresham, 256. Writers : Laurence
Somercote, John Driton, John Winchelsey, Wm. Pemble, Tho. Chune, Tho. May,
John Selden, Gregory Martine, Tho. Stapleton, 256-261. Benefactors: Rich.
Sackvill, "262 Memorable Persons: John, Hen., and Tho; Palmer, Leonard
Mascall, Wm. Withers, 262, 263. Gentry, 263 List of Sheriffs, 264, 265.
The Farewell, 265. Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to
the County, 266.
WARWICKSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. 267 Natural Commodities: Sheep, Ash, Coal, 267, 268 Build-
ings : Churches of Coventry, St. Mary's in Warwick, Kenilworth Castle, Cross
of Coventry, 268, 269. Wonders : Leamington Springs, 270. Medicinal Wa-
ters : Spring at Newnham Regis, ib. Proverbs, 270, 271. Princes : Anne Nevill,
Edw. Plantagenet, 272, 273 Saints: St. Wolstan, 274 Martyrs: Laurence
Sanders, Robt. Glover, Cornelius Bongey, John Carles, Julius Palmer, 275.
Confessors: John Glover, ib Cardinals: Wm. Maklesfield, Pet. Petow, 275.
276. Prelates : John Stratford, Ralph Stratford, Robt. Stratford, John
Vesty, John Bird, 276-279. Statesmen : Sir Nich. Throckmorton, Sir Edw.
Conway, John Lord Digby, 280, 281 Writers : Walter of Coventry, Vincent of
Coventry, John of Killingworth, William of Coventry, John Rouse, Wm. Per-
kins, Dr. Tho. Drax, Wm. Shakspeare, Mich. Drayton, Sir Fulke Grevil, Nich.
Byfield, Dr. Philemon Holland, Francis Holyoake, Jas. Cranford, Wm. Bishop,
281-289. Benefactors: Hugh Clopton, John Hales, John Lord Harrington.
290. Memorable Persons : Tho. Underbill, 291 Lord Mayors: Gentry, 292.
List of Sheriffs ; with notices of An. Shugburgh, Rich. Verney, Fran. Leigh,
Sim. Archer, Tho. Leigh, 293-297 Battle of Edgehill, 297 The Farewell,
298. Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County,
298-300.
WESTMORELAND.
Boundaries, Sterility, &c. 301. Manufactures : Kendal Cottons, 302 Proverbs,
ib Princes: Kath. Parr, ib. Cardinals : Christ. Bambridge, 303. Prelates :
Tho. Vipont, John de Kirkby, Tho. de Appleby, Rog. de Appleby, Wm. of
Strickland, Nich. Close, Hugh Coren, Barnaby Potter, 303-306. Statesmen :
Sir Edw. Bellingham, 306 Writers: Rich. Kendal, Bernard Gilpin, Rich.
Mulcaster, Dr. Christ. Potter, 307-309 Benefactors: Dr. Robt. Langton,
Dr. Miles Spencer, Anne Clyfford, 309, 310. Memorable Persons: Rich.
Gilpin, 310. Lord Mayor, 311. Sheriffs: Robt. de Vipont, ib The Fare-
well, ib. Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County,
312, 313,
WILTSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c, 3 14. Natural Commodities : Wool, #. Manufactures : Clothing,
CONTENTS. IX
Tobacco-pipes, 314, 315. Buildings: Salisbury Cathedral, 316. Wonders:
Stonehenge, Knot-grass, 317,318 Proverbs, 319- Princes: Marg. Planta-
genet, Jane Seymour, 319, 320. Saints: St. Adelme, St. Edith, 320, 321
Martyrs : Rich. Smart, John Spicer, Win. Coberly, John Maundrell, 321, 322.
. Confessors : John Hunt, Rich. White, Alice Coberly, 322 Cardinals : Walt.
Winterburn, Robt. Halam, 322, 323. Prelates : Johannes Sarisburiensis, Rich.
Poore, Wm. Edendon, Rich. Mayo, John Thoraeborough, John Buckbridge,
323-327 Statesmen: Edw. Seimor, Thos. Seimor, Sir Oliver St. John, Sir
James Ley, Sir Fran. Cottington, 327, 329. Capital Judges : Sir Nich. Hyde,
Edw. Hyde earl of Clarendon, 329, 330. Soldiers : Hen. d'Anvers, 330, 331
Writers : Oliver of Malmesbury, Wm. Malmesbury, Robt. Canutus, Richard of
the Devises, Godwin of Salisbury, John of Wilton, John of Wilton, jun., John
Chylmark, Dr. Thomas of Wilton, Wm. Horeman, 331-335. Masters of Music :
Wm. Lawes, 336. Benefactors: T. Stumps, 337. Memorable Persons: ....
Sutton of Salisbury, Michel, Sir James , 337, 338 Lord Mayors, 338
Gentry : LordWm.Hungerford,Wm. Westbery, Dav.Cerington, 338-340 List of
Sheriffs ; with notices of Hen. Sturmy, John Basket, Tho. Thin, Walt. Vaughan,
Fran. Seymour, 341-353 Battles : Lansdown Fight, Roundway Fight, 353, 354.
The Farewell, 354. Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to
the County, 354-357.
WORCESTERSHIRE.
Boundaries and Divisions, 358 Natural Commodities : Lampreys, Perry, Salt,
258, 359. Buildings: Worcester Cathedral, 360 Saints: St. Richard, ib
Cardinals : John Comin, Hugh of Evesham, 361, 362 Prelates : Wulstan of
Braundsford, John Lowe, Edm. Bonner, John Watson, 362-364 Statesmen :
Sir Thos. Coventry, 365 Writers on the Law : Sir Thos. Littleton, 366
Soldiers : Rich. Beauchamp earl of Warwick, 367, 368. Physicians and Che-
mists: Sir Edw. Kelley, 369. Writers : Florence of Worcester, John Wall is,
Elias de Evesham, Wm. Packington, Sir Edwin Sandys, Dr. Rich. Smith,
John Marshall, Robt. Bristow, Hen. Holland, 370-374 Masters of Music :
Walter of Evesham, 374. Benefactors: Rich. Dugard, ib Memorable Per-
sons : John Feckenham, Hen. Bright, 375, 376 Lord Mayors, 376 List of
Sheriffs ; with notices of Johannes Savage, Wm. Compton, John Russel, John
Packington, Rich. Walsh, 376-383. The Battles: Worcester Fight, 383
Panegyric on Charles II. 385-388 The Farewell, 388. Worthies since the
time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County, 389, 390.
YORKSHIRE.
Boundaries, Fertility, and Opulence, 391 Natural Commodities: Geat, Alum,
Lime, Horses, 392-394 Manufactures : Knives, Pins, 395. Medicinal Wa-
ters : Petrifying Well, St. Mungus's Well, 396, 397. Buildings : Beverley
Church, Wresel Castle, 397 Proverbs, 398 Princes : Henry son of William
duke of Normandy, Thomas son of Edward I., Richard Plantagenet duke of
York, Edward son of Richard III. 399, 400 Saints: St. Hilda, Benedict
Biscop, St. John of Beverley, Thos. Plantagenet, Rich. Role, John of Birling-
ton, Wm. Sleightholme, 401-404 Martyrs, 405 Confessors, 406: Cardinals :
John Fisher, ib Prelates : Eustathius de Fauconbridge, William de Melton,
Hen. Wakefield, Rich. Scroope, Steph. Patrington, Wm. Percy, Cuthbert Ton-
; CONTENTS.
stal, Ralph Baines, Thos. Bentham, Edm. Guest, Miles Coverdale, Adam
Loftus, Geo. Mountaine, 407-413 CapitalJudges : Sir Wm. Gascoigne, Guido
de Fairfax, Sir Rog. Cholmley, Sir Christ. Wray, 413-415 Statesmen: Sir
John Puckering, Sir Geo. Calvert, Thos. Wentworth earl of Strafford, 416-418.
Seamen : Armigel Waad, Sir Martin Frobisher, Geo. Lord Clifford, 418, 419.
Physicians: Sir Geo. Ripley, Thos. Johnson, 420-422. Writers : Alphred
of Beverley, Gulielmus Rehievailensis, Ealread abbot of Rievaulx, Walt. Da-
niel, Robert the Scribe, Peter of Ripon, William of Newborough, Rog. Hove-
den, John of Halifax, Robertus Perscrutator, Tho. Castleford, John Gower,
John Marre, Tho. Gascoigne, John Harding, Hen. Parker, Sir Fran. Bigot,
Wilfrid Holme, Tho. Roberson, Wm. Hugh, Rog. Ascham, Sir Hen. Savil, Tho.
Taylor, Nath. Shute, Josiah Shute, Geo. Sandys, John Saltmarsh, Jer. Whitacre,
422-436. Romish Exile Writers : John Young, John Mush, 436, 437. Bene-
factors : Tho. Scot, John Alcocke, 437, 438 Memorable Persons : Paulinus de
Leeds, William de la Pole, 439 Lord Mayors, ib Gentry, 440, 441. Fare-
well of the English Gentry, 441 List of Sheriffs ; with notices of Simon Ward,
Thos. de Rokeby, Thos. Rokeby, Halvatheus Maulever, Hen. Bromfleet, Edm.
Talbot, Hen. Vavasor, Radulphus Eure, Wm. Percy, Nich. Fairfax, Christ. Met-
calfe, Geo. Bowes, Robt. Stapleton, Fran. Clifford, Hen. Bellasis, Hen. Slingsby,
Geo. Savill, John Ramsden, 442-457. Battles, 457-459 The Farewell, 459.,
YORK.
Antiquity, &c. 460. Manufactures, ib Buildings : the Cathedral, ib. Proverbs,
461 Saints: Flaccus Albinus, St. Sewald, 461-463. Martyrs: Valentine
Freese, 463 Confessors : Edw. Freese, ib Prelates : John Roman, Robt.
Walbey, Thos. Morton, 464-466 Statesmen : Sir Robt. Car, 466 Writers :
John Walbye, John Erghom, Rich. Stock, 467, 468. Memorable Persons : John
Lepton, 468. Lord Mayors : the Farewell, 469.
Worthies since the time of Fuller, and Works relative to the County, 469-474.
PRINCIPALITY OF WALES.
Preface, 477 Boundaries, Division, &c. 479. The Soil, 480. Natural Com-
modities: Silver, Royal Mines, Coinage, Lead, Goats, 481.484. Manufactures :
Frieze, Cheese, Metheglen, 485,486 Buildings, -487, 488. Proverbs, 488,
489. Princes, 489. Confessors : Walt. Brute, Nich. Hereford, Phil. Reping-
ton, Reg. Peacock, 490-492 Popes : Cardinals, 492. Prelates : Marbod Evanx,
Walt, de Constantiis, Caducanus, Hugh Johnes, Dr. John Philips, 493-495
Physicians : Robt. Recorde, Thos, Phaier, Albane HiU, 496, 497. Writers :
Petrok, Gildas the Fourth, Blegabride Langauride, Salephilax the Bard, Gwalte-
rus Calenius, Gualo Brytannus, Wm. Breton, Utred Bolton, John Gwent, John
Jide, David Boys, Sir John Rhese, John Griffin, Hugh Broughton, Hugh Hol-
land, 497-503. The Farewell, 504.Works relative to the Principality and the
Counties thereof, 504, 505.
CONTENTS. XI
ANGLE SEA.
Etymology and Situation, 506 Mill-stones, ib Wonders : Subterraneous Trees,
507. Proverbs, 508. Prelates : Guidp de Mona, Arth. Bulkley, Dr. Wm. Glyn,
Rouland Merrick, Lancelot Bulkley, 508-510. Seamen: Madoc, 510. Sheriffs:
The Farewell, 511.
BRECKNOCKSHIRE.
Boundaries, Soil, &c. 512. Natural Commodities : Otters, ib Wonders: in the
Air, Mounch-denny Hill j in the Water, Mear Llynsavathan ; in the Earth,
. City of Loventrium, 513, 514 Saints: St. Keyne, St. Canoch, St. Cadock,
St. Clintanke, 514, 515 Prelates : Giles de Bruse, Thos. Howel, 515 States-
men : Hen. Stafford, 516 Memorable Persons: Nesta, id The Farewell, 517.
CARDIGANSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. 518 Natural Commodities : Beavers, ib Proverbs, 519,520
The Farewell, 520.
CARMARTHENSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c., Golden Grove, 521. Wonders : Subterranean Vaults, ib. Martyrs :
Robt. Farrar, ib Soldiers : Sir Rice ap Thomas, Walt. deDevereux, 522.524
Writers : Ambrose Merlin, 524. The Farewell, 525.
CARNARVONSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. 526. Wonders : Floating Island, ib Proverbs : Princes, 527.
Saints, 528 Statesmen: John Williams, ib. Prelates: Rich. Vaughan, Hen.
Rowlands, 528, 529. The Farewell, 529.
DENBIGHSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. 530 Natural Commodities: Amelcorne, ib, Buildings: Wrex-
ham Church. Organs; Holt Castle, 531. Prelates: Leoline, Godfrey Goodman,
531, 532. Writers : Wm. Salesbury, 533 Benefactors: Sir Thos. Exmew,
Gabriel Goodman, Sir Hugh Middleton, 533, 534. The Farewell: the New
River, 535.
FLINTSHI RE.
Etymology, Boundaries, &c. 536 Proverbs, 537 Princes: Elizabeth, ib
Saints : St. Congellus, St. Beno, St. Asaph, 537-539. Prelates : Rich. Parry,
539. Soldiers : Owen Glendower-Wye, ib Writers : Elvodugus, Dr. Meredith
Hanmer, 540 Benefactors: Rich. Clough, ib. Memorable Persons : Thos. ap
William, 541* The Farewell, ib.
GLAMORGANSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. 542. Wonders : Barrey Island, Well at Newton, ib. Civilians :
Sir Edw. Carne, 542, 543. The Farewell, 543.
MERIONETHSHIRE.
Boundaries, &c. Le Herbert, 545 Wonders : Pimble-mear, ib. Saints : St. The-
lian, 546. The Farewell, 547.
Xii CONTENTS.
MONTGOMERYSHIRE.
Boundaries, Fertility, &c. 548. Natural Commodities : Horses, ib Proverbs, 548,
549. -Writers ; Geo. Herbert, Edw. Herbert, 549, 550. Memorable Persons:
HawisGadarn, Julines Herring, 550, 551 The Farewell, 552.
PEMBROKESHIRE.
Boundaries, Produce, original Population, 553. Natural Commodities : Falcons,
ib, The Buildings : St. David's Cathedral, 553, 54. Princes : Hen. Tuthar,
554, 555 Saints : St. Justinian, 555. Writers : Giraldus Cambrensis, 555-557.
The Farewell, 557.
RADNORSHIRE.
Boundaries, Etymology, Melieneth, Raihader Gowy, 558. Princes: Prelates:
Elias de Radnor, Guilielmus de Radnor, ib. The Farewell, 559.
INDEX of SUBJECTS, contained in the three Volumes 561
INDEX of PROPER NAMES, contained in the three Volumes 566
THE
WORTHIES OF ENGLAND.
OXFORDSHIRE.
OXFORDSHIRE hath Berkshire (divided first by the Isis, then
by the Thames) on the south ; Gloucestershire on the west ;
Buckinghamshire on the east ; Warwick and Northampton-shires
on the north. It aboundeth with all things necessary for man's
life ; and I understand that hunters and falconers are no where
better pleased. Nor needeth there more pregnant proof of
plenty in this place, than that lately Oxford was for some years
together a court, a garrison, and an university ; during which
time it was well furnished with provisions on reasonable rates.
NATURAL COMMODITIES.
FALLOW DEER.
And why of these in Oxfordshire ? why not rather in North-
amptonshire, where there be the most, or in Yorkshire, where
there be the greatest, parks in England ? It is because John
Rous of Warwick telleth me, that at Woodstock in this county
was the most ancient park in the whole land, encompassed with
a stone wall by king Henry the first.
Let us premise a line or two concerning Parks ; the case, be-
fore we come to what is contained therein.
1. The word parcus appears in Varro (derived, no doubt, a
parcendo, to spare or save) for a place wherein such cattle are
preserved.
2. There is mention once or twice in Domesday-book of par-
cus* silvestris bestiarum, which proveth parks in England before
the Conquest.
3. Probably such ancient parks (to keep J. Rous in credit
and countenance) were only paled, and Woodstock the first that
was walled about.
J Camden's Britannia, in Oxfordshire.
VOL. III. B
2 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
4. Parks are since so multiplied, that there be more in Eng-
land than in all Europe besides.*
The deer therein, when living, raise the stomachs of gentle-
men with their sport ; and, when dead, allay them again with
their flesh. The fat of venison is conceived to be (but I would
not have deer-stealers hear it) of all flesh the most vigorous
nourishment, especially if attended with that essential addition
which Virgil coupleth therewith :
Implentur veteris Bacchi pinguisque ferince.
<f Old wine did their thirst allay, fat venison hunger.*'
But deer are daily diminished in England, since the gentry
are necessitated into thrift, and forced to turn their pleasure
into profit: "Jam seges est ubi parcus erat;" and, since the
sale of bucks hath become ordinary, I believe, in process of
time, the best stored park will be found in a cook^s shop in
London.
WOOD.
Plenty hereof doth, more hath, grown in this county, being
daily diminished. And indeed the woods therein are put to too
hard a task in their daily duty (viz. to find fuel and timber for
all the houses in, and many out of, the shire) ; and they cannot
hold out, if not seasonably relieved by pit- coal found here, or
sea-coal brought hither. This minds me of a passage wherein
Oxford was much concerned. When Shot-over woods (being
bestowed by king Charles the First on a person of honour) were
likely to be cut down, the university by letters laboured their
preservation ; wherein this among many other pathetical expres-
sions, " That Oxford was one of the eyes of the land, and Shot-
over woods the hair of the eyelids ; the loss whereof must needs
prejudice the sight, with too much moisture flowing therein."
This retrenched that design for the present ; but in what case
those woods stand at this day, is to me unknown.
BUILDINGS.
The colleges in Oxforjl, advantaged by the vicinity of fair
free-stone, do for the generality of their structure carry away the
credit from all in Christendom, and equal any for the largeness
of their endowments.
It is not the least part of Oxford's happiness, that a moiety
of her founders were prelates (whereas Cambridge hath but three
episcopal foundations, Peter-house, Trinity-hall, and Jesus);
who had an experimental knowledge what belonged to the ne-
cessities and conveniences of scholars, and therefore have accom-
modated them accordingly ; principally in providing them the
patronages of many good benefices, whereby the fellows of those
* Camden's Britannia, in Oxfordshire.
BUILDINGS.
colleges are plentifully maintained, after their leaving of the
university.
Of the colleges, University is the oldest, Pembroke the
youngest. Christ Church the greatest, Lincoln (by many re-
puted) the least, Magdalen the neatest, Wadham the most uni-
form, New College the strongest, and Jesus College (no fault
but its unhappiness) the poorest ; and if I knew which was the
richest, I would not tell, seeing concealment in this kind is the
safest. New College is most proper for southern, Exeter for
western, Queen's for northern, Brasen-nose for north-western
men, St. John's for Londoners, Jesus for Welshmen ; and at
other colleges almost indifferently for men of all countries.
Merton hath been most famous for schoolmen, Corpus Christi
(formerly called Trilingue Collegium) for linguists, Christ
Church for poets, All-souls for orators, New College for civi-
lians, Brasen-nose for disputants, Queen's College for metaphy-
sicians, Exeter for a late series of Regius professors ; Magdalen
for ancient, St. John's for modern, prelates ; and all eminent
in some one kind or other. And if any of these colleges were
transported into foreign parts, it would alter its kind (or degree
at least) and presently of a college proceed an university, as equal
to most, and superior to many, academies beyond the seas*
Before I conclude with these colleges, I must confess how
much I was posed with a passage which I met with in the epis-
tles of Erasmus, writing to his familiar friend Ludovicus Vives,
then residing in Oxford, in Collegia Apum, in the College offices,
according to his direction of his letter. I knew all colleges
' may metaphorically be termed the Colleges of Bees, wherein the
industrious scholars live under the rule of one master, in which
respect St. Hierome* advised Rusticus the monk to busy him-
self in making bee-hives, that from thence he might learn " mo-
nasteriorum ordinem et regiam disciplinary" (the order of mo-
nasteries and discipline of kingly government. But why any
one college should be so signally called, and which it was, I was
at a loss ; till at last seasonably satisfied that it was Corpus
Christi ; whereon no unpleasant story doth depend.
In the year 1630, the leads over Vives's study, being decayed,
were taken up, and new cast ; by which occasion the stall was
taken, and with it an incredible mass of honey-t But the bees,
as presaging their intended and imminent destruction (whereas
they were never known to have swarmed before) did that spring
(to preserve their famous -kind) send down a fair swarm into the
president's garden; the which, in the year 1633, yielded two
swarms ; one whereof pitched in the garden for the president ;
the other they sent up as- a new colony into their old habitation,
there to continue the memory of this mellifluous doctor, as the
university styled him in a letter to the cardinal.
* In Epistolst ad Rusticum monachum. f Butler, of Bees, p. 23.
B 2
WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
It seems these bees were aborigines from the first building
of the college, being called Collegium Ap urn in the founder's sta-
tutes ; and so is John Claymand, the first president thereof,
saluted by Erasmus.*
THE LIBRARY.
If the schools may be resembled to the ring, the library may
the better be compared to the diamond therein ; not so much
for the bunching forth beyond the rest, as the preciousness
thereof, in some respects equalling any in Europe, and in most
kinds exceeding all in England : yet our land hath been ever
$iXo/3t/3\oe, much given to the love of books ; and let us fleet
the cream of a few of the primest libraries in all ages.
In the infancy of Christianity, that at York bare away the
bell, founded by archbishop Egbert (and so highly praised by
Alevinus in his epistle to Charles the Great) ; but long since
abolished.
Before the dissolution of abbeys, when all cathedrals and ,
convents had their libraries, that at Ramsey was the greatest
Rabbin, spake the most and best Hebrew, abounding in Jewish
and not defective in other books.
In that age of lay-libraries (as I may term them, as belong-
ing to the city) I behold that pertaining to Guildhall as a prin-
cipal, founded by Richard Whittington, whence three cart-loads
of choice manuscripts were carried in the reign of king
Edward the Sixth, on the promise of [never performed]
restitution.f
Since the Reformation, that of Bene't in Cambridge hath for
manuscripts exceeded any (thank the cost and care of Mat-
thew Parker) collegiate library in England.
Of late, Cambridge library, augmented with the Arch-epis-
copal library of Lambeth, is grown the second in the land.
As for private libraries of subjects, that of treasurer Burleigh
was the best, for the use of a statesman, the lord LumhVs for
an historian, the late earl of Arundel's for an herald, Sir Robert
Cotton's for an antiquary, and archbishop Usher's for a
divine.
Many other excellent libraries there were of particular per-
sons : lord BrudenelPs, lord Hatton's, &c. routed by our civil
wars ; and many books which scaped the execution are fled
[transported] into France, Flanders, and other foreign parts
To return to Oxford library, which stands like Diana
amongst her nymphs, and surpasseth all the rest for rarity and
multitude of books ; so that, if any be wanting on any subject,
t is because the world doth not afford them. This library
was founded by Humphrey the good duke of Gloucester; con-
ounded, in the reign of king Edward the Sixth, by those who
*e Fato.
THE LIBRARY PROVERBS. 5
I list not to name ; re-founded by worthy Sir Thomas Bodley,
and the bounty of daily benefactors.
As for the king's houses in this county, Woodstock is justly
to be preferred, where the wood and water nymphs might
equally be pleased in its situation. Queen Elizabeth had a
great affection for this place, as one of her best remembrancers
of her condition when a prisoner here (in none of the best lodg-
ings) in the reign of her sister. Here she escaped a dangerous
fire, but whether casual or intentional God knoweth. Here,
hearing a milk-maid merrily singing in the park, she desired
exchange of estates, preferring the poorest liberty before the
richest restraint. At this day it is a fair, was formerly a fairer,
fabric, if the labyrinth built here by king Henry the Second
answered the character of curiosity given it by authors. But
long since the labyrinth (time, without the help of Ariadne's
clue of silk, can unravel and display the most intricate building)
is vanished away.
Nor must Enston hard by be forgotten ; which though some
sullen soul may recount amongst the costly trifles, the more
ingenious do behold as Art's pretty comment, as Nature's plea-
sant text ; both so intermingled, that art in some sort may seem
natural, and nature artificial therein. It was made by Thomas
Bushel, esq., sometime servant to Francis Bacon lord Verulam.
Now because men's expectations are generally tired with the
tedious growing of wood, here he set hedges of full growth,
which thrived full well, so that where the former left no plants,
the following year found trees grown to their full perfection.
In a word, a melancholy mind may here feast itself to a surfeit
with variety of entertainments. But rarities of this nature are
never sufficiently described till beheld.
PROVERBS.
" You were born at Hogs-Norton."]
This is a village, properly called Hoch-Norton, whose inha-
bitants (it seems formerly) were so rustical in their behaviour,
that boorish and clownish people are said born at j/o^s-Norton.
"To take a Burford bait."]
This it seems is a bait, not to stay the stomach but to
lose the wit thereby, as resolved at last into drunkenness. If
the fair-market of Burford in this county be so much guilty of
this foul sin, it is high time to damn the words of this pro-
verb, and higher to detest the practice thereof. Otherwise
Burford-bait may have a hook therein, to choke such souls as
swallow it, without their sincere and seasonable repentance.
" Banbury zeal, cheese, and cakes.' ]
I admire to find these joined together in so learned an
author as Mr. Camden,* affirming that town famed for these
* Britannia, in Oxfordshire, p. 376.
6 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
three things quam male convenient ! and though zeal be
deservedly put first, how inconsistent is it with his gravity and
goodness, to couple a spiritual grace with matters of coporeal
repast : so that, if spoken in earnest, it hath more of a pro-
fane than pious pen ; if in jest, more of a libeller than
historian.
But, to qualify the man, no such words are extant in the
Latin Camden ; where only we read, " Nunc autem conficiendo
caseo oppidum notissimum, castrum ostendit," &c.
Secondly, it being in the English translated by Philemon
Holland, was at the first (as I have been credibly informed) a
literal mistake of the printers' (though not confessed in the
errata) set forth in anno Domini 1608 ; zeal being put for veal
in that place.
But what casual in that, may be suspected wilful in the next
and last edition, anno 1637, where the error is continued out of
design to nick the town of Banbury, as reputed then a place
of precise people, and not over-conformable in their carriage.
Sure I am that Banbury had a gracious, learned, and painful
minister;* and this town need not be ashamed of, nor grieved
at, what scoffers say or write thereof; only let them add know-
ledge to their zeal, and then the more of zeal the better their
condition.
" He looks as the devil over Lincoln."]
Some fetch the original of this proverb from a stone picture
of the devil, which doth (or lately did) over look Lincoln Col-
lege. Surely the architect intended it no . farther than for an
ordinary antic, though beholders have since applied those ugly
looks to envious persons, repining at the prosperity of their
neighbours, and jealous to be overtopt by their vicinity,
The Latins have many proverbs parallel hereunto, to express
the ill aspects of malevolent spectators ; as " Cyclopicus obtu-
tus," and the Cyclops, we know, were deformed at the best
(envy makes a good face look ill, and a bad look worse), " Vul-
tus Titanicus," "Vultus Scythicus," " Limis oculis os oblique
inspicere," "Thynni more videre" (to look like a thuny), a
fish which, as Aristotle saith, hath but one eye, and that, as
some will have it, on the left side; so full is malice of sinis-
ter acceptions.
To return to our English proverb, it is conceived of more
antiquity than either of the fore-named colleges, though the
secondary sense thereof lighted not unhappily, and that it
related originally to the cathedral church in Lincoln, f
" Testons are gone to Oxford, J tq study in Brazen-nose."]
This proverb began about the end of the reign of king Henry
the Eighth, and happily ended about the middle of the reign
* Mr. William Whaley, of whom hereafter in this county.
t Vide supra, in Lincolnshire.
$ J. Heywood, in his Five Hundred Epigrams, num. 63.
PROVERBS. /
of queen Elizabeth ; so that it continued in use not full fifty
years.
This the occasion thereof; king Henry the Eighth, as his
in-comes, so his out-goings, were greater than any English king^s
since the Conquest. And it belongs not to me to question the
cause of either. Sure it is, as he was always taking he was
always wanting; and the shower of abbey-lands being soon over
his drought for money was as great as ever before. This made
him resolve on the debasing thereof, testons especially (a coin
worth sixpence, corruptly called tester] ; so that their intrinsic
value was not worth above three shillings and four pence the
ounce, to the present profit of the sovereign, and future loss of
the subjects. Yea, so allayed they were with copper (which
common people confound with brass), and looked so red there-
with, that (as my author saith) " they blushed for shame, as
conscious of their own corruption."*
King Edward the Sixth and queen Mary earnestly endea-
voured the reduction of money to the true standard (and indeed
the coin of their stamping is not bad in itself) ; but could not
compass the calling in of all base money, partly through the
shortness of their reigns, and partly through the difficulty of the
design. This, by politic degrees, was effected by queen Eliza-
beth, with no great prejudice to the then present age, and grand
advantage to all posterity, as is justly mentioned on her monu-
ment in Westminster.
" Send verdingales to Broad Gatesf in Oxford.' 'J]
This will acquaint us with the female habit of former ages,
used not only by the gadding Dinahs of that age but by most
sober Sarahs of the same, so cogent is a common custom.
With these verdingales the gowns of women beneath their
waists were pent-housed out far beyond their bodies ; so that
posterity will wonder to what purpose those bucklers of paste-
board were employed.
Some deduce the name from the Belgic verd-gard (derived,
they say, from virg a virgin, and garder to keep and preserve) ;
as used to secure modesty, and keep wantons at distance. Others
more truly fetch it from vertu and galle ; because the scab and
bane thereof, the first inventress thereof being known for a light
house-wife, who, under the pretence of modesty, sought to cover
her shame and the fruits of her wantonness.
These by degrees grew so great, that their wearers could not
enter (except going sidelong) at any ordinary door ; which gave
* J. Heywood, ibidem, num. 64.
f Pembroke College, in Oxford, which originally belonged to the priory of St.
Frideswide, was for a long time known by the name of Segrim, or corruptly, Segreve
Hall ; and afterwards received the name of Broad-gates, from the wide form of its
entrance, " Aula cum lataporta, or Aula Iat6 portensis." (Chalmer's History ofths
Colleges, &c. of Oxford, 1810, vol. n. p. 417.) Ed.
J J. Heywood, in his Five Hundred Epigrams, num. 63.
8 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
the occasion to this proverb. But these verdingales have been
disused this forty years ; whether because women were convinced
in their consciences of the vanity of this, or allured in their
fancies with the novelty of other fashions, I will not determine.
" C/tronica si penses, cum pvgnent Oxonienses
Post aliquot menses volat ira per Angliginenses.]
" Mark the chronicles aright,
When Oxford scholars fall to fight,
Before many months expir'd
England will with war be fir'd."]
I confess Oxonienses may import the broils betwixt the towns-
men of Oxford, or townsmen and scholars ; but I conceive it
properly to intend the contests betwixt scholars and scholars ;
which were observed predictional, as if their animosities were
the index of the volume of the land. Such who have time may
exactly trace the truth hereof through our English histories.
Sure I am, there were shrewd bickerings betwixt the southern
and northern men in Oxford in the reign of king Henry the-
Third, not long before the bloody war of the barons did begin.
The like happened twice under king Richard the Second, which
seemed to be the van-courier of the fatal fights betwixt Lan-
caster and York. However, this observation holds not nega-
tively ; all being peaceable in that place, and no broils at Ox-
ford sounding the alarum to our late civil dissensions.
PRINCES.
RICHARD, son to king Henry the Second and queen Eleanor,
was (the sixth king since the Conquest, but second native of
England) born in the city of Oxford, anno 1157- Whilst a
prince, he was undutiful to his father ; or, to qualify the matter,
over- dutiful to his mother, whose domestic quarrels he always
espoused. To expiate his offence, when king, he, with Philip
king of France, undertook a voyage to the Holy Land, where,
through the treachery or Templary cowardice of the Greeks, di-
versity of the climate, distance of the place, and differences be-
twixt Christian princes, much time was spent, a mass of money
expended, many lives lost, some honour achieved, but little
profit produced. Going to Palestine he suffered shipwreck and
many mischiefs on the coast of Cyprus ; coming for England
through Germany, he was tossed with a worse land tempest, being
(in pursuance of an old grudge betwixt them) taken prisoner by
Leopoldus duke of Austria. Yet this Caeur de Lion, or Lion-
hearted king (for so was he commonly called) was no less lion
(though now in a grate) than when at liberty, abating nothing of
his high spirit in his behaviour. The duke did not undervalue
this his royal prisoner, prizing his person at ten years' purchase,
according to the [then] yearly revenue of the English Crown.
Ihis ransom of a hundred thousand pounds being paid, he
came home; first reformed himself, and then mended many
PRINCES.
abuses in the land ; and had done more, had not an unfortunate
arrow, shot out of a besieged castle in France, put a period to
his life, anno Domini 1199.
EDMUND, youngest son to king Edward the First by queen
Margaret, was born at Woodstock, Aug 5, 1301. He was af-
terwards created earl of Kent, and was tutor to his nephew king
Edward the Third ; in whose reign falling into the tempest of
false, injurious, and wicked envy, he was beheaded, for that he
never dissembled his natural brotherly affection toward his bro-
ther deposed, and went about when he was (God wot) mur-
dered before (not knowing so much) to enlarge him out of
prison, persuaded thereunto by such as covertly practised his
destruction. He suffered at Winchester, the nineteenth of
March, in the fourth of Edward the Third.
EDWARD, eldest son of king Edward the Third, was born at
Woodstock in this county, and bred under his father (never
abler teacher met with an apter scholar) in martial discipline.
He was afterwards termed the black prince ; not so called
from his complexion, which was fair enough (save when sun-
burnt in his Spanish expedition) ; not from his conditions,
which were courteous (the constant attender of valour) ; but
from his achievements, dismal and black, as they appeared to
the eyes of his enemies, whom he constantly overcame.
But grant him black in himself, he had the fairest lady to his
wife this land and that age did afford ; viz. Joane countess of
Salisbury and Kent, which, though formerly twice a widow, was
the third time married unto him. This is she whose Garter
(which now flourisheth again) hath lasted longer than all the
wardrobes of the kings and queens in England since the Con-
quest, continued in the knighthood of that order.
This prince died, before his father, at Canterbury, in the 46th
year of his age, anno Domini 1376; whose maiden success at-
tended him to the grave, as never foiled in any undertakings.
Had he survived to old age, in all probabilities the wars between
York and Lancaster had been ended before begun; I mean,
prevented in him, being a person of merit and spirit, and in se-
niority before any suspicion of such divisions. He left two
sons ; Edward, who died at seven years of age, and Richard, af-
terwards king, second of that name ; both born in France, and
therefore not coming within the compass of our catalogue.
THOMAS of Woodstock, youngest son of king Edward the
Third and queen Philippa, was surnamed of Woodstock, from
the place of his nativity. He was afterward earl of Bucking-
ham and duke of Gloucester ; created by his nephew king Rich-
ard the Second, who summoned him to the Parliament by the
title of The King's loving Uncle. He married Isabel, one of the
10 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
co-heirs of Humphrey Bohun earl of Essex, in whose right he
became constable of England ; a dangerous place, when it met
with an unruly manager thereof.
But this Thomas was only guilty of ill-tempered loyalty,
loving the king well, but his own humours better ; rather wilful
than hurtful ; and presuming on the old maxim, " Patruus est
loco parentis," (an uncle is in the place of a father.) He ob-
served the king too nearly, and checked him too sharply ;
whereupon he was conveyed to Calais, and there strangled ; by
whose death king Richard, being freed from the causeless fear
of an uncle, became exposed to the cunning plots of his cousin
german Henry duke of Lancaster, who at last deposed him.
This Thomas founded a fair college at Fleshy in Essex, where
his body was first buried with all solemnity, and afterward
translated to Westminster.
ANNE BEAUCHAMP was born at Caversham in this county.*
Let her pass for a princess (though not formally) reductively,
seeing so much of history dependeth on her ; as,
Elevated. 1. Being daughter (and in fine sole heir) to
Richard Beauchamp, that most martial earl of Warwick. 2.
Married to Richard Nevil earl of Sarisbury and Warwick ; com-
monly called The Make-king; and may not she then, by a
courteous proportion, be termed The Make-queen ? 3. In her
own and husband's right she was possessed of one hundred and
fourteen manors in several shires. 4. Isabel, her eldest daugh-
ter, was married to George duke of Clarence ; and Anne, her
younger, to Edward prince of Wales, son of Henry the Sixth,
and afterwards to king Richard the Third.
Depressed. 1. Her husband being killed at Barnet fight, all
of her land by act of Parliament was settled on her two daugh-
ters, as if she had been dead in nature. 2. Being attainted (on
her husband's score) she was forced to fly to the Sanctuary at
Beaulieu in Hampshire. 3. Hence she got herself privately into
the north, and there lived a long time in a mean condition.
4. Her want was increased after the death of her two daugh-
ters, who may be presumed formerly to have secretly sup-
plied her.
I am not certainly informed when a full period was put by
death to these her sad calamities.
SAINTS.
St. FRIDESWIDE was born in the city of Oxford, being
daughter to Didan the duke thereof. It happened that one
Algarus, a noble young man, solicited her to yield to his lust,
from whom she miraculously escaped, he being of a sudden
struck blind.f If so, she had better success than as good a
* Dugdale, in his Illustration of Warwickshire, p 334.
t Polydore Vergil, 1. v. Histor. Breviar. sec. usum Sar
Sarum. MS. Robert Buck.
SAINTS. 11
virgin, the daughter to a greater and better father: I mean,
Thamar daughter of king David, not so strangely secured from
the lust of her brother.*
She was afterwards made abbess of a monastery, erected by
her father in the same city, which since is become part of
Christchurch, where her body lieth buried.
It happened in the first of queen Elizabeth, that the scholars
of Oxford took up the body of the wife of Peter Martyr, who
formerly had been disgracefully buried in a dunghill, and in-
terred it in the tomb with the dust of St. Frideswide. Sanders
addeth, that they wrote this inscription (which he calleth im-
pium epitaphium) : " Hie requiescit Religio cum Superstitione :f"
though, the words being capable of a favourable sense on his
side, he need not have been so angry. However, we will rub
up our old poetry, and bestow another upon them.
In lumulu fuerat Petri quce Martyris uxor,
Hie cum Frideswidh virgine jure j ace t.
Virginis intactce niliilum cum cedat konori,
Conjugis in thalamo non temerata fides,
Si sacer Angligenis cultus mutetur fat absit ! J
Ossa suum servent mutua into, locum.
" Entpmb'd with Frideswide, deem'd a sainted maid,
The wife of Peter Martyr here is laid.
And reason good, for women chaste in mind
The best of virgins come no whit behind.
Should Popery return, (which God forefend l)
Their blended dust each other would defend."
Yet was there more than eight hundred years betwixt their
several deaths ; Saint Frideswide dying anno 739, and is re-
membered in the Romish calendar on the nineteenth day of
October.
St. ED WOLD was younger brother to St. Edmund, king of the
East- Angles, so cruelly martyred ^by the Danes ; and, after his
death, that kingdom not only descended to him by right, but
also by his subjects' importunity was pressed upon him.J But
he declined both, preferring rather a solitary life and heavenly
contemplation ; in pursuance whereof, he retired to Dorchester
in this county, and to a, monastery called Corn-house therein,
where he was interred, and had in great veneration for his
reputed miracles after his death, which happened anno Do-
mini 871.
St. EDWARD the CONFESSOR was born at Islip in this
county, and became afterwards king of England, sitting on the
throne for many years, with much peace and prosperity ;
famous for the first founding of Westminster Abbey, and many
other worthy achievements.
* 2 Sam. xiii. 14. f Sanders, de Schismate Anglicana, 1. iii. p. 344.
J Gul. Malmesbury de Pont. Angl. hac die Herbert, in Fest. S. S.
Speed's Chronicle, in the Life of this King.
12 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHERE.
By Bale he is called Edvardus simplex, which may signify
either shallow or single ; but (in what sense soever he gave it)
we take it in the latter. Sole and single he lived and died, never
carnally conversing with St. Edith his queen : which is beheld
by different persons according to their different judgments
(coloured eyes make coloured objects) ; some pitying him for
defect or natural impotence ; others condemning him,, as affect-
ing singleness, for want of conjugal affection ; others applaud-
ing it, as a high piece of holiness and perfection. Sure I am,
it opened a door for foreign competitors, and occasioned the
conquest of this nation. He died anno Domini 1065, and
lieth buried -in Westminster Abbey.
CARDINALS.
[S. N.] ROBERT PULLEN, or Pullain, or Pulley, or Puley,
or Bullen, or Pully ; for thus variously is he found written.*
Thus the same name, passing many mouths, seems in some sort
to be declined into several cases ; whereas indeed it still re-
maineth one and the same word, though differently spelled and
pronounced.
In his youth he studied at Paris ; whence he came over into
England in the reign of king Henry the First, when learning
ran very low in Oxford, the university there being first much
afflicted by Harold the Dane, afterwards almost extinguished
by the cruelty of the Conqueror. Our Pullen improved his
utmost power with the king and prelates for the restoring
thereof; and, by his praying, preaching, and public reading,
gave a great advancement thereunto, f Remarkable is his cha-
racter in the Chronicle of Osney :J e( Robertus Pulenius Scrip-
turas Divinas quse in Anglia obsolverant apud Oxoniam legere
cepit," (Robert Pullen began to read at Oxford the Holy
Scriptures, which were grown t>ut of fashion in England.)
The fame of his learning commended him beyond the seas ;
and it is remarkable, that whereas it is usual with popes (in
policy) to unravel what such weaved who were before them,
three successive popes continued their love to, and increased
honours upon him : 1 . Innocent courteously sent for him to
Rome. 2. Celestine created him cardinal of St. Eusebius,
anno 1144. 3. Lucius the second made him chancellor of the
Church of Rome.
He lived at Rome in great respect ; and although the certain
date of his death cannot be collected, it happened about the
year of our Lord 1150.
[S. N.] THOMAS JOYCE, or Jorce, a Dominican, proceeded
doctor of divinity in Oxford ; and, living there, he became pro-
* Bishop Godwin, in his Catalogue of Cardinals,
t J..Bale ; et J. Pits, de Scriptoribus Britannicis.
t- Cited by Mr. Camden, in Oxfordshire.
PRELATES. 13
vincial of his order, both of England and Wales.* From this
place, without ever having any other preferment,, Pope Clement
the fifth created him cardinal of St. Sabine ; though some
conceive he wanted breadth proportionable to such an height
of dignity, having no other revenue to maintain it, cardinals
being accounted king's fellows in that age. Others admire at
the contradiction betwixt friars' profession and practice, that
persons so low should be so high, so poor so rich; which
makes the same men to suspect, that so chaste might be so
wanton.
He is remarkable on this account, that he had six brethren
all Dominicans.t I will not listen to their comparison, who
resemble them to the seven sons of Sceva,J which were exor-
cists ; but may term them a week of brethren, whereof this
rubricated cardinal was the Dominical letter. There want not
those who conceive great virtue in the youngest son of these
seven, and that his touch was able to cure the Pope's evil. This
Thomas, as he had for the most time lived in Oxford, so his
corpse by his own desire was buried in his convent therein.
He flourished anno Domini 1310.
PRELATES.
HERBERT LOSING was born in Oxford, his father being an,
abbot, seeing wives in that age were not forbidden the clergy ;
though possibly his father turned abbot of Winchester in his
old age, his son purchasing that preferment for him. But this
Herbert bought a better for himself, giving nineteen hundred
pounds to king William Rufus for the bishopric of Thetford,
Hence the verse was made,
" Filius est praesul, pater abbas, Simon uterque ; "
meaning that both of them were guilty of simony, a fashionable
sin in the reign of that king, preferring more for their gifts
than their endowments.
Reader, pardon a digression. I am confident there is one,
and but one, sin frequent in the former age, both with clergy
and laity, which in our days our land is not guilty of, and may
find many compurgators of her innocence therein ; I mean the
sin of simony : seeing none in our age will give anything for
church-livings ; partly because the persons presented thereunto
have no assurance to keep them, partly because of the uncer-
tainty of tithes for their maintenance. But whether this our
age hath not added in sacrilege what it wanteth in simony,
is above my place to discuss, and more above my power to
decide.
To return to our Herbert, whose character hitherto cannot
entitle him to any room in our Catalogue of WORTHIES ; but
* Bale, de Scriptoribus Rritannicis, Cent iv. num. 89 ; and Pits, in anno 1311.
f Idem, ut prius. J Acts xix. 14.
Godwin's Catalogue of the Bisbops of Norwich, p. 481.
14 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE,
know that afterwards he went to Rome (no such clean washing
as in the water of Tiber), and thence returned as free from
fault as when first born. Thus cleansed from the leprosy of
simony, he came back into England, removed his bishopric from
Thetford to Norwich, laid the first stone, and in effect finished
the fair cathedral therein, and built five beautiful parish
churches. He died anno Domini 1119. See more of his cha-
racter, on just occasion, in Suffolk, under the title of Prelates.
[AMP.] OWEN OGLETHORP was*(saith my author)* born
of good parentage ; and, I conjecture, a native of this county,
finding Owen Oglethorp his kinsman twice high-sheriff thereof
in the reign of queen Elizabeth. He was president of Mag-
dalen College in Oxford, dean of Windsor, and at last made
bishop of Carlisle by queen Mary. A good-natured man, and
when single by himself very pliable to please queen Elizabeth,
whom he crowned queen, which the rest of his order refused to
do : but, when in conjunction with other popish bishops, such
principles of stubbornness were distilled unto him, that it cost
him his deprivation. However, an authorf tells me, that the
queen had still a favour for him, intending his restitution either
to his own or a better bishopric, upon the promise of his gene-
ral conformity, had he not died suddenly, of an apoplexy, 1559.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
JOHN UNDERBILL, was born in the city of Oxford ;J first
bred in New College, and afterwards rector of Lincoln College
in that university ; chaplain to queen Elizabeth, and esteemed
a good preacher in those days.
The bishopric of Oxford had now been void twenty-two
years ; and some suspected that so long a vacancy would at last
terminate in a nullity, and that see be dissolved. The cause
that church was so long a widow was the want of a competent
estate to prefer her. At last the queen, 1589, appointed John
Underhill bishop thereof. An ingenious pen (but whose
accusative suggestions are not always to be believed) hinteth a
suspicion, as if he gave part of the little portion this church had
to a great courtier, which made the match betwixt them. He
died 1592 ; and lieth buried in the middle choir of Christ's
Church.
JOHN BANCROFT was born at Ascot in this county; and
was advanced, by archbishop Bancroft his uncle, from a student
in Christ Church, to be master of University- college in Oxford.
Here it cost him much pains and expense in a long suit to reco-
* Bishop Godwin, in his Bishops of Carlisle.
f Sir John Harrington, in his Addition to Bishop Godwin.
J Register of New College, anno 1563.
Sir John Harrington, in the Bishops of Oxford.
STATESMEN SOLDIERS. 15
ver and settle the ancient lands of that foundation. Afterwards
he was made bishop of Oxford ; and, during his sitting in that
see, he renewed no leases, but let them run out for the advan-
tage of his successor. He obtained the royalty of Shot-over
for, and annexed the vicarage of Cudsden to, his bishopric ;
where he built a fair palace and a chapel, expending on both
about three thousand five hundred pounds ; " cujus munificentice
(said the Oxford orator of him to the king at Woodstock) debe-
mus, quod incerti laris mitra surrexerit e pulvere in Palatium."
But now, by a retrograde motion, that fair building " e Palatio
recidit in pulverem," being burned down to the ground in the
late wars ; but for what advantage, as I do not know, so I list
not to inquire. This bishop died anno Domini 1640.
STATESMEN.
Sir DUDLEY CARLETON, Knight, was born in this county ;
bred a student in Christ Chufch in Oxford. He afterwards was
related as a secretary to Sir Ralph Winwood, ambassador in the
Low-Countries, when king James resigned the cautionary towns
to the states. Here he added so great experience to his former
learning, that afterwards our king employed him for twenty
years together ambassador in Venice, Savoy, and the United
Provinces ; Anne Garrard his lady (co-heir to George Garrard
esq.) accompanying him in all his travels, as is expressed in her
epitaph in Westminster Abbey.
He was by king Charles the First created baron of Imber-
court in Surrey, and afterwards viscount Dorchester ; marrying
for his second wife the daughter of Sir Henry Glenham, the
relict of Paul Viscount Banning, who survived him. He suc-
ceeded the lord Conway (when preferred president of the coun-
cil) in the secretaryship of state, being sworn at Whitehall,
December 14, 1628. He died without issue, anno Domini 163 .,
assigning his burial (as appears on her tomb) with his first wife,
which no doubt was performed accordingly.
SOLDIERS.
OF THE NORRISES AND THE KNOWLLS.
No county in England can present such a brace of families
. contemporaries, with such a bunch of brethren on either, for
eminent achievements. So great their states and stomachs,
that they often justled together ; and no wonder if Oxfordshire
wanted room for them, when all England could not hold them
together. Let them be considered, root and branch, first seve-
rally, then conjunctively.
Father. HENY lord NORRIS (descended from the viscounts
Levels) whose father died in a manner martyr for the queen's
mother, executed about the business of Anne Bullen.
Mother. Margaret, one of the daughters and heirs of John
16 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
lord Williams of Tame, keeper of queen Elizabeth whilst in re-
straint under her sister, and civil unto her in those dangerous
days.
Thus queen Elizabeth beheld them both, not only with gra-
cious but grateful eyes.
Ricot in this county was their chief habitation.
Their issue. 1. William, marshal of Barwick, who died in
Ireland, and was father to Francis, afterward earl of Berkshire.
2. Sir John, who had three horses in one day killed under him
in a battle against the Scots.* But more of him hereafter.
3. Sir Thomas, president of Munster. Being hurt in a fight,
and counting it a scratch rather than a wound, he scorned to
have it plastered ; as if the balsam of his body would cure itself;
but it rankled, festered, gangrened, and he died thereof. 4. Sir
Henry, who died about the same time in the same manner.
5. Maximilian, who was slain in the war of Britain. 6. Sir
Edward, who led the front at the taking of the Groyn ; and
fought so valiantly at the siege of Ostend. Of all six, he only
survived his parents.
Father. Sir FRANCIS KNOWLLS, treasurer to the queen's
household, and knight of the Garter (who had been an exile in
Germany under queen Mary) deriving himself from Sir Robert
Knowlls, that conquering commander in France.
Mother. . . . Gary, sister to Henry lord Hundson, and cousin-
german to queen Elizabeth, having Mary Bullen for her mother.
Thus the husband was allied to the queen in conscience (fellow
sufferers for the Protestant cause) ; the wife in kindred.
Greys in this county was their chief dwelling.
Their issue. 1. Sir Henry, whose daughter and sole heir was
married to the lord Paget. 2. Sir William, treasurer of the house-
hold to king James, by whom he was created baron Knowlls,
May 3, 1603 ; viscount Wallingford, 1616 ; and by king Charles I.
in the first of his reign, earl of Banbury. 3. Sir Robert, father
to Sir Robert Knowlls of Greys, now living. 4. Sir Francis,
who was living at, and chosen a member of, the late long Par-
liament; since dead, aged 99. 5. Sir Thomas, a commander in
the Low Countries. 6. Lettice, though of the weaker sex, may
well be recounted with her brethren, as the strongest pillar of
the family. Second wife she was to Robert Dudley, earl of
Leicester, and (by a former husband) mother to Robert Deve-
reux, earl of Essex ; both prime favourites in their generations,
The NORRISES were all Martis pulli, (men of the sword), and
never out of military employment. The KNOWLLS were rather
valiant men than any great soldiers, as little experienced in war.
Queen Elizabeth loved the Knowlls for themselves ; the Nor-
* Camden's Elizabeth, in anno 1578.
SOLDIERS. 17
rises for themselves and herself, being sensible that she needed
such martial men for her service. The Norrises got more ho-
nour abroad ; the Knowlls more profit at home, conversing con-
stantly at court ; and no wonder if they were the warmest, who
sat next to the fire.
There was once a challenge passed betwixt them at certain
exercises to be tried between the two fraternities, the queen and
their aged fathers being to be the spectators and judges, till, it
quickly became a flat quarrel betwixt them.* Thus, though at the
first they may be said to have fenced with rebated rapiers and
swords buttoned up, in merriment only to try their skill and
strength ; they soon fell to it at sharps indeed, seeking for many
years to supplant one another, such the heart-smoking and then
heart-burning betwixt them. And although their inclinations
kept them asunder, the one brotherhood coming seldom to
court, the other seldomer to camp ; yet the Knowlls are sus-
pected to have done the Norrises bad offices, which at last did
tend to their mutual hurt ; so that it had been happy for both,
had these their contests been seasonably turned into a cordial
compliance.
Sir JOHN NOBRIS must be resumed, that we may pay a
greater tribute of respect to his memory. He was a most accom-
plished general, both for a charge which is the sword, and a re-
treat which is the shield, of war. By the latter he purchased to
himself immortal praise, when in France he brought off a small
handful of English from a great armful of enemies; fighting
as he retreated, and retreating as he fought ; so that always his
rear affronted the enemy ; a retreat worth ten victories got by
surprise, which speak rather the fortune than either the valour
or discretion of a general,
He was afterwards sent over with a great command into Ire-
land, where his success neither answered to his own care, nor
others' expectation. Indeed hitherto Sir John had fought with
right-handed enemies in France and the Netherlands ; who was
now to fight with left-handed foes, for so may the wild Irish well
be termed (so that this great master of defence was now to seek
a new guard), who could lie on the coldest earth, swim through
the deepest water, run over what was neither earth nor water, I
mean bogs and marshes. He found it far harder to find out
than fight his enemies, they so secured themselves in fastnesses.
Supplies, sown thick in promises, came up thin in performances ;
so slowly were succours sent unto him.
At last a great lord was made lieutenant of Ireland, of an op-
posite party to Sir John ; there, being animosities in the court
of queen Elizabeth (as well as of later princes), though her
general good success rendered them the less to the public notice
* Fragmenta Regalia, in Knowlls.
VOL. III. C
18 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
of posterity. It grieved Sir John to the heart, to see one of an
opposite faction should be brought over his head, in so much
that some conceive his working soul broke the cask of his body,
as wanting a vent for his grief and anger ; for, going up into his
chamber, at the first hearing of the news, he suddenly died,
anno Domini 1597.
Queen Elizabeth used to call the lady Margaret, his mother,
her own crow, being (as it seemeth) black in complexion (a
colour which no whit unbecame the faces of her martial issue) ;
and, upon the news of his death, sent this letter unto her, which
I have transcribed from an authentic copy.
" To the Lady Norris.
" My own Crow : 22d Se Pt. ISQT.
" Harm not yourself for bootless help, but shew a good example
to comfort your dolorous yoke-fellow. Although we have deferred
long to represent to you our- grieved thoughts, because we liked
full ill to yield you the first reflection of misfortune, whom we
have always rather sought to cherish and comfort; yet knowing
now, that necessity must bring it to your ear, and nature con-
sequently must move both grief and passion in your heart : we
resolved no longer to smother, neither our care for your sorrow,
or the sympathy of our grief for your loss. Wherein, if it be
true that society in sorrow works diminution, we do assure you
by this true messenger of our mind, that nature can have stirred
no more dolorous affection in you as a mother for a dear son,
than gratefulness and memory of his service past hath wrought
in us his sovereign apprehension of our miss for so worthy a
servant. But now that nature's common work is done, and he
that was born to die hath paid his tribute, let that Christian dis-
cretion stay the flux of your immoderate grieving, which hath
instructed you, both by example and knowledge, that nothing
in this kind hath happened but by God's divine providence.
And let these lines from your loving and gracious sovereign
serve to assure you, that there shall ever appear the lively cha-
racter of our estimation of him that was, in our gracious care of
you and yours that are left, in valuing rightly all their faithful
and honest endeavours. More at this time we will not write
of this unpleasant subject ; but have dispatched this gent, to
visit both your lord and you, and to condole with you in the
true sense of your love ; and to pray that the world may see,
what time cureth in a weak mind, that discretion and mo'dera-
tion helpeth in you in this accident, where there is so just cause
to demonstrate true patience and moderation.
'' Your gracious and Iqving sovereign, E. R."
Now, though nothing more consolatory and pathetical could
be written from a prince, yet his death went so near to the
heart of the lord, his ancient father, that he died soon after.
WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
19
WRITERS.
[AMP.] JOHN HANVILE took his name (as I conceive) from
Hanwell, a village in this county (now the habitation of the an-
cient family of the Copes), seeing none other in England, both
in sound and spelling, draweth nearer to his surname. He pro-
ceeded Master of Arts in Oxford : then studied in Paris, and
travelled over most parts in Christendom. He is commonly
called Archithrenius,* or Prince of Lamentation, being another
Jeremy and man of mourning. He wrote a book, wherein
he bemoaned the errors and vices of his own age ; and himself
deserved to live in a better : yet this doleful dove could peck
as well as groan, and sometimes was satirical t enough in his
passion, there being but a narrow passage betwixt grief and an-
ger ; and bitterness is a quality common to them both. He
flourished under king John, anno 1200; and, after his return
from his travels, is conceived by some to have lived and died
a Benedictine of St. Albans.
JOHN of OXFORD was, no doubt, so named from his birth in
that city ; otherwise, had he only had his education or eminent
learning therein, there were hundreds Johns of Oxford as well
as himself. Hector Boethius J surnamed him a Vado Bourn, and
owneth him the next historian to Jeffrey Monmouth in age and
industry. He was a great anti-Becketist, as many more in
that age of greater learning (except stubbornness be made the
standard thereof) than Becket himself. Being dean of Old Sa-
rum, and chaplain to king Henry the Second, he was by him
employed, with others, to give an account to the Pope (but I
question whether he would take it) of the king's carriage in the
business of Becket. He was preferred, anno 1175, bishop of
Norwich, where he repaired his cathedral, || lately defaced with
fire, built a fair alms-house, and Trinity church in Ipswich.
His death happened anno Domini 1200.
[S. N.] ROBERT BACON, first scholar of, afterward a fami-
liar friend to, St. Edmund archbishop of Canterbury, was bred
a doctor of divinity in Oxford ; and, when aged, became a Do-
minican or preaching friar ; and for his sermons he was highly
esteemed by king Henry the Third, He was lepidus et cynicus,^
and a most professed enemy to Peter Roach bishop of Winches-
ter.
Matthew Paris** gives him and another (viz, Richard de
* Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. iii. num. 49. f Idem, ibidem. -
J In the Preface of his History to James king of Scotland.
Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. iii. num. 42.
|| Bishop Godwin, in the Bishops of Norwich.
If Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. iv. num. 4. ; and Pits, in anno 1248.
** M. Paris, anno 1233, p. 386.
c 2
20 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
Fishakle) this praise, " quibus non erant majores, imo nee pares
(ut creditur) viventes in theologia, et aliis scientiis ; "* and I
listen the rather to his commendation, because, being himself
a Benedictine monk, he had an antipathy against all friars. I
behold this Robert Bacon as the senior of all the Bacons, which,
like tributary streams, disembogued themselves, with all the
credit of their actions, into Roger Bacon, who, in process of
time, hath monopolized the honour of all his surname- sakes in
Oxford, Our Robert died anno Domini 1248.
ROBERT of OXFORD was not only an admirer but adorer of
Thomas Aquinas, his contemporary ; accounting his opinions
oracles, as if it were a venial sin to doubt of, and a mortal to
deny, any of them. Meantime the bishop of Paris, with the
consent of the masters of Sorbonne (the great champions of li-
berty in this kind) granted a licence to any scholar, opinari
de opinionibusy to guess freely (and by consequence to discuss
in disputations) any man's opinions which as yet by a general
council were not decided matters of faith. Our Robert, much
offended thereat, wrote not only against Henricus Gandavensis
and ^Egidius Romanus, but also the whole college of Sorbonne ;t
an act beheld of many as of more boldness" than brains, for a
private person to perform. He flourished under king Henry
the Third, anno Domini 1270.
JEFFREY CHAUCER was, by most probability, born at Wood-
stock in this county, though other places lay stiff claim to his
nativity.
Berkshire's title. Leland confesseth it likely that he was born
in Barochensi provincid ; and Mr. CamdenJ avoweth that Du-
nington castle, nigh unto Newbury, was anciently his inherit-
ance. There was lately an old oak standing in the park, called
Chaucer's Oak.
London's title. The author of his life, set forth 1602, proveth
him born in London, out of these his own words in the Testament
of Love :
" Also in the Citie of London, that is to mee soe deare and
sweete, in which I was foorth grown ; and more kindely love
have I to that place than to any other in yerth (as every kindely
creature hath full appetite to that place of his kindly ingendure)."
Besides, Mr. Camden praiseth Mr. Edmund Spenser, the
Londoner, for the best poet ; " ne Chaucero quidem concive
exeepto," (Chaucer himself, his fellow-citizen, not being ex-
cepted. )
Oxfordshire's title. Leland addeth a probability of his birth
in Oxfordshire; and Camden saith of Woodstock, || " Cum nihil
* Anno 1248, p. 747. f Bale, de ScriptDribus Britannicis, Cent. iv.
if T i 18 J? ntannia in -Berkshire. In his Elizabeth, anno 1598.
II In his Britannia, in Oxfordshire.
WRITERS. 21
habeat quod ostentet, Homerum nostrum Anglicum, Galfredum
Chaucerum, alumnum suum fuisse gloriatur." Besides, J. Pits*
is positive that his father was a knight, and that he was born at
Woodstock. And queen Elizabeth passed a fair stone-house
next to her palace in that town unto the tenant by the name of
Chaucer's house, whereby it is also known at this day.
Now, what is to be done to decide the difference herein ? In-
deed Apion the grammarian would have Homer (concerning
whose birth-place there was so much controversy) raised ab In-
feris, that he might give a true account of the place of his nati-
vity. However, our Chaucer is placed here (having just grounds
for the same) until stronger reasons are brought to remove him.
He was a terse and elegant poet (the Homer of his age) : and
so refined our English tongue, " ut inter expedites gentium lin-
guas potuit recte quidem connumerari."t His skill in mathe-
matics was great (being instructed therein by Joannes Sombus
and Nicholas of Lynn) ; which he evidenceth in his book " De
Sphsera." He, being contemporary with Gower, was living
anno Domini 1402.
- SINCE THE REFORMATION.
THOMAS LYDYATE. Now I find the old sentence to be
true, " Difficile fugitivas mortuorum memorias retrahere " see-
ing all my industry and inquiry can retrieve very little of this
worthy person ; and the reader, I hope, will not be angry with
me, who am so much grieved with myself for the same. Indeed
contradicting qualities met in him, eminenci/ and obscurity ; the
former for his learning, the latter for his living. All that we
can recover of him is as followeth. He was born at AlkertonJ
in this county ; bred first in Winchester school, then in New
College in Oxford, being admitted therein June 22, 1593. An
admirable mathematician, witness these his learned works, left
to posterity: 1. De variis Annorum Formis ; 2. De natura
Cceli, et conditione Elementorum ; 3. Prselectio Astronomica;
4. De origine Fontium ; 5. Disquisitio Physiologica ; 6. Expli-
catio et additamentum Arg. Temp. Nativitatis et Ministerii
Christi.
In handling these subjects, it seems, he crossed Scaliger,
who was highly offended thereat, conceiving himself such a
prince of learning, it was high treason for any to doubt of, much
more deny, his opinion. Yea, he conceited his own judgment
so canonical, that it was heresy for any inferior person to differ
from the same. Shall Scaliger write a book of (( the Emenda-
tion of Times," and should any presume to write one of " the
Emendation of Scaliger ? v especially one no public professor,
and so private a person as Lydyate ? However, this great bug-
* De Anglise Scriptoribus, anno 1400.
f Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. viL num. 14.
t New-college Register, in anno 1593.
22 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
bear critic, finding it more easy to contemn the person, than
confute the arguments of his adversary, slighted Lydyate as in-
considerable, jeering him for a prophet, who indeed somewhat
traded in the apocalyptical divinity.
Learned men of unbiassed judgments will maintain, that
Lydyate had the best in that contest ; but here it came to pass
what Solomon had long before observed, "Nevertheless the
poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard."*
He never attained higher church-preferment than the rectory
of Alkerton, the town of his nativity ; and deserted that (as I
have cause to suspect) before his death.
Impute his low condition to these causes : 1 . The nature of
his studies ; which, being mathematical and speculative, brought
not TTjOoe aXfyira, grist to the mill. 2. The nature of his nature,
being ambitious of privity and concealment. 3. The death of
prince Henry (whose library keeper he was) and in whose grave
Lydyate's hopes were interred. 4. His disaffection to church
discipline, and ceremonies used therein ; though such wrong his
memory, who represent him an Anabaptist.
His modesty was as great as his want, which he would not
make known to any. Sir William Boswell, well understanding
his worth, was a great friend unto him ; and so was Bishop
Williams. He died about Westminster, as I take it, in the year
of our Lord 1644. Happy had it been for posterity, if on his
death-bed he could have bequeathed his learning to any sur-
viving relation.
Sir RICHARD BAKER, Knight, was a native of this county,
and high sheriff thereof in the 1 8th of king James, anno Do-
mini 1621. His youth he spent in learning, the benefit
whereof he reaped in his old age, when his estate through sure-
ty-ship (as I have heard him complain) was very much im-
paired. But God may smile on them on whom the world doth
frown ; whereof his pious old age was a memorable instance,
when the storm on his estate forced him to fly for shelter to his
studies and devotions. He wrote an "Exposition on the
Lord's Prayer," which is co-rival with the best comments
which professed divines have written on that subject. He
wrote a chronicle on our English kings, embracing a method
peculiar to himself, digesting observables under several heads,
very useful for the reader. This reverend knight left this trou-
blesome world about the beginning of our civil wars.
WILLIAM WHATELEY was born in Banbury (whereof his
father was twice mayor), and bred in Christ's College in Cam-
bridge. He became afterwards minister in the town of his na-
tivity ; and though generally people do not respect a prophet or
* Ecclesiaslcs ix. 16.
WRITERS. 23
preacher when a man, whom they knew whilst a child, yet he
met there with deserved reverence to his person and profession.
Indeed he was a good linguist, philosopher, mathematician, di-
vine, and (though a poetical satirical pen is pleased to pass a
jeer upon him) free from faction. He first became known to
the world by his book called "The Bride- bush e," which some
say hath been more condemned than confuted, as maintaining a
position rather odious than untrue ; but others hold that blows
given from so near a relation to so near a relation, cannot be
given so lightly, but they will be taken most heavily. Other
good works of his have been set forth since his death, which
happened in the 56th year of his age, anno Domini 1639.
JOHN BALLE was born at Casfigton (four miles north-west
of Oxford) in this county ; an obscure village, only illustrated
by his nativity.* He proceeded bachelor of arts in Brazen-nose
College in Oxford (his parents' purse being not able to main-
tain him longer) ; and went into Cheshire, until at last he was
beneficed at Whitmore, in the county of Stafford. He was an
excellent schoolman and schoolmaster (qualities seldom meeting
in the same man), a painful preacher, and a profitable writer;
and his fe Treatise of Faith" cannot sufficiently be commended.
Indeed he lived by faith, having but small means to maintain
him (but 20 pounds yearly salary, besides what he got by
teaching and boarding his scholars) ; and yet was wont to
say he had enough, enough, enough : thus contentment consist-
eth not in heaping on more fuel, but in taking away some fire.
He had an holy facetiousness in his discourse. When his
friend having had a fall from his horse, and said that he never
had the like deliverance, ee Yea," said Mr. Balle, " and an hund-
red times when you never fell ;" accounting God's preserving us
from, equal to his rescuing us out of, dangers. He had an hum-
ble heart, free from passion ; and, though somewhat disaffected
to ceremonies and church-discipline, confuted such as conceived
the corruptions therein ground enough for a separation. He
hated all new lights and pretended inspirations besides Scrip-
ture : and when one asked him, " whether he at any time had
experience thereof in his own heart ?" ee No," said he, " I bless
God ; and if I should ever have such phantasies, I hope
God would give me grace to resist them." Notwithstand-
ing his small means, he lived himself comfortably, relieved
others charitably, left his children competently, and died
piously, October the 20th, anno Domini 1640.
WILLIAM CHILLINGWORTH was born in the city of Oxford ;
so that, by the benefit of his birth, he fell from the lap of his
mother into the arms of the Muses. He was bred in Trinity
* The substance of his Character is taken out of his Life, written by Mr. Samuel
Clarke. F.
24 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
College in this university ; an acute and subtil disputant,
but unsettled in judgment, which made him go beyond the
seas, and in some sort was conciled to the church of Rome : but
whether because he found not the respect he expected (which
some shrewdly suggest), or because his conscience could not
close with all the Romish corruptions (which more charitably
believe), he returned into England ; and, in testimony of
his true conversion, wrote a book entituled, " The Religion of
Protestants a safe way to Salvation/ 3 against Mr. Knot the Je-
suit : I will not say, (f Malo nodo malus quaerendus est cuneus,"
but affirm no person better qualified than this author, with all
necessary accomplishments to encounter a Jesuit. It is com-
monly reported that Dr. Prideaux compared his book to a lam-
a; fit for food, if the venomous string were taken out of the
thereof : a passage, in my opinion, inconsistent with the
doctor's approbation, prefixed in the beginning of his book.
This William Chillingworth was taken prisoner by the parlia-
ment forces at Arundel castle, and not surprised and slain in
his studies, as Archimedes at the sacking of Syracuse (as some
have given it out) ; but was safely conducted to Chichester,
where, notwithstanding, hard usage hastened his dissolution.
DANIEL FEATLEY, D. D. was born in (or very near to) the
city of Oxford, his father being a servant of Corpus- Christi
College, and this his son fellow thereof. Here he had the
honour to make the speech in the college, at the funeral of
Dr. Reynolds.
Some men may be said to have mutinous parts, which will
not obey the commands of him who is the owner of them.
Not so this doctor, who was perfect master of his own learning.
He did not, as Quintilian saith of some, " occultis thesauris
incumbere ; " but his learning was in numerate, for his present
using thereof. He was as good in the schools as in the pulpit,
and very happy in his disputes with Papists ; for in the confer-
ence with F. Fisher (when Fisher was caught in his own net),
though Dr. White did wisely cast that net, Dr. Featley did help
strongly to draw it to the shore.
It seems, though he was in, yet he was not of, the late assem-
bly of divines ; as whose body was with them, whilst his heart
was at Oxford. Yea, he discovered so much in a letter to the
archbishop of Armagh $ which, being intercepted, he was pro-
ceeded against as a spy, and closely imprisoned, though finding
some favour at last : he died in the prison coUege at Chelsea,
anno Domini 1643. His wife's son hath since communicated
to me his pocket-manual of his memorable observations, all
with his own hand ; but, alas ! to be read by none but the wri-
ter thereof.
JOHN WHITE (descended from the Whites in Hampshire)
WRITERS BENEFACTORS. 25
was born at Stanton-St.-John's* in this county ; bred first in
Winchester, then New College in Oxford, whereof he was fel-
low ; and fixed at last a minister at Dorchester in Dorsetshire
well nigh forty years. A grave man, yet without moroseness,
as who would willingly contribute his shot of facetiousness on
any just occasion. A constant preacher, so that in the course
of his ministry he expounded the Scripture all over, and half
over again ; having an excellent faculty in the clear and solid
interpreting thereof. A good governor, by whose wisdom the
town of Dorchester (notwithstanding a casual merciless fire)
was much enriched ; knowledge causing piety, piety breeding
industry, arid industry procuring plenty unto it. A beggar was
not then to be seen in the town, all able poor being set on
work, and impotent maintained, by the profit of a public brew-
house, and other collections.
He absolutely commanded his own passions, and the purses
of his parishioners, whom he could wind up to what height he
pleased on important occasions. He was free from covetous-
ness, if not trespassing on the contrary : and had a patriarchal
influence both in Old and New England ; yet, towards the end
of his days, factions and fond opinions crept in his flock ; a
new generation arose, which either did not know, or would not
acknowledge, this good man ; disloyal persons, which would not
pay the due respect to the crown of his old age, whereof he
was sadly and silently sensible.
He was chosen one of the assembly of divines, and his judg-
ment was much relied on therein. He married the sister of
Dr. Burges, the great non conformist (who afterwards, being
reclaimed, wrote in the defence of ceremonies) by whom he left
four sons ; and died quietly at Dorchester, anno Domini 1650.
I hope that Solomon's observation of the poor wise man, who
saved the little city,t i yet no man remembered him/* will
not be verified of this town, in relation to this their deceased
pastor, whom I hope they will not, I am sure they should not,
forget, as a person so much meriting of them in all considera-
tions. His Comment on some part of Genesis is lately set
forth, and more daily expected.
BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC SINCE THE REFORMATION.
THOMAS TISDALL, of Glimpton in this county, esquire, de-
ceasing anno 1610, bequeathed five thousand pounds to George
Abbot, then bishop of London, John Bennet, knight, and
Henry Aray, doctor of divinity, to purchase lands for the
maintenance of seven fellows and six scholars : which money,
deposited in so careful hands, was as advantageously expended
for the purchase of two hundred and fifty pounds per annum.
It fell then under consideration, that it was pity so great a
* Where his father held a lease from New College F.
t Ecclesiastes ix. 15.
26 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
bounty (substantial enough to stand of itself ) should be ad-
jected to a former foundation;* whereupon a new college
(formerly called Broad-gates Hall in Oxford) was erected there-
with by the name of Pembroke College, which since hath met
with some considerable benefactors. May this the youngest
college in England have the happiness of a youngest child, who
commonly have in their mother's love what they lack in the
land of their father !
We must not forget, that the aforesaid Thomas Tisdall gave
many other charitable legacies; and deserved very well of
Abington school, founding an usher therein.
MEMORABLE PERSONS.
ANNE GREENE, a person unmarried, was indicted, arraigned,
cast, condemned and executed, for killing her child, at the
assizes at Oxford, December 14, 1650. After some hours, her
body being taken down, and prepared for dissection in the
anatomy-schools, some heat was found therein, which, by the
care of the doctors, was improved into her perfect recovery.
Charitable people interpret her so miraculous preservation a
compurgator of her innocence. Thus she, intended for a dead,
continues a living anatomy of Divine Providence, and a monu-
ment of the wonderful contrivances thereof. If Hippolytus,
revived only by poetical fancies, was surnamed Virbius, because
twice a man ; why may not Mulierbia, by as good proportion,
be applied to her, who since is married, and liveth in this
county in good reputation ?
LORD MAYORS.
1. John Norman, son of John Norman, of Banbury, Draper,
1453.
2. Thomas Pargitor, son of John Pargitor, of Chipping Norton,
Salter, 1530.
3. Michael Dormer, son of Jeffrey Dormer, of Tame, Mercer,
1541.
NAMES OF THE GENTRY OF THIS COUNTY,
RETURNED BY THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF KING HENRY
THE SIXTH.
William bishop of Lincoln, and William de Lovell, chevalier ;
Stephen Haytfeld, and Richard Quatermayns, (knights for
the shire) ; Commissioners to take the oaths.
Tho. Wikeham, chev. Johannis Tyso.
Lodowici Grevill. Will. Thomlyns.
Johannis Wisham. Thome Andrey.
Johan. Banufo, Thome atte Mille.
Humphridi Hay. Johannis Benet.
Some intentions there were to have made it an addition to Baliol College, F.
GENTRY.
Rad. Archer. -
Job. Archer.
Thome Willes.
Johannis Perysson.
Joh. Crosse de Sibford.
Thome Eburton.
Thome Kynch.
Willielmi Brise.
Willielrni Dandy.
Richard! Stanes.
Johannis Wallrond.
Johannis Daypoll.
Johannis Fabian.
Will. Page,
Johannis Mose.
Williel. Seton.
Johannis Pytte.
Thome Helmeden.
Tho. Scholes.
Thome Sperehawke.
Thome Gascoine.
Thome Clere.
Joh. Goldwell.
Williel. Goldwell.
Johannis White.
Thome Lynne.
Will. Smith de Bloxham.
Thome Chedworth.
Willielmi Haliwell.
Johannis Chedworth.
Joh. de Berford.
Roberti Quinaton.
Richardi atte Mille.
Willielmi Mason.
Willielmi Palmer.
Thome Tymmes.
Joh. Cross de Dray ton.
Alexandri Byfeld.
Joh. Andrew de Bodycote.
Thome Serchesden.
Thome Feteplace, arm.
Tho. Hastyng, arm.
Will. Wallweyn, arm.
Joh. Hille, arm.
Joh. Lemilt.
Thome Mayor.
Johannis Hood.
Will. Gayte.
Johannis Martyn.
Thome Martyn.
Will. Fycheler.
Will. Brayn.
Nicholai Wenne.
Johannis Leche.
Will. Leche.
Richardi Fremantle.
Roberti Carpenter.
Richardi Colas.
Will. Coteler.
Richardi Coteler.
Johannis Punter.
Henrici Suthwik.
Johannis Fawlour.
Johannis Mosyer.
Joh. Wynchelcombe.
Will. Style.
Thome Vyncent.
Johannis Bedyll.
Johannis Trilling.
Thome Marshall.
Johannis Walker.
Will. Walker.
Simonis Walker.
Thome Brys.
Thome Mede.
Joh. Freman de Pole.
Thome Chalkele.
Joh. Godefellawe.
Johannis Abraham.
Johannis Turfray.
Richardi Howkyn.
Rob. Bocher de Witteney.
Johannis Rous.
Stephani Cornewaill.
Johannis lurdan.
Johannis Bronne.
Johannis Willeney.
Willielmi Fellawe.
Johannis Pere.
Johan. Bray.
Richardi Wellwe.
Willielmi Wynn.
Will. Whittington.
Willielmi Dagbill.
Will. Dustelyng.
Johannis Danvers.
Thome Mason.
Johan. Aylesworth.
28
WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
Johan. Waver.
Henrici Frebody.
Richard! Harpour.
Will. Shitford.
Roberti Shitford.
Hugonis Culworthe.
Joh. Danus de Wardynton.
Richardi Touchestre.
Thome Blexham.
Rogeri Predy.
Will. Drynkwater.
Thome Wykham de Swalelyf.
Will. WiUingham.
Roberti Campden.
Walteri Snappe.
Richardi Russhe.
Thome Spycer.
Joh. Draper.
Thome Peny.
Thome Harys.
Johannis Flore.
Will. Rothe.
Joh. Etterton.
Will. Witteney.
Will. Wych.
Joh. Potter.
Joh. Fletewell.
Richardi Eton.
Joh. Warner.
Will. Standell.
Richardi Sclaytey de Shorld-
bury.
Joh. Folke.
Tho. Takle bayle.
Thome Abbatis de Eynes-
ham.
Richardi Walkestede, chev.
Joh. Blountj arm.
Will. Marmyon.
Thome Halle.
Joh. Lydier.
Will. Berkingham.
WiU. Rash.
Joh. Whighthill.
Roberti Croxford.
Thome Carwell.
Thome Yerman.
Joh. Somerton.
Will. Somerton.
Roberti Hare Court.
Simonis Somerton.
Thome Harlyngrigge.
WiU. Horncastle.
Joh. Yerman.
Joh. Colles.
Joh. Bourman de Dadyngton.
Thome Magon.
Thome Pricket.
Thome Pebworth.
Walteri Jouster.
Rogeri Jouster.
Joh. Cobwell.
Joh. Bingham.
Joh. Tymmes.
WiU. Frere.
Thome Maykyn.
Richardi Tanner de Wode-
stock.
WiUielmi Weller.
Joh. Swift.
Richardi Stevenes.
Richardi MarchaU.
Richardi Chapman.
Thome Snareston.
Joh. Bridde.
Richardi Aston.
Will. Parsons.
Thome Payne.
Joh. Nethercote.
Stephani Humpton.
Will. Romney.
Joh. Romney.
Roberti Rye.
Will. Swift.
WiU. Harryes.
Joh. Tanner de Eynesham.
Will. Madle.
Thome MiUward.
Joh. Fisher.
Joh. Webbe.
Edm. Rammesby.
Jacobi Howes.
Jac. Bocher de Stunsfeld.
Joh. Megre.
Joh. Halle de Barton.
Phillippi Frere.
Joh. Frere.
Joh. Stowe.
GENTRY.
29
Job. Knight.
Job. Kemster.
Will. Kemster.
Rob. Quaynaton.
Rob. More, arm.
Rob. Alkertorio
Job. Chorleton.
Job. Eburton, jun.
Job. Eburton, sen.
Thome Eburton.
Job. Yonge.
Job. Balle.
Thome Balle.
Job. Euresbawe.
Galfridi Crewe.
Will. Tommys.
Will. Ayltan.
Job, Stokes.
Job. Walle.
Will. Smith de Chepyng Nor-
ton.
Johannis Howes.
Thome Howes.
Willielmi Hide.
Rogeri Milton.
Johannis Stacy.
Richardi Gurgan.
Johannis Halle.
Johannis Sampson.
Willielmi Sampson.
Thome Churchehill.
Thome Cogeyn.
Willielmi Cogeyn.
Ricbardi Bury.
Willielmi Houcbyns.
Johannis Channdyt.
Willielmi Bagge.
Will. Rollandright.
Thome Fayreford.
Job. Martyn.
Thome Tackle.
Will. Weller. .
Job. Maynard.
Richardi Couper de Eastan.
Will. Wrench.
Job. Halle de Shorthamton.
Willielmi Tunford.
Johannis Tunford.
Jobannis Parkyns. .
Rob. Raynald.
Job. Mucy.
Will. Carter de Overnorton.
Tho. Balle de Parvo Rowlan-
right.
Job. Hammond.
Job. Halle.
Job. Payne.
Job. Shawe.
Job. Silver.
Job. Brewes.
Tho. Spillesby.
Job. Salman.
Job. Potter, jun. Prioris de
Burcestre.
Job. Langeston.
Rogeri Powre.
WiU. Anderne.
Job. Aston.
Job. Cornwaile.
Richardi Purcell.
Jacobi Samwell.
Rich. Fitz-Water.
Tho. Wyonbissh.
Job. Togood.
Rich. Togood. J
Job. Spere.
Job. Shoue.
Nicholai Norris.
Thome Chapman.
Willielmi Durbare.
Thome Hoggys.
Thome Gurdon.
Tho. Markham.
Johannis Lile.
Johannis Sylvester.
Johannis Balegh.
Jobannis Chantclere.
Job. Huntingdon.
Will. Baldyngton.
Johan. Burdon.
Johannis Fellipps de Over-
fayford.
Job. Smith de Mellington.
Thome Smith de eadem.
Johan. Notebene de Fencote.
Will. Fitz-Water.
Job. Felmersham.
Johannis Abbatis de Oseneye.
30
WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
Johannis Abbatis de Tharae.
Edm. Prioris sancti Frides-
wide.
Tho. Baldington, jun.
Tho. Baldington, sen.
Joh. Jacket.
Thome Welles.
Thome Longe.
Joh. Ellys.
Rob. Crakeall.
Willielmi Tyller.
Joh. Dogge.
Andree Sparewe.
Will. Loy, sen.
Joh. Chamberleyn.
Joh. Shrovebury.
Robert! Reve.
Joh. Fry day.
Joh. Mayhon.
Joh. Hamond.
Will. Halfeknight.
Hugonis Benet de Thame.
Will. Collyngrig.
Thome Credy.
Joh. Savage bayly.
Joh. Clifton Abbatis Dorca-
cestr.
Joh. Harpeden, chev.
Hug. Wolf, chev.
Thome Chaucer, arm.
Rich. Drayton, arm.
Rich. Restold, arm.
Petri Fetepiace, arm.
Will. Wikham, arm.
Joh. Fitz-Elys, arm.
Reg. Barantyn, arm.
Will. Lynde, arm.
Rob. Simeon, arm.
Drugonis Barantyn.
Joh. Bedford.
Edmundi Forster.
Rich. Gilot.
Thome Chibenhurst.
Thome atte Hide.
Rogeri Radle.
Petri Shotesbroke.
Johannis Hide.
Will. Ravenying.
Willielmi Borde.
Williel. Skyrmet.
Johannes Elmes.
Thome Vine.
Joh. Hertilpole.
Tho. Clerk bayly.
Joh. Bayly de'Puriton.
Johannis Badley.
WiU. Bosenhe.
Thome Bartelot.
Rich. Calday.
Johannis Crips.
Williel. North. ^
Johannis atte Water.
Roberti atte Water.
Rich. Forster.
Thome Denton.
Thome atte Well de Garsing-
den.
Johannis Holt.
Nicholai Neuby.
Joh. Thomley.
Will. Bele.
Johannis Lowe.
Rob. Hye.
Joh. Bullery.
Joh. Fitz-AJeyn.
Joh. Walysbyj clerici.
Thome Tretherfet.
Tho. Balingdon, sen.
Joh. Smith.
Joh. Skynner.
Rich. English.
Rob. Powlegh.
Nich. atte Water.
Johannis Hawe.
Thome Dodde.
Thome Bartelet.
Will. Padenale.
Ade Hastyng.
Joh. S tote well.
Tho. Baker de Watlington.
Richardi Hurry.
Joh. Tours.
Thome Muttyng.
Thome Deven.
Joh. Martyn.
Will Somer.
Joh. Romsey.
Joh. Yonge.
SHERIFFS. 31
Will. Caturmayn. Rich. Malpas.
Will. Hervey. Job. Boure.
Hen. Benefeld. Rob. Gorewey.
Will. North. Joh. Stafford."
Xicholai \Votton de Kingston. Rich. Saddock.
Joh. Temple. Joh. atte Lee.
Joh. Fynamour. Will. Derenden.
The commissioners in this county appear over diligent in dis-
charging their trust : for whereas those in other shires flitted
only the cream of their gentry, it is suspicious that here they
made use of much thin milk, as may be collected from their nu-
merousness in a county of so small content. I could wish they
had spent part of their pains on some other places, seeing we
have so little of great, and nothing of some shires in this
kind. But, I see, nothing will here fall out adequate to our de-
sires in all particulars ; but still we shall conceive ourselves to
have cause to complain of something redundant and something
defective.
SHERIFFS.
Although Oxford and Berk-shires be divided by the Thames,
and in the Saxon heptarchy were under two different kingdoms,
Oxfordshire belonging to Mercia, and Berkshire to the west
Saxons; yet after the Conquest they were united under one
sheriff, until the ninth year of queen Elizabeth, as by the cata-
logue formerly presented in Berkshire doth plainly appear : since
that year, for the more effectual discharge of the office, and
greater ease of the subjects, each have had several sheriffs, and
Oxfordshire as followeth :
ELIZ. REG.
Anno Name and Anns. Race.
9 Ric. Fines, mil. . . . Broughton.
Az. three lions rampant O.
10 Hum. Ashfeld. arm.
1 1 Will. Taverner, arm. . Water Eaton.
12 Tho. Gibbons, arm,
13 Ric. Waynman, miL . . Tame Parke.
Quarterly G. and Az. a cross patonce O.
14 Joh. Danvers, arm.
G. a chevron inter three mullets O.
15 Hen. Rainford. arm.
16 Will. Babington, miL
Arg. ten torteaux, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
17 Mich. Molyns, arm.
IS Rob. Doyle, miL et . . ut wfra.
Joh. Coop, arm. . . trf pi/r.
19 WilL Hawtrv. arm.
32 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
20 Ric. Corbet, arm.
O. a raven proper.
21 Edm. Bray, arm.
22 Ric. Hudleston, arm.
G. fretty Arg.
23 Tho. Denton, arm.
24 Anth. Cope, arm. . . Han well.
Arg. on a chev. Az. betwixt three roses G. slipt and
leaved Vert three flowers-de-luce O.
25 Ric. Fines, arm. . . . ut prius.
26 On. Oglethorpe, arm. . Newington.
Arg. a chevron vairy O. and Vert betwixt three boars 5
heads Sable cut off O.
27 Joh. Doyle, arm.
O. two bends Arg.
28 Idem ut prius.
29 Mich. Blount, arm. . . Mappleduram.
Barry formy nebule of six O. and S.
30 Joh. Daiivers, arm. . . ut prius.
31 Will. Clarke, arm.
32 Will. Spencer, arm. . . Yardington.
Quarterly Arg. and G. a fret O. ; on a bend S. three escalops
of the first.
33 Anth. Cope, mil. . . ut prius.
34 Ro. Chamblayn, arm.
G. a chevron Arg. betwixt three escalops O.
35 Fran. Stonard, arm. . Stonard.
Az. two bars dancette O. ; a chief Arg.
36 Ric. Fiennes, mil. . . ut prius.
37 Oni. Oglethorpe, arm. . ut prius.
38 Will. Freer, arm. . . Water Eaton.
G. two flanches O. ; three wheat-ears erect in fess counter-
changed.
39 George Broome, arm.
40 Mich. Blount, arm. . . ut prius.
41 Fran. Curson, arm.
42 Will. Greene, arm.
43 Will. Pope; arm. . . . Wiscot.
Per pale O. and Az. on a chevron betwixt three griffins'
heads erased four flowers-de-luce, all counterchanged.
44 Ric. Farmer, mil.
Arg. a fess S. betwixt three leopards' heads erased G.
JACOB.
1 Anth. Cope, mil. . . ut prius.
2 Georg. Tipping, arm.
3 Jac. Harrington, mil.
. S. a fret Arg.
SHERIFFS. 33
Anno Name. Place.
4 Tho. Temple, mil. . . Buckin.
Arg. on two bars S. six martlets O.
5 Roland. Lacy, mil.
6 Hen. Samborne, arm,
7 Mich. Dormer, mil,
Az. ten billets, 4, 3, 2, and 1, O. ; on a chief of the se-
cond a lion issuant S.
8 Bene. Winchcombe, arm.
9 Tho. Moyle, arm.
G. a mule passant Arg.
10 Will. Clerke, mil.
11 Hen. Lee, bar. . . . Dichley.
Arg. a fess between three crescents S.
12 Edw. Dunch, arm.
S. a chevron betwixt three towers Arg.
13 Tho. Read, arm.
G. a saltire betwixt four garbs O.
14 Tho. Spencer, mil. et bar. ut prius.
15 Joh. Curson, mil.
16 Edw. Fenner, arm.
17 Will. Cope, mil. et bar. ut prius.
18 Ric. Raker, mil.
1 9 Fra. Stoner, mil. . . ut prius.
20 Rowlan. Lacy, arm.
21 Will. Aishcombe, mil.
22 Walt. Dunch, arm. . . ut prius.
CAROL. I.
1 Ric. Blount, mil. . . ut prius.
2 Ric. Lovelace, mil.
modo dom. Lovelace . Berkshire.
G. on a chief indented S. three martlets O.
Cope Doyley, mil. . . ut prius.
3 Ric. Wenman, mil. . ut prius.
modo dom. Wenman..
4 Rob. Dormer, mil. . ut prius.
5 Will. Cobb, mil. . . Adderbury.
6 Joh. Lacy, mil.
7 Joh. Harborne, arm.
8 Tho. Coghill, arm.
modo miles . . . Blechington.
G. on a chevron Arg. three ogresses ; a chief S.
9 Joh. Mellor, mil.
10 Pet. Wentworth, mil. bar.
S. a chevron betwixt three leopards' heads O.
11 Fran. Norris, mil.
Quarterly Arg. and G., a fret Or, with a fess. Az.
VOL. III. D
34 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
Anno Name. Plac
12 Will. Walter, arm. . . Saresden.
Az. three eagles displayed Arg.
13 T. Peniston, mil. and bar.
Arg. three Cornish choughs proper.
14 Joh. Doyly, arm. . . utprius.
15 Rad. Warcoppe, arm.
16 Ric. Libb, arm.
17 Tho. Tippin, arm.
18
to
24
QUEEN ELIZABETH.
11. WILLIAM TAVERNER, Arm. This was he who, in the
year of his sheriffalty, came to Oxford, and went up into the
pulpit at St. Mary's with a sword by his side, and a gold chain
about his neck ; where he made a sermon (or an oration rather)
to the university, the stuff, or rather bombace, whereof we have
set down in our. (e Ecclesiastical History." Now, though this
was an odd act, wherein his zeal was conceived by most to tres-
pass on his discretion, yet was it borne the better in those darker
days from a person well affected in religion, and abhorring to
invade the ministerial function.
18. ROBERT DOYLE, Mil. This year (if I mistake not) were
the Black Assizes at Oxford, wherein (contrary to the common
course) the prisoners caused the death of the judge (chief-
baron Bell), the sheriff, some of the lawyers, many of the
justices, and most of the jury ; besides other persons of qua-
lity there present. It was generally imputed to the stench of
the prisoners' clothes and bodies; for, whereas other offensive
smells are open enemies, and, violently assaulting the brain,
warn men in some sort to avoid or resist them ; a gaol-stench
treacherously pretendeth alliance (as made of man-sweat), and
so insinuates itself with the less suspicion and more danger into
the spirits.
31. WILLIAM CLARKE, Arm. He was a son, or (if the
same with Sir William Clarke, sheriff in the 10th of king
James), grand-child to Sir John Clarke of Northamptonshire in
the 21st of king Henry the Eighth; whose arms, with the
honourable augmentation, and the worthy cause thereof, are
there largely described.
36. RICHARD FIENNES, Mil. He was a worthy gentleman;
and bred fellow (being the founder's kinsman) of New College
in Oxford. He was also lineally descended from James lord
Say and Sele, treasurer of England in the reign of king Henry
the Sixth ; and, in consideration thereof, was, 1 Jacobi, created
WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER. 35
lord Say and Sele. He died anno domini 1612. William
Fiennes, his eldest son, was since created viscount Say and
Sele, and is still alive, 1661.*
KING CHARLES I.
3. RICHARD WENMAX, Mil. This worthy knight was by
king Charles the First created first baron Wenman of Chil-
maynam in the county of Dublin, and then viscount Wenman,
of Tuant in the county of Galway, both in the kingdom of
Ireland, by letters patent, dated at Cambray the 25th of July,
1628, 4 Caroli.
THE FAREWELL.
As for the poorer sort of husbandmen in this county, I wish
there may be more Sir Henry Kebles for their sakes. This
knight (though a native of London, and lord mayor thereof)
had such an affection for this and Warwickshire, that he singled
out a hundred and fifty of the poorest husbandmen therein,
and gave each of them a new plough-share and a new coulter of
iron,t and, in my mind, that is the most charitable charity
which enableth decayed industry to follow its vocation.
WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE WHO HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE
THE TIME OF FULLER.
Andrew ALLAM, divine and biographer, assisted Anthony
Wood; born at Garsington 1655; died 1685.
Sir Wm. BEECHEY, R.A., celebrated painter; born at Burford
1753; died 1839.
William BERRIMAN, divine, author of "Sermons;" born at
Banbury 1688.
Charles DAVENANT, political economist; born at Oxford 1656 ;
died 1714.
Sir William DAVENANT, dramatist and poet-laureat, loyalist;
born at Oxford 1605 ; died 1668.
Rev. Mr. DE LA FIELD, historian of his native parish; born at
Hasely 1690.
Nathaniel FIENNES, son of lord Say and Sele, parliamentarian.
officer; born at Broughton 1603 ; died 1669.
John FREE, divine, political and miscellaneous writer; born at
Oxford 1711.
William GREENHILL, divine, commentator on Ezekiel; died
1676.
* He died 1662. ED. f Stow's Survey of London, p. 89.
D 2
36 WORTHIES OF OXFORDSHIRE.
Warren HASTINGS, for many years governor of the East Indies,
subsequently impeached, but acquitted; born at Churchill
1732; died 1818.
Peter HEYLIN, sub- dean of Westminster, author of "Cosmo-
graphy ;" born at Burford 1600 ; died 1662.
Sir John HOLT, patriotic lord chief justice of the King's
Bench; born at Thame 1642; died 1709.
Charles JENKINSON, first earl of Liverpool, statesman; born
at Walcot 1727 ; died 1808.
Mary LATTER, dramatist and satirist; born at Henley-upon-
Thames 1725.
William LENTHAL, speaker of the Long Parliament ; born at
Henley-upon-Thames 1591 ; died 1663.
Marchmont NEED HAM, political writer during the civil war;
born at Burford 1620; died 16?8.
William OLDYS, biographer and herald; born at Adderbury
1686.
John OWEN, independent divine, scholar and author ; born at
Stadhampton 1616; died 1683.
John PHILIPS, poet, author of " Cyder" and " Splendid Shil-
ling;" born at Bampton 1676; died 1708.
Edward POCOCKE, divine, orientialist, and archbishop Laud*s
first professor of Arabic ; born at Oxford 1604 ; died 1691.
Thomas RANDOLPH, divine and author; died 1788.
John Wilmot earl of ROCHESTER, wit and poet; born at
Ditchley 1648 ; died 1680.
Dr. John ROGERS, divine, author on " The Visible and Invisible
Church;" born at Ensham 16?9; died 1?29.
Henry ROSE, author of a philosophical essay for the re-union of
languages; born at Pirton 17th century.
John SIBTHORP, physician, botanist, and traveller; born at
Oxford 1758; died 1?96.
Edward WARD, miscellaneous writer, author of "London Spy;"
born 1667; died 1731.
Anthony a WOOD, industrious biographer and antiquary ; born
at Oxford 1632; died 1695.
Benjamin WOODROFFE, Principal of Gloucester Hall, scholar ;
born at Oxford; died 1711.
Wm. SMITH, LL.D., naturalist and geologist; born at Churchill
1769; died 1840.
%* Of Oxfordshire there is no complete topographical history. In 1705, how-
ever, Dr. Plot published the Natural History of the county; and in 1813 some
general notices appeared in the Beauties of ^England and Wales, by J. N. Brewer.
In 1823 also appeared Skelton's engraved Illustrations of Oxfordshire, with de-
scriptive and historical observations. Of the town and university various accounts
have appeared ; as Pointer's Oxoniensis Academia (1749) ; Ant. a Wood's
History of the University, by J. Gutch (1796) ; Skelton's Oxonia Antiqua
Restaurata; Rev. T. Warton's History of Kiddington (1815) ; Dunkin's Histories
of the Hundreds of Bulltngton and Ploughley, and of Bicester, &c. (1823) ED.
RUTLANDSHIRE.
RUTLANDSHIRE is, by a double diminutive, called by Mr.
Camden, " Anglise Provinciola minima." Indeed it is but the
pestle of a lark, which is better than a quarter of some bigger
bird, having the most cleanly profit in it ; no place, so fair for
the rider., being more fruitful for the abider therein.
Banishing the fable of king Rott, and their fond conceit who
will have Rutland so called from roet, the French word for a
wheel, from the rotundity thereof, (being in form almost exactly
orbicular) ; it is so termed quasi Red-land ; for as nature kept a
dye-vat herein, a reddish tincture discoloureth the earth, stones,
yea the very fleeces of the sheep feeding therein. If the Rabbins'
observation be true, who distinguish betwixt Arets, the general
element of the earth, and Adamah, red ground, from which Adam
was taken and named ; making the latter the former refined ;
Rutland's soil, on the same reason, may lay claim to more than
ordinary purity and perfection.
BUILDINGS.
Burgley on the Hill belonged formerly to the lord Harrington,
but since so beautified with buildings by the duke of Backing-
ham, that it was inferior to few for the house, superior to all for
the stable ; where horses (if their pabulum so plenty as their
stabulum stately) were the best accommodated in England.
But, alas ! what saith Menedemus to Chremas in the comedy ?
" Filium unicum adolescentulum habeo. Ah, quid dixi habere
me ? immo habui." So may Rutland say, " I have, yea I had,
one most magnificent house: this Burgley being since demo-
lished in our civil war ;* so just was the poet's ancient invec-
tive,
"Apes, apeg, /3jOoro\oiyg, fjuaityove Ti\effi7r\rjra.
" Mars, Mars, bane of men, slaughter-stain'd spoiler of houses."
But when we have first sufficiently bemoaned the loss of so
many worthy men in our late war, if then we have still any sor-
* Daniel earl of Nottingham afterwards purchased this estate, and rebuilt the
house, which has a park inclosed by a wall of five or six miles round. It has since
belonged to the earl of Winchelsea, ED.
38 WORTHIES OF RUTLANDSHIRE.
row left, and tears to spare, we will spend them in lamenting the
raising and ruining of so many stately structures.
WONDERS.
How it will appear to the reader I know not ; but it is won-
derful in my apprehension, that this county, so pleasant, so fruit-
ful, almost in the middle of England, had not one absolute or en-
tire abbey therein; producing only two small appurtenances
(of inconsiderable value) to convents in other counties : viz.
Okeham, under the custody of the priory of St. Anne by
Coventry, founded by William Dalby, for two chaplains and
twelve poor; receiving in all one and twenty pounds per annum.
Brook, a cell to Killingworth, founded by Walkeline de Fer-
rers, baron of Okeham, for black canons, valued, at the disso-
lution, at forty-three pounds thirteen shillings and four-pence.
The like cannot be paralleled in England, choose so great a parcel
of good ground where you please. Shew me so fair a bunch of
sweet grapes which had no more flies to suck them. Nor can I con-
jecture any competent cause thereof, except because Edwar4 the
Confessor, by his will, gave all Rutland to Westminster church ;
which, though rescinded by king William the Conqueror, yet
other convents perchance might be scrupulous to accept what
once belonged to another foundation.
PROVERBS.
" Rutland Raddleman."]
I meet in an author * with this blazon, as he terms it, of Rut-
landshire, though I can scarcely recover the meaning thereof.
Rad here is the same with red (only more broadly pro-
nounced) ; as Radcliffe, de rubro clivo, Redcliffe. Raddleman
then is a Reddleman, a trade (and that a poor one) only in this
county, whence men bring on their backs a pack of red stones,
or ochre, which they sell to the neighbouring countries for the
marking of sheep, well nigh as discernible (and far less hurtful
to the wool) as pitch-brands made on their fleeces,
SAINTS.
ST. TIBB A. Because this county is princeless, I mean, af-
fords no royal natives, we begin with Saints ; and here almost
we are at a loss, finding but one worshipped therein, and pro-
bably a native thereof. But seriously peruse, I pray, the words
of our author,f speaking of Rihall, a village in this county :
iS Where, when superstition had so bewitched our ancestors,
that the multitude of their petty saints had well near taken quite
away the true God, one Tibba, a petty saint or goddess, reputed
to be the tutelar patroness of Hawking, was of fowlers and fal-
jconers worshipped as a second Diana."
* Drayton's Polyolbion. f Camden's Britannia, in Rutlandshire, p. 526.
SAINTS BENEFACTORS.
39
I
This saint of falconers doth stive so high into the air, that my
industry cannot fly home after the same, so as to give a good
account thereof to the reader. All that I can retrieve of her is
digested into these following particulars ;
1. She was a female whose sex (dubious in the English) is
cleared in the Latin Camden, Tibba minorum gentium Sancta.*
2. Though gentium may import something of heathenism,
Sancta carries it clear for Christianity ; that she was no Pagan
deity amongst the Britons (who were not our ancestors, but pre-
decessors), but a Popish she-Saint amongst the Saxons.
3. She could not be Saint Ebba, a virgin Saint, of whom for-
merly in Northumberland, whom the country-people nick-name
Tabbs for St. Ebbs.
4. My best inquiry, making use of mine own and friends 5 in-
dustry, perusing authors proper to this purpose,t cannot meet
with this Tibb with all our industry.
But I will trouble myself and the reader no longer with this
saint, which if she will not be found, even for me let her be
lost^ only observe, after that superstition had appointed saints
to all vocations (St. Luke to painters, St. Crispin to shoemakers,
&c.) she then began to appoint patrons to recreations; and
surely falconers [generally] according to the popish principles,
if any, need a saint, both to protect them in their desperate
riding, and pray for a pardon for their profane oaths in their
passions.
A POST-SCRIPT.
Evpr/fca, at last we have found it. She was no Pagan deity,
but a Saxon saint, as plainly appeareth, because the passage
concerning her is commanded to be expunged out of Camden by
the Index Eocpurgatorius ;{ bearing a pique thereat, as grating
against their superstitious practice. The same, no doubt, with
Tibba, virgin and anchoress, who, living at Dormundcaster,
died with the reputation of holiness about the year 660. How-
ever, reader, I am not ashamed to suffer my former doubts and
disquisitions still to stand, though since arrived at better infor-
mation.
BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC.
WILLIAM BROWNE, Esq. twice alderman of Stamford,
merchant of the Staple, was (as I am credibly informed)
extracted from the ancient family of Brownes of Toll-Thorp in
this county. He built, on his own proper cost, the beautiful
* Though it be Diva in his first and quarto Edition, yet it is Sancta in his last.
I mean in the text, whereon I rely, though Diva again in the margin. ^-F.
f Caesar Baron. Not. on Martyrolog. Rom. Fran. Harreus de Vitis Sanct Laurent.
Sur. Carthusian. Pet de Natalib. Catal. Sanctorum, &c.
\ Printed at Madrid, by Lewes Sanchez, anno : 6 12.
MS. de Vitis Sanctorum Mnlierum Anglise .177
40 WORTHIES OF RUTLANDSHIRE.
steeple, with a great part of the church, of All-Saints in Stam-
ford ; and lieth therein, with his wife, buried in a chapel proper
to his family. He also erected, anno 1493, the old Bead-house
in that town, for a warden, confrater, twelve poor old men,
with a nurse-woman to attend them : to this he gave the manor
of Swayfeld (seven miles from Stamford), worth four hundred
pounds per annum, besides divers lands and tenements else-
where. I am loath to insert, and loath to omit, what folio weth in
my author; viz. "That the pious and liberal gift is much abused
by the avarice and mis-employment of the governors thereof :"*
and charitably to presume that such faults (if any) are since, or
will be suddenly, amended.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
JOHN HARRINGTON the elder, son to Sir James Harrington,
was born at Exton in this county, where their ancient family
had long flourished : a bountiful housekeeper, dividing his
hospitality between Rutland and Warwickshire, where he had a
fair" habitation. He was one of the executors to the -lady
Frances Sidney, and a grand benefactor to the college of her
founding in Cambridge. King James created him baron of
Exton ; and his lady, a prudent woman, had the princess Eliza-
beth committed to her government, When the said princess
was married to Frederick prince Palatine, this lord (with Henry
Martin, doctor of the laws) was sent over to the Palatinate, to see
her highness settled at Hidleburgh, and some formalities about
her dowry and jointure performed. This done (as if God had
designed this for his last work), he sickened on the first day of his
return ; and died at Wormes in Germany, on St. Bartholomew's
day, anno Domini 1613. The lord John his son (of whom in
Warwickshire) did not survive him a year 5 both of them sig-
nally eminent, the one a pattern for all good fathers, the other
for all gracious sons ; arid pity it is the last had not issue to be
a precedent to all grand-children : but God thought it fit, that
here the male issue of that honourable family should expire.
MEMORABLE PERSONS.
JEFFREY was born in the parish of Okeham in this
county, where his father was a very proper man, broad shoul-
dered and chested, though his son never arrived at a full ell in
stature. And here we may observe Pliny's observation! not true,
cara irdvTog, " In plenum autem cuncto mprtalium generi mi-
norem staturam indies fieri, propemodum observatur, rarosque
patribus proceriores," &c.
It seems that families sometimes are checquered, as in brains
so in bulk, that no certainty can be concluded from such alter-
nations.
* Mr. Richard Butcher, in his Survey of Stamford, p. 39. f Lib. vii. c. 16.
MEMORABLE PERSONS GENTRY. 41
His father, who kept and ordered the baiting bulls 8 for George
duke of Buckingham (a place, you will say, requiring a robus-
tious body to manage it), presented him, at Burleigh on the Hill,
to the duchess of Buckingham, Being then nine years of age, and
scarce a foot and a half in height, as I am informed by credible
persons* then and there present, and still alive. Instantly
Jeffrey was heightened (not in stature but) in condition, from one
degree above rags into silk and satin, and two tall men to at-
tend him.
He was, without any deformity, wholly proportionable;
whereas often dwarfs, pigmies in part, are giants in another.
And yet, though the least that England ever saw, he was a pro-
per person compared to him of whom Sabinusf doth write,
in his comment upon the Metamorphosis :
"Vidit Italia nuper virum justa aetate, non majorem cubito,
circumferri in cavea psittaci, cujus viri meminit .in suis scriptis
Hieronymus Cardanus ;" (there was lately to be seen in Italy
a man of a ripe age, not above a cubit high, carried about in a
parrot's cage, of whom Hierome Cardan, in his writings, makes
mention.)
It was not long before he was presented in a cold baked pie to
king Charles and queen Mary at an entertainment ; and ever
after lived (whilst the court lived) in great plenty therein, want-
ing nothing but humility (high mind in a low body), which made
him that he did not know himself, and would not know his
father, and which by the king's command caused justly his sound
correction. He was, though a dwarf, no dastard ; a captain of
horse in the king's army in these late civil wars, and afterwards
went over to wait on the queen in France.
Here being provoked by Mr. Crofts, who accounted him the
object not of his anger but contempt, he shewed to all, that
habet musca suum splenum ; and they must be little indeed that
cannot do mischief, especially seeing a pistol is a pure leveller,
and puts both dwarf and giant into equal capacity to kill and
be killed. For the shooting the same Mr. Crofts he was im-
prisoned. And so I take my leave of Jeffrey, the least man of
the least county in England.
NAMES OF THE GENTRY OF THIS COUNTY,
RETURNED BY THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF KINO HENRY
THE SIXTH.
William bishop of Lincoln, and William de Souche de Harring-
worth, chevalier; Thomas Grenham, and William Beaufo,
(knights of the shire) ; Commissioners to take the oaths.
Johannes Basings de Empyng- Johannes Colepepar de Ex-
ham, mil. ton, mil.
* John Armstrong of Cheshuut. f Lib. vi. fab. 19.
42 WORTHIES OF RUTLANDSHIRE.
Henricus Plesington de Bur- Joh. Basset de North Luffen-
ley, mil. ham, gent.
Robertus Browne de Wode- Jacobus Palmer de eadem,
head, arm. gent.
Robertus Davis de Tykencoat, Johannes Palmer de eadem,
arm. gent.
Johannes Browne de Tygh, Willielmi Sheffeild de Seyton,
arm. gent.
Johannes Plesington de Wis- Johannes Sadington de eadem,
senden, arm. gent.
Thomas Flore de Oakham, arm. Rob. Sousex de Market Over-
Franciscus Clerke de Stoke- ton, gent.
dry, arm. Johannes Vowe de Whitwell,
Johannes Chycelden de Bram- gent.
eston, arm. Willielmus Pochon de Wis-
Johannes Sapcoat de Keton, senden, gent.
merchant. Willielmus Swafeld de Braun-
Robertus Whitwell de eadem, ston, gent.
gentleman. Henricus Breton de Keton,
Johannes Clerk de Wissenden, gent.
merchant. Willielmus Uffington de Pil-
Willielmus Lewis de Oakham, ton, gent.
merchant. Thomas Luffenham de Winge.
Johannes Brigge de eadem,
merch.
SHERIFFS.
It remaineth now that we give in a list of the sheriffs of this
shire ; and here Rutland conceiveth it to sound to her credit,
that whereas other shires ten times bigger than this (viz. Nor-
folk and Suffolk) had but one sheriff betwixt them ; this little
county never took hands to hold with a partner, but had always
an entire sheriff to itself; though anciently the same person
(generally honourable) discharged the office for many years to-
gether, as by the ensuing catalogue will appear.
Richard de Humet, from 10 to 26 Henry II.
William Molduit, 26 Henry II. to 1 Rich. I.
Anna Brigg dispensat. 1 to 2 Rich. I.
William Albeney et William Fresney, 2 to 9 Rich I.
William Albevine solus, 9 Rich. I. to 1 king John.
Benedic. de Haversham, 1 to 2 king John.
Robert Malduit, 2 to 5 king John.
Ralph Normanvill, 5 to 12 king John.
Robert de Braibro et Henry films ejus, 12 king John to 2
Henry III.
Alan Basset, 2 to 12 Henry III.
Jeffrey de Rokingham, 12 to 38 Henry III.
Ralph de Grenehaml, 38 to 43 Henry III.
SHERIFFS. 43
Anketyn de Markinal, 43 Henry III. to one Edw. I.
Peter Wakervill et William Bovile, 1 to 9 Edw. I.
Alberic de Whitleber, 9 to 17 Edw. I.
Edmund earl of Cornwall, 17 to 29 Edw. I.
John Burley, 29 to 30 Edw. I.
Marg. widow to Edmund earl of Cornwall, 30 Edw. I. to 6
Edw. II.
Marg. widow of Pierce Gavester earl of Cornwall, 6 to 9
Edw. II.
Hugo de Audley, 9 to 1? Edw. II.
Edmund earl of Kent, brother to the king, 17 Edw. II. to
1 Edw. III.
Hugo de Audley earl of Gloucester, 1 to 22 Edw. III.
William de Bohun earl of Northampton, 22 to 33 Edw. III.
William Wade, 33 to 38 Edw III.
Humphrey de Bohun, 38 to 4? Edw. III.
John de Witlesbrough, 47 to 49 Edw. III.
Simon Ward, 49 Edw. III. to 1 Rich. II.
SHERIFFS.
RICHARD II.
Anno Name, and Arms. Place.
1 Joh. Wittlebury.
2 Tho. de Burton.
Az. a fess betwixt three talbots* heads erased O.
3 Joh. Basings.
4 Will. Moorwood.
5 Joh. de Wittlesbury.
6 Will. Flore .... Okeham.
Ermine, a cinquefoil Erm.
7 Walt. Skarle.
8 Joh. de Calveley.
9 Rob. de Veer.
Quarterly G. and O. in the first a mullet Arg.
10 Idem ut prius.
11 Joh. Wittlebury.
12 Walt. Skarles.
13 Edw. Comes Rutland,
for eight years.
Quarterly France and England ; a label Arg. charged
with nine torteauxs.
21 Tho. Ondeley.
22 Idem.
HENRY IV.
(Recorda manca all this king's reign.}
HENRY V.
1 Tho. Ondeley.
44 WORTHIES OF RUTLANDSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
2 Jac. Sellers.
Party per pale, G. and S. a lion ramp. Arg. crowned O.
3 Job. Boyvill.
G. a fess O. betwixt three saltires humet Arg.
4 Tho. Burton, mil. . . ut prius,
5 Rob. Browne.
6 Rob. Chisdden.
7 Job. Pensax.
8 Tho. Burton, mil. . . ut prius.
9 Idem ut mius.
HENRY VI.
1 Tho. Burton . . . . I
2 Job. Ondeby.
3 Job. Davies, mil. . . Tickencote.
4 Job. Colepeper . . . Exton.
Arg. on a bend engrailed G.
5 Hen. Plessington, mil. , Burley.
Az. on a cross patee betwixt four martlets Arg.
6 Tho. Burton, mil. . . ut prius.
7 Job. Denys.
8 Job. Colepeper . . . ut prius.
9 Tho. Flore .... ut prius.
10 Hen. Plesington, mil. . ut prius.
11 Job. Boyvile .... ut prius.
12 Will. Beaufo.
Erm. on a bend Az. three cinquefoils O.
13 Rob. Davies, et
Job. Pilton.
14 Job. Branspath.
15 Hugo. Boyvile . . . ut prius.
16 Laur. Sherard.
Arg. a chevron G. betwixt three torteaux.
17 WiU. Beaufo .... ut prius.
18 Tho. Burton .... ut prius.
19 Hen Plesington, mil. . ut prius.
20 Tho. Flore .... ut prius.
21 Will. Beaufo .... ut prius.
22 Tho. Barkeley.
G. a chevron betwixt ten cinquefoils Arg.
23 Job. Basings, mil.
24 Will. Walker.
25 Job. Boyvile .... ut prius.
26 Wil. Haselden.
27 Hugo Boyvile . . . . ut prius.
28 Rob. Fenne.
Arg. on a fess Az. three escalop- shells of the first, a bor-
der engrailed as the second.
SHERIFFS.
45
Anno Name.
29 Tho. Floure . . .
30 Will, Heton.
31 Rob. Sherard . . ,
32 Rob. Fenne . . .
33 Will. Beaufo. . . .
34 Will. Haselden.
35 Tho. Flore, ar. c .
36 Tho. Dale.
37 Rob. Fenne . . .
38 Everard Digby . .
Az. a flower-de-luce
Place.
. ut prius.
. ut prius.
. ut prius.
, ut prius.
. ut prius.
. ut prius.
. Drystoke.
Arg.
EDW. IV.
1 Joh. Francis.
2 Tho. Palmer.
3 Idem.
4 Will. Greenham, arm.
5 Tho. Flore, arm. . . ut prius,
6 Ric. Sopcotts, mil.
S. three dove-cots Arg.
7 Will. Browne . . . Tolethorp.
S. three mallets Arg.
8 Galfr. Sherard . . . ut prius.
9 Joh, Dale, arm.
10 Tho. Flore, arm. . . . ut prius.
11 Brian. Talbot, arm.
12 Tho. Berkley, mil. . . ut prius.
13 Will. Haselden.
14 Joh. Pilton, arm.
15 Will. Browne . . . ut prius.
16 Joh. Sapcote .... ut prius.
17 David Malpas.
Arg. a cross patee Az.
18 Hen. Mackworth . . Normanton.
Per pale indented Erm. and S. a chevron G. frettee O.
19 Joh. Pilton.
20 Galf. Sherard . . . ut prius.
21 Will. Palmer.
22 David Malpas . . . ut prius.
RICH. III.
1 Will. Browne .
Arms, ut prius.
2 Galf. Sherard
3 Joh. Pilton.
Stamford.
HEN. VII.
1 Everard. Digby . . Martinsthorpe.
Arg. on a fess Az, three lozenges O.
46
WORTHIES OF RUTLANDSHIRE,
Anno Name.
2 Will. Browne . .
3 David Malpas . .
4 Maur. Berkley ' . .
5 Tho. Sapcots . .
6 Job. Digby, mil.
7 Rob. Harrington, arm.
S. a frettee Arg.
8 Christoph, Browne .
9 Job. Pilton.
10 Tho. Sherard . . .
11 Tho. Sapcots, arm. .
12 Geo. Mackworth . .
13 Rob. Harrington, arm.
14 Everard Digby, arm.
15 Job. Chisleden.
16 Christ. Browne, arm.
17 Job. Digby . . .
18 Job. Harrington
19 Maur. Berkley . .
20 Will. Pole.
21 Tho. Sherard . . .
22 Ric. Flowre, arm.
23 John Coly, arm.
24 Ever. Feilding, mil.
Place.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius,
Martinsthorpe.
Arg. on a fess Az. three fusils O.
HEN. VIII.
1 Christ. Browne, arm. . ut prius.
2 Edw. Sapcote .... ut prius.
3 Geo. Mackworth, arm. . ut prius.
4 Job. Harrington, arm. . ut prius.
5 Everard Digby, arm. . ut prius.
6 Tho. Brokesby, arm.
7 Job. Caldecott.
8 Job. Harrington . . . ut prius.
9 Job. Digby, mil. . . ut prius.
10 Everard. Digby, arm. . ut prius.
11 Will. Fielding, arm. . ut prius.
12 Jo. Harington, jun, arm. ut prius.
13 Jo. Harington, sen. arm. ut prius.
14 Geo. Mackworth, arm., ut prius.
15 Job. Digby, mil. . . ut prius.
16 Fran. Browne, arm. . ut prius.
17 Job. Caldecot, arm.
18 Will. Filding, arm. . . ut prius.
19 Edw. Sapcots .... ut prius.
20 Everard. Digby, mil. . ut prius.
SHERIFFS.
Anno Name. Place.
21 Edw. Catesby, arm.
Arg. two lions passant S. crowned Or.
22 Geo. Mackworth, arm. . ut prius.
23 Edw. Sapcots, arm. . . ut prius.
24 Everard. Digby, mil. . ut prius.
25 Joh. Harington, arm. . ut prius.
26 Geo. Mackworth, arm. . ut prius.
27 Edw. Sapcots, arm. . . ut prius.
28 Andr. Nowell, arm. . . Brooke.
O. a frettee G. a canton Erm.
29 Tho. Burdenell, arm. . ut prius.
30 Fr. Mackworth, arm. . ut prius.
31 Rich. Cecell, arm.
Barry of ten Arg. and Az. on six escutcheons S. as many
lions rampant of the first.
32 Joh. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
33 Kenelm. Digby, arm. . ut prius.
34 Edw. Sapcots, arm . . ut prius.
35 Fra. Mackworth, arm. . ut prim*
36 Geo. Sherard, arm. . . ut prius.
37 Anth. Browne, arm . . ut prius.
38 Edw. Sapcots, mil. . . ut prius.
EDW. VI.
1 Anth. Colly, arm.
2 Simon Digby, arm. . . ut prius.
3 Kenelm Digby, arm. . ut prius.
4 Andr. Noell, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Anth. Colly, arm.
6 Joh. Harrington, mil. .
7 Jac. Harington, arm.
MAR. REG.
1 Kenelm. Digby, arm. .
2 Simon. Digby, arm. . ut prius.
3 Fra. Mackworth, arm. . ut prius.
4 Andr. Noell, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Anth. Browne, arm. . ut prius.
6 Edw. Brudenell, arm.
Arg. a chevron G. betwixt three caps Az. turned up
E
rm.
ELIZ. REG.
1 Anth. Colly, arm.
2 Jac. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
3 Kenelm. Digby, arm. . ut prius.
4 Gto. Sherard, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Will. Caldecot, arm.
48 WORTHIES OF RUTLANDSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
6 Geo. Mackworth, arm. . ut prius.
7 Job. Floure, arm. . . ut prius.
8 Jac. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
9 Kenelm. Digby, arm. . ut prius.
10 Anth. Colly, arm.
11 Job. Floure, arm. . . ut prius.
12 Maur. Berkley, arm. . ut prius.
13 Anth. Browne . . . ut prius.
14 Geo. Mackworth, arm. ut prius.
15 Tho. Cony, arm.
S. a bar and two barrulets betwixt tbree conies currant
Arg.
16 Rob. Sapcots, arm. . . ut prius.
17 Will. Caldecot, arm.
18 Anth. Colly, arm.
19 Job. Floure, arm. . . ut prius.
20 Jac. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
21 Mich. Catesby, arm. . ut prius.
22 Geo. Mackworth, arm. ut prius.
23 Will. Feilding, arm. . ut prius.
24 Roger. Smith, arm. . LEICESTERSHIRE.
G. on a chev. O. betwixt three bezants three croslets
formee fitchee.
25 Anth. Colley, arm.
26 Tho. Coney, arm. . . ut prius.
27 Kenelm, Digby . . .- ut prius.
28 Jac. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
29 Andr. Nowell, mil. . . ut prius.
30 Geo. Sheffield, arm. . Seaton.
Arg. a chevron betwixt three garbs G.
31 Rob. Sapcots, arm. . . ut prius.
32 Hen. Harenten, arm. . ut prius.
33 Will. Fielding, arm. . ut prius.
34 Roger. Smith, arm. . . ut prius.
35 Jac. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
36 Job. Harington, mil. . tit prius.
37 Andr. Nowell, mil. . . ut prius.
38 Will. Fielding, arm. . ut prius.
39 Hen. Ferrers, arm.
Arg. on a bend G. cotised S. three horse-shoes Arg.
40 Job. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
41 Tho. Mackworth, arm. ut prius.
42 Andr. Nowell, mil. . . ut prius.
43 Jac. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
44 Job. Harington, mil. . ut prius.
JACOB.
1 Will, Bodendin, arm.
SHERIFFS. 49
Anno Name. Place.
2 Will. Boulstred, mil.
3 Basil. Feilding, arm. . ut prius.
4 Hen. Barkley, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Guido Palmes, mil.
6 Edw. Nowell, mil. . . ut prius.
7 Tho. Mackworth, arm. . ut prius.
8 Will. Halford, arm. . . LEICESTERSHIRE.
Arg. a greyhound passant ; on a chief S. three flowers-de-
luce of the field.
9 Joh. Elmes, arm. . . North H.
Erm. two bars S. each charged with five elm-leaves trans-
posed O.
10 Rob. Lane, mil.
11 Anth. Andrews, arm.
12 Fran. Bodinden, arm.
13 Ed. Noell, mil. et bar. . ut prius.
14 Rich. Cony, mil. . . . ut prius.
15 Guido Palmes, mil.
16 Abr. Johnson, arm.
17 Rich. Halford, arm. . . ut prius.
18 Anth. Colley, arm.
1 9 Ed .Harrington, mil. et bar. Ridlington.
Arms, ut prius.
20 Rob. Lane, mil.
21 Rob. Tredway, arm.
22 Joh. Osborne, arm.
Quarterly, Erm. and Az. a cross O.
CAROL. I.
1 Guido Palmes, mil.
2 Will. Gibson, mil.
3 Hen. Mackworth, arm. ut prius.
4 Ever. Fawkener, arm.
5 Joh. Huggeford, arm.
6 Joh. Wingfeild, mil.
Arg. a bend G. cotised S. three wings of the first.
7 Ric. Halford, arm. . . ut prius.
8 Anth. Colley, mil.
9 Ric. Hickson, arm.
10 Fran. Bodington, mil.
11 Hen. Mynne, mil.
12 Ed. Harrington, mil. et b. ut prius.
13 Edw. Andrews, arm.
14 Joh. Barker, arm.
15 Tho. Levett, arm.
16 Rob. Horsman, arm. . Stretton.
17 Tho. Wayte, arm.
18
VOL. III. E
50 WORTHIES OF RUTLANDSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
19
20
21
22 Abel Barker.
/
HENRY VII.
16. CHRISTOPHER BROWNE, Arm. This sheriff came over
with king Henry the Seventh, and assisted him against Richard
the Third ; for which good service king Henry the Eighth
granted to Francis Browne (son of our sheriff), of council to
the lady Margaret, the following patent :
" Henricus Octavus, Dei gracia Angliae et Franciae rex, fidei
defensor, et dominus Hibernise, omnibus ad quos prsesentes lit-
terae pervenient, salutem. Sciatis quod nos de gratia nostra
speciali concessimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris, quantum
in nobis est, dilecto nostro Francisco Browne, armigero, quod
ipse ad totam vitam suam non ponatur, impanelletur, nee jure-
tur, in assisis juratis inquisitionibus attinctis, seu aliis recogni-
tionibus aut juratis quibuscunque, licet ille seu eorum aliquis
tangant nos vel heredes nostros, ac licet nos vel herdes nostri
soli aut conjunctim cum aliis sit una pars, Concessimus etiam,
ac per presentes concedimus eidem Francisco, quod ipse de
cetero non fiat Vicecomes nee Escaetor nostri vel heredum nos-
trorum in aliquo comitatu regni nostri Anglise : et quod ipse ad
offic. vie. escaetoris superius recitat. habend. exercend. faciend.
recipiend. aut occupand. ullo modo per nos vel heredes nostros
assigned ordinet. seu compellet. aut aliqualit. artet. ullo modo
nee ad ascend, jurat, super aliqua triatione, arrainatione alicujus
assisse coram quibuscunq; justic. nostris vel heredum nostro-
rum ad assisas capiend. assign, aut aliis justic'. quibuscunque ;
et quod non ponatur nee impanelletur in aliqua magna assist
infra regni nostri Anglise inter partes quascunque contra
voluntatem suam, licet nos vel heredes nostri sit una pars. Et
ulterius de abundanciori gratia nostra concessimus prsefato
Francisco, quod si ipse ad aliqua officia superdict. seu aliquod
praemissorum eligat. ipseq; et officia superdict. recusavit, extunc
idem Franciscus aliquem contemptum deperdit. poenam foris-
factur. aut aliquos exutos fines, redemptiones seu amerciament.
quaecunq; occasione omissionis sive non omissionis aut alicujus
eorundem, nullatenus incurrat forisfaciat aut perdet ; sed quod
prsesens carta nostra de exemptione coram quibuscunq; justic.
nostra et hered. nostri. ac in quocunq; loco aut curia de record,
per totum regnum nostrum predict, super demonstratione ejus-
dem charts nostrae, absq; aliquo brevi prsecept. seu mandat.
aut aliquo alio superinde habend. seu persequend. vel aliqua
proclamation faciend. praefato Francisco allocetur. Concessi-
mus etiam, et per praesentes concedimus eidem Francisco, quod
ipse de cetero durante vita sua in preesentia nostra aut hered.
WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER. 51
nostrorum, aut in prsesentia alicujus sive aliquorum magnatum,
dominorum spiritualium vel temporalium, aut aliquorum alio-
rum regni nostri quorumcunq; quibuscunq; temporibus futuris
pileo sit co-opertus capite, et non exuat aut deponat pileum suum
& capite suo occasione vel causa, quacunq; contra voluntatem
aut placitum suum. Et ideo vobis omnibus et singulis, aut qui-
buscunq ue justic. judicibus, vicecomitibus, escaetoribus, coro-
natoribus, majoribus, preepositis ballivis, et aliis officiariis, et
ministris nostris et hered. nostrorum firmiter injungendo man-
damus, quod ipsum Franciscum contra hanc concessionem
nostr. et contra tenorem exigent, aut effect, preesent. non vex-
etis, perturb, molest, in aliquo seu gravetis. In cujus rei tes-
tim. has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso
apud Westm. sexto die Julii, anno regni nostri decimo octavo.
fe Per ipsum Regem, et de dat. praedict. authoritate Parlia-
ment! ."
Tolethorpe (the chief place of residence at this day of Chris-
topher Browne, esquire, who hath borne the office of sheriff in
this county, 1647^) was by deed conveyed unto John Browne,
from Thomas Burton, knight, in the fiftieth year of king
Edward the Third.
I meet with a Browne, lord mayor of London 1479 ; the son
of John Browne of Okeham.
THE FAREWELL.
Let not the inhabitants of Rutland complain, that they are
pinned up within the confines of a narrow county ; seeing the
goodness thereof equals any shire in England for fertility of
ground : but rather let them thank God, who hath cast their lot
into so pleasant a place, giving them a goodly heritage.
WORTHIES OF RUTLAND WHO HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE
THE TIME OF FULLER.
Thomas BARKER, philosophical and theological writer; born at
Lyndon, 1?22; died 1809.
Gilbert CLERKE, learned mathematician, Grecian, and biblical
scholar ; born 1626; died 1697.
Vincent WING, mathematician, author of almanac called by
his name ; born at Luffenham 1619 ; died 1669.
%* The principal Works relative to this County, since the time of Fuller, are the
History and Antiquities of Rutland, by Mr. James Wright (1684) ; and another
Work recently published by Mr. Tho. Blore. The twelfth volume of the Beauties
of England and Wales also contains some useful information. Eu.
E 2
SHROPSHIRE.
SHROPSHIRE hath Cheshire on the north ; Staffordshire 011
the east ; Worcester, Hereford, and Radnor-shires on the south ;
Montgomery and Denbigh-shires on the west. The length
thereof from north to south is 34 miles, and the general breadth
thereof about 26 miles. I behold it really (though not so re-
puted) the biggest land-lock-shire in England : for although,
(according to Mr. Speed's measuring) it gathereth but one hun-
dred thirty-four miles (short of Wiltshire by five) in circum-
ference ; yet, though less in compass, it may be more in content,
as less angular in my eye, and more approaching to a circle, the
form of greatest capacity : a large and lovely county, generally
fair and fruitful, affording grass, grain, and all things necessary
for man's sustenance, but chiefly abounding with
NATURAL COMMODITIES.
IRON.
It is the most impure of metals, hardly meltable but with
additaments ; yea malleable and ductible with difficulty. Not
like that at Damascus, which they refine in such sort, that it
will melt at a lamp, and yet so tough that it will hardly break.*
Some impute the grossness of our English iron to our water,
not so proper for that purpose as in Spain and other parts ; and
the poet telleth us of Turnus's sword.
Ensem quern Dauno igni potens Deus ipse parenti
Fecerat, et Slygid. candentem extinxerat und&.\
" Sword which god Vulcan did for Daunus fix,
And quenched it when fiery hot in Styx."
However, many utensils are made of the iron of this county,
to the great profit of the owners, and no loss (I hope) of the
commonwealth.
COAL.
One may observe a threefold difference in our English coal ;
1. Sea-coaly brought from Newcastle ; 2. Land-coal, at Mendip,
* Bellovius. f Virgil, ^Eneid xii.
MANUFACTURES BUILDINGS MEDICINAL WATERS. 53
Bedworth, &c. and carted into other counties; 3, What one may
call River or Fresh-water coal, digged out in this county, at such
a distance from Severn, that they are easily ported by boat into
other shires.
Oh if this coal could be so charcked as to make iron melt
out of the stone, as it maketh it in smiths' forges to be wrought
in the bars.
But " Rome was not built all in one day ;" and a new
world of experiments is left to the discovery of posterity.
MANUFACTURES.
This county can boast of no one, her original, but may be
glad of one to her derivative ; viz. the Welsh Friezes brought
to Oswestry, the staple of that commodity, as hereafter shall
be observed.
THE BUILDINGS.
No county in England hath such a heap of castles together,
insomuch that Shropshire may seem on the west, divided from
Wales with a wall of continued castles. It is much that Mr.
Speed, which alloweth but one hundred and eighty-six -in all
England,* accounteth two and thirty in this county.f But as
great guns, so useful in the side of a ship, are useless in the
middle thereof; so these castles, formerly serviceable whilst
Shropshire was the verge of English dominions, are now neg-
lected, this shire being almost in the middest of England, since
Wales was peaceably annexed thereunto. As for the houses
of the gentry of this county, as many of them are fair and hand-
some, so none amount to an extraordinary eminence,
MEDICINAL WATERS.
There is a spring at Pitchford, in this shire, which hath an
oily unctuous matter swimming upon the water thereof. Indeed
it is not in such plenty as in a river near to Solos in Cilicia,J
so full of that liquid substance, that such as wash therein seem
anointed with oil ; nor so abundant as in the springs near the
Cape of St. Helen, wherewith (as Josephus Acosta reports) men
use to pitch their ropes and tackling. I know not whether the
sanative virtue thereof hath been experimented; but am sure
that, if it be bitumen, it is good to comfort the nerves, supple
the joints, dry up rheums, cure palsies and contractions. I
have nothing more to say of bitumen, but that great the affinity
thereof is with sulphur, save that sulphur hath ingression into
metal, and bitumen none at all. Here I purposely pass by
* See his Map General of England.
* See his Description of Shropshire.
| Agricola de Natura, &c.lib. 1. cap. 7.
54 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Okenyate in this county,* where are alum springs, whereof the
dyers of Shrewsbury make use instead of alum.
PROVERBS.
" He that fetcheth a wife from Shrewsbury must carry her into Staffordshire,
or else shall live in Cumberland."]
The staple-wit of this vulgar proverb, consisting solely in si-
militude of sound, is scarce worth the inserting. Know then
that (notwithstanding the literal allusion) Shrewsbury affordeth
as many meek wives as any place of the same proportion. Be-
sides, a profitable shrew well may content a reasonable man,
the poets feigning Juno chaste and thrifty, qualities which com-
monly attend a shrewd nature. One being demanded, (e How
much shrewishness may be allowed in a wife ? " ie Even so
much," said he, "as of hops in ale; " whereof a small quantity
maketh it both last the longer in itself, and taste the better to
the owner thereof/ 5
" The case is altered, quoth Plowden."]
This proverb referreth its original to Edmund Plowden, an
eminent native and great lawyer of this county, though very va-
rious the relations of the occasion thereof. Some relate it to
Plowden's faint pleading at the first for his client, till spurred
on with a better fee ; which, some will say, beareth no propor-
tion with the ensuing character of his integrity. Others refer
it to his altering of his judgment upon the emergency of new
matter formerly undiscovered ; it being not constancy, but ob-
stinacy, to persist in an old error, when convinced to the con-
trary by clear and new information. Some tell it thus, that Plow-
den being of the Romish persuasion, some setters trepanned
him (pardon the prolepsis) to hear mass. But afterwards Plow-
den understanding that the pretender to officiate was no priest,
but a mere layman (on design to make a discovering),^" Oh the
case is altered," quoth Plowden : " no priest, no mass." As
for other meaner origination of this proverb, I have neither list
nor leisure to attend unto them.
PRINCES.
RICHARD PLANTAGENET, second son to Edward the Fourth
and Elizabeth his queen, was born at Shrewsbury 1472.f He
was created by his father duke of York, and affianced to Anne,
daughter and heir to John Mowbray duke of Norfolk. But,
before the nuptials were solemnized, his cruel uncle, the duke of
Gloucester, married him to a grave in the Tower of London.
The obscurity of his burial gave the advantage to the report,
that he lived in Perkin Warbeck, one of the idols which put
politic king Henry the Seventh to some danger, and more trou-
ble, before he could finally suppress him.
* D. Jordan of Mineral Baths, p. 26. f Stow's Chronicle, p. 703.
PRINCES SAINTS,
55
GEORGE PLANTAGENET, youngest son to Edward the Fourth
and Elizabeth his queen,, was born at Shrewsbury.* He was
like Plautus's Solstitial flower, ee qui repentino ortus, repentino
occidit," dying in the infancy of his infancy. Some vainly con-
ceive (such conjectures may be safely shot, when nobody can
see whether they hit or miss the mark) that, had this George
survived, he would have secured the lives of his two elder bre-
thren, whose uncle duke Richard durst not cut through the three-
fold cable of royal issue ; a vain surmise, seeing when tyrants'
hands are once washed in blood, two or three are all one with
their cruelty.
SAINTS.
MILBURGH, daughter to Meroaldus prince of Mercia, had
the fair manor of Wenlock in this county given to her by her
father for her portion. She, quitting all worldly wealth, be-
stowed her inheritance on the poor, and answered her name of
Milburgh, which (as an antiquary f interpreteth) is good or gra-
cious, to town and city. Living a virgin, she built a monastery
in the same place ; and departed this life about the year 664.
Four hundred years after, in the reign of William the Con-
queror, her corpse (discovered by miracles wrought thereby)
was taken up sound and uncorrupted, to the admiration of the
beholders (saith my author {) ; and surely, had I seen the same,
I would have contributed my share of wondering thereunto.
This I am sure of, that as good a Saint, Lazarus by name, by
the confession of his own sister, did stink when but four days
buried. Her relics, enshrined at Wenlock, remained there in
great state, till routed in the reign of king Henry the Eighth.
OSWALD was king of Northumberland, who, after many fortu-
nate battles fought, was vanquished and slain at last by Pen da,
the Pagan king of the Mercians, at a place in this county, called
after his name, Oswaldstre (now a famous market town in the
Marshes) ; thereby procuring to his memory the reputation of
saint and martyr.
Be pleased, reader, to take notice, that all battles of this na-
ture, though there were quarrels or armed suits, commenced on
a civil or temporal account, for the extending or defending their
dominions ; yet were they conceived (in that age especially) to
have a mixture of much piety and Church concernment therein,
because fought against infidels, and so conducing consequen-
tially to the propagation of the faith ; the reason that all kings,
killed in such service, achieved to themselves the veneration of
saints and martyrs. Say notthat king Saul|| might be sainted on
the same account, mortally wounded in a pitched field fought
* Stow's Chronicle, p. 703. f Verstegan, p. 265.
t The English Martyrology, on the 13th day of February. $ John xi. 39.
|| l Samuel xxxi. 3.
56 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
against the uncircumcised Philistines ; both because in fine he
slew himself, and his former life was known to be notoriously
wicked ; whereas our ^Oswald was always pious, and exceedingly
charitable to the poor.
His arm, cut off, it seems from the rest of his body, remained,
said Bede, whole and incorrupt, kept in -a silver case in St. Pe-
ter s church at Bamborough, whilst his corpse was first buried
at Peterborough, and afterwards (in the Danish persecution) trans-
lated to Bergen in Flanders,* where it still remaineth.
The fifth of August was, in our calendar, consecrated to his
memory, save that the thanksgiving for the defeating of Gowrie's
conspiracy made bold to justle him out all the reign of king
James. His death happened anno Domini 635.'
CONFESSORS.
This county afforded none, as the word is re-confined in our
preface. But, if it be a little enlarged, it bringeth within the
compass thereof.
THOMAS GATAKER, younger son to William Gataker, was who
a branch of an ancient family, so firmly planted by Divine Provi-
dence at Gatacre-hall in this county, that they have flourished the
owners thereof, by a non-interrupted succession, from the time of
king Edward the Confessor, f This Thomas being designed a
student for the law, was brought up in the Temple, where, in the
reign of queen Mary, he was often present at the examination of
persecuted people. Their hard usage made him pity their per-
sons, and admirable patience to approve their opinions. This
was no sooner perceived by his parents (being of the old per-
suasion) but instantly they sent him over to Louvain in the Low
Countries, to win him to compliance to the Popish religion ;
and, for his better encouragement, settled on him an estate of
one hundred pound per annum, old rent. All would not do.
Whereupon his father recalled him home, and revoked his own
grant; to which his son did submit, as unwilling to oppose the
pleasure of his parents, though no such revocation could take effect
without his free consent. He afterwards diverted his mind from
the most profitable to the most necessary study ; from law to
divinity : and, finding friends to breed him in Oxford, he be-
came the profitable pastor of St. Edmond's in Lombard Street,
London, where he died anno 1593, leaving Thomas Gataker, his
learned son (of whom formerly J) heir to his pains arid piety.
PRELATES.
ROBERT of SHREWSBURY was, in the reign of king John
* English Martyrology, 165.
f Narrative of the life of Thomas Gataker, junior, after the Sermon preached at
his funeral.
J Vide LEARNED WRITERS, in London.
PRELATES. 57
(but I dare not say by him), preferred bishop of Bangor, 1197.
Afterwards the king, waging war with Leoline prince of Wales,
took this bishop prisoner in his own cathedral church, and en-
joined him to pay three hundred hawks * for his ransom. Say
not that it was improper that a man of peace should be ransomed
with birds of prey, seeing the bishop had learnt the rule, " Re-
dime te captum quam queas minimo." Besides, 300 hawks
will not seem so inconsiderable a matter to him that hath
read how in the reign of king Charles an English nobleman
(taken prisoner at the Isle Ree t) was ransomed for a brace of
grey hounds.
Such who admire where the bishop on a sudden should fur-
nish himself with a stock of such fowl, will abate of their won-
der, when they remember that about this time the men of
Norway, (whence we have the best hawks), under Magnus their
general, had possessed themselves of the neighbouring Island of
Anglesea.J Besides, he might stock himself out of the eyres of
Pembrokeshire, where perigrines did plentifully breed. How-
ever, this bishop appeareth something humorous by one pas-
sage in his will, wherein he gave order that his body should be
buried in the middle of the market-place || of Shrewsbury. Im-
pute it not to his profaneness and contempt of consecrated
ground ; but either to his humility, accounting himself unworthy
thereof; or to his prudential foresight, that the fury of soldiers
(during the intestine war betwixt the English and Welsh) would
fall fiercest on churches, as the fairest market; and men,
preferring their profit before their piety, would preserve their
market places, though their churches were destroyed. He died
anno 1215.
ROBERT BURNEL was son to Robert, and brother to Hugh
lord Burnel, whose prime seat was at Acton-Burnel castle in
this county. He was, by king Edward the First, preferred
bishop of Bath and Wells ; and first treasurer, then chancellor, of
England. He was well versed in the Welsh affairs, and much
used in managing them ; and, that he might the more effec-
tually attend such employment, caused the court of chancery to
be kept at Bristol.^" He got great wealth, wherewith he en-
riched his kindred, and is supposed to have rebuilt the decayed
castle of Acton-Burnel on his own expence. And, to decline
envy for his secular structures left to his heirs, he built for his
successors the beautiful hall at Wells, the biggest room of any
bishop's palace in England, plucked down by Sir John Gabos
(afterwards executed for treason) in the reign of king Edward
the Sixth.
* Bp. Godwin, in his Bishops of Bangor.
f H. L'Estrange, in the History of king Charles.
t Caraden's Britannia, in Anglesea. Idem, in Pembrokeshire.
[| Bishop Godwin, in Bishops of Bangor. ^ Camden's Britannia, hi Salop.
58 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
English and Welsh affairs being settled to the king's con-
tentment, he employed bishop Burnell in some business about
Scotland, in the Marshes, whereof he died anno Domini 1292 ;
and his body, solemnly brought many miles, was buried in his
own cathedral.
WALTER de WENLOCK, abbot of Westminster, was, no
doubt, so named from his nativity in a market-town in this
county. I admire much that Matthew of Westminster writeth
him William de Wenlock, and that a monk of Westminster
should (though not miscall) mis-name the abbot thereof. He
was treasurer of England to king Edward the first, betwixt the
twelfth and fourteenth year of his reign; and enjoyed his
abbot's office six and twenty years, lacking six days.* He died
on Christmas day, at his manor of Periford in Gloucestershire,
1307 ; and was buried at his church in Westminster, beside the
high-altar before the Presbytery, without the south door of king
Edward's shrine, where " Abbas Walterus non fuit Austerus "
is part of his epitaph.
RALPH of SHREWSBURY, born therein, was, in the third of
king Edward the Third, preferred bishop of Bath and Wells.
Being consecrated without the Pope's privity (a daring adven-
ture in those days) he paid a large sum to expiate his presump-
tion therein. He was a good benefactor to his cathedral, and
bestowed on them a chest, portcullis-like, barred with iron,
able to hold out a siege in the view of such as beheld it. But,
what is of proof against sacrilege ? Some thieves (with what
engines unknown) in the reign of queen Elizabeth forced it
open.f
But this bishop is most memorable for erecting and endow-
ing a spacious structure for the vicars- choral of his cathedral to
inhabit together, which in an old picture is thus presented:
THE VICARS' HUMBLE PETITION ON THEIR KNEES.
Per vicos positi villa, pater alme, rogamus
Ut simul unili, te dante clomos, maneamus.
" To us dispers'd i' th' streets, good father, give
A place where we together all may live.''
THE GRACIOUS ANSWER OF THE BISHOP, SITTING.
Vestra petunt merita quod sinl concessn petita,
Ut maneatis ita, locafecimus h<ec slabilita.
" Your merits crave, that what you crave be yielded,
That so you may remain, this place we've builded.''
Having now made such a palace (as I may term it) for his vicars,
he was (in observation of a proportionable distance) necessitated
in some sort to enlarge the bishop's seat, which he beautified
* Register of Westminster Abbey.
f Godwin, in the Bishops of Bath and Wells.
PRELATES. 59
and fortified castle-wise, with great expence. He much ingra-
tiated himself with the country people by disforesting Mendip ;
beef better pleasing the husbandman's palate than venison.
He sat bishop thirty-four years ; and, dying August 14, 1363,
lieth buried in his cathedral, where his statue is done to the
life ; ei Vivos viventes vultus vividissime exprimens," saith my
author.*
ROBERT MASCAL was bred (saith Bale in) and born (saith
Pitsf positively) at Ludlow in this county, where he became a
Carmelite. Afterwards he studied in Oxford, and became so
famous for his learning and piety, that he was made confessor
to Henry the Fourth, and counsellor to Henry the Fifth ; pro-
moted by the former, bishop of Hereford. He was one of the
three English prelates which went to (and one of the two which
returned alive from) the council of Constance. He died 1416,
being buried in the church of White-Friars in London, to which
he had been an eminent benefactor. J
RICHARD TAL.BOTE was. born of honourable parentage in
this county, as brother unto John Talbote, the first earl of
Shrewsbury. Being bred in learning, he was consecrated
archbishop of Dublin in Ireland 1417. He sat two and thirty
years in that see (being all that time a privy counsellor to king
Henry the Fifth and Sixth), twice chief justice, and once chan-
cellor of Ireland.
He deserved well of his church (founding six petty canons,
and as many choristers, therein) ; yea, generally of all Ireland,
writing a book against James earl of Ormond,|| wherein he
detected his abuses during his lieutenancy in Ireland, He
died August the 15th, 1449 ; and lieth buried in Saint Patrick's
in Dublin under a marble stone, whereon an epitaph is written
not worthy the inserting.
The said Richard was unanimously chosen archbishop of Ar-
magh, a higher place ; but refused to remove, wisely preferring
safety, above either honour or profit.
GEORGE DAY was born in this county, ^[ and successively
scholar, fellow, and provost of King's College in Cambridge ;
which he retained with the bishopric of Chichester, to which
he was consecrated 1543. A most pertinacious Papist, who,
though he had made some kind of recantation in a sermon (as
I find it entered in king Edward the Sixth's own diary) ; yet
either the same was not satisfactory, or else he relapsed into his
* Godwin, in the Bishops of Bath and Wells.
t De Illustrious Anglise Scriptoribus, p. 591-
J Godwin, in Bishops. Jacobus Wareus, de Praesulibus Lageniae, p. 28.
|| Idem, de Scriptoribus Hibernise, p. 131.
^ Parker, in his Skellitos Cantabrigiensis, in the Provosts of King's College.
60 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
errors again, for which he was deprived under the said king,
and restored again by queen Mary. He died anno Domini
1556.
PRELATES SINCE THE REFORMATION.
WILLIAM DAY was brother to the aforesaid George Day.
I find no great difference betwixt their age ; seeing George Day
was admitted in King's College, anno 1538 ; William Day was
admitted in the same college anno 1545.*
Yet was there more than forty years' betwixt the dates of
their deaths ; George Day died very young, bishop of Chiches-
ter, anno Domini 1556 ; William Day died very old, bishop
of Winchester, anno 1596.
But not so great was the difference betwixt their vivacity, as
distance betwixt their opinions; the former being a rigid
Papist, the latter a zealous Protestant ; who, requesting of his
brother some money to buy books therewith, and other neces-
saries, was returned with this denial, "That he thought it not
fit to spend the goods of the church on him who was an enemy
of the church."t
However, this William found the words of Solomon true,
" And there is a friend who is nearer than a brother/' J not
wanting those who supplied his necessities. He was proctor of
Cambridge 1558, arid afterwards was made by queen Elizabeth
(who highly esteemed him for his learning and religion) provost
of Eton and dean of Windsor, two fair preferments (parted with
Thames, but) united in his person. The bishopric of Winches-
ter he enjoyed scarcely a whole year ; and died as aforesaid,
1596,
STATESMEN.
Sir THOMAS BROMLEY was born at Bromley in this county,
of a right ancient family, I assure you ; bred in the Inner Tem-
ple, and general solicitor to queen Elizabeth. He afterwards
succeeded Sir Nicholas Bacon, in the dignity of lord chancellor,
April 25, 1579.
Now, although it was difficult to come after Sir Nicholas
Bacon, and riot to come after him ; yet such was Sir Thomas's
learning and integrity (being charactered by my author, " vir
jurisprudentia insignis;" that court was not sensible of any
considerable alteration. He possessed his place about nine
years, dying anno 1587, not being sixty years old.|| Hereby
the pregnancy of his parts doth appear, seeing by proportion of
time he was made the queen's solicitor before he was forty, and
lord chancellor before he was fifty years old. Learning in law
* Mr. Hatcher, in his Manuscript Catalogue of Fellows of King's College.
t Bishop Godwin, in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Winchester.
J Proverbs xviii. 24.
Camden, in his Elizabeth, anno 1587. || Idem, ibidem.
STATESMEN JUDGES WRITERS. 61
may seem to run in the veins of that name, which since had a
baron of the Exchequer of his alliance.
Sir CLEMENT EDMONDS was born at Shrawardine in this
county ;* and bred Fellow in All- Souls College in Oxford,
being generally skilled in all arts and sciences ; witness his
faithful translations of, and learned illustrations on, Caesar's
Commentaries. Say not that comment on commentary was
false heraldry, seeing it is so worthy a work, that the author
thereof may pass for an eminent instance to what perfection of
theory they may attain in matter of war, who were not ac-
quainted with the practical part thereof, being only once em-
ployed by queen Elizabeth, with a dispatch to Sir Francis Vere,
which occasioned his presence at the battle at Newport : for he
doth^so smartly discuss pro and con, and seriously decide many
martial controversies, that his judgment therein is praised by
the best military masters.
King James, taking notice of his abilities, made him clerk of
the Council, and knighted him; and he was at last preferred
secretary of state, in the vacancy of that place, but, prevented
by death, acted not therein. He died anno 1623; and lies
buried at Preston in Northamptonshire, where he purchased a
fair estate, which his grandchild doth possess at this day (1660\
CAPITAL JUDGES, AND WRITERS ON THE LAW.
EDMUND PLOWDEN was born at Plowden in this county;
one who excellently deserved of our municipal law, in his learned
writings thereon : but consult his ensuing epitaph, which will*
give a more perfect account of him :
" Conditur in hoc tumulo corpus Edmundi Plowden, Armigeri. Claris ortus
parentibus, apud Plowden in comitatu Salop, natus est ; a pueritia in litera-
rum studio liberaliter est educatus, in provectiore vero setate legibus et
jurisprudentia operam dedit. Senex jam factus, et annum setatis suae
agens 67, mundo valedicens, in Christo Jesu sancte obdormivit, die sexto
mensis Februar. anno Domini 1584.''
I have rather inserted this epitaph inscribed on his monument
on the north side of the east end of the choir of Temple church
in London, because it hath escaped (but by what casualty I can-
not conjecture) Master Stow, in his " Survey of London/' We
must add a few words out of the character Mr. Camden gives of
him:t " Vitae integritate inter homines suae professionis nulli
secundus." And how excellent a medley is made, when honesty
and ability meet in a man of his profession! Nor must we
forget how he was treasurer for the Honourable Society of the
Middle Temple, anno 1572, when their magnificent hall was
builded ; he being a great advancer thereof.
Sir JOHN WALTER, son to Edmund Walter, chief justice of
* So his near kinsman informed me F. f His Elizabeth, anno 1584.
62 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
South Wales, was born at Ludlow in this county ; and bred a
student of our common laws, wherein he attained to great learn-
ing; so that he became, when a pleader, eminent; when a judge,
more eminent; when no judge, most eminent.
1. Pleader. The character that learned James Thuanus*
gives of Christopher Thuanus his father, being an advocate of
the civil law, and afterwards a senator of Paris, is exactly agree-
able to this worthy knight : " Ut bonos' a calumniatoribus, te-
nuiores a potentioribus, doctos ab ignorantibus, opprimi non
pateretur ;" (that he suffered not good men to be borne down
by slanderers, poor men by more potent, learned men by the
ignorant.)
2. Judge. Who (as when ascending the bench, entering into
a new temper) was most passionate as Sir John, most patient
as judge Walter ; and great his gravity in that place. When
judge Denham, his most upright and worthy associate in the
western circuit, once said unto him, " My lord, you are not
merry \" " Merry enough, 55 returned the other, " for a judge P'
3. No judge. Being ousted of his place, when chief baron of
the Exchequer, about the illegality of the loan, as I take it,
He was a grand benefactor (though I know not the just pro-
portion) to Jesus College in Oxford ; and died anno 1 630, in
the parish of Savoy, bequeathing 20 to the poor thereof. f
EDWARD LITLETON, born at Mounslow in this county,^ was
the eldest son to sir Edward Littleton, one of the justices of the
Marshes, and chief justice of North Wales. He was bred in
Christ Church in Oxford, where he proceeded bachelor of arts,
and afterwards one of the justices of North Wales, recorder of
London, and solicitor to king Charles. From these places he
was preferred to be chief justice of the Common Pleas, when he
was made privy counsellor ; thence advanced to be lord keeper
and baron of Mounslow, the place of his nativity. He died in
Oxford, and was buried in Christ Church, anno 1645.
SOLDIERS.
Sir JOHN TALBOT was born (as all concurring indications do
avouch) at Black Mere in this county, the then flourishing (now
ruined) house, devolved to his family by marrying the heir of
lord Strange of Black Mere.
Many honourable titles deservedly met in him ; who was,
1. Lord Talbot and Strange, by his paternal extraction. 2. Lord
Furnival and Verdun, by marriage with Joan, the daughter of
Thomas de Nevil. 3. Earl of Shrewsbury in England, and
Waterford in Ireland, by creation of king Henry the Sixth.
* Obituarium Doctorum Virorum, in anno 1565, in vita Joan. Grollierii.
t Stow's Survey of London, in the Rem. p. 910.
| So am I informed by his two surviving brothers, the one a serjeant-at-law, the
other a doctor in divinity F.
SOLDIERS WRITERS. 63
This is that terrible Talbot, so famous for his sword, or rather
whose sword was so famous for his arm that used it ; a sword
with bad Latin* upon it, but good steel within it ; which con-
stantly conquered where it came, insomuch that the bare fame
of his approach frighted the French from the siege of Bordeaux.
Being victorious for twenty-four years together, success failed
him at last, charging the enemy near Castilion on unequal terms,
where he, with his son the lord Lisle, were slain with a shot,
July 17, 1453. Henceforward we may say, " Good night to the
English in France," whose victories were buried with the body
of this earl, and his body interred at White Church in this
county.
Sir JOHN TALBOT, son to Sir John Talbot aforesaid, and vis-
count Lisle in right of his mother. Though he was slain with
his father, yet their ashes must not be so huddled together, but
that he must have a distinct commemoration of his valour. The
rather, because a noble penf hath hinted a parallel betwixt him
and Paulus ^Emilius the Roman general, which others may
improve.
1. ^Emilius was overpower- 1. The same sad success at-
ed by the forces of Hannibal tended the two Talbots, in fight
and Asdrubal, to the loss of against the French.
the day.
2. Cornelius Lentulus en- 2. The father advised the
treated ./Emilius (sitting all son, by escape to reserve him-
bloodied upon a stone) to rise self for future fortune.
and save himself, offering him
his horse and other assistance.
3. ^Emilius refused the 3. His son craved to be ex-
proffer ; adding withal, " that cused, and would not on any
he would not again come un- terms be persuaded to forsake
der the judgment of the people his father.
of Rome."
In two considerables Talbot far surpassed ^Emilius : for JEmi-
lius was old, grievously, if not mortally wounded ; our lord in
the flower of his youth, unhurt, easily able to escape. ^Emilius
accountable for the overthrow received ; the other no ways an-
swerable for that day's misfortune, being (as we have said) the
17th of July 1453.
LEARNED WRITERS.
ROBERT of SHREWSBURY. Take, reader, a taste of the
different spirits of writers concerning his character :
M Leland's Text. "Eadem opera et religionem celebrabat et
literas ;" (with the same endeavour he plied both religion and
learning/ 5 )
* '* Sum Talboti pro vincere inimicos meos."
f Sir Walter Raleigh, in History of the World, lib. v. p. 455.
64 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Bale?s Comment.* "Per religionem fortassis monachatum
intelligit, per literas sophistica prsestigia ;" (it may be he mean-
eth monkery by religion, and by learning sophistical fallacies.)
I confess he might have employed his pains better. But
Bale proceeds, de Consultis Ruthenis, consulting, not the Rus-
sians, as the word sounds to all critics, but the men of Rnthin
in Wales. He wrote the Life and Miracles of St. Winfride ;
flourishing anno 1140.
DAVID of CHIRBURY, a Carmelite, was so named from his
native place in the west of this county, bordering on Montgo-
meryshire ; a small village, I confess, yet . which formerly de-
nominated a whole hundred, and at this day is the barony of
the Lord Herbert. He was, saith Leland (whom I take at the
second hand on the trust of John Pits t) 5 " Theologiee cogni-
tione clarus ;" and, going over into Ireland, was there made
Episcopus DromorensiSy bishop of Dromore, as I take it.{
He is said to have wrote some books, though not mentioned
in Bale, and (which is to me a wonder) no notice taken of him
by that judicious knight Sir James Ware.|| So that it seems
his writings were either few or obscure. Returning into Eng-
land, he died, and was buried in his native county at Ludlow,
in the convent of the Carmelites, anno Domini 1420.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
ROBERT LANGELAND. Forgive me, reader, though placing
him (who lived one hundred and fifty years before) since the
Reformation ; for I conceive that the morning-star belongs ra-
ther to the day than to the night. On which account this Ro-
bert (regulated in our book, not according to the age he was in,
but judgment he was of) may by prolepsis be termed a Protes-
tant.
He was born at Mortimer's- Clibery in this county,^! eight
miles from Malvern Hills ; was bred a priest, and one of the
first followers of John Wickliffe, wanting neither wit nor learn-
ing, as appears by his book called " The Vision of Pierce Plowgh-
man ;" and hear what character a most learned antiquary giveth
thereof:**
" It is written in a kind of English metre, which for discovery
of the infecting corruptions of those times I prefer before many
of the more seemingly serious invectives, as well for invention
as judgment."
There is a book first set forth by Tindal, since exemplified
* De Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. ii. num. 76.
t In Appendice Illustr. Anglise Scriptor. p. 832.
: David of Chirbury was bishop of Dromore from 1427 to 1429 ED.
In Append. Illustr. Angl. Script, p. 832.
|| In his Book de Scriptoribus Hibernicis.
^[ Bale, de Scriptoribus, Cent. vi. num. 37.
** Mr. Selden, in his notes on Polyolbion, p. 109.
WRITERS. 65
by Mr. Fox,* called " The Prayer and Complaint of the Plowgh-
man," which, though differing in title and written in prose, yet
being of the same subject, at the same time, in the same language,
I must refer it to the same author ; and let us observe a few
of his strange words, with their significations :
1. Behotefy for 'promiseth;' 2. binemen, for 'take away;'
3. blive, for ' quickly; 5 4. fulleden, for ' baptized;' 5. feile
timesj for ' oft-times ;' 6. fonvard, for ' covenant ;' 7- heryeth,
for ' worshippeth ;' 8. homelich, for ' household ;' 9. lesew, for
6 pasture;' 10. leude-men, for ' laymen;' 11. nele, for 'will
not;' 12. nemeth, for 'taketh;' 13. seggen, for 'do say;'
14. sivevens, for 'dreams;' 15. syth, for 'afterwards;' 16.
thralleSy for ' bondmen.'
It is observable that Pits (generally a perfect plagiary out of
Bale) passeth this Langeland over in silence. And why ? be-
cause he wrote in oppositum to the papal interest. Thus the most
light-fingered thieves will let that alone which is too hot for
them. He flourished under king Edward the Third, anno Do-
mini 1369.
THOMAS CHURCHYARD was born in the town of Shrewsbury,
as himself doth affirm in his book made in verse of " The Wor-
thines of Wales," taking Shropshire within the compass ; making
(to use his own expression) Wales the park, and the Marches to
be the pale thereof. Though some conceive him to be as much
beneath a poet as above a rhymer, in my opinion his verses
may go abreast with any of that age, writing in the beginning
of queen Elizabeth. It seems by this his epitaph, in Mr. Cam-
den's "Remains," that he died not guilty of much wealth :
Alecto, lend me thy torch,
To find a church-yard in a church-porch ,
Poverty and poetry his tomb doth enclose ;
Wherefore, good neighbours, be merry in prose."
His death, according to the most probable conjecture, may be
presumed about the eleventh year of the queen's reign, anno
Domini 1570.
THOMAS HOLLAND, D.D. was born in this county,f "in
finibus et limitibus Cambrise, (in the confines and Marches of
Wales ;) bred in Exeter College in Oxford, and at last became
rector thereof. He did not, with some, only sip of learning,
or at the best but drink thereof, but was " mersus in libris,'
(drowned in his books) ; so that the scholar in him almost de-
voured all other relations. He was, saith the author of his fu-
neral sermon, so familiar with the Fathers, as if he himself had
been a Father. This quality commended him to succeed Dr.
Lawrence Humphrid in the place of regius professor, which place
* Acts and Monuments, p. 398. f Herologia Anglica, p. 238.
VOL. III. F
66 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
he discharged with good credit for twenty years together.
When he went forth of his college on any journey for any long
continuance, he always took this solemn valediction of the fel-
lows : " I commend you to the love of God, and to the hatred
of Popery and superstition."*
His extemporaries were often better than his premeditations ;
so that he might have been said " to have been out, if he had
not been out/ 5 He died in March, anno Domini 1612, and was
buried in Oxford with great solemnity and lamentation.
ABRAHAM WHELOCK was born in White-church parish in
this county ; bred fellow of Clare Hall, library-keeper, Arabic
professor, and minister of St. Sepulchre's in Cambridge. Ad-
mirable his industry, and no less his knowledge in the Oriental
tongues ; so that he might serve for the interpreter to the queen
of Sheba coming to Solomon, and the wise men of the East who
came to Herod ; such his skill in the Arabian and Persian lan-
guages. Amongst the western tongues, he was well versed in
the Saxon ; witness his fair and true edition of Bede.
He translated the New Testament into Persian, and printed
it, hoping in time it might tend to the conversion of that coun-
try to Christianity. Such as laugh at his design as ridiculous,
might well forbear their mirth; and, seeing they expended
neither penny of cost nor hour of pains therein, might let ano-
ther enjoy his own inclination. True it is, he that sets an acorn,
sees it not a timber-oak, which others may behold ; and if such
testaments be conveyed into Persia, another age may admire
what this doth deride. He died, as I take it, anno Domini 1654.
BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC.
Sir ROGER Ac H LEY, born at Stanwardine in this county. f
He beheld the whole city of London as one family, and himself
the Major 1511 (for the time being) the master thereof. He
observed that poor people, who never have more than they
need, will sometimes need more than they have. This Joseph
collected from the present plenty, that a future famine would
follow; as, in this kind, a lank constantly attends the bank.
Wherefore he prepared Leaden-hall (therefore called the com-
mon-garner), and stored up much corn therein ; for which
he deserved the praise of the rich, and blessing of the poor.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
Sir ROWLAND HILL, son of Richard Hill, was born at
Hodnet in this county ; J bred a mercer in London, whereof he
was lord major 1549. Being sensible that God had given him
a great estate, he expressed his gratitude unto him in giving
maintenance to a fair school at Drayton in this county, which
he built and endowed ; besides six hundred pounds to Christ-
* Herologia Auglica, p, 238. f Survey of London, p. 577.
J Stow's Survey of London.
BENEFACTORS. 67
church hospital, and other benefactions : in forgiving at his
death all his tenants in his manors of Aldersy and Sponely a
year's rent ; also enjoining his heirs to make them new leases
of one and twenty years,, for two years' rent.*
As for the causeways he caused to be made, and bridges
built (two of stone containing eighteen arches in them bothf)*
seeing hitherto it hath not been my hap to go over them, I
leave his piety to be praised by such passengers, who have
received safety, ease, and cleanness, by such conveniences.
He died anno Domini 1561.
A Note to the Reader.
I have heard the natives of this county confess and com-
plain of a comparative dearth (in proportion to other shires)
of benefactors to the public. But sure, Shropshire is like
to the mulberry, which putteth forth his leaves last of all trees,
but then maketh such speed (as sensible of his slowness with an
ingenuous shame) that it overtaketh those trees in fruit, which
in leaves started long before it. As this shire of late hath done
affording two of the same surname still surviving, who have
dipped their hands so deep in charitable mortar.
Sir THOMAS ADAMS, Knight,{ was born at Wem in this
county ; bred a draper in London, where God so blessed his
honest industry, that he became lord mayor thereof 1646. A
man, who hath drunk of the bitter waters of Meribah without
making a bad face thereat, cheerfully submitting himself to
God's pleasure in all conditions.
He gave the house of his nativity to be a free school (that
others might have their breeding where he had his birth) ; and
hath liberally endowed it. He liveth in due honour and esteem ;
and, I hope, will live to see many years, seeing there is no better
collirium, or eye-salve, to quicken and continue one's sight, than
in his life-time to behold a building erected for the public profit.
WILLIAM ADAMS, Esq. was born at Newport in this county;
bred by trade a haberdasher in London, where God so blessed
his endeavours, that he fined for alderman in that city. God
had given him a heart and hand proportionable to his estate,
having founded in the town of his nativity a school-house in
the form following.
1. The building is of brick, with windows of freestone,
wherein the school is threescore and ten in length, and two and
twenty feet in breadth and height, 2. Over it a fair library,
furnished with plenty and choice books. At the south end, the
* Dr. Willet, in his Catalogue of Protestant Charities,
f Stow's Survey of London, p. 90.
j Dubbed by king Charles II. at the Hague, when sent thither a Commissioner
for the City of London. F.
F 2
68 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
lodgings of the schoolmaster, whose salary is sixty ; on the
north the usher's, whose stipend is thirty pounds per annum.
3. Before the front of the school a stately crypto-porticus, or
fair walk all the length of the school, with pillars erected ; and on
the top thereof a leaden terrace, with rails and balusters. 4. Two
alms-houses for poor people, at convenient distance from the
school, with competent maintenance. 5. Two gardens a-piece,
for schoolmaster and usher, with well nigh two acres of ground
for a place for the scholars to play in. 6. The rent for the
maintenance thereof deposed in the hands of trustees a year
before, that, in case of casualty, there may be no complaint.
7. More intended for the settlement of exhibitions to scholars
chosen hence to the university, as God hereafter shall direct
the founder. But wh'o for the present can hold from praising
so pious a performance ?
" Come, Momus, who delight dost take, Here, whilst Apollo's harp doth sound,
Where none are found, there faults to The sisters nine may dance around ;
make : And architects may take from hence
And count'st that cost, and care, and The pattern of magnificence.
pain, Then grieve not, Adams, in thy mind,
Not spent on thee, all spent in vain. 'Cause you have left no child behind :
See this bright structure, till that smart Unbred ! unborn, is better rather,
Blind thy blear eyes, and grieve thy If so, you are a second father
heart. To all bred in this school so fair,
Some cottage schools are built so low, And each of them thy son and heir."
The Muses there must grovelling go,
Long may this worthy person live to see his intentions
finished and completed, to his own contentment !
MEMORABLE PERSONS.
THOMAS PARRE, son of John Parre, born at Alderbury, in
the parish of Winnington, in this county, lived to be above
one hundred and fifty years of age ; verifying his anagram :
:t THOMAS PARRE " (most rare hap). He was born in the
reign of king Edward 'the Fourth, one thousand four hundred
eighty three ; and, two months before his death, was brought
up by Thomas earl of Arundel (a great lover of antiquities in
all kinds) to Westminster. He slept away most of his time ;
and is thus charactered by an eye-witness of him :
" From head to heel his body had all over
A quick-set, thick-set, nat'ral hairy cover,"
Change of air and diet (better in itself but worse for him), with
the trouble of many visitants, or spectators rather, are conceived
to have accelerated his death ; which happened at Westminster,
November the 15th, 1634 ; and he was buried in the abbey-
church ; all present at his burial doing homage to this our aged
Thomas de Temporibus.
LORD MAYORS.
1. Roger Acheley, son of Thomas Acheley, of Stanwardine,
Draper, 1511.
LORD MAYORS GENTRY.
2. Rowland Hill, son of Thomas Hill, of Hodnet, Mercer, 1549.
3. Thomas Lee, son of Roger Lee, of Wellington, Mercer, 1558.
4. Thomas Lodge, son of William Lodge, of Cresset, Grocer,
1562.
5. Rowland Hey ward, son of George Hey ward, of Bridge-
north, Clothworker, 1570.
6. Robert Lee, son of Humphry Lee, of Bridge-north, Mer-
chant Tailor, 1602.
7. John Swinnerton, son of Tho. Swinnerton, of Oswestry,
Merchant Tailor, 1612.
8. Francis Jones, son of John Jones, of Glaverly, Haber-
dasher, 1620.
9. Peter Probey, not recorded of White-church, Grocer, 1622.
10. Allen Cotton, son of Ralph Cotton, of White- church, Dra-
per, 1625,
11. George Whitmore, son of Will, Whitmore, of Charley,
Haberdasher, 1631.
12. Thomas Adams, son of Thomas Adams, of W T em, Draper,
1646.
See we here a jury of lord mayors born in this (which I be-
lieve will hardly be paralleled in a greater) county. All [no
doubt] honest men, and true.
NAMES OF THE GENTRY OF THIS COUNTY,
RETURNED BY THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF KING HENRY
THE SIXTH.
( a ) William bishop of Coven, and Lichf. and ( b ) John de Tal-
bot, knight ; ( c ) Richard Laken, and William Boerley,
(knights for the shire) ; Commissioners to take the oaths.
Willielmi Malory, Militis.
Johannis Fitz-Piers.
Willielmi Lodelowe.
Thomae Hopton, de Hopton.
Richardi Archer.
Johannis Wynnesbury.
Thomae Corbet, de Ley.
Thomae Corbet, de Morton.
Johannis Bruyn, senioris.
Thomae Charleton a
Richardi Peshale.
Thomas Newport.
Georgii Hankeston.
Johannis Brugge.
Thomae Banastre.
Hugonis Harnage.
Leonardi Stepulton.
Hugonis Cresset.
Johannis Skryven.
Willielmi Poynour.
Richardi Neuport,
Richardi Horde.
Nicholai Sandford.
Griffin Kynaston.
Johannis Bruyn, junioris.
Hugonis Stepulton.
Simonis Iladingtori.
Alani Wetenhull.
Richardi Sonford.
Johannis Otley.
Edwardi Leighton de Mershe,
Edmundi Plowden.
Thomae Mardford.
Rogeri Bromley.
Richardi Lee.
Humfridi Cotes.
Willielmi Leighton.
Richardi Horton.
70
WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE,
Willielmi Welascote.
Richard! Husee.
Johannis Wenlok.
Willielmi Mersheton.
Walteri Codour.
Richardi Gerii.
Willielmi Bourden.
( a ) This William was William Hieworth, bishop of Coventry
and Lichfield, of whom hereafter.*
( b ) Sir John Talbot, (though here only additioned Knight)
was the Lord Talbot, and eight years after created earl of
Shrewsbury, of whom before.f
( c ) Richard Laken, the same family with Lacon, whose seat
was at Willily in this county, augmented both in blood and es-
tate by the matches with the heirs of, 1. Harley ; 2. Peshal ; 3.
Passilew; 4. Blunt of Kinlet.
My hopes are according to my desires, that this ancient fa-
mily is still extant in this county, though I suspect shrewdly
shattered in estate.
The commissioners of this shire were neither altogether idle,
nor very industrious ; having made but a short and slender re-
turn, only of 45 principal persons therein.
SHERIFFS.
HENRY II.
Anno
2 Will, filius Alani, for five
years together,
7 Guido Extraneus, for five
years together.
12 Gaufrid. de Ver, for four
years together.
16 Gaufrid. de Ver, et
Will. Clericus.
I? Guido Extraneus, for nine
years together.
26 Hugo Pantulfe, for eight
years together.
RICH. I.
1 Will, filius Alani, et
Reginal. de Hesden.
2 Idem.
3 Will, filius Alani, et
Will, de Hadlega.
4 Will, filius Alani, for four
years together.
Anno
8 Will, filius Alini, et
Reginald, de Hedinge.
9 Will, filius Alani, et
Wido filius Roberti.
10 Will, filius Alani Masculum.
JOHANNES.
1 Will, filius Alani, et
Warrus de Wililegh.
2 Idem.
3 Will, filius Alani, et
Reiner de Lea.
4 G. filius Petri, et
Richardus de Ambresleg.
5 Idem.
6 Thomas de Erolitto, et >
Robertus de Alta Ripa.
7 Idem.
8 Thomas de Erdington, for
nine years together.
HENRY III.
WILTSHIRE PRELATES. f Vide SOLDIERS in this county.
Camden's Britannia, in Salop.
SHERIFFS.
Anno
2 Ranul. Com. Cestriee, et
Hen. de Aldetheleg.
3 Idem.
4 Idem.
5 Ranul. Com. Cestrise, et
Philippus Kinton.
6 Idem.
7 Idem.
8 Ranul. Com. Cestriee.
9 Johannes Bovet.
10 Idem.
11 Hen. de Aldithle.
12 Idem.
13 Idem.
14 Hen. de Aldithle, et
Will, de Bromley.
15 Idem.
16 Idem.
17 Petr. Rival, et Rob. de
Haye, for four years
together.
21 Johannes Extraneus, et
Robertus de Acton.
22 Johannes Extraneus, for
eleven years together.
33 Thomas Corbet.
34 Idem.
35 Robertus de Grendon, for
five years together.
40 Hugo Acover.
41 Idem.
42 Willielmus Bagod..
43 Idem.
44 Idem.
45 Jacobus de Audeley, for
seven years together.
52 Walterus de Hopton.
53 Idem.
EDWARD I.
1_ Roger, de Mortuo Mari.
2 Idem.
3 Idem.
4 Bago de Knovile.
5 Idem.
6 Idem.
7 Roger. Sprengehuse, for
eight years together.
Anno
15 Dominus de Ramesley.
16 Idem.
17 Robertus Corbet.
18 Will, de Tickley (sive Tit-
tle), for six years toge-
ther.
24 Radulpl.us de Schirle.
25 Idem.
26 Idem.
2? Tho. Corbet.
28 Idem.
29 Richardus de Harleigh.
30 Idem.
31 Walter de Beysin.
32 Idem.
33 Johannes de Acton.
34 Johannes de Dene.
35 Idem.
EDWARD II.
1 Rogerus Trmnvine.
2 Johannes Extraneus, et
Hugo de Crofts.
3 Hugo de Crofts.
4 Idem.
5 Hugo de Audeley.
6 Idem,
7 Idem.
8 Will, de Mere.
9 Rogerus de Cheyney.
10 Rogerus Trumwine.
11 Idem.
12 Robertus de Grendon.
13 Nuttus Titulus Vicecom. in
hoc Rotulo.
14 Nee in hoc.
15 Johannes de Swinerton.
16 Idem.
17 Hen. de Bishburne.
18 Idem.
19 Idem.
BDWARD III.
1 Joh. de Hinckley, et
Hen. de Bishburn.
2 Idem.
3 Johannes Hinckley.
4 Idem.
72 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Anno Anno
5 Henricus de Bishburn. 15 Adam de Peshal.
6 Idem. 16 Thomas de Swinerton.
7 Richardus de Peshal. 17 Idem.
8 Idem. 18 Johannes de Aston.
9 Johannes de Hinckley. 19 Richardus Com. Arundel,
10 Simon de Ruggeley. for thirty-one years to-
ll Richardus de Peshal. gether.
12 Idem. 50 Richardus Peshall.
13 Simon de Ruggeley. 51 Petrus de Careswel.
14 Idem.
SHERIFFS.
RICHARD II.
Anno Name and Arms . Place.
1 Brian, de Cornwel . . Burford.
Arg. a lion rampant G. crowned O. ; a border S. besante.
2 Johannes Ludlow . . Hodnet.
Arg. a lion rampant S.
3 Joh. de Drayton . . . Drayton.
4 Roger us Hord.
Arg. on a chief O. a raven proper.
5 Johannes Shery.
6 Edw. de Acton . . . Aldenham.
G. two lions passant Arg. betwixt nine croslets O.
7 Joh. de Stepulton.
Arg. a lion rampant S.
8 Edw. de Acton . . . ut prius.
9 Nich. de Sandford . . Sandford.
Parti per chevron S. and Erm. two boars' heads coupee
in chief O.
10 Robert de Lee . . . Lee-hall.
G. a fess componee O. and Az. betwixt eight billets Arg.
11 Joh. Mowetho, alias Mowellio, queere.
12 Rob. de Ludlow ... . ut prius.
13 Edw. de Acton . . . ut prius.
14 Joh. de Stepulton . . ut prius.
15 Will. Huggeford.
16 Hen. de Winesbury.
Az. on a bend betwixt two cotises O. three lions G.
17 Joh. de Eyton . . . Eyton.
O. a fret Az.
18 Thomas de Lee . . . ut prius.
19 Will. Worthie.
20 WiU. Huggeford.
21 Adamus de Peshal.
Arg. a cross formee fleury S. ; on a canton G. a wolfs
head erased of the field.
22 Idem ...... ut prius.
SHERIFFS. 73
HENRY IV.
Anno Name. Place.
1 Jo. Cornwal, mil. . . ut prius.
2 Will. Huggeford, et
Johan. Daras.
3 Will. Banaster . . . Wem.
Arg. a cross patee S.
4 Tho. Newport . . . Arcol.
Arg. a chevron G. betwixt three leopards' heads S.
5 Idem ut prius.
6 Joh. Corn wail, mil. . . ut prius.
7 Tho. de Witton ... Witton.
O. on a chevron S. five plates,
8 Will. Brounshul.
9 Joh. Boreley .... Brooms-craft Castle.
Arg.afess cheeky O. and Az. upon alion rampant S.armedG.
10 Rog. Acton . ut prius.
11 Edw. Sprengeaux.
12 Robertas Tiptot.
Arg. a saltire engrailed G.
HENRY V.
1 Rob. Corbet, mik . . Morton.
O. a raven proper.
2 Rob. Corbet, mil. . . ut prius.
3 Rich. Laken, mil.
Quarterly per fess indented Erm. and Az.
4 Geo. Hankeston.
5 Will. Ludelowe . . ". ut prius.
6 Adam Peshal, mil. . . ut prius.
7 Rob. Corbet .... ut prius..
8 Johannes Bruyn.
Az. a cross moline O.
9 Idem ut prius.
HENRY VI.
1 Johannes Bruyn . . . ut prius.
2 Hugo Harnage . . . Cund.
Arg. six torteaux.
3 Tho. Le Strange.
G. two lions passant Arg.
4 Will. Boerley . . . . ut prius.
5 Tho. Corbet .... ut prius.
6 Will. Liechfeld.
7 Joh. Winnesbury . . ut prius.
8 Hugo. Burgh.
Az. a chevron betwixt three flowers-de-luce Erm.
Thomas Hopton . . . Hopton.
G. seme de cross croslets, a lion rampant O.
74 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
9 Rich. Archer.
10 Johannes Bruyn . . . ut prius.
11 Johannes Ludlow . . ut prius.
12 Th. Corbet de Ley . . ut prius.
13 Hugo Cresset .... Upton Cresset.
Az. a cross within a border engrailed O.
14 Rob. Inglefeld . . . BERKSHIRE.
Barry of six G. and Arg. ; on a chief O. a lion passant Az.
15 Will. Ludlow .... ut prius.
16 Will. Liechfield.
17 Hum. Low.
18 Nicholaus Eyton . . ut prius.
19 Idem ut prius.
20 Johannes Burgh . . . ut prius.
21 Will. Ludlow .... ut prius.
22 Thomas Corbet . . . ut prius.
23 Nicholaus Eyton . . ut prius.
24 Hugo Cresset . . . ut prius.
25 Fulcho Sprencheaux.
26 Will. Ludlow . . . ut prius.
2? Joh. Burgh, mil. . . . ut prius.
28 Rogerus Eyton . . . ut prius.
29 Thomas Herbert . . Chirbury.
Per pale Az. and G. three lions rampant Arg.
30 Will. Laken . . . . ut prius.
31 Joh. Burgh, mil. . . ut prius.
32 Robertus Corbet . . ut prius.
33 Nicholas Eyton . . . ut prius.
34 Will. Mitton.
Per pale G. and Az. an eagle displayed with two heads O.
35 Tho. Hord, arm. . . ut prius.
36 Fulco Sprencheaux.
37 Tho. CornwaiJ, arm. . ut prius.
38 Rob. Corbet, mil. . . ut prius.
EDWARD VI.
1 Hum. Blount, arm. . . Kinlet.
Barry nebulee of six, O and S.
2 Rog. Kinaston, arm. . Hordley.
(See our notes in this year.)
3 Idem ut prius.
4 Joh. Burgh, mil. . . ut prius.
5 Rich. Lee, arm. ... ut prius.
6 Rob. Eyton, arm. . . ut prius.
7 Hum. Blount, arm. . . ut prius.
8 Joh. Leighton, arm. . . Watlesbury.
Quarterly per fess indented O. and G.
9 Rob. Cresset, arm. . . ut prius.
SHERIFFS.
Anno Name. Place.
10 Rog. Kinaston, arm. . ut prius.
1 1 Rog. Kinaston, mil. . . ut prius.
12 Rob. Charleton, arm.
O. a lion rampant G.
13 Will. Newport ... ut prius.
14 John Leigh ton . . . ut prius.
15 Hum. Blount, mil. . . ut prius.
16 Johannes Heuui.
17 Rich. Laken, arm. . . ut prius.
18 Rich. Ludlow, mil. . . ut prius.
19 Richardus Lee . . . ut prius.
20 Tho. Blount, arm. . . ut prius.
21 Joh. Harley, mil.
O. a bend cotised S.
22 Joh. Leighton, arm. . ut prius.
RICHARD III.
1 Thomas Mitton . . . ut prius.
2 Thomas Hord . . . ut prius.
3 Rob. Cresset^ et . . . ut prius.
Gilb. Talbot, mil.
G. a lion rampant, and a border engrailed O,
HENRY VII.
1 Joh. Talbot, mil. .
2 Rich. Laken, mil.
3 Thomas Hord . .
4 Edward Blount . .
5 Rich. Ludlow, mil. .
6 Johan. Newport
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
Kenton.
Will. Young, mil. .
O. three roses G.
8 Edw. Blount, arm. . . ut prius.
9 Tho. Blount, mil. . . ut prius.
10 Tho. Leigh ton, mil. et . ut prius.
Rich. Lee, arm. . . ut prius.
11 Rich. Lee, arm. . . . ut prius.
12 Tho. Screvin, arm. . . Fradgly.
Arg. guttee G, a lion rampant S.
13 Rich. Laken, mil. . . ut prius.
14 Rich Harley, mil. . . ut prius.
15 Will. Otteley, arm. . . Pichford.
Arg. on a bend Az. three garbs O.
16 Joh. Newport, arm. . . ut prius.
17 Tho. Blount, mil. . . ut prius.
18 Pet. Newton, arm. . . Hertley.
Arg. a cross S, fleury O.
19 Idem ut prius.
76 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
20 Geo. Manwayring, arm. CHESHIRE.
Arg. two bars G.
21 Tho. Cornwall, mil. . . ut prius.
22 Rob- Corbet, mil. . . ut prius.
23 Tho. Kinaston, mil. . .
HENRY VIII.
1 Tho. Laken, arm. . . ut prius.
2 Joh. Newport, arm. . . ut prius.
3 Tho. Scriven, arm. . . ut prius.
4 Pet. Newton, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Will. Otteley, arm. . : ut prius.
6 Tho. Laken, arm. . . ut prius.
7 Tho. Cornwall, mil. . . ut prius.
8 Rob. Pigot, arm. . ^ Chetwin.
Erm. three fusils in fess S.
9 Pet. Newton, arm. . . ut prius.
10 Tho. Blount, mil . . . ut prius.
11 Tho. Cornwall, mil. . . ut prius.
12 Joh. Salter, arm. . . Oswestry.
G. ten billets O. 4, 3, 2, and 1.
13 Geo. Bromley, arm. . . ut prius.
Quarterly, per fess indented Arg. and O.
14 Pet. Newton, arm. . . Bromley.
15 Thomas Vernon . . . Hodnet.
Arg. fretty S. ; a canton G.
16 Tho. Cornwall, mil. . ut prius.
17 Joh. Corbet de Ley, arm.
18 Tho. Screvin, arm. . . ut prius.
19 Joh. Talbot, mil. . . . Albrighton.
20 Rob. Nedeham, arm. . Shenton.
Arg. a bend engrailed Az. betwixt two bucks' heads 8.
21 Rog. Corbet, arm. . . ut prius.
22 Tho. Cornwal, mil. . . ut prius.
23 Tho. Manwarying . . ut prius.
24 Tho. Laken, mil. . . . ut prius.
25 Tho. Talbot, mil. . . ut prius.
26 Tho. Vernon, arm. . . ut prius.
27 Rob. Nedeham, mil. . ut prius.
28 Joh. Corbet, arm. . . ut prius.
29 Joh. Talbot, mil. . . ut prius.
30 Rich. Manwayring . . ut prius.
31 Rich, Laken, arm. . . ut prius.
32 Rob. Nedeham, mil. . ut prius.
33 Joh. Talbot, mil. . . ut prius.
34 Tho. Newport, mil. '. . ut prius.
35 Rich. Mitton, arm. . . ut prius.
36 Rich. Manwayring . . ut prius.
SHERIFFS.
77
Anno Name. Place.
37 Tho. Vernon, arm. . . ut prius,
38 Tho. Lee, arm. . . . ut prius.
EDWARD VI.
1 Will. Young, arm. . .
2 Rich. Cornwal, arm.
3 Tho. Newport, arm. . . ut prius.
4 Andr. Corbet, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Rich. Newport, arm.
6 Rich. Manwayring, mil. ut prius.
PHIL. REX. Ct MARI. REG.
1 Adam Milton, mil.
2 Nic. Cornwal, arm. . . ut prius.
3 Andr. Corbet, mil. . . ut prius.
4 Rich. Leveson, mil. . . Lilleshall.
Az. three laurel leaves slipped O.
5 Rich. Newport, arm. . ut prius.
6 Th. Farmour, arm. . .
Arg. a fess S. between three lions' heads erased G.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
ELIZ. REG.
Rich. Mitton, arm. .
Rich. Corbet, arm. . .
Rich. Cornwal, arm.
Arth. Manwayring . . ut prius.
Geor. Blount, mil. . . ut prius.
Rob. Nedeham, arm. . ut prius.
Hum. Onslow, arm. . Onslow.
Arg. a fess G. betwixt six merlins S. beaked and legged O
Th. Charlton, arm. et . ut prius.
Th. Eaton, arm.
Edw. Leighton, arm. . ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
Rich. Newport, mil.
And. Corbet, mil. .
Rol. Laken, arm. .
Will. Gratewood, arm.
Th. Powel, arm.
Worthen.
Arg. three boars' heads coupee S.
Roul. Pigot, arm. . . ut prius.
Joh. Hopton, arm. . . ut prius.
Walt. Leveson, arm. . ut prius.
Art. Mayn waring, mil. . ut prius.
Franc. Lawley, arm. . Spoon-Hill.
Arg. a cross formee throughout O. and S.
Will. Young, arm. . . ut prius.
Edw. Cornwal, arm. . ut prius.
Will. Gratewood, arm.
78
WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Anno
Name.
Place.
23 Tho. Williams, arm. . Willaston.
S. three nags 5 heads erased Erm.
24 Carolus Fox, arm. . Chainham,
Arg. a chevron betwixt three foxes' heads erased G.
25 Rich. Cresset, arm. . . ut prius.
26 Roul. Barker, arm. . . Haghmond.
G. a fess cheeky O. and Az. betwixt six annulets of the
second.
27 Franc. Newport, arm. . ut prius.
28 Rob. Nedeham, arm. . ut prius.
29 Edw. Leighton, arm.
30 Th. Cornwall, arm. .
31 Andr. Charleton, arm.
32 Will. Hopton, arm. .
33 Rob. Eyton, arm. ' .
34 Rich. Corbet, arm. .
35 Rob. Powel, arm.
36 Frances Albany, arm.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius*
ut prius.
ut prius.
Fern-Hill.
Arg. on a fess betwixt three cinquefoils G. a greyhound
current O.
37 Rob. Nedeham, arm. . ut prius.
38 Edw. Scriven, arm. . . ut prius.
39 Carolus Fox, arm. . . ut prius.
40 Edw. Kinaston, mil. . ut prius.
41 Hum. Lee, arm. . . . ut prius.
42 Franc. Newport, arm. . ut prius.
43 Franc. Newton, arm. . ut prius.
44 Rog. Kinaston, arm. . ut prius.
45 Rog. Owen, mil. . . . Condover.
Arg. a lion rampant S. ; a canton of the second.
JACOB. REX.
1 Rog. Owen, mil. . . . ut prius.
2 Hum. Briggs, arm. . . Haughton.
G.two bars gemels O.; on a canton S. a crescent of the first.
3 Hen. Walop, mil. . . Red-Castle.
Arg. a bend wavy S.
4 Rob. Nedeham, mil.
5 Edw. Fox, mil. . .
6 Rob. Purslow, mil. .
Arg. a cross engrailed fleury S. ; a border of the same
form G. bezante.
7 Rich. Mitton, arm. . . Holston.
Per pale G. and Az. an eagle displayed with two heads
Arg.
8 Bonham. Norton, arm. Stretton.
O. two bars G. ; on a chief Az. an inescutcheon Erm.
ut prius.
Sidbury.
SHERIFFS. 79
Anno Name. Place.
9 Fran. Laken, mil. . . Kinlet.
Quarterly per fess indented Erm. and Az.
10 Tho. Gervis, mil.
11 Joh. Cotes, arm. . . . Woodcoat.
Quarterly Erm. and paly of six O. and G.
12 Tho. Piggot, arm. . . ut prim.
13 Th. Cornwal, mil. . . ut prius.
14 Rolan. Cotton, mil. . . Bella- Porte.
Az. a chevron betwixt three cotton-skeans Arg.
15 Rob. Owen, arm. . . ut prius.
16 Tho. Harris, arm. . . Boreatton.
O. three urchins Az.
17 Will. Whitmore, arm. . Appley.
Vert, fretty O.
18 Walter Barker, arm. . ut prius.
19 Th. Edwards, arm. . . Creete.
G. a chevron engrailed between three boars* heads
erased O.
20 Will. Owen, mil. . . ut prius.
21 Walt. Piggot, arm. . . Chetwin.
Erm. three fusils in fess S.
CAR. REX.
1 Fran. Charleton, arm.. . Appley.
2 Ric. Newport, mil. . . High Arcol.
Arg. a chevron G. betwixt three leopards' heads S.
3 Rich. Prince, arm. . . Shrewsbury.
G. a saltire O. ; over all a cross engrailed Erm.
4 Joh. Corbet, bar. . . Stoake.
O. two ravens in pale proper, a border engrailed G.
5 Walt. Acton, arm. . . Aldenham.
G. two lions passant Arg. between nine crosses croslets,
fitched O.
6 Hum. Walcot, arm. . Walcot
Arg. a chevron inter three chess-rooks Erm.
7 Tho. Ireland, arm. . . Abrington.
G. six flowers- de-luce Arg.
8 Phil. Eyton, mil. . . Eyton.
O. a fret Az.
9 Tho. Thynne, mil. . . Caus Castle.
Barry of ten, O. and S.
10 Joh. Newton, arm. . . Heytleigh.
Arg. a cross S. fleury O.
11 Rob. Corbet, arm. . . ut prius.
12 Paulus Harris, mil. . . ut prius.
13 Wil. Pierpoint, arm. . Tong-Castle. ^
Arg. a lion rampant S. in an orle of cinquefoils G.
80 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
14 Rich. Lee.
G. a fess componee, O. and Az. betwixt eight billets
Arg.
15 Rog. Kinnaston, arm. . ut prius.
16 Th. Nicholas, arm. . . Shrewsbury.
17 Joh. Welde, arm. . . Willye.
18'
19
20 Bettum nobis hoc fecit inane.
21
22 Rob. Powel, arm. . . The Park.
Arg. three boars' heads coupee S.
RICHARD II.
9. NICHOLAS de SANDFORD. This ancient name is still
extant^ at the same place in this county, in a worshipful equi-
page. Well fare a dear token thereof : for, in the list of such
as compounded for their reputed delinquency in our late civil
wars, I find Francis Sandford, Esq. paying four hundred and
fifty-nine pounds for his composition. Yet I believe the gentle-
man begrudged not his money in preservation of his own inte-
grity, acting according to the information of his conscience, and
the practice of all his ancestors. I understand that the said
Francis Sandford was very well skilled in making warlike fortifi-
cations.
HENRY IV.
1. JOHN CORNWALL, Miles. A person remarkable on se-
veral accounts. 1. For his high extraction, descended from
Richard earl of Cornwall, and king of the Almains, his arms
do evidence. 2. Prosperous valour under king Henry the Fifth
in France ; there gaining so great treasure, as that therewith he
built his fair house at Amp-hill in Bedfordshire.* 3. Great
honour, being created, by king Henry the Sixth, baron of Fan-
hop, and knight of the Garter. 4. Constant loyalty^ sticking
faster to king Henry the Sixth than his own crown did, faithfully
following after the other forsook him. 5. Vigorous vivacity,
continuing till the reign of king Edward the Fourth, who dis-
possessed him of his lands in Bedfordshire. 6. Cheerful dis-
position, pleasantly saying, "That not he, but his fine house
at Amp-hill, was f guilty of high treason :" happy ! that he
could make mirth at his misery, and smile at the losing of that
which all his frowns could keep no longer. Know, reader, that
if this J. Corwal shall (which I suspect not) prove a dis-
tinct person from this his kinsman and namesake, none will
blame me for taking here a just occasion of speaking of so
* Camden's Britannia, in Bedfordshire. f Camden, ut prius.
SHERIFFS. 81
eminent a man, who elsewhere came not so conveniently under
my pen.
EDWARD IV.
2. ROGER KINASTON, Arm. I cannot satisfy myself in the
certain arms of this ancient family (much augmented by match
with HORD), finding them giving sundry [all good and rich]
coats in several ages ; but conceive they now fix on. Argent, a
lion rampant Sable.
RICHARD III.
1. THOMAS MITTON. He, in obedience to king Richard's
commands, apprehended the duke of Buckingham (the grand en-
gineer to promote that usurper) in the house of Humphrey Ba-
naster, who, for the avaricious desire of a thousand pounds,
betrayed the duke unto the sheriff.
3. GILBERT TALBOT, Mil. He was son to John Talbot, se-
cond earl of Shrewsbury of that name. In the time of his she-
riffalty, Henry earl of Richmond (afterwards king Henry the
Seventh) marching with his men to give battle to king Richard
the Third, was met at Shrewsbury by the same Sir Gilbert, with
two thousand men well appointed (most of them tenants and re-
tainers to his nephew George fourth earl of Shrewsbury, then in
minority) ; whenceforward, and not before, his forces deserved
the name of an army. For this and his other good service in
Bosworth field, king Henry rewarded him with fair lands at
Grafton in Worcestershire ; made him governor of Calais in
France, and knight of the Garter ; and from him the present
earl of Shrewsbury is descended.
I conceive it was rather his son than himself, to whom king
Henry the Eighth (fearing a sudden surprise from the French)
wrote briefly and peremptorily, " That he should instantly for-
tify the castle of Calais/' To whom govern or Talbot, unprovided
of necessaries, as briefly as bluntly replied, "That he could nei-
ther fortify norftftify without money ."
QUEEN ELIZABETH.
45. ROGER OWEN, Miles. He was son to Sir Thomas
Owen, the learned and religious justice of the Common Pleas,
who lieth buried on the south side of the choir of Westminster
Abbey. This Sir Roger, most eminent in his generation, de-
served the character given him by Mr. Camden : " Multi-
plici doctrina tan to patre dignissimus." He was a mem-
ber of Parliament, "undecimo Jacobi" (as I take it), when
a great man therein (who shall be nameless) cast a griev-
* In Shropshire.
VOL. III. G
82 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
ous and general aspersion on the English clergy ."* This Sir
Roger appeared a zelot in their defence, and not only removed
the bastard [calumny] from their doors, at which it was laid,
but also carried the falsehood home to the true father thereof,
and urged it shrewdly against the person who in that place
first revived the aspersion.
KING JAMES.
14. ROWLAND COTTON, Miles. Incredible are the most true
relations, which many eye- witnesses, still alive, do make of the
valour and activity of this most accomplished knight ; so strong,
as if he had been nothing but bones ; so nimble, as if he had
being nothing but sinews.
CHARLES I.
2. RICHARD NEWPORT, Miles. Signal his fidelity to the
king, even in his lowest condition, by whom he was deservedly
rewarded with the title of Baron of High-Arcol in this county,
being created at Oxford, the 14th of October, 1642. His son
Francis, lord Newport at this day, 1660, honour eth his honour
with his learning and other natural accomplishments.
THE FAREWELL,
May this Shire, by Divine Providence, be secured from the
sweating sickness, which first began and twice raged in
the town of Shrewsbury ! The cure was discovered too late to
save many, yet soon enough to preserve more thousands of men ;
viz. by keeping the patient in the same posture wherein he,
was seized, without food or physic ; and such who weathered
out the disease for twenty-four hours did certainly escape.
WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE WHO HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE
THE TIME OF FULLER.
William ADAMS, divine and author; born at Shrewsburv 1?07;
died 1739.
Richard ALLESTREE, loyal divine, provost of Eton ; born at
Uppington 1619; died 1680.
Richard BAXTER, nonconformist divine, author, and sufferer;
born at Rowton 1615 ; died 1691.
William BAXTER, nephew of Richard, antiquary and etymolo-
gist; born at Llanlurgan 1650; died 1?23.
Thomas BEDDOES, physician, and experimental philosopher;
born at Shifnall 1760; died 1808.
* " Quo genere horainum nihil est putidius."
WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER. 83
John BENBOW, Admiral, born at Cotton Hill, Shrewsbury, 1650 ;
died 1702.
John Brickdale BLAKEWAY, divine, historian, antiquary, and
genealogist; born at Shrewsbury 1765 ; died 1826.
James Bo WEN, antiquary and genealogist ; died 1774.
John BOWEN, son of the above, genealogist; died 1832.
Dr. Charles BURNEY, musician, historian of music; born at
Shrewsbury 1726; died 1814.
William CASLON, letter- f ounder ; born at Hales Owen 1692 ;
died 1766.
Matthew CLARKE, divine and orientalist; born at Ludlow;
died 1702.
William CLARKE, divine, poet, and antiquary ; born at Haugh-
mond Abbey 1696; died 1771.
Lord Robert CLIVE, East Indian conqueror ; born at Styche
1725; died 1774.
George COSTARD, divine, biblical critic, and mathematician;
born at Shrewsbury 1710.
Sneyd DAVIES, divine and poet; born at Shrewsbury 1709.
John Do v ASTON, antiquary and naturalist ; born at Nursery in
West Felton 1740.
John EVANS, topographer, author of " Nine Sheet Map of
North Wales ;" born at Llwynygroes; died 1795.
Hugh FARMER, presbyterian divine, author on Demoniacs, &c. ;
born near Shrewsbury 1714; died 1787-
Robert GENTLEMAN, dissenter, editor of " Orton's Exposition ;"
born at Whitchurch; died 1795.
Thomas GOOD, divine, author of " Firmianus et Dubitantius ;"
died 1678.
Dr. Ralph GRIFFITHS, founder of the Monthly Review, 1720,
Sir Thomas HIGGONS, diplomatist and miscellaneous writer;
born at Westbury 1624 ; died 1691.
Right Hon. Richard HILL, statesman; born at Hodnet ; died
1727.
Sir Richard HILL, bart. M.P., and controversial polemic ; born at
Hawkstone 1733 ; died 1808.
Rev. Rowland HILL, dissenting divine and theological writer ;
born at Hawkestone 1744; died 1833.
Sir Thomas JONES, Lord Chief Justice, born at Shrewsbury ;
died 1683.
Francis LEIGHTON, divine and antiquary ; died 1813.
Adam LITTLETON, divine, Latin lexicographer ; born at Hales
Owen 1627 ; died 1694.
Edward LLOYD, naturalist and antiquary ; born at Llanvarder ;
died 1709.
Sir Edward LUTWYCHE, judge, author of " Reports ;" born at
Lutwyche; died 1709.
Thomas LYSTER, author of " Blessings of the year 1688 ;"born
at Duncott; died 1723.
G 2
84 WORTHIES OF SHROPSHIRE.
Arthur MAINWARING, poetical and political writer; born at
Ightfield 1668.
Timothy NEVE, divine and antiquary ; born at Wotton in Stan-
ton Lacy 1694 ; died 1757-
Job ORTON, nonconformist divine and author, and biographer
of Doddridge; born at Shrewsbury 1717 ; died 1783.
Hugh OWEN, archdeacon of Salop, historian and antiquary ;
born at Shrewsbury; died 1827.
William OWEN, R.A., portrait painter; born 1?69 ; died 1824.
David PARKES, topographical antiquary ; born at Cackmore in
Hales Owen 1?63; died 1833.
Robert PARR; born at Kinver 1633 ; died 1757* aged 124.
He was great grandson of Thomas Parr, who lived to the
age of 152,
Thomas PERCY, bishop of Dromore, poetical antiquary; born at
Brignorth 1729; died 1811.
John SADLER, M.P., law-writer, author of " Rights of the King-
dom;" born 1615 ; died 1674.
Dr. Jonathan SCOTT, oriental professor and author ; born at
Shrewsbury; died 1829.
William SHENSTONE, poet; born at the Leasowes, Hales Owen,
1714; died 1763.
Thomas STEDMAN, divine and author, friend of Job Orton,
born at Bridgnorth 1745 ; died 1825.
John TAYLOR, divine, (f Demosthenes Taylor," classical critic;
born at Shrewsbury 1704; died 1766.
Silas TAYlor, alias Domville, author of " Antiquities of Harwich,"
&c.; born at Harly 1624; died 1678.
Jonathan WILD, the notorious thief-taker, and the hero of
Ainswortlr's " Jack Sheppard;" born at Boninghale 1682.
Edward WILLIAMS, divine, classical scholar, and antiquary;
died 1833.
William WYCHERLEY, dramatist, comic poet, and wit ; born at
Clive, near Wem,1640; died 1715.
%* Of Shropshire there is as yet no regular historian ; but of the county
town of Shrewsbury various histories and descriptions, by different authors, have
made their appearance; viz. by T. Phillips (1779) ; by the Rev. H. Owen
(1808); by the Rev. J. Nightingale, in the 13th volume of the Beauties of Eng-
land and Wales (1813); and by J. B. Blakeway (1826). There have also been
published an Historical Account of Ludlow Castle, by J, W. Hodges (1803) ; a De-
scription of Hawkstone, by T. Rodenhurst (1807); the History of Oswestry, by
Wm. Price (1815); and The Sheriffs of Shropshire, by the Rev. J. B. Blakeway
(1831) ED.
SOMERSETSHIRE.
SOMERSETSHIRE hath the Severn sea on the north, Glou-
cestershire on the north-east, Wiltshire on the east, Dorset-
shire on the south, and Devonshire on the west. Some will
have it so called from the summerliness, or temperate pleasant-
ness thereof: with whom we concur, whilst they confine their
etymologies to the air ; dissent, if they extend it to the earth,
which in winter is as winterly, deep, and dirty, as any in Eng-
land. The truth is, it is so named from Somerton, the most
ancient town in the county. It stretcheth from east to west
fifty-five miles, and from north to south forty-two miles.
No shire can shew finer ware, which hath so large measure ;
being generally fruitful, though little moisture be used thereon.
The inhabitants will tell you that there be several single acres
in this shire (believe them of the larger size, and sesqui-jugera,
if measured) which may serve a good round family with bread
for a year, as affording a bushel of wheat for every week therein,
a proportion not easily to be paralleled in other places.
NATURAL COMMODITIES.
LEAD*
Plenty of the best (for the kind thereof) is digged out of
Men dip hills. Indeed it is not so soft, pliant, and equally
fusile, as that in Derbyshire; not so proper for sheeting,
because, when melted, it runs into knots, and therefore little
known to, and less used by, our London plumbers ; for, being
of a harder nature, it is generally transported beyond the seas,
and employed to make bullets and shot, for which purpose it is
excellent. May foreigners enjoy wild lead, to kill men ; whilst
we make use of tame lead, to cover houses, and keep people
warm and dry therein.
It is almost incredible what great sums were advanced to the
bishops of Bath and Wells by the benefit of lead, since the
latter end of queen Elizabeth. Bishop Still is said to have had
the harvest, bishop Montague the gleanings, bishop Lake the
stubble thereof ; and yet considerable was the profit of lead to him
and his successors.
86 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE,,
LAPIS CALAMINARIS.
Plenty hereof is also found in Mendip hills ; and it is much
used in physic (being very good, as artificially ordered, for the
clearing of the sight), and more by metallists; for brass, no
original, but a compound metal, is made of this stone and cop-
per ; and becometh more hard than copper alone, and therefore
the more servicable for many other purposes.
And now the riddle in nature, which so long hath posed me,
is at last explained ; viz. how it can come to pass that brass,
being made of the best copper with much art and industry, is
notwithstanding afforded some pence in the pound cheaper than
copper itself. This cometh to pass, because the calaminary-
stone, being of itself not worth above six-pence in the pound,
doth in the composition metalescere, turn metal, in the mixture
thereof; whereby the mass and bulk of brass is much advanced.
I have no more to observe of this stone, save that it was
first discovered in this county in that juncture of time when the
copper mines were newly re-discovered in Cumberland, God
doubling his gift by the seasonable giving thereof.
CHEESE.
The best and biggest in England are made at Chedder, in this
county. They may be called Corporation Cheeses, made by the
joint dairies of the whole parish putting their milk together ; and
each one, poor and rich, receive their share according to their
proportion : so that some may think, that the unity and amity
of those female neighbours, living so lovingly together, giveth
the better runnet and relish to their handy work.
If any ask, why as good cheese may not be made in the vi-
cinage, where the soil is as rich, and the same housewifery ? it will
be demanded of them, why (nails must be driven out with nails)
the like cheese, in colour, taste, and tenderness, may not be
made at Cremona as at Parma, both lying in Lombardy near
together, and sharing equally in all visible advantages of fatness
and fruitfulness. The worst fault of Chedder cheese is, they
are so few and dear, hardly to be met with, save at some great
man's table.
WOAD,
In Latin glastum or glaustum, was much used by the ancient
Britons for the painting of their faces ; for I believe it will
hardly be proved that they dyed their whole bodies. Say not,
painted terribleness is no terribleness, , rather ridiculous than
formidable, seeing vizards are more frightful than men's own
faces. This woad gave the Britons a deep black tincture, as if
they would blow up their enemies with their sulphureous coun-
.tenances.
Our dyers make much use thereof, being color ad color em,
NATURAL COMMODITIES. 87
the stock (as I may say) whereon other colours are grafted.
Yea, it giveth them truth and fruitfulness, who without it prove
fading and hypocritical.
This herb doth greatly impair the ground it groweth on ; pro-
fitable to such to set, who have land to let without impeach-
ment of waste, it being long before it will recover good grass
therein. I have placed woad, which groweth in all rich places,
in this county, because, as I am informed, it groweth naturally
therein, hardly to be destroyed, especially about Glastonbury ;
insomuch that a learned critic,* and my worthy good friend,
had almost persuaded me, that from this glastum that town
taketh its denomination,
MASTIFFS.
Smile not, reader, to see me return to coarse creatures
amongst the commodities of this county. Know, they are not,
like apes, the fools and jesters, but the useful servants in a fa-
mily, viz. the porters thereof. Pliny observes, that Briton
breeds cowardly lions and courageous mastiffs, which to me
seems no wonder ; the former being whelped in prison, the lat-
ter at liberty. An English mastiif, anno 1602, did in effect
worst a lion, on the same token that prince Henry allowed a
kind of pension for his maintenance, and gave strict order,
" That he that had fought with the king of beasts should never
after encounter any inferior creatures. "f
Our English mastiffs are in high reputation beyond the seas ;
and the story is well known, that when an hundred molossi
were sent hence a present to the pope, a lack-Latin cardinal,
standing by when the letter was read, mistook molossos for so
many mules. Surely, had Britain been then known to the an-
cient Romans, when first, instead of manning, they dogged their
Capitol, they would have furnished themselves with mastiffs
fetched hence for that purpose, being as vigilant as, more
valiant than, any of their kind ; for the city of St. Malo in
France is garrisoned with a regiment of dogs, wherein many
ranks are of English extraction.
Hence it is that an author tells me, that it passeth for the
blazon of this county,
" Set the Band-dog on the Bull."J
It seems that both the gentry and country folk in this shire
are much affected with that pastime, though some scruple the
lawfulness thereof. 1. Man must not be a barrater, to set the
creatures at variance. 2. He can take no true delight in their
antipathy, which was the effect of his sin. 3. Man's charter of
dominion empowers him to be a prince, but no tyrant, over the
creatures. 4. Though brute beasts are made to be destroy ed,
* Mr. John Langley, late schoolmaster of Paul's. f Stow's Annals, p. 336.
I Drayton, in his Polyolbion. 2 Peter ii. 12.
88 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
they are not made to be tormented. Others rejoin, that God
gave us the creatures as well for our pleasure as necessity ; that
some nice consciences, that scruple the baiting of bulls, will
worry men with their vexatious cruelties, All that I dare inter-
pose "is this, that the tough flesh of bulls is not only made more
tender by baiting, but also thereby it is discoloured from ox-
beef, that the buyer be not deceived.
MANUFACTURES.
Taunton Serges are eminent in their kind, being a fashionable
wearing, as lighter than cloth, yet thicker than many other stuffs.
When Dionysius sacrilegiously plundered Jove's statue of his
golden coat (pretending it too cold for winter, and too hot for
summer,) he bestowed such a vestment upon him as to fit both
seasons. They were much sent into Spain, before our late war
therewith, wherein trading (long since complained of to be dead)
is now lamented generally buried, though hereafter it may have
a resurrection.
THE BUILDINGS.
Of these the churches of Bath and Wells are most eminent.
Twins are said to make but one man, as these two churches
constitute one bishop's see. Yet, as a twin oft-times proves as
proper a person as those of single births ; so these severally
equal most, and exceed many, cathedrals in England.
We begin with Bath, considerable in its several conditions :
viz. the beginning, obstructing, decaying, repairing, and finishing
thereof.
1. It was begun by Oliver King, bishop of this diocese, in
the reign of Henry the Seventh, and the west end most curi-
ously cut and carved with angels climbing up a ladder to hea-
ven. But this bishop died before the finishing thereof.
2. His death obstructed this structure, so that it stood a long
time neglected, which gave occasion for one to write on the
church wall with a charcoal :
' O church, 1 wail thy woeful plight,
Whom king, nor cardinal, clerk, or knight,
Have yet restored to ancient right."
Alluding herein to bishop King, who began it ; and his four
successors, in thirty-five years, viz. cardinal Adrian, cardinal
Wolsey, bishop Clark, and" bishop knight, contributing nothing
to the effectual finishing thereof.
3. The decay and almost ruin thereof followed, when it felt
in part the hammers which knocked down all abbeys. True it
is, the commissioners proffered to sell the church to the townsmen
under 500 marks. But the townsmen, fearing if they bought
it so cheap to be thought to cozen the king, so that the purchase
might come under the compass of concealed lands", refused the
proffer. Hereupon the glass, iron, bells, and lead (which last
BUILDINGS. 89
alone amounted to 480 tons) provided for the finishing thereof,
were sold, and sent over beyond the seas, if a shipwreck (as
some report) met them not by the way.
4. For the repairing thereof, collections were made all over
the land, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, though inconsiderable,
either in themselves, or through the corruption of others. Only
honest Mr. Billet (whom I take to be the same with him who
was designed executor to the will of William Cecil Lord Burgh-
ley) disbursed good sums to the repairing thereof; and a stran-
ger, under a feigned name, took the confidence thus to play the
poet and prophet on this structure :
" Be blithe, fair Kirck, when Hempe is past,
Thine Olive, that ill winds did blast,
Shall flourish green for age to last."
(Subscribed Cassadore.')
By Hempe understand Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth,
queen Mary, king Philip, and queen Elizabeth. The author, I
suspect, had a tang of the cask ; and, being parcel-popish, ex-
pected the finishing of this church at the return of their religion;
but his prediction was verifiedin a better sense, when this church
5 . Was finished by James Montague, bishop of this see, dis-
bursing vast sums in the same, though the better enabled there-
unto by his mines at Mendip ; so that he did but remove the
lead from the bowels of the earth to the roof of the church,
wherein he lies interred under a fair monument.
This church is both spacious and specious, the most lightsome
as ever I beheld, proceeding from the greatness of the windows,
and whiteness of the glass therein.
All I have more to add is only this, that the parable of Jotham*
is on this church most curiously wrought (in allusion to the
Christian sirname of the first founder thereof) how the trees,
going to choose them a king, proffered the place to the olive.
Now when lately one Oliver was for a time commander-in-chief
in this land, some (from whom more gravity might have been
expected) beheld this picture as a prophetical prediction, so apt
are English fancies to take fire at every spark of conceit. But
seeing since that Olive hath been blasted root and branches,
this pretended prophecy with that observation is withered away.
As for the cathedral of Wells, it is a greater, so darker than
that of Bath ; so that Bath may seem to draw devotion with
the pleasantness, Wells to drive it with the solemnity
thereof; and ill-tempered their minds who will be moved
with neither. The west front of Wells is a master-
piece of art indeed, made of imagery in just proportion, so
that we may call them (t vera et spirantia signa." England
affordeth not the 'like : for the west end of Exeter beginneth
accordingly : it doth not like Wells persevere to the end thereof.
* Judges ix. 8.
90 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
As for the civil habitations in this county, (not to speak of
Dunstar castle, having a high ascent, and the effect thereof, a
large prospect by sea and land) Mountague, built by Sir Edward
Philips, master of the Rolls, is a most magnificent fabric. Nor
must Hinton St. George, the house of the Lord Poulet, be for-
gotten, having every stone in the front shaped doul-ways, or in
the form of a cart-nail. This I may call a charitable curiosity,
if true what is traditioned, that, about the reign of king Henry
the Seventh, the owner thereof built it in a dear year, on pur-
pose to employ the more poor people thereupon.
THE WONDERS.
Wockey Hole, in Mendip-hills, some two miles from Wells. This
is an underground concavity, admirable for its spacious vaults,
stony walls, creeping labyrinths, the cause being un-imaginable,
how and why the earth was put in such a posture, save that the
God of nature is pleased to descant on a plain hollowness
with such wonderful contrivances.
I have been at but never in this hole ; and therefore must
make use of the description of a learned eye-witness.*
" Entering and passing through a good part of it with many
lights, among other many strange rarities, well worth the observ-
ing, we found that water which incessantly dropped down from
the vault of the rock, though thereby it made some little dint
in the rock, yet was it turned into the rock itself, as manifestly
appeared even to the judgment of sense, by the shape, and co-
lour, and hardness ; it being at first of a more clear and glassy
substance than the more ancient part of the rock, to which no
doubt but in time it hath been and will be assimilated : and
this we found not in small pieces, but in a very great quantity,
and that in sundry places, enough to load many carts ; from
whence I infer, that as in this cave, so no doubt in many other
(where they searched) the rocks would be found to have increased
immediately by the dropping of the water, besides that increase
they have from the earth in the bowels thereof; which still con-
tinuing as it doth, there can be no fear of their utter failing/ 5
MEDICINAL WATERS.
BATH well known in all England and Europe over; far
more useful and wholesome, though not so stately, as Dioclesian's
bath in Rome (the fairest amongst 856 in that city, made only for
pleasure and delicacy), beautified with an infinity of marble pil-
lars (not for support but ostentation), so that Salmuth saith, four-
teen thousand men were employed for some years in building
thereof. Our bath waters consist of
1. Bitumen (which hath the predominancy) ; sovereign to
discuss, glutinate, dissolve, open obstructions, &c.
* Dr. Hakewell, in his Apology, lib. v. p. 69.
MEDICINAL WATERS PROVERBS. 91
2. Nitre ; which dilateth the bitumen, making the solution the
better, and water the clearer. It cleanseth and purgeth both by
stool and urine, cutteth and dissolveth gross humours.
3. Sulphur; in regard whereof they dry, resolve, mollify,
attract, and are good for uterine effects, proceeding from cold
and windy humours.
But how these waters come by their great heat, is rather
controverted than concluded amongst the learned. Some im-
pute it to wind, or airy exhaltations, included in the bowels of
the earth, which by their agitation and attrition (upon rocks and
narrow passages) gather heat, and impart it to the waters.
Others ascribe it to the heat of the sun, whose beams,
piercing through the pores of the earth, warm the waters,
and therefore anciently were called Aquas Solis, both because
dedicated to, and made by, the sun.
Others attribute it to quick lime, which we see doth readily
heat any water cast upon it, and kindleth any combustible sub-
stance put therein.
Others refer it to a subterranean fire kindled in the bowels of
the earth, and actually burning upon sulphur and bitumen.
Others impute the heat (which is not destructive, but genera-
tive, joined with moisture) to the fermentation of several mi-
nerals.
It is the safer to relate all than reject any of these opinions,
each having both their opposers and defenders.
They used also inwardly, in broths, beer, juleps, &c. with
good effect. And although some mislike it, because they will
not mix medicaments with aliments, yet such practice beginneth
to prevail. The worst I wish these waters is, that they were
handsomely roofed over (as the most eminent baths in Chris-
tendom are) which (besides that it would procure great benefit
to weak persons) would gain more respect hither in winter
time, or more early in the spring, or more late in the fall.
The right honourable James earl of Marlborough undertook
to cover the Cross-bath at his own charge ; and may others
follow his resolution, it being but fit, that where God hath freely
given the jewel, men bestow a case upon it.*
PROVERBS.
" Where should I be born else than in Taunton Dean.'']
This is a parcel of ground round about Taunton, very plea-
sant and populous (as containing many parishes) ; and so fruitful,
to use their phrase, with the zun and zoil alone, that it needs no
manuring at all. The peasantry therein are as rude as rich ;
and so highly conceited of their good country (God make them
worthy thereof ! ) that they conceive it a disparagement to be
bom in any other place ; as if it were eminently all England.
* Dr. Fuller's benevolent wish has since been amply realized. ED.
92 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
" The beggars of Bath."]
Many in that place ; some natives there, others repairing thi-
ther from all parts of the land; the poor for alms ; the pained for
ease. Whither should fowl flock, in a hard frost, but to the
barndoor? here, all the two seasons, being the general confluence of
gentry. Indeed laws are daily made to restrain beggars, and
daily broken by the connivance of those who make them : it being
impossible, when the hungry belly barks, and bowels sound,
to keep the tongue silent. And although oil of whip be the proper
plaister for the cramp of laziness, yet some pity is due to im-
potent persons. In a word, seeing there is the Lazars-bath in
this city, I doubt not but many a good Lazarus, the true object
of charity, may beg therein.
-
SAINTS.
DUNSTAN was born in the town of Glastonbury in this
county. He afterwards was abbot thereof, bishop of London
and Worcester, archbishop of Canterbury, and at last, for his
promoting of monkery, reputed a Saint.* I can add nothing to,
but must subtract something from, what I have written of him
in my " Church History." True it is, he was the first abbot of
England, not in time but in honour, Glastonbury being the
proto-abbaty , then, and many years after, till pope Adrian ad-
vanced St. Alban's above it. But, whereas it followeth in my
book,f ".That the title of Abbot till his time was unknown in
England/ 5 I admire by what casualty it crept in, confess it a
foul mistake, and desire the reader with his pen to delete it.
More I have not to say of Dunstan, save that he died anno
Domini 988 ; and his skill in smithery was so great, that the
goldsmiths in London are incorporated by the name of the
Company of St. Dunstan.
MARTYRS.
JOHN HOOPER was born in this county,J bred first in Oxford,
then beyond the seas. A great scholar and linguist ; but suf-
fering under the notion of a proud man, only in their judgments ;
who were unacquainted with him. Returning in the reign of king
Edward the Sixth, he was elected bishop of Gloucester; but for
a time scrupled the acceptance thereof, on a double account.
First, because he refused to take an oath tendered unto him.
This oath I conceived to have been the oath of canonical obedi-
ence ; but since (owing my information to my worthy friend the
learned Dr. John Racket) I confess it the oath of supremacy,
which Hooper refused, not out of lack of loyalty but store of con-
science : for the oath of supremacy, as then modelled, was more
* Lives of the Saints. . f Century x. p. 129.
% "Terrae Sommersetensis alumnus." Bale, de Scriptoribus Rritannicis,
Cent. viii. num. 86.
$ In my " Ecclesiastical History."
MARTYRS PRELATES.
93
than the oath of supremacy enjoining the receiver's thereof con-
formity to the king's commands in what alterations soever he
should afterwards make in religion; which implicit and un-
limited obedience learned casuists allow only due to God him-
self. Besides the oath concluded with " So help me God, and all
his angels and saints." So that Hooper had just cause to scruple
the oath ; and was the occasion of the future reforming, whilst
the king dispensed with his present taking thereof.
The second thing he boggled at, was the wearing of some
episcopal habiliments ; but at last, it seemeth, consented there-
unto, and was consecrated bishop of Gloucester.
His adversaries will say, that the refusing of one is . the way
to get two bishoprics, seeing afterward he held Worcester in
commendam therewith. But be it known, that as our Hooper
had double dignity he had treble diligence, painfully preaching
God's word, piously living as he preached, and patiently dying
as he lived, being martyred at Gloucester, anno 155 ..
He was only a native of this shire sufferingfor the testimony of the
truth ; and on this account we may honour the memory of Gilbert
Bourn bishop of Bath and Wells in the reign of queen Mary,
who persecuted no Protestants in his diocese to death, seeing
it cannot be proved that one Lush was ever burnt, though by
him condemned. I mention bishop Bourn here the more
willingly, because I can no where recover the certainty of his
nativity.
PRELATES.
JOCELINE of WELLS.* Bishop Godwin was convinced, by
such evidences as he had seen, that he was both born and bred
in Wells, becoming afterwards the bishop thereof.
Now whereas his predecessors styled themselves bishops of Glas-
ton (especially for some few years after their first consecration),
he first fixed on the title of Bath and Wells, and transmitted it
to all his successors. In his time the monks of Glastonbury,
being very desirous to be only subjected to their own abbot,
purchased their exemption, by parting with four fair manors to
the see of Wells.
This Joceline, after his return from his five years' exile in
France (banished with archbishop Langton on the same ac-
count of obstinacy against king John), laid out himself wholly
on the beautifying and enriching of his cathedral. He erected
some new prebends ; and, to the use of the chapter, appro-
priated many churches, increasing the revenues of the dignities
(so fitter called than profits, so mean then their maintenance) ;
and to the episcopal see he gave three manors of great value.
He, with Hugo bishop of Lincoln, was the joint founder of the
* Taken generally out of Bishop Godwin.
94 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
hospital of St. John's in Wells ; and, on his own sole cost,
built two very fair chapels, one at Wokey, the other at Wells.
But the church of Wells was the master-piece of his works, not
so much repaired as rebuilt by him ; and well might he therein
have been afforded a quiet repose. And yet some have plun-
dered his tomb of his effigies in brass, being so rudely rent off,
it hath not only defaced his monument, but even hazarded the
ruin thereof. He sat bishop (which was very remarkable) more
than thirty-seven years (God, to square his great undertakings,
giving him a long life to his large heart), and died 1242.
FULKE of SAMFORD was born in tlnVcounty; but in which
of the Samfords (there being four of that name therein, and
none elsewhere in England) is hard (and not necessary) to
decide. He was first preferred treasurer of St. Paul's in Lon-
don, and then by papal bull declared archbishop of Dublin,*
1256. Matthew Paris calleth him Fulk Basset by mistake. He
died in his manor of Finglas 12/1, and was buried in the church
of St. Patrick, in the chapel of St. Mary's, which likely was
erected by him.
JOHN of SAMFORD. It is pity to part brethren. He was
first dean of St. Patrick in Dublin (preferred probably by his
brother), and for a time escheator of all Ireland.f Indeed the
office doth " male audire," (sound ill to ignorant ears) ; partly
because the vicinity thereof to a worse wordj (Esquire and
Squire are known to be the same) ; partly because some, by
abusing that office, have rendered it odious to people, which in
itself was necessary and honourable. For the name escheator
cometh from the French word eschoir, which signifieth to hap-
pen or fall out; and he by his place is to search into any
profit accruing to the crown by casualty, by the condemnation
of malefactors, persons dying without an heir, or leaving him
in minority, &c. And whereas every county in England hath
an escheator, this John of Samford being escheator-general of
Ireland, his place must be presumed of great trust from the
king, and profit to himself.
He was canonically chosen, and by king Edward the First
confirmed, archbishop of Dublin, 1284, mediately succeeding
(John de Deiiington interposed) his brother Fulke therein;
and I cannot readily remember the like instance in any other
see. For a time he was chief justice of Ireland, and thence
was sent (with Anthony bishop of Durham) ambassador to the
emperor; whence returning, he died at London, 1294; and
had his body carried over into Ireland fan argument that he
was well respected), and buried in the tomb of his brother in
the church of St. Patrick's.
Sir James Ware, in the Archbishops of Dublin.
f Sir James Ware, ut supra. $ Viz. Cheater.
PRELATES. 95
THOMAS BECKINTON was born at Beckinton in this county;
bred in New College,* doctor in the laws, and dean of the
Arches, till by king Henry the Sixth he was advanced bishop
of Bath and Wells.
1. A good Statesman; having written a judicious book to
prove [the right of] the kings of England to the crown of
France, notwithstanding the pretended Salique law.
2. A good Churchman (in the then notion of the word) ;
professing in his will that he had spent six thousand marks in
the repairing and adorning of his palaces.
3. A good Townsman; besides a legacy given to the town
where he was born, he built at Wells, where he lived, a fair
conduit in the market-place.
4. A good Subject ; always loyal to king Henry the Sixth
even in the lowest condition.
5. A good Kinsman; plentifully providing for his alliance
with leases, without the least prejudice to the church.
6. A good Master ; bequeathing five pounds a-piece to his
chief, five marks a-piece to his meaner servants, and forty shil-
lings a-piece to his boys.
7 A good Man; he gave for his rebus (in allusion to his
name) a burning Beacon, to which he answered in his nature,
being " a burning and shining light : " witness his many bene-
factions to Wells church, and the vicars therein ; Winchester,
New Merton, but chiefly Lincoln College, in Oxford, being
little less than a second founder thereof, t
A Beacon (we know) is so called from beckoning ; that is,
making signs, or giving notice to the next beacon. This bright
Beacon doth nod, and give hints of bounty to future ages ; but,
it is to be feared, it will be long before his signs will be
observed, understood, imitated. Nor was it the least part of
his prudence, that (being obnoxious to king Edward the Fourth)
in his life-time he procured the confirmation of his will under
the broad seal of England, and died January the 14th, 1464.
RICHARD FITZ-JAMES, doctor at law, was born at Redlinch
in this county, of right ancient and worshipful extraction ;
bred at Merton College in Oxford, whereof he became warden ;
much meriting of that place, wherein he built most beautiful
lodgings, expending also much on the repair of St. Mary's in
Oxford. He was preferred bishop, first of Rochester, next of.
Chichester, last of London.
He was esteemed an excellent scholar, and wrote some
books, J which, if they ever appeared in public, never descended
to posterity. He cannot be excused for being over busy with
fire and faggot in persecuting the poor servants of God in his
* New College Register, in anna 1408.
f Extracted and contracted out of Bishop Godwin's Bishops of Bath and Wells.
J Pits, in Appendice.
96 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
diocese. He deceased anno 1512 ; lieth buried in his cathedral
(having contributed much to the adorning thereof) in a chapel-
like tomb, built (it seems) of timber,* which was burnt down
when the steeple of St. Paul's was set on fire, anno 1561.
This bishop was brother to judge Fitz- James, lord chief justice,
who, with their mutual support, much strengthened one another in
church and state.
To the Reader.
I cannot recover any native of this county who was a bishop
since the Reformation, save only John Hooper, of whom for-
merly in the catalogue of Martyrs.
STATESMEN.
Sir AMIAS POULETT, son to Sir Hugh, grandchild to Sir
Aimas Poulett (who put cardinal Wolsey, then but a schoolmas-
ter, in the stocks,f) was born at Hinton Saint George, in this
county. He was chancellor of the Garter, governor of the Isles
of Jersey and Guernsey, and privy councillor to queen Eliza-
beth, who chiefly committed the keeping of Mary queen of
Scots to his fidelity, who faithfully discharged his trust therein.
I know the Romanists rail on him, as over-strict in his
charge ; but indeed without cause, for he is no unjust steward
who to those under him alloweth all his master's allowance,
though the same be but of the scantiest proportion. Besides,
it is no news for prisoners (especially if accounting their
restraint unjust) to find fault with their keepers merely for keep-
ing them. And such who complain of him, if in his place,
ought to have done the same themselves.
When secretary Walsingham moved this knight to suffer one
of his servants to be bribed by the agents of the queen of Scots,
so to compass the better intelligence, he would in no terms
yield thereunto, Such conniving at, was consenting to ; and
such consenting to, in effect, was commanding of such false-
hood. Whereupon the secretary was fain to go further about,
and make use of an instrument at a greater distance, who was
no menial servant to Sir Amias.
He died anno Domini 15 . .; and was buried in London, in
St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, where his epitaph is all in allusion to
the three swords in his arms, and three words in his motto,
" Gardez la Foy," (Keep the Faith.) Which harping on that
, one string of his fidelity (though perchance harsh music to the
ears of others) was harmonious to queen Elizabeth.
CAPITAL JUDGES.
JOHN FITZ- JAMES, Knight, was born at Redlinch in this
county, of right ancient and worthy parentage; bred in the
study of our municipal laws, wherein he proved so great a pro-
* Bishop Godwin's words are, e malerie.
t Godwin, in the Life of king Henry the Eighth.
CAPITAL JUDGES. 9?
ficient, that, by king Henry the Eighth, he was advanced chief
justice of the King's Bench. There needs no more be said of
his merit, save that king Henry the Eighth preferred him, who
never used either dunce or drone in church or state, but men of
ability and activity. He sat above thirteen years in his place, de-
meaning himself so that he lived and died in the king's favour.
He sat one of the assistants when Sir Thomas More was
arraigned for refusing the oath of supremacy, and was shrewdly
put to it to save his own conscience, and not incur the king's
displeasure : for chancellor Audley, supreme judge in that place
(being loath that the whole burthen of More's condemnation
should lie on his shoulders alone), openly in court asked the
advice of the lord chief justice Fitz-James, " whether the in-
dictment were sufficient or no ?" To whom our judge warily
returned: " My lords all, by St. Gillian," which was ever his
oath, " I must needs confess, that, if the Act of Parliament be
not unlawful, then the indictment is not in my conscience
insufficient." *
He died in the thirtieth year of king Henry the Eighth ; and
although now there be none left at Redlinch of his name and
family, they flourish still at Lewson in Dorsetshire, descended
from Alured Fitz-James (brother to this judge, and to Richard
bishop of London), whose heir in a direct line, Sir John Fitz-
James, knight, I must acknowledge a strong encourager of my
weak endeavours.
JOHN PORTMAN, Knight, was born of wealthy and worship-
ful extraction at Portman's Orchard in this county; a fair
manor, which descended to him by inheritance ; the heir of the
Orchards being matched into his family. He was bred in the
study of the common law, attaining to such eminency therein,
that, June 11, the second of queen Mary, he was made chief
justice of the King's Bench, continuing two years in the place,
and dying therein for ought I find to the contrary ; and a baro-
nett of his name and lineage flourisheth at this day with a great
and plentiful estate.
DAVID BROOKE, Knight, born at Glastonbury, son to John
Brook, esquire, who (as I read in ClarencieuxJ) was serjeant
at law to king Henry the Eighth. Our David was also bred in
the study of our laws ; and, in the first of queen Mary, was
made chief baron of the Exchequer ; but whether dying in, or
quitting the place, in the first of queen Elizabeth, I am not
informed. He married Katharine daughter of John Lord
Shandois ; but died without issue.
Mr. More, in the printed Life of his Grandfather Sir Thomas More, p. 334.
f The baronetcy is extinct ED.
t In the original of his last visitation of Somersetshire.
VOL. III. H
98 . WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
JAMES DYER, Knight, younger son to Richard Dyer,
Esquire, was born at Roundhill in this county, as may appear
to any by the heralds' visitation thereof, and doth also to me
by particular information from his relations.
He was bred in the study of our municipal law ; and was
made lord phief justice of the Common Pleas, primo Eliz.,
continuing therein twenty-four years,* longer (if my eye or
arithmetic fail me not) than any in that place before or after
him. When Thomas duke of Norfolk was, anno 1572, ar-
raigned for treason, this judge was present thereat, on the same
token, that, when the duke desired counsel to be assigned him,
pleading " that it was granted to Humphry Stafford, in the reign
of king Henry the Seventh;" our judge returned unto him,
" that Stafford had it allowed him only as to point of law, then
in dispute,t viz. whether he was legally taken out of the sanc-
tuary ; but as for matter of fact, neither he nor any ever had, or
could have, any counsel allowed him;" a course observed in
such cases unto this day.
But let " his own works praise him in the gates,":]; is known
for the place of public justice amongst the Jews. Let his learned
writings, called his " Commentaries," or " Reports," evidence
his abilities in his profession.
He died in 25 Eliz. (though married) without any issue ; and
there is a house of a baronet of his name (descended from an
elder son of Richard, father to our judge) at Great Stoughton
in Huntingdonshire, well improved, I believe, with the addition
of the judge's estate.
Sir JOHN POPHAM, of most ancient descent, was born at
Huntworth in this county. In his youthful days he was as
stout and skilful a man at sword and buckler, as any in that age,
and wild enough in his recreations. But oh ! if quicksilver
could be really fixed, to what a treasure would it amount !
Such is wild youth seriously reduced to gravity, as by this
young man did appear. He applied himself to a more profit-
able fencing, the study of the laws, therein attaining to such
eminency, that he became the queen's attorney, and afterwards
lord chief justice of England.
Being sent, anno 1600, by the queen, with some others, to
the earl of Essex, to know the cause of the confluence of so
many military men unto his house, the soldiers therein detained
him for a time, which some did make tantamount to an impri-
sonment. This his violent detention Sir John deposed upon
his oath at the earl's trial, || which I note the rather for the rarity
thereof, that a lord chief justice should be produced as witness
in open court.
* Sir Henry Spelman's Glossary. j- Camden's Elizabeth, anno 1570.
J Proverbs xxxi. 31. So it appears to me, on my best examination.
|| Camden's Elizabeth, anno 1600.
SOLDIERS. 99
In the beginning of the reign of king James, his justice was
exemplary on thieves and robbers. The land then swarmed
with people which had been soldiers, who had never gotten (or
else quiteforgotten) any other vocation. Hard it was for peace
to feed all the idle mouths which a former war did breed ; being
too proud to beg, too lazy to labour. Those infected the high-
ways with their felonies ; some presuming on their multitudes,
as the robbers on the northern road, whose knot (otherwise not
to be untied) Sir John cut asunder with the sword of Justice.
He possessed king James how the frequent granting of par-
dons was prejudicial to justice, rendering the judges to the
contempt of insolent malefactors ; which made his majesty more
sparing afterward in that kind. In a word, the deserved death
of some scores preserved the lives and livelihoods of more
thousands ; travellers owing their safety to this judge's severity
many years after his death, which happened anno Domini 16 ..
SOLDIERS.
JOHN COURCY, baron of Stoke-Courcy in this county, was
the first Englishman who invaded and subdued Ulster in Ire-
land ; therefore deservedly created earl thereof.* He was
afterward surprised by Hugh Lacy (co-rival for his title >, sent
over into England, and imprisoned by king John in the Tower
of London.
A French castle, being in controversy, was to have the title
thereof tried by combat, the kings of England and France be-
holding it. Courcy being a lean lank body, with staring eyes
(prisoners, with the wildness of their looks, revenge the close-
ness of their bodies) is sent for out of the Tower, to undertake
the Frenchman ; and, because enfeebled with long durance, a
large bill of fare was allowed him, to recruit his strength. The
Monsieur, hearing how much he had eat and drunk, and guess-
ing his courage by his stomach, or rather stomach by his appe-
tite, took him for a cannibal, who would devour him at the last
course ; and so he declined the combat.
Afterwards the two kings, desirous to see some proof of
Courcy's strength, caused a steel helmet to be laid on a block
before him. Courcy, looking about him with a grim coun-
tenance (as if he intended to cut with his eyes as well as with
his arms), sundered the helmet at one blow into two pieces,
striking the sword so deep into the wood, that none but himself
could pull it out again.
Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly, " Had
I" said he, "failed of my design, I would have killed the kings
and all in the place;" words well spoken because well taken, all
persons present being then highly in good humour. Hence it
is, that the lord Courcy, baron of Kingrone, second baron in
* The effect of what follows is taken out of the Irish Annals, at the end of
Caniden's Britannia. F.
ii 2
100 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
Ireland, claimed a privilege (whether by patent or prescription,
charter or custom, I know not) after their first obeisance, to be
covered in the king's presence, if process of time hath not anti-
quated the practice.
His devotion was equal to his valour, being a great founder
and endower of religious houses. In one thing he foully failed,
turning the church of the Holy Trinity in Down into the church
of St. Patrick, for which (as the story saith) he was condemned
never to return into Ireland, though attempting it fifteen several
times, but repelled with foul weather. He afterwards went over,
and died in France, about the year 1210.
MATTHEW GOURNAY was born at Stoke-under-Hamden in
this county, where his family had long flourished since the Con-
quest, and there built both a castle and a college. But our
Matthew was the honour of the house, renowned under the
reign of king Edward the Third, having fought in seven several
signal set battles :* viz. 1. At the siege of Algiers, against the
Saracens; 2. At the battle of Benemazin, against the same.
3. Sluce, a sea-fight against the French ; 4. Crescy, a land-
fight against the same ; 5. Ingen, 6. Poictiers, pitched fights
against the French ; J. Nazaran, under the Black Prince,
in Spain. His armour was beheld by martial men with much
civil veneration, with whom his faithful buckler was a relic of
esteem.
But it added to the wonder, that our Matthew, who did lie
and watch so long on the bed of honour, should die in the bed
of peace, aged ninety and six years, f about the beginning of king
Richard the Second. He lieth buried under a fair monument in
the church of Stoke aforesaid, whose epitaph, legible in the last
age, is since (I suspect) defaced.
SEAMEN.
Sir AMIAS PRESTON, Knight, was descended of an ancient
family, who have a habitation at Cricket, nigh Crewkerne in this
county. He was a valiant soldier, and active seaman ; wit-
ness in 88, when he seized on the admiral of the Galiasses,
wherein Hugh de Moncada the governor, making resistance,
with most of his men, were burnt or killed, and Mr. Preston
(as yet not knighted) shared in a vast treasure of gold taken
therein. J
Afterwards, anno 1595, he performed a victorious voyage to
the West Indies, wherein he took, by assault, the isle of Puerto
Santo, invaded the isle of Coche, surprised the fort and town of
Coro, sacked the stately city of St. Jago, put the town of
Cumana to ransom, entered Jamaica with little loss, some
* Camden's Britannia, in this county. f Caraden, ut prius.
J Camden's Elizabeth, in 88. Hacfcluyt's Travels, part III. page 578.
SEAMEN WRITERS. 101
profit, and more honour ; safely returned, within the space of
six months, to Milford Haven in Wales.
I have been informed, from excellent hands, that, on some
distaste, he sent a challenge to Sir Walter Raleigh ; which Sir
Walter declined, without any abatement to his valour (wherein
he had abundantly satisfied all possibility of suspicion), and
great advancement of his judgment ; for, having a fair and fixed
estate, with wife and children, being a privy councillor, and lord-
warden of the Stanneries, he thought it an uneven lay to stake
himself against Sir Amias, a private and (as I take it) a single
person ; though of good birth and courage, yet of no consider-
able estate. This also is consonant to what he hath written
so judiciously about duels, condemning those for ill honours
" where the hangman gives the garland."* However, these two
knights were afterwards reconciled, and Sir Amias (as I collect)
died about the beginning of the reign of king James.
LEARNED WRITERS.
GIL.DAS, surnamed the WISE, was born in the city of Bath ;
and therefore it is that he is called Badonicus.^ He was eight
years junior to another Gildas, called Albanius, \vhose nativity I
cannot clear to belong to our Britain. He was also otherwise
sur-styled Querulus, because the little we have of his writing is
only " a complaint." Yet was he none of those whom the
Apostle* condemneth. These are, " murmurers, complainers,"
&c. (taxing only such who either were impious against God, or
uncharitable against men ; complaining of them either without
cause or without measure) ; whilst our Gildas only inveigheth
against the sins, and bemoaneth the sufferings, of that wicked
and woeful age wherein he lived ; calling the clergy Montes
Malitm ; the Britons generally, Atramentum Seculi.
He wrote many books, though we have none of them extant
at this day (some few fragments excepted, inserted amongst the
manuscript canons), but his aforesaid history. This makes me
more to wonder that so learned a critic as Dr. Jerrard Vossius
should attribute the comedy of " Aulularia" in Plautus to this
our Gildas, merely because that comedy is otherwise commonly
called fe Querulus ;" whereas indeed their language is different :
that in "Aulularia" tolerably pure (though perchance coarser
than the rest in Plautus) ; whilst the style of Gildas is hardly
with sense to be climbed over, it is so harsh and barbarous.
Besides, I do not believe that Gildas had a drop of comical
blood in his veins, or any inclination to mirth and festivity ; and
if he had prepared any thing scenical to be acted on the theatre,
certainly it would have been a tragedy relating to the ruin and
* History of the World, lib. v. page 548.
f Usher, De Britannicse Ecclesise Primordio, in his Chronologies. + Jude 18.
In his second book de Historicis Latinis, in the end of the 25th chapter..
102 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
destruction of his nation. Some variety there is about the date
of his death, which most probably is assigned anno 570.
MAURICE SOMERSET carried this county of his nativity about
with him in his name ; and was bred first a Cistercian monk in
Ford Abbey ; then studied in Oxford, and became a good writer
both in prose and verse. His deserts preferred him abbot of
Wells, which in his old age he resigned, loving ease above ho-
nour. Some books he dedicated to his diocesan, Reginald
bishop of Bath; and flourished anno 1193.*
ALEXANDER of ESSEBIE is (saith my authort) by some ac-
counted a Somerset, by others a Stafford-shire man ; and there-
fore by our fundamental laws (laid down in our preface, to de-
cide differences about nativities) falls to the share of this county,
He was the prince of English poets in his age ; and in imitation
of Ovid de Fastis, put our Christian festivals into verse, setting
a copy therein to Baptista Mantuanus.
Then, leaving Ovid, he aspired to Virgil, and wrote the His-
tory of the Bible (with the lives of some saints) in an heroical
poem ; and, though falling far short of Virgil, went beyond him-
self therein. He afterward became prior of Esseby Abbey,!
belonging to the Augustins ; and flourished under king Henry
the Third, anno Domini 1220.
ADAMUS de MARISCO, or ADAM of MARSH, was born in this
county, where there be plenty of marshes in the fenny part
thereof. But I take Brent-marsh, as the principal, the most
probable place for his nativity. It seemeth that a foggy air is
no hinderance to a refined wit, whose infancy and youth in this
place was so full of pregnancy. He afterwards went to Oxford,
and there became D. D. It is argument enough to persuade
any indifferent man into a belief of his abilities, because that
Robert Grosthead, that learned and pious bishop of Lincoln,
made use of his pains, that they might jointly peruse and com-
pare the Scripture. He became afterwards a Franciscan friar in
Worcester, and furnished the library thereof with most excel-
lent manuscripts ; for then began the emulation in England be-
twixt monasteries, which should outvie other for most and best
books. He flourished anno Domini 1257- I cannot grieve
heartily for this Adam's loss of the bishopric of Ely, because
Hugo de Balsham his co-rival got it from him, the founder of
Peter-house in Cambridge.
* Pits, setat. 12, num. 271.
f Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. iv. num. 29.
J Quaere. Where is this ? F Answer. Canons Ashby, or Esseby, was a small
priory of Black Canons in Northamptonshire ED.
Bale, de Scriptoribus . Britannicis, Cent. iv. num. 12; and Pits, in anno
1657.
,
com
WRITERS. 103
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
HENRY CUFFE was born at St. George Hinton in this
county, as the late Lord Powlett, baron thereof, did inform me,
though none of that name left there at this day. He was after-
wards fellow of Merton College in Oxford, and secretary to
Robert earl of Essex, with whom he engaged in his rising, anno
1600, being arraigned at Westminster for his life. Sir Edward
Cook (then but the queen's attorney) disputed syllogistically
against him : whom Cuffe, an admirable logician, could, c&teris
paribus, well have encountered. But power will easily make a
solecism to be a syllogism. The most pregnant proof brought
against him was a verse out of Lucan alleged by him ; for, when
the earl, sitting in consultation with his complices, demanded
their advice, whether he should proceed in their design, or de-
sist, Mr. Cuffe returned,
" Viribus utendum est quas fecirnus ; arma ferenti
' Omnia dat qui justa negat."*
This, I may say, proved his neck-verse, being attested against
him ; for which he suffered. He wrote aji excellent book " of
the difference of the ages of man ;" a rare piece indeed, though
not altogether so hard to be procured, as worthy to be perused.
[S. N.] Sir JOHN HARRINGTON, Knight ; where born I '
know not : sure I am he had a fair estate at Kelston near Bath
in this county ; and is eminent for his confessor extraction.f
His father, only for carrying a letter to the Lady (afterwards
queen) Elizabeth, by Bishop Gardiner kept twelves months in
the Tower, and made to spend 1000 pounds ere he could get
free of that trouble.
His mother, servant to the Lady Elizabeth, was, by Gardi-
ner's command, sequestered from her as an heretic, and her
husband enjoined not to keep company with her.
Queen Elizabeth was godmother to this Sir John; and he
was bred in Cambridge, where Doctor Still was his tutor ; but
whether whilst he was fellow of Christ's or master of St. John's,
is to me unknown. He afterward proved one of the most inge-
nious poets of our English nation : witness his translation of
Orlando Furioso out of the Italian, dedicated to the Lady Eli-
zabeth, since queen of Bohemia, and the several pieces of his
own invention.
It happened that, while the said Sir John repaired often to
an ordinary in Bath, a female attendress at the table, neglecting
other gentlemen who sat higher, and were of greater estates,
applied herself wholly to him, accommodating him with all ne-
cessaries, and preventing his asking any thing with her officious-
ness. She being demanded by him the reason of her so careful
* The words of the poet are somewhat different.- F.
f In his continuance of Bishop Godwin, in his Bishops of Winchester.
104 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
waiting on him ? ef I understand/' said she, " you are a very
witty man ; and if I should displease you in any thing, I fear
you would make an epigram of me."
A posthume book of his is come forth, as an addition to
bishop. Godwin's Catalogue of Bishops ; wherein (beside mis-
takes) some tart reflections in Uxoratos Episcopos might well
have been spared. In a word, he was a poet in all things save
in his wealth, leaving a fair estate to a learned and religious son,
and died about the middle of the reign of king James.
SAMUEL DANIEL was born not far from Taunton in this
county ;* whose faculty was a master of music : and his harmo-
nious mind made an impression on his son's genius, who proved
an exquisite poet. He carried in his Christian and surname two
holy prophets, his monitors, so to qualify his raptures, that he
abhorred all profaneness.
He was also a judicious historian ; witness his " Lives of our
English Kings, since the Conquest, until king Edward the
Third;" wherein he hath the happiness to reconcile brevity
with clearness, qualities of great distance in other authors ; a
work since commendably continued (but not with equal quick-
ness and judgment) by Mr. Trussell.
He was a servant in ordinary to queen Anne, who allowed
him a fair salary. As the tortoise burieth himself all the winter
in the ground, so Mr. Daniel would lie hid at his garden-house
in Old street, nigh London, for some months together (the
more retiredly to enjoy the company of the Muses) ; and then
would appear in public, to converse with his friends, whereof
Dr. Cowel and Mr. Camden were principal.
Some tax him to smack of the old cask, as resenting of the
Romish religion ; but they have a quicker palate than I, who
can make any such discovery. In his old age he turned hus-
bandman, and rented a farm in Wiltshire nigh the Devises. I
can give no account how he thrived thereupon ; for, though he
was well versed in Virgil, his fellow husbandman poet, yet there
is more required to make a rich farmer, than only to say his
Georgics by heart ; and I question whether his Italian will fit
our English husbandry. Besides, I suspect that Mr. Daniel's
fancy was too fine and sublimated, to be wrought down to his
private profit.
However, he had neither a bank of wealthy or lank of want ;
living in a competent condition. By Justina his wife he had
no child ; and I am unsatisfied both in the place and time of
death ; but collect the latter to be about the end of the reign of
king James.
HUMPHRY SIDENHAM was born at Dalverton in this county,
* So am I certified by some of his [late surviving] acquaintance. F.
WRETERS. 105
of a most ancient and worshipful family ; bred fellow of Wad-
ham College ; so eloquent a preacher that he was commonly
called silver-tongued Sidenham. But let his own printed ser-
mons (and especially that called " The Athenian Babler") set
forth his deserved praise, who died since our civil distempers,
about the year 1650.
ROMISH EXILE WRITERS.
JOHN GIBBON was undoubtedly born in this county, though
herein Pits presents us with an untoward and left-handed di-
rection, " Patrick Somersetensis, Diocesis Wintoniensis."*
Now either Winchester is imprinted for Wells, or he was born
in this county in some peculiar belonging to Winchester, which
See hath large revenues about Taunton. Leaving the land for
his religion, Pope Gregory XIII. collated on him a canon's
place in the church of Bonn. This he soon quitted, and became
rector of the Jesuits 5 College in Triers. He wrote a book
against G. Schon, professor at Heydelberg, in vindication that
the Pope was not antichrist. Being indisposed in health, his
hearing of the defeat of the Spanish Armada was no cordial
unto him, and he died anno 1589.
ROBERT PERSON was born in this county ;f bred in Baliol
College in Oxford, till for his viciousness he was expelled
thence with disgrace. Running to Rome, and there finishing
the course of his studies, he with Campian were the first brace
of English Jesuits, who returned hither 1589 to preserve this
nation. J Two years after he escaped hence, and got beyond
the seas.
One of a troublesome spirit, wherewith some moderate Ro-
manists were so offended, that (during his abode here) they once
resolved to resign him up to the queen 5 s officers. He had an
ill-natured wit, biassed to satiricalness : a great statesman (and
it was not the least part of his policy to provide for his own
safety ;) who would look on, direct, give ground, abet on other
men's hands, but never played so as to adventure himself into
England.
He wrote a shrewd book (t of the Succession to the English
Crown ;" setting it forth under the false name of Dolman || (a dull
secular priest, guilty of little learning, and less policy) ; dedi-
cating the same to the earl of Essex. He had an authoritative
influence on all English Catholics ; nothing of importance being
agitated by them but Person had a finger, hand, arm therein.
He was for twenty-three years rector of the College at Rome,
where he died anno Domini 1610.
* Pits, de Angliae Scriptoribus, p. 788.. f Idem, anno 1610.
J Camden's Elizabeth, in anno 1580.
Camden's Elizabeth, 1580. || Idem, anno 1594.
106 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
JOHN FEN was born at Montacute in this county ;* bred in
New College in Oxford, where he proceeded bachelor in laws,
continuing there till (anno Domini 1562) for his popish activity
he was ejected by the queen's commissioners. Then for a time
he lived schoolmaster at St. Edmund's Bury, till ousted there on
the same account. Hence hefled over into Flanders ; thence into
Italy ; whence returning, at last he was fixed at Louvain. He
wrote many, and translated more books ; living to finish his
jubilee, or fiftieth year of exile, beyond the seas, where he died
about the year of our Lord 1613. Let me add, that this John
Fen mindeth me of another of the same surname, and as
violent on contrary principles ; viz. Humphrey Fen, a non-
conformist minister, living about Coventry, who, in the preface
to his last will, " made such a protestation against the hierarchy
and ceremonies, that, when his will was brought to be proved, f
the preface would not be suffered to be put amongst the records
of the court ; as which indeed was no limb) but a wen of his
testament.
JOHN COLL.INGTON was born in this county,! bred in Lincoln
College in Oxford. Going beyond the seas, and there made
priest, he returned into England, and with Campian was taken,
cast into the Tower of London, and condemned, but afterwards
reprieved, enlarged, and sent beyond the seas. Hence he return-
ed, and for thirty years together zealously advanced his own re-
ligion, being assistant to the two arch-priests, and he himself
supplied the place in the vacancy betwixt them. He could not
but be a very aged man ; who, though in restraint, was alive 1611.
BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC.
The Lady MOHUN. Reader, know I can surround the Chris-
tian names of her nearest relations. Her husband was John,
the last lord Mohun of Dunstor. The eldest daughter, Philip,
married to Edward duke of York; her second, Elizabeth, to
William Montacute earl of Salisbury; her youngest, Maud,
matched to the Lord Strange of Knockyn, but her own Christian
name I cannot recover.
However, she hath left a worthy memory behind her, chiefly
on this account, that she obtained from her husband so much
good ground for the commons of the town of Dunstor as she
could in one day (believe it a summer one for her ease and ad-
vantage) compass about going on her naked feet. Surely no
ingenious scholar beheld her in that her charitable perambula-
tion, but in effect vented his wishes in the poet's expression,
" Ah ! tibi ue teneras tellus secet aspera plantas.' ||
* New College Register, anno 1555.
t See Master Clark, in the Life of Juliane Harring, p. 462 F.
$ Pit's Anglise Scriptores, p. 807* Camden's Britannia, in this county.
j| Vigil, Eclog. decim&.
BENEFACTORS.
107
The certain date of her death is unknown, which by proportion
is conjectured in the reign of king Henry the Fifth.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
NICHOLAS WADHAM, of Merrifield, in this county. Esquire,
had great length in his extraction, breadth in his estate, and depth
in his liberality. His hospital house was an Inn at all times, a
court at Christmas. He married Dorothy, daughter to the
secretary, sister to the first lord Petre.
Absalom, having no children, reared up for himself a pillar
to perpetuate his name.* This worthy pair, being issueless,
erected that which hath, doth, and will afford many pillars to
church and state, the uniform and regular (nothing defective
or superfluous therein) college of Wadham in Oxford. Had
this worthy Esquire (being a great patron of church-livings)
annexed some benefices thereunto (which may be presumed
rather forgotten than neglected by him) it had, for completeness
of fabric and endowment, equalled any English foundation.
If he was (which some suggest) a Romanist in his judgment,
his charity is the more commendable, to build a place for per-
sons of a different persuasion. Whilst we leave the invisible
root to the Searcher of hearts, let us thankfully gather the good
fruit which grew from it. He died before his college was
finished, his estate by coheirs descending to Strangeways,
Windham, White, &c.; and he lieth buried with his wife
under a stately monument in the fair church of Ilminster.
PHILIP Biss was extracted from a worshipful family in this
county, who have had their habitation in Spargrave for some de-
scents, being bred fellow and doctor in divinity in Magdalen
College in Oxford ; he was afterwards preferred archdeacon of
Taunton. A learned man, and great lover of learning. Now
though it be most true what reverend bishop Hall was wont to
say, tf Of friends and books, good and few are best ;" yet this
doctor had good and many of both kinds ; and at his death be-
queathed his library (consisting of so many folios as were valued
at one thousand pounds) to Wadham College, then newly
founded.
This epitaph was made upon him, wherein nothing of wit,
save the verbal allusion which made itself without any pains of
the author thereof:
His fuit hie natus, puer et Bis, Bis juvenisque.
Bis vir, .Ztoque senex, Bis doctor, Bwque Sacerdos.f
I collect, by probable proportion, that his death happened
about the year 1614.
* 2 Samuel xviii. 18. f Camden's Remains, p, 380.
108 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
MEMORABLE PERSONS.
Sir JOHN CHAMPNEIS, son of Robert Champneis, was born
at Chew in this county ; but bred a skinner in London, and
lord Mayor thereof, anno 1535. Memorable he is on this account,
that, whereas before his time there were no turrets in London
(save what in churches and public structures) he was the first
private man, who, in his house, next Cloth-workers' hall, built
one, to oversee his neighbours in the city,* which delight of his
eye was punished with blindness some years before his death.
But seeing "prying into God's secrets is a worse sin than over-
looking men's houses," I dare not concur with so censorious an
author,t because every consequent of a fact is not the punish-
ment of a fault therein.
THOMAS CORIAT. Though some will censure him, as a person
rather ridiculous than remarkable, he must not be omitted ; for,
first, few would be found to call him fool, might none do it save
such who had as much learning as himself. Secondly, if others
have more wisdom than he, thankfulness and humility is the
way to preserve and increase it.
He was born at Odcombe nigh Evil, in this county ; bred at
Oxford, where he attained to admirable fluency in the Greek
tongue. He carried folly (which the charitable called merriment)
in his very face. The shape of his head had no promising form,
being like a sugar-loaf inverted, with the little end before, as
composed of fancy and memory, without any common-sense.
Such as conceived him fool ad duo, and something else ad
decem, were utterly mistaken : for he drave on no design, carry-
ing for coin and counters alike ; so contented with what was
present, that he accounted those men guilty of superfluity, who
had more suits and shirts than bodies, seldom putting off either
till they were ready-to go away from him.
Prince Henry allowed him a pension, and kept him for his
servant. Sweet-meats and Coriat made up the last course at all
court entertainments. Indeed he was the courtiers' anvil to
try their wits upon: and sometimes this anvil returned the
hammers as hard knocks as it received, his bluntness repaying
their abusiveness.
His book, known by the name of " Coriat's Crudities," nau-
seous to nice readers, for the rawness thereof, is not altogether
useless ; though the porch be more worth than the palace, I
mean, the preface, of other men's mock-commending verses
thereon.
At last he undertook to travel into the East Indies by land,
mounted on a horse with ten toes, being excellently qualified
for such a journey ; for rare his dexterity (so properly as con-
* Stow's Survey of London, p. 137. f Idem, ibidem.
LORD MAYORS SHERIFFS. 109
sisting most in manual signs) in interpreting and answering the
dumb tokens of nations, whose language he did not understand.
Besides, such his patience in all distresses, that in some sort
he might seem, cooled with heat, fed with fasting, and refreshed
with weariness. All expecting his return with more knowledge
(though not more wisdom), he ended his earthly pilgrimage in
the midst of his Indian travel, about (as I collect) the year of
our Lord 1616.
LORD MAYORS.
1. John Champneis, son of Robert Champneis, of Chew,
Skinner; ]535.
2. George Bond, son of Rob. Bond, of Trull,, Haberdasher ; 1588.
Know, reader, this is one of the ten pretermitted counties,
the names of whose gentry were not, by the Commissioners, re-
turned into the Tower, in the twelfth of king Henry the Sixth.
SHERIFFS.
This county had the same with Dorsetshire until the ninth
year of queen Elizabeth; since which time, these following have
born the office in this county alone.
ELIZAB. REG.
Anno Name and Arras. Place.
9 Maur. Berkley, mil. . . Bruiton.
G. a chevron between ten crosses formee Arg.
10 Geo. Norton, mil.
1 1 Hen. Portman, arm. . . Orchard.
O. a flower-de-luce Az.
12 Th. Lutterel, arm. . . Dunster Ca.
O. a bend betwixt six martlets S.
13 Geo. Rogers, arm. . . Cannington.
Arg. a chevron betwixt three bucks current S. attired O.
14 Joh. Homer, arm. . . Melles.
S. three talbots passant Arg.
15 Jo. Sydenham, arm. . Brompton.
Arg. three rams S.
16 Joh. Stowell, mil. . . Stawell.
G. cross lozengee Arg,
17 Christop. Kenne, arm. Courtwick.
Erm. three half-moons G.
18 Tho. Mallet, arm. . . Enmore.
Az. three escallops O.
19 Geo. Sydenham, arm. . ut prius.
20 Joh. Colles, arm.
21 Joh. Brett.
22 Maur. Rodney, arm, . Rodney Stoke.
O. three eaglets displayed, Purpure.
110 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
23 Hen. Newton, arm.
Arg. on a chevron Az. three garbs. O.
24 Joh. Buller, arm.
S. on a plain cross Arg. quarter pierced, four eaglets of
the field.
25 Ar. Hopton, arm. . . Witham.
Arg. two bars S. each with three mullets of six points O.
26 Gabr. Hawley, arm.
Vert, a saltire engrailed O.
2? Nic. Sidenham, arm. . ut prius.
28 Joh. Clifton, mil. . . Barrington.
S. semee of cinquefoils, a lion rampant Arg.
29 Hen. Berkley, mil, . . ut prius.
30 Edw. Sainthorp, arm.
31 Sam. Norton, arm.
32 Hugo Portman, arm. . ut prius.
33 Joh. Harington, arm.
S. a fret Arg.
34 Geo. Speke, arm. . . Whitlackington.
Arg. two bars Az. ; over all an eagle displayed G.
35 Geo. Lutterel, arm. . ut prius.
36 [AMP.] Hen. Walrond.
3? Joh. Francis, arm. . . Combe Flouree.
Arg. a chevron betwixt three mullets G. pierced.
38 Joh. Stowel, mil. . . ut prius.
39 Joh. Colles, arm.
40 Joh. Gennings, arm. . Burton.
Az. a chevron O. betwixt three bezants ; on a chief Erin,
three cinquefoils G.
41 Geo. Rodney, arm. . . ut prius.
42 Hugo. Portman, mil. . ut prius.
43 Joh. Mallet, arm. . . ut prius.
44 Joh. May, arm. . . . Charterhouse Heyden.
S. a chevron O. betwixt three roses Arg. ; a chief of the
second.
45 Edw. Rogers, arm. . . ut prius.
JACO. REG.
1 Edw. Rogers, arm. . . ut prius.
2 Joh. Windham, mil. . Orchard.
Az. a chevron betwixt three lions^ heads erased O.
3 Tho. Horner, arm. . . ut prius.
4 Joh. Portman, arm. . ut prius.
5 Edw. Hext, mil. . . . Ham.
O. a castle betwixt three pole-axes S.
6 Edw. Gorges, mil. . . Wraxal.
Masculy, O. and Az.
SHERIFFS.
Ill
Anno Name. Place.
7 Geo. Lutterel, arm. . ut prius.
8 Francis Baber, arm. . Chew Mag.
Arg. on a fess G. three falcons' heads erased of the first.
9 Jo. Rodney, mil. et . ut prius.
Hugo Smith, mil. . . Ashton.
G. on a chevron betwixt three cinq uef oils O. pierced
as many leopards' heads S.
10 Rob. Hendley, arm. . Leigh.
Az. a lion rampant Arg. crowned O. ; within a border of
the second an entoyre of eight torteaux.
11 Nat. Still, arm.
12 Joh. Horner, mil. . . ut prius.
13 Earth. Michel, mil.
Parti per fess G. and S. a chevron Arg. betwixt three
swans proper.
Joh. Colles, arm.
14 Joh. Paulet, arm. . . Hinton St. George.
S. three swords in pile Arg.
15 Rob. Hopton, arm. . . ut prius.
16 Theob. Newton, mil. . ut prius.
17 Jo. Trevilian, arm. . . Nettlecombe.
G. a demi-horse Arg. issuing out of the waves of the sea.
18 Hen. Hendley, arm. . ut prius.
19 Marmad. Gennings, arm. ut prius.
20 Edw. Popham, arm.
Arg. on a chief G. two bucks' heads O.
21 Will. Francis, arm. . . ut prius.
22 Th. Windham, arm. . . ut prius.
CAR. REG.
1 Rob. Philips, mil. ; . Montacute.
Arg. a chevron between three roses G.
2 Joh. Symmes, arm. . . Pounsford.
Az. three scallops in base O.
3 Joh. Latch, arm. . . Langford.
Arg. on a fess wavy three lozenges O. between as many
ineschocheons G.
4 Joh. Stowell, mil. . . ut prius.
5 Tho. Thynne, mil. . . WILTSHIRE.
Barry of ten, O. and S.
6 Fr. Dodington, mil. . . Loxton.
S. three hunters' horns Arg.
7 Th. Lutterel, arm. . . ut prius.
8 Will. Walrond, arm. . ut prius.
9 Joh. Carew, mil.
O. three lions passant S. armed and langued G.
112 WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
10 Hen. Hodges, arm. . . Hasilbere.
O. three crescents; and in a canton S. a ducal crown of
the first.
11 [AMP.] Joh. Basset, arm.
12
13
14 Will. Evvens, arm.
S. a fess between two flowers-de-luce Or.
15
16
17
18 ^Bellum nobis hcec otia fecit.
19
20
21
22 Rich. Cole, arm. . . . Nailsle.
Parti per pale Arg. and G. a bull passant counterchanged.
KING JAMES.
]4. JOHN PAULET, Armiger. He was son to Sir Anthony
Paulet, (governor of Jersey) by the sole daughter of Henry Lord
Norrice, being the sole sister to the brood of many martial bre-
thren. A very accomplished gentleman, of quick and clear parts :
a bountiful housekeeper, so that king Charles consigned Mon-
sieur Soubize unto him, who gave him and his retinue many
months' liberal entertainment. The said king afterwards cre-
ated him baron Paulet of Hinton St. George, in this county,
descended to him from the Denbaudes, the ancient owners
thereof. He married Elizabeth, the daughter and sole heir of
Christopher Ken of Ken castle in the same shire, esquire,
whose right honourable son and heir John Lord Paulet now suc-
ceedeth in that barony.
MODERN BATTLES.
None have been fought in this county, which come properly
under this notion. Indeed the skirmish at Martial's Elm (some-
thing military and ominous in the name thereof) fought 1642,
made much noise in men's ears (a musket gave then a greater
report than a cannon since) ; and is remembered the more, be-
cause conceived first to break the peace of this nation, long res-
tive and rusty in ease and quiet.
As for the encounter at Langport, where the king's forces un-
der the Lord Goring were defeated by the Parliament's, July
12, 1645, it was rather a flight than a fight; like the battle of
Spurs (fought many years since) ; the horse, by their speed,
well saving themselves, whilst the poor foot (pawned in the
place) paid dearly for it. And henceforward the sun of the king's
cause declined, verging more and more westward, till at last it
BRISTOL NATURAL COMMODITIES. 113
set in Cornwall, and since (after a long and dark night) rose
again by God's goodness in the east, when our gracious sove-
reign arrived at Dover.
THE FAREWELL.
May He, who bindeth the sea in a girdle of sand, confine it
within the proper limits thereof, that Somersetshire may never
see that sad accident return, which happened here 1 607 ; when,
by the eruption of the Severn sea, much mischief was, more had
been done, if the west wind had continued longer with the like
violence. The country was overflowed, almost twenty miles in
length, and four in breadth, and yet but eighty persons drowned
therein. It was then observable that creatures of contrary na-
tures, dogs, hares, foxes, conies, cats, mice, getting up to the
tops of some hills, dispensed at that time with their antipathies,
remaining peaceably together, without sign of fear or violence
one towards another ; to lesson men in public dangers, to de-
pose private differences, and prefer their safety before their re-
venge.
BRISTOL.
BRISTOL, more truly Bright-stow y that is, illustrious or bright
dwelling, answers its name in many respects : bright in the si-
tuation thereof, conspicuous on the rising of a hill ; bright in
the buildings, fair and firm ; bright in the streets, so cleanly
kept, as if scoured (where no carts, but sledges, are used) ; but
chiefly bright for the inhabitants thereof, having bred so many
eminent persons.
It standeth both in Somerset and Gloucester- shires (and yet
in neither, it being a liberty of itself) ; divided into two parts
by the river Avon, conjoined with a bridge, which, being built
on both sides, counterfeited! a continued street, for which
strangers at the first sight do mistake it. The houses of the mer-
chants herein are generally very fair ; and their entries, though
little and narrow, lead into high and spacious halls ; which form
may mind the inhabitants thereof of their passage to a better
place.
NATURAL COMMODITIES.
DIAMONDS.
These are the stars of the earthy though such but dim ones,
which St. Vincent's rock, near to this city, doth produce. Their
price is abated by their paleness and softness, to which we may
add their number and nearness ; for, were they but few and far
VOL. III. I
114 WORTHIES OF BRISTOL.
fetched, their value would be advanced. They are not those
unions, pearls so called, because thrifty Nature only affordeth
them by one and one ;* seeing that not only twins, but bunches
and clusters of these are found together.
Were this rock of raw diamonds removed into the East In-
dies, and placed where the beams of the sun might sufficiently
concoct them ; probably in some hundreds of years they would
be ripened into an orient perfection. All I will add is this : a
lady in the reign of queen Elizabeth would have as patiently di-
gested the lie, as the wearing of false stones or pendants of
counterfeit pearl, so common in our age ; and I could wish it
were the worst piece of hypocrisy in fashion.
MANUFACTURES.
GRAY-SOAP.
I behold Bristol as the staple place thereof, where alone it
was anciently made ; for though there be a place in London,
nigh Cheapside, called Sopers-lane, it was never so named from
that commodity made therein (as some have supposed), but
from Alen le Soper, the long since owner thereof. Yea, it is
not above a hundred and fifty years, by the confession of the
chronicler of that city, since the first soap was boiled in Lon-
don ;t before which time the land was generally supplied with
Castile from Spain, and Gray-soap from Bristol. Yea, after
that London meddled with the making thereof, Bristol soap
(notwithstanding the portage) was found much the cheaper.J
Great is the necessity thereof: seeing, without soap, our bo-
dies would be no better than dirt, before they are turned into
dust : men, whilst living, become noisome to themselves and
others. Nor less its antiquity : for although our modern soap,
made of pot-ashes and other ingredients, was unknown to
the ancients, yet had they TI avdXoyov, something which effec-
tually supplied the place thereof, making their woollen clear,
their linen cloth cleanly. Christ is compared by the prophet
to Fuller's soap, in Hebrew borith, which word Arias Montanus,
in his Interlineary Bible, retaineth untranslated ; but, in his
comment (following the example of St. Hierom) on the place,
rendereth it herba Fullonum, expounding it to be saponaria,
in English soapworth. Indeed, both Dodoneus and Gerardus
write thereof, " This plant hath no use in physic." Yet, seeing
Nature made nothing in vain, soapworth cannot justly be charged
as useless, because purging (though not the body) the clothes
of a man, and conducing much to the neatness thereof.
* " Uniones, quia nulli duo simul reperientur. " Pliny's Natural History, lib.
ix. cap. 35.
f Stow's Survey, p. 265. % Idem, in his first Table, verbo Sope.
Malachi iii. 2.
BUILDINGS MEDICINAL WATERS, &C.
THE BUILDINGS.
Ratcliffe Church in this city clearly carrieth away the credit
from all parish churches in England. It was founded by Can-
nings (first a merchant^ who afterwards became a priest) ; and
most stately the ascent thereunto by many stairs, which at last
plentifully recompenseth their pains who climb them up, with
the magnificent structure both without and within.
If any demand the cause why this church was not rather
made the see of a bishop than St. Augustin's in this city, much
inferior thereunto; such may receive this reason thereof : that
this (though an entire stately structure) was not conveniently
accommodated like St. Augustine's (formerly a great monastery)
with public buildings about it, for the palace of a bishop, and
the reception of the dean and chapter. However, as the town
of Hague in Holland would never be walled about, as accounting
it more credit to be the biggest of villages in Europe, than but
a lesser city ; so Ratcliffe church esteemeth it a greater grace to
lead the van of all parochial,* than to follow in the rear after
many cathedral churches in England.
MEDICINAL WATERS.
St. Vincent's Well, lying west of the city, under St. Vincent's
Rock, and hard by the river, is sovereign for sores and sicknesses,
to be washed in, or drunk of, to be either outwardly or inwardly
applied. Undoubtedly the water thereof runneth through some
mineral of iron, as appeareth by the rusty ferruginous taste
thereof, which it retaineth though boiled never so much. Ex-
perience proveth that beer brewed thereof is wholesome against
the spleen ; and Dr. Samuel Ward, afflicted with that malady,
and living in Sidney College, was prescribed the constant drink-
ing thereof, though it was costly to bring it through the Severn
and narrow seas to Lynn, and thence by the river to Cambridge.
But men in pain must not grudge to send far to purchase their
ease, and thank God if they can so procure it.
PROVERBS.
"Bristol milk.'']
Though as many elephants are fed as cows grased within the
walls of this city, yet great plenty of this metaphorical rnilk,
whereby xeres or sherry sack is intended. Some will have it
called milk, because (whereas nurses give new-born babes in
some places pap, in others water and sugar) such wine is the first
moisture given infants in this city. It is also the entertainment
of course, which the courteous Bristolians present to all strangers,
when first visiting their city.
* Yet some have informed me that it only is a chapel-of-ease to the mother-
church of Bcdminster F.
I 2
116 WORTHIES OF BRISTOL.
MARTYRS.
The moderation of John Holyman, bishop of this city, is much
to be commended ; who, in the reign of queen Mary, did not
persecute any in his diocese. And yet we find Richard Sharpe,
Thomas Benion, and Thomas Hale, martyred in this city, whose
blood the inquisitor thereof will visit on the account of Dalbye,*
the eruel chancellor of this diocese.
PRELATES.
RALPH of BRISTOL, born in this city, was bred (as I have
cause to conceive) in the neighbouring convent of Glastonbury.
Going over into Ireland, first he became treasurer of St. Patrick's
in Dublin; then Episcopus Darensis, bishop of Kildare. He
wrote the life of Lawrence archbishop of Dublin ; and granted
(saith my authorf) certain indulgences to the abbey of Glaston-
bury in England, probably in testimony of his gratitude for his
education therein. He died anno Domini 1232.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
TOBIAS MATTHEW, D.D. was born in this city ; J bred first
in St. John's, then in Christ Church in Oxford ; and, by many
mediate preferments, became bishop of Durham, and at last
York. But it will be safest for my pen now to fast (for fear of
a surfeit) which formerly feasted so freely on the character of
this worthy prelate, who died 1628.
SEAMEN.
No city in England (London alone excepted) hath, in so
short a time, bred more brave and bold seamen, advantaged
for western voyages by its situation. They have not only been
merchants, but adventurers, possessed with a public spirit for
the general good ; aiming not so much to return wealthier, as
wiser ; not always to enrich themselves, as inform posterity by
their discoveries. Of these, some have been but merely casual,
when going to fish for cod, they have found a country, or some
eminent bay, river, or haven of importance, unknown before.
Others were intentional, wherein they have sown experiments,
with great pains, cost, and danger, that ensuing ages may freely
reap benefit thereof. Amongst these seamen we must not
forget,
HUGH ELIOT, a merchant of this city, who was, in his age, the
prime pilot of our nation. He first (with the assistance of Mr.
Fox's Martyrology, p. 2052.
t Sir James Ware, in Episcopis Darensibus.
f Sir John Harrington, in his continuation of Bishop Godwin.
" In my Church History," book xi. p. 133.
SEAMEN WRITERS.
117
Thorn his fellow-citizen) found out Newfoundland, anno 1527**
This may be called Old-found-land, as senior, in the cognizance
of the English, to Virginia and all our other plantations.
Had this discovery been as fortunate in public encourage-
ment as private industry, probably before this time we had en-
joyed the kernel of those countries whose shell only we now
possess. It is to me unknown when Eliot deceased.
WRITERS.
THOMAS NORTON was born in this city ; and, if any doubt
thereof, let them but consult the initial syllables in the six first,
and the first line in the seventh chapter of his Ordinal, which
put together compose,
" Thomas Norton of Briseto
A parfet master yeu may him trow."
Thus his modesty embraced a middle way betwixt concealing
and revealing his name; proper for so great a professor in che-
mistry as he was, that his very name must from his book be
mysteriously extracted.
He was scarcely twenty-eight years of age,f when in forty
days (believe him, for he saith so of himself J) he learned the
perfection of chymistry, taught, as it seems, by Mr. George
Ripley. But what saith. the poet ?
" Non minor est virtus, quam quaerere, parta tueri."
The spite is, he complaineth, that a merchant's wife of
Bristol stole from him the elixir of life. Some suspect her to
have been the wife of William Cannings (of whom before), con-
temporary with Norton, who started up to so great and sudden
wealth, the clearest evidence of their conjecture. ||
The admirers of this art are justly impatient to hear this their
great patron traduced by the pen of J. Pitslf and others, by
whom he is termed Nugarum opifex infrivola scientia; and that
he undid himself, and all his friends who trusted him with their
money, living and dying very poor about the year 1477-
JOHN SPINE. I had concluded him born at Spine in Berk-
shire nigh Newbury but for these dissuasives. 1. He lived lately
under Richard the Third, when the clergy began to leave off their
local sirnames, and, in conformity to the laity, to be called from
their fathers. 2. My author** peremptorily saith he was born
in this city. I suspect the name to be Latinised Spineus by
Pits, and that in plain English he was called Thorn, an ancient
name, I assure you, in this city. However, he was a Carmelite,
and a doctor of divinity in Oxford, leaving some books of his
* Hacluit's English Voyages, vol. III. p. 10. f In his Ordinal, p. 88.
Ibid. p. 33. Ibid. p. 34, linea 33.
"Theatrum Chimicum," made by Elias Ashmole, Esq. p. 441.
De Anglue Scriptoribus, p. 666. ** Ibid. p. 673.
118 WORTHIES OF BRISTOL.
making to posterity. He died and was buried in Oxford, anno
Domini 1484.
JOHN of MILVERTON. Having lost the fore I must play an
after game, rather than wholly omit such a man of remark. The
matter is not much, if he, who was lost in Somersetshire (where
indeed he was born, at Milverton) be found in Bristol, where he
first fixed himself a friar Carmelite.* Hence he went to Oxford,
Paris, and at last had his abode in London.
He was Provincial- general of his Order through England, Scot-
land, and Ireland ; so that his jurisdiction was larger than king
Edward the Fourth's, under whom he flourished. He was a
great anti-Wicliffist, and champion of his order both by his
writing and preaching. He laboured to make all believe that
Christ himself was a Carmelite (professor of wilful poverty;)
and his high commending of the poverty of friars tacitly con-
demned the pomp of the prelates. Hereupon the bishop of
London (being his diocesan) cast him into the gaol, from whom
he appealed to Paul the Second ; and, coming to Rome, he was
for three years kept close in the prison of St. Angelo. It made
his durance the more easy, having the company of Platina the
famous papal biographist,f the nib of whose pen had been too
long in writing dangerous truth. At last he procured his cause
to be referred to seven cardinals, who ordered his enlargement.
Returning home into England, he lived in London in good
repute. I find him nominated bishop of St. David's ; J but how
he came to miss it, is to me unknown. Perchance he would not
bite the bait ; but whether because too fat to cloy the stomach
of his mortified soul, or too lean to please the appetite of his
concealed covetousness, no man can decide. He died, and was
buried in London, 1486.
WILLIAM GROCINE was born in this city, and bred in Win-
chester school ; where he, when a youth, became a most excel-
lent poet. Take one instance of many. A pleasant maid (pro-
bably his mistress, however she must be so understood) in a
love frolic pelted him with a snow-ball, whereon he extempore ||
made this Latin tetrastic :
Me nive candenli petiit mea Julia : rebar
Igne carere nivem, nix tamen ignis erat.
Sola poles nostras extinguere Julia Jiammas,
.ZVim nive, non glade, sed potes igne pari.^
19 A snow-ball white at me did Julia throw ;
Who would suppose it ? fire was in that snow.
Julia alone can quench my hot desire,
But not with snow, or ice, but equal fire."
* Pits, ^tat. 14, num. 885. f Bale, Cent. viii. num. 44.
+ Bale and Pits, ut prius. New College Register, anno 1467-
|| Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. ix. num. 5, and Pits, in anno 1520.
^ These verses are printed among Petronius's Fragments, being a farrago of many
yerses later than that ancient author. F.
ROMISH EXILE WRITERS BENEFACTORS. 119
He afterwards went over into Italy, where he had Demetrius
Calchondiles and Politian for his masters; and, returning into
England, was public professor of the Greek tongue in Oxford.
There needs no more to be added to his honour, save that
Erasmus in his Epistles often owns him pro patrono suo et
prceceptore. He died anno 1520.
ROMISH EXILE WRITERS.
JOHN FOWLER was born in Bristol;* bred a printer by his
occupation, but so learned a man, that (if the character given
him by one of his own persuasionf be true) he may pass for
our English Robert or Henry Stephens, being skilful in Latin
and Greek, and a good poet, orator, and divine. He wrote an
abridgment of " Thomas's Summes," the translation of Osorius
into English, &c. Being a zealous papist, he could not com-
port with the Reformation ; but conveyed himself and his press
over to Antwerp, where he was signally serviceable to the Ca-
tholic cause, in printing their pamphlets, which were sent over,
and sold in England. He died at Namurch 1579; and lies
there buried in the church of St. John the Evangelist.
BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC. .
ROBERT THORN was born in this city, as his ensuing epitaph
doth evidence. I see it matters not what the name be, so the
nature be good. I confess, Thorns came in by "man's curse ;"J
and our Saviour saith, " Do men gather grapes of thorns ?"
But this our Thorn (God send us many coppices of them) was a
blessing to our nation, and wine and oil may be said freely to
flow from him. Being bred a merchant tailor in London he
gave more than four thousand four hundred forty-five pounds
to pious uses; || a sum sufficient therewith to build and endow a
college, the time being well considered, being towards the be-
ginning of the reign of king Henry the Eighth.
I have observed some at the church-door cast in sixpence
with such ostentation, that it rebounded from the bottom, and
rung against both the sides of the bason (so that the same piece
of silver was the alms and the giver's trumpet) ; whilst others
have dropped down silent five shillings without any noise. Our
Thorn was of the second sort, doing his charity effectually, but
with a possible privacy. Nor was this good Christian abroad
worse (in the apostle-phrase) than an infidel at home in not pro-
viding for his family, who gave to his poor kindred (besides
debt forgiven unto them) the sum of five thousand one hundred
forty-two pounds.^]"
Grudge not, reader, to peruse his epitaph ; which, though not
so good as he deserved, is better than most in that age :
* Pits, de Anglise Scriptoribus, anno 1579. f Idem, ibidem.
J Genesis iii. 18. Matthew vii. 16. || Stow's Survey of London, p. 90,
^ Idem, ibid.
120 WORTHIES OF BRISTOL.
" Robertas cubat hie Thornus, mercator honestus,
Qui sibi legitimas arte paravit opes.
Huic vitam dederat parvo Bristolia quondam,
Londinum hoc tumulo clauserat ante diem.
Ornavit studiis patriam, virtutibus auxit,
Gymnasium erexit sumptibus ipse suis.
Lector, quisquis ades, requiem cineri, precor, ora
Supplex, et precibus numina flecte tuis."*
He died a bachelor, in the fortieth year of his age, anno Domini
1532; and lies buried in St, Christopher's, London.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
MARY DALE, better known by the name of Mary Ramsey,
daughter of William Dale, merchant, was born in this city.
She became afterwards second wife to Sir Thomas Ramsey,
Grocer and lord mayor of London, anno 1577; and surviving
him, was thereby possessed of a great estate, and made good use
thereof, f She founded two fellowships and scholarships in
Peter-house in Cambridge; and proffered much more, if on her
terms it might have been accepted. For most certain it is, that
she would have settled on that house lands to the value of five
hundred pounds per annum and upwards, on condition that it
should be called " The college of Peter and Mary " This Doc-
tor Soams, then master of the house, refused, affirming " that
Peter, who so long lived single, was now too old to have a fe-
minine partner,"! a dear jest, to lose so good a benefactress.
This not succeeding, the stream of her charity was not pee-
vishly dried up (with those who in matters of this nature will
do nothing, when they cannot do what they would do) ; but
found other channels therein to derive itself. She died anno
Domini 1596, and lieth buried in Christ's Church|| in London.
THOMAS WHITE, D. D. was born in this city, and bred in
Oxford. He was afterwards related to Sir Henry Sidney, Lord
Deputy of Ireland, whose funeral sermon he made, being ac-
counted a good preacher in the reign of queen Elizabeth.
Indeed he was accused for being a great pluralist, though I
cannot learn that at once he had more than one cure of souls,
the rest being dignities. As false is the aspersion of his being
a great usurer : but one bond being found by his executors
amongst his writings of one thousand pounds, which he lent
gratis for many years to the company of Merchant Tailors,
whereof he was free, the rest of his estate being in land and
ready money. Besides other benefactions to Christ Church,
and a lecture in St. PauPs, London, he left three thousand
pounds for the building of Sion College to be a Ramah for the
* Stow's Survey of London, p. 193. f Idem, p. 124.
t So was I informed by Dr. Seaman, late Master of that College F.
. Stow's Survey, in his description of Christ Church.
if Lady Ramsey was a liberal benefactress to Christ's Hospital. ED.
LORD MAYORS THE FAREWELL, &C. 121
sons of the prophets in London. He built there also a fair
alms-house for twenty poor folk, allowing them yearly six
pounds a-piece ; and another at Bristol, which, as I am in-
formed, is better endowed.
Now, as Camillus was counted a second Romulus, for enlarg-
ing and beautifying the city of Rome ; so Mr. John Simpson,
minister of St. Olave^s, Hart-street, London, may be said a se-
cond White, for perfecting the aforesaid college of Sion, build-
ing the gate-house with a fair case for the library, and endowing
it with threescore pounds per annum.
Dr. Thomas White died anno Domini 1623.
LORD MAYORS.
John Aderly, son of John Aderly, Ironmonger, 1442.
Thomas Canning, son of John Canning, Grocer, 1456.
John Young, son of Thomas Young, Grocer, 1466.
THE FAREWELL.
I am credibly informed, that one Mr. Richard Grigson,
citizen, hath expended a great sum of money in new casting of
the bells of Christ Church, adding tunable chimes unto them.
Surely he is the same person whom I find in the printed list of
compounders to have paid one hundred and five pounds for his
reputed delinquency in our civil wars ; and am glad to see one
of his persuasion (so lately purified in Goldsmith's Hall) able to
go to the cost of so chargeable a work.
I wish BRISTOL may have many more to follow his example ;
though perchance, in this our suspicious age, it will be conceiv-
ed a more discreet and seasonable desire, not to wish the in-
crease, but the continuance, of our bells ; and that (though not
taught the descant of chimes) they may retain their plain song
for that public use to which they were piously intended.
WORTHIES OF SOMERSETSHIRE WHO HAVE FLOURISHED
SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER.
Dr. Thomas AMORY, eloquent dissenting divine; born at Taun-
ton 1700; died 1774.
Thomas BAKER, divine and mathematician; born at Ilton
about 1625 ; died 1690.
Elizabeth Ogilvy BENGER, biographical and historical writer ;
born at Wells 1778,
Richard BROCKLESBY, physician and author; born at Mine-
head 1722; died 1797.
Simon BROWNE, learned dissenting divine; born at Shepton
Mallet about 1680; died 1732.
John HRYDAL, lawyer and antiquary ; born about 1683.
122 WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER.
George BULL, Bishop of St. David's, learned author ; born at
WeUs 1634; died 1709.
Dr. Henry BYAM, loyalist and learned preacher, author of
" Sermons ;" born at Luccombe 1580; died 1669.
Walter CHARLETON, physician, and voluminous writer on the
sciences; born at Shepton Mallet 1619; died 1707-
Robert CROSSE, divine, philosopher, and controversialist; born
at Dunster about 1605 ; died 1683.
Ralph CUDWORTH, learned divine and philosophical writer;
born at Aller 1617; died 1688.
Richard EDGEWORTH, scientific and miscellaneous writer ; born
at Bath 1744; died 1817.
Tho. FALCONER, divine, writer, and classical scholar ; born at
Bath 1772; died 1839.
Henry FIELDING, novelist and dramatist ; born at Sharpham
Park 1707 ; died 1754.
Dr. John GARDINER, divine; born at Wellington 175?
Dr. Henry HARRINGTON, musical poet and physician ; born at
Kelston 1?27.
Henry HELLIET, learned divine ; born at Dundry ; flourished
1687.
Prince HOARE, dramatic and miscellaneous writer; born at
Bath 1755 ; died 1835.
Humphrey HODY, divine and author; born at Odcombe 1659;
died 1706.
Lord Viscount HOOD, distinguished admiral; born 1724; died
in 1816.
James HURLY, divine and eccentric philosopher; born at
Crowcombe: died 1783.
James JENNINGS, poetical writer; born at Huntspill 1772,
Richard LAURENCE, divine, and primate of Ireland, theological
antiquary and writer; born at Bath 1?58; died 1839.
John LOCKE, moral philosopher, author of "Essay on the Hu-
man Understanding," &c. ; born at Wrington 1632 ; died
1704.
William PRYNNE, lawyer and antiquary, author of et Histrio
Mastix," and star-chamber victim ; born at Swanswick 1600 ;
died 1669.
Lord RODNEY, successful naval commander ; born about 1?18 ;
died 1792.
Elizabeth ROWE, poetess and accomplished lady, and author of
(( Letters from the Dead to the Living," &c. ; born at Ilches-
ter 1674; died 1?37.
Gilbert SHELDON, archbishop of Canterbury ; born at Stanton
Prior 1598 ; died 1677.
Daniel TERRY, comedian, and adapter of pieces ; born at Bath ;
died 1829.
Sir Edward WALTER, historian and herald ; died 16 76.
Francis WEBB, poet; born at Taunton 1735.
WORKS RELATIVE TO SOMERSETSHIRE.
123
John WICKED pious divine and friend of Dr. Lardner; born
at Taunton 1718-
%* Various topographical works relative to Somersetshire have been produced
since the time of Fuller. Of these the most important are, the Histories of the
County, 1st, by the Rev. J. Collinson (1791) ; and 2nd, by the Rev. Mr. Phelps ;
the latter of which was commenced in 1836, and several parts have been already is-
sued, which display considerable judgment and research. Of the works connected
with the local topography of the county, the most prominent are the Description of
Bath, by J. Wood (1749) ; the History of Bath, by the Rev. R. Warner (1801);
the History of Bath Abbey Church, by J. Britton (1825), and Anstey's New Bath
Guide, edited by the same (1830) ; Delineations of the North-western division of
the County, by J. Rutter (1829); History of Taunton, by J. Toulmin (1791), and
re-edited, in 1822, by J. Savage ; Customs of the Manor of Taunton and Taunton
Dean, by R. Locke (1816) ; Histories of Wells Cathedral, by J. Davis (1814), and
by J. Britton (1824); History of Glastonbury, by the Rev. R. Warner (1826),
and of the Hundred of Carhampton, by J. Savage (1830). ED.
STAFFORDSHIRE.
STAFFORDSHIRE hath Cheshire on the north-west; Derbyshire
on the east and north-east ; Warwick and Worcester-shires on
the south ; and Shropshire in the west. It lieth from north to
south in form of a lozenge, bearing forty in the length from the
points thereof, whilst the breadth in the middle exceeds not
twenty-six miles.
A most pleasant county : for, though there be a place therein
still called Sinai park (about a mile from Burton), at first so
named by the abbot of Burton, because a vast, rough, hilly
ground, like the wilderness of Sinai in Arabia ;* yet this, as a
small mole, serves for a foil to set off the fair face of the county
the better.
Yea, this county hath much beauty in the very solitude thereof ;
witness Beau-Desert, or the Fair Wilderness, being the beautiful
barony of the lord Paget :
" And if their deserts have so rare devices :
Pray then, how pleasant are their paradises."
Indeed most fruitful are the parts of this shire above the
banks of Dove ; butchers being necessitated presently to kill
the cattle fatted thereupon, as certainly knowing that they will
fall in their flesh, if removed to any other pasture, because
they cannot but change to their loss.
NATURAL COMMODITIES.
The best ALABASTER in England (know, reader, I have con-
sulted with curious artists in this kind) is found about Castle-
Hay in this county. It is but one degree beneath white marble,
only more soft and brittle. However, if it lie dry fenced
from weather, and may be let alone, long the during thereof.
Witness the late statue of John of Gaunt in Paul's, and many
monuments made thereof in Westminster, remaining without
break or blemish to this day. I confess Italy affords finer ala-
baster (whereof those imagilets wrought at Leghorn are made),
which indeed apes ivory in the whiteness and smoothness thereof.
But such alabaster is found in small bunches and little propor-
* Burton's Description of Leicestershire, p. 119.
MANUFACTURES BUILDINGS. 125
tions : it riseth not (to use the language of workmen) in great
blocks, as our English doth. What use there is of alabaster
calcined in physic, belongs not to me to dispute. Only I will
observe, that it is very cool, the main reason why " Mary put
her ointment so precious into an alabaster box ;"* because it
preserved the same from being dried up, to which such liquors
in hot countries were very subject.
THE MANUFACTURES.
NAILS.
These are the accommodators generally to unite solid bodies, and
to make them to be continuous : yea, coin of gold and silver may
be better spared in a commonwealth than nails ; for commerce
may be managed without money by exchange of commo-
dities, whereas hard bodies cannot be joined together so fast,
and fast so soon and soundly, without the mediation of nails.
Such their service for firmness and expedition, that iron nails
will fasten more in an hour than wooden pins in a day, because
the latter must have their way made, whilst the former make way
for themselves.
Indeed there is a fair house on London bridge, commonly called
None-such, which is reported to be made without either nails or
pins, with crooked tenons fastened with wedges and other (as
I may term them) circumferential devices. This, though it was
no labour in vain, because at last attaining the intended end,
yet was it no better than a vain labour according to the rule in
logic, " Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora."
But seeing the owner of that house had his harmless humour
therein, and paid dear, no doubt, to his workmen for th'e same ;
there is no cause that I or any other should find fault there-
with.
BUILDINGS.
I have presented the portraiture of the church of Lichfield
in my ee Church History," with the due praise of the neatness
thereof. But now, alas ! the body thereof is become a very
carcase, ruined in our late civil wars. The like fate is likely to
fall on the rest of our cathedrals, if care be not taken for their
reparations.
I have read of duke d'Alva, that he promised life to some
prisoners ; but, when they petitioned him for food, he re-
turned, " he would grant them life, but no meat ;" by which
criticism of courteous cruelty the poor people were starved. If
our cathedrals have only a bare being, and be not supplied with
seasonable repairs (the daily food of a fabric) soon will they be
famished to nothing.f
* Matthew xxvi. 7. Mark xiv. 3. Luke vii. 37.
t This note, written in bad times, seven years since, I thought not fit to put
out. F.
126 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
As for the Close at Lichfield, I have been credibly informed*
that the plague (which long had raged therein), at first shooting
of the cannon at the siege thereof, did abate, imputed by naturalists
to the violent purging of the air by the bullets ; but by divines
to God's goodness, who graciously would not have two miseries
of war and plague afflict one small place at the same time.
Pass we now to Civil buildings in this shire.
TUTBURY CASTLE is a stately place ; and I dare take it on
the credit of an excellent witness,* that it hath a brave and
large prospect (to it, in it, and /row it) ; northward it looks on
pleasant pastures ; eastward on sweet rivers and rich meadows ;
southward on a goodly forest, and many parks (lately no fewer
than twelve) belonging thereto or holden thereof. It was for-
merly the seat of the Lord Ferrars earl of Derby; and how it
was forfeited to the crown is worth our observing.
Robert de Ferrars earl of Derby, siding with Simon Mont-
ford against king Henry the Third, was fined at fifty thousand
Founds, to be paid pridie Johannis Baptistee *f* next following,
know not whether more to admire at the suddenness of pay-
ment, or vastness of the sum : seeing an hundred thousand
pounds was the ransom set by the Emperor on our king Richard
the First ; and it shaked all the coffers of England in that age
(without the help of church plate to make it up) . Well, these
lords following were the security bound for the earl's true pay-
ment at the time appointed:
1. Henry, son to Richard king of the Romans; 2. William
Valence earl of Pembroke ; 3. John de Warren earl of Surrey;
4. William Eeauchamp earl of Warwick ; 5. Sir Roger de
Somery ; 6. Sir /Thomas de Clare; 7 Sir Robert Walrond; 8. Sir
Roger Clifford ; 9. Sir Hamond le Strange ; 10. Sir Bartho-
lomew de Sudeley ; 1 1 . Sir Robert Bruse ; all being then barons
of the land.
But earl Robert, unable to advance the money at the time ap-
pointed, and unwilling to leave the lords, his bail, under the
king's lash, surrendered his lands (and Tutbury castle amongst
the rest) to the clear yearly value of three thousand pounds into
the king's hands ; redeemable, when he or his heirs should pay
down on one day fifty thousand pounds ; which was never per-
formed.
The English clergy much pitied John the son of this earl
Robert, who presented a petition to the Pope, informing his
Holiness, that the English clergy were willing to give him money
by way of contribution to redeem his estate, but durst not,
because commanded to the contrary under the pain of the
Pope's curse ; and therefore he craved his apostolical indulgence
therein.
Something I find was restored unto him; but Tutbury was
* Sampson Erdeswicke, in his manuscript survey of this shire,
f Idem, ibidem.
BUILDINGS PROVERBS. 12?
too sweet a morsel to return, being annexed to the Duchy of
Lancaster. John of Gaunt built a fair castle there, walled on
three sides by art, and the fourth by its natural steepness.
DUDLEY CASTLE must not be forgotten, highly and pleasantly
seated ; and in the reign of king Edward the Sixth well built,
and adorned by John Dudley duke of Northumberland, whereon
a story worth the reporting doth depend.
The aforesaid duke, deriving himself (how truly not yet de-
cided) from a younger branch of the lord Dudley, thirsted after
this castle, in regard of the name and the honourableness of the
house, some having avouched that the barony is annexed to the
lawful possession thereof, whether by purchase or descent.*
Now finding John Sutton the lord Dudley (grandfather to the
last baron) a weak man, exposed to some wants, and entangled
with many debts, he, by the help of those money-merchants,
wrought him out of his castle. So that the poor lord, turned
out of doors, and left to the charity of his friends for subsistence,
was commonly called the lord Quondam. But, after the execu-
tion of that duke, queen Mary, sympathizing with Edward the
son of this poor lord (which Edward had married Katharine
Bruges her maid of honour and sister to the lord Chandois), re-
stored him to the lands and honour which justly belonged to his
father.
PROVERBS.
In April,f Dove's flood
Is worth a king's good."]
Dove, a river parting this and Derbyshire, when it overflow-
eth its banks in April, is the Nilus of Staffordshire, much bat-
tling the meadows thereof.
But this river of Dove, as overflowing in April, feeds the
meadows with fruitfulness ; so in May and June chokes the
sand grained with grit and gravel, to the great detriment of the
owners thereof.
" Wotton-under- Weaver,
Where God came never, "J]
It is time that this old profane proverb should die in men's
mouths for ever. I confess, in common discourse, God is said
to come to what he doth approve; to send to what he only
permits ; and neither to go nor send to what he doth dislike
and forbid. But this distinction, if granted, will help nothing
to the defending of this profane proverb, which it seems took its
wicked original from the situation of Wotton, so covered with
hills from the light of the sun, a dismal place, as report repre-
* Mr. Dugdale, in his Illustration of Warwickshire, in the Catalogue of the Earls
of Warwick F.
f Camden's Britannia, in this county. J Idem, ibidem.
128 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
senteth it. But were there a place indeed where God came
never, how many years 5 purchase would guilty consciences give
for a small abode therein, thereby to escape Divine justice for
their offences !
SAINTS.
Authors do as generally agree about a grand massacre com-
mitted by the Pagans under Dioclesian on the British Christians
in the place where Lichfield now standeth : I say, they as ge-
nerally agree in the fact, as they disagree in the number : some
making them two hundred, others five, others seven. And one
author (certainly he was no Millennary in his judgment) mounts
them to just 999. Indeed many were martyred in those days,
both in Britain and elsewhere, whose names and numbers are
utterly unknown ; so true is the expression of Gregory the
Great,* i( Ipsi sancti martyres Deo numerabiles, nobis arenam
multiplicati sunt, quia quot sint a nobis comprehendi non
possunt: novit enim eos tantum ille, qui (ut habet Psalmus
cxxvi.) numerat multitudinem stettarum, et omnibus eis nomina
vocat."
ST. BERTELIN was a Briton of a noble birth, and led an
eremitical life in the woods near Stafford,f anciently called
Bethiney (contracted, it seems, for Bertiliney); something of
solitariness still remaining in his memory, as being so alone, it
hath no memorable particulars of his accounts to accompany it.
WOLF AD us RUFF IN us. It was pity to part them, seeing
they were ee loving in their lives, and in their death they were
not divided. 5? J They were sons to Wolferus, the Pagan king of
Mercia and a tyrant to boot, who, hating Christianity, and find-
ing these twins to profess privately to practise it, was so en-
raged, that nothing but their blood would quench his anger.
Wolfadus was taken, and martyred at Stone in this county;
whilst his younger (if not twin brother) Ruifinus came little
more behind him at his death, than he started before him at his
birth ; seeking to hide himself in a woody place (where since
the chapel of Burnweston hath been built) was there by his
Herod-father found out and murdered. They were by succeed-
ing ages rewarded with reputation of saintship. This massacre
happened anno domini .||
CARDINALS.
REGINALD POLE was born at Stoverton castle in this county,
* In his 27th Homily in Evang.
f Cam den and Speed, their descriptions of this country. 2 Sam. i. 23.
Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
II Wolfhere was king of Mercia from 659 to 675. ED.
CARDINALS. 129
anno 1500.* He was second son unto sir Richard Pole, knight
of the Garter, and / rater consobrinus"\ (a relation which I cannot
make out in reference to him) to Henry the Seventh. His
mother -Margaret countess of Salisbury was niece to king Edward
the Fourth, and daughter to George duke of Clarence.
This Reginald was bred in Corpus Christi College in Oxford;
preferred afterward dean of Exeter. King Henry the Eighth
highly favoured and sent him beyond the seas, allowing him a
large pension, to live in an equipage suitable to his birth and
alliance. He studied at Padua, conversing there so much with
the Patricians of Venice, that at last he degenerated into a per-
fect Italian ; so that neither love to his country, nor gratitude to
the king, nor sharp letters of his friends, nor fear to lose his
present, nor hopes to get future preferments, could persuade
him to return into England, but that his pensions were with-
drawn from him.
This made him apply his studies the more privately in a Ve-
netian monastery, where he attained great credit, for his elo-
quence, learning, and good life. Such esteem foreign grandees
had of his great judgment, that cardinal Sadolet, having written
a large book in the praise of philosophy, submitted it wholly to
his censure. Pole as highly commended the work, as he much
admired that a cardinal of the church of Rome would conclude
his old age with writing on such a subject,! applying unto him
the verses of Virgil,
Est in conspectu Tenedos notissimafamd
Insulct, dives opum, Priami dum regna manebant,
Nunc tantum sinus, et statio malefida carinis.
" From Troy may the isle of Tenedos be spied,
Much fam'd when Priam's kingdom was in pride,
Now but a bay where ships in danger ride.''
These far-fetched lines he thus brought home to the cardinal,
that though philosophy had been in high esteem whilst pagan-
ism was in the prime thereof, yet was it but a bad harbour for
an aged Christian to cast his anchor therein.
It was not long before he was made deacon^cardinal, by the
title of St. Mary in Cosmedin, by Pope Paul the Third, who
sent him on many fruitless and dangerous embassies to the
emperor and the French king, to incite them to war against king
Henry the Eighth. Afterwards he retired himself to Viterbo in
Italy, where his house was observed the sanctuary of Lutherans,
and he himself became a racking, but no thorough-paced Pro-
testant ; insomuch that, being appointed one of three pre-
sidents of the council of Trent, he endeavoured (but in vain)
to have justification determined by faith alone.
During his living at Viterbo, he carried not himself so cau-
tiously, but that he was taxed for begetting a base child, which
* Camden's Britannia, in English, in Staffordshire,
f Antiquit. Britan. in Vita Poli., p. 344. % Idem, p. 345.
VOL. III. K
130 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
Pasquil* published in Latin and Italian verses, affixed in the
season of liberty on his lawless pillar.
This Pasquil is an author eminent on many accounts, First,
for his self-concealment, being "noscens omnia, et notus
nemini/' Secondly, for his intelligence, who can display the
deeds of midnight at high noon, as if he hi(^ himself in the holes
of their bed-staves, knowing who were cardinals 5 children better
than they knew their fathers. Thirdly, for his impartial bold-
ness. He was made all of tongue and teeth, biting whatever he
touched, and it bled whatever he bit; yea, as if a General Coun-
cil and Pasquil were only above the Pope, he would not stick to
tell where he trod his holy sandals awry. Fourthly, for his lon-
gevity, having lived (or rather lasted) in Rome some hundreds of
years ; whereby he appears no particular person, but a succes-
sive corporation of satirists. Lastly, for his impunity, escaping
the Inquisition ; whereof some assign this reason, because
hereby the court of Rome comes to know her faults, or rather
to know that their faults are known ; which makes Pasquil's
converts (if not more honest) more wary in their behaviour.
This defamation made not such an impression on Pole's cre-
dit, but that, after the death of Paul the Third, he was at mid-
night, in the conclave, chosen to succeed him. Pole refused it,
because he would not have his choice a deed of darkness,
appearing therein not perfectly Italianated, in not taking prefer-
ment when tendered ; and the cardinals beheld his refusal as a
deed of dulness. Next day, expecting a re-election, he found
new morning new minds ; and, Pole being reprobated, Julius
the Third, his professed enemy, was chosen in his place.
Yet afterwards he became " alterius orbis Papa/' when made
archbishop of Canterbury by queen Mary. He was a person
free from passion, whom none could anger out of his ordinary
temper. His youthful books were full of the flowers of rhetoric ;
whilst the withered stalks are only found in the writings of his
old age, so dry their style, and dull their conceit, He died a
few hours after queen Mary, November the 17th, anno 1558.
PRELATES.
EDMUND STAFFORD was brother to Ralph first earl of
Stafford, and consequentially must be son to Edmund baron
Stafford.f His nativity is rationally with most probability
placed in this county, wherein his father (though landed every
where), had his prime seat, and largest revenues.
He was by king Richard the Second preferred bishop of
Exeter; and under king Henry the Fourth, for a time, was
chancellor of England. I meet with an author who doth make
him bishop first of Rochester, then of Exeter, and lastly of York.J
* Antiquit. Brit, in Vita Poli, p. 348.
f Bishop Godwin, in the Bishops of Exeter.
^ Mr. Philpot, in his Catalogue of Lord Chancellors, p. 53.
PRELATES LAWYERS. 131
But of the first and last altum silentium in bishop Godwin,
whom I ratlier' believe. He was a benefactor to StapletonVInn
in Oxford, on a three- fold account, viz.
1 . Of Credit ; first calling it Exeter College, whereby he put
an obligation on the bishop of that see, favourably to reflect
thereon.
2. Of Profit; adding two fellowships unto it, and settling
lands to maintain them.
3. Of Safety ; which consisteth in good statutes, which here
he wisely altered and amended.
He sat in his see twenty-four years ; and, dying 1419, was
buried under an alabaster tomb in his own cathedral.
WILLIAM DUDLEY, son of John Dudley, the eighth baron
Dudley, of Dudley castle in this county, was by his parents
designed for a scholar, and bred in University College in
Oxford, whence he was preferred to be dean of Windsor, and
afterwards was for six years bishop of Durham.* He died
anno 1483, at London, and lies buried in Westminster on the
south side of St. Nicholas Chapel.
EDMUND AUDLEY, son to the lord Audley of Heyley in this
county, whose surname was Touchet. I am informed by my
worthy friend, that skilful antiquary Mr. Thomas Barlow of
Oxford, that this Edmund in one and the same instrument
writeth himself both Audley and Touchet. He was bred in the
university of Oxford; and, in process of time, he built the
choir of Saint Mary's therein anew on his own charge, adorn-
ing it or gams hydraulicis, which, I think, imports no more than
a musical organ.
He was preferred bishop, first of Rochester, then of Hereford,
and at last of Salisbury, f He died at Ramsbury, August 23,
1624 ; and is buried in his own cathedral, on the south side of
the altar, in a chapel of excellent artifice of his own erection.
Not meeting with any bishops bora in this county SINCE
THE REFORMATION, let us proceed.
LAWYERS.
Sir THOMAS LITTLETON, Knight. Reader I have seriously
and often perused his life, as Written by Sir Edward Coke;
yet, not being satisfied of the certainty of his nativity, am
resolved to divide his character betwixt this county and Wor-
cestershire. He was son to Thomas Westcote, esq. and Eliza-
beth Littleton his wife ; whose mother being daughter and
heir of Thomas Littleton, esq. and bringing to her husband
a great inheritance, indented with him before marriage, that
* Godwin, in the Bishops of Durham.
f Bishop Godwin, in the Bishops of Sarum.
K 2
132 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
her virgin surname should be assumed and continued in his
posterity.*
He was bred student of the laws in the Inward Temple;
and became afterwards serjeant and steward of the court of the
Marshalsea of the king's household to Henry the Sixth. By
king Edward the Fourth, in the sixth of his reign, he was
made one of the judges of the Common Pleas ; and in the fif-
teenth of his reign by him created Knight of the Bath.
He is said by our learned antiquary f to have deserved as well
of our Common as Justinian of the Civil law ; whose " Book of
Tenures" (dedicated by him to Richard his second son, who
also studied the laws) is counted oraculous in that kind, which
since hath been commented on by the learned endeavours of
Sir Edward Coke.
He married Joan, one of the daughters and co-heirs of William
Boerley, of Bromscraft castle in Salop, by whom he had three
sons, founders of three fair families still flourishing :
1. PPilliam, fixed at Frankley, in this county, where his
posterity is eminently extant.
2. Richard^ whose issue, by Alice daughter and heir of
William Winsbury, remain at Pillerton Hall in Shropshire.
3. Thomas, who, by Anne, daughter and heir of John Bo-
treaux, hath his lineage still continuing in Worcestershire.
This reverend judge died the 23rd of August, in the one and
twentieth of king Edward the fourth ; and lieth buried under a
very fair monument in the cathedral of Worcester.
EDMUND DUDLEY, Esq, was son to John Dudley, Esq.
second son to John Sutton, first baron of Dudley, as a learned
antiquary J hath beheld his pedigree derived. But his descent
is controverted by many, condemned by some, who have raised
a report, that John, father to this Edmund, was but a carpenter,
born in Dudley town (and therefore called John Dudley), who,
travelling southward to find work for his trade, lived at Lewes
in Sussex, where they will have this Edmund born, and for
the pregnancy of his parts brought up by the abbot of Lewes
in learning. But probably some who afterwards were pinched
in their purses by this Edmund, did in revenge give him this
bite in his reputation, inventing this tale to his disparagement.
I must believe him of noble extraction, because qualified to
marry the daughter and heir of the viscount of Lisle, and that
before this Edmund grew so great with king Henry the Seventh,
as by the age of John his son (afterwards duke of Northum-
berland) may probably be collected.
He was bred in the study of the laws, wherein he profited so
well, that he was made one of the puisne judges, and wrote an
* Lord Coke, in his Preface to Littleton's Tenures.
f Cumden's Britannia, in Staffordshire. % Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
LAWYERS SOLDIERS. 133
;xcellent book, compounded of law and policy (which hitherto
I have not seen), intituled " The Tree of the Commonwealth."*
But what saith Columella ? " Agricolam arbor ad fructum
perducta delectat," (a ( husbandman is delighted with the tree
of his own planting when brought to bear fruit/) Judge Dudley
knew weU how to turn a land into the greatest profit of his
prince, which made him employed by king Henry the Seventh
to put his penal statutes in execution ; which he did, with se-
verity, cruelty, and extortion ; so that, with Sir Richard Empson,
mis et modis (vitiis et modis rather) they advanced a mighty
mass of money to the king, and no mean one to themselves.
King Henry the Eighth coming to his crown, could not pass
in his progress for complaints of people in all places, against
these two wicked instruments, who, with the two "daughters of
the horse leech/'f were always crying, Give, give ; and therefore
he resolved to discharge their protection, and to resign them to
justice ; so that they were made a peace-offering to popular anger
1510, and were executed at Tower-hill.
Sir THOMAS BROMLEY, Knight. Reader, I request thee
that this short note may keep possession for his name and
memory, until he may be fixed elsewhere with more assurance.
He was, in the first of queen Mary, October 8, made lord chief
justice of the King's Bench, holding his place hardly a year;
but, whether quitting his office, or dying therein, is to me
unknown. J
SOLDIERS.
JOHN BROMLEY, Esq., branched from the Bromleys in
Shropshire, but born and living in this county at Bromley, fol-
lowed the fortunate arms of king Henry the Fifth in France.
It happened that, in a battle near Corby, the French (accord-
ing to their fashion, furious at first) felt so fiercely on the Eng-
lish, that they got away the king's standard of Guienne, to the
great dismay of our army. But Bromley y s heart had no room
for fear or grief, anger had so wholly possessed it : insomuch
that valiantly he recovered the captive standard, and by his~
exemplary prowess largely contributed to that day's victory.
Hereupon Hugh Stafford lord Bourchier conferred on him a
yearly pension of forty pounds during his life. || Afterwards, in the
sixth of king Henry the Fifth, anno 1418, he was not only
knighted by the king for his venturous activity, but also made
captain of Dampfront, and great constable of Bossivile le
Ross in France ; yea, and rewarded by the king with forty
pounds in land a year to him and his heirs, the patent whereof
is extant in the Tower, and exemplified in my author.^! lie
* J. Bale, and J. Stow. f Proverbs, xxx. 15.
| Spelinan's Glossary, verbo Justiciarius. Holinshed, page 551.
|| Idem, ibidem. ^ Holinshed, p. 563.
134 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
appears to me no more than a plain knight, or a knight bachelor ;
but were it in the power of my pen to create a banneret, he should,
for the reason premised, have that honour affixed to his memory,
who, as we conjecture, died about the middle of the reign of
king Henry the Sixth,
JOHN DUDLEY, duke of Northumberland (where born uncer-
tain) was son to Edmund Dudley, esq. (of whom before*), and
would willingly be reputed of this county ; a descendant from
the lord Dudley therein, whose memory we will gratify so far
as to believe it.
He lived long under king Henry the Eighth, who much
favoured him ; and the servant much resembled his master, in
the equal contemperament of virtue and vices, so evenly matched,
that it is hard to say which got the mastery in either of them.
This John was proper in person, comely in carriage, wise in
advising, valiant in adventuring, and generally (till his last pro-
ject) prosperous in success. But he was also notoriously wan-
ton, intolerably ambitious, a constant dissembler, prodigiously
profuse ; so that he had sunk his estate, had it not met with a
seasonable support of abbey land ; he being one of those who
well warmed himself with the chips, which fell from the felling
of monasteries.
King Henry the Eighth first knighted, then created him, Vis-
count Lisle, Earl of Warwick, f and Duke of Northumberland.
And under queen Mary he made himself almost king of Eng-
land, though not in title, in power, by contriving the set-
tling of the crown on queen Jane his daughter-in-law, till
success failed him therein. And no wonder if that design
.missed the mark, which, besides many rubs it met with at hand,
was thrown against the general bias of English affection. For
this his treasonable practice he was executed in the first of
queen Mary, much bemoaned by some martial men, whom he
had formerly endeared in his good service in the French and
Scottish wars. He left two sons, who survived to great honour ;
Ambrose earl of Warwick, heir to all that was good, and
Robert earl of Leicester, heir to all that was great, in their
father.
The BAGNOLS. Something must be premised of their name
and extraction. The Bagenhalts (commonly called Bagnols)
were formerly a family of such remark in this county, that before
the reign of king Henry the Eighth there scarce passed an
ancient piece of evidence which is not attested by one of that
name.} But (see the uncertainty of all human things) it after-
wards sunk down (to use my author's language) into a plebeian
* Jn the LAWYERS of this county, p. 132.
f Dr. Fuller afterwards corrects this passage ; see p. 155 ED.
j Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
SEAMEN. 135
condition.* But the sparks of their gentle blood (though
covered for a time under a mean estate) have since blazed again
with their own worth and valour, when Ralph and Nicholas,
sons to John Bagnol of Newcastle in this county, were both
knighted for their good service, the one in Musselburgh fight,
the other in Ireland. Yea, as if their good courage had
been hereditary, their sons Samuel and Henry were for their
martial merit advanced to the same degree.
SEAMEN.
WILLIAM MINORS. Reader, I remember how, in the
case of the ship-money, the judges delivered it for law,
that, England being an island, the very middle-land shires
therein are all to be accounted as maritime. Sure I am, the
genius even of land-lock counties acteth the natives with a mari-
time dexterity. The English generally may be resembled to
ducklings, which, though hatched under a hen, yet naturally
delight ta dabble in the water. I mean, though born and bred
in in -land places, (where neither their infancy nor childhood
ever beheld ship or boat) yet have they a great inclination and
aptness to sea-service. And the present subject of our pen is a
pregnant proof thereof.
This William, son to Richard Minors, Gent, of Hallenbury-
Hall, was born at Uttoxeter in this county ; who afterwards
coming to London, became so prosperous a mariner, that he
hath safely returned eleven times from the East Indies : whereas,
in the days of our grandfathers, such as came thence twice
were beheld as rarities ; thrice, as wonders ; four times, as
miracles.
Much herein (under Divine Providence) is to be attributed
to the make of our English ships, now built more advantageous
for sailing than in former ages, Besides, the oftener they go,
the nearer they shape their course, use being the mother of per-
fectness.
Yet, whilst others wonder at his happiness in returning so
often, I as much commend his moderation in going no oftener
to the East Indies. More men know how to get enough, than
when they have gotten enough, which causeth their covetous-
ness to increase with their wealth. Mr. Minors, having ad-
vanced a competent estate, quitted the water to live on the land ;
and now peaceably enjoyeth what he painfully hath gotten, and
is living in or near Hartford at this present year 1660.
WRITERS.
JOHN STAFFORD, born in the shire town of this county, was
bred a Franciscan ; no contemptible philosopher and divine .
* Sampson Erdeswicke, in his Description of the Town of Bagenhajt.
136 WORTHIES OP STAFFORDSHIRE.
but considerable historian, who wrote a Latin History of Eng-
land's Affairs. Authors are at an absolute loss when he lived,
and are fain by degrees to screw themselves into a general
notice thereof.
He must be since the year 1226, when the Franciscans first
fixed themselves in our land.
He must be before John Ross, who flourished anno 1480,
under Edward the Fourth, and maketh honourable mention
of him.
Therefore with proportion and probability he is collected to
have written about 1380.
WILLIAM de LICHFIELD, so termed from the place of his
nativity,* applied himself to a study of divinity, whereof he be-
came doctor, and afterwards rector of All-hallows the Great, in
Thames-street, London. He was generally beloved for his
great learning and godly life. He wrote many books, both
moral and divine, in prose and verse ; one entitled i( The Com-
plaint of God unto sinful Men." There were found in his study
after his death three thousand four score and three sermons of
his own writing.t He died anno Domini 1447, being buried
under a defaced monument in the choir of his own church.
ROBERT WHITTINGTON, born at Lichfield,J was no mean
grammarian. Indeed, he might have been greater, if he would
have been less ; pride prompting him to cope with his con-
querors, whom he mistook for his match. The first of these
was Will. Lillie, though there was as great difference betwixt
these two grammarians as betwixt a verb defective and one per-
fect in all the requisites thereof. The two other were William
Herman and Alderedge, both eminent in the Latin tongue : but
some will carp at the best, who cannot mend the worst line in a
picture, the humour of our Whittington, who flourished 1530.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
HENRY STAFFORD, baron of Stafford in this county, was son
unto Edward duke of Buckingham, attainted and beheaded un-
der king Henry the Eighth. This our Henry, though losing
his top and top-gallant (his earldom and dukedom) in the tem-
pest of the king's displeasure, yet still he kept his keel, his
barony of Stafford. The less he possessed of his father's lands,
the more he enjoyed of himself. It was not sullenness or
revenge, but free choice, which made him betake himself to his
studies, wherein he became eminent.
I place him confidently not a trans but cis -reformation man,
* Pits," de Anglise Scriptoribus, in Appendice, p. 854.
* Stow's Survey of London, p. 251.
j Bale, Cent. ix. num. 43 ; and Pits, setat. xvi. num. 940,
WRITERS. 13/
for translating the book of Dr. Fox bishop of Hereford (a
favourer of Luther) into English, ee Of the Difference of the
Power Ecclesiastical and Secular."
A subject profitable in all, seasonable (not to say necessary)
in our times : for, as the water and earth, making but one
globe, take their mutual advantages to enlarge themselves ; so
these two powers, united under one* king in our land, wait their
opportunities to advance their respective jurisdictions, the right
stating whereof would conduce much to the public peace, This
lord died (I dare not say the more the pity) some months
before the beginning of queen Elizabeth, anno 1558.*
SAMPSON ERDESWICKE, Esq., was born at Sandon near
Stafford in this county, of a right worshipful and ancient ex-
traction. He was a gentleman accomplished with all noble
qualities, affability, devotion, and learning. y Tis hard to say
whether his judgment or industry was more in matters of
antiquity.
Bearing a tender respect to his native county, and desiring
the honour thereof : he began a description (entitled " A View
of Staffordshire,") anno Domini 1593, continuing the same till
the day of his death ; a short, clear, true, impartial work, taken
out of ancient evidences and records ; the copies whereof in
manuscripts are deservedly valued for great rarities. This is
he who, when I often groped in the dark, yea, feared to fall in
matters concerning this county, took me by the hand (oh for
the like conductors in other counties !), and hath led me safe by
his direction. He was much delighted with the decency of
God's house, which made him on his own cost to repair and
new glaze the church of Sandon, wherein (to prevent neglect of
executors) he erected for himself a goodly monument of free-
stone, with his proportion cut out to the life, and now lieth
therein interred. He died April 11, 1603 ; and let his elegy of
Mr. Camden serve for his epitaph, " Venerandae Antiquitatis
fuit cultor maximus."t
THOMAS ALLEN was born in this county, deriving his origi-
nal from Alanus de Buckenhole,J lord of Buckenhole, in the
reign of king Edward the Second. He was bred in Gloucester-
hall in Oxford; a most excellent mathematician, where he
succeeded to the skill and scandal of friar Bacon (taken at both,
but given I believe by neither,) accounted a conjuror. Indeed
vulgar eyes, ignorant in optics, conceit that raised which is but
reflected, fancy every shadow a spirit, every spirit a devil, And
when once the repute of a conjurer is raised in vulgar esteem,
it is not in the power of the greatest innocence and learning to
allay it. He was much in favour with Robert earl of Leicester ;
* Pits, anno 1558 f Britannia, in this county.
+ Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
138 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
and his admirable writings of mathematics are latent with some
private possessors, which envy the public profit thereof. He
died, a very aged man, towards the end of the reign of king
James.
WILLIAM and ROBERT BURTON, brethren, and eminent
authors in their several kinds, were, as some say, born at Falde
in this county. But Leicestershire, pretending some probabi-
lity to their nativities, hath by the alphabetical advantage pre-
vented this shire, and carried away their characters therein.*
Besides these deceased WRITERS, reader, I have three in my
eye, who are (and long may they be) alive, as different as
eminent in their Jiberal inclinations :
EDWARD L,EiGH,t of Rushwell hall, Esq.,Jwhose " Critica
Sacra," with many other worthy works, will make his judicious
industry known to posterity.
ELIAS ASHMOLE,J Esq., born in Litchfield, critically skilled
in ancient coins, chemistry, heraldry, mathematics, what not ?
JOHN LIGHTFOOT, D.D. who, for his exact insight in He-
brew and Rabbinical learning, hath deserved well of the Church
of England.
But forgive me, reader, I have forgot myself, and trespasssd
on my fundamental rules.
ROMISH EXILE WRITERS.
WILLIAM GIFFORD, Though this ancient and worshipful
name be diffused in several counties, I have satisfied myself in
fixing him here, as an extract of the family of Chillington. He
was a man of much motion ; and my pen is resolved to follow
him, as able to travel with more speed, less pain, and cost :
1. From his father's house he went to, and lived four years
in, Oxford. 2. Thence (with his schoolmaster) he went over to
Louvain, where he got lauream doctor alem in artibus,\\ was
made master of arts. 3. Then, studying divinity there under
Bellarmln, was made Bachelor in that profession, 4. Frighted
hence with war, went to Paris. 5. Removed to Rheims, where
he eleven years professed divinity. 6. Doctorated at Pont-
Muss in Lorraine. J. Highly prized by Henry duke of Guise,
and cardinal Lewis his brother, who gave him a pension of two
hundred crowns a-year. 8. After their death, he went to Rome,
where he became dean of St. Peter's in the Isle for ten years.
9. Returning to Rheirns, he was made rector of the university
* See, in Leicestershire, " WRITERS since the Reformation.''
t SirEdw. Leigh died in 1671. ED.
J Founder of the Ashmolean Library at Oxford; see p. 156. ED.
He died in 1675. ED.
II Pits, de Illustribus Anglise Scriptoribus, p. 809.
:NEFACTORS MEMORABLE PERSONS.
therein. 10. At fifty years of age, bidding farewell to the world,
he became a Benedictine at Deleware in Lorraine.
Thus far Pitseus (acquainting us that he was*alive 1611) ; on
whose stock give me leave to graft what followeth.
This Dr. Gifford was advanced archbishop of Rheims by the
favour of the duke of Guise, who is shrewdly suspected to have
quartered too heavily on the profit of that place.
However, our Gifford gained so much, as therewith to found
not only a convent for English monks at St. Maloes in France,
but also at Paris for those of the same profession. Remarkable
charity, that an exile (who properly had no home o his own)
should erect houses for others.
BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC.
This county, I confess, is exceeded by her neighbours in this
particular ; and I meet with few either ancient or eminent bene-
factions therein. Yet, besides a fair school at Wolverhampton,
built by Sir Stephen Jennings, lord mayor of London, and
another erected by^ Mr. Thomas Mien at U teeter,* I am credibly
informed, that
MARTEN NOEL, Esq. born in the county town of Stafford,
bred scrivener in London, hath fairly built and largely endowed
an hospital in Stafford aforesaid.
The crown-mural amongst the Romans was not given to every
soldier who scaled the walls, but only to him who footed them
first : on which account a garland of glory is due to this gentle-
man, whose foundation (as I am certified) is the first [consider-
able] fabric of that kind in this county. It is to be hoped that,
as "the zeal of Achaia provoked many/'t so this good leader
will invite many followers to succeed him, living in London this
present 1660.
MEMORABLE PERSONS.
[REM.] THOMAS TARLTON. My intelligence of the cer-
tainty of his birth-place coming too late (confessed by the mar-
ginal mark), I fix him here, who indeed was born at Condover
in the neighbouring county of Shropshire, where still some of
his name and relations remain. Here he was in the field, keep-
ing his father's swine, when a servant of Robert earl of Leicester
(passing this way to his lord's lands in his barony of Denbigh)
was so highly pleased with his happy unhappy answers, that he
brought him to court, where he became the most famous jester
to queen Elizabeth.
Many condemn his (vocation I cannot term it, for it is a
coming without a calling] employment as unwarrantable. Such
maintain, that it is better to be a fool of God's making, born so
into the world, or a fool of man's making, jeered into it by gene-
* Uttoxetcr ED. f 2 Corinthians ix. 2.
140 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
ral derision, than a fool of one's own making, by his voluntary
affecting thereof. Such say also, he had better continued in his
trade of swine-keeping, which (though more painful, and less
profitable) his conscience changed to loss, for a jester's place in
the court, who, of all men, have the hardest account to make
for every idle word that they abundantly utter.
Others allege, in excuse of their practices, that princes in all
ages were allowed their ap^roXoyot, whose virtue consisted in
speaking anything without control : that jesters often heal
what -flatterers hurt, so that princes by them arrive at the notice
of their errors, seeing jesters carry about with them an act of
indemnity for whatsoever they say or do : that princes, over-
burdened with state-business, must have their diversions; and
that those words are not censurable for absolutely idle which
lead to lawful delight.
Our Tarlton was master of his faculty. When queen Eliza-
beth was serious (I dare not say sullen) and out of good humour,
he could un-dumpish her at his pleasure. Her highest favourites
would, in some cases, go to Tarleton before they would go to
the queen, and he was their usher to prepare* their advantage-
ous access unto her. In a word, he told the queen more of her
faults than most of her chaplains, and cured her melancholy
better than all of her physicians.
Much of his merriment lay in his very looks and actions, ac-
cording to the epitaph written upon him :
" Hie situs est cujus poterat vox, actio, vultus,
Ex Heraclito reddere Democritum."
Indeed the self-same words, spoken by another, would hardly
move a merry man to smile ; which, uttered by him, would
force a sad soul to laughter.
This is to be reported to his praise, that his jests never were
profane, scurrilous, nor satirical ; neither trespassing on piety,
modesty, or charity, as in which plurimum inerat sails, multum
acetiy aliquid sinapis, nihil veneni. His death may proportion-
ably be assigned about the end of queen Elizabeth.
JAMES SANDS, of Horborn,* (nigh Birmingham, but) in this
county, is most remarkable for his vivacity ; for he lived 140 and
his wife 120 years. He outlived five leases of twenty-one
years a-piece, which were made unto him after his marriage,
Thus is not the age of man so universally contracted, but that
Divine Providence sometimes draweth it out to an extraordinary
length ; as for other reasons, so to render the longevity of the
primitive patriarchs more credible. He died about the year
1625.
WALTER PARSONS, born in this county, was first apprenticed
to a smith, when he grew so tali in stature, that a hole was made
* Doctor Hacwill in his Apology, p. 283.
LORD MAYORS GENTRY. 141
for him in the ground, to stand therein up to the knees, so to
make him adequate with his fellow-workmen. He afterwards
was porter to king James ; seeing as gates generally are higher
than the rest of the building, so it was sightly that the porter
should be taller than other persons. He was proportionable in
all parts, and had strength equal to height, valour to his strength,
temper to his valour ; so that he disdained to do an injury to
any single person. He would make nothing to take two of the
tallest yeomen of the guard (like the gizard and liver) under his
arms at once, and order them as he pleased.
Yet were his parents (for ought I do understand to the con-
trary) but of an ordinary stature ; whereat none will wonder who
have read what St. Augustine reports of a woman which came
to Rome (a little before the sacking thereof by the Goths) of so
giant- like a height, that she was far above all who saw her, though
infinite troops came to behold the spectacle.* And yet he
addeth, " Et hoc erat maximae admirationis, quod ambo parentes
ejus," &c., (this made men most admire that both her parent
were but of ordinary stature.)
This Parsons is p'roduced for proof that all ages afford some
of extraordinary height, and that there is no general decay of
mankind in their dimensions ; which if there were, we had ere
this time shrunk to be lower than pigmies, not to instance^ in a
less proportion. This Parsons died anno Domini 162. .
LORD MAYORS.
1. William Taylor, son of John Taylor, of Eccleston, Grocer,
1468.
2. Stephen Jennings, son of William Jennings, of Wolver-
hampton, Merchant Tailor, 1508.
3. Richard Pipe, son of Richard Pipe, of Wolverhampton,
Draper, 1578.
4. James Harvey, son of William Harvey, of Cottwalton, Iron-
monger, 1581.
5. Stephen Slany, son of John Slany, of Mitton, Skinner, 1595,
6. William Rider, son of Thomas Rider, of Muclestone, Haber-
dasher, 1600.
7. Hugh Hamersley, son of Hugh Hamersley, of Stafford,
Haberdasher, 162?.
THE NAMES OF THE GENTRY OF THIS COUNTY,
RETURNED BY THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF KING HENRY
THE SIXTH, 1433.
William bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, Humphry earl
of Stafford ; Hugh Ardeswyk, and Thomas Arblastier,
(knights for the shire) ; Commissioners to take the oaths.
* De Civitate Dei, lib. xv. cap. 23.
142
WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
Johannis Sutton, chev.
Johannis Bagot, chev.
Roger! Aston, chev.
Johannis Gruffith, chev.
Johannis Gresley, chev.
Thomae Stanley, arm.
Radulphi Egerton, arm.
Radulphi Basset, arm.
Roberti Harecourt, arm.
Philippi Chetwynd, arm.
Richardi Bagot, arm.
Roberti Whitgrave, arm.
Thorn 8e Barb our, arm.
Willielmi Grevel, arm.
Thomas Detheck, arm.
Thomas Goyne, arm.
Johannis Miners, arm.
Tho. Oker, arm. sen.
Tho. Oker, arm. jun.
Johannis Mirierel, arm.
Richardi Peshale, arm.
Hugonis Wrotesley, arm.
Richardi Harecourt, arm.
Sampsonis Ardiswick, arm.
Johannis Winesbury, arm.
Thomae Swinerton, arm.
Willielmi Newport, arm.
Johannis Hampton, arm.
Humphry Low, arm.
Richardi Lone, arm.
Willielmi Lee, arm.
Willielmi Everdon, arm.
Willielmi Leveson, arm.
Nicholai Warings, arm.
Jacobi Leveson, arm.
Rogeri Wirley, arm.
Cornelii Wirly, arm.
Johannis Whatecroft, arm.
Gerardi de Ringeley, arm.
Richardi Pety, arm.
Willielmi Hexstall, arm.
Edwardi Doyle, arm.
Richardi Selman, arm.
Davidis Cawardyn, arm.
Thomas Swynfen, arm.
Richardi Rugeley, arm.
Johannis Broghton, arm.
Johannis Atwell, arm.
Thomae Cotton, arm.
Johannis Cotton, arm.
Aymeri Cotton, arm.
Thomas Wolseley, arm.
Johannis Colwich, arm.
Roberti Swinerton, arm.
Rogeri Swineshede, arm.
Tho. Whitington, arm.
Joh. More, arm.
Thomas More, arm.
Joh. Askeby, arm.
Joh. Mollesley, arm.
Joh. Horewold, arm.
Will. Saltford, arm.
Will. Leventhorpe, arm.
Will. Corbyn, gent.
Joh. Corbyn, gent.
Thomas Walton, arm.
Reg. Bro de Oake, arm.
Johannis Sheldon, arm.
Radulphi Frebody, arm.
Will. Bradshaw, arm.
Joh. Bonghay, gent.
Joh. Burton, gent.
Roberti Stokes, arm.
Joh. Cumberford, arm.
Nicolai Thiknes, arm.
^Egidii Swinerton, arm.
Thomae Wolaston, gent.
Hugonis Holyns, gent.
Thomae Lokewood, gent.
Thomae Stafford, gent.
Nicolai Norman, gent.
Richardi Snede, gent.
Willielmi Orme, gent.
Hugonis Greneway, gent.
Humfridi Clerkeson.
Rogeri Bealchier.
Willielmi Sondbache.
Johannis Brennere.
Richardi Vicarus.
Johannis Wylot.
Thomas Bowyer.
Johannis Ruggeley.
Petri Goldsone.
Nicholai Flaxale.
Thomas Brette.
Thomas Neweno.
GENTRY SHERIFFS.
143
Richard! Banastre.
Willielmi Fouke.
Roger! Milnes.
Richard! Bisheton.
Roberti Onowyne.
Roberti Berdusmore.
Humfridi Walker, of
tren.
Kes-
Willielmi Bowdel, of the Me.
Willielmi Sherred.
Willielmi Broke.
Henrici Monyfold.
Stephani BagonnaL
Thomee Glyfe.
Hugonis Bertam.
HENRY II.
Anno
1 Milo de Gloucest.
2 Robertus de Stafford, for
five years together.
7 Alex. Clericus, for six years
together.
13 Hen. Stratton, for eighteen
years.
31 Thomas Noel, for three
SHERIFFS.
Anno
RICHARD I.
1 Thomas Noel.
2 Tho. de Cressewel.
3 Hugo C oven trien sis Epis. et
Robertus filiusWalleram.
4 Hugo Coventr. Episcopus
et Rober. de Humant,
frater ejus.
5 Hugo Episcop. Coventr. et
Richardus Maresse.
6 Hugo Bardulfe.
7 Idem.
8 Hugo de Caucombe, for
three years together.
JOH. REG.
1 Galf. filius Petri, et Tho.
de Erdington, for five
years together.
6 Tho. Erdington, et
Robertus de alta Ripa.
7 Idem.
8 Tho. de Erdington, for
nine years together.
HENRY III.
1 Ranul. Com. Cestr. et Hen.
de Aldicheleia, for four
years together.
5 RanuL Comes Cestr. et
Phil, de Kinton, for three
years together.
8 Ranul. Com. Cestr.
9 Joh. Bonet, for three years
together.
12 Hen. de Aldich, et
Rober. de Leia.
13 Hen. de Aldich, et Will.
de Bromley, for four
years together.
17 Robertus de Haga, for four
years together.
21 Joh. Estraneus, et
Robertus de Acton.
22 Joh. Estraneus, for ten
years together.
32 Thomas Corbet.
33 Idem.
34 Rober. Grendon, for six
years together.
40 Hugo de Acovere.
41 Hugo de Acovere.
42 Will, Bagod, for three years
together.
45 Will, de Covereswel, et
Jac. de Aldahell.
46 Jaco. de Aldahell, for six
years together.
EDWARD I.
1 Radul. de Mortuo Mari, for
three years together.
4 Bogo de Knovil, for three
years together.
144
WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
Anno
7 Rogerus Springhuse, for
seven years together.
14 Rogerus Springhuse, et
Lionine Ramesley, for
three years together.
17 Robertus Corbet.
18 Will. Tictely, for six years
together.
24 Radul. de Shirle, for three
years together.
27 Thomas Corbet.
28 Idem.
29 Richardus de Harleigh.
30 Idem.
31 Walter de Beysin.
32 Idem.
33 Johannes de Acton.
34 Johannes de Dene.
35 Idem.
EDWARD II.
1 Rogerus Trumwinne.
2 Johannes Extraneus.
3 Hugo de Crofts.
Idem.
Hugo de Andecle, for three
years together.
Will, de Mere.
9 Rogerus de Cheyne.
10 Rogerus Trumwinne.
11 Idem.
Robertus de Grendon, for
three years together.
Johannes de Swinerton.
Idem.
Henricus de Bishburn,
EDWARD III.
Anno
12
15
16
17
for
three years together.
1 Johannes de Hinkele, et
Henricus de Bishburn.
2 Idem.
3 Johannes de Hinkele.
4 Idem.
5 Henricus de Bishburn.
6 Idem.
7 Richardus de Peshal.
8 Idem.
9 Johannes de Hinkeley.
10 Simon de Ruggeley.
11 Richardus de Peshal, et
Simon de Ruggeley, for
four years together.
15 Adam de Peshal.
16 Thomas de Swinerton.
17 Idem.
18 Johannes de Aston,
1 9 Henr. Com. Derby, for se-
venteen years together.
36 Johannes de Swinerton.
37 Robertus de Grendon.
38 Johannes de Perton.
39 Philippus de Lutteley, for
four years together.
43 Henricus Pius.
44 Johannes de Perton.
45 Idem.
46 Johannes de Gresley.
47 Nicholaus de Stafford.
48 Johannes de Verdon.
49 Johannes Bassey.
50 Nicholaus de Stafford.
51 Petrus de CaresweL
52 Walterus de Hopton.
53 Williel. de CaneresweL
HENRY III.
1. RANUL. com. CESTR. et HENR. de ALDICHELEIA. This
Henricus of Aldicheleia was the first lord Audley in this county,
and founder of that noble family so long famous for martial
achievements. I meet with a record extant in the Tower, too
long to transcribe, wherein king Henry the Third confirmed
unto him not only many lands of his own donation, but what
other persons of quality in this county had bestowed on him.*
* Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
SHERIFFS. 145
Nich. de Verdun gave him Aldithlege ; Hugh de Lacy, Coul-
ton ; Eutropius Hastang, Cold Norton ; Will, de Betleigh, Bet-
leigh ; Harvey de Stafford, Heleiyh ; Egidius Erdington, Shag-
bourn; Herbert Rusbin, Stamveare ; Eugenulphus Greasly,
Tunstal, Chaderley ; Alice his wife, Chell, Normancot ; Marga-
ret Strange, Nerle, Brudnap ; Alice Hartoate, Weston ; Joan
Noel, Weston ; Peter Morton, Hauksley, Bagley, and Morton.
All or most of these were great manors cum pertinentiis.
What man of men was this Henry, that so many of both sexes
should centre in their bounty upon him ? was it for fear, or
love, or a mixture of both ? But I have no calling to inquire
into the cause thereof ; and if they were pleased to give, none
will blame him for receiving them.
Heleigh, the fifth manor here mentioned, was afterwards the
prime seat of the lord Audley, who also had great lands in
Devonshire, where formerly we have spoken of him. Their
heir-males failing about the reign of king Henry the Sixth,
Joan one of their heirs was married to Sir John Tutchet, whose
son Sir John assumed the title of Baron Audley, and was ances-
tor to the present lord Audley earl of Castle-haven* in Ireland.
EDWARD III.
18. JOHN de ASTON. I have not met with a more noble
family, measuring on the level of flat and un-advantaged anti-
quity. They have ever borne a good respect to the church and
learned men, and not without just reason, seeing Roger de
Molend, bishop of Litchfield in the reign of king Henry the
Third, gave Haywood in this county ".Rogero de Astonf Valecto
suo," (to Roger de Aston his servant.) This Roger was son to
Ralph Aston, and father unto Sir John Aston, whose succession
is thus ordered :
1. Sir John Aston, aforenamed. 2. Sir Thomas Aston, his
son. 3. Sir Roger Aston, his son. 4. Sir Robert Aston, his
son. 5. John Aston, his son, esquire. 6. Sir John Aston, his
son, knight banneret. 7 Sir Edward Aston, his son. 8. Sir
Walter Aston, his son. 9. Sir Edward Aston, his son. 10. Sir
Walter Aston, his son.
This last Sir Walter was employed by king James ambas-
sador unto Spain. He married Gertrude sole daughter of Sir
Thomas Sadler of Standon in Hertfordshire.
Nor must it be forgotten, that that pious poet, master
Michael Drayton,J confesseth, that his muse oft found safe and
sweet retreat at Tixhall, the habitation of this family ; and thus
windeth up his well-wishing for them ;
" Whose bounty still ray muse so freely shall confess,
That when she lacketh words, then signs shall it express."
* This title became extinct in 1777. ED. Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
\ In his Polyolbion, the 12th Song.
VOL III. L
146 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
SHERIFFS.
RICHARD III.
Anno Name and Arms. Place.
1 Brian. Cornwall . . . SHROPSHIRE.
Arg. a lion rampant G. armed Az.in a border S. bezaritee.
2 Will. Calleson.
3 Job. de Verdon.
O. a fret G.
4 Rog. de Wirley . . . Hampshed.
Ar. a chev. engrailed betwixt three bugle-boras S.
5 Will. Walshall. ,
Arg. a fox passant S.
6 Idem ...... ut prius.
7 Humf. de Stafford.
O. a chevron G. a quarter Erm.
8 Will, de Walshal . . ut prius.
9 Rog. Manneyson.
10 Adomar de Lichfeld.
11 Will. Chetwin . . . Ingestree.
Az. a chevron betwixt three mullets O.
12 Humf. de Stafford . . ut prius.
13 Will. Walshall ... ut prius.
14 Job. Delves .... Apedale.
Arg. a chev. G. fretty O. betwixt three delfs S.
15 Job. Swinerton.
Arg. a cross formee flurt S.
16 Will, de Sharshall.
17 Adam, de Lichfield.
18 Rob. Frances.
Arg. a chev. betwixt three spread eagles G.
19 Rob. Mannesin.
20 Will. Walshall ... . ut prius.
21 Idem ut prius.
22 Idem ...... ut prius.
HENRY IV.
1 Will. Sharshall, mil.
2 Rob. Mannesin, mil.
Will. Newport, mil.
Arg. a chev. G. betwixt three leopards' heads S.
3 Rob. Frances . . *. . ut prius.
4 Humf. Stafford . . , ut prius.
5 Idem ut prius.
6 Will. Newport . . . ut prius.
7 Will. Walshal . . . ut prius,
8 Will. Newport, mil. . ut prius.
9 Rob. Frances, mil. . . ut prius.
SHERIFFS. 147
Anno Name. Place.
10 Tho. Aston, mil. . . . Hay wood.
Arg. a fess, and three lozenges in chief S.
11 Joh. Delves .... ut prius.
12 Tho. Giffard .... Chillington.
Az. three stirrups leathered O.
HENRY V.
1 Joh. Basset, mil. . . Dray ton.
O. three piles G. a canton Erm.
2 Rob. Babthorpe.
3 Joh. Delves .... ut prius.
4 Rich. Vernon.
Arg. fretty S. a canton G.
5 Joh. Meverel .... Throwley.
Arg. a griffin segreant S.
6 Will. Trussel.
O. a cross formy fleury G.
7 Humf. Haighton.
8 Joh. Delves .... ut prius.
9 Idem ut prius.
HENRY VI.
1 Tho. Gresley, mil.
Vairy, Erm. and G.
2 Hug. Erdeswick, arm. . Sandon.
O. on a chev. G. five bezants.
3 Ni. Montgomery, mil.
O. an eagle displayed Az.
4 Johan. Bagot, mil. . . Blithfield.
Arg. a chev. G. betwixt three martlets S.
5 Roger Eston.
6 Ric. Vernon, mil. . . ut prius.
7 Phil. Chetwin . . . ut prius.
8 Tho. Griffith.
G. a chev. betwixt three helmets Arg,
9 Ni. Montgomery, mil. . ut prius.
10 Rog. Aston, mil, . . . ut prius.
11 Radul. Egerton.
Arg. a lion rampant G. between three pheons S.
12 Thorn. Stanley.
Ar. on a bend Az. three stags' heads O.
13 Rob. Strelley, mil. . . NOTTINGHAM.
Paly of six, Arg. and Az.
14 Rich. Peshale . . . Horsley.
Arg. a cross formy fleury S. ; on a canton G. a wolfs head
erased of the first.
15 Phil. Chetwin, mil. . . ut prius.
16 Radul. Basset . . . ut prius.
L 2
148 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
Anno Name. Place.
17 Thomas Stanley . . . ut prius.
18 Thomas Gresley . . . ut prius.
19 Humf. Lowe.
20 Radulphus Aucher.
21 Willielmus Mitton.
Per pale Az. and G. an eagle with two heads displayed O.
22 Nic. Mountgomery . . ut prius.
23 Thomas Blount.
Barry nebulee of six O. and S.
24 Joh. Griffith, mil. . . ut prius.
25 Humf. Blount ^ . . ut prius.
26 Tho. Ferrers, arm. . . Tamworth.
Vairy, O. and G.
27 Idem ut prius.
28 Humf. Swinerton . . ut prius.
29 Joh. Stanley, arm. . . ut prius.
30 [AMP.] Tho. Astley . Patshall.
31 Robertus Aston ... ut prius.
32 Rich. Bagot, arm. . . ut prius.
33 Th. Cotton, arm.
sive Lotton.
(Let the name first be agreed on.)
34 Joh. Delves, arm. . . ut prius.
35 Joh. Coles, arm.
Quarterly, Erm. and Paly of six O and G.
36 Will. Mitton, arm. . . ut prius.
37 Hug. Egerton, arm. . ut prius.
38 Joh. Stanley, mil. . . ut prius.
EDWARD IV.
1 Walt. Wrotesley . . . Wrotsley.
O. three piles S. a canton Erm.
2 Jolu Harecourt, arm.
O. two bars G.
3 Idem ut prius.
4 Humf. Peshal . . . ut prius.
5 Joh. Stanley, mil. . . ut prius.
6 Tho. Basset, arm. . . ut prius,
7 Joh. Harecourt, arm. . ut prius.
8 Johan. Aston, arm.
G. two lions passant Arg. betwixt nine croslets O.
9 Joh. Stanley, mil. . . ut prius.
10 Ran. Brereton, mil.
Arg. two bars S.
11 Hen. Beaumont, mil.
Az. semee de flowers-de-luce, a lion rampant O.
12 Walt. Griffith, mil. . . ut prius.
13 Will. Basset .... ut prius.
SHERIFFS.
149
Anno Name. Place.
14 Geo. Stanley ... . ut prius.
15 Joh. Stanley, mil. . . ut prius.
16 Joh. Ashton .... ut prius.
17 Hug. Egerton, arm. . . ut prius.
18 Rich. Bagot .... ut prius.
19 Nic. Mountgomery . . ut prius.
20 Joh. Aston .... ut prius.
21 Will. Basset, mil. . . ut prius.
22 Humf. Stanley, mil. . ut prius.
RICHARD III.
1 Ni. Montgomery, arm. . ut prius.
2 Th. Worlseley, mil.
3 Marm. Constable, mil. . YORKSHIRE.
Quarterly G. and Vaire, a bend O.
Hum. Stafford, mil. . ut prius.
HENRY VII.
1 Humf. Stanley . . . ut prius.
2 [AMP.] H. Willoughby.
3 Will. Harper.
Arg. a lion rampant in a border engrailed S.
4 Hug. Peshal .... ut prius.
5 Th. Gresley, mil. . . ut prius.
6 Ranul. Oker.
Quaere, if not the same with Okeover ?
7 Roger. Draycot, arm.
O. fretty G. ; on a canton Arg. a cross patee Az.
8 Ric. Wrotesley, arm. . ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
9 Humf. Stanley, mil.
10 Ric Harecourt, mil.
11 Joh. Mitton, arm.
12 Joh. Draycot, arm.
13 Tho. Gresley, arm. ,
14 Will. Harper, arm.
15 Joh. Ferrers, mil.
16 Johan. Aston, arm.
17 Ric. Wrotesley, arm.
] 8 Will. Harper, arm.
19 Joh. Draycot, mil.
20 Will, Smith, arm.
21 Idem ut prius.
22 Ludo vie. Bagot, mil. . ut prius.
23 Joh. Mitton, arm. . . ut prius.
24 Joh. Aston, mil.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius
ut prius.
HENRY VIII.
1 Joh. Giffard, arm.
nt prius.
150 ' WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
Anno ^ Name. Place.
2 Th. Nevil, arm. . . . Chenston Park.
G. on a saltire Arg. an annulet S.
3 Joh. Egerton, arm. . . ut prius.
4 Joh. Mitton. arm. . . ut prius.
5 Joh. Aston, mil. . . . ut prius.
6 Will. Chetwin, arm. . ut prius.
7 Th. Nevil, arm. . . . ut prius.
8 Ric. WrotesJey, arm. . ut prius.
9 Joh. GifFard, mil. . . ut prius.
10 Rad. Egerton, mil. , . ut prius.
1 1 Edward Grey, mil.
Barry of six Arg. and Az. three torteaux ; in chief a label
of three points of the first.
12 Lodo. Bagot, mil. . . ut prius.
13 Joh. GifFard, mil. . . ut prius.
14 Will. Smith, mil. . . ut prius.
15 Ed. Littleton, mil. .' . Pletonhall.
Arg. a chevron between three escalop shells S.
16 Edward Grey, mil. . . ut prius.
17 Joh. Giffard, mil. . . ut prius.
18 Joh. Blount, arm.
Barry nebule of six O. and S.
19 Joh. Vernon, arm. . . ut prius.
20 Edw. Ashton, arm.
Arg. a fess. and three lozenges in chief S.
21 Th. GifFard, arm. . . ut prius.
22 Joh. GifFard, arm. . . ut prius.
23 Wil. Wrotesley, arm. . ut prius.
24 Joh. Vernon, arm. . . ut prius.
25 Phi. Draycot, mil. . . ut prius.
26 Edw. Ashton, mil. . . ut prius.
27 Will. Chetwin, arm. . ut prius.
28 Joh. Dudley, mil.
O. a lion rampant tail-forked Vert.
29 Geo. Gresley, mil. . . ut prius.
30 Joh. Vernon, arm. . . - ut prius.
31 Edw. Littleton, arm. . ut prius.
32 Edw. Ashton, mil. . . ut prius.
33 Joh. GifFard, mil. . . ut prius.
34 Will. Basset, mil. . . ut prius.
35 Th. Fitzherbert, arm.
Arg. a chief vairy O. and G.; a bend engrailed S.
36 Geo. Gresley, mil. . . ut prius. '
37 Joh. Harecourt, mil. . ut prius.
38 Jac. Leveson.
Quarterly G. and Az. three sinister hands couped Arg.
Walt, Wrotesley, arm. . ut prius.
SHERIFFS.
151
Anno
EDWARD VI.
Name.
Place.
1 Fran. Meverel, arm. . ut prius.
2 Joh. Fleetwood, arm. . Cakewish.
Partie per pale nebule Az. and O. ; six martlets in pale
counterchanged.
3 WiU. Snead, mil. . . Bradwel.
^ Arg. a scithe and flower- de-luce in the middle of the shield S.
4 Ed. Littleton, arm. . . ut prius.
Will. Basset, mil. . . ut prius.
6 Geo. Blount, mil.
ut prius.
PHIL. REG. et MAR. REG.
1 Th. Giffard, mil. .
1. 2 T. Fitzherbert, mil.
2. 3 Pe. Draycot, mil. .
3. 4 Edw. Ashton, mil. .
4. 5 Jo. Hareeourt, mil.
5. 6 Will. Snead, mil. .
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ut prius.
ELIZ. REG.
1 Hum. Wells, arm.
2 Rad. Bagnol, mil.
Erm. two bars O. over all a lion rampant Az.
3 Joh. Leveston, arm. . ut prius.
4 Will. Gresley, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Ed. Littleton, mil. . . ut prius.
6 Rad. Oker, arm.
7 Jo. Wrotesley, arm. . ut prius.
8 Sim. Harecourt, arm. . ut prius.
9 Jo. Skrimshere, arm.
G, a lion rampant O. within a border Vairy.
10 Jo. Fleetwood, arm. . ut prius.
11 Ric. Bagot, arm. . . . ut prius.
12 Walt. Ash ton, arm. . .
13 Th. Trentham, arm.
Arg. three griffins' heads S. langued G.
14 Geor. Blount, mil. . . ut prius.
15 Joh. Giffard, arm. . . ut prius.
16 Th. Horwood, arm. . . Compton.
Arg. a chevron betwixt three bucks' heads caboshed S.
17 Rad. Adderley, arm. . Blackhaugh.
Arg. a chevron S. three mullets of the first.
18 Rad. Snead, arm. . . ut prius.
19 Ric. Bagot, arm. . . . ut prius.
20 Jo. Chetwyn, arm. . . tit prius.
21 Th. Trentham, arm. . ut prius.
22 Walt. Ashton, mil. . . ut prius.
152 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
Anno Name. Pla( e.
23 Edw. Littleton, arm. . ut pvius.
24 Johannes Grey, arm. . ut prius.
25 Th. Gresley, arm. . . ut prius.
26 Edw. Leigh, arm.
G. a cross engrailed Arg. in the first quarter a lozenge.
27 Rad. Okever, arm.
Erm. on a chief G. three bezants.
28 Walt. Leveson, arm. . ut prius.
29 Will. Basset, arm. . . ut prius.
30 Joh. Bows, mil. . . . Elford.
Erm. three bows S.
31 Rob. Stanford, arm.
Arg. three bars Az. on a canton G. a hand holding a bro-
ken falchion O.
32 Edw. Eston, mil.
33 Th. Leveson, arm. . . ut prius.
34 Fr. Trentham, mil. . . ut prius.
35 Ed. Littleton, mil. . . ut prius.
36 Hen. Griffith, arm. . . ut prius.
37 Rad. Sneade, arm. . . ut prius.
38 Tho. Horwood, arm. . ut prius.
39 Will. Crompton, arm. . Stone.
Arg. on a chief Vert three pheons O.
40 Walt. Wrotesley, arm. . ut prius.
41 Walt. Bagot, arm. . . ut prius.
42 Will. Chetwyn, arm. . ut prius.
43 Will. Skevington, arm.
Arg. three bulls' heads erased S.
44 Edw. Leigh, arm. . . ut prius.
45 Walt. Bagot, arm, . . ut prius.
JACOB. REX.
1 Walt. Bagot, arm. . . ut prius.
Edw. Leigh .... ut prius.
2 Will. Horwood, mil. . ut prius.
3 Gilb. Wakering, mil.
4 Ed. Brabazon, mil.
G. on a bend Arg. three martlets of the first.
5 Walt. Chetwyn, mil. . ut prius.
6 Ja.*Skrimshere, arm. . ut prius.
7 Walt. Haven ingham, arm. Aston.
Quarterly, O. and G. a border S. with scallop-shells Arg.
8 Simon Weston, mil.
9 Fr. Trentham, arm. . . ut prius.
10 Th. Meverel, arm.
Arg. a griffin segreant S.
1 1 Th. Littleton, mil. . . ut prius.
12 Ric. Fleetwood, bar. . ut prius.
SHERIFFS. 153
Anno Name. Place.
13 Joh. Peshal, mil. et bar. ut prius.
14 Joh. Offley, mil.
Arg. on a cross Az. formee fleury a lion passant O. between
four Cornish choughs S.
15 Hug= Wrotesley, arm. . ut prius.
16 Th. Skrimshere, arm. . ut prius.
17 Hen. Leigh, arm. . . ut prius.
18 Ed. Winsor, arm.
19 Rad. Snepe, arm. . . ut prius.
20 Will. Cumberford, arm.
21 Will. Skeffington, arm. . ut prius,
22 Ed. Stanford^ arm. . . ut prius.
CAR. REX.
1 Th. Parkes, arm.
2 Herveus Bagot, bar. . ut prius.
3 Will. Bowyer, mil. . . Knipersley.
Arg. a lion rampant betwixt three cross croslets
fitchee G.
4 Joh. Bowes, arm. . . ut prius.
5 Joh. Cotes, arm. . . ut prius.
6 Will. Wollaston, arm.
S. three pierced mullets Arg.
7 Th. Broughton, arm. . Langdon.
Arg. two. bars. G. ; on a canton of the second a cross of
the first.
8 Th. Horwood, mil. . . ut prius.
9 Hen. Griffith, bar. . . ut prius.
10 Humf. Wyrley, arm. . Hampsted.
Arg. three bugle horns S. stringed Vert.
11 Ric. Pyot, et
Humf. Wyrley, arm. . ut prius.
12 Ed. Littleton, bar. . ut prius.
13 Joh, Skevington, arm. . ut prius.
14 Joh. Skrimshere, arm. ut prius.
15 Joh. Bellot, arm.
16 Joh. Agard, arm.
17 Ed. Mosely, bar.
S. on a chevron betwixt three mullets Arg. as many
mullets G.
18
19 Simon Rudgeley.
Arg. on a chevron S. three mullets .of the first.
20
21
22 Th. Kynnersley, arm.
Az. semee de crosses croslet, a lion rampant Arg.
154 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
';. . RICHARD II.
1. BRIAN CORNWAL. He was also this year sheriff of Shrop-
shire ; so that the two adjacent counties were under his inspec-
tion.
4. ROGER de WIRLEY, When I observe how this gentle-
man is fixed in his generation, I cannot satisfy myself whether
he lived nearer unto his ancestor Robert de Parva Wirley, who
flourished in this county under king Henry the Second (if not
before) ; or whether he approached nearer unto his descendant,
Sir John Wirley, that learned knight now living at Hampstead.
In my arithmetic he is equally distanced from them both.
HENRY VI.
12. THOMAS STANLEY. His true name was Audley ; for,
after that Adam, youngest brother to James Lord Audley, had
married the daughter and heir of Henry de Stanley, William
their son assumed the surname of Stanley, and transmitted it to
posterity.*
As for this Thomas Stanley, till I be clearly convinced to the
contrary, he shall pass with me for the same person whom king
Henry the Sixth made Lord Stanley, knight of the Garter, lord
deputy of Ireland, and lord chamberlain of his household ; and
father unto Thomas Stanley, whom king Henry the Seventh
created the first earl of Derby.
34. JOHN DELVES, Esq. He is the last of that ^ancient fa-
mily appearing in this catalogue, who were fixed in this county
in the reign of king Edward the Third. This Sir John Delves
(for he was afterwards knighted) left one daughter and sole heir,
called Helene, married unto Sir Robert Sheffield, knight, and
recorder of London, ancestor unto the present earl of Moul-
grave.f
EDWARD IV.
1. WALTER WROTESLEY. He was lineally descended from
Sir Hugh Wrotesley,t one of the first founders of the most
noble order of the Garter.
HENRY VIII.
28. JOHN DUDLEY. I had thought his ambition had been
too high to come under the roof of such an office, and discharge
the place of a sheriff. But know, that as yet Sir John Dudley
was but Sir John Dudley, a plain but powerful knight, who not
long afterwards, viz. the 38th of king Henry the Eighth, was
* Camden's Remains, p. 142. f Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
J Camden's Britannia, in this county.
SHERIFFS BATTLES THE FAREWELL. 155
created Viscount Lisle ; and then earl of Warwick, in the first
of king Edward the Sixth ;* and in the fifth of the said king,
Duke of Northumberland. However, now he waited at Assizes
on the itinerant judges, who afterwards made all the judges of
the land (justice Hales alone excepted) attend on him, and dance
after the pipe of his pleasure, when the instrument was drawn
up (testament I can hardly term it) whereby the two sisters of
king Edward the Sixth were disinherited.
KING CHARLES.
3. WILLIAM BOWYER, Knight. Thomas Bowyer, his an-
cestor, from whom he is lineally descended, did, in the reign of
king Richard the Second, marry Catharine, daughter and heir
of Robert Knipersley, of Knipersley in this county, with whom
he had a fair inheritance.t The Bowyers of Sussex (invited
thither some two hundred years since by an earl of Northum-
berland) are a younger branch from these in Staffordshire.
THE BATTLES.
At Hopton Heath, in this county, in March 1643, a fierce
fight happened betwixt the king's and parliament's forces, on a
ground full of cony-burrows, therefore affording ill footing for
the horse. But an equal disadvantage on both sides is no dis-
advantage on either. The royalists may be said to have got the
day, and lost the sun which made it : I mean the truly loyal and
valiant Spencer earl of Northampton, though still surviving, as
in his grateful memory, so in his noble and numerous issue, no
less deservedly honoured by others than mutually loving amongst
themselves.
THE FAREWELL.
To take our vale of Staffordshire. I wish that the pit-coal
(wherewith it aboundeth) may seasonably and safely be burnt
in their chimneys, and not have their burning ante-dated, before
they be digged out of the bowels of the earth. The ratner, be-
cause I have read, how in the year 1622 there was found a coal-
mine actually on fire, between Willingsworth and Weddesbury
in this county.J I find not by what casualty this English
^Etna was kindled, nor how long it did continue. And although
such combustions be not so terrible here as in the south of
Italy, where the sulphureous matter more enrageth the fury of
the fire, yet it could not but cause much fright and fear to the
people thereabouts.
* Reader, by this be pleased to rectify what before [not so exactly] was written
of his honour, in his character under the title of SOLDIERS. F.
f Sampson Erdeswicke, MS.
J Burton, in his Description of Leicestershire, p. 218.
156 WORTHIES OF STAFFORDSHIRE.
WORTHIES OF STAFFORD WHO HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE
1 THE TIME OF FULLER.
George Lord ANSON, circumnavigator; born at Shugborough
1697; died 1?62.
Elias ASHMOLE, founder of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford,
skilled in chemistry, antiquities, heraldry, mathematics, &c. ;
born at Lichfield 1617; died 1692.
Thomas ASTLE, antiquary, author on writing ; born at Yoxhall
1735 ; died 1803.
Philip ASTLEY, equestrian, originator of " Astley^s Amphithea-
tre;" born at Newcastle-under-Line 1742; died 1814.
John BOYDELL, lord mayor of London, engraver, patron of the
arts; born 1719; died 1804.
Isaac Hawkins BROWNE, elegant poet in Latin and English ;
born at Burton-upon-Trent 1706 ; died 1?66.
Theophilus BUCKERIDGE, divine, antiquary, and learned writer;
born at Lichfield 1?24 ; died 1803.
George BUTT, divine, author of a collection of poems, and other
works ; born at Lichfield 1?41 ; died 1?95.
Arthur CLIFFORD, author of a History of Tixall, and other
works; born 1778; died 1830.
Sir William CONGREVE, engineer, inventor of the Congreve
rockets, &c.; born 1772 ; died 1828.
Charles COTTON, poet, principally in burlesque; born at
Beresford 1630; died 168?.
Thomas DILKE, dramatic writer ; born at Lichfield about 1699.
Elijah FENTON, scholar and dramatist, assisted Pope in his
Odyssey; born at Shelton near Newcastle 1683 ; died 1?30.
Sir John FL.OYER, physician and author; born at Hints 1649;
died 1734.
Alan Lord GARDNER, celebrated admiral; born at Uttoxeter
1742; died 1809.
Thomas GUY, founder of Guy's hospital in Southwark, and
benefactor to his native town; born at Tamworth 1644;
died 1724.
Richard HURD, bishop of Worcester, philological writer; born
at Congreve 1?20; died 1808.
R. JAGO, divine and poet; born at Beau-Desert 1715 ; died
1781.
Dr. Robert JAMES, inventor of the Fever Powders bearing his
name ; born at Kinverton 1703 ; died 1?76.
JERVIS earl of St. Vincent, naval commander ; born at Mea-
ford Hall 1734 ; died 1823.
Dr. Samuel JOHNSON, lexicographer, critic, poet, biographer,
and moralist; born at Lichfield 1709; died 1784.
Samuel JOHNSON, divine, writer in favour of civil liberty ; born
1649; died 1703.
WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER. 157
Gregory KING, draughtsman, herald, and political economist;
died 1712.
Dr. John LIGHTFOOT, learned divine, who assisted in the Poly-
glot Bible; born at Stoke-upon-Trent 1602; died 1675.
R. MEADOWCROFT, divine, critic, and annotator on Milton;
1697.
Thomas Moss, divine, author of the Beggar's Petition, and
other poems ; born about 1740; died 1808.
Thomas NEWTON, bishop of Bristol, author of " Dissertations
on the Prophecies ;" born at Lichfield 1703 ; died 1782.
Henry SALT, traveller in the East, and British consul in Egypt ;
born at Lichfield; died in Alexandria 1827.
Rev. Stebbing SHAW, historian of his native county; born at
Stone 1?62; died 1802.
Gilbert SHELDON, archbishop of Canterbury ; born at Stanton
1598; died 1677.
George SMALRIDGE, learned bishop of Bristol ; born at Lich-
field 1663; died 1719.
Izaak WALTON, " honest Isaac/ 5 celebrated angler and amusing
writer; born at Stafford 1593; died 1683.
Josiah WEDGWOOD, improver of the manufacture of pottery ;
born 1731 ; died 1?95.
Samuel Pipe WOLFERSTAN, eminent antiquary ; born at Stat-
fold 1751; died 1820.
William WOLLASTON, philosophical writer; born at Coton
Clamford 1659.
James WYATT, architect of the Pantheon, London, Beckford's
Fonthill, &c.; born at Burton 1743; died 1813.
%* The county of Stafford has been fortunate in its historians. So early as
1603, Mr. Sampson Erdeswicke, whom Camden styles " Venerabilis antiquitatis
cultor maximus," made Collections for a topographical History of Staffordshire,
which Dr. Fuller frequently cites in the course of this work. A portion of these
were published in 1717, and the remainder in 1723. In 1820, the Rev. T. Har-
wood brought out an enlarged and greatly improved edition of Erdeswicke, of
which another edition is now in preparation. Histories of the county have also been
published by W. Tunnicliffe (1787); by the Rev. S. Shaw (1798 and 1802) ; and
by W. Pitt (1817); besides the Natural History of Staffordshire, by Dr.
Plott, which was published so early as 1686. Several local histories have also
appeared at different times ; as the Histories of Lichfield, by J. Jackson (1805), and
by the Rev. T. Harwood (1806) ; of Eccleshall, by S. Pegge (1784) ; of Shenstone,
by the Rev. H. Sanders (1794); Roby's Tamworth ; the Rev. S. Shaw's Histories
of Byshbury, Shenstone, the Three Ridwares, Tamworth, Walsall, &c ED.
SUFFOLK.
SUFFOLK hath Norfolk on the north, divided with the rivers
of Little Ouse and Waveny ; Cambridgeshire on the west ; the
German Ocean on the east ; and Essex, parted with the river
Stour, on the south thereof. From east to west it stretcheth
forty-five miles, though the general breadth be but twenty,
saving by the sea-side, where it runneth out more by the ad-
vantage of a corner. The air thereof generally is sweet, and by
the best physicians* esteemed the best in England, often pre-
scribing the receipt thereof to the consumptionish patients.
I say generally sweet, there being a small parcel nigh the sea-
side not so excellent, which may seem left there by Nature, on
purpose to advance the purity of the rest.
NATURAL COMMODITIES.
CHEESE.
Most excellent are made herein, whereof the finest are very
thin, as intended not for food but digestion. I remember,
when living in Cambridge, the cheese of this county was pre-
ferred as the best. If any say that scholars' palates are incom-
petent judges, whose hungry appetites make coarse diet seem
delicates unto them, let them know, that Pantaleon, the learned
Dutch physician,f counted them equal at least with them of
Parma in Italy.
BUTTER.
For quantity and quality this county doth excel, and venteth
it at London and elsewhere. The child not yet come to and
the old man who is past the use of teeth, eateth no softer, the
poor man no cheaper (in this shire), the rich no wholesomer
food, I mean in the morning. It was half of our Saviour's bill
of fare in his infancy, " Butter and honey shall he eat." J
It is of a cordial, or, I may say, antidotal nature. The story
is well known of a wife which, desiring to be a widow, incorpo-
rated poison in the butter, whereon her husband had his prin-
cipal repast. The poor man, finding himself strangely affected,
* Speed, in his Description of Suffolk.
f Camden's Britannia, in Suffolk. J Isaiah vii. 15.
MANUFACTURES BUILDINGS.
159
repaired to a physician, who by some symptoms suspecting
poison, demanded of his patient which was his chiefest diet.
The sick man told him, that he fed most constantly on butter.
" Eat butter still," returned the physician, " which hitherto
hath saved your life :" for it corrected the poison, that neither
the malignity thereof, nor the malice of the wife, could have
their full operation.
MANUFACTURES.
CLOTHING.
Here it will not be amiss to insert a passage which I meet with
in an industrious antiquary, as relating to the present subject.
" The manufacture of clothing in this county hath been much
greater, and those of that trade far richer, I persuade myself,
heretofore than in these times ; or else the heirs and executors
of the deceased were more careful that the testator's dead corpse
should be interred in more decent manner, than they are now-a-
days ; otherwise I should not find so many marbles richly inlaid
with brass, to the memory of clothiers in foregoing ages, and
not one in these later seasons. All the monuments in the church
of Neyland, which bare any face of comeliness and antiquity,
are erected to the memory of clothiers, and such as belong to
that mystery."*
Some perchance would assign another reason, viz. because
monuments formerly were conceived to conduce much to the
happiness of the deceased (as bespeaking in their epitaphs the
suffrages of the living in their behalf) ; which error is vanished
away since the Reformation ; all which being fully believed,
weakeneth not the observation, but that Suffolk clothiers were
wealthier in former than in our age.
BUILDINGS.
This county hath no Cathedral therein, and the parochial
churches [generally fair] no one of transcendant eminency.
But formerly it had so magnificent an abbey-church in Bury,
the sun shined not on a fairer,t with three lesser churches wait-
ing thereon in the same church-yard.
Of these but two are extant at this day, and those right stately
structures :
" And" if the servants we so much commend,
What was the mistress whom they did attend ?"
Here I meet with a passage that affected me with wonder,
though I know not how the reader will resent it. It is avouched
by all authors,J that Mary, youngest sister to king Henry the
Eighth, relict to Louis the Twelfth, king of France, afterwards
* Weever's Funeral Monuments, page 770.
f Leland, in his Description of Bury.
J Stow, Speed, Mills, Vincent, Weever, &c.
160 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
married to Charles Brandon duke of Suffolk, died on Midsummer
eve, 1533, and was buried in the abbey church in Bury. But,
it seems, her corpse could not protect that church from demolish-
ing, which in'few years after was levelled to the ground. I read
not that the body of this princess was removed to any other
place ; nor doth any monument here remain to her memory,
though her king-brother and second husband survived the de-
struction of that church. A strange thing ! save that nothing
was strange in those days of confusion.
As for the town of Bury, it is sweetly seated and fairly built,
especially since the year 1608 ; about which time it was lamen-
tably defaced with a casual fire, though since God hath given
them " beauty for ashes/ 5 * And may the following distich (set
up therein) prove prophetical unto the place :
Burgus ut antiyuus violento corruit igne,
Hie stet dumflammis terra polusquejtagrent.
" Though furious fire the old town did consume,
Stand this, till all the world shall naming fume."
Nor is the school a small ornament to this town, founded by
king Edward the Sixth, being itself a corporation, now (as
well as ever) flourishing under Mr. Stephens, the able master
thereof.
Amongst the many fair houses of the gentry in this county,
Long Melford must not be forgotten, late the house of the
countess Rivers, and the FIRST FRUITS of PLUNDERING
in England ; and Sommerley hall (nigh Yarmouth) belonging
to the lady Wentworth, well answering the name thereof : for
here Sommer is to "be seen in the depth of winter in the plea-
sant walks, beset on both sides with fir-trees green all the year
long, besides other curiosities. As for merchants' houses, Ips-
wich town (co-rival with some cities for neatness and greatness)
affordeth many of equal handsomeness.
PROVERBS.
" Suffolk milk."]
This was one of the staple commodities of the Land of Ca-
naan, and certainly most wholesome for man's body, because
of God's own choosing for his own people. No county in England
affords better and sweeter of this kind, lying opposite to Hol-
land in the Netherlands, where is the best dairy in Christendom,
which mindeth me of a passage betwixt Spinola and Grave Mau-
rice.
The Spanish general being invited to an entertainment by
the aforesaid prince at Breda (as I take it), when lemons and
oranges were brought in for sauce at the first course, " What a
brave country is my master's," quoth the Don, " affording this
* Isaiah Ixi. 3.
PROVERBS PRINCES. 161
fair fruit all the year long !" But when cream was brought up
to close the feast, Grave Maurice returned, " What a brave
country is ours, that yieldeth this fruit twice every day \"
" Suffolk fair maids."]
It seems the God of nature hath been bountiful in giving
them beautiful complexions, which I am willing to believe so
far forth as it fixeth not a comparative disparagement on the
same sex in other counties. I hope they .will labour to join
gracious hearts to fair faces ; otherwise, I am sure, there is a
divine proverb of infallible truth, " As a jewel of gold in a
swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion."*
" Suffolk stiles."]
It is a measuring cast, whether this proverb pertaineth to
Essex or this county ; and I believe it belongeth to both, which
being inclosed countries into petty quillets, abound with high
stiles, troublesome to be clambered over. But the owners
grudge not the pains in climbing them, sensible that such seve-
rals redound much to their own advantage.
" You are in the highway to Needham."]
Needham is a market- town in this county, well stocked (if I
mistake not) with poor people; though I believe this in no
degree did occasion the first denomination thereof. They are
said to be in the highway to Needham who hasten to poverty.
However, these fall under a distinction ; some go, others are
sent thither. Such as go embrace several ways ; some, if poor,
of idleness ; if rich, of carelessness, or else of prodigality.
Others are sent thither against their wills by the powerful
oppression of such who either detain or devour their estates.
And it is possible some may be sent thither by no default of
their own, or visible cause from others, but merely from divine
justice, insensibly dwindling their estates, chiefly for trial of
their patience.
Wherefore, so many ways leading to Needham from divers
quarters, I mean from different; causes ; it is unjust to condemn
all persons meeting there, under the censure of the same
guiltiness.
PRINCES.
[AMP.] EDMUND MORTIMER, son to Roger Mortimer
earl of March, grandchild of Edmund Mortimer earl of March,
and of Philippa sole daughter of Lionel duke of Clarence, may
pass with the charitable reader for a prince, since he paid so
dear for the same, as will appear. I confess it impossible to fix
his nativity with assurance (having not hitherto read any record
which reached it), the rather because of the vastness of his pa-
trimony, and several habitations :
In England, Clare castle, with many other manors in
* Proverbs xi. 22.
VOL. III. ai
162 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
Suffolk : In the Marches of Whales, whence he had his honour,
Wigmore in Herefordshire, Ludlow in Shropshire : In Ireland,
Trim Connaught ; with large lands in Ulster.
But most probable it is that he was born, where he was
buried, at Clare. After the death of king Richard the Second,
he was the next heir to the crown. Happy had he been, if
either nearer to it, so as to enjoy the honour thereof, or farther
off, so as not to be envied and suspected for his title thereunto
by king Henry the Fourth. Now, all the harm this earl had
done king Henry was this, that king Henry held from him his
lawful inheritance. Yea, this meek Mortimer was content to
waive the crown, so be it he might but enjoy his private patri-
mony, which he could not without many molestations from the
king. For this is the nature of some men, to heap injuries on
those they have wronged, as if the later injuries would give a
countenance of justice to the former.
He employed this Edmund in a war against Owen Glen-
dower, the Welsh rebel, on the same design that Saul sent
David to fight against and fetch the fore- skins of the Philis-
tines.* If he proved conqueror, then was king Henry freed
from a professed foe ; if conquered, then was he rid of a sus-
pected subject. But Mortimer went by the worst ; and, being
taken prisoner, the king (though often solicited) never endea-
voured his enlargement, till at last he dearly ransomed himself.
Yet did he but exchange a Welsh for an Irish prison, kept
twenty years in restraint in his own castle of Trim, in the end
of the reign of cunning king Henry the Fourth, all the reign of
courageous king Henry the Fifth, and the beginning of the reign
of innocent king Henry the Sixth, their different tempers meet-
ing in cruelty against this poor prisoner. He died anno
Domini 1454, without issue, leaving Anne his sister his heir ;
and lieth buried in Clare, as is aforesaid.
SAINTS.
St. EDMUND, king of the East-Angles. Hear what falsehoods
are huddled together in our English Martyrology, written (as
he terms himself) C( by a Catholic Priest, permissu Superiorum,
1608," page 319, on the 20th of November :
" At Hexam in Northumberland, the passion of St. Edmund
king and martyr, who being a Saxon by bloud, born in the city
of Noremberg in that province, and nephew to Offa king of the
East-Angles."
First, Hexam in Northumberland should be Hoxtonf in this
county, where St. Edmund was martyred. Secondly, there is
no city Noremberg in Britain, nor Europe, save that in Ger-
many.
This is enough to make us distrust what he writeth after-
* Samuel xviii. 25. f Hoxne, otherwise called Hoxon. ED.
SAINTS. 163
wards, viz. that, when the said St. Edmund was cruelly mur-
dered by the Danes, and when the Christians, seeking his corpse,
were lost in a wood, did call one to another, " Where art ?
where art ? where art ? " the martyred head answered., " Here,
here, here." However, God forbid that this author's fal-
sities should make us undervalue this worthy king and mar-
tyr, cruelly tortured to death by the pagan Danes, and by an
old author thus not unhandsomely expressed :*
Utquc cruore suo Gallos Dionysius ornat :
Grcecos Demetrius : gloria quisque suis :
Sic nos Edmundus nulli virtute secundus,
Lux patet, et patrice gloria mngna suce.
Sceptra manum, diadema caput, sua purpura corpiis
Ornat ei, sed plus vincula, mucro, cruor.
" As Denis by his death adorneth France :
Demetrius Greece : each credit to his place :
So Edmund's lustre doth our land advance,
Who with his virtues doth his country grace.
Sceptre, crown, robe, his hand, head, corpse renowns.
More famous for his bonds, his blood, his wounds."
His death happened anno Domini 870, whose body was
placed in a goodly shrine, richly adorned with jewels and precious
stones, at Bury in this county. These all are vanished, whilst
the name of St. Edmund will ever remain in that town's denomi-
nation.
ROBERT GROSSETESTE. Jehosaphat, seeing four hundred
prophets of Baal together, and suspecting they were too many
to be good, cast in that shrewd question ; " Is there not here a
prophet of the Lord besides ; " f and thereupon Micaiah was
mentioned unto him.
Possibly the reader, seeing such swarms of Popish saints
in England, will demand, " Is there not yet a saint of the Lord
besides ? " And I conceive myself concerned to return a true
answer, that there is Robert Grosseteste by name, whom now
we come to describe.
He was born in this county,! bred in Oxford, where he
became most eminent for religion, and learning in all kind of
languages, arts and sciences ; and at last was preferred bishop
of Lincoln 1235. He wrote no fewer than three hundred
treatises, whereof most are extant in manuscript in Westmin-
ster library, which Dr. Williams (his successor in the see of
Lincoln) intended to have published in three fair folio volumes,
had not the late troublesome times disheartened him. Thus
our civil wars have not only filled us with legions of lying pam-
phlets, but also deprived us of such a treasure of truth, as this
worthy man's works would have proved to all posterity.
* Ex Libro Abbathise de Rufford, in Bibl. Cott.
f 1 Kings xxii. 7. J Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, cent. iv. num. 18.
So Mr. Goland, the learned library keeper (lately deceased), informed
me. F.
M 2
164 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
He was a stout opposer of Popish oppression in the land,
and a sharp reprover of the corruptions of the court of Rome,
as we have largely declared in our "Ecclesiastical History."
Such the piety of his life and death, that, though loaded with
curses from the Pope, he generally obtained the reputation of a
saint.
Bellarmine starts a question,* whether one may pray law-
fully to him, and paint his picture in the church, who is not
canonized by the Pope ? And very gravely he determineth (a
short line will serve to fathom a shallow water) that privately
he may do it ; and that a picture of such a man may be painted
in the church, provided his head be not encompassed with a
radiated circle as particular to canonized saints. Thus our
learned and pious Robert must want that addition of a glory
about his picture ; and the matter is not much, seeing no doubt
having " turned many to righteousness, he doth shine in Hea-
ven as the brightness of the firmament ; "t whose death hap-
pened anno Domini 1254.
MARTYRS.
ROWLAND TAYLOR. Where born unknown (though some)
without any assurance, have suggested his nativity in Yorkshire,
was bred in Cambridge, and became head of Borden Hostle,
nigh (if not now partly in) Caius College, where he commenced
doctor of laws. Hence he was, by archbishop Cranmer, pre-
sented to the rectory of Hadley in this county. He was a great
scholar, painful preacher, charitable to the poor, of a comely
countenance, proper person (but inclining to corpulency), and
cheerful behaviour. The same devotion had different looks in
several martyrs, frowning in stern Hooper, weeping in meek
Bradford, and smiling constantly in pleasant Taylor.
Indeed some have censured his merry conceits, as trespass-
ing on the gravity of his calling, especially when just before
his death. But surely such Romanists, who admire the tem-
per of Sir Thomas More jesting with the axe of the executioner,
will excuse our Taylor for making himself merry with the
stake. But though it be ill jesting with edged tools (whereof
death is the sharpest), yet since our Saviour hath blunted it, his
servants may rather be delighted than dismayed with it. Not
long after, doctor Taylor set archbishop Cranmer, who was his
patron, a copy of patience, who indeed wrote after it, but not
with so steady a hand, and so even a character of constancy.
Taylor was martyred at Hadley, February 9, 1555.
ROBERT SAMUEL was minister of Barfold in this county,
who, by the cruelty of Hopton bishop of Norwich, and Down-
ing his chancellor, was tortured in prison : not to preserve
* De Sanct. Beatit. cap. 10. f Daniel xii. 3.
but to
MARTYRS CARDINALS, 165
but to reserve him for more pain. He was allowed every day
but three mouth Ms of bread, and three spoonfuls of water.
Fain would he have drunk his own urine ; but his thirst-
parched body afforded none.
I read how he saw a vision of one all in white, comforting
and telling him, ff that after that day he never should be hun-
gry or thirsty ;"* which came to pass accordingly, being within
few hours after martyred at Ipswich, August 21, 1555. Some
report, that his body, when burnt, did shine as bright as bur-
nished silver.f ee Sed parcius ista." Such things must be
sparingly written by those who would not only avoid untruths,
but the appearance thereof. Thus, loath to lengthen men's
tongues reporting what may seem improbable, and more loath
to shorten God's hand in what might be miraculous, I leave
the relation as I found it.
Besides these two, I meet with more than twenty by name
martyred (confessors doubling that number), whose ashes were
scattered all over the county, at Ipswich, Bury, Beccles, &c.
It is vehemently suspected, that three of them burnt at Beccles
had their death antedated,;); before the writ de H&retico com-
burendo could possibly be brought down to the sheriff. And
was not this (to use Tertullian's Latin in some different sense)
festinatio homicidii ? Now though charity may borrow a point
of law to save life, surely cruelty should not steal one to
destroy it.
CARDINALS.
THOMAS WOLSEY was born in the town of Ipswich, where
a butcher, a very honest man, was his father, though a poet be
thus pleased to descant thereon :
' ' Brave priest, whoever was thy sire by kind,
Wolsey of Ipswich ne'er begat thy mind."
One of so vast undertakings, that our whole book will not afford
room enough for his character ; the writing whereof I commend
to some eminent person of his foundation of Christ-church in
Oxford.
He was made cardinal of St. Cecily, and died heart-broken
with grief at Leicester 1530, without any monument, which
made a great wit of his own college thus lately complain :
"And though for his own store Wolsey might have
A palace, or a college for his grave,
Yet here he lies interred, as if that all
Of him to be remember'd were his fall.
Nothing but earth to earth, nor pompous weight
Upon him but a pebble or a quoit,
If thou art thus neglected, what shall we
Hope after death, that are but shreds of thee ?"
This may truly be said of him, he was not guilty of mis-
* Fox's Acts and Monuments, page 1709. f Idem, ibidem.
t Fox's Martyrology, p. 1912. Dr. Corbet, in his Iter Boreale.
166 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
chievous pride ; and was generally commended for doing jus-
tice^ when chancellor of England.
PRELATES.
HERBERT LOSING was born in this county, as our anti-
quary* informeth us, " In pago Oxunensi in Sudovolgia Anglo-
rum comitatu natus : " but, on the perusing of all the lists of
towns in this county, no Oxun appeareth therein, or name
neighbouring thereon in sound and syllables.t This I con-
ceive the cause why bishop Godwin so confidently makes this
Herbert born Oxonise, in Oxford, in which we have formerly
placed his character.
However, seeing Bale was an excellent antiquary, and, being
himself a Suffolk-man, must be presumed knowing in his
own county ; and conceiving it possible that this Oxun was
either an obscure church-less village, or else in this day
disguised under another name; I conceive it just, that as
Oxfordshire led the front Suffolk should bring up the rear
of this Herbert's description.
Indeed he may well serve two counties, being so diffe-
rent from himself, and two persons in effect. When young,
loose and wild, deeply guilty of the sin of simony: when
old, nothing of Herbert was in Herbert, using commonly
the words of St. Hierome ;f " Erravimus juvenes, emendemus
senes ; " (when young we went astray, when old we will amend.)
Now, though some controversy about the place of his birth, all
agree in his death, July 22, 1119; and in his burial, in the
cathedral church of Norwich.
RICHARD ANGERVILE, son to Sir Richard Angervile, knight,
was born at Bury in this county, and bred in Oxford, where
he attained to great eminency in learning. He was gover-
nor to king Edward the Third whilst prince, and afterwards
advanced by him to be successively his cofferer, treasurer of his
wardrobe, dean of Wells, bishop of Durham, chancellor, and
lastly treasurer of England. He bestowed on the poor every week
eight quarters of wheat baked in bread. || When here moved
from Durham to Newcastle (twelve short miles) he used to give
eight pounds sterling in alms to the poor, and so proportion-
ably in other places betwixt his palaces. He was a great lover
of books, confessing himself " extatico quodam librorum amore
potenter abreptum/'^f insomuch that he alone had more books
than all the bishops of England in that age put together, which
* Bale, Cent. ii. p. 171.
f Dr. Fuller did not recollect the town of Hoxon, otherwise Home, in the hundred
of that name. ED.
t William Malmesbury. Hence commonly called Richardus de Burgo.
II Godwin, in his Bishops of Durham, p. 131.
fl In his book called " Philobiblos."
PRELATES,
167
stately library, by his will, he solemnly bequeathe 1 to the un-
versity of Oxford. The most eminent foreigners were his
friends,, and the most learned Englishmen were his chaplains
until his death, which happened anno 1345.
JOHN PASCHAL was born in this county* (where his name
still continueth) of gentle parentage ; bred a Carthusian, and
D. D. in Cambridge ; a great scholar, and popular preacher.
Bateman, bishop of Norwich, procured the Pope to make him
the umbratile bishop of Scutari, whence he received as much
profit as one may get heat from a glow-worm. It was not long
before, by the favour of king Edward the Third, he was removed
from a very shadow to a slender substance, the bishopric of Llan-
daff; wherein he died anno Domini 1361.
SIMON SUDBURY, alias Tibald, was born at Sudbury, as
great as most and ancient as any town in this county. After
many mediate preferments (let him thank the Pope's provisions)
at last he became archbishop of Canterbury. He began two
synods with Latin sermons in his own persoft, as rare in that
age as blazing-stars, and as ominous ; for they portended ill suc-
cess to Wickliffe and his followers. However, this Simon Sud-
bury, overawed by the God of heaven and John duke of
Lancaster, did not (because he could not) any harm unto him.
He was killed in the rebellion of Jack Straw and Wat Tyler,
anno Domini 1381.
And although his shadowy tomb (being no more than an
honourary cenotaph) be shown at Christ Church in Canterbury ;
yet his substantial monument, wherein his bones are deposited,
is to be seen in St. Gregory's in Sudbury, under a marble stone
sometime inlayed all over with brass (some four yards long,
and two broad, saith mine eye-witness author,t though I con-
fess I never met with any of like dimension) ; so that in some
sense I may also call this a cenotaph, as not proportioned to the
bulk of his body, but height of his honour and estate.
THOMAS EDWARDSTON, so named from his birth-place, Ed-
wardston, in- this county (a village J formerly famous for the
chief mansion of the ancient family of Mounchensey) ; bred first
in Oxford, then an Augustinian eremite in Clare. He was a
great scholar, as his works evidence, and confessor to Lionel
duke of Clarence, whom he attended into Italy, when he mar-
ried Joland, daughter to John Galeaceus, duke of Milan.
J. Pits conceiveth him to have been an archbishop in Ireland,
which is utterly disowned by judicious Sir James Ware.
* Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. v. num. 95.
t" Weever's Funeral Monuments, p. 743.
J Camden's Britannia, in Suffolk. De Scriptoribus Hibemise, lib. ii. p. 126.
168 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
And indeed if Bale's words * (whence Pits deriveth his intelligence)
be considered, it will appear he never had title of an archbishop,
" Sed cujusdam Archi-episcopatus curam accepit," (he under-
took care of some archbishopric), probably commended in the
vacancy thereof to his inspection. And why might not this be
some Italian archbishopric, during his attendance on his patron
there, though afterwards (preferring privacy before a more
pompous charge) he returned into his native country, and died
at Clare, anno 1396.
THOMAS PEVEREL, was born of good parentage, in this
county :f bred a Carmelite, and D.D, in Oxford. He was af-
terwards, by king Richard the Second, made bishop of Ossory in
Ireland. I say by king Richard the Second, which minds me of
a memorable passage which I have read in an excellent author.
It may justly seem strange, which is most true, that there are
three bishoprics in Ireland, in the province of Ulster, by name
Derry, Raphoe, and Clogher, which neither queen Elizabeth,
nor any of her progenitors, did ever bestow, though they were
the undoubted patrons thereof;! so that king James was the
first king of England that did ever supply those sees with
bishops ; so that it seems, formerly, the great Irish lords in
those parts preferred their own chaplains thereunto.
However, the bishoprics in the south of the land were ever in
the disposal of our kings, amongst which Ossory was one, bestow-
ed on our Peverel. From Ireland he was removed to Landaff in
Wales, then to Worcester in England, being one much esteemed
for learning, as his books do declare. He died, according to
bishop Godwin's account, March 1, 1417, and lie th buried in
his own cathedral.
STEPHEN GARDINER was born in Bury St. Edmund's, one
of the best airs in England, the sharpness whereof he retained
in his wit and quick apprehension. Some make him base-son
to Lionel Woodvile, bishop of Salisbury; which I can hardly
believe, Salisbury and St. Edmund's Bury being six score miles
asunder. Besides, time herein is harder to be reconciled than place.
For it being granted an error of youth in that bishop, and that
bishop vanishing out of this world, 1485, Gardiner in all pro-
bability must be allowed of greater age than he was at his death.
It is confessed by all, that he was a man ot admirable na-
tural parts, and memory especially, so conducible to learning,
that one saith, " Tantum scimus quantum meminimus." He
was bred doctor of laws in Trinity Hall in Cambridge ; and,
after many State embassies and employments, he was by king
* De Scriptoribus Britaunicis, Cent. vii. num. 7.
t Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. vii. num. 49.
t Sir Joh Davis, in his Treatise of Ireland, p. 255.
Rale, Pits, Godwin, &c.
PRELATES. 169
Henry the Eighth made bishop of Winchester, His malice was
like what is commonly said of white powder, which surely dis-
charged the bullet, yet made no report, being secret in all
his acts of cruelty. This made him often chide Bonner, calling
him ass,* though not so much for killing poor people, as not for
doing it more cunningly.
He was the chief contriver of what we may call Gardiner's
Creed, though consisting but of six articles, which caused the
death of many, and trouble of more Protestants. He had al-
most cut off one who was and prevented another for ever being,
a queen (I mean Catherine Parr and the lady Elizabeth,) had not
Divine Providence preserved them. He complied with king
Henry the Eighth, and was what he would have him ; opposed king
Edward the Sixth, by whom he was imprisoned and deprived ;
acted all under queen Mary, by whom he was restored, and
made lord chancellor of England.
He is reported to have died more than half a Protestant,
avouching that he believed himself and all others only to be
justified by the merits of Christ ; which if so, then did he verify
the Greek and Latin proverb,
HoX\a.KiQ KOI KijTrapOQ arrjp jj.d\a Kalptov Hirer.
Sespe Olitor valde verba opportuna loquulus.
" The Gardiner oft-times in due season
Speaks what is true, and solid reason."
He died at Whitehall of the gout, November the 12th, 1555 ;
and is buried, by his own appointment, on the north side of the
choir, over against bishop Fox, in a very fair monument. He
had done well, if he had paralleled bishop Fox (founder of
Corpus Christi College in Oxford) in erecting some public work ;
the rather because he died so rich, being reported to have left
forty thousand marks in ready money behind him.f
However, on one account his memory must be commended,
for improving his power with queen Mary to restore some noble
families formerly depressed. My author J instanceth in some
descendants from the duke of Norfolk, in the Stanhopes, and the
Arundels of Wardour castle. To these give me leave to add,
the right ancient family of the Hungerfords, to whom he pro-
cured a great part of their patrimony, seized on by the crown,
to be restored.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
JOHN BALE was born at Covie in this county, five miles from
Dunwich ; and was brought up in Jesus College in Cambridge,
being before, or after, a Carmelite in Norwich. By the
* Sir John Harrington, in the Bishops of Winchester,
t Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. viii. num. 88.
Sir John Harrington, ut prius. $ In Vitdl sua, Cent. viii. num. 100.
WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
means of Thomas lord Wentworth, he was converted to be a
Protestant. This is that Bale who wrote a book " De Scrip -
toribus Britannicis," digested into nine centuries, not more be-
holding to Leland, than I have been to Bale in this work, and
my " Church History." Anno 1552, February the 2nd, he was
consecrated at Dublin, bishop of Ossory in Ireland, whence, on
the death of king Edward the Sixth, he was forced to fly (some
of his servants being slairi before his eyes) ; and, in his passage
over the sea, was taken prisoner by pirates, sold, ransomed, and
after many dangers safely arrived in Switzerland.
After the death of queen Mary, he returned into England, but
never to his Irish bishopric, preferring rather a private life, being
a prebendary of the church of Canterbury. One may wonder,
that, being so learned a man, who had done and suffered so
much for religion, higher promotion was not forced upon him,
seeing, about the beginning of queen Elizabeth, bishoprics went
about begging able men to receive them. But probably he was
a person more learned than discreet, fitter to write than to go-
vern, as unable to command his own passion ; and biliosus Ba-
laus passeth for his true character. He died in the sixty-eighth
year of his age at Canterbury,* (anno Domini 1563, in the
month of November) ; and was buried in the cathedral church
therein.
JOHN MAY was born in this county,^ bred in the university
of Cambridge, whereof he became proctor 1545 ; elected master
of Catherine hall 1564, vice-chancellor 1569, and at last con-
secrated bishop of Carlisle Sept. 27, 1577* continuing eleven
years in that see; and died in April 1598.
JOHN OVERAL, D.D., born at Hadley in this county, was
bred in the free-school therein, till sent to St John's ; then to
Trinity College in Cambridge, whereof he was fellow, and there
chosen regius professor, one of the most profound school divines
of the English nation. Afterwards, by the queen's absolute
mandate (to end a contention betwixt two co-rivals), not much
with his will, he was made master of Catherine Hall ; for, when
archbishop Whitgift joyed him of the place, he returned that it
was terminus diminuens, taking no delight in his preferment.
But his Grace told him, " that if the injuries, much more the
less courtesies of princes must be thankfully taken ;" as the
ushers to make way for greater, as indeed it came to pass.
For, after the death of Dr. Nowel, he was (by the especial re-
commendation of Sir Fulke Grevil) made dean of St. Paul's.
Being appointed to preach before the queen, he professed to
my father (most intimate with him) " that he had spoken Latin
so long, it was troublesome to him to speak English in a con-
* Jac. Waraeus, de Scriptoribus Hibernise, lib. ii. p. 136.
i t Scelletos Cantab, of Parker, MS.
PRELATES. 171
tinued oration. 5 ' He frequently had those words of the Psalm-
ist in his mouth, " When thou with rebukes dost correct man
for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a
moth : surely every man is vanity."*
I cite it the rather out of the new translation (something dif-
ferent from the old) because he was so eminent an instrument
employed therein. King James made him bishop of Norwich,
where he was a discreet presser of conformity, on which score
he got the ill-will of many disaffected thereunto, and died anno
1618.
LEONARD MAWE was born at Rendlesham in this county ;t
a remarkable place I assure you, which, though now a country
village,! was anciently the residence of the kings of the East
Angles ; where king Redwald, a mongrel Christian, kept at the
same time altare et arulam^ the communion table, and altars
for idols.
He was bred in Cambridge ; where he was proctor of the uni-
versity, fellow and master of Peter-house, after of Trinity Col-
lege, whereof he deserved well, shewing what might be done in
five years by good husbandry to dis-engage that foundation from
a great debt.
He was chaplain to king Charles whilst he was a prince, and
waited on him in Spain, by whom he was preferred bishop of
Bath and Wells 1628. He had the reputation of a good scho-
lar, a grave preacher, a mild, man, and one of gentle deport-
ment. He died anno Domini 1629.
RALPH BROWNRIGG, D. D., was born at Ipswich, of parents
of merchantly condition. His father died in his infancy, and
his mother did not carelessly cast away his youth (as- the first
broachings of a vessel) ; but improved it in his education at
school, till he was sent to Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, and
afterwards became scholar arid fellow thereof.
King James, coming to Cambridge, was (amongst others) en-
tertained with a philosophy act; and Mr. Brownrigg was
appointed to perform th Joco-serious part thereof; who did
both, to the wonder of the hearers.
Herein he was like himself, that he could on a sudden be so
unlike himself, and instantly vary his words and matter from
mirth to solidity. No man had more ability, or less inclination,
to be satirical, in which kind posse et nolle is a rarity indeed.
He had wit at will ; but so that he made it his page, not privy
councillor, to obey, not direct his judgment. He carried
learning enough in numerato about him in his pockets for any
* Psalms xxxix. li. f Scellet. Cant, of Mr. Parker, MS.
| Since the time of Fuller, this place has given title to a peerage in the family of
the celebrated John Thellusson, Esq. ; whose extraordinary will has excited so much
public attention. ED. Beda.
172 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
discourse, and had much more at home in his chests for any
serious dispute. It is hard to say whether his loyal memory,
quick fancy, solid judgment, or fluent utterance, were most to
be admired, having not only flumen but fulmen eloquentia, be-
ing one who did teach with authority.
When commencing bachelor in divinity, he chose for his text,
"Vobis autem, &c." (it is given to you, not only to believe
but suffer in the behalf of Christ*) ; a text somewhat prophet-
ical to him, who in the sequel of his life met with affronts to
exercise his prudence and patience, being afterwards defied by
some, who [almost] deified him before in whose eyes he seem-
ed the blacker for wearing white sleeves, when 1641 made
bishop of Exeter.
I was present at his consecration sermon, made by his good
friend Doctor Younge, taking for his text, " The waters are risen,
O Lord, the waters are risen," &c. ; wherein he very gravely
complained of the many invasions which popular violence made
on the privileges of church and state. This bishop himself
was soon sadly sensible of such inundations ; and yet, by the
procerity of his parts and piety, he not only safely waded
through them himself, but also (when vice chancellor of Cam-
bridge) by his prudence raised such banks, that those overflow-
ings were not so destructive as otherwise they would have been
to the university.
He continued constant to the church of England, a champion
of the needful use of the Liturgy, and for the privileges of or-
dination to belong to bishops alone. Unmoveable he was in
his principles of loyalty ; witness this instance :
O. P.,f with some shew of respect unto him, demanded the
bishop's judgment (non-plus't it seems himself) in some busi-
ness ; to whom he returned, " My lord, the best counsel I can
give you is, Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and
unto God the things that are God's ;" with which free answer
O. P. was rather silenced than satisfied.
About a year before his death, he was invited by the Society
of both Temples to be their preacher, admirably supplying that
place, till strong fits of the stone, w4th hydropical inclinations,
and other distempers incident to plethoric bodies, caused his
death.
I know all accidents are minuted and momented by Divine
Providence ; and yet, I hope I may say without sin, his was an
untimely death, not to himself (prepared thereunto), but as to
his longer life ; which the prayers of pious people requested,
the need of the church required, the date of nature could have
permitted, but the pleasure of God (to which all must submit)
denied. Otherwise he would have been most instrumental to
the composure of church differences, the deserved opinion of
* Philippians i. 29. f Oliver the Protector. ED.
STATESMEN. 17-3
whose goodness had peaceable possession in the hearts of th e
presbyterian party. I observed at his funeral, that the prime
persons of all persuasions were present, whose judgments going
several ways met all in a general grief for his decease. He was
buried on the cost of both Temples, to his great but their
greater honour,
The reader is referred for the rest to the memorials of his
life, written by the learned Doctor John Gauden, who preached
his funeral sermon, and since hath succeeded him, both in the
Temple, and bishopric of Exeter. His dissolution happened in
the 6 ?th year of his age, December 7> 1659 ; and was buried
the week following in the Temple church.
STATESMEN.
Sir NICHOLAS BACON, Knight, was born in this county, not
far from the famous abbey of St. Edmund's Bury ; and I have
read that his father was an officer belonging thereunto. His
name, I assure you, is of an ancient gentry in this shire as any
whatsoever. He was bred in Bennet College in Cambridge, to
which afterwards he proved a bountiful benefactor, building a
beautiful chapel therein.
He afterwards applied himself to the study of the common
law : and was made attorney to the court of wards, whence he
was preferred lord keeper of the great seal in the first of queen
Elizabeth, 1558. He married Anne, second daughter to Sir
Anthony Cook, of Giddy-hall in Essex, governor to king Ed-
ward the Sixth. And it is worthy of our observation, how the
statesmen in that age were arched together in affinity, to no
small support one to another.
Sir John Cheek, secretary to king Edward the Sixth, whose
sister was first wife to Sir William Cecil, secretary to the same
king.
Sir William Cecil aforesaid, for his second wife, married the
wife's sister unto this Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord-keeper.
Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary to queen Elizabeth, had
a sister married unto Sir Walter Mildmay, chancellor of the Ex-
chequer.
Sir Francis Walsingham was also brother-in-law unto Sir
Thomas Randolph, that grand statesman and ambassador.
To return to Sir Nicholas Bacon. He was condemned by
some who seemed wise, and commended by them that were so, for
not causing that statute to be repealed (the queen relying on him
as her oracle of law), whereby the queen was made illegitimate
in the days of her father. For this wise statesman would not
open that wound which time had partly closed,* and would not
meddle with the variety, yea, contrariety of statutes in this kind,
whereby people would rather be perplexed than satisfied ; but
* Camden, in the first of queen Elizabeth.
WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
derived her right from another statute which allowed her suc-
cession, the rather because lawyers maintain, '^thata crown
once worn cleareth all defects of the wearer thereof/ 5
He continued in his office about eighteen years, being a man
of rare wit and deep experience :
" Cui fuit ingenium subtile in corpore crasso."
For he was loaden with a corpulent body, especially in his
old age, so that he would be not only out of breath, but also
almost out of life, with going from Westminster hall to the Star-
chamber; insomuch, when sitting down in his place, it was
sometime before he could recover himself ; and therefore it was
usual in that court, that no lawyer should begin~to speak, till
the lord keeper held up his staff as a signal to him to begin.
He gave for his motto, " Mediocria Firma ;" and practised the
former part thereof, mediocria -, never attaining, because never
affecting, any great estate. He was not for invidious structures,
(as some of his contemporaries), but delighted in domo domino
pari ; such as was his house at Gorhambury in Hertfordshire.
And therefore, when queen Elizabeth, coming thither in pro-
gress, told him, "My lord, your house is too little for you :"
" No, madam/ 5 returned he, no less wittily than gratefully, " but
it is your highness that hath made me too great for mine house."
Now as he was a just practiser of the first part of his motto,
mediocria, so no doubt he will prove a true prophet in the se-
cond part thereof, 7^*^05 having left an estate, rather good than
great, to his posterity, whose eldest son, Sir Edward Bacon, in
this county, was the first baronet of England."* He died on the
20th of February, 1578, and lieth buried in the choir of St.
Paul's. In a word, he was a good man, a grave statesman, a
father to his country, and father to Sir FRANCIS BACON.
Sir WILLIAM DRURY was born in this county, where his
worshipful family had long flourished, at Hawstead. His name
in Saxon soundeth a pearly to which he answered in the pre-
ciousness of his disposition, clear and hard, innocent and valiant,
and therefore valued deservedly by his queen and country.
His youth he spent in the French wars, his middle in Scot-
land, and his old age in Ireland. He was knight marshal of
Berwick, at what time the French had possessed themselves of
the castle at Edinburgh, in the minority of king James. Queen
Elizabeth employed this Sir William, with 1500 men, to be-
siege the castle, which service he right worthily performed, re-
ducing it within few days to the true owner thereof.
Anno 1575 he was appointed lord president of Munster,
whither he went with competent forces, and executed impar-
tial justice, in despite of the opposers thereof. For as the sign of
* The lord keeper's eldest son (the first Baronet) was Nicholas. ED.
STATESMEN. lj5
Leo immediately precedeth Virgo and Libra in the Zodiac ; so
no hope that innocency will be protected, or justice administered,
in a barbarous country, where power and strength do not first
secure a passage unto them. But the earl of Desmond op-
posed this good president, forbidding him to enter the county
of Kerry, as a palatinate peculiarly appropriated unto himself.
Know by the way, as there were but four palatinates in Eng-
land, Chester, Lancaster, Durham, and Ely (whereof the two
former, many years since, were in effect invested in the crown)
there were no fewer than eight palatinates in Ireland, possessed
by their respective dynasties, claiming regal rights therein, to
the great retarding of the absolute conquest of that kingdom.
Amongst these (saith my author) Kerry became the sanctuary
of sin, and refuge of rebels, as out-lawed from any English
jurisdiction.
Sir William, no whit terrified with the earl's threatening,
entered Kerry, with a competent train, and there dispensed
justice to all persons, as occasion did require. Thus, with his
seven score men, he safely forced his return through seven
hundred of the earl's, who sought to surprise him. In the last
year of his life, he was made lord deputy of Ireland ; and no
doubt had performed much in his place, if not afflicted with
constant sickness, the forerunner of his death, at Water-
ford, 1598.*
Sir ROBERT NAUNTON was born in this county, of right
ancient extraction ; some avouching that his family were here
before, others that they came in with the Conqueror, who re-
warded the chief of that name for his service with a great inhe-
ritrix given him in marriage, insomuch that his lands were
then estimated at (a vast sum in my judgment) seven hundred
pounds a year.f For a long time they were patrons of Alder-
ton in this county, where I conceive Sir Robert was born.
He was bred fellow commoner in Trinity College, and then
fellow of Trinity Hall, in Cambridge. He was proctor of the
university, anno Domini 1600-1, which office, according to the
Old Circle, returned not to that college but once in forty-four
years. He addicted himself from his youth to such studies as
did tend to accomplish him for public employment. I con-
ceive his most excellent piece, called " Fragmenta Regalia," set
forth since his death, was a fruit of his younger years.
He was afterwards sworn secretary of state to king James on
Thursday the eighth of January, 1617; which place he dis-
charged with great ability and dexterity. And I hope it will
be no offence here to insert a pleasant passage :
One Mr. Wiemark, a wealthy man, great novellant, and con-
stant PauPs- walker, hearing the news that day of the beheading
* Ca
Camden's Elizabeth, hoc anno. f Weaver's Funeral Monuments, p. 751
WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
of Sir Walter Raleigh., " His head/ 5 said he, " would do very
well on the shoulders of Sir Robert Naunton, secretary of
state. " These words were complained of, and Wiemark sum-
moned to the privy council, where he pleaded for himself, " that
he intended no disrespect to Mr. Secretary, whose known worth
was above all detraction ; only he spake in reference to an old
proverb, " Two heads are better than one," And so for the
present he was dismissed. Not long after, when rich men were
called on for a contribution to St. PauFs, Wiemark at the coun-
cil-table subscribed a hundred pounds : but Mr. Secretary told
him two hundred were better than one ; which, betwixt fear
and charity, Wiemark was fain to subscribe.
.He died anno Domini 1630,* leaving one daughter, Penelope,
who was first married to Paul viscount Bayning, and after to Philip
lord Herbert, eldest son to Philip fourth earl of Pembroke.
CAPITAL JUDGES.
JOHN de METINGHAM was born in this county (where Me-
tingham is a village in Wangford hundred not far from Bungay) ;
and was lord chief justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of
king Edward the Third. It is reported, to his eternal praise,
that when the rest of the judges (18 Edw. III.) were fined and
ousted for corruption, this Metingham and Elias de Beckingham
continued in their places, whose innocence was of proof against
all accusations ;t and as Caleb and Joshua amongst the jury of
false spies,! so these two amongst the twelve judges only
retained their integrity.
King Edward, in the 20th of his reign, directed a writ unto
him about the stinting of the number of the apprentices and
attorneys at law, well worth the inserting :
" Dominus Rex injunxit Johanni de Metingham et sociis
suis, quod ipsi per discretionem eorum provideant et ordinent
numerum certum e quolibet comitatu de melioribus et legaliori-
bus et libentius addiscentibus, secundum quod intellexerint,
quod curise suse et populo de regno melius valere poterit, &c.
Et videtur regi et ejus concilio quod septies viginti sufficere
poterint. Apponant tamen pnefati justiciarii plures, si viderint
esse faciendum, vel numerum anticipent."||
(" The lord the king hath enjoined John de Metingham and
his assistants, that they, according to their discretion, provide
and ordain a certain number out of every county of such persons
which, according to their understanding, shall appear unto them
of the better sort, and most legal, and most willingly applying
themselves to the learning of the law, what may better avail for
* He was buried in the church of Letheringham in this county ; which, being
private property, and out of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, was wholly demolished in the
year 1 789.
f Spelman's Glossary, verbo Justidarius. J Numbers xiii. 6, 8.
Edward. || Rot. v. in dorso, de Apprenticiis et Attornatis.
CAPITAL JUDGES. 177
their court and the good of the people of the land, &c. And it
seems likely, to the king and his counsel, that seven-score may
suffice for that purpose. However, the aforesaid justices may
add more if they see ought to be done, or else they may lessen
the number.")
Some conceive this number of seven-score confined only to
the Common Pleas, whereof Metingham was chief justice. But
others behold it as extended to the whole land, this judge's
known integrity being entrusted in their choice and number ;
which number is since much increased, and no wonder, our land
being grown more populous, and the people in it more litigious.
He died anno Domini 1301.
Sir JOHN CAVENDISH, Knight, was born at Cavendish in
this county (where his name continued until the reign of king
Henry the Eighth) ; bred a student of the municipal law, at-
taining to such learning therein, that he was made lord chief
justice of the King's (or Upper) Bench, July 15, in the 46th of
king Edward the Third ; discharging his place with due com-
mendation, until his violent death, on the fifth of king Richard
the Second, on this occasion :
John Raw, a priest, contemporary with Jack Straw and Wat
Tyler, advanced Robert Westbroome, a clown, to be king of the
commons in this county, having no fewer than fifty thousand
followers. These, for eight days together, in savage sport,
caused the heads of great persons to be cut off, and set on poles
to kiss and whisper in one another's ears.*
Chief justice Cavendish chanced then to be in the country,
to whom they bare a double pique ; one, because he was honest,
the other learned. Besides, they received fresh news from
London, that one John Cavendish, his kinsman, had lately
killed their idol, Wat Tyler, in Smithfield. Whereupon they
dragged the reverend judge, with Sir John of Cambridge, prior
of Bury, into the market-place there, and beheaded them;f
whose innocent blood remained not long unrevenged by Spen-
cer the warlike bishop of Norwich, by whom this rascal rabble
of rebels was routed and ruined, 1381.
Reader, be charitably pleased that this note may (till better
information) preserve the right of this county unto Sir ROBERT
BROKE, a great lawyer, and lord chief justice of the Common
Pleas in the reign of queen Mary. He wrote an Abridgment of
the whole Law, a book of high account. It insinuateth to me
a probability of his birth herein, because (lawyers generally
purchase near the place of their birth) his posterity still flourish
in a worshipful equipage at Nacton, nigh Ipswich, in this
county.
* Speed's Chronicle, in Richard the Second, p, 608.
f Lib. Eliens. MS. in Bibl. Cotton.
VOL. III. N
178 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
SOLDIERS.
Sir THOMAS WENTWORTH, of Nettlestead in this county, of
a younger family (confessed by the crescent in his coat), de-
scended from the Wentworths of Wentworth Woodhouse in
Yorkshire, was created Baron Wentworth by king Henry the
Eighth. He was a stout and valiant gentleman, a cordial pro-
testant, and his family a sanctuary of such professors; John
Bale* comparing him to the good centurion in the Gospel, and
gratefully acknowledging him the cause of his conversion from
a Carmelite.
The memory of this good lord is much (but unjustly) ble-
mished, because Calais was lost, the last of queen Mary, under
his government. The manner hereof was huddled up in our
chronicles (least is best of a bad business), whereof this the
effect. The English being secure by reason of the late con-
quest at St. Quintin, and the duke of Guise having notice
thereof, he sat down before the town at the time (not " when
kings go forth" t to but return from battle) of mid-winter, even
on New-yjear^s Day. Next day he took the two forts of Rise-
bank and Newnham-bridge (wherein the strength of the city
consisted) ; but whether they were undermined or undermonied
it is not decided, and the last left most suspicious. Within
three days the castle of Calais, which commanded the city, and
was under the command of Sir Ralph Chamberlain, was taken.
The French, wading through the ditches (made shallower by
their artificial cut) and then entering the town, were repulsed
back by Sir Anthony Ager, marshal of Calais, the only man,
saith Stow,J who was killed in the fight (understand him of
note) ; others, for the credit of the business, accounting four-
score lost in that service.
The French re-entering the city the next being Twelfth-day,
the lord Wentworth, deputy thereof, made but vain resistance,
which, alas ! was like the wriggling of a worm's tail after the
head thereof is cut off; so that he was forced to take what terms
he could get; viz. that the townsmen should depart (though
plundered to a groat) with their lives ; and himself with forty-
nine more, such as the duke of Guise should choose, should
remain prisoners, to be put to ransom.
This was the best news brought to Paris, and worst to Lon-
don, for many years before. It not only abated the queen's
cheer for the remnant of Christmas, but her mirth all the days
of her life. Yet might she thank herself for losing this key of
France, because hanging it by her side with so slender a string,
there being but five hundred soldiers effectually in the garrison,
too few to manage such a piece of importance.
The lord Wentworth, the second of June following, was
* De Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. viii. num. 100.
f 2 Samuel xi. l. f Chronicle, p. 632. Speed's History, p. 856.
SOLDIERS SEAMEN.
solemnly condemned for treason, though unheard, as absent in
France ; which was not only against Christian charity, but
Roman justice ; Festus confessing it was not fashionable
amongst them, ee to deliver any man to die, before he which is
accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to
answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him/ 5 *
It was well for this lord that he was detained in France till
his ransom was paid, and queen Mary dead, who otherwise pro-
bably had lost his life, if he had had his liberty. But queen
Elizabeth coming to the crown, he found the favour, or rather
had the justice, to be tried again ; and was acquitted by his
peers,f finding it no treachery, cowardice, or carelessness in
him, but in Sir John Harlston and Sir Ralph Chamberlain,
the one governor of Rise-bank, the other of Calais castle, for
which they were both condemned to die, though their judgment
was remitted. This lord was the only person I have read of,
who thus in a manner played rubbers when his head lay at stake ;
and having lost the fore recovered the after-game. He died, a
very aged man, 1590.
SEAMEN.
THOMAS CAVENDISH, of TrimleyJ in this county, Esquire, in
pursuance of his generous inclination to make foreign discove-
ries for the use and honour of his nation, on his own cost vic-
tualled and furnished three ships (the least of fleets) as followeth :
1. The Desire, admiral, of 120 tons: 2. The Content, vice-
admiral, of 40 tons : 3. The Hugh-Gallant, rear-admiral, of 40
tons; all three managed by 123 persons, with which he set sail
from Plymouth the 21st of July, 1586.
So prosperous their winds, that by the 26th of August they
had gone nine hundred and thirty leagues to the south of Africa.
Then bending their course south-west, January the 7th, they
entered the mouth of the Magellan Straits ; straits indeed, not
only for the narrow passage, but many miseries of hunger and
cold, which mariners must encounter therein. Here Mr. Caven-
dish named a town Port- famine ; and may never distressed
seamen be necessitated to land there ! It seems the Spaniards
had a design so to fortify these straits in places of advantage, as
to engross the passage, that none save themselves should enter
the southern sea. But God, the promoter of the public good,
destroyed their intended monopoly, sending such a mortality
amongst their men, that scarce five of-five hundred did survive.
On the 24th of February they entered the South Sea, and fre-
quently landed as they saw occasion. Many their conflicts
with the natives, more with the Spaniards ; coming off gainers
in most, and savers in all encounters, that alone at Quintero
* Acts xxv. 16. f Caraden's Elizabeth, anno 1559.
J The substance of what followeth is taken out of Mr. Hackluit's Voyages, the
last part, p. 803 F.
N 2
180 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
excepted, April l,1587>when they lost twelve men of good account,
which was the cause that the June following they purposely
sunk the rear-admiral, for want of men to manage her.
Amongst the many prizes he took in his passage, the St.
Anne was the most considerable, being the Spanish admiral of
the southern sea, of seven hundred tons. However, our Caven-
dish boarded her with his little ship (a chicken of the game will
adventure on a greater fowl, and leap where he cannot reach),
and mastered her, though an hundred and ninety persons therein.
There were in the ship an hundred and two and twenty thousand
pezos* (each worth eight shillings) of gold ; the rest of the
lading being silks, satins, musks, and other rich commodities.
Mr. Cavendish's mercy after, equalled his valour in the fight,
landing the Spaniards on the shore, and leaving them plentiful
provisions.
Surrounding the East Indies, and returning for England, the
ship called The Content did not answer her name, whose men
took all occasions to be mutinous, and stayed behind in a road
with Stephen Hare their master ; and Mr. Cavendish saw her
not after. But he, who went forth with a fleet, came home with
a ship, and safely landed in Plymouth, Sept. 9, 1588. Amongst
his men, three most remarkable ; Mr. John Way their preacher ;
Mr. Thomas Fuller, of Ipswich, their pilot ; and Mr. Francis
Pretty, of Eyke in this county, who wrote the whole history of
their voyage.
Thus having circumnavigated the whole earth, let his ship no
longer be termed The Desire, but The Performance. He
was the third man, and second Englishman, of such universal
undertakings.
Not so successful his next and last voyage, begun the 26th
of August, 1.591, when he set sail with a fleet from Plymouth,
and coming in the Magellan Straits, near a place by him formerly
named" Port-Desire, he was, the November following, casually
severed from his company, not seen or heard of afterward.
Pity so illustrious a life should have so obscure a death. But
all things must be as being itself will have them to be.
PHYSICIANS.
WILLIAM BUTLER was born at Ipswich in this county,
where he had one only brother, who, going beyond sea, turned
Papist, for which cause this William was so offended with him,
that he left him none of his estate.f I observe this the rather,
because this William Butler was causelessly suspected for popish
inclinations. He was bred fellow of Clare Hall in Cambridge,
where he became the ^Esculapius of our age. He was the first
Englishman who quickened Galenical physic with a touch of
* In English money, 48,000 pounds.
f So I am informed by Mrs. Crane in Cambridge, to whose husband he left his
estate F.
PHYSICIANS WRITERS. 181
Paracelsus, trading in chemical receipts with great success. His
eye was excellent at the instant discovery of a cadaverous face,
on which he would not lavish any art. This made him, at the
first sight of sick prince Henry, to get himself out of sight.
Knowing himself to be the prince of physicians, he would be
observed accordingly. Compliments would prevail nothing
with him, entreaties but little, surly threatenings would do much,
and a witty jeer do anything. He was better pleased with pre-
sents than money, loved what was pretty rather than what was
costly ; and preferred rarities before riches. Neatness he neg-
lected into slovenliness ; and accounting cuffs to be manacles,
he may be said not to have made himself ready for some seven
years together. He made his humorsomeness to become him,
wherein some of his profession have rather aped than imitated
him, who had morositatem aquabilem, and kept the tenor of the
same surliness to all persons. He was a good benefactor to
Clare Hall; and dying 1621, he was buried in the chancel of
St. Mary's in Cambridge, under a fair monument. Mr. John
Crane, that expert apothecary and his executor, is since buried
by him ; and if some eminent surgeon was interred on his other
side, I would say, that physic lay here in state, with its two
pages attending it.
WRITERS.
HUMPHREY NECTON was born (though Necton be in Nor-
folk) in this county;* and, quitting a fair fortune from his
father, professed poverty, and became a Carmelite in Norwich.
Two Jirstships met in this man, for he hanselled the house-
convent, which Philip Warin of Cowgate, a prime citizen, (and
almost I could believe him mayor of the city), did, after the
death of his wife, in a fit of sorrow give with his whole estate to
the Carmelites.
Secondly, he was the first Carmelite, who in Cambridge took
the degree of doctor in divinity ; for some boggled much thereat,
as false heraldry in devotion, to superinduce a doctoral hood
over a friar's cowl, till our Necton adventured on it. For,
though poverty might not affect pride, yet humility may admit
of honour. He flourished, under king Henry the Third and
Edward the First, at Norwich ; and was buried with great
solemnity by those of his order, anno Domini 1303.
JOHN HORMINGER was born of good parents in this county,f
and became very accomplished in learning. It happened that,
travelling to Rome, he came into the company of Italians (the
admirers only of themselves, and the slighters-general of all
other nations), vilifying England, as an inconsiderable country,
whose ground was as barren as the people barbarous. Our
* Bale, Cent. iv. num. 24.
t Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis ; and Pits, JStat. 14, num. 450.
182 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
Horminger, impatient to hear his mother-land traduced, spake
in her defence, and fluently epitomized the commodities thereof.
Returning home, he wrote a book " De Divitiis et Deliciis
Angliae," (of the Profit and Pleasure of England ;) which, had
it come to my hand, O how advantageous had it been to my
present design ! He flourished 1310.
THOMAS of ELY was born in this county; for, though Cam-
bridgeshire boasteth of I^Jy (so famous for the cathedral), yet
is there Monks-Ely in Suffolk, the native town of this Thomas,
who followed the footsteps of his countryman Necton, being a
Carmelite (but in Ipswich) ; and afterwards doctor in the uni-
versity of Cambridge, saith my author,* of both divinities.
But the same hand which tieth untieth this knot, giving us
to understand that thereby are meant scholastical and interpre-
tative divinity, seeming to import them in that age to have been
distinct faculties ; till afterwards united, as the civil and com-
mon law, in one profession.
Leaving his native land, he travelled over the seas, with others
of his order, to Bruges in Flanders, and there kept lectures and
disputations, as one Gobelike (a formidable author) informeth
my informer,t till his death, about 1320.
RICHARD LANHAM was born at a market town well known
for clothing in this county, and bred, (when young) a Carmelite
in Ipswich. He made it his only request to the Prefect of his
convent, to have leave to study in Oxford ; which was granted
him, and deservedly, employing his time so well there, that he
proceeded doctor with public applause. Leland's pencil paints
him pious and learned ; but Bale cometh with his sponge, and
in effect deletes both, because of his great antipathy to the
Wickliffites. However his learning is beyond contradiction,
attested by the books he left to posterity. Much difference
about the manner and place of his death ; some making him
to decease in his bed at Bristol, J others to be beheaded in Lon-
don (with Sudbury archbishop of Canterbury, and Hales mas-
ter of St. John's of Jerusalem) by the rebellious crew of Wat
Tyler, who being a misogrammatist (if a good Greek word may
be given to so barbarous a rebel) hated every man that could
write or read, and was the more incensed against Lanham for
his eminent literature. He died anno Domini 1381.
JOHN KINYNGHAM was born in this county ; bred a Car-
melite, first in Ipswich, then in Oxford, being the 25th Prefect
of his Order in England and Ireland, and confessor to John of
Gaunt and his lady. He was the first who encountered Wickliffe
in the schools at Oxford, disputing of philosophical subtilties, and
* Bale, Cent. iv. num. 65. f Bale, ut prius. J Polydore Vergil.
Bale, Cent. vi. num. 4.
WRITERS,
183
that with so much ingenuity, that Wickliffe, much taken with
the man's modesty, prayed heartily for him that his judgment
might be convinced.* But whether with so good success where-
with Peter Martyr besought God on the same account for Ber-
nard Gilpin,f I know not. He died a very aged man, anno
1399, and was buried at York; far, I confess, from Ipswich,
his first fixation. But it was usual for Prefects of Orders to tra-
vel much in their visitations.
JOHN LYDGATE was born in this countyj at a village so
called, bred a Benedictine monk in St. Edmund's Bury. After
some time spent in our English universities, he travelled over
France and Italy, improving his time to his great accomplish-
ment. Returning, he became tutor to many noblemen's sons;
and, both in prose and poetry, was the best author of his age.
If Chaucer's coin were of a greater weight for deeper learning,
Lydgate's was of a more refined standard for purer language;
so that one might mistake him for a modern writer. But,
because none can so well describe him as himself, take an essay
of his verses, excusing himself for deviating in his writings from
his vocation.
" I am a monk by my profession,
In Berry, call'd John Lydgate by my name,
And wear a habit of perfection,
(Although my life agrees not with the same)
That meddle should with things spiritual,
As I must needs confess unto you all,
But, seeing that I did herein proceed
At his command || whom I could not refuse,
I humbly do beseech all those that read,
Or leisure have this story to peruse,
If any fault therein they find to be,
Or error, that committed is by me ;
That they will of their gentleness take pain,
The rather to correct and mend the same,
Than rashly to condemn it with disdain ;
For well I wot it is not without blame,
Because I know the verse therein is wrong,
As being some too short and some too long.
For Chaucer, that my master was, and knew
What did belong to writing verse and prose, 4
Ne'er stumbled at small faults, nor yet did view
With scornful eye the works and books of those
That in his time did write : nor yet would taunt
At any man, to fear him or to daunt."
He lived to be 60 years of age ; and died about the year 1444)
and was buried in his own convent with this epitaph :
Mortuus steclo, superis superstes,
Hicjacet Lydgate tumulatus urnd,
Quijuit quondam Celebris Britannia
Famd. 2>oesis.
* Bale, Cent. vi. num. 4. f See the Life of Bernard Gilpin.
t Cam den's Britannia, in Suffolk.
History of the Life and Death of Hector, p. 316 and 317.
II King Henry IV.
184 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
" Dead in this world, living above the sky,
Intombed within this urn doth Lydgate lie,
In former time famed for his poetry
All over England."
As for the numerous and various books which he wrote of seve-
ral subjects, Bale presenteth us with their perfect catalogue.*
JOHN BARNYNGHAM, born at a village so named in this
county, f was bred a Carmelite in Ipswich ; and afterwards pro-
ceeded doctor in Oxford : thence going to Sorbon (the cock-pit
of controversies) was there admitted to the same degree.
Trithemius takes notice of his parts and perfections, allowing
him " festivum ingeniutn et ad quodcunque deflexum," having a
subtile and supple wit, so that he could be what he would be, a
great master of defence in the schools, both to guard and hit.
Bale saith, he saw his works in Cambridge, fairly written in four
great volumes. Weary with his long race beyond the seas, he
returned at last to the place whence he started ; and, retiring to
his convent, whereof he was ruler, at Ipswich, died there
January 22, 1448.
JOHN of BURY was an Augustinian in Clare, doctor of di-
vinity in Cambridge, Provincial of his order through England
and Ireland ; no mean scholar, and a great opposer of Reginald
Peakock and all other Wickliffites. He flourished anno 1460.
THOMAS SCROOPE was born at Bradley in this county! (but
extracted from the Lord Scroope in Yorkshire) ; who rolled
through many professions : 1. He was a Benedictine, but found
that order too loose for his conscience. 2. A Carmelite of
Norwich, as a stricter profession. 3. An anchorite (the dungeon
of the prison of Carmelitism), wherein he lived twenty years.
4. Dispensed with by the Pope, he became bishop of Dro-
more in Ireland. 5. Quitting his bishopric, he returned to his
solitary life ; yet so, that once a week he used to walk on his
bare feet, and preach the Decalogue in the villages round about.
fie lived to be extremely aged ; for, about the year 1425,
clothed in sackcloth and girt with an iron chain, he used to cry
out in the streets, (e That new Jerusalem, the bride of the
Lamb, was shortly to come down from heaven, prepared for
her spouse, Revel, xxi. ; and that with great joy he saw the
same in the Spirit."
Thomas Waldensis, the great anti-Wickliffite, was much of-
fended thereat ; protesting it was a scandal and disgrace to the
church. However, our Scroope long out-lived him, and died
* De Scrip toribus Britannicis, Cent. viii. num. 7.
t Bale, De Cent. viii. num. 11.
j Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. viii. num. 53. ; and Pits, de Scripto-
ribus Angliae, p. 681, anno 1491.
WRITERS. 185
aged well nigh 100 years, " non sine sanctitatis opinione," say
both Bale and Pits ; and it is a wonder they meet in the same
opinion. He was buried at Lowestoffe in this county, anno
1491.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
RICHARD SIRS was born in the edge of this county (yet so
that Essex seemeth to have no share in him) nigh Sudbury, and
was bred a fellow of St. John's College in Cambridge. He
proved afterwards a most profitable preacher to the Honourable
Society of Grays-Inn, whence he was chosen master of St. Katha-
rine Hall in Cambridge. He found the house in a mean condition,
the wheel of St. Katharine having stood still (not to say gone
backwards) for some years together : he left it replenished with
scholars, beautified with buildings, better endowed with reve-
nues. He was most eminent for that grace, which is most
worth, yet cost the least to keep it, viz. Christian humility. Of
all points of divinity he most frequently pressed that of Christ's
Incarnation ; and if the angels desired to pry into that mystery,
no wonder if this angelical man had a longing to look therein.
A learned divine imputed this good doctor's great humility to
his much meditating on that point of Christ's humiliation, when
he took our flesh upon him. If it be true what some hold in
physic, that " Omne par nutrit suum par," (that the vitals of our
body are most strengthened by feeding on such meat as are
likest unto them ;) I see no absurdity to maintain that men's
souls improve most in those graces whereon they have most
constant meditation, whereof this worthy doctor was an eminent
instance. He died in the 58th year of his age, anno Domini
1631.
WILLIAM ALABLASTER was born at Hadley in this county ;
and by marriage was nephew to Doctor John Still, bishop of
Bath and Wells. He was bred fellow in Trinity College in
Cambridge, a most rare poet as any our age or nation hath
produced ; witness his tragedy of " Roxana," admirably acted
in that college, and so pathetically, that a gentlewoman present
thereat (Reader, I had it from an author whose credit it is sin
with me to suspect), at the hearing of the last words thereof, se-
quar, sequar, so hideously pronounced, fell distracted, and never
after fully recovered her senses.
He attended chaplain in the Calais-voyage on Robert earl of
Essex, where he was so affected with the beauty of Popish
churches, and the venerable respect the Papists gave to their
priests, that he staggered in his own religion. There wanted
not those of the Romish party to force his fall, whom they found
reeling ; working on his ambition, who complained of the slow-
ness of preferment in England, which followed not so fast as in
186 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
due time to overtake his deserts ; so that soon after he turned a
Papist.
Yet it was not long before he was out of love with that per-
suasion ; so that; whether because he could not comport with
their discipline, who would have made him (who conceived him-
self at the top) begin again (according to their course) at the
bottom of human learning ; or because (which I rather charita-
bly believe) that upon second thoughts he seriously disgusted
the Romish superstition, he returned into his own country.
It was not long before he was made prebendary of St. Paul's,
and rector of the rich parsonage of Tharfield in Hertfordshire.
He was an excellent Hebrician, and well skilled in cabalistical
learning ; witness his Clerum in Cambridge, when he commenc-
ed doctor in divinity, taking for his text the first words of the
first book of Chronicles, " Adam, Seth, Enos."
Besides the literal sense, as they are proper names of the Pa-
triarchs, he mined for a mystical meaning : man is put or placed
for pain and trouble.
How well this agreeth with the original belongs not to me to
inquire. This I know, it had been hard (if not impossible) for
him to hold on the same rate, and reduce the proper names in
the genealogies following to such an appellativeness as should
compose a continued sense. He died anno Domini 163 ..
SAMUEL WARD was born at Haveril in this county, where
his father had long been a painful minister of the place ; and I
remember I have read this epitaph written on his monument in
the chancel there, which I will endeavour to translate :
Quo si quis scivit scitius,
Aut si quis docuil doctius ;
At rams vixit sanctius,
Et nullus tonuit for tins.
" Grant some of knowledge greater store,
More learned some in teaching ;
Yet few in life did lighten more,
None thundered more in preaching."
He bred his son Samuel, in Cambridge, in Sidney College,
whereof he became fellow, being an excellent artist, linguist,
divine, and preacher. He had a sanctified fancy, dexterous in de-
signing expressive pictures, representing much matter in a little
model.
From Cambridge he was preferred minister in or rather of
Ipswich, having a care over, and a love from, all the parishes in
that populous place. Indeed he had a magnific virtue (as if he
had learned it from the load-stone, in whose qualities he was so
knowing) to attract people's affections. Yet found he foes as
well as friends, who complained of him to the high commission,
where he met with some molestation.
He had three brethren ministers, on the same token that
WRITERS BENEFACTORS. 18?
some have said, that these four put together would not make up
the abilities of their father. Nor were they themselves offended
with this hyperbole, to have the branches lessened, to greaten
their root. One of them, lately dead, was beneficed in Essex ;
and, following the counsel of the poet,
Ridentem dicere verum,
Quis vetat ?
" What doth forbid but one may smile,
And also tell the truth the while ?"
hath in a jesting way, in some of his books, delivered much
smart truth of the present times. Mr. Samuel died 163 . .
JOHN BOISE, born at Elmeseth in this county, being son of
the minister thereof. He was bred first in Hadley-school, then
in St. John's College in Cambridge, and was deservedly chosen
fellow thereof. Here he (as a volunteer) read in his bed a
Greek lecture to such young scholars who preferred Antelucana
studia before their own ease and rest.* He was afterwards of
that quorum in the translating of the Bible ; and whilst St.
Chrysostom lives, Mr. Boise shall not die ; such his learned
pains on him in the edition of Sir Henry Savil. Being parson
of Boxworth in Cambridgeshire, and prebendary of Ely, he
made a quiet end about the beginning of our warlike disturb-
ances.
ROMISH EXILE WRITERS.
BOBERT SOUTHWEL, was born in this county, as Pitseus af-
firmeth, who, although often mistaken in his locality, may be
believed herein, as professing himself familiarly acquainted with
him at Rome. But the matter is not much where he was born ;
seeing, though cried up by men of his own profession for his
many books in verse and prose, he was reputed a dangerous
enemy by the state, for which he was imprisoned, and executed,
March the 3rd, 1595.
BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC.
ELIZABETH, third daughter of Gilbert earl of Clare,t and
wife to John Burgh earl of Ulster in Ireland, I dare not say-
born at, but surely had her greatest honour from, Clare in this
county. Blame me not, reader, if I be covetous on any ac-
count to recover the mention of her memory, who, anno 1343,
founded Clare Hall in Cambridge, since augmented by many
benefactors.
Sir SIMON EYRE, son of John Eyre, was born at Brandon in
this county ; bred in London, first an upholsterer, then a draper ;
in which profession he profited, that he was chosen lord mayor
* Thomas Gataker one of them. See the narrative at the end of his funeral
Sermon F.
f Vincent, in his Corrections of Brookes' Errors.
188 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
of the City, 1445. On his own cost he built Leaden-hall (for
a common garner of corn to the city) of squared stone in form
as it now sheweth, with a fair chapel in the east side of the
quadrant ; over the porch of which he caused to be written,
" Dextra Domini exaltavit me," (the Lord's right hand hath
exalted me.)* He is elsewhere styled " Honorandus etfamosus
Mercator." He left five thousand marks, a prodigious sum in
that age, to charitable uses ; so that, if my sight mistake not
(as I am confident it doth not), his bounty, like Saul, stands
higher than any others from the shoulders upwards.f He de-
parted this life the 18th of September, anno Domini 1459 ; and
is buried in the church of St. Mary Woolnoth, in Lombard
Street, London.
THOMAS SPRING, commonly called " the Rich Clothier," was
(I believe) born, I am sure lived and waxed wealthy, at Laneham
in this county. He built the carved Chapel of Wainscot in the
north side of the chancel, as also the chapel at the south side of
the church. J This Thomas Spring, senior, died anno 1510,
and lieth buried under a monument in the chapel of his own
erection.
SINCE THE REFORMATION.
WILLIAM COPPINGER, born at Bucks-hall in this county,
where his family flourisheth at this day in a good esteem. He
was bred a fishmonger in London, so prospering in his profes-
sion, that he became lord mayor anno 1512. He gave the
half of his estate (which was very great) to pious uses, and re-
lieving the poor.
His bounty mindeth me of the words of Zacchseus to our Sa-
viour : " Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor ;
and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation,
I restore him fourfold."||
Demand not of me whether our Coppinger made such plen-
tiful restitution, being confident there was no cause thereof,
seeing he never was one of the publicans, persons universally
infamous for extortion : otherwise I confess, that that charity,
which is not bottomed on justice, is but built on a foundered
foundation. I am sorry to see this gentleman's arms, (the epide-
mical disease of that age) substracted (in point of honour) by
the addition of a superfluous border.
[S.N.] Sir WILLIAM CORDAL, Knight. Wherever he was
born, he had a fair estate at Long-Melford in this county, and
lieth buried in that fair church under a decent monument.
We will translate his epitaph, which will perfectly acquaint us
* Stow's Survey of London, p. 163. f 1 Samuel x. 23.
J Weever's Funeral Monuments, p. 767.
$ Stow's Survey of London, anno 1512. || Luke xix. 8.
BENEFACTORS MEMORABLE PERSONS. 189
with the great offices he had, and good offices he did to pos-
terity :
Hie Gulielmus habet requiem Cordellus, avito
Stemmate qui clarus, clarior ingenio.
Hie studiis primos consumpsit foriiter annos,
Mox et causarum strenuus actor erat.
Tanta illi doctrina inerat,facundia tanta,
Ut Parlamenti publica Lingua foret.
Postea factus Eques, Regince arcana Maria
Consilia, et patrice grande subibat opus :
Factus et est Gustos Rotulorum. Urgente senectil
In Christo moriens cepit ad astro viam.
Pauperibus largus, victum vestemque ministrans,
Insuper Hospitii condidit ille domum.
" Here William Cordal doth in rest remain,
Great by his birth, but greater by his brain.
Plying his studies hard, his youth throughout,
Of causes he became a pleader stout.
His learning deep such eloquence did vent,
He was chose Speaker of the Parliament'
Afterwards Knight queen Mary did him make,
And counsellor, state-work to undertake ;
And Master of the Rolls. Well worn with age,
Dying in Christ, heaven was his utmost stage.
Diet and clothes to poor he gave at large,
And a fair Almshouse * founded on his charge."
He was made Master of the Rolls, November 5th, the fifth of
queen Mary, continuing therein till the day of his death, the
23rd of queen Elizabeth.f
Sir ROBERT HICHAM, Knight, and Serjeant-at-law, was born
(if not at) near Nacton in this county, and was very skilful in
our common law. By his practice he got a great estate, and
purchased the fair manor of Framlingham of the earl of Suffolk.
Herein he met with many difficulties (knots which would have
made another man's axe turn edge to hew them off) ; so that, had
he not been one of a sharp wit, strong brains, powerful friends,
plentiful purse, and indefatigable diligence, he had never cleared
the title thereof to him and his heirs.
I am willing to believe that gratitude to God (who gave him
to wade through so many incumbrances, and land safely at last
on the peaceable possession of his purchase) was the main
motive inclining him to leave a great part of his estate to pious
uses, and principally to Pembroke Hall in Cambridge. He
departed this life a little before the beginning of our civil wars.
MEMORABLE PERSONS.
JOHN CAVENDISH, Esquire, was born at Cavendish in this
county ; bred at court, a servant in ordinary attendance on king
Richard the Second, when Wat Tyler played Rex in London.
* At Melford aforesaid.
f J. Philpot, in his Catalogue of the Masters of the Rolls.
190 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
It happened that Wat Tyler was woundly angry with Sir John
Newton, knight, (sword-bearer to the king then in presence) for
devouring his distance, and not making his approaches man-
nerly enough unto him. Oh, the pride of a self-promoting
peasant ! Much bustling arising thereabout, Sir William Wai-
worth, lord mayor of London, arrested Wat, and with his dagger
wounded him ; and, being well stricken in years, wanted not
valour, but vigour, to dispatch him. He is seconded by John
Cavendish standing by, who twice or thrice wounded him mor-
tally; my author* complaining, "that his death was too worthy,
from the hands of honourable persons, for whom the axe of the
hangman had been too good." I would have said, fe the halter
of the hangman." But it matters not by whom a traitor be
killed, so he be killed.
Hereupon the arms of London were augmented with a dag-
ger ; and, to divide the honour equally betwixt them, if the
haft belonged to Walworth, the blade, or point thereof at least,
may be adjudged to Cavendish. Let me add, that king Richard
himself shewed much wisdom and courage in managing this
matter ; so that in our chronicles he appeareth wiser youth than
man ; as if he had spent all the stock of his discretion in ap-
peasing this tumult, which happened anno Domini 1381.
Sir THOMAS COOK, Knight. Sir WM. CAPELL, Knight-
I present these pair of knights in parallels, because I find
many considerable occurrences betwixt them in the course of
their lives :
1. Both were natives of this county, born not far asunder;
Sir Thomas at Lavenham, Sir William at Stoke-Neyland.
2. Both were bred in London, free of the same company of
Drapers, and were lord mayors of the city.
3. Both, by God's blessing on their industry, attained great
estates, and were royal merchants indeed. The later is reported
by tradition (since by continuance consolidated into historical
truth) that, after a large entertainment made for king Henry
the Seventh, he concluded all with a fire, wherein he burnt many
bonds, in which the king (a borrower in the beginning of his
reign) stood obliged unto him (a sweet perfume, no doubt, to so
thrifty a prince) ; not to speak of his expensive frolic, when at
another time he drank a dissolved pearl (which cost him many
hundreds) in a health to the king.
4. Both met with many molestations. Sir Thomas, being
arraigned for lending money (in the reign of king Edward the
Fourth), hardly escaped with his life (thank a good God, a just
judge,t and a stout jury) : though grievously fined, and long
imprisoned. As for Sir William, Empson and Dudley fell with
* Speed, in his Chronicle, p. 607.
f See Judge Markham's Life in Nottinghamshire. F.
LORD MAYORS. 191
their bodies so heavy upon him, that they squeezed many thou-
sand pounds out of his into the king's coffers.
5. Both died peaceably in age and honour, leaving great es-
tates to their posterities ; the Cooks nourishing lately at Giddy
Hall in Essex, in a worshipful, as the Capels at Hadham in
Hertfordshire now in an honourable, condition.
Nor must it be forgotten, that Elizabeth, daughter to Sir
William Capel, was married to William Powlet marquis of
Winchester; and Mildred, descended from Sir Thomas Cook,
to William Cecil lord Burleigh ; both their husbands being
successively lord treasurers of England for above fifty years.
Sir Thomas Cook lieth buried in the church of Augustine
Friars, London. Sir William Capel in the south side of the
parish church of St. Bartholomew's (in a chapel of his own ad-
dition) behind the Exchange, though the certain date of their
deaths do not appear.
LORD MAYORS.
1. John Michel, son of John Michel of Ekelinghanx, Stock-
Fishmonger, 1422.
2. Henry Barton, son of Henry Barton, of Myldenhal, Skin-
ner, 1428.
3. RogerlOteley, son of Will. Oteley, of Ufford, Grocer, 1434.
4. John Paddesley, son of Simon Paddesley, of Bury St. Ed-
munds, Goldsmith, 1440.
5. Simon Eyre, son of John Eyre, of Brandon, Draper, 1445.
6. William Gregory, son of Roger Gregory, of Myldenhal,
Skinner, 1451.
7 Thomas Cook, son of Robert Cook, of Lavenham, Draper,
1462.
8. Richard Gardiner, son of John Gardiner, of Exning, Mercer,
1478.
9. William Capel, son of John Capel, of Stoke-Neyland,
Draper, 1503.
10. Wm. Coppinger, son of Walter Coppinger, of Buckshal,
Fish -monger, 1512.
11. John Milborn, son of John Milbourn, of Long-Melford,
Draper, 1521.
12. Roger Martin, son of Lawrence Martin, of Long-Melford,
Mercer, 1567.
13. John Spencer, son of Richard Spencer, of Walding Field,
Cloth-worker, 1594.
14. Stephen Some, son of Thomas Some, of Bradley, Grocer,
1598.
Reader, this is one of the twelve pretermitted shires, the
* He was mayor again 1436.
192 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
names of whose gentry were not returned into the Tower in the
reign of king Henry the Sixth.
SHERIFFS.
Know that this county and Norfolk had both one sheriff,, until
the seventeenth year of the reign of queen Elizabeth, a list of
whose names we formerly have presented in the description of
Norfolk.
ELIZ. REG.
Anno Name and Arms. Place.
I? Rob. Ashfield, arm. . . Netherhall.
S. a fess ingrailed betwixt three flowers- de-luce Arg.
18 Joh. Higham, arm.
S. a fess cheeky O. and Az. betwixt three nags' heads
erased Arg.
19 Will. Spring, mil. . . Lanham.
Arg. on a chevron between three martlets G. as many
cinquefoils of the field.
20 Rob. Jermin, mil. . . Rushbrook.
S. a crescent betwixt two mullets Arg.
21 Philip. Parker, mil. . Arwerton.
Arg. a lion passant G. betwixt two bars S., whereon
three bezants ; in chief as many bucks' heads caboshed
of the third.
22 Th. Bernardiston, mil. Kedington.
Az. a fesse dancette Erm. betwixt six croslets Arg.
23 Nich. Bacon, mil. . . Culfurth.
G. on a chief Arg. two mullets S.
24 Will. Drury, mil. . . Halsted.
Arg. on a chief Vert, the letter Tau betwixt two mullets
pierced O.
25 Carol. Framlingham, miles.
26 Joh. Gurdon, arm. . . Assington.
S. three leopards' heads jessant flowers-de-luce O.
27 Will. Clopton, arm.
S. a bend Arg. betwixt two cotises dancette O.
28 Geo. Clopton, arm, . . ut prius.
29 Franc. Jermy, arm.
Arg. a lion rampant gardant G.
30 Phil. Tilney, arm. . . Shelleigh.
Arg. a chevron betwixt three griffins' heads erased G.
31 Will. Walgrav.e, mil. . Buers.
Party per pale Arg. and G.
32 Tho. Rowse, arm.
S. two bars engrailed Arg.
SHERIFFS. 193
Anno Name. Place.
33 Nic. Garnish, arm.
Arg. a chevron engrailed Az. between three scallops S.
34 Lionel Talmarsh, arm. Helmingham.
Arg, fretty S.
35 Rob. Forth, arm.
36 Tho. Crofts, arm. . . Saxmundham.
O. three bulls 5 heads coupee S.
37 Will. Spring, mil. . . ut prius.
38 Tho. Eden, arm.
Arg. on a fess G. three garbs O. between two chevrons
Az. charged with escalops Arg.
39 Antho. Wingfield . . Letheringham.
Arg. a bend G. cotised S. three wings of the first.
40 Hen. Warner, arm.
41 Antho. Felton, arm. . Playford.
G. two lions passant Erm. crowned O.
42 Edw. Bacon, arm. . . ut prius.
43 Edwin Withipol . . . Christ Church in Ipswich.
Party per pale O. and G. three lions passant regardant,
arrned S. langued Arg. a bordure interchanged.
44 Tho. Stutvile, arm. . . Dallam.
Barruly, Arg. and G. a lion rampant S.
Nicol. Bacon, mil. . . ut prius.
JACO. REG.
1 Nicol. Bacon, mil. . . ut prius.
2 Edm. Bokemham, arm.
3 Tho. Playters, arm. . . Sotterley.
Bendy wavy of six Arg. and Az.
4 Antho. Penning, arm.
5 Joha. Wentworth, arm.
S. a chevron between three leopards 5 heads O.
6 Lionel Talmarsh, arm. ut prius.
7 Geo, le Hunt, mil.
8 Tho. Tilney, arm. . . ut prius.
9 Calthorp Parker, mil. . ut prius.
10 Martin Stutevil . . . ut prius.
11 [AMP.] Ro. Brook, mil.
12 Rob. Barker, mil.
Per fess embattled O. and Az. three martlets counter-
changed.
13 Tho. Clench, arm.
14 Lio. Talmarsh, mil. et bar. ut prius.
15 Edw. Lewkenor, mil.
Az. a chevron Arg.
16 Joh. Wentworth, mil. . ut prius.
1 7 Hen. North, mil.
Az. a lion passant O. between three flowers-de-luce Arg.
VOL. III. O
194 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
Anno Name. Place.
18 Will. Spring, mil. . . ut prius.
19 Will. Wetle, arm.
20 Rob. Brook, arm.
21 Nat. Bernardiston, mil. ut prius.
22 Galf. Pittman, arm.
CAROL. I.
1 Sam. Aylmer, arm. . . Cleydon.
Arg. a cross S. betwixt four Cornish choughs proper.
2 Joh. Prescot, mil.
S. a chevron betwixt three owls Arg.
3 Maur. Barrowe, arm.
S. two swords in saltire Arg. hilted betwixt four flowers-
de-luce O. within a border compone of the second and
Purpure.
4 Brampt. Gourden, arm. ut prius.
5 Hen. Hookenham, arm.
6 Johan. Acton, arm.
7 Rob. Crane, mil. . . Chyston.
Arg. a fess betwixt three cross croslets fitchee G.
8 Will. Some, mil.
G. a chevron betwixt three mallets O.
9 Edw. Bacon, mil. . . ut prius.
10 Joh. Barker, arm. . . ut prius.
1 1 Joh. Rouse, mil. . . . ut prius.
12 Phil. Parker, mil. . . ut prius.
13 Ed. Duke, arm. . . . Brampton.
Az. a chevron betwixt three sterns Arg. membered G.
14 Joh. Clench, arm.
15 Sim. Dewes, mil. . . Stow-Hall.
O. three quatrefoils G.
16 Will. Spring, arm. . . ut prius.
17 Will. Castleton, arm.
18 Maur. Barrowe, arm. . ut prius.
19
20 Joh. Cotton, arm.
21
22 Tho. Blosse, arm.
QUEEN ELIZABETH.
18. JOHN"; HIGH AM, Arm. I find this passage in the inge-
nious Michael lord Montaigne in France, in his " Essay of
Glory:"*
" I have no name which is sufficiently mine. Of two I have
the one common to all my race, yea and also to others. There
is a family at Paris, and another at Montpelier, called Mon-
* Lib. ii. cap. 16,
SHERIFFS. 195
taigne; another in Britany, and one in Zantoigne, surnamed
De la Montaigne. The removing of one only syllable may so
confound our web, as I shall hare a share in their glory, and
they perhaps a part of my shame. And my ancestors have
been heretofore surnamed HEIGHAM, or HIQUEM, a surname
which also belongs to a house well known in England."
Indeed the Highams (so named from a village in this county)*
were (for I suspect them extinct), a right ancient family ; and
Sir Clement Heigham (ancestor to this John our- sheriff), who
was a potent knight in his generation, lies buried under a
fair tomb in Thorning-church in Norfolk.
20. ROBERT JERMIN, Mil. He was a person of singular
piety, a bountiful benefactor to Emanuel College, and a man of
great command in this county. He was father to Sir Thomas
Jermin (privy councillor and vice- chamberlain to king Charles
the First) ; grandfather to Thomas and Henry Jermin, esquires ;
the younger of these, being lord chamberlain to our present
queen Mary, and sharing in her majesty's sufferings during her
long exile in France, was by king Charles the Second deservedly
advanced Baron, and Earl of St. Alban's.
33. NICHOLAS BACON, Mil. He was son to Sir Nicholas
and elder brother to Sir Francis Bacon, both lord chancellors of
England ; and afterward by king James, in the ninth of his
reign, on the 22d of May, created the first baronet of England.
36. THOMAS CROFTS, Arm. He was a man of remark in
his generation ; father to Sir John Crofts, grandfather to ....
Crofts,f who, for his fidelity to his sovereign during his suffer-
ing condition, and for several embassies, worthily performed to
the king of Poland and other princes, was created Baron Crofts
by king Charles the Second.
CHARLES I.
15. SIMONDS DEWES, Mil. This Sir Simonds was grand-
child unto Adrian Dewes, descended of the ancient stem of Des
Ewes, dynasts or lords of the Dition of Kessel in the Duchy of
Gelderland ; who came first thence, when that province was
wasted with civil war, in the beginning of king Henry the
Eighth.
He was bred in Cambridge, as appeared by his printed speech
(made in the Long Parliament), wherein he endeavoured to
prove it more ancient than Oxford. His genius addicted him
to the study of antiquity ; preferring rust before brightness, and
more conforming his mind to the garb of the former than mode
* Camden's Britannia (in English) in Suffolk.
t William lord Crofts of Saxham ; so created 18th May, 10 Car I. He was
twice married, but left no issue. ED.
o 2
196 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
of the modern times. He was studious in Roman coin, to dis-
criminate true ones from such as were cast and counterfeit. He
passed not for price to procure .a choice piece ; and was no less
careful in conserving, than curious in culling, many rare
records. He had plenty of precious medals, out of which a
methodical architect might contrive a fair fabric for the benefit
of posterity. His treasury afforded things as well new as old,
on the token that he much admired that the ordinances and
orders of the late Long Parliament did in bulk and number
exceed all the statutes made since the Conquest. He was
loving to learned men, to whom he desired to do all good of-
fices ; and died about the year of our Lord 1653.
THE FAREWELL.
To conclude our description of Suffolk, I wish that therein
grain of all kinds may be had at so reasonable rates, that rich
and poor may be contented therewith. But if a famine should
happen here, let the poor not distrust Divine Providence,
whereof their grandfathers had so admirable a testimony, 15. .;
when, in a general dearth all over England, plenty of pease did
grow on the sea-shore near Dunwich (never set or sown by
human industry) which, being gathered in full ripeness, much
abated the high prices in the markets, and preserved many hun-
dreds of hungry families from famishing.
WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK WHO HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE THE
TIME OF FULLER.
John BATTERLEY, divine and antiquary ; born at Bury 1647;
died 1708.
Sir Robert BEDiNGFiELD,lord Mayor of London in 1?07; born
at Halesworth.
William BLAIR, surgeon and author; born at Lavenham 1?66 ;
died 1822.
Edmund BOHUN, political and miscellaneous writer ; born at
Ringsfield ; living at the end of the 1 7th century.
Robert BLOOMFIELD, author of " The Farmers Boy/ 5 &c. ; born
at Honnington near Bury 1?66; died 1823.
William BOND, translator of Buchanan, and actor, who died on
the stage while acting in Zara 1735.
Peregrine BRANWHITE, ingenious poet and writer; born at
Lavenham 1745; died 1794.
William BURKITT, divine, commentator on the New Testa-
ment; born at Hitcham 1650; died 1703.
Edward CAPELL, commentator on Shakspeare ; born at Tros-
ton near Bury 1713; died 1781.
WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER. 197
George GRABBED divine and poet, author of "The Village/ 5
"The Borough/' &c.; born at Aldeburgh 1754 5 died 1832.
Rev. Sir John CULLUM, bart. divine and author of the " His-
tory of Hawsted ;" born at Bury 1733 ; died 1785.
Arthur DUCK, author of a volume of poems called "The
Thresher's Miscellany ;" born at Ipswich 1680.
John EACHARD, divine and wit ; born about 1636 ; died 1776.
Laurence EC HARD, divine and historian ; born at Barsham
1671; died 1730.
Dr, William ENFIELD, Unitarian divine, compiler of "The
Speaker/' and numerous other works; born at Sudbury
1741; died 1797.
Henry FALCONBERGE, divine and benefactor ; born at Beccles;
died 1713.
Giles FIRMIN, nonconformist divine, physician, and author of
"The Real Christian/' died 1697.
Thomas GAINSBOROUGH, landscape and portrait painter ; born
at Sudbury 1727; died 1788.
Edmund GILLINGWATER, historian of his native town ; born
at Lowestoff; died 1813.
Thomas HERNE, controversialist; died 1722.
Elizabeth INCHBALD, dramatic writer and actress ; born at Stan-
ningfield 1756; died 1821.
Joseph KEBLE, lawyer and author; born 1632; died 1710.
Richard KIDDER, learned bishop of Bath and Wells ; died 1703.
John KIRBY, author of the "Suffolk Traveller/' &c. ; died
1753.
John Joshua KIRBY, F.R.S., A.S., son of the preceding, author
of a well-known treatise on Perspective ; born at Parham
1716; died 1774.
William LAYTON, divine and antiquary ; born at Sproughton
1751; died 1831.
Sir Andrew LEAKE, naval commander; born at Lowestoff ;
died 1705.
Capel LOFFT, barrister, patron of Bloomfield; born at Bury
1751 ; died 1824.
George PRETYMAN, (Tomline), bishop of Winchester ; born
at Bury 1753 ; died 1827.
Clara REEVE, learned lady, author of " The Old English
Baron," &c.; born at Ipswich 1723 ; died 1807.
Humphrey REPTON, landscape gardener and essayest; born at
Bury 1752; died 1818.
William SANCROFT, archbishop of Canterbury, author of
various works, sent to the Tower by James II.; born at
Fressingfield 1616; died 1693.
Anthony SPARROW, bishop of Norwich, author ; born at Dep-
den; died 1685.
Edward TIIURLOW, lord high chancellor; born at Ashfield
1732; died 1806.
198 WORTHIES OF SUFFOLK.
Thomas THURLOW, bishop of Durham, and brother of the
chancellor; born at Ashfield ; died 1791.
Sarah TRIMMER, author of tracts, &c. for the moral and re-
ligious instruction of youth; born at Ipswich 1741 ; died
1810.
Admiral Samuel UVEDALE; born at Barking 1729; died 1809.
Dr. Samuel VINCE, professor of astronomy at Cambridge, author
and mathematician; born at Fressingfield ; died 1821.
William WOTTON, learned divine and author; born at Wren-
thaml666; died 1726.
Arthur YOUNG, agriculturist and author ; born at Bradfield
hall 1?41; died 1820.
** The county of Suffolk cannot as yet boast of a regular historian ; though
Kirby's "Suffolk Traveller," published in 1735 and 1764, may be considered
as the foundation for any future county history. Various publications, how-
ever, of a local nature have appeared at different times, which may greatly
contribute to the assistance of the future historian of the county ; as the histories
of Bury St. Edmund's, by E. GilHngwater (1804), by the Rev. W. Yates (1805),
and others; Histories of Hawsted, by the Rev. J. Cullum (1784 and 1813) ; of Fram-
lingham, by R. Hawes and R. Loder (1798); of Lowestoff, by E. Gillingwater
(1780) ; of Hengrave, by J. Gage ; and of Elmeswell and Campsey Ash (1790) ;
the Lowestoff Guide (1812) ; and the History of Ipswich (1830). ED.
SURREY.
SURREY hath Middlesex (divided by the Thames) on the north;
Kent on the east ; Sussex on the south ; Hants and Berk-shire
on the west. It may be allowed to be a square (besides its an-
gular expatiation in the south-west) of two-and-twenty miles ;
and is not improperly compared to a cinnamon tree, whose
bark is far better than the body thereof; for the skirts and
borders bounding this shire are rich and fruitful, whilst the ground
in the inward parts thereof is very hungry and barren, though, by
reason of the clear air and clean ways, full of many genteel habi-
tations.
NATURAL COMMODITIES.
The most and best of this kind in England (not to say Europe)
is digged up nigh Ryegate in this county. It is worth four-pence
a bushel at the pit, sixteen-pence at the wharf in London, three
shillings at Newbury, and westward twice as dear. Double the
use thereof in making cloth, to scour out stains, and to thicken
it, or (to use the tradesman's term) to bring it to proof. Though
the transporting thereof be by law forbidden, yet private profit
so prepondereth the public, that ships ballasted therewith are
sent over into Holland, where they have such magazines of this
earth, that they are ready (on their own rates) to furnish us
therewith, if there should be any occasion.
And now we are mentioning of earth, near Non-such is a vein
of potter's earth, much commended in its kind, of which cru-
cibles are made for the melting of gold, and many other ne-
cessary* utensils.
WALL-NUTS.
As in this county, and in Cash-Haulton especially, there be
excellent trouts : so are there plenty of the best wall-nuts in
the same place, as if nature had observed the rule of physic,
Post pisces nuces. Some difficulty there is in cracking
the name thereof; why wall-nuts, having no affinity with
the wall, whose substantial trees need to borrow nothing
thence for their support. Nor are they so called because
200 WORTHIES OF SURREY.
walled with shells, which is common to all other nuts. The
truth is, gual or wall in the old Dutch signifieth strange or
exotic (whence Welsh, that is foreigners) , these nuts being
no natives of England or Europe, and probably first fetched
from Persia, because called nux Persique in the French tongue.
Surely, some precious worth is in the kernels thereof (though
charged to be somewhat obstructive, and stopping of the sto-
mach), because provident nature hath wrapped them in so
many coverts ; a thick green one (falling off when ripe), a
hard yellowish and a bitter blackish one. As for the timber of
the wall-nut tree, it may be termed an English Shittim-wood
for the fineness, smoothness, and durableness thereof; whereof
the best tables, with stocks of guns, and other manufactures are
made.
BOX.
The best which England affords groweth about Dorking* in
this county, yet short in goodness of what is imported out of
Turkey. Though the smell and shade thereof be accounted
unwholesome ; not only pretty toys for children, but useful tools
for men, and especially mathematical instruments, are made
thereof. But it is generally used for combs, as also by such as
grave pictures and arms in wood, as better because harder than
pear-tree for that purpose. For mine own part, let me speak
it with thankfulness to two good lords and patrons, it hath not
cost me so much in wood and timber of all kinds, for the last
ten years, as for box for one twelvemonth.
MANUFACTURES.
GARDENING.
I mean not such which is only for pleasure (whereof Surrey
hath more than a share with other shires) to feast the sight and
smell with flowers and walks, whilst the rest of the body is
famished, but such as is for profit, which some seventy years
since was first brought into this county, before which time great
deficiency thereof in England.
For we fetched most of our cherries from Flanders, apples
from France ; and hardly had a mess of rath-ripe pease but from
Holland, which were dainties for ladies, they came so far, and
cost so dear. Since gardening hath crept out of Holland to
Sandwich in Kent, and thence into this county, where *though
they have given six pounds an acre and upward, they have made
their rent, lived comfortably, and set many people on work.
Oh, the incredible profit by digging of ground ! For though
it is confessed that the plough beats the spade out of distance
for speed (almost as much as the press beats the pen) ; yet
what the spade wants in the quantity of the ground it manureth,
it recompenseth with the plenty of the fruit it yieldeth ; that
* Boxhill, near Dorking, is still famous for its box-trees, which were originally
planted there by Thomas Howard earl of Arundel ED.
MANUFACTURES. 201
which is set multiplying a hundred-fold more than what is
sown.
It is incredible how many poor people in London live thereon, so
that in some seasons gardens feed more poor people than the field.
It may be hoped that, in process of time, aniseeds, cummin-
seeds, caraway-seeds (yea, rice itself), with other garden ware now
brought from beyond the seas, may hereafter grow in our land,
enough for its use, especially if some ingenious gentlemen
would encourage the industrious gardeners by letting ground on
reasonable rates unto them.
TAPESTRY.
Pass we from Gardening, a kind of tapestry in earth, to Tapes-
try, a kind of gardening in cloth. The making here rf was
either unknown or unused in England, till about the end of
the reign of king James, when he gave two thousand po inds to
Sir Francis Crane, to build therewith a house at Moreclark for
that purpose. Here they only imitated old patterns, until they
had procured one Francis Klein, a German, to be their de-
signer.
This Francis Klein was born at Rostock, but bred in the
court of the king of Denmark at Copenhagen. To improve his
skill he travelled into Italy, and lived at Venice, and became
first known unto Sir Henry Wootton, who was the English
lieger there. Indeed there is a stiff contest betwixt the Dutch
and Italians, which should exceed in this mystery ; and there-
fore Klein endeavoured to unite their perfections. After his
return to Denmark, he was invited thence into England by
prince Charles, a virtuoso, judicious in all liberal mechanical
arts, which proceeded on due proportion. And though Klein
chanced to come over in his absence (being then in Spain), yet
king James gave order for his entertainment, allowing him
liberal accommodations ; and sent him back to the king of
Denmark with a letter, which, for the form thereof, I conceive
not unworthy to be inserted, transcribing it with my own hand,
as followeth, out of a copy compared with the original :
" Jacobus, Dei gratia Magnee Britannise, Franciae, et Hibernise
Rex, Fidei Defensor, Serenissimo Principi ac Domino Domino
Christiano Quarto, eadem gratia Daniae, Norvegiae, Vandalo-
ruin, et Gothorum regi, duci Slesuici, Holsatise, Stormarias, et
Ditmarsise, comiti in Oldenburg et Delmenhorsh, fratri, com-
patri, consanguineo, et affini nostro charissimo, salutem et
felicitatem, serenissimus princeps frater, compater, consangui-
neus, et affinis charissimus.
" Cum Franciscus Klein, Pictor, qui literas nostras fert, in
animo habere indicasset (si Vestra modo Serenitate volente id
fieret) filio nostro principi Wallise operam suam locare, accepi-
202 WORTHIES OF SURREY.
mus benevol^ id a Vestra Serenitate fuisse concessum, data non
solum illi quamprimum videretur discedendi venia, verum etiam
sumptibus erogatis ad iter, quo nomine est quod Vestree Sereni-
tati gratias agamus. Et nos quidem certiores facti de illius in
Britanniam jam adventu, quanquam absente filio nostro, satis
illi interim de rebus omnibus prospeximus. Nunc vero nego-
tiorum causa in Daniam reversurus, tenetur ex pacto quampri-
mum id commode poterit ad nos revenire. Quod ut ei per
Vestram Serenitatem facere liceat peramanter rogamus. Vestra
interea omnia, fortunas, valetudinem, imperium Deo commen-
dantes Optimo Maximo.
ec Datum e Regia nostra Albaula, die Julii 8, anno 1623.
" Serenitatis Vestree frater amantissimus
" JACOBUS REX."
I perceive that princes, when writing to princes, subscribe
their names ; and generally superscribe them to subjects. But
the king of Denmark detained him all that summer (none wil-
lingly part with a jewel) to perfect a piece which he had begun
for him before. This ended, then over he comes, and settled
with his family in London, where he received a gratuity of an
hundred pounds per annum, well paid him, until the beginning
of our civil wars. And now fervet opus of tapestry at More-
clark, his designing: being the soul, as the working is the body,
of that mystery.
BUILDINGS.
There are two most beautiful palaces in this county, both
built by kings. First, Richmond, by king Henry the Seventh,
most pleasantly seated on the Thames ; a building much be-
holding to Mr. Speed's representing it in his map of this county.
Otherwise (being now plucked down) the form and fashion
thereof had for the future been forgotten.
None-such, the other, built by king Henry the Eighth,
whereof our English antiquary* hath given such large commen-
dations. Indeed, what Sebastianus Cerlius, most skilful in
building, spake of the Pantheon at Rome, may be applied to
this pile, that it is " ultimum exemplar consummates architec-
tural
But grant it a non-such for building (on which account this
and Windsor castle are only taken notice of in the description
of Sebastian Braune) ; yet, in point of clean and neat situation,
it hath some-such, not to say some above-such. Witness Wim-
bleton in this county, a daring structure, built by Sir Thomas
Cecil in eighty-eight, when the Spaniards invaded, and (blessed
be God !) were conquered by our nation.
* Camden, in the Description X>f Surrey.
EPSOM WATERS THE WONDERS. 203
MEDICINAL WATERS.
EBSHAM.*
They were found on this occasion some two-and-forty years
since (which falleth out to be 1618). One Henry Wicker, in a
dry summer and great want of water for cattle, discovered, in the
concave of a horse or neat's footing, some water standing. His
suspicion that it was the stale of some beast was quickly con-
futed by the clearness thereof. With his pad-staff he did dig a
square hole about it, and so departed.
Returning the next day, with some difficulty he recovered
the same place (as not sufficiently particularized to his memory
in so wide a common) ; and found the hole he had made, filled
and running over with most clear water. Yet cattle (though
tempted with thirst) would not drink thereof, as having a mine-
ral taste therein.
It is resolved that it runneth through some veins of alum,
and at first was only used outwardly for the healing of sores.
Indeed simple wounds have been soundly and suddenly cured
therewith, which is imputed to the abstersiveness of this water,
keeping a wound clean, till the balsam of nature doth recover it.
Since it hath been inwardly taken, and (if the inhabitants may
be believed) diseases have here met with their cure, though
they came from contrary causes. Their convenient distance
from London addeth to the reputation of these waters ; and no
wonder if citizens coming thither, from the worst of smokes
into the best of airs, find in themselves a perfective alteration.
THE WONDERS.
There is a river in this county, which, at a place called The
Swallow, sinketh into the earth, and surgeth again some two
miles off, nigh Letherhead ; so that it runneth (not in an entire
stream, but) as it can find and force its own passage the inter-
jacent distance under the earth. I listen not to the countiy
people telling it was experimented by a goose, which was put
in, and came out again with life (though without feathers) ; but
hearken seriously to those who judiciously impute the subsi-
dency of the earth in the interstice aforesaid to some underground
hollowness made by that water in the passage thereof. This
river is more properly termed Mole, than that in Spain is on
the like occasion called Anas, that is a duck or drake. For moles
(as our Surrey river) work under ground, whilst ducks (which
Anas doth not) dive under water ; so that the river Alpheus
may more properly be entitled Anas, if it be true, what is
reported thereof, that, springing in Peloponnesus, it runneth
under the sea, and riseth up again in Sicily.f
Nor may we forget a vault (wherein the finest sand I ever
* Now called Epsom ED. f Virgil, ^Eneid i. 3.
H
repor
unde
204 WORTHIES OF SURREY.
saw) nigh Ryegate, capable conveniently to receive five hundred
men ; which subterranean castle, in ancient time, was the recep-
tacle of some great person, having several rooms therein. If it
be merely natural, it doth curiously imitate art ; if purely arti-
ficial, it d'oth most lively simulate nature.
PROVERBS.
" The vale of Holms-dale
Never won, ne ever shall."]
This proverbial rhyme hath one part of history, the other of
prophecy therein ; and if, on examination, we find the first to
be true, we may believe the other the better.
Holms-dale lieth partly in this shire, and partly in Kent ;
and indeed hath been happy in this respect, that several battles
being fought therein and thereabouts, betwixt our Saxon kings
(the true owners of the land) and the Danes, the former proved
victorious. Thus was not Holms-dale won pro una et altera et
tertia vice.
But I hope I may humbly mind the men of Holms-dale,
that when king William the Conqueror had vanquished king
Harold, at Battle in Sussex, he marched with his army directly
to London, through the very middle and bowels of Holms-dale ;
and was it not won at that time ? However, if this vale hath
not been won hitherto, I wish and hope it never may be here-
after, by a foreign nation invading it.
PRINCES.
HENRY, eldest son of king Henry the Eighth and queen
Katharine dowager, was born at Richmond in this county, anno
Domini 1509, on the first of January.* As his parents were
right glad for this New-year's gift of Heaven's sending, so the
greater their grief when within two months he was taken away
again. The untimely death of this prince, as also of another
son by the same queen (which lived not to be christened), was
alleged by king Henry the Eighth, in the public court held in
Blackfriars, London, about his divorce, as a punishment of
God upon him, for begetting them on the body of his brother's
wife. This short-lived prince Henry was buried in Westmin-
ster the 23d of February.
HENRY of OATLANDS (so I have heard him called in his
cradle), fourth and youngest son of king Charles the First and
queen Mary, was born at Oatlands in this county, anno 1640.
This I thought fit to observe, both because I find St. James's
by some mistaken for the place of his birth, and because that
house wherein he was born is buried in effect ; I mean, taken
down to the ground. He was commonly called duke of Glou-
> * Speed's Chronicle, page 789.
PRINCES MARTYRS. 205
cester, by a court prolepsis (from the king manifesting his
intentions in due time to make him so) before any solemn cre-
ation. Greatness being his only guilt,, that he was the son of a
good king (which many men would wish, and no child could
help.)
The then present 'power, more of covetousness than kindness
(unwilling to maintain him either like or unlike the son of his
father) permitted him to depart the land, with scarce tolerable
accommodations, and the promise of a [never performed] pen-
sion for his future support. A passage I meet with in my
worthy friend, concerning this duke, deserveth to be written in
letters of gold :*
" In the year 1654, almost as soon as his two elder brethren
had removed themselves into Flanders, he found a strong prac-
tice in some of the queen's court to seduce him to the church of
Rome, whose temptations he resisted beyond his years, and
thereupon was sent for by them into Flanders."
He had a great appetite to learning, and a quick digestion,
able to take as much as his tutors could teach him. He fluently
could speak many understood more modern tongues. He was
able to express himself in matters of importance presently, pro-
perly, solidly, to the admiration of such who trebled his age.
Judicious his curiosity to inquire into navigation, and other
mathematical mysteries. His courtesy set a lustre on all, and
commanded men's affections to love him.
His life may be said to have been all in the night of affliction,
rising by his birth a little before the setting of his father's, and
setting by his death a little after the rising of his brother's
peaceable reign. It seems Providence, to prevent excess,
thought fit to temper the general mirth of England with some
mourning. With his namesake prince Henry he completed
not twenty years ; and what was said of the uncle was as true
of the nephew : (i Fatuos a morte defendit ipsa insulsitas ; si
cui plus cseteris aliquantulum salis insit (quod miremini) statim
putrescit."f
He deceased at Whitehall on Thursday the 13th of Septem-
ber 1660; and was buried (though privately) solemnly, "veris
et spirantibus lacrymis," in the chapel of king Henry the Se-
venth.
MARTYRS.
I meet with few (if an 
