iiii •^2.4-. 2. Columbia ©nibersitp in tfjc Citp of j^etD gorfe LIBRARY Jl \k "V KNcnu'Ki' /f y J .-! M /■: s Frri'i.t.i: < /,- •/ I'nMisliM nei-'A leon. 6y ftrts Ir Oirm. J'hmouih . DAJVMOmi ORIENT ALES ILLUSTRES: OR, THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. A WORK, WHEREIN THE LIVES AND FORTUNES OF THE MOST FAMOUS DIVINES, STATESMEN, SWORDSMEN, PHYSICIANS WRITERS, AND OTHER EMINENT PERSONS, il?attt)e0 of tDat inoft noble ^xmntt, FROM BEFORE THE NORMAN CONQUEST, DOWN TO THE PRESENT AGE, ARE MEMORIZED, IN AN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, OUT OF THE MOST APPROVED AUTHORS, BOTH IN PRINT AND MANUSCRIPT. IN WHICH AN ACCOUNT IS GIVEN, NOT ONLY OF DIVERS VERY DESERVING PERSONS (MANY OF WHICH WERE NEVER HITHERTO MADE PUBLICK) BUT OF SEVERAL ANTIENT AND NOBL^ FAMiLes ^HEIR SEATS AND HABITATIONS. THE DISTANCE THEY BEAR AS TO THE NEXT GREAT TOWNS THEIR COAXS OP ARMS FAIKLY CUT. WITH OTHER THINGS, NO LESS PROFITABLE, THAN PLEASANT AND DElTghtfT BY JOHN PRINCE, nCAR OF BERRY.POMEROY, IN THE SAME COUNTY. .EMO UNeilAM, .E VAH„S HKBUS .OENS, TAM COMMODB OMNIA EXPUCARE POTtMT, O.U. SEVBU, Pet. Bellon. Observat. Lie. hi. p. 204. a Brtu eiiition, Moitff Bom, LONDON: PRINTED FOR REES AND CURTIS, PLYMOUTH^ EDWARD UPHAM, EXETER, AND LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORMe! LONDON. 1810. 3. M'CREERY, Printer, Black-Horse-Court, llcet-SUect, London. vX^' TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HUGH EARL FORTESCUE. ERRATA. In the Tcxt, Having reference to the Notes : — PiigellO,li]ie 1 dele (Note.) ia« — -I'J after Cholditch hisert (Note.) v07 — 32 dele (Note 3.) 666 — t4 after (Note.) insert J. In tub Notes. Page . 34, — 1 for A. Rees read Apreece. 144 — 7 for Buriiington read Burrington. 284 — T omit the full stop after arms. 337 — for Drvve read Drew, passim, 415 — 26 for Giffard read Gifford. 443 — 5!0 for inserted read inverted. 701 — 1 for confirmed read conferred. 716 — 5 dele little. • 40 for sood read stood. 734 — 59 for Kekwick read Kekvvicli. 747 — 7 for John Yonge read John Vounge. 769 — 36 for 17— read 1713. In the Catalogue of Arms. Page 780, q/"i!iT BROWNE insert Gules a chevron between two chevronets or, and three escalops argent. 782, line 31, for languid read langued. — 35 for tripant read trippant. VISCOUNT EBRINGTON, IILL, LORD-LIEUTENANT AND GUSTOS ROTULORUM COUNTY OF DEVON. [S EDITION OF HIES OF DEVON, \MONG WHOM IM A DISTINGUISHED PLACE, CTFULLY INSCRIBED, Y HIS LORDSHIP'S OBEDIENT SERVANTS, THE EDITORS. 280011 a J. m'creery, Printer, Black-Hotse-Ccurt, Hcet-SUect, London. vX^' TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HUGH EARL FORTESCUE, VISCOUNT EBRINGTON, AND BARON FORTESCUE OF CASTLE HILL, LORD- LIEUTENANT AND CUSTOS ROTULORUM OF THE COUNTY OF DEVON, THIS EDITION OF THE WORTHIES OF DEVON, AMONG WHOM HIS ANCESTORS CLAIM A DISTINGUISHED PLACE, IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY HIS LORDSHIP'S OBEDIENT SERVANTS, THE EDITORS. 280011 PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. More than a century has elapsed since the publication of the work, of which a new edition is now presented to the public. The estimation in which it has always been held, and the high price at which it has for snn\f time past been sold, led the Editors to presume that its republication would not be unacceptable ; and the liberal patronage afforded to their proposals has fully evinced the justness of this presump- tion. Of the merits and defects of the original work, it is unnecessary at this time to ex- patiate. Defects, as a biographical, and imperfections, as a genealogical work, it un- doubtedly possesses ; but the preponderance of its merits has been established by the attesting hand of time. Of the objections, to which it was liable, the greater part its author foresaw, and in his preface endeavoured, and not unsuccessfully, to obviate. That which continues to be most frequently urged, is the omission of any notice of many of the most respectable families in the county. If the author's design had been to exhibit a genealogical history of the principal families of Devonshire, the objection would doubtless be well founded; but his intention avowedly was, to record the actions and productions of those individuals in families who had particularly distinguished themselves in their respective stations, either in active or contemplative life. His fondness for genealogical details often led him, however, to expatiate more fully on the family from which his hero sprung, than on the deeds of the hero himself. Hence it happened that his work assumed so much the character of a genealogical work, as to become chiefly considered in that light; and from this circumstance probably it has in process of time attained its chief estimation. With respect to the present edition, few observations are necessary. It was the original design of the Editors to reprint the work without any alteration or addition. On the eve of issuing their proposals to this effect, it was suggested that considerable additional interest might be imparted, by subjoining to it notes of correction, expla- nation, and continuation. Adopting this suggestion, the Editors presumed to add to their proposals a request to be favoured with any information conducive to the attain- ment of this object. Their solicitation of assistance was chiefly directed to the conti- nuation of the genealogies, and in their expectation of this assistance, they have not ' been viii PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. been disappointed. They have to acknowledge the readiness with which several gen- tlemen have communicated accounts of their own families, as well as of others, con- cerning whom they were in possession of correct knowledge. From these sources, as well as from their own researches, they have endeavoured to derive information respect- ing all the different families mentioned in the work. Unfortunately, their endeavours have not in all instances been equally successful. Of families extinct in the male line they have often been unable to discover the present representatives, and consequently to solicit that aid, which, if asked, might have been readily granted. Where no such ob- stacle occurred, they may have failed to receive assistance, not from disinclination, but from inability. Many causes have conspired to render the preservation of family records less attended to in later times than at former periods. The discontinuance of the visitations of the college of arms, the last of which in this county took place iu the year 1620, is not among the least considerable. If in the genealogical notes any disproportion is observed in regard to different fami- lies, it may justly be attributed to the different degrees of scarcity or abundance with which information was imparted or discovered. Of the families, who enjoyed or have attained hereditary honors, the additional account has in general been more briefly ex- pressed, because the descents of those families are contained in books of easy access. That in the continuation of the histories of families, errors have not been commit- ted, the Editors are far from flattering themselves with the expectation, and, as accu- racy in points of this nature is particularly desirable in the additions to a work of esta- blished credit, they feel it incumbent on them to embrace every means of correction, which may be placed within their power. They will, therefore, most thankfully re- ceive any communications tending to so desirable an object, and the result of such communications they will publish at a future time, and place at the service of the sub- scribers. With equal thanks, they will receive a supply of information in the instan- ces of omission to which they have alluded, without, however, absolutely pledging them- selves to a precisely similar communication of the intelligence thus acquired, of the extent of which no accurate judgment can be previou.sly formed. In the original text, no variations have been made, with the exception of the cor- rection of avowed typographical errors; but in the disposition of the work, some changes have been made. The original alphabetical arrangement, as it regards the succession of letters, has not been altered ; but the confusion arising from the total disregard of alphabetical succession in the names comprehended under the same initial letter, has been completely removed ; a confusion more sensibly felt by the want of an index, and even of a table of contents. By the same means has been avoided the se- paration of the accounts of individuals of the same family, which rendered reference to the old edition often perplexing. The arms have been detached from the situation Avhich they occupied at the heads of each article, and placed together at the end of the volume. The numerous errors in the engravings have been corrected. The blazonry of the arms, and of the few crests mentioned in the original, is attached to the plates; but in this no alteration has been PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. ix been made, unless in the case of palpable mistakes, that the authority of the' work might in doubtful cases remain unabated. To this has been subjoined a list of armorial bearings incidentally mentioned in the course of the book. To the whole has been superadded an entirely new and copious index. The participation of the genealogical with the biographical character of this work, has been already noticed, and as far as we may be allowed to deduce an inference from the liberal and extensive patronage of its republica- tion, is not deemed an objection. To those, however, and such there are, to whom the former part of this character is objectionable, the Editors would submit their own sentiments in the familiar words of an author, who disdained not occasionally to em- ploy in genealogical essays the pen which was engaged in erecting one of the noblest monuments of historical composition. " A lively desire (says Mr. Gibbon) of knowing and recording our ancestors so gene- rally prevails, that it must depend on the influence of some common principle in the minds of men. We seem to have lived in the persons of our forefathers; it is the labour and reward of vanity to extend the term of this ideal longevity. Our imagina- tion is always active to enlarge the narrow circle in which nature has confined us. Fifty or an hundred years may be allotted to an individual, but we step forward beyond death with such hopes as religion and philosophy will suggest; and we fill up the silent vacancy that precedes our birth, by associating ourselves to the author of our existence. Our calmer judgment will rather tend to moderate than to suppress the pride of an ancient and worthy race. The satirist may laugh, the philosopher may preach ; but reason herself will respect the prejudice and habits, which have been consecrated by the experience of mankind. Whenever the distinction of birth is allowed to form a superior order in the state, education and example should always, and will often, pro- duce among them a dignity of sentiment, and propriety of conduct, which is guarded from dishonour by their own and the public esteem. If we read of some illustrious line so ancient that it has no beginning, so worthy that it ought to have no end, we sympathize in its various fortunes ; nor can we blame the generous enthusiasm, or even the harmless vanity, of those who are allied to the honour of its name. For my own part, could I draw my pedigree from a general, a statesman, or a celebrated author, I should study their lives with the diligence of filial love. In the investigation of past events our curiosity is stimulated by the immediate or indirect reference to ourselves; but in the estimate of honour we should learn to value the gifts of nature above those of fortune; to esteem in our ancestors, the qualities that best promote the interests of society; and to pronounce the descendant of a King less truly noble than the offspring of a man of genius, whose writings will instruct and delight the latest posterity. The family of Confucius is, in my opinion, the most illustrious in the world. After a pain- ful ascent of eight or ten centuries, our barons and princes of Europe are lost in the darkness of the middle ages; but, in the vast equality of the empire of China, the posterity of Confucius have maintained, above two thousand two hundred years, their peaceful honours of perpetual succession. The chief of the family is still revered by the sovereign of the people, as the lively image of the wisest of mankind. The nobility b of X PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. of the Spencers has been illustrated and enriched by the trophies of Malborough , but I exhort them to consider the Fairy Queen as the most precious jewel in their coronet. "I have exposed my natural feelings as I shall always do, without scruple or reserve. That these sentiments are just, or at least natural, I am inchned to believe, since I do not feel myself interested in the cause; for I can derive from my ancestors neither glory nor shame," Gibbon's Memohs by Lord Sheffield. Of the author of this work, the following particulars are all that the Editors have been able to collect, notwithstanding the most diligent search. John Prince, author of the Worthies of Devon, was born in the year 1643 at Newnham Abbey, in the parish of Axminster. He was the son of Bernard Prince; and his mother, whose name was Mary, was allied to the ancient family of the Crockers of Lynham, in the county of Devon. In 1660, when only seventeen years of age, he was admitted a student of Brazen Nose College, Oxford; and in 1664 took his degree of bachelor of arts, and entered into holy orders. He appears to have entered upon the active duties of his profession at Bideford, as curate to Mr. Arthur Gifford, at whose decease he removed to Exeter, and was chosen minister of St. Martin's church. About that time he obtained the degree of master of arts from the university of Cambridge, having become a member of Caius College. From Exeter he removed to the vicarage of Totnes, which he held about six years; and in 1681 he was preferred by Sir Edward Seymour to the vicarage of Berry-Pomeroy, which he held unto the time of his death in 1 723, a period of forty-two years. He appears to have been a popular preacher, and a very zealous defender of the principles of the Church of England. Besides the Worthies of Devon, of which the original edition was published in 1701, he was the author of the following tracts, and of some controversial treatises, that were never published. (1) A Sermon preached at the Cathedral in Exeter, at the Visitation of the Bishop in 1674: (2) Seasonable Advice to Sober Christians, preached at Totnes 11th September 1687: (3) The best Refuge in theAVorst of Times, Sermons preached at Berry-Pomeroy on Whit-Sunday, and Trinit3'-Sunday, when King James the second's declaration for toleration was re- quired to be published in parish churches : (4) A Defence of the Exeter Bill for uniting the Parishes, and settling a Maintenance upon their Ministers: (5) A Letter to a young Divine, containing some brief Directions for composing and delivering of Ser- mons. ALPHABETICAL ALPHABETICAL LIST LIVES IN THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Page ACKLAND, Sir John, k'night 1 ACKLAND, Baldwin, B.D 7 ADAMS, William 9 ALPHRED, Bishop of Crediton u ASH, SIMON 15 ASHLY, orASTLEY, Herbert, Dean of Nonvich 18 ATWELL, Hugh, M.D 19 AUDLEY, James, Lord 22 BABINGTON, Gervais, Lord Bishop of Wor- cester 26 BALDWIN, Archbishop of Canterbury .... 29 BALL, Sir Peter, Knight 33 BAMPFEILD, Sir Copleston, Bart 35 DE BAMPTON, John, D.D 40 BARKHAM,John, D.D 42 BARRY, Robert 46 BASKERVILE, Sir Simon, Knight 49 BASSET, Colonel Arthur 51 BATH, Sir Henry, Knight, Justice of King's Bench 55 BAWCEYN, Sir Stephen, Knight 59 BEAUMONT, Lord Richard Viscount Main . . 6l BERRY, Sir John, Knight 68 BIDGOOD,John, M.D 74 BLONDY, Richard, Lord Bishop of Exeter . , 78 BLUET, Colonel Francis 84 BLUNDELL, Peter 89 BODLEY, Sir Thomas 92 BODLEY, Lawrence, D.D 101 BODLEY, Sir Josias, Knight 103 BOGAN, Zachary, M.A 106 BON VILL, Lord William 110 BRACTOX, Henry Lord, Chief Justice .... 114 BRENTINGHAM, Thomas Lord, Bishop of Exeter 118 BREWER, Lord William 120 BREWER, William, Lord Bishop of Exeter . . 125 BRIAN, Lord Guy 130 BRIDGEMAN, John, Lord Bishop of Chester . 133 BRITTE, Walter 135 BRONSCOMBE, Waller, Lord Bishop of Exeter 137 BROWNE, William 140 BUDEOKSHED, Robert, Esquire 143 BURCHARD, Bishop of Wurtzburgh 145 BURGOIN, William, Esquire 148 BURLEGH, Cuptainjohn 150 BURY, Jolui, Canon of Exeter 152 CARDMAKER, alias Taylor, John ] 55 C ARE W, Sir John, Knight 158 CAREW, Thomas, Esquire 162 CAREW, Cieorge, Baron of Clopton 168 CARPENTER,^Natl,uuad,B.D 173 GARY, Sir John, Knight 176 GARY, John, Lord Bishop of Exeter 180 GARY, Sir George, Knight 182 Page GARY, George, D.D 187 CHAMPERNON.Sir Arthur, Knight 192 CHARD, Thomas, D.D 195 GHARDON, or CHARLDON, John, Lord Bishop of Down and Conor 200 GHAUNTOR, The, John, Lord Bishop of Exeter 202 CHICHESTER, Robert, Lord Bishop of Exeter 204 CHICHESTER, Sir Arthur, Knight 207 CHILCOT, Robert 213 CHILDE, 214 CHUDLEGH, Sir George, Baronet 216 CISTERTIAN, The, Roger 219 CLIFFORD, Lord Thomas, Baron ol Chudlegh 221 COCKE, Captain 225 COFFIN, Sir William, Knight 227 CONANT, John, D.D 230 COPLESTON, John, Esquire 235 COTTON, Edward, D.D 239 COURTENAY, William, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury 243 COURTENAY, Sir Peter, Knight 252 COURTENAY,Richard,LordBishopof Norwich 25fl COURTENAY, Peter, Lord Bishop of Winchester 258 COURTENAY, Lord Edward, Earl of Devon . 261 COWELL, John, Doctor 264 DE CREDITON, Frederick, Bishop of Utrecht . 267 CROCKER, Sir John, Knight 270 CRUWYS, Sir Robert, Knight 274 CUTCLIFFE, John 278 DAVIE, Edmund, M.D 281 DA VIES, Captain John 285 DAVILS, Captain Henry 287 DENNIS, Sir Thomas 289 DEVON, Richard 292 DEVONIUS, alias de Forda, Johannes, Chaplain to King John ' 295 DINHAM, Lord John 298 DODDERIDGE, Sir John, Knight 301 DOWNE, John, B.D 307 DRAKE, Sir Francis, Knight 315 DRAKE, Sir Bernard, Knight 328 DRAKE, Robert 332 DREW, Edward, Serjeant at Law 334 DUCK, Nicholas 338 EADULPH, Bishop of Devon 342 EDGECOMBE, Sir Richard, Knight 344 EDMONDS, Sir Thomas, Knight 351 EXETER, Walter 354 EXETER, William, D.D 356 FISHACRE, Richard 358 FITZ, John, Bencher of Lincoln's-Inn . . . . 36l FITZRALPH, Saint Richard, Archbishop of Ar- magh 364 FL,\Y, Thomas, Alderman of the City of Exeter 368 FLOIER, William, Esquire 371 h'2 t CONTENTS. Page FOLIOT, Gilbert, Lord Bishop of London ... 375 FORD, Sir Henry, Knight 379 FORTESCUE, Sir John, Knight 383 FULFORD, Sir William, Knight 3S'2 GALE, Theophilus 396 GANDV,John, D.D 398 GARLAND, John -100 GATES, Sir Thomas, Knight 403 GEE, John 406 GERVAIS, Walter 408 GIFFARD, Colonel John 411 GILBERT, Sir Humphry, Knight 4l6 GILES, Sir Edward, Knight 421 GLANVIL, Sir John 424 CLANVIL, Sir John, Knight 427 GLANVIL, Joseph 431 GOULD, James, Merchant 436 GREENWAY,John 438 GRENVIL, Sir Theobald, Knight 440 HAKEWIL, William, Esquire 449 HALSE, John, Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield 455 HANKFORD, Sir William, K.B 458 HARDING, Thomas, D.D 46'3 HARRIS, John, Serjeant at Law 468 HAWKINS, Sir John, Knight 472 HAWLEY,John 477 HAYDON, John, Bencher of Lincoln's-Inn . . . 480 HEALE, Sir John, Serjeant at Law 484 HERLE, Sir William, Knight 491 HILL, Sir John, Knight 494 HODY, Sir John, Knight 498 HOLLAND, Lord John, Duke of Exeter .... 500 HOOKER, alias Vowel, John 505 HOOKER, Richard, Master of the Temple . . . 507 HOPKINS, Ezekiel, Lord Bishop of Derry . . . 515 HUDDESFEILD, Sir William, Knight .... 522 ISC ANUS, Bartholomew, Lot d Bisiiop of Exeter 524 JEWEL, John, Lord Bishop of Salisbury .... 528 KARSWILL, Sir William, Knight 544 KEBIE, sirnamed Corinius 546 KEMPTHORN, Sir John, Knight 549 KIRKHAM, Sir John, Knight 554 LANGTON, Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury 557 LEOFRICUS, Lord Chancellour of England . . 56l LETHBRIDGE, Christopher 564 LIVINGUS, Bishop of Devon . 506 Page LYDE, George 569 MARTIN, William, RecorderoftheCityofExon 574 MAYNE, Jasper, D.D. Archdeacon of Chichester 580 MOLLEjJohn 584 MONK, George, Duke of Albemarle 586 MOREMAN, John, D.D. Dean of Exeter .... 600 MORICE, Sir William, Knight 603 MORWEN, or Moorin, John, B.D 607 NEWTE, Richard, Rector of Tiverton 609 ORGAR, Duke of Devonshire 615 OXENHAM, John, Captain 621 PERYAM, Sir William, Knight 625 PETRE, Sir William, Knight 629 POLE, Sir William, Knight 636 POLLARD, Sir Lewis, Knight 640 POMERAI, Sir Henry, Lord of Biry 645 PRIDEAUX, Sir Edmond, Baronet 650 PRIDEAUX, John, D.D. Lord Bishop of Wor- cester 654 RALEGH, William, Lord Bishop of Winchester 663 RALEGH, Sir Walter 666 RAINOLDS, John, D.D 684 REYNELL, Richard, Esquire 692 RIDGEWAY, Sir Thomas, Knight and Baronet 698 RISDON, Thomas, Bencher of the Inner Temple 702 ROLLE, Dennis, Esquire 706 ROW, John, Serjeant at Law 710 SLANNING, Sir Nicholas, Knight 713 SOUTHCOT, John, Justice of King's Bench . 717 STANBERRY, or STAMBERY, Bishop of Here- ford 719 STAPLEDON, Walter, Lord Bishop of Exeter 722 STOWFORD, Sir John, Lord Chief Baron of Exchequer 727 STRODE, William, D.D 730 TOOKER, alias Tucker, William, D.D. ... 735 TOZAR, Henry, B.D 737 TREMAIN, Thomas, Esquire 739 UPTON, Nicholas, L.C.D 743 WADHAM,SirJohn, Knight 748 WESTCOT, John 753 WHYDDON, Sir John, Knight, Justice of King's Bench 759 ST. WINIFRED, Archbishop of Ments .... 762 WOLLOCOMBE, Robert 767 YARD, Richard 770 YOO, oral YEO,Willism ,.......,. 773 SUBSCRIBERS. ( xiii ) SUBSCRIBERS, AcLAND, Sir Thomas Dyke, Bart, Kellerton, roi/al paper Archer, Addis, Esq. Leigham Adams, Mrs. Mary, Tavistock Amyatt, James, Esq. Sidmouth Anthony, Mr. Yealmpton Bedford, His Grace the Duke of, royal paper Bute, The Most Noble the Marquis of, royal paper Boringdon, Right Hon. Lord, Saltram, royal paper Bastard, John PoUexfen, Esq. M. P. Kitley, royal paper Bewes, Thomas, Esq. Plymouth, royal paper Bidlake, Rev. John, D.D. Plymouth Bluett, Peter, Esq. Holcombe Court, royal paper Barham, John Foster, Esq. Exeter Barnstaple Book Society Bampfylde, George, Esq. Poltimore Birdwood, Rev. C. Plymouth, royal paper Bulteel, Thomas Hillersdou, Esq. Belle Vue royal paper ' Britton, John, Esq. F.S.A. London Barker, Rev. VV. Silverton Baker, Charles, Esq. Nowers, Wellington Baker, N. Esq. Newton, roi/al paper Burke, Capt. South Devon Militia Baring, John, Esq. Mount Radford, Exeter Bowden, Mr. Bridgmaii, Doctor, Plymouth Barbor, George, Esq. Fremington Bremridge, Philip, Esq. Barnstaple Bowen, George, Esq. Capt. Royal Navy, royal paper Brown, Mrs. Tavistock ^ t f Barrett, Mr. Bath, tico copies, one royal Bowden, Henry, Esq. Bradninch Bnckdale, John, Esq. Woodleigh Baskerville, , Esq, Plymouth Bassett, Mr. Exeter Bagster, Mr. S. Bookseller, six copies, three royal Bulteel, John, Esq. Fleet, royal paper Brooking, Capt. Royal Navy, Hugh Meavy Barry, Mr. Bartholomew, Bristol, three copies Batt, Rev. William, Liskeard Blewett, Rev. B. Church-Stanton, Devon Beadon, R. Esq. Taunton Bone, Robert, Esq. Plymouth Dock Barton, John Cutts, Esq. Captain Royal Navy Baron, W. Esq. Launceston, royal paptr Blundell, Philip, Esq. Tiverton, royal paper Bellamy, George, M.D. Plymouth Bulgin, Mr. W. Bristol, royal paper Browne, Mr. Bristol, tteo copies, one royal Bedford, Rev. R. Bristol Bartlett, N. Adam, Rev. Ludbrooke, :Modbury Bentham, Mrs. Shanklin, Lsle of Wight Beauchamp, Rev. B. Tiverton Bradford, Mr. W. Exeter Barton, Mr. Jacobstow Back, Rev. Edward, B. D. Exeter Budd, John, Esq. Welklv House, Barnstaple Bussell, Mr. Exeter Bally, Mr. Bath Bryan, Rev. Guy, Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, royal paper Broadley, John, Esq. Hull, royal paper CouRTENAY, Right Hon. Lord Viscount, royal paper Clifford, The Right Hon. Lord, Ugbrook, royal paper Carew, Sir Henry, Bart. Haccombe Capell, Hon. J. F. roi/al paper Gary, George, Esq. Tor Abbey, royal paper Cooper, J. H. Col. of the 2d Regt, Somerset Militia Crouch, Rev. Isaac, St. Edmumd Hall, Oxford Cole, Thomas, Esq. Bristol XIV SUBSCRIBERS. Cowan, Rev. J. C. Kenton Cornish, Thomas, Esq. Cholwell House Calmady, Cliailes, Esq. Langdon Hall, royal paper Coryndon, George, Esq. Plymouth Clarke, Rev. E. St. Dominick Clarke, Richard Hall, Esq. Bridwell Coates, Thomas, Esq. Plymouth, royal paper Cleather, Thomas, Esq. Plymouth Curtis, James, Esq. Creswell, John, Esq. New Court Coles, John, Esq. Stonehouse, royal paper Carpenter, John Philip, Esq. Mount Tavy, royal paper Carlisle, Nicholas, Esq. Secretary and F.S. A. royal paper Chichester, Charles, Esq. Hall Chalmers, Alexander, Esq. F.S. A. London Champemowne, Arthur, Esq. Darlington House, royal paper Coleman, B. F.Esq. Holwell, Somerset, royal paper Chapman, Col. B. Dawlish Commins, Mr. Tavistock Cornish, Robert, Esq. Exeter Carter, Samuel, Tavistock Cock, Wilham, Esq. Carswell, Mr. CarringtoD, Rev. R. Ide Courtenay, William, Esq. Walreddon-Hoiise Castle, Thomas, Esq. Bristol Chichester, C. Esq. Calverleigh Cosserat, James, Esq. Tor-Quay Cross, Francis, Esq. Crediton, royal paper Coleridge, James, Esq. Ottery Carpenter, Charles, Esq. Moditontor, Cornwall, royal paper Crutterder, E. H. Esq. Clarke, Mr. William, New Bond Street, four co- pies, tzco riiyal Cadell and Davies, Messrs. royal paper Collett, Richard, Esq. Turnham Green, royal paper Carey, Edward, Esq. Follatou, Totnes, royal paper Crose, John, F.A.S. Hull DeDunstanv ILL E,RightHon. Lord, rqya^pope/- Duntze, Sir John, Bart, royal paper Davie, Lady, Greedy, royal paper Dent, John, Esq. M.P. royal paper Daniel, M.D. Exeter Drake, Francis, Esq. Wells, royal paper Drake, George, Esq. Ipplepen Drake, Henry, Esq. Barnstaple Drake, Zachary Hammett, Esq. Pilton, near Barn- staple Davies, Bhys, Esq. Swansea, royal paper Dealtry, Mrs. Lofthouse Hall, Yorkshire, royal paper Davy, Mr. Robert, Wear, near Topsham Down, Mr. James, Plymouth Dock Dansey, Frederick, Esq. Plymouth Dock Dando, Mr. Bristol Dawe, Mr. Exeter Denner, Mr. George, Kingsbridge D'Almaine, Mr. London Drew, Samuel, Esq. royal paper Dibdin, Rev. T. F. Kensington, royal paper Dare, J.M.Grafton, Esq. Cranbrook House, Ilford Davie, Humphrey, Esq. Creedy, royal paper Darby, , Quarter Master, 1st Foot Guards Eliot, Right Hon. Lord, royal paper Elford, Sir William, Bart. Bickham Elford, Jonathan, Esq. Plymouth Dock, royal paper Elford, Colonel, Upper Clapton Eastlake, George, Esq. Plymouth Elphinstone, Capt. Thomas, Royal Navy, royal paper Exeter Book Society Eastlake, George, jun. Esq. Edgcombe, Arthur, Esq. North Buckland Edgcombe, Edward, Esq. Tavistock Ellecombe, H. M. Esq. Eales, Thomas, Esq. Barncot, royal paper Eales, Richard, Esq. Exeter, royal paper Edgcombe, Pearce, Esq. Chatham Evans, Mr. Pall Mall, three copies, one royal FoRTEScuE, The Right Hon. Earl, royal paper Fortescue, John Inglett, Esq. Buckland Filleigh Fortescue, William, Esq. Lestwithiei Fortescue, Edmund, Esq. Fallopit Fortescue, Rev. George, St. Melion, Cornwall Fellowes, Hon. Newton, M.P. Eggesford Froud, Rev. R. H. Dartington Fuge, Robert, Esq. Elford, royal paper Fuge, Robert, jun. Esq. royal paper Fulford, Baldwin, Esq. Great Fulford Fox, Francis, Esq. Plymouth F'ox, Robert, William, Esq. Falmouth Fox, George, Esq. Grove Hill, Falmouth Foote, John Pierson, Esq. Harewood Fazakerley, J. N. Esq. royal paper Fowell, Rev. John Digby, Black-Hall Fuge, Samuel, Esq. Fitz-Gerald, Gerald, Esq. Mount-Gerald, Ireland Folke, Capt. Tiverton Follett, Abraham, Esq. Sidmouth Farwell, Licut.-Col. Totnes, royal paper Fulford, William, Esq. London, royal paper Flood, C. Esq. Honitoi), royal paper Fisher, Mr. Totnes Follett, A. Esq. Mark Lane Frost, Mr. Charle.'s, Bristol Foulkes, Mrs. Vcnbridge Foulkes, J. D. l*]sq. Medland Fold, Mr. AVilliam, Manchester, tiCQ copies, one royal SUBSCRIBERS. XV GLOUCESTER, His RoyalHighness The Duke of, rotjal paper Grenville, Right Hon. 'Lordt, royal paper Grenville, Right Hon. Thomas, royal paper Craves, The Right Hon. Lord, Bishops Court Graves, Admiral, Hem^ury Fort, royal paper Graham, Sir James, Bart. M.P. royal paper Graham, James, Esq. No. 1, Portland Place Gill, John, Esq. Tavistock, royal paper Gilbert, Rev. Edmund, Bodmin Granger, Edmund, Esq. Exeter Gilbert, Walter Raleigh, Esq. Bodmin Gandy, Henry, Esq. Gregg, Mr. John Gilbert, Charles, Esq. East-Bourne, Sussex Godwin, Mr. H. Bath, three copies, txco royal Gibbons, Mr. Bath Gould, John, Esq. Plymouth, royal paper Giftard, John, Esq. Accountant-General of tlie Irish Customs, royal paper Giffard, Harding, Esq. Barrister at Law, Dublin, royal paper Giffard, Stanley Lees, Esq. Middle Temple Glanville, Francis, Esq. Catchfrench, royal paper Gregory, Rev. George, Dunsford Gilbert, Mr. C. S. Plymouth Dock Graves, John, Esq. Penrice House, St. Austle Gutch, Mr. Bristol, three copies, one royal Goodden, Robert, Esq. Compton-House, Dorset Gilchrist, Octavius, Esq. Gwyu, John Francis, Esq. Ford-Abbey, royal paper Gibbs, Sir Vicary, Knight, Attorney-General, royal paper Grenfield, Rev. Thomas, Bristol Gilbert, Rev. J. P. Menhcniot Gale, Mr. John, Salisbury Square, London Hardwicke, Right Hon. Tlie Earl of, K.G. F.R. & A.S. royal paper Hoare, Sir Richard Colt, Bart. Stourhead, royal paper Harris, John, Esq. Radford, royal paper Harris, Isaac Donithorne, Esq. Hayne, royal paper Harris, Henry, Esq. Beer-Ferrers Harris, Mr. James, Plymouth Hamlyn, Sir James, Bart. Clovelley-Court, royal paper Hesketh, Sir Thomas, Bart. Rufiord-hall, Lanca- shire, royal paper Holbecke, V. Esq. F]xminster Hunt, Capt. N. A. Royal Marines Hyne, Nicholas, Esq. Hawker, John, Esq. Plymouth, royal paper Havdon and Cobley, Plymouth, two copies Hele, Mr. Hele, Jacob Bickford, Esq. Hibbert, George, Esq. M.P. royal paper Hoblyu, Rev. R; Colchester Hamand, Mr. S. B. Hingston, Joseph, Esq. Kingsbridge Holland, Rev. R. Spreyton Heathcote, Robert, Esq. royal paper Hamlyn, Calmady Pollexfen, Esq. Leawood Hilley, Rev. John, Marldon Hays, Treby Hele, Esq. Dallamore Hobhouse, Henry, Esq. F.S. A. Hadspen, Somerset Harding, Thomas, Esq. Impacombe Hommey, M. F. Esq. Charlton, royal paper Hill, Rev. Charles, Instow, near Barnstaple Hawke, William, Esq. Camplehay Hurst, Tliomas, Esq. Highgate, royal paper Hole, Rev. William, Rector of Belston, Oakliampton Herring, Mrs. Langston-House Halse, Mr. Edward, Cripplegate Horndon, Rev. Mr. Torrington Hatsell, Major, Green Park Place, Batli Hamilton, John, Esq. Capt. Coldstream Guards Henry, Mr. T. Cheltenham Hoare, Charles, Esq. Liscombe, royal paper Hill, Peter, Esq. Cawythenock Haydon, Mr. B. R.jun. Heber, Richard, Esq. ttco copies, one royal Holberton, Robert, Esq. Tor, Newton-Ferrers Helyar, Weston, Esq. Newton Park, Cornwall Hole, Henry, Esq. Ebberly Holdsvvorlhy Book Society Holmdon, Robert, Esq. Dartmoor Hayne, Charles, Esq. Fuge Hull Subscription Library JoHNEs, Thomas, Esq. M.P. Matod, royal paj)er James, Joseph, Esq. Ashley, near Tiverton Johns, Henry Incledon, Esq. Plymouth Dock Ilbert, Peter, Esq. Capt. North Devon Militia James, J. Esq. Bath Johnson, B. Esq. Exeter Johns, Mr. Bookseller, Plymoutli Dock, royal paper Jacob, Mr. Phillip, Cripplegate KiLWARDEN, Right Hon. Lord Viscount, loyal paper King, Richard, Esq. Fowelscombe, royal paper Kitson, Rev. John, Ashbuiton Kelly, Arthur, jun. Esq. Launceston, royal paper Kingdon, Richard, Esq. Holdsworthy Kendal, John, Esq. royal paper Lopez, Sir Manasseh Masseh, Bart. Maristow, rnyal paper Lethbridge, Thomas, B. Esq. M.P. Luttrell, John Fownes, Esq. M.P. Dunster Castle, royal paper XVI SUBSCRIBERS. Lane, Edmund, Esq. Coffleet, royal paper Lane, Rev. Richard, Coffleet Langmead, Phillip, Esq. Plymoutli Langmead, Johii Clarke, Esq. Derryford House, royal paper Langniead, William, Esq. Plymouth Luscombe, Matthew, jun. Esq. Stonehouse Lewis, Mrs. F. Chepstow Lempriere, Rev. Dr. Exeter Lirius, Barham, Esq. Cambridge, roya/ paper Lee, Edward, Esq. Orleigh Leigh, William, Esq. Bardon Lillingston, A. Esq. Lyme Lockyer, Edmund, M.D. Plymouth, roijal paper Lockyer, Thomas, Esq. Wembury, royal paper Lockyer, William, Esq. Plymouth Lyne, Edward, Esq. Plymouth, royal paper Leigh, W. Esq. CuUumpton, royal paper Ley, Henry, Esq. Trehill Ley, Rev. T. H. Maker, Cornwall Lyde, Rev. John AUar, Maiden-Newton, Dor- chester Longman, George, Esq. M.P. royal paper Longman, Thomas Norton, Esq. Hampstead, royal paper Lansdowne, Mr. Bristol, tx€o copies Lawrence, Humpluey, Esq. Whitleigh, near Laun- ceston Ley, George, Esq. Marvood, near Barnstaple Lee, Thomas Huckle, Esq. Elford-House Lethbridge, Rev. C. Stoke, Cornwall Leigh, John Smith, Esq. Coombhay Manley, Admiral, royal paper Marshall, George, Esq. Plymouth Marchant, Thomas, Esq. Surgeon, Royal Navy Manning, J. E.Esq. Exeter Merrifield, Mr. Williams, Exeter Mangles, Rev. George, Vicar of Lewanick, Corn- wall May, John, Esq. North Devon ISIihtia May, John, Esq. London Meyler, Mr. Bath Mallett, Mr. John, Dublin, royal paper Mallet, Mr. John, Berry, near Torrington Marines, Royal, The Library of, Plymouth Mallack, Ranking, Esq. Axminster Marten, Mr. R. J. Uffculme Minerva Book Society, Plymouth Dock Milford, S. Esq. Exeter Melhuish, P. E'q. Bradnincli Marker, Mr. Richard, lift'cnlnie Massingberd, Peregrine, Esq. Gunbry Park, Lni- colnshire, royal paper Moore, Mr. Joseph, Poole M'Creery, Mr. J. London Medland, Mr. John, Ivy Bridge Malkiu, Benjamin Heath, Esq. F.S.A. St. Edmunds Bury, royal paper Neville, Right Hon. Lord Viscount, royal paper Nelson, Col. R. T. Plymouth Dock Nesbitt, Major, Southampton Nash, Capt. Coliton Crescent, Exeter, royal paper Northcote, Sir Stafford Henry, Baronet, Pynes Newport, Colonel, Hardley Court, Worcestershire, royal paper Nicholson, George, Esq. Stonehouse, royal paper Newton, , Esq. Plymouth Norton and Sons, Bristol, two copies, one royal Norris, Mrs. Taunton Orchard, Paul, Esq. Hartland Abbey Osmond, C. O. Esq. Tiverton, royal paper Orme, Cosmo, Esq. royal paper PouLETT, Right Hon. Earl, royal paper Palk, Sir Lawrence, Bart. M.P. for the County of Devon, royal paper Pole, Sir Charles Morice, Bart. M.P. royal pa- per Pole, Sir William Templar, Bart. Shute-House, roi/al paper Palk, VValter, Esq. M.P. Marley House, royal paper Pellew, Admiral Sir Edward, Bart, royal paper Prideaux, William, Esq. Pngh, William Owen, Esq. Denbigh Prance, William, jun. Esq. Plymouth Polwhele, Rev. R. Keimyn, four copies Plymouth Third Reading Society Pugh, John, Esq. Thorvertou Payne, J. Esq. Dalton Porcher, Josias Dupre, Esq. M.P. Pell, Claus. Esq. Tiverton Prideaux, Edmund, Esq. Hexworthy Perring, Richard, Esq. Modbury Poole, Mr. J. Taunton, three copies, one royal PljTnouth Dock Reading Society Peter, William, Esq. royal paper Palmer, Admiral Peyton, Richard, Esq. Warwick Prust, Stephen, Esq. Bristol Palmer, . , Esq. Beckford Row, Walworth, royal paper Pidsley, Rev. Simon, Crcditon Pike, Mr. John, Appledore Ptllew, Capt. P. Royal Navy, royal paper Pode, \\ illiam, Esq. Westcott Phillips, Sir Richard, Kt. royal paper Pattison, Mr. Brazen Nose College, Oxford I'eler, Henry, Esq. Harlyn, royal paper Pearce, William, Ksq. Admiralty Pyke, Mr. VV. Chulmleigh Priest, ^liss, Clifton, Bristol 'J Pe Mavis, Jonathan, Esq. Wisbeach SUBSCRIBERS. xvu RoLLB, The Right Hon. Lord, royal paper Rose, The Right Hon. George, M.P. rot/al paper Radchffe. Rev. Walter, Warlegh, royal paper Roach, Capt. South Devon MiHtia, royal paper Russell, Thomas, Esq. Exeter Rees, Rev. Thomas, Loudon, royal paper Rundle, William, Esq. Tavistock Rodd, Richard, jun. Esq. Plymouth Dock Rhodes, G. A. Esq. Bellair Rees, Abraham, D.D. F.R.S.&c. Reid, Robert, Esq. Pilton Cottage, Barnstaple Rowe, Rev. John, Bristol Rowe, Mr. Lawrence, Brentford Roach, Mr. Dock Rodd, Francis, Esq. Trebartha Hall, royal paper Rodd, F. Hearle, Esq. Croan, near Bodmin, royal paper Rosdew, Richard, Esq. Beechwood, royal paper Rowe, Joshua, Esq. Torpoint Roe, Henry, Esq. Gnaton, Newton Ferrers Rogers, John, Esq. Yarlington- Lodge, Somerset Ruff, Mr. Humphrey, Cheltenham Rees, Owen, Esq. London, royal paper Rodd, Richard, Esq. Exeter Rhodes, Rev. A. Beaminster Reading Society, Plymouth Dock Rivers, Henry, jun. Esq. Stowford, royal paper Spencer, The Right Hon. Earl, royal paper Shaftesbury, The Right Hon. Earl of, royal paper S I D M o UT 11 , Right Hon. Lord Viscount, royal paper St. Aubyn, Sir John, Bart. M.P. Clowance, i-oyal paper Stanley, Colonel, yi.V . royal paper Saville, Albany, Esq. M.P. Oakhampton Park Shiells, Thomas Clinton, Esq. Stonehouse, royal paper Smith, H. P. Esq. Plymouth Dock Sole, John, Esq. Saltash Sole, VV. D. Esq. Plymouth Dock Symons, W. Hale, Esq. Chaddlewood Sleeman, Rev. Richard, Vicar of Tavistock Southey, George, Esq. London Scott, John, Esq. Sillifant, John, Esq. Combe Searle, John Henry, Esq. MountBoon, Dartmouth Strode, Rev. Richard, Newnham, royal paper Syle, Mr. William, Barnstaple Sleeman, William, Esq. East Langston, Devon Sandys, Rev. William, St. Minver, royal paper Scobell, John, jun. Esq. Stonehouse Spi7, Rev. J. T. Vicar of Maristow Seaman, Mr. VV. Purser of the R. N. and Teacher of Mathematics Savage, Rev. Robert, Lukesland Grove Symons, Peter, Esq. royal paper Sheppard, Mr. Bristol, three copies, one royal Savery, Christopher, Esq. South Efford Sully, Henry, Esq. Wivelscombe Sandys, Hannibal, Esq. royal paper Shuttleworth, J. Esq. Dawlish Square, Mr. John, Kingsbridge Swete, Rev. John, Oxton House Smith, John, Esq. Plymouth Dock Small, Mr. Camberwell Snare, Mr. R. Readmg, two copies, one royal Scully, William, M.D. Totnes, royal paper Templetown, Right Hon. Lord Viscount, royal paper Tremayne, John Hearle, Esq. M..V. royal paper Trevanion, J. B. Esq. Carhays, royal paper Treby, Paul Treby, Esq. Plympton House, royal paper Thomson, Archibald, M.D. Physician to the Royal Hospital, Plymouth Teed, John, Esq. Banker, Plymouth, royal pa- per Tomkins, William, Esq. St. David's Hill, Exeter, royal paper Tolcher, Henry, Esq. Tink, Charles, Esq. Plymouth Dock Tavistock Public Library Society Torrington Book Society Templar, Rev. John, Honiton, royal paper Tonkin, John, Esq. Fancy, near Plymouth Turdrun, William, Esq. royal paper Toulmin, Mr. J. B. Birmingham Tozer, A. Esq. Totnes, royal paper Tippett, James Vivean, Esq. {"almouth Tiverton Book Society Templar, , Esq. Oakhampton Townsend, James, Esq. Honiton Trennick, Rev. Mr. Cornwall Upham, Mr. John, Bath, tuo copies, one royal Vyvyan, V. Esq. Trelowanen, royal paper Vyvyan, Richard, Esq. Annery House, Bideford Vidal, Robert, Studley, Esq. F.S.A. Wrey, SirBourcher, Bart. Tawstock White, James, Esq. E.xeter Woollcombe, John Morth, Esq. Ashbury Woollcombe, George, Esq. Hemerdon Woollcombe, William, M.D. Plymouth, royal pa- per Woollcombe, Henry, Esq. Plymouth Welsford, Mr. Peter Williams, Reginald, Esq. Plympton xvni SUBSCRIBERS. White, F. Esq. Wellington Webber, Rev. S. Dodbrook Wells, Rev. William, East AUington Willand, Abraham, Esq. Williams, Capt. Royal Navy White, Major Wills, Mr. Warre, J. Tindall, Esq. Hestercombe, near Taun- ton Whiteford, Joseph, Esq. Plymouth, royal paper Wills, Joseph, Esq. Tiverton Wrey, Rev. WiUiam Williams, Mr. John Casely, Bristol Woolmer, Mr. Shirley, Exeter, tivo copies, royal paper Wilkinson, Richard, Esq. London Wyse, Ashford, Esq. Totnes Wyse, Thomas, Esq. Kingsbridge Wrey, Rev. B. Tawstock Wells, Rev. Samuel, Portlemouth Whatman, S. Esq. Williams, Mrs. Church Row, Limehouse YoNGE, Rev. Duke, Cornwood Yonge, John, Esq. Purslinch, royal paper Yonge, Charles, Esq. Eton College, royal paper THE ( xix ) THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. TO THE NOBILITY, GENTRY, AND CLERGY, NATIVES OF THE COUNTY OF DEVON, ETERNAL GLORY AND RENOWN. RIGHT NOBLE, WORTHY, AND REVEREND SIRS, As in a mirror, I have here presented to your view, the memorable actions of your glorious ancestors ; to be as well a pattern, as an encouragement, unto your growing virtue. Such an illustrious troop of heroes, as no other county in the kingdom, no other kingdom (in so small a tract) in Europe, in all respects is able to match, much less excel. Having, therefore, so fair a copy of glory and immortality laid before you, and that by your own countrymen and progenitors too, should you tread short of their steps herein, your supine neglect would be without apology. There are they, gentlemen, who would be thought considerable, merely upon that stock of honor and reputation which their ancestors acquired ; and hence neglect those virtuous actions, and noble atchievements, by which alone they became so fa- mous : But with how just a reason, that of the poet' might soon convince them, if" Ovid. Mc- duly minded : *^- ''•'• ^^• ' Nam Genus & Proavos & qua? non fecimus ipsi Vix ea nostra voco ' Those mighty glorious things Our ancestors have done. But han't performed ourselves We hardly call our own. Tliink not then, my noble countrymen, by your estates or pedigrees only, (though for length and breadth they may vie with most others of your quality in the kingdom,) you will be able to fill the trump of fame: For these being delineated on parchment- rolls, and confined to your closets and the county, come to the notices of iew, but yourselves and your heirs. Whereas your personal actions, which are great and brave, carry your honor round the universe; inscribe your names into the register of eternity ; and you thereby raise trophies to your memory, which shall out-cast the mausolaean monument. If in these my pious undertakings, for the glory of God in the first place, (to which all our actions ought to tend) and the honor of our country next, I have performed any thing, though not unto praise (which I do not deserve) yet to your favorable ac- ceptation (which I greatly ambition) you will thereby highly honor, and very greatly oblige, with profound devotion. My noble and reverend countrymen, Your most affectionate and obedient servant, X^lSot} JOHN PRINCE. c 2 ( XX ) AN APOLOGETICAL EPISTLE TO THE READER. " Pliilosophi preecepta vir- tutis tantuni praescribunt. Histoiia au- tpni, quid cum virtiitc sit ac- tum depinijit, .Ve. Pra-lat. in vitar. PUi- tar. Epit. •> III hoc vita- rum opere, Plutarchus plus docct, quam liistorici reliqui ; & sti- mulos reliuquit in animis Lee- toruni q»iam reliqui pliiloso- phi acriores, &c. Id. ibid. Candid Reader, For such only I desire, and such you will be, if temper and wisdom be predo- minant, I must confess, I have attempted a very weighty subject, and yet withal, such as may administer profit and delight, (if perused without prejudice or envy) which whoso truly effects, ' Omne tulit punctum ' He's held to be the bravest Wight That mixes profit with delight. The argument of the ensuing Discourse is chiefly historical : And there is not (that I know) a more useful and advantageous study, especially for gentlemen ; and such as would be useful to their country, than that of history. It has great advan- tages of philosophy," for that gives but the precepts of virtue, but this the examples; and the one consisteth in abstruse speculation, but the other lays before us the lively practice. History is what works wonders ; it recals past ages, and makes them pre- sent to us ; and it opens us a way of conversing with the dead, without the danger of being affrighted by marmos or spectres. Now of all the kinds of history, there is no study that is more profitable than that of our own country ; and therein than that of lives.*" In these, we find rare and emi- nent examples of learning and valour, virtue and religion, laid before our eyes, without the trouble or fatigue of going out of our closets, or stepping beyond our parlours. Bio"-raphy, or the description of the lives of famous persons, hath been of that re- putation througliout the learned world, that some of the most eminent men in all countries, and among all professions, have eternized their own fame and memories, by recording those of others; as did Diogenes Laertius, Plutarch, Philostratus, and Eu- napius, among the Greeks : Cornelius Nepos, Emilius Probus, Spartianus, and Lam- pridius, among the Latins; St. Hierom, among the Fathers; Usuardus Monachus, Anastasius Bibliothccarius, Baptista Platina, and Onupiirius, among tlie Papists; Johannes Bakeus, Georgius Major, Theodorus Beza, and Melchior Adams, among the Reformed. All which, with divers others I might mention, have bestowed abun- dant pains and labor this way, and that with no small honor to themselves, and no mean advantage to the common wealth of learning. But then when they are the lives of our countrymen, and of the same province with our^elves, esj)ecially if thev arc of our kindred and families, of our particular friends and acquaintance, they will be apter to attract a more ready perusal; and the ex- amples, which such shall lay before us, will prove more than ordinarily influential and impressive. Now beliold here, gentlemen, a way of conversing with your deceased ancestors, without TO THE READER. ' xxi without disturbing their ashes: And of becoming acquainted with tlie worthies of some of your own famihes, though long since laid to sleep in their beds of dust. An innocent way of raising the dead without going down to Endor, or applying your- selves to necromantic spells. Famous examples to this purpose we have of this last kind, in authors sacred and profane; only one whereof I shall crave pardon here to mention for 3'our diversion ;"' "^>"'9°'^' "*' " When the Emperor Maximilian," as a certain author tells us, " was desirous, if page im?*' possible, to see Hector and Achilles in their true effigies, (having just before heard a set oration in their commendation) a certain magician then about the court, for par* don and a piece of money, undertook the matter. " The Emperor and attendants all sate, and a iew confused words mumbled out by him in his circle. Hector beats at the door, and in he comes, armed cap-a-pee, in a helmet plumed, his target upon his arm, and in his right hand a long spear, headed with brass. " At another door, by-and-by, knocks and enter Achilles, in the like majestic man- ner, shaking his spear against Hector. These having done honor unto Caesar, go three times about the stage and vanish." We here have used no such magic arts; we have found another way to raise our worthy progenitors, and to converse with them without sin, and without danger too, that they will resume their former inheritance: Who, although dead, yet are not silent; but do loudly proclaim this advice to their posterity, Tliat if they would arrive at the palace of honor, as themselves have done, they must go through the temple of virtue, as they did. And yet how useful or beneficial soever things of this nature are, or may be, to the world, the authors of tiiem must not expect to avoid the snarls or censures of some carping Momus or other. That I may not, therefore, leave this work too naked and exposed, I shall, as I go along, endeavour to obviate and divert such cavils as, I sup- pose, may be made against it. Some, perhaps, will be ready to charge me with oscitancy and negligence, that I have confined the worthies of our county to so scant a number. I must confess, that many more might be added hereunto ; peradventure no less meritorious than the most of these, I myself can produce the names of many famous lawyers, as Wood, Kirton, Sydenham, and Basset, in K. Edw. 3d's days; WoodrofT, in the reign of K. Rich. 2d, Lord Chief Justice MoyI, Newton, Cokey, Ashton, and Martin, in K. Hen. 6th's days ; Grenfield, Pawlet, Basset,'' in the time of K. Hen. 7, and divers others, and so I" Aiiwiiichare might the names of many more renowned soldiers, as Maundevil, Soleignio, Ruel, ai'nong thoTe^of Fitzmatthevv, Monthermer, Rake, Vere,' and a multitude more. this county, by But I must ingenuously aknowledge, That I can trace few or none of them back to Hook!"'choro. the particular places of their nativity; and that I find recorded of them, very little gf-"'?''- ^''■ more than their names and qualities. vonr'amon^'' If some suppose, I have done injury to any by omitting many eminent and famous Lawyers, afs. men now alive; I must answer once for all, that I industriously dechne the men- p^j^.^^i^'g ^^ tioning of those who are still amongst the living; the copy of their virtues may be Dev.under'the best transcribed from the original of their visible exemplar. head soldiers. But as for any other, let none think that I have maliciously passed them by ; or any part of that just encomium, which is due unto their merit. Whatever I have found memorable or praise wortliy of them, I have faithfully inserted. Yes, may some say, that you have, and this too not without a spice of adulation, magnifying the virtues of some, without the least perstringing of their vices. Why, truly it must be acknowledged very certain, wliat one long since observed :^'S»<'V '" ^''ta ' Magnas virtutes, nee minora vitia,' may be the posy of the best natures. None are"'"''^'""' perfect here below, I never said, nor must men expect it. But xxii . TO THE READER. But then I plainly own, That this is a law to me, ' De mortius, nil nisi bene ; De vivis, nil nisi vere.' And I profess, I delight not in that stinking employment of weeding men's lives, and throwing the nauseous trash upon their tombs. And I hate to treat the dead in that nasty scavenger-like manner, as to be raking up their ordure, and to throw it in their faces. There are none but have some defect or other to be found about them, if critically examined ; which yet they would not care should be exposed to the view of all the world. And it neither becomes a gentleman or, a Christian to expose that which charity and civility require to be concealed. Nor indeed have I any just occasion to expose the infirmities of my countrymen, be they what they are; which charity bids us hope God Almighty hath pardoned. For that would not well agree with my design, which is to lay before the world a co- py of heroic virtue, fit for its example and imitation. Which I am sure their imper- fections, could no way contribute to. But then I expect to meet it in my way, That some of heterodox faith, others of scismatieal practise, and a third sort of antimonarchichal principles, in respect to government, are brought into the catalogue of our worthies. As for this, should I have undertaken to give an account of those only who, in every punctuality of doctrine, discipline, and modes of government, and Avorship, had come up to the constitution of any one particular church or state, with the ex- clusion of all others, the number of our virtuosi, I fear, would be crammed into a lesser compass than ever Homer's Iliads were, and would hardly fill a nut-shell. As for those I mention and represent as eminent, it is only for that in them, which is, in the opinion of wise and good men, justly deserving praise and reputation. For, however some, perhaps, may not be memorable for the orthodoxy of their {-Mth, yet 'tis possible they may be so for their skill in the arts, or languages, and other useful learning. Or if learning has not been their talent, their piety, their zeal, their valour, or their conduct ; or some other eminent qualification, may give them a just t Worthies of title to a place herein. So that I shall only say, with Fuller,^ ' That, tho' neither se"^'pa"e ^103. ethically, nor theologically, yet historically, they may be remarkable; affording something for our information, tho' not for our imitation.' Nor care I to be thought of that envious straight-lac'd humor, as to admit none to applause or honour who do not in all things jump up to my opinion. Were this rea- sonable, or prudent, how should I look if the adverse party should turn the tables upon me, and scorn me as much for my dissenting from him, as I may do him, for differing from me ? I could heartily wish, (what I can never hope to see) that all Christians were of one and the same mind, especially in the best things ; and that all would agree, as they have abundant reason, to serve God, who is one in unity and uniformity. But the truth is, while there is pride, ambition, and avarice in the world, we may as well "expect, that all the people upon earth should be born exactly of the same features and complexion of body, as be of the same sentiments and apprehensions of mind. Notwithstanding which, we are not wont to hate or malice one another, because we differ in outward lineaments; and why should we do so then, if we do not coaless and meet in our inward sentiments? Let us be content, therefore, that others, though they differ from us, may, however, find the reputation due to their other accom- plishments. Ay, but you bring into the list of your worthies mean and obscure persons, me- morable for little else but the scribling of a book, or so. For reply to this charge : I own I have inserted some chiefly upon the score of ,' 'writing, for the honour of arts and learning : Which are not so contemptible but will stand TO THE READER. xxiii stand upon even ground at least, in any civiliz'd nation, if not take place of arms and tacticks. ' Cedent Arma Togje, concessa est gloria Linguae.' Arms yields to arts ; the sword unto the tongue ; These give the glory to the learned throng. Nor are we destitute of divine authority herein ; being assur'd. That wisdom is better than weapons of war.'' "Eccies. 9, is. I must acknowledge, therefore, that I have industriously taken notice of such who have memoriz'd themselves by the press, and left behind them the surviving issues of their brain. Nor, had I design'd the honour of my country only this way, should I have been without example among the learned. Trithemius, a worthy author, wrote a just volume in quarto, De illustribus Ecclesiae Scriptoribus. The famous Leland wrote the Lives and Characters of the most eminent Writers of England, in 354 pages, in folio.* Johannes Balasus, an Englishman and a bishop, wrote De Scriptoribus Magna?' Ath Oxod Brittania?, in a large folio. Johannes Pitseus, or Pitts, (an Englishman also) has ''°'- *' P*s- «3' written a thick book, in quarto, De illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus. The famous Mr Anthony Wood, with indefatigable pains and industry, hath written two large vo- lumes in folio, and a third ready for the press, a great part whereof contains only the lives of oiu- Oxford and other writers. So great value these excellent men had of writers, that they thought them worthy, upon that sole inducement, to have their names handed down to posterity. And I am sure there are none who are either learn- ed themselves, or do love learning in others, that will envy such a place among our worthies. Hence I have made it my business to insert our writers into this catalogue- carefully giving an account, so far as I could acquire them, of the title of those par- ticular works which have been published by them. Which is no unuseful undertaking for the curious, who would willingly know what the performances of our countrymen in this kind, have been. " ' But possibly it may be urg'd, as a great offence, for to sucii as have a mind to cavil a small matter shall serve for an occasion," that I have made bold to concern my self- Facile est in- in the arms and pedigrees of some families, and prtBtermitted others of eminent qua-''^"''' ^^'"'' lity and reputation. * ' '"""• In answer to the former part of the charge, I have said nothing but what I had authority for ; even that of the most reputable antiquaries of our county • whom I generally quote in the margin. And it may be phiinlv seen, that what is 'spoken by me, IS all along intended to the honour, and not the disparagement of any person or family that I treat of. And it is not improbable but that I may have given light to several gentlemen, to discover more of tiieir own families than they knew before However, if in any thing I have been led into mistake; I only entreat that my euide and not my self, may bare the blame. ' As to that part of the charge. That I have omitted others ; I desire all to observe That I have insisted upon none, but where I have been led thereunto by the particu- lar personal worth or exploit of some eminent person of the family. And for this reason only I have passed by, in silence, many very reputable houses; For that the person, I would have spoken with, was not to be found at home. I could indeed have enlarged on some pedigrees much more than I have done; and have given the several names of the descendants ; but partly to avoid tediousness, and partly for that the glory of the ancestor is conspicuous in the name and worth of the surviving issue 1 have designedly declined it. ' Though it may be there are those, who now may make a figure, whose pedigrees were xxiv TO THE READER. were not to be found in the herald's office, in my author's time : And a sight thereof since, I could not be so happy as to obtain. Farther ; I expect to hear it objected to me as a crime. That I have only tran- scribed authors ; and that generally in their own words, without the least disguise or variation. If I have, it is never without due acknowledgment and deference to the worthy persons whom I quoted. So that I have only borrow'd, not stol'n, what I have made use of: And in the mean time, every one may know where to find his own again ; and, as God shall enable me, I may re-pay him again with usury. Moreover, what I have done in this matter is open and avow'd ; for I never de- sign'd, at this distance, to invent lives for those who died many centuries of years back ; but in relation to such, only to collect what I could find recorded to their honour in single or various authors ; and so something paraphrastically to deliver them to your view in one intire body. Moreover, to quote the same words, why should that be a greater crime in me, than it is reputed to be in most other authors, as well antient as modern ? Did not ■ Balasus borrow most of what he wrote from Leland ? And Pitsaius from Balaeus ? And that in the same words, however he reviles him ? Have not our late authors, who have written on the same subject with me, derived what they have said from other books, and made use of their author's language ? I know they have almost ver- • ni. Fuller, batim, without the civility, some of them, of owning whence they had it.' ' Sure Kirg.'in''Ln- I am, says a certain author, ' Sir Francis Bacon, and Mr. Cambden, oiir most elegant lion,' pag. 220, historians, though they mention not the name of Stow, make use of his endeavours: And throwing away the basket, have taken the fruit, not mentioning his name.' And as for using the author's language, I must farther own : Where it is full and expressive, I account it no greater trespass to borrow his words, than it is to borrow his matter : Holding it much more honest, and ingenious, to convey his sense down in his expressions, than to put them into worse of my own. For if the bare variation of the phrase, or a new turn of the period, into as bad, or a worse dress be all, I can't see why any should put himself to that pains, to so little purpose. To conclude this ; If any shall charge me with the sin of plagiarism, in the truest and worst sense of the word. The stealing into our catalogue of the Worthies of De- vonshire, such as were never born therein, but owe their nativity to some other county All I have to say in answer is only this : That in me it is no voluntary transgres- sion ; but I have been induced hereunto either by authority, or a strong presumption. And farther, if any of them should be alarm'd by some other shires, we must not tamely quit them, unless they bring a better authority for it than their own bare word. However, if tliey make out a juster and fairer title to them than here is done, shewing the true mark of them, let them take them again. For this province is not .so beggarly in this kind, as to need deck her self, with the jay in the fable, with the borrowed plumes of other birds : She can drop several of her feathers, and yet her native train, like that of Juno's bird, will remain matchless and unparallel'd. For, when all is ended, it will be found : That there are many more of her worthies omit- ted, though not voluntarily so, than can be pretended to be brought in here, which really belong to any other county. However, I here profess, with Dr. Fuller on a - Fullers like occasion,'" ' That I stand ready with a pencil in one hand, and a spunge in the Woriii. p. Is said to go a conqueror to hell. Our author too, insults the shades below : Would you know whom we greatest glory owe ? Their trophies soon decide it ; this hath men From Lethe brought : he but a dog again. THE ( xxxiii ) THE P R O E M I U M. Before I proceed to my proposed enterprize, it may not be improper (by way of introduction) to offer to your view, a brief account of that county, which has been the hapy parent of such a noble offspring. Devonshire is a fair province, situate in the most western parts of England ; having Cornwall only (her dear neighbour, and sometime one with herself) interposed be- tween her and the Belerium, or the Lands-end. In form : It is well near the figure which geometricians call a parallelogramma, being, to a few miles, so broad as long. For (according to Speed*) it is fifty-five miles 'Maps of Eogi. one way, and fifty-four the other. But since our waies have been reduced to a post '" ^®""'*''' rate, the dimensions hereof were found much larger. And from Thorncombe in the east, to Stone-house in the south-west, or Hartland Point in the north-west, are no less than seventy miles : And from Salcomb in the south, to Lymmouth in the north, would be found, upon due mensuration, very few less or more. For the confines hereof : This province is bounded on the north with the Severn Sea, commonly called St. George's Channel ; on the south it is embraced by the Brit- tish Ocean, or (as 'tis also stiled) the Narrow Seas. On the east, it abutts upon our friendly neighbours the Durotriges and Belgians, as they are anciently called, now the counties of Dorset and Somerset. The first parish towards the south-east of this shire that way is Axminster, where, at the abby of Newenham, the author of this discourse, through Divine mercy, breathed his first air. On the west, it is limitted by the navigable river Tamer ; which well nigh cuts it from sea to sea, and is a meer or bound, some few hamlets excepted on the other side, which belong unto this coun- ty, between Devon and Cornwall. Both which shires she amorously smiles upon as she glides along to her desired ocean ; into whose embraces she falls at Plymouth. Of which the poet thus sung, ' Hinc Anglos, illic cernit Tamara Britannos,' Which I find thus Englished to my hands." fcRUdou. On this side Tamer th' English sees; And thence the Brittains eke it eyes. The occasion of which distinction of English and Brittains, the matter so nearly relating to our county, it may not be unseasonable here to explain. Devon and Cornvval,'^ until the days of K. Athelstan, (who reigned over England, « Hooker's an. 930,) did from the beginning continue one province, under the common name of •^'■orog. De- !-» • scrip, of De- e Uanmonia. yod, p. i. xxxiv THE PROEMIUM. ■' Idem ibid, pag. 3. ' Mr. Hook. MS.ofDev. quo prills. ' St. Luke, c. xii. r. 4S. ' Fuller. Danmonia. After this the Saxons, (when they obtained) and the Brittains in this country, lived promiscuously together. But the Brittains repining to live under the government of strangers, and to have a foreign yoak clapped upon their necks, though the nation had now endured it several hundreds of years, began at first to murmer ; from thence proceed to mutiny ; and at last to break out into open wars. K. Athelstan, perceiving that no lenity, which he had long try'd, would at all re- claim them, resolves to get by force, what he could not obtain by favour. And so coming with a mighty army into this country, after sundry conflicts, at length drives the Brittains over the Tamer into Cornwal; and appoints that river for the bound or marches to both counties, which so remains, (a little excepted belonging unto Devon, lying on the Cornish side,) unto this day. Upon which settlement, the inhabitants of these two provinces, at first, obtained the distinction'' of the Eastern and "Western Danmonii. And this has given occasion to the title of the present work Danmonii Orientales. Having thus fix'd the bounds, let us next proceed to a consideration of the condi- tion and constitution of our county : Of which, to speak only in general, it must be granted, that heretofore, more than now, it was, Aspera & Nemorosa, rough and woody, hilly and mountainous, wild and rocky. Its plains were covered with heath and coppice ; its valleys overgrown with woods and brakes. But now, by the match- less labour and industry of its inhabitants, it is become, almost every where, so cul- tivated and improv'd, as that it yields a great abundance of all things, which the air, earth, or water can afford, for the use of man. And that not only as to necessaries, but delicacies also ; and what might be desired by an Heliogabalus, or an Apicius himself, may here be found. Insomuch, (without envy be it spoken) what has been avouched of England in ge- neral, may be applicable to this county in particular,' That ' She can live better of herself, without being beholden to the rest of the kingdom, than that can subsist with- out being obliged to her.' I would not be thought to speak so bold a truth of my country, out of vanity or ostentation: But let it be to the glory and praise of the great God, who has so signal- ly blessed us, and laid the so much greater obligation upon us to gratitude and obe- dience; there being a serious truth in that of our blessed Saviour,' which ought to be considered, ' That to whom much is given, much will be required.' Now, how hilly or mountainous soever this country be, (an argument of a serene and wholesome air) yet its mountains themselves, barren as they seem, are not with- out their peculiar advantages ; their very bowels being far richer than those countries which may be able to shew much more painted faces. For whatever Tully said to the contrary, That Brittany did not afford, ' ne micam quidem Auri vel Argenti,' so much as a dram of silver or gold, yet 'tis known, that our hills are impregnated with rich mines, of lead, tin, iron, copper, silver; and with some mixtures of gold; and dia.i.onds. For her mines of silver, (at present to pretermit the insisting upon any of the rest) we have a parisii in this county, Combe-Martin by name, which lyes upon the North Sea, near Ilfarcombe, that hath been famous for them : Which iieretofore, in the days of K. Edw. 3,^ were of considerable emolument to that prince, towards his carrying- on his wars against the French. These mines, notwithstanding their profitableness, after this, lay long neglected ; whether upon occasion of the barons wars, or whatever else, I shan't determine, un- to the days of that most famous princess of blessed memory, Q.. Elizabeth : When a new load was found out ; and first begun to be wrought by Adrian Gilbret, Esq; After that, by a more famous artist. Sir Beavis Buhner, Kt. by whose e.xcellent skill in minerals, a great quantity of silver was here gotten up, and refined. Out of part THE PROEMIUM. • * xxxv part of which, he caused two rich cups to be made ; whereof, the one was presented to that noble count, Wilham Bourchier, Earl of Bath, having this inscription engrav- en on it : t-Westcottt MS. In Martin's-Combe long lay I hid Obscure, depress'd with grossest soyl. Debased much with mixed lead. Till Bulmer came, whose skill and toyl ' Refined me so pure and clean. As richer, no where else is seen. And, adding yet a further grace. By fashion he did enable Me worthy for to take a place To serve at any prince's table: Combe-Martin gave the ore alone; Bulmer fining, and fashion. Anno-f ^*^^*''* Redemptionis, 1593. ( Reginas Virginis, 35. Viro Nobilissimo Willihelmo Comiti Bathon. Locum-tenenti, Devonise & Exon. Kt^ Wd"mLo7nri? ^ T''VT' P''^^^"^^'^ t« th^ Honourable Sir Richard Martin. * •■ u A ^o7 ""^ **V^ "^'^^ ""^ London; to continue to the said city for ever- It IPi-eighed 137 ounces, fine, better than sterling ; on which these verses w4re to be seen : When water-works in Broken-Wharff At first erected were; And Beavis Bulmer, by his art, The waters 'gan to rear; Dispersed I in earth did lye. Since all beginning old. In place call'd Combe, where Martin loag Had hid me in his mold. - ■ ■ I tii ^ishcs of tlic uuivcrsity, in an happy production of most illustrious wits. Let others syfvanim:'^"*'' therefore, (as he goes on)" praise their smiling meadows, their fertile fields, and their hanc vero reii-jofty woods, whilc shc, abovc all others, can boast such a fruitfulness of learning, as viiis omnibus •{ n i i.iierata ferti- renders her more eternally liappy. redet B'eati""" What cxcellcnt men hath she (and still doth)'' furnish'd the episcopal chair withal? reJ, ibi Eug. Introduc.'-' } i j L sr S3. THE PROEMIUM. , xxxvn All which will be, more than sufficiently, made to appear in the ensuing discourse ; where you may find examples of all kinds of virtue, and that in the utmost measure and degree poor mortals are capable to produce them. I speak not this to upbraid or disparage any other county in England ; there is none, among them all, but, more or less, can deservedly boast their several worthies. I would not be thought, in magnifying our own, (which I trust it will be found I have not done above desert) in the least, to vilifie or disrepute any other : But rather, to raise in all, not an envious but a virtuous emulation ; and a commendable strife, who shall most excel, in all honourable and brave atchievements. But, that I be no farther tedious in detaining you in the porch, I shall open you the door that leads into the work, with only this earnest obtestation to all my generous countrymen, That they would labour to transcribe into their practises, as they are severally capacitated, these noble examples of their ancestors, here laid before them. And, in their stations earnestly endeavour by piety, learning, valour, and all other praise-worthy actions, not only to continue, but encrease, the renown and glory of our country. DANMONII DANMONII ORIENTALES ILLUSTRES: OR, THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. SIR JOHN ACKLAND, KNIGHT. ACKLAND, Sir John, knight, was born, most likely, at Ackland-house, standing inFior. A. d. the parish of Lankey, near adjoyning to the pleasant town of Barnstaple, in the north ^^"^.r.r. Ja. parts of this county ; a family, that derives its name from its seat, " Aukeland, or Ack- .Mr. westc land aforesaid: a denomination taken, as is supposed, from an oaken grove, near which pescr. ofDev. it is situate, against the south, on the side of a hill. Thus Saron in Greece is said jq '° ^<^''»"''- have done the same, " Sinus Saronicus olim, Ouerno nemore redimitus unde ei nomen.'"' '' Car. steph. And as a confirmation hereof, I find in antient times, viz. so far back as K. Rich. 2. Hjstor^"*^^' days, ''this family did bear on their seal three oak-leaves on a bend, between two lions c sir wiiiiam rampant. Pole's Cat. of This is a very ancient and gentile progeny, which hath flourished in this place, by palpable evidence, from the days of K. Hen. 2, (whose reign commenced, A. D. 1154.) how long before that, I cannot say, even down unto this day. And God grant it still long to flourish ; of which this deed may be a confirmation."'' pfi'e's^^.lfcar " Sciant, &;c.qu6d ego Willielmus deSai, conces. Hugoni de Accalcia unam virgam '"'• ^^^- of terre in Hetlumba," &c. Dat. tempore Hen. 2. aZ'^.'p.li The christian name of this family, antiently, was (for the most part) Baldwin; ' the ^ Risdons six first thereof, one excepted, were all so called. They have matched into divers La„tf " honourable houses, as Crews, Monk, Prideaux, Malet, Ratcliff, &c. and witli several "" *'^' considerable daughters and heirs, who jiroduced many very eminent persons. Such was that John Ackland, of Ackland,^ who served in the wars of France, A. 9 K. Rich. 2. sii w. Pole 1385, as appeareth by his deed (a copy whereof I have) made unto Thomas AtTeton, ^",j;,'",;,',','5*' John Staiford, and John Colj^n, his feoffees, dated the same year; in which is ex- Souid '"" pressed, a condition for the raising of monies towards his redemption (if it happened that he was taken prisoner) without selling his lands ;5 at which time he was in pos- ^ Pro sua ddi- sessionofan estate in Akelane, Reveton, Gratton, Barnstaple, Hawkeridge, Little- ''"f'""'? '"•'''• Bray, Sotith-Moulton, and other places, vendiTionef s« B Havinsj*'"^''^'^''- uon s in ev. 0U5 '■U-yV::::A\'=}U :; THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Having given this account of this antient family, I now proceed to the gentleman hf lorf lis Sir John Ackland, knight, was second son of John Ackland, of Ackland Esq , by .Sir William Margaret his wife, daughter, and co-heir of Hugh Ratchff, of Stepny, near London- ?-^rS'i'f«'" he was the darling of his mother, who made him her heir ^ though she had many more Ackland MS. ^j^.j^,^^^^ j^^^ ^^^^^^^ husband, Brett, of AVhitstanton ; and settled upon him, her lands in and about London, which, joyned to excellent parts and accomplishments proved the ground of his future greatness ; there bemg an undoubted truth m that ot Juven. Sat. 3. the pOCt. ' p. 40. ^ Hand facile emergunt quorum virtutibus obstat Res angusta donii They seldom come to high degree. Whose virtue's check'd by poverty. He had in his younger years all the education requisite to render him an accom- phshed and useful gentleman, which having acquired abroad, retired home into his native country, where he met with a younger brother's inheritance, a rich widow, Elizabeth, the daughter of George Rolle, of Stephenston, in this county, Esq. and the relict of Robert ISIalet, of Woolley, near Great Torrington, Esq., whom he married, and on her joynture at Woolley, he settled himself, during her life. After her decease, he married a second wife, viz. Margery, a daughter of the ho- . nourable family of Portman, of Orchard-Portman, in the county of Somerset, but the widow of Hawley, who was left vastly rich ; by all which, he became en- abled to do such great things, as hereafter we shall find he did. Before I proceed to which, it may not be improper to mention briefly the offices and honours he sustained. He 'long served his king and country, in the capacity of a Justice of peace, a very useful ancl honourable office, well discharged ; and was one of the knights of the shire for this county in parliament. ?Ie had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him vsir WiUiam in the Tower of London," on the loth of March, 1603, by K. James 1. of blessed uev^TnVe' memory, in the first year of his reign. After which, about the space of five years, he Fam'. Mem. of was prick'd by the same gracious prince to serve him in the high station of sheriff, of ourCount.MS. ^j_^^ county of Devon, forUie year 1608, whereby, it appears, what honourable esteem Sir John Ackland lived in, as well with the court as country. Yet I must crave leave to say, that he was not more eminent for his greatness, than he was for his goodness. And, indeed, 'tis goodness that adds a lustre to greatness ; good is the much more honourable character than great, as a|ipears from a testimony beyond exception, that of K Charles the Martyr, who told his son, the prince (our late very gracious soveraign) that he had rather he should be Cliarles le Bon than I'EixSv Batr. c. Charles le Grand. ' Now this gentleman was eminent for goodness, in St. Paul's sense and notion of it, when he said, for a good man one would even dare to die ;" /. f. for one eminent for acts of kindness, friendliness, and charity. Which, though we do not pretend they merit in the sense of the church of Rome, yet we know they have i,a-i^'„, iv^iSiiii, an odor Phil. 4.4.18. of a sweet smell in the nostrils of God." Which I shall the rather instance in, as a confutation of that unjust aspersion, cast; by some of tlie church of Rome, upon the reformation here in England, that our Solifidian doctrine hath destroyed all our good works. I shall begin therefore, with this gentleman's charity to the poor, besides his per- sonal acts oi' that kind, whereof there is now left no memorial (I mean, as to what he had delivered) by his deed, dated He settled on the mayor and chamber of the city of Exeter, in trust for ever, the rectory and sheaf of Church-Stow and Kings- bridge. 27. i"Roin. 5.7 SIR JOHN ACKLAND, KNIGHT. 3 bridge, contiguous parishes, in tlie South-Hams of this county, now set for eighty-five pounds per an. for tiiem to dispose of the profits thereof, as he had therein appointed, Tlie greatest part whereof, is to be distributed, in bread, weekly, to the poor of divers parishes in Exeter and Devon, as followeth : — In the city of Exeter, thus : — rSt. Sidwel's To ]St. Mary the More (Holy Trinity To (lll-S'll"'':' "r n' ^>f' \ . l^ach per week . (All-Hallow s. Goldsmith-street ) ^ 1 each per week 00 s. 01 d. 00. 00 00 06. In tlie county of Devon, thus : — "St. Thomas the Apostle Barnstaple Silferton Bradnidge To <( South-Moultoii Torrington Cullompton Lankey ^Churchstow To Broad Clist, in which his dwelling-house stood, per week, 00 02 To Pilton, near Barnstaple, per week 00 00 ►each per week 00 01 00. 00. 6. If after all this, any overplus should remain, it is ordered to be divided (except what is settled upon the minister that serves the cures) among these towns and parishes in this county also; Plymouth, Totnes, Ashberton, Buckfastlegh, Chudleigh, Crediton, Honiton, Tiverton, Halberton, Bampton, Tedburn, Kingsbridge, Dodbrooke. So much as to the noble charity of this gentleman. Next, let us consider his piety towards the church, and herein he was also consi- derable. For, whereas before was reserved to the minister that is to officiate in both the parish churches of Churchstow (the mother) and Kingsbridge (the daughter) but twenty nobles a year, he was pleased to settle upon him twenty pounds; which being duly and entirely paid by the chamber of the city of Exeter, is much better than a greater sum, to be received only out of the small tythes as they become due. Nor, let any say, that this gentleman should have done works of justice first, in restoring to the church, the things of the church; and then works of mercy next ; the laws of our country having made them entirely his own, (tho' by what equity, I know not) how might he have silenced all cavils with these words of our Saviour, may I not do what I will with mine own ? especially, seeing the poor also, according to the primitive practice of the church, liad an interest in the tythes thereof. To this may we farther add, that having erected a very fair chappel in his man- sion-house at Cullome-John, for the better discharge of the weighty duties of religion there, by his own family, to all futurity ; be generously endowed it with five and twenty pounds a year, for ever, for the encouragement of a chaplain, to preach and read prayers in it every Lord's day. A good argument, that he who was so piously disposed to promote tlie decent service of God, and the religion of others, was very holy and devout in his own person. From this, let us proceed to a consideration of the noble encouragements which he gave to learning. How learned he was himself, I cannot say, but that he was a lover thereof, 4 . THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. thereof, may in part be inferred from his efiigies in Broad-Clist church; which, though it represents his body clad with armour, it shews his hand holding a book. His bene- factions this way, did consist partly in buildings, and partly in endowments, bestowed upon Exeter college, in Oxford. First, for his buildings. The refectory or common hall of that college, with the large cellars underneath, owe themselves, almost, intirely to this gentleman's munifi- cence, for he bestow'd no less than eight hundred pounds towards them, the fellows thereof advancing about two hundred pounds more; as we have it from the testimony Ad refecto- of onc," here quoted in the margent, in this matter, beyond exception : a work of that lium quod spec- ijgjjijty and magnificence, that it will remain a lasting monument of his great worth perior°iJ*'prrte and merit, so long as that structure stands, which God grant it may, to all future ge- "ri'l:'' m'cei'ia "'^''"^'''°"^- Of which noblc work of Sir John Ackland, with some additional buildings, e'i("ei»siibjecta made by another gentleman of this country. Sir John Peream, of Exeter, Kt., Dr. i)oiu"'johiii- I'l'ideaux, the then rector,'' gave this testimony, that Exeter college, by their bounty, iirs Ackland, got a ucw hall, and lodgings of more charge and worth than all the former buildings. ^u'i'''\i?Dccc Secondly, as to the endowments which he made, he was pleas'd to settle an annual eodaiitium dii- stipend of pounds valuc, towards the maintenance of two scholars in that house centas tantum f libras impen- " cvei. disse conipa- Having thus considered how good this gentleman was to the poor and to the Antiq^'unW. publick ; let US go ou, and we shall find how good he was also to his own family. Ox. 1.2. p. 101. For, though he left no children of his own, he left a considerable estate to the issue of *■ his elder brother, who now enjoys it. (Note.) He it was, who bought, budded, and to his' Conse- added to his name, that pleasant seat of Cullome-John, lying in the parish of Broad- crat. Serm. ofQjgj. ^^g miles uorth of Exctcr : it was the antient habitation of the family of Cid- Chappei. ' lome; divcrs of which race there, succeeded one the other.'' The last of which 1 Risd. Sur. name, who lived here, was John Culme, A. D. 12.3.'3. Though another branch thereof Uim-JoUn. MS. flourished long after in this county, at Canon-Leigh, down to the present age ; when it expired in a daughter and heir, married to Sir Edward Hvmgarford, knight of the Bath. After it had passed through the hands of no less than seven or eight lords, it came to be the possession of William Rowswell, Esq. who alienated it unto this Sir John f Sir w. p. Ackland. Who builded here upon a former foundation,' begun by the Earl of Devon- i^roium-jobn' •'''^''"^' (whosc formerly it was) a very fair house, in which he spent the remainder of MS. his days. It is a large pile, nobly situate upon an advanced groimd, just over the river Culme, ' Hor. in his which glideth along by it ; of which we may say with Hor." Labitur & labetur in omne volubilis aevum. Altho' the present owner thereof. Sir Hugh Ackland, baronet, (whose great worth adds a fartlier lustre to his own family, and to our county) is not pleased to make this, but Killerton, another gentile seat in this same parish, the place of his present residence. After all this, that I may not say, a person of immortal vertues dies. Sir John Ack- land laid aside what of mortality he had, at his house aforesaid, A. D. 1613, which was honourably interred in the parish church of Broad-Clist, before-mentioned, unto which living he belonged, where a very stately monument is erected to his memory on the north-side wall, in an isle thereof, a lofty piece, handsomely set off, with curious carvings and paintings. AVhcreupon, a tomb about five foot high from the ground, lieth his portraiture, in full proportion, lively cut out in stone, all in armour, except the head and hand. His two ladies are placed by, kneeling each before a desk, the one at the head and the other at the feet, with their faces looking towards him; all within two pillars, near SIR JOHN ACKLAND, KNIGHT. twenty foot in heighth, large, and finely wrought , on the top whereof are placed several figures, which set them olF, and add a great ornament to the whole. A little below are these inscriptions :— On the one, Anno Domini.— On the other, 1613. Under that, upon the first pillar, is this motto :— Mors janua vitap. Under that, upon the second, this : — Mors mihi lucrum. In the middle of the monument, above the efiigies, is a blank table of marble left, as is supposed, for an epitaph, which hath not hitherto been supplied. Above the arch that covers the figure of Sir John, on the one, are these words :— Caro mea requiescit in spe. On the other, these: — Post tenebras spero lucem. On the top of all the monument is a large achievement, wherein are quartered divers coats of arms, too tedious to be here emblazoned. Underneath which, is this motto : — A Deo omhis victoria. ADDITIONAL NOTE. HUGH Acland, the elder brother of Sir John, to whose issue he left Cokimb-John, and a large part of his property was grandfather to John Acland, who, on account of his attachment to Charles the First, was created a baronet in lti44. His fortune was considerably impaired by his services to his sovereign, and by the penalties inflicted upon him by the adverse party. At one period, he alone, as Lord Clarendon relates, sustained the royal cause within the county of Devon, with a small party garrisoned in his own house of Coknnb-John. He married the daughter of Sir Francis Vincent, and iiad issue three sons, Francis, John, and Hugh, all of whom succeeded to the title, with the interposition of .\rtiiur, the son of John. Sir Hugh, the third son, was succeeded by his grandson Sir Hugh, who was the fatlier of Sir Thomas, who married the daughter and heir of Thomas Dyke, Esq., by whom he had two sons, Jolin Dyke, and Thomas Dyke. The eldest was a major in the array, and colonel'of the first regiment of Devon militia. He married Lady Harriet Strangways, the daughter of the Erst Earl of Ilchester, by whom he left a son and a daughter. The son succeeded his grandfather in the title, but died shortly after him at tiie age of seven years, in 1785. The daughter, who inherited her grandfather's estate of Pixton, in Somersetshire, married Henry Lord Porchester, eldest son of the first Earl of Carnarvon. Upon the death of Sir John, the son of Colonel Acland, the title devolved on his uncle Tiioraas Dyke, the father of the present Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, of KiUerlon, at this time (1809) high sheriff of the county, who is the lentil baronet in succession, and the twenty-tliird in lineal descent from Hugo de .\cceleia, who lived in the second year of Henry the Second. The sufferings of Lady Harriet Acland, above mentioned, in the camjjaign in Canada, in 1777, are too mter- esting to require any apology for inserting an account of them in tiiis place. So distinguished an example of female excellence sheds a lustre • ApudWiiart. ■Kj , Ang. Sac. vol. i^ on est 2. page 641. Hunc meruisse miniis, quam tenuisse decus. 'Tis no less honour to deserve. Than the title for to have. Not long after this, the times proving troublesome to eminently loyal men, especially at Oxford, Mr. Ackland retired into his native country; and being in orders, and at that time batchelour of divinity, though not recorded in the Fast. Oxon. He was bv an honourable hand, collonel Arthur Basset, of Heanton-court, presented to the rectory of St. Mary Tidborn. Which, though unequal to his merit, yet being com- modiously situated near his relations, it lying but about six miles to the west from the city of Exeter, he accepted of, and settled himself there. la Citat. 8 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. In this retired place, finding at length that it was not good for him to be alone, he took to wife, Mary, the sister of his quondam pupil, Thomas, Lord Clifford, of Chud- legh. One too zealously affected towards Geneoa, though otherwise a virtuous, cour- teous, and well accomplished gentlewoman. Here Mr. Ackland continued many years in good esteem and credit, not only with his own parish, but with all the neigh- bouring gentry of the first rank thereabout; who were frequently pleased to honour him with their good company, as Sir George Chudlegh, Sir Francis Fulford, and others. At length this worthy person came deservedly to be advanced to an higher station in the church. For Anno 1667, Dr. Robert Hall, eldest son of famous Bishop Hall, a son worthy of such a father, dying, Mr. Ackland, more by his honourable rela- tion's interest than his own ambition, was made treasurer of the church of Exeter, in his room. Which dignity he rather suffered than enjoyed; taking no great felicity in that which disturbed his beloved retirement : As if he had been wholly of the poet's ' Frax. Sym. mind.' Loc. aup. Sed quid honor prodest, cui cum sit nomen honoris,^ Non honor est sed onus. Re sine nomen habens. This dignity he held about the space of five years ; that is, unto the day of his death. If any are desirous the character of his person should be continued, he was, for stature of body, about the middle size; corpulent, and in his latter years, when I became known unto him, somewhat unwieldy. His complexion was sanguine, which gave him a chearful countenance, and lively aspect. His wit sharp, but innocently pleasant. And his whole conversation grave, courteous, and obliging. He left no issue, either of his body or his brain. And having been always an able, and a con- stant, and a faithful steward of the mysteries of God, (while health and strength permitted) an hospital neighbour, a pious and a sober liver, in great love and peace M-ith all men. He surrendred up his soul into the hands of our blessed Saviour, with great chearfulness, A.D. 1672. ^tat 64. He lieth interred in the chancel of his church at St. Mary Tidborn, aforesaid, under a plain stone, with this inscription: Here lieth the body of Baldwin Ackland, Batchclour of Divinity, and Treasurer of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, in Exon; who died the 27th day of Aug. A.D. 1672. and in the 64th year of his age. He having no better, the author hereof, under a double obligation of personal civi- lities, and a near relation, (having married his sister's daughter) hath thought fit to erect this slender monument to the memory of a good man, and a worthy divine. He had two younger brothers, John, an eminent merchant, and Mayor of Exeter, A.D. I(i66, whose two daughters and heirs married two brothers, Richard Duck, of Mount-Radford, Esq. and Arthur Duck, of London, merchant. His youngest brother was Arthur Ackland, who being bred a scholar, became Fel- low of Oriel Colledge, in Oxford ; after diligent study, in whicii place, for many years, he became a learned and well-practised physician. And returning to Exeter, he exercised his faculty for some time in that city with good success. He was every way much a gentleman, and of so obliging a deportment, that he was beloved of all that knew him. He died, to the great surprise of his friends, of an Erysipelas in his face, in the strength of his age, so true is the observation. That 'tis not common for good men to be long lived; and lieth interred in St. Stephen's church, in Exon, with- out any funeral monument. ADAMS, ( 9 ) ADAMS, WILLIAM. Adams, WilHam, was born at Paynton, in this county; an ancient village, lying rior. a. u. in tlie bosom of Torbay, about the year of our Lord, 1612, of mean and obscure ^,664. R. R. parentage. But in as much as he was one of those five men, who enterpriz'd and compassed an exploit, of as high resolution, and difficult performance, as can be pa- ralell'd in history ;* I hope it will be look'd upon as no disparagement to our famous • waniy's Worthies to insert him liere. ^et^mf William Adams aforesaid, with several others, took ship at Graves-End, A. D. 1639- worid, folio. bound for the West-Indies ; within few days of their being at sea, they were taken by ^uf ^f's^en" a Turk's man of war, and carried prisoners into Algiers : where they continued in ezer, pubiish- miserable captivity for the space of about five years : which at last becoming so intol- i*ey)'onT'of t^he lerable irksome and grievous to them, they began to cast about for a way to escape, persons thu» At length they resolved to contrive the model of a boat, which being form'd in par- t^'lJ "htreirf,* eels, and afterwards put together, might prove the instrument of their deliverance, i have heard For the better effecting of this design, one of these poor captives, being allowed him ^Vdow o/thr by his patroon, the conveniency of a cellar, for the disposing of some goods which he said w. Adams, was permitted to trade upon to his master's advantage ; there they began their work. They provided first a piece of timber twelve foot long to make the keil ; but because it was impossible to convey a piece of that length out of the city but it must be seen and suspected, they cut it in two, and fitted it for joynting, just in the middle; then they provided ribs ; after which, to make the boat water-tite, because boards would require much hammering, and that noise would be like to betray them, they bought as much strong canvas as would cover their boat twice over. Upon the convex of the carine; they provided also, so much pitch, and tar, and tallow, as would serve to make a kind of tarpawling cerecloth, to swaddle the naked body of their infant boat. Of two pipe staves saw'd across, from corner to corner, they made two things to serve for oars. And for provision, they got a little bread, and two leather bottles full of fresh water : and remembred also to buy so much canvas as would serve for a sail. They carried out all these things in parts and parcels, fitted them together in the valley, about half a mile from the sea; unto which, four of their company carried the boat on their shoulders, and the rest followed them. At the sea-side they stripp'd, put their cloths into the boat, and thrusting her so far into the sea as they could, they all seven got into her, but finding she was over-loaden, two were content to stay on the shore. The names of the five persons that continued in her, were these; William Adams, John Anthony, John Jephs, John the carpenter, and William Okeley. June 30, 1644, they launched out into the deep, where they saw the wonders of God. Four of them wrought continually at the oars, the fifth was to free the boat of water, which by degrees leaked thro' the canvas. Their bread was soon spoiled by the salt water ; , and their fresh water stunk. Three days, with good husbandry, their bread lasted them ; but then pale famine stared them in the face. Water they might have, but it must be salt out of the sea, or strain'd through their own bodies; and that they chose of the two. And the misery was, this did not asswage their thirst, but encrease it: the wind too, was somewhat against them ; but God rebuked it, and made it their friend. Their labour now was without intermission ; and the heat of the season was almost insupportable by day: only this help they had, that he who emptied the boat, threw the water on the others backs to cool them. But their bodies thus scorched and cooled, rose up in blisters all over; great pain they felt; great dangers they were in; great miseries they endured; and had nothing little but hope, food, and strength. ^ C If 10 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. If any question by what directions they steered their course, and whether they de- signed, it was to Mayork ; by the help of a pocket-dial, which by day supplied the place of a compass; by night they took directions from the stars when they ap- peared ; and when not, they guessed by the motion of the clouds. Four days and nights they were in this woful plight; on the fifth, all hope that they should be saved, perished : so they left off their labour, and only emptied the boat of water. As they lay hulling up and down, God sent them some relief, viz. a tortois ; which they discovered not far from them, asleep in the sea ; they took their oars, silently rowed to their prey, and took it into their boat with great triumph : which done, they cut off her head, and let her bleed into a pot; then drank the blood, eat the liver, and sucked the flesh : It wonderfully refreshed their spirits, and they picked up some crumbs of hope. About noon they thought they discovered land ; they wrought hard, and after a while, were fully satisfied that it was land; and indeed it was Mayork, in sight where- of they kept all day. The sixth of July, about ten a clock at night, they came under the island, and crept as near the shore as they durst, 'till they found a convenient place, whereinto they might thrust their canvas boat. When they were come to land, they were not insensible of their deliverance ; and tho' they had escaped the sea, they might die at land if they could get no food ; having had none since the blood and liver of the tortois. Some of the company scouting abroad for water, came to a watch-tower of the Spaniards, where making their con- dition known, they got a cake, and calling their companions to the repast, they sate down by a stream of fresh water fast by : and now they have water and bread, it is God that must give them also a throat to swallow. For our William Adams attempt- ing to drink, after many essays, was not able to let it down, but still the water re- turned ; so that he sunk to the ground, faintly saying, He was a dead man : but after much striving, he took in a little; and they (so refreshed) lay by the well all night. The next morning, having tied their boat fast to the shore, and left her to mercy, they took the ready wa^' to the town. In their journey to which, a certain country- man called them into his house, and gave them some relief. Thence they advanced to the city of Mayork, about ten miles from the place of their landing ; where making their condition known to the vice-roy, he treated them with great humanity. From which place, they took passage on the king of Spain's gallies for Alicant ; and from thence, they came safe into England, in the month of September, 1644. A most bold adventure ; and for his share therein, this our country-man, William Adams, ought to be recorded ; with which they of Mayork were so aft'ected, that they fetched this canvas boat, and hung it up, as a monument of a most wonderful deliver- ance, in their great church there. Mr. Robert Hales, who was there 1671, says, he saw the naked ribs and skeliton of it, hanging still in the same place. William Adams lived many years after this ; followed the sea still, became master of a ship in divers voyages ; and was a very honest sensible man. He died in the year of our Lord God, 1687, and his body so like to be buried in the sea and to feed fishes, lies buried in Paynton church-yard, about four miles east of Totnes; where it feast- eth worms. ALPHRED, ( H ) ALPHRED, BISHOP OF CREDITON. ALPHRED, Bishop of Crediton, in tliis county, is ranked, by that learned anti- ^^°■'•^•^• quary of ours Mr. Hooker, alias Vowel, among the natives of Devon j' and upon Ethel, that encouragement, I shall here, as such, insert him. ' Synops. The name, I observe, is differently written among the learned ; which yet signifies Devon^umier the same person, as Alphred, Alfric, ^Elfric, iElvric; and that there were no less the head stu- than three eminent persons so called, who lived at the same time in England j as *° ' iElfric, Abbot of St. Alban's, (who was afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury) iElfric, Abbot of Abendon, and ^Ifric, or Alphred, of whom we are discoursing. They whose curiosity inclines them to enquire farther in this matter, may consult Mr. Wharton's Anglia Sacra,*" where they will find enough, ad Saturitatem usque. *■ Vol. t. p. Though unto me, it seemeth strange, that those persons should be so much confound- ^^*' '*^' ed among writers, whose names are so differently recorded by them ; as are Alphredus Monachus, Alfricus Grammaticus, and Elfricus Cantuariensis. But dismissing this fruitless argument, at present, let us go on with the history of our Alphred. What relation he might have, or whether he had any at all, unto our West Saxon King of his name, (who first divided England into Shires,' A.D. 888.) we are not J^^^j;^'!**"' able to determin. Although it is not improbable but that he had a very near onej itir. being usual in those days, for persons of the first rank, to take upon them the habit of the clergy, and the preferments of the church. Omitting, therefore, his family, in respect to which we are in the clouds, let us proceed to his education ; and we find that he was bred among the Monks, most pro- bably, in the famous abby of Glastenbury, in the county of Somerset ; which at that time was one of the most illustrious nursery's of learning, as well as religion, in Eng- land. For here, we may well suppose, it was, that he contracted that very familiar friendship," we find he had with St. Dunstan, the learned Abbot of that most noble monastery, valued, at the dissolution, upward of 3500/. per an.* From the advan- hop Godwin, observe,' but the , ^^^ g^p most learned bishop Usher hath placed him here long before,' to wit, in the year 978, citat. although afterwards his grace is pleased to tell ns. That Alphredus was bishop here ^j^^'JP"?'^ between the years of ninety and ninety-five: Which indeed is most consentaneous AngK Sa". vol. with the former reckoning, and seems to be so likewise with the truth. ip- i^y. It is not well agreed on, I find, among the historians of those times, how long this venerable person presided here; only four years, scarcely that, if we may believe William of Malmesbury ;" nine, if greater credit may be given to Hooker and Godwin.'' ^J^^^M^a^^^ In this bishop's time, King Etheldred endowed the bishoprick of St. Germans in pertuit.' id. ' Cornwal, with lands, liberties, and priviledges. And in his time, also, the barbarous ■'*'*'• Danes "O-'oao'ea. 14 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Danes afresh invaded this whole country ; burned and spoiled the town and abby of Tavestock; and laid siege to the city ot Exeter. But being manfully resisted by the inhabitants thereof, they removed to Pinho, about three miles off, where the neigh- bouring countries, meeting in a good body, gave the enemy battel, and a total over- » Hook. Cat. iU-r,^ X of the bishopt inrOW. , , , . , , . , . , , of Exon, in During which time, to his honour be it recorded, this good bishop is said to have Aiph. Pnnt, continued the exercise of his function in that city. A most material and necessary part whereof, especially at that time, did consist in prayer and devotion : Which, how far it might then contribute towards the removal of that dreadful siege, we can- . e , ^ not sav : Although this we know. That the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man ' o. Jain* 9* •• 1 1 16. availeth much.' And this may lead us to a consideration, in the first place, of his piety and religion : and then next of his learning and abilities. i As to his piety. He, who is never over-forward in his commendation of those, who were zealous observers of the rites and ceremonies of the church of Rome, I mean jc'a Rdf%le Bale,^ is yet so faithful as to acknowledge, that this person is very highly applauded apud antiques' among the monastick writers for his zeal in religion: But then, as his wont is, he iuim^^rrum dashcs all with this reflection on the good man. That his religion did chiefly consist in seriptorcs opi- Moiikisli supcrstitions, and a strict observation of the ceremonies of those times, Cem.aX!^'" whereof he was a great defender. As if the person that is neat and curious about his pag. 140. dress and ornaments, could not also be truly tender of the body unto which they do belong. Nor was this prelate less eminent for his great skill and abilities in learning. He •Id. ibid, was a good disputant, and a subtle sophister, according to the last quoted author.* But the most reverend primate Usher, the most credible witness in this matter, informs Et virum ^g^ That he was held to be a learned man, in those days wherein he lived.'' As a bitum"fuisse, Confirmation hereof, he produceth the titles of two books, whereof this Alphredus Uss. Bib. ^yas the author ; which are also recorded by Balteus in the place last mentioned ; Ibeol. MS. , ■ 1 1 apud CI. Cave whosc titles are these : de Scriptor. Ecci. p. 588, De Naturis rerum. Lib. 1. 589. De rebus sui Csenobii. Lib. 1. Some other things, also, he is said to have written ; which what they were I do not find: Only this is added of him, that in his Opuscula, (several little pieces of his put together) he delivered many things of one Aldhelmus, a most learned man. He flourished in the year of our Lord 990, under Ethelred, King of England ; so Baleus. But others, it may be with less reason, affirm that he died many years before, Defunctusest. viz. A.D. 981.' He, also, was buried in his own church at Crediton, aforesaid. Wbart. Angl. Sac. vol. 1. p. 1J9. ASH, ( 15 ASH, SIMON, Ash, Simon, commonly called, among the learned, Simon Fraxinus, (which sig-^^-^-R; nifieth in latin, an ash-tree) was born in this county. He descended from a very an- Job- tient and gentile stock of the name Ash, otherwise Esse; which was so denominated, saith Mr. Hooker,^ from the river Esse; a more antient compellation thereof than Ex, • Synops. of by which it is now called. As if this family was more antient in this shire than the sowtoo.' MS. present name of that river, from which one famous city, and several hamlets, do fetch their pedigree, as Exeter, Exminster, Exmouth, &c. There were, many ages back, divers eminent knights, and persons of quality, of this name and lineage in this county, whose antient seat was at Ash-Raph, or Esse- Raph," now corruptly Rose- Ash, in the north parts of this province, near South-Mol- ^J^ s^j^'^l^'- ton: Which was so called from the old lord thereof. Sir Raph de Esse, or Ash, who of ■Dev*'^in''" had his habitation there, and at Thewborow, another seat of this family near Holds- Rose-Asb.MS. worthy, in the days of K. Hen. 3. in whose reign, the said Sir Raph was High-Sheriff ^ ^^ ^^^^ of Devon, for seven years together.' izac.and This Sir Raph descended from Wagerus de Esse, who had this inheritance, in the others, beginning of K. Hen. 2. days,** whose ancestors flourished well in those parts, from "RisdSurr. the first coming into England of William the conqueror, (how long before that we are^^„^j!^J,°]yis. uncertain) as his posterity did, down to the time of K. Edw. 3, or, as the last author tells us, to that of his grandson K. Rich. 2, which is upward of three hundred years. And then Ingaret, one of the daughters and heirs of Sir Alan de Esse, Kt. brought Thewborow, and several other lands, unto her husband, one of the antient and ho- nourable progeny of the Giffards. A younger branch of this name and family is yet living, in gentile degree, at Sow- ton, formerly called Clist-Fomison, from the antient owners of it, the Fomisons, about three miles to the east of the city of Exeter, near the road to London ; although much short of the splendor of his ancestors. However, what is not a little re- markable, out of this house at Sowton, hath issued several eminent families, of great reputation in the eastern parts of England. Sir Joseph Ash, of Tittenham, in the county of Middlesex, Baronet,' so created by K. Ch. 2. Sept. 19, 1660, descended ^^'^Sphear of ^^ from James Ash, third son of Nicholas Ash, or Esse, of Sowton aforesaid ; by Joan yl"°"\ioTl ' his wife, the daughter of Anthony Pollard, of Horwood, Esq. lying in the north parts j|b|- P-^«- of this county. By which, we see that these Ashes, like trees planted by rivers of ' ' '''" water, flourish and spread well where they like the soyl. Of this family, says Mr. Westcot,^ besides many worthy knights and famous men, jj^^^^l^'';^''*^ there was in the days of K. Job. a very learned man, named Simon Fraxinus, \\hosowt. ms, very probably received his first breath at Ash-Raph, or Thewborow aforesaid, about the year of our Lord, 1 150. He was carefully educated in the principles of vertue and religion; but where, or in what seminary, it appears not. However, he followed his studies with such assiduous industry, that he became eminent and famous for his piety and learning: Insomuch he was chosen canon of the church of Hereford; a famous city, verging upon South-AVales, being part of the antient Silures :« who were known jje^canonl'* at first to the Romans, for their excellent valour under their noble Captain Caracticus,'' cos non in- unto whom they proved a nine years scourge ; putting the legion of Marius Valens to ,"J."™ * ^oc- flisht; and that with such havock of his associates, that Asterius, the lieutenant oftrina-beneficio Brittam, for very grief gave up the ghost. p. 5.39. This our Simon, from the advantage of his education, grew into great acquaintance -speed's and familiarity, even from his tender years, with the famous Sylvester Giraldus Cam- Maj« ioHere- brensis. 16 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. brensis. an excellent scholar, and a great improver of learning : A Welsh man, by ' Bai.q»o nation; for stature tall; for person comely; and for learning famous^ AVho having '"P"- travelled over Europe in search after knowledge, came at length to Pans ; where he was chosen governour of the English colledge : And having continued there three years he returned into England, and was had in great honour of K. Hen. 2. who made' him secretary, and of council, to his son John, then in Ireland. Between these two learned persons, partly from a sympathy of affection, and partly from an agreeableness in their studies, (their genius disposing them alike to vertue and letters) was so great a dearness contracted, that when asunder, they were wont to hold a correspondency by epistles one with the other; which very often they did in Hexamiter verse : Until at length Giraldus Cambrensis, having published a certain excellent piece, under the title of Speculum Ecclesiae. (In which he severely taxed the manifest abuses of those times, not sparing the Cistertians themselves) did thereby so highly provoke some of them, that Adamus Dorensis or Adam the Abbot of Dore, a monastery not far from the city ot Here- ford, confident in the opinion of his own learning and piety, sharply assaulted him with contumelious verses. „.,.,,,, j . , ^ ,a Our Simon, not brooking that his friend should be thus exposed, took up the cud- gels in his defence, in a little tract, which he called. Apologia Rythmica, sive Conquestio & Compassio pro Amico Iseso. The beginning whereof, as a specimen of the wit and fancy of our country-man, and those times, I shall here lay before you ; as I find it recorded by Mr. Wharton in g "^ Vol. 2. p. ijis Anglia Sacra.* **^' <' Magistrorum Omnium flos Archilevita, " Cui nullus hominum par est in hac vita, " Qui famoso Carmine, te dampnavit ita, " Precor ut letifera bibat aconita. " Te perstrinxit Monachus oculo Liventi ; " Nee ob hoc sis anxius: perflant alta venti. " lUi precor accedat turpia Scribenti, " Parvo quod juraverat rustica deflenti " Pungitivam Monachus secum gerens acum, " A quo nunquam exeat, incidat in Lacum ; " Exul inops fugiat apud Eboracum, " Ubi nunquam videat Cererem vel Bacchum, &c. And that you may see his tallent, in another sort of poetry likewise, I shall here « Idem ibid.subjoyn a few of his verses on the same occasion, (from the last quoted author) called Hexameter and Pentameter. " Est furor, est facinus, est fraus, est virus iniquum, " Non aequum reprobum, te reprobare virum. " Nescio quis Monachus furtivo Ifedere Morsu, " Et te Mordaci Carpere dente studet. " Hostis honestatis, sceleris fons, Criminis auctor " Non poterit laudes, obtenebrare tuas. " Nulla potest Labes, solem privare nitore; " Invida nee poterit lingua nocere tibi. " Vix ASH, SIMON. Vix referam Monachi Mores, est Ambitiosus, " Est & Avarus, & est fictus & absq ; fide Where we may observe. That by a witty man, any kind of poetry may be ma- naged to a strain satyrical enough. But these were not the only things our Simon wrote : Balasus hath given us this more particular catalogue of his works;" which I shall here together present unto "Quo supra, your view. Apologia Rhythmica, lib. 1. — Super Innocentia ejusdem, lib. 1. — Ad Magistrum Giraldum, lib. 1. — Epistolae ad Diversos, lib. 1. — Carmina quoque, lib. 1. Many other things, our author tells us, he wrote both in verse and prose ; the titles whereof, did not, as I know, descend to posterity. He flourished in the year of grace, 1200, and was very eminent in the reign of K. John, for his learning ; as at that time were divers others ; no less than three and thirty being memorized upon that account, by Sir Richard Baker." One whereof, I ' Chron. m must not pretermit, Simon Thurvy by name ; a Cornish man by nation, and a priest ' "''■ by profession." An admirable scholar, and skilled in all arts and sciences; whose °Bal. cent, auditors were his admirers; who growing proud of his learning, and preferring Aris-,^'^^" ''■ totle to the humility of the gospel, throwing out his blasphemies against Moses and against Christ, became at last so utterly ignorant, that hardly he could read a letter in the book. A sad warning to all proud Gnosticks. When, or where, this our Simon Fraxinus died, we are imcertain : Though it is probable enough, it was in, or near, Hereford aforesaid; and that somewhere there- about, his remains found a decent repository. As to the arms of this antient family, having blazoned them before, I have but little more to add ; only the testimony of Mr. Westcot,'' in relation to them. That the well p Quo antea. known ensigns of generosity belonging to it, are quartered by so many families of this county and elsewhere, as none more. And they are found, not only in divers antient houses, but in the windows of several churches, as Crediton, St. Mary-Ottery,'' Ber- , hoii. Catai. ry-Pomeroy, and elsewhere. For, says he, it was a very fruitful stirpe, and trans- of '^""""^ '" planted itself into several places, where it flourished in great state. ^^'^' D ASHLY, 18 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ASHLY, OR, ASTLEY. Flo. A.D. 1660 ASHLY, or ASTLEY, Herbert, Doctor of Laws, and Dean of Norwich, we are R. R. c. 2. expressly told, was the son of Herbert Ashley or Astley, of Plymouth in this county.^ voi.'2!*'Fasr.°p.' ^^ ^^^ '^'^ education at Cambridge ; where he also proceeded Doctor of Laws. 314. In the month of October, 1660, were the King's Letters (Char. 2.) Dated Septemb. 27th. read on his behalf, in the convocation at Oxford, That he might be admitted Doctor of Divinity there. But whether he was, or no, it appears not. Upon his accidental coming into Norfolk, he was taken into the patronage of Sir Jacob and Sir Isaac Ashley, who took him to be their kindsman ; and preferred him to several livings in those parts. He married an Hobart ; and was, by the endeavours of that family, promoted to the deanary of Norwich. How he came to be born at Plymouth, I do not find ; luiless, perhaps, his father might have been a merchant, or some officer in that port. There was a noted family of this name, which sometime flourished at Ashlegh, ly- ing in, or near the parish of Lyfton, not far from Tavistock, in this county. Nicho- ^ Sir w. las de Ashlegh, held Ashlegh, in the parish of Lifton, Anno 27 K. Hen. 3^ After of Devon, ill him, Sir Johu, his son, then John; then Richard Ashlegh, son of John. And Anno Litton. MS. \g i^ Edw. 3. JoanTirrell had it; whom I take to be the daughter and heir of Ash- legh. Since which time, I have not met with any one of eminency of this name, an inhabitant of this county. 'Ath. Oxen. But to rctum to Dr. Ashley ; he died, says my author,'^ in the month of May ; and quo supra. ^^^^ buried in the cathedral church of Norwich, near the monument of Sir Henry Ho- bart, in the year of our Lord God, 1681. "Poieincat. The arms of Ashlegh, of Ashley, in the county of Devon,"* were; A. Pheon Or. of Dev. geut. ATWELL, ( 19 ) ATWELL, HUGH. ATWELL, Hugh, both a divine and a physitian, was a native of this county, and J^"'- A- D. born, either in the parish of Kenton, or in the city of Exon ; in both which places, eiiz. the name and family hath flourished for divers descents;' but most antient[y at Exe- »^Mr. we^t, ter ; for Roger Atwell was head steward of that honourable city, anno 25 K. Edw. 3. ^ '^^ 1351.'' which is now near 350 years agone ; and several others of this name, we find, ^ Mr. Isaac sustained very reputable offices therein, for divers generations following. John Atwill ter,"'. 53. was mayor thereof five several times i'^ and, what is more, in the reigns of four sue- cviz.Aii.i476, cessive kings of this realm, namely, in that of Edw. 4, Edw. 5, Rich. 3, and Hen. 7- |fg^,'^ i4«3' On which unusal occurrence, a native of that city,"* thus poetizeth : ,^l' vi,^J„_ Tempore quinque suo regnantes ordine vidit: Horum eirenarcha ad quatuor ille fuit. in his Essays. He saw five monarchs on the English throne. And justice was of th' peace, to all but one. Whether this gentleman was the father, or grandfather of this Hugh Atwell, we cannot certainly say, it is likely enough that they were thus nearly related. Dr. Fuller indeed,^ led into the mistake, from a propensity to believe, more than his '^'^-ji^Ffj^j author asserted, reckons this Mr. Atwell among the natives of Cornwall, barely from Cornwall, p. his living therein. I grant, that Mr. Carevv^ numbers him among the physicians (if f^^'^^^j^,, ^f they may be deserving of that name) of that county; for, having, as he acknowledges, cornwau' p a great scarcity of learned men in that faculty, he taketh up with the mention, besides ^o. this gentleman only, of one John Williams, and Rawe Clyes, a black-smith, who, as he says, could better vouch practice for their warrant, than warrant for their practice. But with far higher commendation doth he mention Mr. Atwell, whom he also ac- knowledgeth to have come out of Devonshire into that county, he being then but barely mentioned among the Cornish men, 'tis no more evidence, that he was born there, than, that Walter of Exon was so too; because he is placed, by the same author, among the learned men of that country.^ p^jj*^* ''''• ^' To proceed therefore to the history of Mr. Atwell : the first account that I find of ' ' him is, that he was, in the beginning of his time, parson of Calverly, formerly Cal- woodlegh, that gave name to a knightly family,*" sometime inhabiting therein, "ear J.^^'^^^j,"*/'^ Tiverton, in this county; which we are told,' was much frequented by many, who heiditinK.'H. resorted thither upon his account. For even in those days, he was a person of great ^^^'^,J,'^^'J,|j""' fame, both for his learning and piety; insomuch, my author, long since gave this high followed muo, character of him, " that besides his parts and learning, which were very eminent, he mIJ" K'awood- was so religious, so conversant in goodness, so bountifully charitable, that he hath ley, &c. Pole scarce left his fellow." And he farther adds, " that his integrity and name deserve to '" ^'''^"; f ^' , , ,, u ./ 'Mr. Risd.Sur. be perpetuated. ofOev.iuCaiv. From hence he removed into Cornwall, and was settled in the very good benefice ms. of St. Ewe, in that county, where he continued the remainder of his days, which were many years, in mighty reputation. Insomuch, that learned and ingenuous gentleman, Richard Carew, Esq. liatli raised in his Survey of Cornwall, such a monument of him, as shall last as long as the book it self, which I shall here insert, mostly in his own words." cLTv" itb. 1. " Besides other parts of learning," saith he, " with which Mr. Atwell had been p. eo. a. b.' seasoned, he was not unseen in the theoricks of physick, and could out of them readily and probably discourse, touching the nature and accidents of all diseases." ' Besides, ugd. he goes to the prince, and acquaints him with the vow he had made, to be the first inp''748; the battel; and craves his licence that he may accomplish it. The Prince accorded to his desire, and said. Sir James, God give you this day, that grace, to be the best knight of all others.'' Then the knight departed, and with his four esquires, went to the " Quoted by foremost front of all the battel, and there did marvels in arms ; and with great I'TOwess^."?*^^^"^' '^^ fought with Sir Arnold Dandraker, who was there sore handled by him ; he always fought in the chief of the battel, and tho' sore hurt in the body and in the visage, as long as his breath served him, he fought. And Walsingham' adds this farther of him, i ApudDugd. " That, Potenti virtute confregit, & perforavit aciem Gallicoruni." By his ex traordi- loco quo supra, nary valour, he brake through the French army, and caused much slaughter that day to the enemy. [Note 1 .J This his noble conduct and valour, so infinitely pleased the brave Prince, that, as a testimony thereof, he settled five hundred marks in land upon him in England, of an- nual revenue; a considerable estate in those days; which yet this noble lord did not keep to his own private use, but presently, and as frankly, settled it all upon his four esquires. The notice whereof, being soon brought to the Prince's ears, he demanded of him, AVhether he liked not his bounty, or thought the gift beneath his acceptance? To whom the lord modestly replied. These gentlemen, says he, have deserved the same as well as myself; without whose assistance, I, a single man, could have done but little. Moreover, they have more need to; I having a fair estate, derived unto me from my ancestors, am enabled to serve your highness freely : only I crave your pardon for giving away your present, without first obtaining your licence. The generous Prince, highly pleased hereat, praised his bounty as much as his va- lour; and so doubled his former pension to him, into a thousand marks a year. A rare example (as the historian" well remarks) where desert in the subject, and reward m ga^er ibid, in the prince, do strive which shall be the greater./'A'^o/e '2. J This heroic action happened about the 37th year of his age ; after which, this no- ble lord survived many years, was in many gallant exploits, and deservedly enjoyed several great honours and preferments. About three years after this, viz. 33 Edw. 3." he " Dugd. attended the King, the Prince, and three others of his sons into France again ; where he pXiT' "'" joyned with Sir John Chandos, and the Lord Mucident, in taking the strong castle of Dormoys, by assault. And the next year, peace being concluded between the two crowns of England and France, he was one of those, who, on King Edward's part, swore to the observance of the articles. After this, he was made constable of the castle at Glocester for life; then engages again in the wars of France, is made gover- nour of Aquitain; after that, Seneschal of Poictou ; when raising a powerful army, he marched to Berry, and wasted the country. After that, he took the town of Breuse by storm ; and having set it on fire, returned to Poictiers. He was with Sir John 24 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. John Chandos also, at the siege of Dome, and the taking of the strong castle of Roche siir Ion in Anjoy. This noble lord was twice married, but left issue male only by his first wife Joan, the daughter of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March ; and tho' he had several sons by her, none survived him, but his son Nicholas, who succeeded him in his honours ; but he dying without issue male, (Note 3) the lordships of Dartington and Barnstaple, escheat- ed to the crown; and were given by K. Rich. 2. unto John Holland, Earl of Hun- tingdon, and Duke of Exeter, his half-brother. »Dugd. Ba- Being now arrived at a very great age, he made his testament at Helegh castle," An. ron, vol. i.p. 9 K. Ri. 2. by which he bequeathed his body to be buried in the choir of his abby of Hilton, in case he should depart this life in the marches ; but if in Devon or Somer- setshire, then in the choir of the Friers Preachers in Exeter, before the high altar there ; and appointed, that there should be about his corps, five great tapers, and five mortars of wax, burning on the day of his funeral; as also 40/. sterling, then dis- tributed to poor people, to pray for his soul. To Nicholas his son, he gave an hun- dred pounds in money, and one dozen of silver vessels, with all the armour for his own body. And to Margaret Hilary, his daughter, ten pounds in money; and to the Monks of Hilton Abby, ten pounds, to pray for his soul. He departed this life the first of April, Anno 9 K. Rich. 2. and of his age, near 70, in the year of our Lord, 1386. Where this noble person lies interred we are not cer- tain ; most probably in the choir of Hilton Abby, aforesaid. 750. ADDITIONAL NOTES. (1) THE prowess of Lord Audley on this glorious day is recounted by Froissart with iiuerestitig minuteness. " The Lord James Audley, (he says) remained a considerable lime near the Prince of Wales; but when he saw that they must certainly engage, he said, ' Sir, I have ever served most loyally my lord your father and yourself, and shall continue so to do as long as i have life. Dear Sir, I must now acquaint you, that formerly I made a vow, if ever I should be engaged in any battle, where the king your father, or any of his sons were, that I would be the foremost in the attack, and the best combatant on his side, or die in the attempt. I beg therefore, most earnestly, as a reward for any services I may have done, tltat you would grant me permission lionourably to quit you, that I may post myself in such wise to accomplish my vow.' The Prince granted his request, and holding out his hand to him said, ' Sir James, God grant that this day you may shine in valour above all other knights.' " The knight then set off, and posted himself at the front of the battalion, with only four squires, whom he had detained with him to guard his person. This lord Jaiues was a prudent and valiant knight ; and by his advice the army had thus been drawn up in order of battle. Lord Jaraes began to advance, in order toKght witii the battalion of the marshals, attended by his four squires (Dutton of Dutton, Delves of Doddington, Fowlehurst of Crew, Hawkestone of VVainehiU) he had placed himself, sword in hand, in front of his battalion, much before the rest, and was performing wonders. He had advanced through his eagerness so far, that he engaged the lord Arnold d'Andreghen, marshal of France, imder liis banner, where they fought a considerable time, and the lord Arnold was roughly enough treated. He was made prisoner, but by others than the lord James Audley, or his loiu' squires ; fur that knight never stopped to make any one his prisoner that day, but was the whole time era- ployed in lighting, and following his enemies : The lord James Audley, with the assistance of his four squires, was also engaged in the heat of the battle. He was severely wounded in the body, head, and face; and as long as his strength antl breath pei milled him, he maintained the light, and advanced forward : he continued to do so uiilll he was covered with blood ; then towards the close of the engagement, his four squires, who were as his body guard, took him, and led Iulu out of the battle, very weak, and wounded, towards a hedge, that he might rest and take breath. They disarmed him as gently as they could, in order to examine his wounds, dress ihein, and sew u\> the most dangerous." (J) In the lelalion of this anecdote there appear to be two errors ; one in attributing to llie Princea momentary disi)leasure at Lord Audley's alienation of his bounty ; the other, in the amount of the subsequent grant. As every incident in the character and conduct of the heroic Edward is highly interesting, no apology will be necessary lor transcribing the whole transaction from the faithful Froissart. Scarcely was the battle ended, when the Prince, having dispatched the Earl of Warwick and Lord Cobham to inquire the fate of the King of France, turned AUDLEY, JAMES. §5 lurried to the knights who were around him, and asked if any knew what was become of the Lord Audley? " Yes Sir," replied some of tlie company ; he is very hadly wounded, and is lying in a litter hard by." ' I?y my trolli,' replied the Prince, ' I am sore vexed that he is wounded. See, I beg of you, if he be able to bear being carried hither: otherwise I will come and visit him.' Two kniglits directly left the Prince, and coming to Lord James, told him how desirous the Prince was of seeing him. " A thousand thanks to the Prince," answered lord James, " for condescending to remember so poor a knight as myself." He then called eight of his servants, and had himself borne in his litter to where the Prince was. When he came into his pre- sence, the prince bent down over him, and embraced him, saying; " My lord James, I am bound to honour you very much; for, by your valour this day, you have acquired glory and renown above us all, and your prow- ess has proved you the bravest knight." Lord James replied; " My lord, you have a right to say whatever you please, but I wish it were as you have said If I have this day been forward to serve you, it has been to accom- plish a vow that I had made. And it ought not to be thought so much of."' " Sir James," answered the Prince," I and all the rest of us deem you the bravest knight on our side in this battle; and to increase your re- nown, and furnish you withal to pursue your career of glory in war, I retain you henceforward, for ever, as my knight, with five hundred marcs of yearly revenue, which I will secure to you from my estates in England." " Sir," said lord James, " God make me deserving of the good fortune you bestow upon me," At these words he took leave of the prince, as he was very weak, and his servants carried him back to his tent." When he was carried thither, he did not remain long before he sent for his brother Sir Peter Audley, the lord Bartholomew Burghersh, Sir Stephen Cossington, lord Willoughby of Eresby, and lord William Ferrers of Groby : they were all his relations. He then sent for his four squires that had attended him that day, and, addressing Jiimself to the knights, said; " Gentlemen, it has pleased my lord the prince to give me five hundred marcs as a yearly inheritance ; for which gift I have done him very trifling bodily service. You see here these four squires, who have always served me most loyally, and especially in this day's engagement. What glory I may have gained has been through their means and by tfieir valour : on which account I vvish to reward them. I therefore give and resign into their hands the gift of five hundred marcs, which ray lord the Prince has been pleased to bestow on me, in the same form and manner that it has been presented to me. I disinherit myself of it, and give it to them simply, and without a possibility of revoking it. " The knights present looked at each other and said. It is becoming the noble mind of lord James to make such a gift; and then they unjiiiuiuusly added ; ' May the lord God remember you for it '. We will bear witness of this gift to them wheresoever and whensoever they may call onus.' Some days after, during his march toBourdeaux, the Prince ot Wales was informed how Lord James Audley had made a present of his pension of five hundred marcs 10 his squires. He sent for him : Lord James was carried in his litter to the prince, who received him very gra- ciously, and said to him, " Sir James, I have been informed that after you had taken leave of me, and were re- turned to your tent, you made a present to your four squires of the gilt I presented to you. 1 should like to know if this be true, why you did so, and if the gift were not agreeable to you?" " Yes my lord," answered Lord James, " It was most agreeable to me, and I will tell you the reasons which induced roe to bestow it on my squires. These four squires, who are here, have long and loyally served me, on many great and dangerous oc- casions; and until the day that I made them this present, I had not any way rewarded them for all their ser- vices; and never in this life were they of such help to me as on that day. I hold myself much bound to them for what they did at the battle of Poitiers; for, dear Sir, I am but a single man and can do no more than my powers admit, but through their aid and assistance I have accomplished my vow, which for a long time 1 Jiad made, and by their means was the first combatant, and should have paid for it with ray life, if they had not been near me. When, therefore, I consider courage, and the love they bear to me, I should not have been courteous nor grateful, if I had not rewarded them. Thank God, my lord, I have a sufficiency for my life, lo maintain my stale; and wealth has never yet failed me, nor do I believe it ever will. If therefore, I have in this acted contrary lo your wishes, I beseech you dear Sir, to pardon me; for you will be ever as loyally served by me and my squires, to whom I gave your present as heretofore." The prince answered, " Sir James, I do not in the least blame you for what you have done, but, on the contrary, acknowledge your bounty to your squires whom you praise so much. I readily confirm your gift to them, but I shall insist upon your accepting of six hundred maics, upon the same terms and conditions as the former gift." — See j/o/ines's liaiislalion of l/ie Chro- nicles oj Froissail, in lelaiion lo the second gianl, as esiublislied hy the records, in which mention is made of an annuily of Jour hundred pounds to Ihe Lord Audlej/, charged on Ihe coinage in Cornwall, duiuig his life, and one year thereafter. (3) Nicholas Lord Audley, dying without isiue on the 22d of July, 1392, was succeeded in his gieat estate, by his sister Margaret, wile of Sir Roger Hillarie, and his nephew John Touchet, the sou of Joan, his elder , sister. The Barony of Audley descended to the Touchets, and still subsists in the heir of that family, George Thicknesse Touchet, the present Lord Audley of Hcleigh, in the county of Stafi'ord. E BABINGTON, 26 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON BABINGTON, GERVAIS. 'iz. Catai. of BaBINGTON, Gervais, Lord Bishop of AVorcester, is said, by a late author,' rte^Bisiiops of jQ be a native of this county ; and, upon his authority, I relate him into the num- ber of our worthies. Doctor Fuller, in more places than one,*" (and some others from him,) tells us, he i-ciiurcii Hist, ^vas born in the county of Nottingham, of the antient family of the Babing- Abei ketiiv." tons, in the said county ; and ^^et in that very book, where it was most jiroper pag. 456. for him to have done it, I mean in his Worthies of England, printed after those other works of his, he doth not challenge him as such. There was a family of this name, which long flourished in and about Ottery St, Mary, in this county ; which, I suppose, was a younger branch of that of Notting- ' This is taken hamshire ; for Sir John Babington, Kt.,*^ by Benedicta his wife, daughter and heir of I'll'.' "of 'tii'is'fe- ^^^''''' '^^^^ issue Sir William, Thomas, Normannus,'' (sheriff of Derby and Notting- nifiy, hy Mi. hamshirc, anno 6 Hen. 6,) Arnold and John. Westc.toi.MS. joh,^ Babington, the fifth son, came into Devonsh. and married Margaret, daughter thies in Dei" aiid heir of Robert Knolle, of Knolle, in or near Ottery aforesaid, and had issue John: bysii. p. 242. John Babington, of Knolle, in Devon, by the daughter and heir of Weynman, of Devon, had issue John; who by Elizabeth, the daughter and co-heir of Walter French, of Ottery St. Mary, had issue John; who by Elizaliptii, daughter of Hol- combe, of Branscombe, had Nicholas, Sir John, and Sir Philip, which were Knights 'Risd. Siirv. of of Rhodes ; of which last, another author tclls US," that Philip Babington was one of Devon, iii ot- j|-jg Kuiahts of St. Johu of Hierusalcm, (the same with Rhodes ;) and that at the disso- lution of that order, he had ten pounds portion assigned him yearly tor his main- tenance. Nicholas Babington, of Ottery St. Mary, by Joan his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Henry Why ting, of Ottery St. Mary, Gent., had issue AValter, Avho consumed his estate ; but by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Bryan Travers, of Pill, near Barnstaple, left issue Thomas, whose name in these parts is now extinct. Which of these afore-mentioned gentlemen Bishop Babington challenged as his father, I do not find; tho' probably one of them might be so. Having drawn in the first rudiments of good literature, in the country, by his worthy parents care, he was sent to Cambridge, and was admitted into the society of Trinity College there ; at what time Doctor Whitgift was master. Having taken his degrees of arts in his own university, coming to the Act at Ox- fAth. Oxon. ford, anno 1578,' he was there admitted ad eundem, /. e. to the same priviledges in vol.1, p. 743. thj^t university, his degree did entitle him unto, at Cambridge. And having gotten great fame for his other parts of learning, he gave himself to the study of divinity ; e Fuller's Abel and bccamc a worthy preacher in the university^ where he resided. Kitiiv. quo su- Being now doctor of divinity, he was made his domestick-chaplain by Henry Earl of Pembroke, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and president of the council in the marches of Wales ; whose excellent Countess, Mary Sidney, made an tery St. Mary. pra, exact translation of the Psalms of David into English meetre. In which great under- taking, 'tis believed she had the assistance of this her chaplain. For it was more "Ath. Oxon. than a woman's skill, as a certain author notes,'' to express the sense so right as utantea. shehathdoneinherver.se; and more than the English and Latin translation could give her. Being thus related to this noble family, by the interest thereof, he was first made treasurer of the church of Landaff", in Wales; after that, the bishop. He received his Pr^siiL Lan- consecration, Aug. 'li), 1.591, tho' from whose hands it doth not ajipear.' Which dav. p. 641. l)lace, BABINGTON, GERVAIS. 87 place, his Lordsliip, in merriment, was wont to call Affe ; the land thereof being long before alienated by his unworthy predecessor Kitchin, in the days of K. Hen. 8, and Q. Mary. From thence, after three years residence there, he was translated to the see of Exeter, in his native country, February 1594, so Bishop Godwin i"' in May 1595, so''i<'- ibid, our Hooker;' in May 1593, so Mr. Izaac."" u^""'';/ l''^ NVhich of these accounts is most consonant to the truth, 1 shall leave it to their „, jyj^,^, ^j- disquisition who are curious in such nice matters. Exet. in the He continued no long time at Exeter, tho' long enough to do that church an irre-^'"""'^'*'"''"" parable injury ; but, we hope, against his will, as being over-awed by avaritious greatness rather than biassed by any private interest, which we can't fairly suppose of so good a man. However it was, he is said to have consented to the alienating from his church of Exeter, beyond the possibility of a retrieval, that rich and noble manor of Crediton, in this county, a bough as big near as the rest of the tree. This manor had been affixed to this bishoprick, from Eadulphus his time (who lived anno 907,) unto his own 1594, and computed worth a thousand marks per annum, rents of assize. 'Tis true, that courtly profuse antecessor of his. Bishop Voysey, in his time, wasted the bishoprick of Exeter as much as he could, for of two and twenty manors, which belonged unto it, he scarcely left eight, and they none of the best ; among others, this of Crediton was alienated also; but it not being done in due form of law, it was afterwards recovered. But then another bishop, says Hooker," more unadvised than "Choiogr. sy- careful for himself and successors, passed it by fine and recovery, unto Sir William ""jJ^'ji^ciTdit. Kelligrew, an hungry courtier in Q. Elizabeth's days. And tho' there have been strong endeavours since used to that purpose, it is now gone beyond recovery out of the hands of the bishop, and long since out of the name of the Kelligrews also. So true is that, De male quaesitis The thus passing away of this manor, might give occasion to a statute against ecclesiasticks alienating the revenues of the church. Until which time, it seems, spiritual lords, could as freely sell and dispose of their temporalities, as secular lords could. Which power, the popish bishops, when they saw the times inclining to a reformation, (envying the descent of those revenues on them they looked on as herc- tick-successors,) abused, to the spoil of the church, as much as they could. From Exeter, after three years continuance there, was Bishop Babington translated to Worcester, anno 1597, where having remained about three years longer, (as if that period were fatal to him) he was translated thence to heaven. 'Tis a good character which one gives of him," that, in the midst of all his prefer- "Fhii. Ahei ments, he was neither tainted with idleness, pride, or covetousness ; but was not only ^*'''*' i^" ''^''" diligent in preaching, the most honourable part of a bishop's office, if we may believe the apostle,'' but in writing books, for the better understanding of God's word. He p iTim. 5. i7. was an excellent pulpit-man, for having gotten up the affections of his auditory, he would keep them up to the end of his sermon. He wrote many things, viz. A large Commentary on the five Books of Moses; on the Lord's Prayer; the Creed ; the Ten Commandments : which was printed at first in quarto, after that, with many additions, in folio, 1615, called Bishop Babington's works. He died of the jaundice, May 17, 1610,'' and left his library to the church of''Tctericii3 dc- Worcester, where he lieth buried. lelo. go'<1w!' (liiosiip.p. .'J24. For 28 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ' Abel Rediv, Por an epitaph, we may take the epigram written on him by Dr. Fuller/ in his Abel Redivivus Renowned Babington spun out his days In truth and peace : and had the ecchoing praise Of every tongue: his worth was priz'd by all That lov'd religion : nothing could recall His heart from goodness : peace and love did rest Within the closet of his serious breast. Therefore let every tongue proclaim and cry. The fame of Babington shall never die. 'o"^ I find nothing of him remarkable farther, but, what perhaps never happened be- fore, that his paternal coat was exactly the same with that of his bishoprick of Wor- cester, with which impaled. Before his works in folio stands his picture, of venerable aspect ; under which are these verses engraven: — Non melior, non integrior, non cultior alter, Vir, Prajsul, praeco, more, fide, arte, fuit. Osq; probum, vultusq; gravis, pectusq; serenum : Alme Deus, tales prefice ubiq; gregi. Under these is the motto last quoted. BALDWIN, ( 29 ) BALDWIN, ARCHBISHOP. f'o;- a d. Hen. 2d. Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, by Balaeus sirnamed Devonius,* from his> cent. 3. p. country,was born at Exeter, of mean and obscure parents ;' yet so careful were they ff^^^^^ p^„. of this son of theirs, that they kept him at school, and brought him up to the know- peris eiius Ex- ledge of books and letters, unto which they observed him to be well disposed. Godwi'"'De Having passed the discipline of the school, he went abroad into the world for Pra'sui. Cant. farther education. And coming to the abby of Glastonbury, in the county of So- P" merset, he studved for some time in that famous monastery," where he made very " Dmig. Mo- .*'.,,. "^ nast Angl. vol. great progress m Virtue and learnmg. i.inGiastou. He was after this a school-master, which employment he followed a while in his younger years. At length he was admitted into holy orders ; when, for his excellent behaviour and eminent sanctity of life, he was made an arch-deacon ; though by whom, or of what place, it doth not appear. Which venerable office, whether for that he thought it too secular, and involved him too much in the aftairs of the world, or else for some other reason, that he had, inducing him thereunto, he freely laid aside; and with great devotion, and a mind above these inferiour things, he took upon him the habit, and became a monk of the more strict Cistertian order, in the abby of Ford, in this county. ■= Where being observed to exceed the other monks,'' p^j^j;^'°_*°'- he was, within a year after his admission, chosen abbat of that noted convent. « Quoniam mo- At this time, Henry the II. king of England, having been careless enough in the j^b'j^s^P|j'^y^ni affairs of the church, advancing very unfit persons unto the episcopal throne, now in ,aid. chainbr. his latter days sought to recover his credit, by preferring thereunto fit and worthy ^P|'^|^han^i men. Among which this our Baldwin was one, who was consecrated bishop of 2. p.' 130.' Worcester, in the year of our Lord 1181. Here he continued the space of three years, and then was he translated thence to Canterbury, where he was installed arch- bishop of that see, and primate of all England, with great solemnity,^ anno 1 185. yMaii 19,1185, But we are not to suppose that this was done without some opposition, which was [° jf [|',','3'="- thus occasioned. The suffragan bishops of the province of Canterbury, looked upon Cant. soieuitei it as their right to elect their archbishop ; the which the monks of that church also Goj"^'^''qJ'g ,„. challenged as their due. The controversy grew so high, that at lengtii they all ap-pra. pealed to Rome. Here the cause depended at great charges for about nine months space, and then came out the pope's mandate, requiring all persons concerned to proceed to the election of a fit person for that most venerable chair. Time and place was fixed for this purpose, but the monks not coming according to appointment, the bishops proceeded to the choice of Baldwin for their archbishop. The obstinate monks, discontented hereat, endeavoured all they could to null and cassate the election ; not but they all agreed well enough in the fitness and due qua- lifications of the person, but they disliked the manner thereof, as of very ill example'. ^ ^'^J^'ll'^"' At length the king, who wonderfully favoured Baldwin, as a person of a mild and „on aiinm'po- temperate spirit, interposed, and by his perswasion and authority, he brought them |.J'^* *sed'Tx." all to consent and acquiesce in the choice of this most worthy person. empiurn non However, the bu,sy monks of Canterbury could not long be quiet,^ nor would they JlJiJ}'^"^" ^'^' suffer this good man, their archbishop, to be so, but administered very great distur- g^.,,;, f„„^^y. bauces to him, especially from this occasion ; the king, being willing to get out of ■»« account is the hands of the monks (who were a petulant sort of people) all power ot electinij Q„,'j|J,j,^"iijj[i' the archbishop, fell upon this device; he was pleased to put Baldwin upon founding a stately college, at Hackinton, now S. Stephens, about half a mile from the city of Canterbury, ordering him to endow it with great revenues, for the reception of twenty canons or prebendaries; one of which was to be nominated by the king, the other so THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. other by the suffragan bishops. And so it was contrived, that the power of the election, for the future, should be invested only in those. And, them the king supposed, that he and his party should be able to manage better to his purpose, than he could the ignorant and obstinate monks. The work went on apace ; the church was built, and consecrated ; and some of the prebends were installed. The thick-scented monks, at last, began to smell out the design, and away they ran open-mouthed with their complaints to Rome; where arrived, with bribes and cries, they obtained a decree from Pope Urban the Third, to demolish the whole work, and lay it level with the ground. Dictum factum, no ^Difflare otu- soouer said than done, down fell all, flat to the earth, at one blast of this Roman-iEolus.'' erit yEoius'"iste So that the king and his party are at present forced to yield to the necessity of the Romamis iini- . dtssil^e'Tin But some time after this, Gregory the 8th, succeeding in the papal throne, the "cre""Godw." archbisliop thouglit his interest so considerable with him, that he should now be well De Prffisui.' enou"-h able to compass his design. AVhereupon he purchased from the church and Cant. p. 116. gjgijQp of Rochester, some lands at Lambetli, where the principal palace, belonging to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury now is, and of a long time hath been fixed (the oround whereof, we see, is owing to the care and providence of this our country- man.') Hither did our Baldwin order the materials to be brought from Hackinton, and a new colledge was begun, but before it could be finislied, envious death step'd in, and interrupted the design, by taking off this excellent prelate; where, and when, I shall anon declare. In the mean while, it may not be amiss to present unto your view a few linea- ments of this most reverend primate's person, as I find tliem drawn by the pencil of some learned men, especially of Giraldus Cambrensis, who lived in his time, and was personally acquainted with him, which I shall do as to body, temper, learning, and piety. ^ , ■ First, as to his body, he is represented of a brown complexion ; of a plain and comely countenance. For stature, he was of the middle size; of a good habit of body; i Colore fuit slender, not very gross.' llmphci "ac ve- Secondly, as to the frame and temper of his mind, as became a christian bishop, misto; Statu- |-,g ^^^^ meek and peaceable, sober and modest ; insomuch, Fame herself, in her fMbSe''' spotted coat, never durst say any thing to his prejudice. He was spare of speech, corporis bon&, gj^^ ^o au^cr, scrious in his looks, mild and remiss, almost to a fault; through which erasslf Ovrauroccasion, 'Us said, the pope thus accosted him in a letter, which he sent him on a a,.ud Godw. ^jj^^g . "'"" ''""'■ " Urbanus, servus servorum Dei, monacho ferventissimo, abbati calido, episcopo tepido, archiepiscopo remisso salutem." Thirdly, as for his learning, he descends unto us under an high character; that he was a very wise and understanding prelate, (wisdom is learning concocted) and one well versed in business; and said to be " vir utiq; literatissimus. Valde literatus ; ac in sacris scripturis, affatim eruditus. Vh ore fa.cundus ; exactus philosophus ; & i Id. ibid. & ad omne studiorum genus per illos dies aptissimus.'"'' uai. Cent. 3. j^g ^^,^^ ^ jj,;in gyeiy way learned, an excellent orator, an exact philosopher, and s'k'f' '"'°' adapted unto all kinds of studies. But what was the crown of all his accomplish- ments this way, he was abundantly skilled in the holy Scriptures ; although, had those authors been silent in this matter, the v.'orks which he left behind him, suffi- ciently declare his abilities in this kind; whereof I shall present you a catalogue by and by. In the mean time let us proceed. Lastly, to a consideration of his admiral)!c piety and devotion, he sate forth betimes Mugnm domi-in the Way of virtue, and is said to have l)orn the yoak of the Lord in his youth;' so ri ab adoies- ^j ^ for his houcst and pious conversation, lu- proved an eminent light unto tlie people; ccntia portans, i . he BALDWIN, ARCHBISHOP. 31 be contentedly renounced the world, and betook himself to one of the strictest orders "^^bus^jha of religion, which is the cistertian, as was said before. S^"'*'' a So tliat, for piety, he is acknowledged to have excelled that reputed great saint and sac?'v'oi. 2.^' martyr of the church of Rome, his immediate predecessor, but one, St. Thomas p. 439. Becket himself. For Thomas, in a journey, when he came to any town or parish, would go first into the hall ; but Baldwin would go first to the church. Thomas pre- ferred religion in shew, he in deed. The one was for the outside and habit ; the ^ other for the inward marrow" and spirit of it. ^ Equitatu^ad^ He was moreover a vigilant pastor over his flock, sowing the word of God, so far as viiiam veniens the iniquity of those times would bear it, where ever he came. He always carefully ^^tZ tr'BaTd. avoided ostentation, and what good works he performed, he would ever endeavour to winus eociesi- conceal, as if he had that of our blessed Saviour always before his eyes," " when thou ^"^^/^pY^'^^'J; do'st alms, let not thy left-hand know v/hat thy right-hand doth." -129. To this we may add, what renders him greatly renowned in history, that ardent ° s. Mat. 6. 3. zeal he had for the cross of Christ, which is" manifest to all the world. For Baldwin, after he had heard the wrong done to our Saviour by Saladine, sultan of Mgypt, courageously performed his office of preaching obedience and duty to him ; as well in far distant countries as at home. At this time it was that God had touched the heart of Richard, the first of that name, king of England, an heroic and pious prince, with a mighty zeal, also, to rescue the holy sepulchre of our blessed Saviour, and the city Jerusalem, out of the hands of the infidels. So earnestly bent was that king upon this glorious enterprize, that he raised a mighty army of 30000 foot, and 5000 horse," and vast heaps of treasure, aud went himself in person, for the better ° Bak. cinon. rr ■ c -^ in K. Ricb. 1. eliecting 01 it. Our Baldwin promoted this noble undertaking to his utmost power; and by dili- gent travel through England and Wales, in person, he stirred up, and perswaded all christian people, so far as he could, to follow the Craesado, and attend their soveraign. And although he was now of a very considerable age, he went himself, being none of those who will bind heavy burthens on other men's shoulders, which they will not touch with one of their fingers. The king and his army were gone before, and the archbishop, having dispatched the aftairs for which he stayed behind, followed speedily after. He travelled, it seems, from hence to Marseilles by land, for there is he said to have embarqued himself.'' And having at length passed the Levant sea, he arrived safely in the haven PGiiaid. Cam. ofTyrus, from thence he went over to Aeon, or Ptolomais, a city of Phoenicia, to ^"^ ''""'• our army, besieging the town, and as it were, besieged it self by the more dreadful enemies of sickness and famine. When this holy man came thither, among all the misfortunes that he found there, the greatest was, a sad division and emulation, (the spoil and bane of the most glo- rious designs) among the christian princes. So true is the observation,"* that emu- q sir n.Bakcr lation, when it is in virtue, makes the strongest knot of love and affection ; but when ^""i"""- it is in glory, it makes a separation, and turns into envy and malice. So it did at this time with Philip, king of France, one of the prime undertakers in this glorious action, in respect to our K. Richard, who pretending the air of the country did not agree with his body, when indeed it was, because the air of K. Ricliard's glory did not agree with his mind ; he obtained leave of K. Richard to return home, solemnlj^ swearing, first, that he would not molest his territories in his absence. This parting fell out very unseasonable for the present undertaking ; for however K. Philip's de- parture diminished but little of the forces, it did much of the reputation of the cause; for Saladine, who was at that time upon terms of surrendering Jerusalem, when he saw this, knowing there must be a conclusion, where was a beginning, doubted not but the rest of the princes would soon follow after, as accordingly it fell out; although, in j2 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. in all probability, not before K. Richard had taken Jerusalem, upon vvhicii he was very intent, had not the Duke of Burgundy withdrawn his forces, envying that king the honour of it. Insomuch, after that time, all opportunity of taking it was utterly lost, and they could never come to the like again. But to return to Baldwin ; being arrived in the camp, he behaved himself as became a christian bishop, and was especially careful of his country-men, by preaching to ■^ubi miiitos them, and comforting of them in the best manner that he could/ For when he came ^eni"nf&Ver°i thither, as was hinted before, what by reason of the divisions among the princes, cuiictos, piin- j^j^d ^vi^at by reason of want, sickness, and famine, he found all in the deejjest distress cipuin (lefectu in suiiima de- and despau". soiatioiie jam However, cvery one, according to his power, he embraced with the arms of love Fpemtiont gI" and charity, and both by words "and deeds he awhile supported and strengthened raid. de. vit. ^]^q^^ under all their pressures. So that by preaching and doctrine, by hand and a.pra^''i'!'43'r purse, he did Avhat good among them he possibly could ; until, at length, at the siege of Ptolemais, aforesaid, he himself was taken ill of a dangerous disease, which shortly after issued in his death, to the encrease of the grief and sorrow of all good men there that knew him, and observed his zeal in the cause of Christ. For there is this testi- mony given of his behaviour, on this occasion, that, " nostrorum partes ibijuvavit mao-nopere, concionando, consulendo, pecunias egenis erogando, 6c morum sanctis- Godw. de simorum exemplo,'" he did greatly support our country-men there, not only by Pia-sui Cant, preachinf' and counsel, but by his charity to the poor, and the example of a most 117. holy conversation. How long he had continued in the archiepiscopal chair of Canterbury before he ' De vitis ar- Jjed, is variously delivered, Birchinton tells us,' it was but five years ; but Dicetus Aii'^'''sac"vur. says'" it was six years, six months, and seventeen days ; and so Bishop Godwin tells i."p. lu.' ' ^i^^ that he died after he had exercised the archiepiscopal function near seven years." "In Aug. Sac. 'wj^^t riches this good man had by him, at the time of his death, he ordered them Im. ^' '"'' to be distributed aniong the souldiers, and that according as Hubert, bishop of Salis- "■Qnosui-ra. bury, the executor of his last will and testament, there present, (and his successor in the see of Canterbury) should think fit. What year this holy prelate died, I do not find, although it must be about 1191. But after his decease, his venerable remains were decently interred at Tyre, in Syria. What I have to add farther of him, is to give, according to my promise, a cata- loifueofhis works; all which, such was the great dearness between them, he dedi- cated to his friend and countryman Bartholomteus Iscanus, Bishop of Exeter ; as Iscanus, in like manner, did his to him ; a catalogue whereof, as delivered by Baheus, here follows. He wrote, De Corpore & Sanguine Domini, lib. 1 ; De Sacramentis EcclesiiE, lib. 1 ; De Orthodoxis Dogniatibus, lib. 1 ; De Sectis Ilaereticorum, lib. 2; Commendationem Fidei, lib. 1 ; De Unitate Charitatis, lib. 1 ; De Sacerdotio Jo- hannis Hircani, lib. 1 ; Super Eruditione Giraldi, lib. 1 ; Sermones, 33, lib. 1 ; De Amore, lib. 1 ; Super Historiis Regum, lib. 4; Contra llenricum ^\'intoniensem, lib. 1 ; Commendationem Virginitatis, lib. 1 ; Carmen Devotionis, lib. 1 ; De Cruce, lib. 1 ; De Angeli Nuntio, lib. 1 ; Mythologium, lib. 1 ; Epistolarum Suarum, lib. 1. He is said to have written several other things, which, although they are not re- corded by Bale, yet he tells us where they may be found upon occasion, to wit, in .Johannes Hagustaldensis, Giraldus, and Bostonus. What particular pieces of this famous prelate's works are still in being, their edi- tions, and where to be found, they who would farther satisfy their curiosity herein, may consult that elaborate work of the learned Doctor Cave, entituled, Histor. 1 iterat. BALL. ( 33 ) BALL, SIR PETER. Ball, sir Peter, Kt. was born at Mamhead, fNoteJ a very small parish, lying on Fior. a. d the west side of the Exe, near the place where that river sheds itself into the British car!"i.^' ^ ocean. This was sometime the lands of Peverel, then of Carew, since of Ball;' and.Risd. Snrv.iu lieth about ten miles to the south of the city of Exon, in this county. This name "'""head. ms. antiently flourished in the parish of Axminster, near the way that leadeth to Mus- bury, where it enjoyed a pleasant seat, and a fair demesne, called Ball's unto this day.' Richard Ball," with some others, was a witness to a deed of WilHam Rosel dcsir vv.^Po^e» la Gate, to William his son, of a certain place called the Castle of Axminster, an. 23 ^'^^^ * ^g "* Edw. fd. R. Hen. 1295. This gentleman's father was Giles Ball, gent. ; his mother was a Copleston of In- stow ; his grandfather married the daughter and heir of Bridges ; and he himself the daughter of Sir William Cooke, of Glocestershire, Kt. by whom he had a numerous issue, most of which became eminent persons, as may be observed hereafter. Sir Peter Ball having in his younger days laid a good foundation both of school and university learning, went to the Inns of Court, and entered himself a student of the Middle Temple, London, where he made so great proficiency in the laws of his country, that being called to the bar, he was sworn Recorder of the city of Exeter, A. D. 1632." After that, he was chosen Lent-reader of his own house, in the 16th' iz.^ Mem. ^^ of K. Char. I, 1640, which is an office of great reputation, for they are commonly the " •^■^' eldest utter barresters among them, who are appointed thereunto by the benchers (to whom is committed the government of the whole house); and also out of the number of readers the Serjeants at law are usually chosen. Then was he made the queen's soUiciter, (consort to K. Charles the First) and thence advanced, 1643, to be her attorney ; near about which time he was honoured by that king with the degree of knighthood. But the current of those times became so strong and rapid against law and loyalty, that it put a stop to the farther preferments of this eminent rising person : who, had he fallen into more calm and serene days, 'tis not improbable, but his advancement would have been so high as merit and the law could mount him. But instead of meeting the honour of higher preferment, he must look for honour of another kind, and that is, the honour of suftering for the best cause, and for the best of princes ; which he sustained chearfully, being no less eminent in those worst of times, for his loyalty, than for his law ; which is not strange neither, for where is the most knowledge of the law, that directs to the utmost loyalty. Which in this gentle- man shewed itself, not only in doing, but, as is said, in suffering ; for his loyalty cost him twelve hundred and fifty pounds composition in Goldsmiths hall,'' the loss of all '^Cat^aK of his preferments, and a bitter sequesteration, during all that long time that anarchy ],o„d. Print, was dominant here in England, and imprisonment into the bargain. i*^^- Nor ought it to be esteemed the least of Sir Peter Ball's honours, that in the year 1643, as fTparticular mark of his loyalty, among several other eminent persons then in Oxford, he was recommended by the king, and admitted by the university, to the degree of Doctor of the Civil Law ;" but on the declining of the king's cause, he became = Fast. Oxon. (as you have heard) a great sufferer, and though he was not a downright martyr, he"-^- v-'^'^^- was no less than a confessor for the 13th chapter to the Romans. But, however, this proved a very long night of gloominess and darkness to him, and other eminent, loyal, and good men, even a night above twelve years long; yet, at length, joy came in the morning. So true is that of the poet, Nocte pluit tota, veniunt spectacula mane, F Although p. 31 34 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Although it chance all night to rain. The morn will bring fair shews again. For thus it pleased Almighty God, that at last, this stormy night of confusion was over, and the restoration of the king and church, by a miracle of Providence, suc- ceeded in the place thereof, and with them liberty and property came into their proper channel again. Insomuch, this worthy night was re-invested with what he had lost, I mean his offices and preferments, and that was all. Thus in the year IG60, was he restored to his attorneyship to Q. Mary, IK.. Charles the First's dowager royal) and to his Recordership of Exeter also ; whose successor in that honourable office, during the inter regnum, Thomas Bamfield, Esq. (a descendant from Polti- more-house) hath this memorable passage recorded of him, " that he made a volun- tary restitution of the profits of the said office, during the time he had it, to the poor fMr. Izac. of the city of Exeter.'" Mem. Part. 1. jj^ which officc of Recorder of the city of Exeter doth Sir Peter Ball continue a long while after this, until at length, oppressed by the infirmities of a great age, and being much broken thereby, so that he could hardly attend the duties thereof, he willingly surrendered his Recordership into the city's hands, I676, (in which, that worthy, honest gentleman, Sir Thomas Carew, of Barly, Kt. succeeded him) and not long after he surrendered up his pious soul into the hands of God that gave it, in his house at Mamhead, which he had very fairly rebuiided ; and lieth interred in the little church there, whereof he was the patron. Among other things, he was ex- cellently well skilled in antirpiities, and wrote several volumes therein, but with so ill an hand, that they are not legible. His son, William Ball, Esq. the heir, no less to his virtues, than his lands, hath erected a noble monument to his memory, with a large epitaph, which 1 shall here insert, in tlie words and form found thereon. Sir Peter Ball, Knight, son of Giles Ball, gent, buried at Dovvland, and Urith his wife here: lived married to Ann, daughter of Sir William Cooke, of Glocestershire, 54 years: had by her, William, married to Mary-Posthunia Ilussey, of that honour- able family in Lincolnshire. Redagund married Sir Miles Cooke, buried here; Peter at Exeter; Lucy married Thomas Peck of Norfolk, Esq. buried at Norwich. Ann married John Milner, of Middlesex, Esq., Goring, councellor at law; Peter, doctor of physick, buried in the Temple; Dorothy at St. Andrew's Holborn: Elizabeth, Robert, merchant at Leghorn, Giles, merchant at Genoa, Dorothy, Joyce ; John, merchant at Aleppo, died at Jamaica, factor for the royal company ; Charles, mer- chant at Messina, Amos, merchant at Cales, died at Naples; Henrietta Maria his 17th chilli. His excellency in all learning, and great knowledge in the law, gave him early l)referment : Recorder of Exeter at 34, sollicitor, then attorney to Henrietta Maria, queen to Charles the Martyr; and of his council at 37- Engaging in the troubles, 1641, siiflered the fate of loyalty ; at the return of Charles the 'id (disobliging the great f.ivourite) was only restored to his former places, serving his royal mistress all her life, and her concerns 3 years after ; retired hither, and died in his 8'2 year, I68O. This monument is adorned with divers coats of arms, being the matches of this family. ADDITIONAL NOTE. UPON t!ie failme of iliis family, Mamhead became the property of Mr. A. Rees, tlie heir of the last Mr. Ball; liom whom, by jjurchase, it passed into the family of Nightingale, and tlience into that of V^nighan, by the marriage of Elizabeth, heir of Joseph Gascoyne Nightingale, of Mamhead, in Devon, and Enlield in Middle- sex, with Wiluiot Vanghan, first Earl of Lisburne. Mamhead is still the seat of the Earl of Lisburne. BAMPFEILD, ( 35 BAMPFEILD, SIR COPLESTOX, BARONET. BaMPFEILD, Sir Copleston, Baronet, was born at Poltimore, in this county, i" j']';;"; ^^^ the year of our Lord God 16'36. He was the eldest son, among nineteen children, ca,'.';;. of Sn- John Banijjfeild, of Poltimore, aforesaid, Baronet, and of — — his w'de, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Copleston, of Copleston and Warlegh, Esq. Which parish of Poltimore (antiently Clist-Moys) lieth about four miles to the north-east of the city of Exon, and had iieretofore lords of the same name, who had lands also, so called, in Glamorganshire, in Wales.' Four of this family successively re- "j/j'^Jf-j^^Jr* sided in this place, as Stephen de Poltimore, Bartholomew, Sir Richard, and Sir Richard Detain 'poit. de Poltimore, Kts., which last, having no issue of his own, granted Poltimore unto MS. Simon Lord Montacute, who sold it unto William Pontington, canon of the church of Exeter, for two hundred pounds, in the 26th year of K. Edw. L A. D. 1298, and he gave it unto John Bampfeild, fNo/e \.J whom he had the care and tuition of, for lie is stiled his alumnus, or pupil ; ever since which time, now four hundred years ago, these lands have continued in the honourable family of Bampfeild ; which hath matched into several noble families, as Beauchamp, Cobham, Saint Maur, Clitford, and others; and greatly augmented his estate by marrying divers daughters and heirs, as Hoxham, Pederton, Turvey, Merton, Saint Maur of North-Molton, Cople- ston, &c. By the daughter and heir of Pederton, John Bampfeild, of Poltimore, had Har- dington, in Somersetshire, which he settled upon Peter, his younger son;'' at which " id. "bid. place, the name of Bampfeild hath flourished ever since K. Hen. 6th's days, unto the year 1694 (near upon two hundred and fifty years,) when the last issue male of that family, Warwick Bampfeild, Esq. by his last will and testament, settled Hardington, and his other lands, upon his kindsman and godson, the present Sir Copleston- Warwick Bampfeild, of Poltimore, Baronet, eldest son of Collonel Hugh Bampfeild, the only son of Sir Copleston Bampfeild, a young gentleman of about nine or ten years of age, of great hopes and expectations. Here I might take occasion to speak of the gentile and well accommodated seat of Poltimore house, which stands in the middle of the parish (whose manor comprizeth the w hole) unto which belongeth a park, warren, dove-coat, ponds, &,c. all fitted for hospitality ; upon the account whereof, and its zeal in religion, this family hath been \ery eminent. Before I proceed to a more particular discourse of the honourable gentleman before us, I ought not to pretermit a most memorable passage, of undoubted credit, which happened to one of the heirs of this house, not many generations back. It was thus, his father dying, the young gentleman fell award to some great person in the east- country, who seized upon him while he was very young, carryed him away to his own home. He being now possessed of his person and estate, some years after gave it out, he was gone to travel (or the like pretence) ; insomuch, his relations and friends believing it to be true, looked no farther after liim. So that concealing from him his quahty, and condition, and preventing what he could any discovery thereof, his guardian bred him up as his servant, and at last made him his huntsman. It hap- ned, that one of Mr. Bampfeild's tenants, understanding something of this mistery, made it his business, first to find him out, and next to discourse with him about it, which in a little time he had an opportunity to do, when acquainting him with his birth and fortunes, it was agreed on between them, that he should come at such a time, and privately fetch him away. This he did accordingly, and so retrieved the riaht ' 36 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. right heir of the family, which hath here flourished in great honour ever since ; and God grant it long to do. From this I shall proceed to the history of this honourable gentleman, in whose name are comprized tlie sirnames of two noble Devonshire famihes ; the one he de- rived from his father, the other he took from his mother ; who, as is said before, was the youngest of the two daughters and heirs of Copleston, of Copleston and Warley (both in this county ;) which last and best estate, she brought with her into this house, in which it still remains. (Note 2. J Sir Copleston Bampfeild, having thus by nature all the advantages of a generous birth, it was designed by his guardians (his father dying while he was young,) that he should have those also of a liberal education. He was, therefore, when somewhat qualified for it, by school-learning, sent to the university of Oxford, where he became a member, in the quality of a nobleman, as they are there called, of Corpus Christi College. How well he answered that title, appeared from his very generous and splendid way of living there ; and that large and noble plate he left unto his college, when he went thence, which remained a long while after a monument of his muni- ficence, until at length, with some other pieces, it was stoln away. Having, after this, stop'd at London some time. Sir Copleston returned into his native country, which hapned to be in the dregs of anarchy and confusion ; but having a vigorous soul, actuated even then, with principles of loyalty to his sove- raign, though in exile, and of duty to the church, then under a cloud, he became very industrious, witli several other persons of honour and quality in these parts, for the happy restauration of both. But then his zeal this way, rendred him at length suspected to the men in power; insomuch, messengers, or pursivants were sent abroad to apprehend him; at which time, he was pleased to conceal himself a while at Trill, one of the houses of his noble friend John Drake, Esq. afterward Sir John Drake, Kt. and Baronet, by which means he escaped their hands. Notwithstanding any threatning danger that might happen, his generous mind could not be affrighted from following his duty and honour. And therefore, when the commons of the city of Exeter began to rise, and to put themselves in arms, de- claring for a free parliament, which happening at the general quarter-sessions for the county of Devon, this gentleman, and several other ])crsons of quality, were there present, they all agreed in a remonstrance to be forthwith . J ' Dav. Lloyd? author s' own words : .,., ,,., ■■ c Modem PoU- " Sir Copleston Bampfeild presented to General Monk an humble petition tor cy, or the Ac- right, in the name of the city and county of Exeter and Devon, without any respect ""jny^f^cie"*- to the counties whence he came, the message he carryed, or the honourable person print, svo. to whom employed, with another honourable gentleman that came on a like account, ^,^^"'3 p''" -• was confined to the Tower by the Rump." But his stay there could not be long, for there having been so many overturnings, overturnings, overturnings among them, he at length came (by a miracle of Pro- vidence) whose right it was, Charles the Second, of very gracious memory, and with him our religion and property, laws and liberties. Which being thus acquired, it required no less care and industry to secure them now gotten, than to get them : so true is that of the poet, Non minor est virtus quam quserere, parta tueri — 'Tis no less virtue to maintain. Than 'tis a conquest for to gain. Hence, this gentleman, having thus acted in conjunction with other worthy pa- triots, for restoring the publick welfare, it may not be forgotten, what particular care and pains he took for tlie conserving thereof, beyond a possibility of an interruption ; and this he did, by disarming disaffected and suspicious persons, whose disloyalty was now become not only their principle, but their interest, as being (some of them at least) in profitable offices and places of trust; others in the possession of the king's, or church's lands and houses, and they could now near as willingly have parted with their lives, as with them. This gentleman, together with another very honourable person of our county, the honourable Sir William Courtenay, of Powderham-Castle, Bart, raising each a gallant troop of about an hundred and twenty gentlemen (most of them persons of quality and estates) in the head of which they rode themselves, securing some, and disarming others, they brought all the disaffected in those parts into a due subjection to the government, in a little time. When SS THE AVORTHIES OF DEVON. Wlien these tlangers now were so happily over, and the nation once more settled upon its antient bottom, this honourable person had the whole posse comitatus of Devon put into his hands by King Charles the Second ; he being the first high-sheriff of this county, whicli he made after his return to the throne, and this was in the year of our Lord 1661. Which office, Sir Copleston executed with that splendor, in an extraordinary^ nimd)er of liveries, and attendants, as gave occasion to the stinting siieritfs for the future, not to exceed forty upon their own account. Nor was this the only place of trust and honour he was concerned in, for the service of his ))rince and country; but, besides his being constantly in commission of llie peace, and deputy-lieutenant of the county (a little while only excepted in K. James the Second's r'eign, when he, with a great many other loyal gentlemen, had the honour to be turned out,) he was chosen (in despight of all the interest could be made to tlie contrary) kuiglit of the shire, to serve as one of the representatives of this honourable county in parliament, so generally was he beloved. Nor was this gentleman concerned only in the menagery of the civil affairs of the county, but engaged in the military also, as being (what of long time was in his family) one of the coUonels of the county militia, which post he continued unto the time of the Monmothian invasion, when somewhat declining in his health, and his son being come of age, he was pleased to drop that honourable office into his hands. Havin'g thus accompanied this eminent person to the last scene of his life, we can do no less than observe, how lie performed that part thereof, and so quitted this stage of mortality. . When the Prince of Orange (our now gracious soveraign King \V dliam) first landed in Devon, and had marched with his army so far as Exeter, Sir Copleston being ill himself, was yet pleased that his son, the coUonel, should wait upon his Highness, and congratidate his arrival, as one come to preserve our laws and religion, and maintain the established government. But when, at length, he apprehended, that matters were carryed beyond all imaginations, fearing a change would be made in the fundamental consitution of the government, he so far declared against those proceedings, as to refuse payment of any new made rates and taxes, and the collectors were enforced to levy them by distress upon his goods. We are now come to the last act in this gentleman's part of life, which we may suppose was not a little hastened, by the doleful tidings of the untimely end of his only son and child, Collonel Hugh Bampfeild, a young gentleman of the sweetest temper, and tiie greatest hopes of any other in all those parts ; who returning out of Cornwall (where he had been solemnizing the nuptials of some persons of quality) to his own home at Warly, and riding swiftly out of sight of his servants, down a hill, in a fair smooth place, his horse triped, and threw him off with that violence, that pitching on his head, he rutld'ully broke abroad his skull ; insomuch, when the skin afterward came to be dissected, by the chirurgeon, the cranium fell asunder. Before whose fatal end, there were observed some unusual foreboding cu'cumstances, which T shall not at present commemorate, lest I should be thought herein too super- stitious in the censure of some, nor can I wholly pretermit the thing, that I may not be accounted profane in the opinion of others : 'tis good advice, Discite justitiam moniti & non temnerc divos Being fairly warn'd, learn to be wise. And not to scorn the destinies. A very heavy stroak I What infiuence this tragedy of the son might be of, towards the hastening on the father's exit, I am not able to say ; only this is certain, that Sir Copleston, not long after, being disposed to visit his son's relict (a lady of great worth and virtues, of the noble family of the Cliffords,) together with his two grandsons, at their house at Warly; as soon as he came in, he said, " that he should never more go BAMPFEILD, SIR COPLESTON, BARONET. 39 go thence alive;" which accordingly fell out, for after lie had been there a very short time, the gout (with which, in his latter years, he had been greatly afflicted) re- turning upon him with violence, and like an armed man, surprizing the castle of his heart, soon put a period to his days, in the five and fiftieth year of his life, A. D. 1691. , ., , , , , Before his decease (what is very remarkable'l he called his family together, and Jeit this in strict charge with them, " That they should always continue faithful to the religion of the established church of England, and be sure to pay their allegiance to the right heirs of the crown. If now after all, any should be desirous to have a more particular character of this . great man's person, that would require a much abler hand, and also the advantage of a fairer light, than what I can pretend unto, to give a just and lively portraiture of him. However,°I shall adventure at a few strokes, which may serve as a priming to such, who with better skill and leisure may, in time, think fit to draw him to greater per- fection. Shall you respect his mein, and outward appearance, he was the goodliest person that ever mine eyes beheld. Of stature much above the common standard of men, exceeding, by some inches, six foot in height. For girth and bulk he was every way proportionable, which was also compleatly filled out with a vigorous and lively soul, of which we may say that it did, non tantum bene sed auguste & splendide habitare, dwell, not in an easy and pleasant only, but in a very noble and stately mansion. He was also of aVerv sweet aspect, of a manly and yet a charming countenance; to whom that of Suetonius, in relation to Augustus,' may be truly applied, that he 'In vita ejus, was forma eximia, & per omnes astatis gradus, venustissima, very comely and charm- ing through all the periods of his age, so that he was the darling of his country; and it may be still a question, whether he was more beloved or admired ? Nor did his intellectual faculties fail short of his other perfections, for he had a ready wit, and a good judgnieiit, and was of a truly large and generous soul. For though he had a fair estate, and a very plentiful fortune, for many years together, he did not only live up to it, but beyond it, always keeping about him a great retinue, and a noble equipage. He was farther (what is the badg of a true gentleman) of a courteous obliging carriage to all, but very condescending to his inferiors, willing to befriend and gratify 'em, if in anv thing they applied themselves unto him. As if he had been of that sweet Emperor Tit'iis's make and constitution, of whom the historian testifies,^ " nul- tw in ejus lum unquam a se tristem dimississe, that he never loved to let any client depart from " ^■ him whh an heavy heart. In a word, he was every way a gallant gentleman, and was the honour of his time, and our country. For his religion, as he always lived in the profession, so he died in the communion of that of the" church of England. His remains being brought from Warly thither, lie intombed among his ancestors, in the parish church of Poltimorc, without any funeral monument. ADDITIONAL NOTES. (1.) From this John Bampfield, the twelfth in lineal succession, was John, created a Baronet, July 14, 16'4I. He married Gertrude, tlie daughter of Amias, and sister and co-heir of John Copleston, ol Copleston and Warlegh. Sir Copleston his son, of whom our author treats, was succeeded by his grandson Sir Copleston WarwTck, son of Hugh, who died before his father. He married Gertrude, daughter of Sir John Carew, of Antony, Darouet, and relict of Sir Godfrey Copley, Baronet, by whom he had issue. Sir Richard Warwick, the father of the present Baronet Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde, who is tlie seventeenth in lineal descent from John Bampfield, the hrst possessor ol Poltimore. (2.) Warlegh has been since alienated, as may be seen in the notes on Copleston, and is now the resi- dence of the Rev. Walter RadclifTe. _,_ ^ DE BAMPTON, 40 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. DE BAMPTON, JOHN, D.D. DE BAMPTON, John, Doctor of Divinity, was born at the town of Bampton, lying on the skirts of Somersetshire, about five miles north of Tiverton, in this county. This place heretofore, was variously written, as Bahantune, Baenton, Bauii- - Diigd. Bar. tOH, Bahampton, Bampton, &c.' It is an antient town, privileged with a weekly V. 1. p. 43-'. market on Saturdays, and two yearly fairs, the one in Whitsim-week, the other on St. Luke's day. It giveth name to the hundred, which hath six other parishes within it. Here, as Marianus and Florentius report, A.D. 620, was a great conflict between ' wesc.surv. Kencgcl the first Christian King of the AVest-Saxons, and the Britains,'' where the ill Bauiit. MS.j^;pg py(- twenty thousand to the sword; the original names a larger number, by one cipher. These lands are given by William the Conqueror to a noble Norman, Walter de Doway, who had his castle in this place : which yet did not long continue in his name; for Robert his son, called himself de Bahantune or Baunton, whose daughter and heir Julian, brought this inheritance to her husband, William Paganel, or Paynel, Lord of Bridgwater, whose son's daughter. Christian, brought this estate to her hus- ' Sir w Pole's band," that great soldier and undertaker of the Irish conquest, Sir Milo Cogan, Kt. by iiiTjaiint. **' which mcans it came into that name ; in which it flourished for divers descents in much honour. Until at length Elizabeth, sister and co-heir of Sir John Cogan, the eighth knight of that name in a direct line in this place, brought it to her husband. Sir Fulk Fitz- Warren, Kt. Lord of Wanting : and by another heir of that honourable tribe, it came to Sir Richard Hankford of Annery, in this county, Kt. by one of the co-heirs of which family, it came to the most noble line of Bourchier, late Earls of Bath ; whose dwelling was at Taustock near Barnstaple : in which having continued about six de- scents, it fell, with many other noble estates, among three heirs female ; one married to the Earl of Stampford, one to the Earl of Denbeigh, and one to Sir Christopher Wray, of Cornwal, Baronet ; in whose posterity, for the most part, it still remains to this day: and is the noble seat of the Lady Wray, Dowager of the honourable Sir Bourchier Wray, Bart, lately deceased. *Mr. Risd. At this place we are informed^ was this John de Baunton, or de Bampton bornj of Dev. in whosc name is said to be local, and to be derived from thence. For according to Bampt. MS. antient custom, clergymen of note were wont to be called from the town or village where they were born. Which practice continued much in vogue unto the days of King Henry the sixth, and then — de — such a place, began to be left off: began, sa^^s ' Wortii.p.43. puiigr,<^ but not quite finished, for some continued the use a long while after. This John de Bampton, as to his profession, was a Monk of the order of the Car- melites; so called, from having their habitation in caves and rocks in the hill Car- fRoss. viewof ji^ei- famous for the prophets Elias and Elisha:^ They began about the year of Christ, 1160. Or as others say, 1121. They came into England, Anno 1240. Ralph Fres- burn was their first governour here, and Humfrid Neckton, the first Carmelite that read School-Divinity in Cambridg ; and was of that order, the first Doctor of Divi- nity. Gregory the ninth, who was advanced to the popedom. Anno 1227, forbad them to enjoy possessions or revenues; but were to beg from door to door. To be of this order, was held meritorious in the church of Rome : and of this was John de Bampton. Cmu. ia^p.^6. ^^^ ^^^ ^ great lover of learning, and studied many years at Cambridg ;^ and is h Risd. quo s^'^ to have been the first that read Aristotle publickly in the schools there.'' He ap- supra. plyed himself also to nobler studies; and made so great progress in divinity, that he at length commenced doctor of that sublime faculty. He DE BAMPTON, JOHN, D. D. 41 He was a person excellently learned for the times wherein he lived; had a very- acute wit,' and was a great disputant. For he well knew how to urge and how to ' ^al. ibid, evade all the subtilties of sophistical arguments. He wrote divers books, some of which we find thus entituled in the centuries of Balaeus. Opusculum octo Quasstionum. Lib. 1. — De veritatc Propositionum, Lib. I. — Lecturie Scholasticai in Theologia, Lib. 1. Some other tilings he composed, but altogether sophistry, as that author tells us. How long Doctor Bampton continued in the university after the taking that degree, or whether he retired to any particular monastery of his order, I am not able to inform myself or reader: nor can I learn where he died, or in what dormitory his corps doth rest. He flourished under Edward King of England, the third of that name ; about the year of our redemption, 1340. There was another family of the name Baunton, that flourished in the parish of Combe-Ragleghs, near Honiton in this county ;" which parish was first named Combe ' Sir w. Pole singly, then Combe-baunton : for here was famous, in K. Henry 3. time. Sir Matthew i^" Comb-Rai. de Baunton, Kt. and after him, John de Baunton. Whether this stirp took its name from the parish and family aforesaid, or whether our John de Baunton or Bampton, had any relation to it, I do not find. Afterward this parish left the name of Combe-Baunton, and came to be called Combe-Matthew, from Matthew the lord thereof: and so at last, Come-Ralegli, from the Raleghs, which it still retaineth.' i la. ibid, in The arms of Baunton of Comb-Bnunton, were, Gul. a bend between 3 Escalops ^"*- "' '^"""• Or. one above, two below. G BARKHAM, 42 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BARKHAM, JOHN, D. D. Fior. A. D. BARKHAM, John, Doctor of Divinity, and Dean of Bocking, was born in the cS°'i^' ^' parish of Saint Mary the More, in the city of Exeter, about the year of our Lord, » Atii. Oxon. 1572. He was the second son of Lawrence Barkham, of Saint Leonard's," a small vol. i. p. 9. parish, about half a mile to the south-east of that city, and some time one of the stewards thereof, viz. anno 1576, when Thomas Presthood, Esquire, was mayor thereof; who died in the beginning of his mayoralty, So. December the 28th, that ' iz. Mem. p. year.*" His mother was Joan, daughter of Edward Bridgeman, of the said city of Exon. By whicii it may appear, how very nearly related he was to the last mention- ed pious and eminent prelate bishop Bridgeman : Unto whom he was not more nearly allied by consanguinity, than by all good and pious accomplishments ; as if learning and virtue did run in a blood. Being fit for the university, he was entered a sojourner of Exeter college, in Ox- ^ Ath. Oxon. ford, in Michaslmas term, 1.587," aged 15 years. The year following he went to Corpus Christi college in the same university ; and August the 24th, was admitted scholar of that house. Several years after this, he was chosen probationer fellow of the same, Sc. 21. of June, 1.596, being at that time Master of Arts, and in holy orders. Afterward he proceeded Batchelour of Divinity; and was taken into the quality of his domestick chaplain, by Dr. Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, a learned and pious prelate. After this, upon the death of Bancroft, he became domestick chaplain to his suc- cessor in that see. Doctor George Abbot, a learned, pioTis, but an unfortunate Metra- politane; for shooting at a deer, as he was hunting in Bramzel, my Lord Zouche's park, (Ful. Worthies in Surry, page 83.) by mischance, his arrow glanced and killed the keeper. Which ecclipsed the splendour of all his future life and days. Of whom ■1 Ath. Oxon. I find this character'' noway, I think, to his discommendation, That he was stiffly outofx'sttan»eP'''"^'pl^*^ J" the doctriuc of St. Augnstin ; which they who understand not, call Cal- hisHist. of K. vinism ; and therefore disrelished by them, who incline to the Massilian and Arminian Ch. 1. p. loi. tg(jg,^tg How long he was chaplain to this archbishop, I do not find; only at that time he was Rector and Dean of Bocking, in the couuty of Essex, and doctor of his faculty. Doctor Barkham was an extraordinary person, many ways very skilful in divers ' Id. vol. 3. tongues;' a curious critick; a noted antiquary, especially in the knowledg of coyns, P-^- of which he had made a choice collection; an exact historian, herald, and an able tlieologist. He was also a strict man in his life and conversation ; he was charitable and modest ; prudent and reserved, both in his behaviour and discourse. In a word, he was emi- nently remarkable for those good qualities, which become one of his profession. He was a fixed and steady man; not carryed about witii every wind of doctrine; but well established both in the doctrine and discipline of that orthodox reformed church, whereof he was both a member and an ornament. 'Lioyd'sMcm. He was, as one tells us,' as far from popery as from jjresbyterianism ; and knew the p. 281. stiength of both parties, and was able to answer them both. And when both ex- treams, as he called them, to the virtue of the church of England, the partizans of Rome and Geneva, the men of the pretended old doctrine, and the new discipline, met with any little remnant of antiquity that made fur them, they would- run to him with BARKHAM, JOHN, D.a 43 Ti. And he would please himself infinilcly with a story, which hath since his death been printed : And for the appositeness thereof may be here inserted. A nobleman, who had heard of the extream age of one dwelling not far off, made a journey on purpose to see him: And finding an aged man in the ciiimney-corncr, addressed himself to him, with admiration of his a^e ; until his mistake was rectified thus. Oh, Sir, said the young-old man, I am not he whom you seek for, but his son; my father is further off in the fiekl. Thus would he shew them, how they mistook middle antiquity for primitive his- tory ; in which he was so versed, that he had not the fathers books oidy, but their hearts ; not only their history, but their piety : Yea, so very strict was he in his life, that he went for a fether himself; being observed as much a rule to others, as the fathers were to him. Skilled he was in many tongues, (as was said before) yet always a man of a single heart. AVhen God made him rich, he made not himself poor by covetousness : And if God had made him poor, he could have made himself, by contentment, rich. Archbishop Usher and he, are said to have had one useful quality above many others, That they understood men better than they did themselves : And so employed them, who could not tell what to do with themselves, upon what was most suitable to them, and profitable to the publick: having Doctor James (that great Oxford libra- rian) his notion much upon his spirits, That all the manuscripts of England should be collected and compared. A design, he thought, that would have proved very beneficial to the protestant in- terest (considering how many manuscripts England hath still, notwithstanding the great loss she sustained at the dissolution of monasteries, and all the care hath been lately taken in the printed catalogue of them, not yet come to light) if prosecuted with as great endeavour, as proposed with good intention. Such was his charity also, and his universal obligation, that you would think your- self at Saint Augustin's or St. Cyprian's house, when you saw the poor at the doctor's doors ; the neighbours welcome at his table ; young scholars in his study ; bibles, and other godly books, in each room in the house, not only to entertain, but to bring over to piety and religion, all that entered therein. The servants, and all the houshold, were so used to psalms and chapters, that they spake familiarly the holy language ; the hours of devotion and instruction were constantly observed ; the people being at all the returns of duty in God's service to forget their own business; though in their own business they never forgot God's service. He was one (contrary to the mode of the present age) who made the errors of men (to which all are subject) the matter of his grief, not of his discourse. And would so prudently reprove the sin as to spare the person: and yet so discreetly tender towards the person, as not to countenance the sin. He was a man that would not give his heart the lie with his tongue, by not intend- ing what he spoke : Nor his tongue the lye with his actions, by not perfoniiing what he promised. That had rather friendly insinuate men's errors to themselves, than de- tractingly blaze them unto others. A man he was that would not put off his devotion for want of leisure ; nor his cha- rity for want of ability. That thought it better to deny a request, for that was only discourtesy ; than not to perform a promise, for that is injury. That would not re- buke, as the philosopher would not beat his servant, in anger. Angry reproofs being like scalding potions, which exulcerate instead of healing: That work being to be done with compassion, rather than passion. Doctor Barkham, farther, was not only every way a good and pious divine, but an txcellent scholar; and admirably skilled in all sorts of learning: but especially in he- raldry, history, and matters of antiquity. Witness those excellent books he wrote, G 2 though 44 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. tliough in his own name he printed none. What tliey were, we have thus registered eQim supra, by that late laborious author Mr. A. Wood, in his Athene Oxon.*^ *"■ " i_ The History or Life of John, King of England : Which is the same that is in the History of Great Brittain, published by John Speed. Which sheweth more learning and judgment than any life besides in that History. And here to do that good old historian right, he hath made a grateful and honourable mention of Doctor Barkham, and the kindnesses he had received from him, in the summary conclusion of that b"'_'j;,°[^^[,; elaborate work of his, in these words:'' The like most acceptable helps, both of books and collections, especially in matters remoter from our times, I continually re- ceived from that worthy divine, Mr. John Barkham ; a gentleman composed of learn- ing, virtue, and courtesy, as being no less ingeniously willing, than learnedly able, to advance and forward all virtuous endeavours. A very noble testimony. II_ He wrote, or had a chief hand in composing, The History, or Life of Hcnrj^ the 2d. King of England. Remitted also by Mr. Speed, into his aforesaid History. Which History, or Life, some suppose to have been written in opposition to one, (or rather to suppress the same) written by one Bolton, a Roman Catholick ; who did too much favour the haughty carriage of Thomas Becket, &c. The same Edmund Bolton, as is supposed, who wrote. The Elements of Armory, printed at London, 1610. And the Carmen Gratulatorium de Traductione Corporis Mariee Regina? Scotorum a Peterburgo ad Westmonasterium. Insomuch, 'tis very plain, that Doctor Barkham had a great hand in composing of the book commonly called Speed's Chro- nicle ; which is the best we have of that kind extant. jlj_ He wrote also. The Display of Heraldry, print. Lond. 1610. in folio. Much used in that gentile study, and is the best in that kind, for method, that ever before was published. This book being mostly composed in his younger years, he deemed it too light a subject for him to own : He being, when first made publick, a grave divine, chaplain to an archbishop, and most likely a dean. Wherefore, being well ac- quainted with John Guillam, an officer of arms, he gave him the copy: who adding some trivial things of his own thereunto, published it, with leave from the author, under his own name. Which goeth this day under the title of Guillam's Heraldry. IV. ^^^ published also, Crackentiiorp's book against Marcus Antonius de Dominis, and wrote a preface to it. Which de Dominis was Archbishop of Spalato, in the terri- ' Bakefs tory ot Venice ;' who leaving his country, as he said, for religion, came into Eng- w"'.'" ^^' ^^]^^^ '■> """^^^ entertained by the Archbishop of Canterbury; and afterwards made Dean of Windsor, and Master of the Savoy. During which time he preached publicklv before the lords of the council, and printed his first four books of the common- wealth of the church. AVherein, with great earnestness, he maintained the doctrine and discipline of the protestants. But after all this, having stayed here five years, he retracted all he had said or written before : which so incensed King James the first, that he commanded him, within three days, at his peril, to depart the realm. Who thereupon went to Rome, where he inveighed as bitterly against the protestants, as he had done in England against the papists; hoping at least for pardon, if not for preferment. But notwithstanding his recantation, according to the law of the inquisi- tion, having once revolted, though now returned, he suffered the deatii of an heretick, though not the shame; had the punishment of a martyr, though not the honour: And was pubiickly burnt at Rome ; yet not burnt alive, but dying in prison, and there buried, it is said his body was afterwards taken up and Ijurned. " At the interment of that forementioned learned man Doctor Crackenthorp, Doctor Barkham preached his funeral sermon at Black Notly, in Essex, (where he had been rector) before several gentlemen, and ministers, of the neighbourliood, on November the 15th, 1624. V. He also wrote a book concerning coyns, which remains in manuscript ; but where it BARKHAM, JOHN, D.D. 45 it is now is uncertain. He was a great lover of coins, much more than of money : and 'tis certain he had the best collection of them, of any clergyman in England. Which being given by him to Doctor Laud, Archbishop of Canterlniry, who much desired them, they came soon after, by his gift, to the Bodleian library in Oxford ; and are at this day reposed in the gallery adjoyning thereunto. And now this good man, having lived long under a good government, seeing the anarchy and confusion that was then a breaking in upon the kingdom, was afraid to live any longer, lest he should see none at all. He surrendered up, therefore, his pious soul to Him that gave it, in the parsonage-house of Bockino-, aforesaid, on the 25th of March, 1642, and was buried in the chancel of the church there. Over whose grave, though there be no memory put, yet is there an inscription in- tended for him, printed in a book intituled AlTanite ; the sight whereof I could not procure. Doctor Barkham married Ann Rogers, of Sandwich, in Kent, by whom he had issue George, Henry, and others: but whether ajiy of them, or their posterity, be surviving this day, I cannot learn. Many excellent books were dedicated to this worthy doctor : And 'tis pitty, says my author, but there should be an intire book made of him. But in that I cannot be furnished with the Aflani;e aforesaid, I cannot here insert what is there written of him. However, that may serve for his epitaph, written on him by another hand, which I shall here subjoyn." " Lloyd's " Vivere Deo incepit eodem quo credebat Deum vixisse hominibus ; nempe Martii '^'^"'- p- '-'^i- 25, 1642. Ne dignissimum virum, qui nil servari dignum, perire passus est, vel fuisse Seri Nepotes nesciant, hoc monumentum leternitati sacrum esse voluit W. D. E. A. Qui Cordicitus amavit, pristina:^ fulei virum & decoctum generosum pectus honesto," BARRY 4?6 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BARRY, ROBERT. Flor. 1168 K. k! -DARRY, Robert, one of the first conquerors of Ireland, was an Englishman, and as kVa.' ' we are informed,^ a native of this county : altho' where he was born herein, I do not Si'"/"7d"^" '''"*^'' ^°' ^'^^ family of this name, lately at Winscot, near Great Torrington, de- in vvinscot. ' sccndcd from a younger branch of the Irish stock, whereof this gentleman was the MS. original. One of which settled his lands in England upon his younger son; whereof a great share lay in this county. For Hollocombe in Winklcgh, Azeton in Ash- Reney, Combe in Roborough, North-Hele and Soutli-Hcle in Buckinton-Loges, East- Legh in the parish of West-Legh, and Winscot in the parish of St. Giles, did an- »■ Risd. and tieutly belong unto this name.'' For so far back as the three first Edwards, Kings of otDcv.'i'biti" England, this family possessed a fair inheritance in this shire; and long before their reigns too. For Mr. Risdon (who was heir to the heir-general of that branch thereof at Winscot) assures us. That John Barry, of Winscot aforesaid, married the daughter and heir of Jeffery Legh, (who lived at East-Legh, afore-mentioned, lying over against Bytheford) in the days of K. John, which is pretty near the time wherein the gentleman, of whom we are treating, lived. This seems a confirmation of his being this countryman born : In which having a plentiful estate, one of his successors sent hither a younger son of his to possess and enjoy it ; whose posterity continued here in worshipful rank unto the last age. Having spoken thus largelj^ of this family in general, we shall now proceed to that eminent person in particular, who was the founder thereof, Robert Barry. Cambden ' ^"".^''vPj- tells us' That there were two of this name, who were very instrumental in the conquest Aiig. "of Ireland, viz. Robert Barry, and Walter de Barry. Of the latter of these, I find no- thing farther remarkable : But the former, by his noble exploits, hath transmitted his name and memory down, with great honour, to posterity. He was an eminent soul- dier, and wrote his fame so deep, in the chronicles of both kingdoms, with the point of his sword, that time itself, for these several hundred years, hath not been able to expunge or eraze it. Ireland was the happy stage wherein he acted a noble part; into which he went under the auspicious conduct of the famous Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in com- pany of a near relation, his uncle, Fitz-Stephen, (as we may suppose) of Norton ; from latter lords, called Norton-Dawney, near Dartmouth, in this county, of whom I may give a fuller account hereafter. This happened in the days of K. Hen. 2. of England ; and that upon this occasion ; vvhereof it may not be improper here to give a brief relation. All such sins, abounding in Ireland, as commonly forego the greatest changes, ac- •^ Speeds Hist, cording to the observation of the historian,* such as the extream corruption of the "* k'^h' ^"'' "'^""'-''"s of the nation, and the general decay of the Christian faith, (beware Oh ! 495." " " England!) God the only disposer and translator of kingdoms, being highly provoked thereby, was pleased to take the crown from off their heads, and to clap a foreign yoak upon their necks : Who being often pleased to make use of the sins and wicked- ness of men, in the bringing about his own wise and holy purposes, you will find did so, in the present instance. For Dermic Mac Morrog, King of Leinster, to accele- rate the fate of his country, having ravished away the wife of O'Rorke, a petty King of Meath, and been guilty of other extravagant lusts, and tirannies, was, by the re- = Cambd. veuging sword of his enemy, driven fi'om his country.' Upon this, coming into Eng- Biit.p. 970. land, he applied himself to K. Hen. II. for succour; who, having before, Sc. A. 115.5, moved the conquest of that kingdom to his barons, for the use of his brother William BARRY, ROBERT. 47 A.D. 1167 William of Anjou, was glad of this occasion; and resolved to improve it, in effecting that which he had before designe^l. Mac Morro"- then, you may he sure, soon obtained what the King before-hand was so willino- to grant. Richard,' Earl of Pembroke, sirnamed Strongbow, of the family of Clare, having a commission from the King of England to that purpose; forthwith raised a good army of Welsh and English for this expedition. Dermic Mac Morrog, the better to assure to him the utmost assistance of the Earl herein, made this con- tract with him. That he would secure to him the succession of his kingdom in Ireland, if he should be restored ; and likewise give him his only daughter Eva to wife. All which succeeded accordingly, by whom he had only one daughter, who brought to William Mareschal her husband, the title of Earl of Pembroke, and a great estate in Ireland. The Earl, with those powers he brought with him out of England, not only restor-' ed Dermic, according to agreement; but in few years, made such progress in the conquest of the whole kingdom of Ireland, that K. Henry began to grow jealous of him, and to suspect his power: So that he put forth his proclamations, requiring the said Earl and his adherents, upon grievous penalties, to return into England. This matter being comprized to general satisfaction, the King, some time after this, raised another potent army; and sailing over into Ireland, in the year of our redemp- tion, 1172, obtained the soveraignty of that whole island; which hath (by God's gracious Providence) remained in the English hands ever since unto this day. And here it may not be ungrateful to the reader, to interpose the names of those who went out of England with Dermic Mac Morrog into Ireland; as I find them re- corded bv the famous Cambden.^ among whom, 'tis possible, we may meet with some f Brittan in „ •' . ^ ' Ireland, p. 975. more of our countrymen. Richard Strongbow, E. of Pembroke. Robert Fitz-Stephens.'' Maurice Pendergest. Robert Barry.' Meiler Milerine. Maurice Fitz-Gerald, and Gaulter and Alexander his sons. Redmund, nephew to Stephen. William Ferrand.'' Miles or Sir Milo de Cogan.' Richard de Cogan. Gaulter de Ridensford. William Notte. Robert Fitz- Bernard." Hugh de Lacy. William Fitz-Aldelm. William Macarell. Humfrey Bohun. Hugh de Gundevill, Philip de Hasting. Hugh Tirell. David Walsh. Robert Poer." Osbert de Harloter. ult. Edit. Aug. " He is said to be a Wclsli man, and to have done great service in Ireland. Vid. Speed's Hist, of Brit, in K. H. '.'. But probably he was a De- vonian. ' The gentleman before us '' Ferrant-Haj's in Clist-Hidon, in this coiiiily, hath a long time been in the name of I'errjiit. Pole in Clist-Hidon. MS. ' Born very near, if not in this county ; wlio mar- ried a Devonshire lady, Christian, the diiighter and heir of Fulk Paganel, Lord of the honour of Baunton, near Tiverton; by which means that lordship came to his grandson, Sir John Cogan, Kt. whose posteiity long enjoyed it. Pole's Surv, in Uaun. " This name flourished at their antient seat at Holcomb-Burnel, formerly Holcomb-Bcrnard, for eeveial generations from the Norman conquest. Id, ibid, in Hole, William du Bendenge. Ailam de Gernez. • Bartholomew de Poer, held Poers-Hays in the parish of East Budley, in tliis county, in K. Hen. •2d s time ; whom lineally succeeded Roger, Ro- ger, John, and others. Id. in E. Budly, Philip 4S THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. " Tnnstal, near Dartmouth, was ttie inheritance of William Fitz-Stophen, who dwelled at Norton, in the said parish, in the days of K. Hen. the 2d. Id. ibid, in Tnnstal. Canihd. tells ns, (in Com. Core.) That Sir Geo. Carew, E. of Totnes, a na- tive of this county, descended, in a direct line, from Rob. Fitz-.Stephen ; which name flourished in those days at Haccombe, which through several daughters and heirs came to Carew, and is now the seat of that honourable family. Vid. Camb. in Devon. Philip de Breos. Griffin, nephew of Stephen. Ralph Fitz-Stephen." Waher de Barry. Philip Walsh. Adam de Hereford. John de Curcy. Huiih Contilon. Redmond Cantimore. Edmund Fitz-Hugh. Miles of St. Davids. And others : Though these are all which are nominated by my author. But to return. How instrumental this Mr. Barry was, in bringing Ireland under the English yoak, ' Brtt n ™^^ ^'^ inferred from a testimony beyond exception, I mean Mr. Cambden's ; who edit. p. yso. tells us,*" That Robert de Barry was an Englishman, of great worth; one who was rather ambitious' to be really eminent, than to seem so : He was, says he, the first man that was wounded in the conquest of Ireland; and (as the late translator renders it) that ever manned a Ilawke in that island. Whereas others more properly render it thus. He was the first man that was wounded in the conquest of Ireland; and that manned and brought that Hawke to hand. His posterity, also, for their great loyalty and valour, have been honoured (first) with the title of Baron Barry ; afterv\ ards, with that of Viscount Butiphant, by the Kings of England ; and at this day with that of Earl of Barry-More : For so, from their riches and estates, caine they to be called, by the people, Barry-More, or Bar- ry the great. This noble family hath its chief dwelling house in the county of Corke, somewhat beneath the city so called ; where the chancl of the river, dividing into two branches, by uniting again at some distance otf, makes a large and very pleasant island, commonly called the Great-Island. Over-against which, stands that noble seat called Barry Court. When this honourable person died, and where he lieth interred, we are not able at this distance to determine. Some of his posterity flourished in this county at their 1 Westc. Pedi-seat at Winscot, home to the last age. When Michael Barry, Esq.'' by Jone his grees, MS. -^yif^^ daughter of George Pollard, of Langley, in this county, Esq. left issue Tho- masin ; who married John Tripconey, of Gulvale, in Cornwal. Jone, the relict of Barry, took to her second husband William Risdon; third son of Bablegh-House, in Devon, by whom she had issue Tristram, and others. Thomasin, dying without issue, left a fair demesne, and a good mannor to her brother by the same venter, Mr. Tristram Risdon ; of whom (God willing) more hereafter: AVhose son now inherits and inhabits there. BASKERVILLE, { 49 ) BASKERVILE, SIR SIMON, KNIGHT. IjASKERVILE, Sir Simon, Knight, (Notcjwa?, born at Exeter, (a county within the F'or. A , county of Devon) in the year of our Lord God, 1573. His father was Thomas S.'^-^' Baskcrvile, an apothecary by profession, and sometime one of the stewards of that honourable city ; who observing this his son well addicted unto books, kept him at school, until he became ripe for the university. Unto which he was sent about the eighteenth jear of his age; and planted into Exeter College in Oxford. He was placed under the tTitelage of Mr. William Helm, the famous sub-rector of that house; a man of rare piety as well as learning." He was matriculated in the university on » Lloyd's Mem the 10th of March, 1591. p.o39. Being thus fixed in his proper orb, he began soon to display the beams of virtue and learning ; so that now near batchelour of arts stauiliiig-, lie was chosen fellow of that college. AVhereby it fell out that he was some considerable time more than standing, before he took that first degree ; which was in the year of our Saviour's blessed incarnation, 1596." To this also having added that of master, he was taken » ah, Oxo„ notice of in my author's words, for his admirable knowledg in humanity and nhHo- vol. i.'p. 775. sophy.^ •'I . . ^ Id. ib. p. After this, viz. A. I6O6, he waschosen the senior proctorofthe university; atwhat^"- time he bended his studies wholly upon physick : In the knowledg of which useful faculty, he became a most eminent proficient; and proceeded to the taking both de- grees therein, sc. batchelours and doctors at once, as they call it, by accumulation. Unto which he was admitted by the university, June 20th, 161 1. At Avhich time he was in great esteem for his admirable knowledg in medicine, as he had been before for other parts of learning. Leaving the university, after many years industry and study there, he went for London; where he became of great eminency upon the account of his profession. He was a member of the College of Physicians there ; and, as is thought, president thereof tor a time. He had not been long in London, before the fame of his skill and learning brought him to court, where he was sworn physician to K. Jam. 1. of bles- sed memory. So was he also afterward to that gracious"' Prince K. Ch. 1. of like pious memory. One of which princes had Dr. Baskervile in that high esteem, for his learning, and other accomplishments, that he w as pleased to confer upon him the ho- nour of knighthood. This gentleman is one of the famous men mentioned by Dr. Prideaux, as the great ornaments of Exeter college, and the university in their time ■} and was held of" Epist. to the highest reputation for his learning and good success in physick, of any in that ao-e ■;«■'"'• bctbrpiiis None more sought after, nor perhaps so much, if that be true which is reported^of mon!'"' '" him. That he had no less than an hundred patients a week. Which, if so, it can't be strange he should amass so great an heap of wealth, as to acquire the title of Sir Simon Baskervile the rich.'^ Whereby we may consent to that of the poet : .lio d-sMeni ' Dat Galenus opes, dat Justinianus honores : ^'^'^'^' At genus &. species cogitur ire pede. Physick gives wealth : Law, honours doth bestow : But the poor logick-man must barefoot go. This learned doctor, and worthy knight, had, it seems, a spirit as large as his purse, if Fuller guessed true, when he said. He had a pleutilul purse, and a public . H . ' spirit. ^^ THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. 276.°'^ '^^' ^'spint.' Altho' he skives us no particular instances of it; so that what became of all 8 Lio d f ^'''^ great wealth at iiis death, I no where find. Supra. '*'"' There is moreover something farther remarkable recorded of him,^ That he was a great friend to the clergy, (God knows tlic}^ have but i'ew in this age) and the inferior loyal gentry. Insomuch, He would never take a fee of an orthodox minister under a "Uovd'sM ^'^^"- °'" o'^iiy suffering cavalier in the cause of K. Ch. 1. under a gentleman of an p. c"! * ^"'* hundred a-year :" but would also, with physic to their bodies, generally give relief to their necessities. What family he left behind him, or who became his heir or executor, I can no way be informed. All I am able to add farther of him is, that he died July 5, 1641, sixty- eight years of age ; and was buried in the cathedral church of St. Paul, in the city of London, (unto which probably he had been a liberal Iienefactor) where if he had any monument erected to his memory, it fell under the ruines of that church, occasioned by the dreadful conflagration, which happened in the year 1666, ADDITIONAL NOTE. IN Dugdale's History of St. Pauls, he is represented as being descended from tlie ancient family of the Basr kerviles, in Herefordshire ; an excellent scholar and eminent physician, famous for his skill in anatomy. He was so noted and eminent for his parts, knowledge of the arts and sciences, and quickness in arguing, that upon the lirst coming of King James to see that flourishing university, (Oxford) lie was chosen as a prime per- son to dispute before him in the philosophic art, which he performed with the great applause of his Majesty, who was not only there as an hearer, but as an accurate judge. After this he had the honour to be one of the proctors of that university, which gave him fartlier occasion for shewing himself publickly; and, liaving laid liis grounds so firmly in natural pliilosophy, he went on happily in the study of physic, according to the known method of ubidesinit philosophus, ibi incipit raedicus. Prince seems not to have known of any monument having been erected to his memory — but in the catalogue of tombs, inscriptions, &c. of memorable persons in London, destroyed by the fire, v»'e find tlie name of Sir Simon Baskcrviie, Knight, M.D. as having one. But Dugdale goes still farther, giving the very figure of the marbl? tablets, on which were the following inscriptions. " Xear this jtlace li/elh buried the bodi/ of that woilhij and learned gentleman, Sir Sinion Baskervilc, ^nig/itj and Vr, in phi sick, who departed this lijc the Ji/lh of Jalu, 1641, a^i^ed 68 i/ears. BASSET. ( 51 ) BASSET, COLONEL ARTHUR. Basset, Collonel Arthur, (Note) was born about the year of our Lord, 1597, at Hean- i^or^- a. »; ton Court, in the parish of Heanton-Punchardon ; so called from its antient lords, the car. i. Punchardons, (a knightly family, which flourislied there in K. H. the Second s tune, and three generations after) lying \evy near (on the north side) to the river 1 au, as it proudly flows along, to meet her beloved Turridge at Appledore ; where joynuig hand in hand, tliey throw themselves into the Severn sea, over the bar of Barnstaple This o-entleman descended from illustrious ancestors ; he was the eldest son of Su- Robert Basset,^ by Elizabeth, second daughter and co-heir of Sir WilhaniPerream, ^sirw^Poie's Kt Chief Baron of the Exchequer ; who was eldest son of Su- Arthur Basset, by ^yi,i,g ctap- Elinora, daughter of Sir John Cbichester, of Ralegh ; who was eldest son of pie. John Basset,''of Umburlegh and Ileanton-CoiHt, bv Frances his wife ; daughter and co-heir of Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount of Lisle,'' natural son to King Edward tlie ^^ai... ^Wes^^^_ Fourth (by Elizabeth Lucy) and of Elizabeth his wife; daughter of Edward Gray, ^^j, ' • Viscount Lisle; sister and heir to John her brother, and of Elizabeth his wife; daughter of John Talbot, Viscount Lisle; sister and heir to Thomas her brother, and of Jone his wife; daughter, and one of the co-heirs of Sir John Chedder, Kt., which John Talbot, was fourth son to John Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, of that name ; but eldest by his second wife Margaret, eldest daughter and co-heir of Richard Beachamp, Earl of Warwick, and of Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Lord Berkley ; and of Margery his wife, daughter and heir of Warren Lord Lisle and Tyes, &c, . , r -, I shall not undertake to trace back to the original of this antient and noble tamily. There were very near the Norman conquest, several families of this name^; but whe- ther they all sprang from one stock, Dugdal himself acknowledgeth, that he could not tell.' Divers of them w^ere barons of the realm ; and very near the same time= Bar. of Engi. too; as, Raph Lord Basset, of Drayton, in Staffordshire; William Lord Basset, of ^- • ?• ^ • Sapcote, in Leicestershire ; Gilbert Lord Basset, of Hedendon, in Oxford-shire ; and Alan Lord Basset, of Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. The first that I find of this name in England, was Osmund Basset, who came in with William the Conqueror, and from this gentleman all these noble families seem to be descended. There were two of this appellation, who antiently held lands in this county, viz. Thomas Lord Basset, brother and heir to Gilbert Lord Basset, of Hedendon, who had the mannors of Coliton and Whitford, in the south-east part of this county, given him by K. Richard the First ;'' who left three daughters his heirs, Philippa, wife of^idemibid.p. Henry Earl of AVarwick; Joan, of Reginald Valetort; and Alice, of John Bisset.-" Which Philippa, was afterwards, in the days of King Henry the Third, anno regni 21. married to Richard Siward, &c. Then there was Sir Alan Basset, who had given him, by Sir William Peverel, of Samford, in this county, White-Chapple and La Heyne, in the parish of Bishops-Nymton, in the north'part of this county, with Lucia his sister in marriage.^ Which Sir Alan wasesu- w. Pole son of William, by Cicely his wife; daughter of Alan de Englefield ; who was son of "'^Bishops Ny- John Basset; son of Osmond Basset, which held Ipisden and Stoke-Basset, in King Henry the First's time. Our noble Collonel was of this family, whose long-continued dwelling was at White-Chapple, aforesaid. Until at length, in the days of King Henry the Eighth, John, the son of Sir William Basset, married Joan, daughter of Sir Thomas Beau- mont ; ./i2 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. mont, and sister and heir of Philip Beaumont, of Shirwel, in this county; who brought into this family two noble seats in those parts, viz. Umberlegh and Heanton-Court. Umberlcgh lieth in the parish of Adrington, seven miles to the south of Barnstaple; and is so called, from the abundance of woods and groves, which heretofore were fRis.1. Desc. roundabout it, and did over-shadow it. It sometime belonged to King Athelstan,' dri ""■ "' ^' who is said to have had his palace here. After that, in King Henry the Second's Isii^v. Poles days, to Soleigny,^ or De Solariis; then to Chambernon; then to Willington; (of Descr.ofDev. ^yhich fiimily wcrc many noble persons;) then to Palton ; then to Beaumont; and iu umbuiiegb. ^^^^ ^^ Basset. Here this family had its lirst residence after it became theirs; but it being the more melancholy, and less healthful place, they removed hence to Heanton-Court, which came from Punchardon to Beaumont : and from Beaumont to Basset; whose habitation is now there. A sweet and pleasant seat it is; a very handsom pile, well furnished with all variety of entertainment, which the earth, and sea, and air, can afford. Here lived Sir Robert Basset, our Collonel's father; who being by his grandmother, descended from the Plantagenets, and of the blood royal, in tlie beginning of King James the First's reign, made some pretensions to the crown of England ; but not being able to make them good, he was forced to fly into France to save his head. -To compound for which, together with his high and generous way of living. Sir Robert Basset greatly exhausted his estate ; selling off, wath White- Chapple, the ancient house, no less than thirty mannors of land. Though there is at this time, by the addition of the fortunes of two heiresses, a very fair estate, belong- ing to the heir of the family, who is a minor of about eight or ten years of age. Collonel Basset, having had in his younger years, the education suitable to his birth and quality, viz. oi'the university, and the inns of court, and of travel, retired into his native country ; where, resolving to settle himself in the world, he married one of the daughters and co-heirs of Leigh, of Burrow, in the parish of Northam, contiguous on the south side, with the parish of Bytheford, in this county, Esq. »Risd. ibid in Which family of Leigh, held Burrow divers descents;" and did first derive it by mar- Northam. ^,-^^„^ |-,.q,-,-, Burrow, whosc antiently it was. It was lately the commodious dwelling of°a most courteous gentleman. Sir Thomas Berry, Kt., whose father married the other co-heir of Leigh, bv whom he had a fair issue, both of sons and daughters;, though his son (who' married one of the co-heirs of Mr. Martin, of Lindredge, as the late Lord Clifford, Baron of Chudleigh, and lord high treasurer of England, did another) hath none to succeed him ; the others died unmarried. Before we proceed farther, it may not be unacceptable, by a pardonable digression,. •Id. ibid. to insert here, a memorable accident, which hapned in the mannor of Burrow," an. 161G. There was an old well long neglected, which one had a purpose to cleanse^ and so caused a man to go down for the scowring thereof, who suddainly fell dead in the pit ; whereupon a second person was employed to go down after him, and he also presently died; a third adventuring himself, as he thought, to preserve his friend, had likewise perished, if with all haste, he had not been drawn up again ; who almost dead, was by rowling, and pouring oil and strong waters into his mouth, preserved 1 Divers were the conjectures, what the occasion of this miglit be; some supposing it was a cockatrice, which lav hid in tliis pit ; others, some other thing, as their fancies led them: but the man come to himself again, affirmed, there issued forth such a strono- stench out of the caverns of the earth that deprived him of breath. So that the "•eneral received opinion was, that it was what your rniutrs call a damp. "^ Some few years after the Collonel's happy marriage, (as a just punishment of the sins of the nation) it pleased God, that our civil wars brake out. Begun upon a specious pretence, of establishing liberty, property, and religion, which were said to be in danger : though that way, God knows, they all came to be invaded and subverted ! The principles of loyaltv, which this gentleman had imbibed, and the relation he had BASSET, COLONEL ARTHUR. ^^ 53 to the blood royal, soon determined in him, which of the contending parties he should adhere to. Accordingly he stuck to tlie cause of King Charles the Martyr, and asserted it with the utmost hazard, both of his life and fortune : for he was not one of those, who could only boast of loyalty in the parlour or dining room, where is no danger, but he openly avowed it in the field. Insomuch, he was clothed with the commission ofacollonel, and made governour of Barnstaple for the King ; but that being a place of small strength, General Fairfax, having taken Exeter upon articles, coming before it with his army, it surrendered to him, anno 1646, upon the same terms with Exeter,^ which were honourable enough, |^i^^^^"''^^ ^^ some whereof were these ; Civil Wais, p. ' Tliat the churches should not be defaced : that the garrison should march out ^^- ^^'^' ^• according to the most honourable custom of war, and not be compelled to march above ten miles a day ; and with their arms : that the composition of persons of quality should not exceed two years purchase : that all persons comprised within these articles, should quietly and peaceably enjoy all their goods, debts, and moveables ; and be free from all oaths, covenants, and protestations,' &c. After this, when Almighty God, in a mystery of Providence, was pleased to suffer a righteous King, and a righteous cause,' to fall to the ground ; and rebellion, and disloyalty to become triumphant; this gentleman not being able at present to do farther service, retired to his house at Heanton. Who having been so eminent for his doings in his soveraign's behalf, must now be so also for his sufferings : in witness whereof, he was compelled to compound for his own estate, at the rate of no less than one thousand three hundred twenty-one pounds, six shillings, and six pence." ^'""'•BMset XT ii • 11 ii r y ■ ■ 11 1 1 of Uinburlegh, J\ or was this all ; tlie usurpers or those times, conscious to themselves, what they Dev. 13211. es. had deserved, were jealous and suspicious; and knowing what interest this gentleman ^^^-^^^^^'^l^j"'' had in this country, they had always a careful eye upon him : so that the coUonel was sure to be one of those truly honourable and loyal persons in those parts; who upon the least noise or suspicion of a plot or rising, were wont to be taken up and com- mitted to prison. To whom may be applied, what a certain author saith,"" in relation ""Fioyd'sMem. to the Right Noble Montague, Earl of Lyndsey; ' That in this course CoUonel Basset ;^^'"j/;°>'||jp'^"'"- continued, until it pleased God, by divers revolutions, to open a way for the Lord General Monk (his kindsman and countryman) to settle the nation in a way of justice and honour; with whom he entered into a strict alliance and friendship, as well as blood : which, through the correspondency of their discreet and generous tempers, continued to their death.' Upon all occasions did the collonel demean himself, as became a very wise man, (for so he was) as a true old English gentleman, a good patriot, and a hospitable and charitable neighbour. And, as what ought most especially to be remarked, he was no less dutiful to the church his mother, than loyal to the King his father: and as a good testimony thereof, he was an asylum to her persecuted sons of the clergy in those times ; who found a sanctuary oftentimes in his house. When that reverend and loyal divine, Mr. Richard Newte, was ejected out of his rich rectory of Tiverton, ' this noble collonel was pleased to give him the very good one of Heanton-Punchardon, wherein he himself lived. At the happy restoration of his Majesty, King Charles the Second, the collonel was restored to his former honours, of being one of the collonels of this county's militia, a deputy lieutenant, and a justice of the peace; which is all the reparation I ever heard he met with, of the losses he sustained for his loyalty; contenting him- self, that he had discharged his duty as became a good christian and a loyal gentle- man ; being ready to say, with good Mei)hibosheth : — ' Let Ziba take all, forasmuch as my loidthe King is returned again in peace." "sSam. 1. This gentleman, as to his stature, was somewhat short, but of an high crest, and noble ' 54 THE WORTPIIES OF DEVON. noble mind. As to his religion, he did not boast great matters, but lived them: de- •Floyd quo Serving this true character," ' That as the red rose, though outwardly not so fragrant, supra jg ^.gj- iiiwardly more cordial than the damask : so the most excellent persons virtues are more inwardly solid between God and their own souls, than outwardly vaunting in the sight of men: he being as plain in his soul as he was in his garb; which he resolved should be proud of him, rather than he of it. He died in the 75th year of his age, and lieth interred in his parish church of Heanton-Punchardon aforesaid ; where is a noble monument erected to his memory : whereon is found this inscription : Arthury Basset De Heanton-Court, Armigeri Claris Orti Natalibus, Cineribus Sacrum. Ecclesia; Anglicana?, ac Fidei Ortliodoxa, Assertorem Strenuum, Ilegi ipsis in Extremis baud minus Fidelem Vitas deniq; integritate, & Innocentia Charitate erga Pauperes, Eximia Morum erga Omnes Suavitate Insignem Typum ; Ista omnia, Alarmor hoc, Unico In Bassetto exhibet. Dehinc Migravit, 7° die Januarii Anno Dom. M.D.C.L.XXII. Sub Anno .^tatis Suce, L.X.X.V. ADDITIONAL NOTE. THIS family continues at its seat of Heantoii. Descended from it, at a remote period, is the branch which, before the reign of Henry the Eighth, settled at Tehidy, in Cornwall, which is still the residence of Francis Basset Lord De Dunstanville, so created in 1796. Tlie harony of Dunstanville became extinct in the family of that name in the reign of Henry the Third, previonsly to which, a daughter of that house had intermar- ried with a Basset, whence a latent claim subsists in the elder branch of this family. The present possessor of the title having no male issue, it will again become extinct, but his daughter will succeed to the barony of Basset, ivith which he was invested a year after his elevation to the peerage. BATH, ( 55 ) , • ^ BATH, SIR HENRY, KNIGHT. Bath, sir Hemy, Kt. one of the Justices of the King's Bench, was born, most probably, at that antient seat of the name, called Bathe-house, in the parish of fjog r' ^' North-Tawton, lying in the heart of this county. There was sometime, a great Hen. 3d. estate in these western parts belonging to this family; Heniton-siege, since called AVear, near Topsham, was the habitation of Augustin de Bath;^ Sheepwash, Mer- • Westc. Desc land, Buckland, and Alesland, were antiently in this name.'' And among the famous ^ear*^^' '" men who flourished in this shire, in the days of K. Hen. 3. is memoriz'd. Sir Walter debHoi. quo sup. Bath, or Bathon, of Colebrook,'' about three miles west of Crediton, so called, from ' sir w. Pole s his dwelling in that place ; where he held two knights fees at that time.'' Desc. ofoev. rr, . '^ '■ ' , ., .° iT.iT.iiT^,'n famous men Inis name occurs among authors variously written, as, de Baa, de Bada, de Bathon, in k. h. 3. de Bathe, and Bath ; which the family either took from, or left unto, this place of its ^''5'^' '^^^" principal residence in North-Tawton aforesaid; by which it is known this day : Desc. of Dev! whereof is a most remarkable passage recorded, and confirmed too, from so good '■> Coiebrook. authority, that to let the world sec, our country also, can produce her wonders, and rarities of nature, I shall crave leave here to relate, as I find it." = Ris'i. and In the court before this house, was (I suppose still is) a certain pit, of a large cir- house!" '*'"'' cumference, so deep in the center, as the heighth of a man well mounted on horse- f i have heard back, generally dry, unless after great rains, or in the winter time; where would ''".^""^''^ sometimes in the dryest season, a spring break out, which filled the pit so full, that hmrperson', it would overflow its banks.^ And this was observed to be a forerunner of the death ^"''"' "";P''' r 1 ^ r 1 11 A ...... vy council to ot some great personage; or else of some sorrow that would ensue: And tis said, it q. Eiiz. Bour- would thus continue, until the matter happened which it did prognosticate. And my ^^j",; ^-^^"^ author farther adds. That in those latter days, it had been seen to do so three times, at tiie place. in a little more than thirty years. ?", ^'Vr-^^*^^*'!'' XT i-i 1 r> T^T r 1 1 • -1 -1 in Ins view 01 JNot unlike that JJur/i in llartiordshire,^ that is also said to presage some sad acoi- Utv. in Batu- dent, when it brcaketh out of the earth ; from whence it is called Wo-mer. Of '"'"^^'^J^^g;.jj which nature is that meer, belonging to my Lord Biereton in Cheshire, mentioned in Heref. p.' ' by Cambden also,*" and attested by many persons; Tliat before any heir of this family ^°'-. dies, there are seen in a lake adjoyning, the bodies of trees swimming upon the water p.^,6.^ uit^''' for several days together. Not much different, saith he, from vi hat Leonardus Vairus «'''''• relates, ' That near the abby of St. Maurice in Burgundy, there is a fish-pond, into which a number of fishes are put, equal to the number of the monks of that place; and if any one of them happen to be sick, there is a fish seen floating upon the water sick too; and in case the sickness proves fatal to the monk, the fish foretels it by its own death some days before. In relation to which passages, I shall only add this learned author's judgment, and proceed. ' If tiiey are true, saith he, they must be done, either by those blessed spirits whom God has appointed guardians and keepers of us; or else, by the arts of tlie Devil, whom God permits now and then to erect his power in this world ; for both of them are intelligent beings, and will not produce such preternatural tilings, but upon design, and to attain some end or other : Those ever pursuing the good and safety of mankind; These ever attempting to delude us, to vex us, or to ruin us.' Thus he. This family of Bath, was of great antiquity in this county ; and indeed it ran so very far back, that I could not overtake the original thereof Nor was it of less ho- Jiour and reputation in its time; for Sir "Walter de Bathon, Kt. was High-Sheriff of the 56 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. i Sir w. Pole's the couiity of Devon; 1 Hen. 3, 1217- After that, in the 21st year of the same hJ his'cIt^o7' reig", he was again advanced to the same honourable office, in which he continued sheriffs. " about 14 years together. I know he is confounded in Mr. Isaac's catalogue of the sherifls of Devon, who follows Fuller herein, into Bada and Bathond : but a much more critical person in these matters, than either of them, hath given us the former account; I mean Sir William Pole. In which also, Ave have the consent of Mr. Ris- k Chor. Descr. don, in his catalogue of the sherifls of this county.'' Unto which Sir Waller de Bath, «^^^''- I take Sir Henry, of whom we are treating, to be a younger brother; he being ex- ' Id. ibid, iu pressly said, to be a branch of this family.' sheepvvasb, ^^^^ ^j^j^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^jj g^pp^gp^ prov'd the occasion of his applying liimself to the study, and at length to the profession of the laws of his country : In the knowledge whereof, he grew unto that eminency, that he was advanced, together with Hugh Giftard, by K. H. 3. in the 22d year of his reign, 1238, to be one of the justices of " In Crastino the commou-pleas." Ai/°''i238!'' In the 24th of that King, he was constituted one of the justices itinerant, as they Diigd. ciu-.' were then called, for the county of Hartford." In the 32d he was for Essex and Sur- "7bid"i3 ^'^y'' in the 33d for Kent and Southampton ; and in the 34th for Lincoln: when he ' ' ''■ '" had allowed him out of the exchequer, by a peculiar favour, an hundred pounds a • Hen. de a year for his sustentation, in the discharge of his said oiTice." But the year follow- r'anilua'ti'm*^* i"»' ^^^ ^^'^ ^''^^i the King's grace and good will ; the occasion whereof, were certain percip!"''de crimcs laid to his charge; which if true, he can't be justified : and true or false, I M'^tentaudum shan't licrc couccal them ; although upon a due examination of the matter, we may ii/ Officio Jus- observe such circumstances, as will greatly alleviate, if not wholly expung them, and H 3"i4o.^b: blot them out. p. 15. He was accused by no mean persons at that time in the government,!' ' Of being " ^pffd^s Hist, gyilty of corruption "injustice; getting to himself in one circuit, two hundred pounds k.h.'s.nIVs! per an. in lands; and of acquitting a malefactor for a bribe; and of stirring up the P- ^i**- barons against the King, to the endangering of a general rebellion in the kingdom. This accusation, as Avell it might, "highly provoked the King; insomuch, in the parliament soon after holden at London, proclamation was made. That whosoever had any action or complaint against Henry de Bath, should come in, and they should be heard. A strange encouragement, this, for envy and malice to break in upon, and confound the greatest innocence ; although we do not find that any one hereupon urged any thing against him : which is no mean evidence, that he was not so guilty as he is represented. Unto this parliament. Sir Henry Bath is also summoned, to answer the matters should be laid to his charge. And imto this parliament he boldly came, but so strong- ly defended with knights and gentlemen, his own, and his ladies friends and allies, the 1 Risd. in Bassets and Samfords,' (great men in those days) as daimted the violence of his pro- Sheepw. secutors. AVhereupon the King in a great rage mounted into an higher place than sup'^'p gTi" before, cryed out in these words :' Whosoever shall kill Henry de Bath, shall be quit of his death ; and I do hereby acquit him. And presently departed. Nov/ however, he left behind him many men, who would readily have executed the King's terrible doom ; yet, by the wisdom of Sir John Mansel, one of the King's privy council, they were restrained, with these words ; worthy to be remembred in this place Gentlemen, it is not necessary for us to put that presently in execution, which the King in anger hath commanded. It may be, when his wrath is over-blown, he will be sorry he hath said it, and moreover, if any outrage be done to Bath, his friends are here, who will take all sorts of revenge. Upon BATH, SIR HENRY, KNIGHT. 57 Upon this, Sir Henry escaped the threatned danger for the present; and after- wards, upon the promise of two thousand marks to tlie King, and the intercession of the Earl of Cornwal, who was the King's brother; and the Bishop of London, at that time Fulco Basset, he not only obtained his peace, but also his former places and graces Avith the King. Now, were this great person guilty of this charge, hardly any punishment were adequate to his crime. The justice of Cambyses, a heathen prince, is admired and commended unto this day;' who, when Sisamnes, one of his chiefest iudcres, had 1 '^^V^'^i' '• given an unjust judgment, caused him to be flead alive, and his skin to be hung over teV.'p.ieg. the judgment-seat. And having bestowed the office of the father, upon Otanes, the son, he willed him to remember. That the same injustice would deserve the same pu- nishment ; giving him this caveat, Sede sedens ista judex inflexibilis esto. Sit tibi lucerna, lux lex, pellisq ; paterna. Which I find thus translated to my hands.' '' ' W cstc. Sin V. ■ Thou judg that sittest in this seat, • ■;',^'«»'^'^-'si'- Uprightly deal therein : And for thy guide, take thou the light. The law, and father's skin. But that he was not guilty, or at least, not in so hainous a measure as is suggested in our chronicles, may be well inferred ; partly from hence. That so great a number of persons of the first rank and quality stood by him, and took his part ; powerfully defending him from any intended mischief to his person. Nor is this a small circum- stance in behalf of his innocence, that the King's own brother, Richard Earl of Cornwal, (after\\ards chosen King of tlie Romans) was so zealous an intercessor for him; knitting up his mediation with these words;" We must not forsake gentlemen >. speed que in the r right, nor in preserving the peace of this tottering kingdom. And the Bi-''""^^- shop of London, and several others, became mediators on his behalf with the King: which we cannot well think they would, as we know in honour they could not, had he been so notoriously criminal, as supposed. And then it may partly be farther inferred from hence. That after this storm of his enemies' rage and malice was abated, and blown over, the King took him again into his grace and favour, and re-established him in the same seat of judicature he was in before, or rather advanced him higher up ; for thus was he made chief justice of the King's Bench, after about three years discontinuance from his office of a judg : in which honourable station he continued for eight years after ; that is, unto the time of his death : For in the 44th of K. Hen. 3. Henry de Bathonia and William de Wil- tone, were justices itinerant, for the counties of "Huntingdon, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridg, which was the year before he died.™ » ciiron. ser. And here, least any should imagin, that this gentleman's restoration to so weighty P' ^^• a trust, should be the act of the King's mere arbitrary pleasure, we are informed. It was done by the advice and provision of the lords and great men of his council ; as appears irom this clause in the writ,' Hii omnes (speaking there of Sir Henry and his« j,„„j ^^^^. associates) per provisionem magnatum Anglise, qui sunt de consilio Regis, ad meliora- sei. p!V'.». "' tionem status totius regni, assignati erant ut supra. These all, by the providing of the great men of the kingdom, who are of the King's council, were appointed to bet- ter the state of the realm. That this gentleman therefore should be readmitted to the dispensation of the pub- lick justice is a manifest argument, That either he was not guilty of the corruption he had been accused of; or that those great men who entrusted him again in this of- I fice. 58 THE AVORTIIIES OF DEVON. fice, were not innocent ; which the respect we owe to a crowned head and venerable council; altho' long since laid in the dust, forbids us to imagin. As lo his abilities for so high an undertaking, there is this testimony remaining of 'Speed quo him,' That he was a learned knight, and a special counsellor to the King. Where ''"'''''■ this honourable person's ashes lie, we cannot say ; but we are expressly told when » Henric. de he died, viz. 4o H. 3. I2GI/' Whether this gentleman left any issue, 1 do not find ; filnctns,'An?45. biit Margaret, the daughter and heir of Augustine, the son and heir of Sir Walter Hen. 3. Chr. de Bath, brought Bath-house, Wear, Sheepwash, and other estates to her husband, scr. p. 19. Sir Andrew Medstead, Kt. whose daughter and heir, Ellenor, brought them to her husband, John Holland, of the same noble family, with the Duke of Exeter; whose posterity is yet in being in this county, tho' much short of the splendor of their an- ' Hoi.Catal. cestors. I find this coat also belonging to Bath,' Quarterly Or. and Gul. 4 Escalops counterchanged. And Isaac gives him this, Azur a Saltire engr. Or. and Azur 3 Chev. Arg. Cat. Sher. HAWCEYN, ( 59 ) BAWCEYN, SIR STEPHEN, KNIGHT. BAWCEYN, Sir Stephen Kt. was born in Devon, probably at Yardbiry, an antientF^ov. a. n. gentile seat, in the parish of CulUton, lying in the south-east part of this county ; he}f;„;3/ was the son of Sir Guy Bawceyn of that place, Kt. whose name, as most antient ones were, is found variously written, as Bauzan, Bauzein, Bauchein, Bawceyn, &c. a very eminent family, which flourished in this place, if not from, at least soon after, the conquest. In K. John's days, I find mention made of Sir Guy Bauzan of Yardbiry, Kt." some of which name, in all probability, inhabited there long before. Dtsc^^oV^Dev' Sir Guy Bauzan had two sons, as it seems, who were Kts. and famous men ; Sn- j^''^'^^^^ ,0^^; Richard Bawceyn of Norton-bawceyn, and Sir Stephen Bawceyn of Dodbrook near Kingsbridge. sir Richard Bawceyn married Ellen, the daughter and heir of John de Shilveston, by whom he had Shilveston, now commonly called Shilston, in the parish of Modbiry."'" id. ibid, in Secondly, she was married unto Sir John Ashlegh, Kt. By Bawceyn, she had issue, '^i°<"'">' '^^*- Jone, wife of Sir William Hiwis, or lliwish, of North-hiwish in this county, Kt.,' which c westc. view had issue, Sir Richard Hiwis, Kt. Ann. 6. K. Edw. 1. which Richard Hiwis, and Jo'"-' ^,, °,!^';"3h,'° his mother, brought a writ of right against Ashlegh and his wife; alledging, that Rich- ms. '' ard Bawceyn, the first husband'of Ellen aforesaid, was seised in fee solely, of the said land. The answer of John Ashlegh and Ellen was, that Richard and Ellen werejoyntly seised, and that Ellen survived, and held the estate by survivorship; so Ashlegh reco- vered it. Sir Stephen Bawceyn being a younger brother, took up the sword, as the best part of his portion ; and became an excellent and expert soldier :'* He served very valiantly d sir vv. Pole, against the Welsh, and was a chief commander in that war, in the reign of K. Hen. ^|j{^Yi"s|^'"'"" 3. over whom he is said to have obtained many victories. Though at last, (such is the fate of war) about the 40th of that king, who refused to send sufiicient help to his son, the prince, afterwards known by the name of K. Edw. 1. then generalissimo of that army, this gentleman, among many other brave English commanders, was there slain. For K. Henry having given Wales to his son the prince, left him to maintain it so well as he could ; not being able to spare him any money. Insomuch, the soldiers being very ill, or not at all paid, were resolved not to want, having swords by their sides. This made them behave themselves violently everywhere ; taking without payment, or paying nothing but blows. These proceedings so far incensed the Welsh nation, that they would not by any perswasions be drawn to lay down their weapons; but having about ten thousand of their country horse-men, and many more on foot, took a solemn oath,^ of cr! Brit. Yn That they Avould stand together for their liberties and antient laws; holding il; better k.h.s. p. eis. to die with honour, than to live a wretched life in shame and servitude. ^■^^' A resolution worthy of themselves, and their most noble Brittish progenitors. Being thus unanimous in their mutual defence, they did great things under Prince Lewelyn ap Griffith, by whose means they valiantly recovered all the inland country of North Wales, with other places : and in one fight they slew above two thousand Englishmen, and drove tlie rest out of the field. At this time, most probably, was Sir Stephen Bawceyn slain; which is said to have been done by Rees Vachan, one of the Welsh chief commanders, and a prince of that country. After this time, I find no more mention of this knightly name in this county; SirSte- phen, that I find, left no issue : Sir Richard Bawceyn had issue Jone, his daughter and heir, married, as was said, unto Sir Richard de Aiwis ;' who by Matilda, daughter of Sir l,^i.''^^jj.^°^*' Alan Bloihou, Kt. had issue, Sir Richard, and died, A. D. 1297. Sir Richard his son , st^„^'i-o°j ^H;. 1 2 married Lton. ms (io THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. married Margaret, daughter of Sir Adam Crete, and had issue, Richard, who died in liis father's life-time; but left issue, by Emelin his wife, daughter of Sir William Bo- treaux, Sir Richard Hiwis, who died anno 1340, and his son Richard, ten years before him : Sir Richard Hiwis the fourth, married Alice, daughter of Sir Ralph Blanchmon- ster, and had issue, William Hiwis, who died without issue: and Emelin, wife of Su- Robert Tresilian, a Cornish-man, the famous lord chief justice of England in K. Rich. 2. days ; by whom she had issue, Emelin, wife of John Hawley of Dartmouth ; of whom, God willing, more hereafter. Yardbiry, by Hiwis, descended unto the family of Coplestou; but immediately by Hawley aforesaid ; who gave it to Nicholas Coplestou of Nash in Dorsetshire, his jiJ.ibid.Yaid- ^^j^^g^ son:« whose grandson, John Coplestou of Nash, sold it unto Sir William Pole of Shute, Kt. who sold it unto John Drake of Ash, Esq. who settled it upon a younger son; whose posterity now flourishes there : and William Drake a chancellor at law is the present possessor of it; who hath adorned his birth by a suitable education. BEAUMONT, ( 61 ) BEAUMONT, RICHARD, LORD VISCOUNT MAIN, IN NORMANDY. Beaumont, Richard, Lord Viscount Main, in Normandy, was born at Yolston, J^j^r^- ^-^^^^ an antient seat in the parish of Sherwel ; about three miles to the north-east of Barn- ^d. staple, in this county : which was the possession and dwelling place of Rocelin de Beaumont, (q. de Bello Monte, of the Fair-Mount, the name and family being of French extraction) his father, who was also Viscount Main, in the days of K. Hen. l.^»Risdon. which Rocelin married Constance, the natural daughter of that King ; and had given him in marriage with her the chief mannor of South-Tawton,'' lying near about the " Sir w. Pole, middle of this county ; by whom he had this noble Lord Richard ; who gave the same with his daughter Constance unto the Lord Toni, Baron of Flamsted, in Hertfordshire ; a descendent of that Roger de Toni, who was standard-bearer of Normandy;' andcD„gdaie'sBa- assisted "William the Conqueror in that memorable battel, he had here in England, at'on-^o'- i- P- Hastings, in Sussex, with K. Harald; which proved the decisive stroke, and determined to the Norman Duke the English crown. Sir William Dugdal, in that laborious work of his, the Baronage of England,** maketh '' Vol. ad, page mention of another noble family of this name, whose descent, he tells us, is by some deduced from Lewis, sou to Charles Earl of Anjou ; a younger son to Lewis the 8th, King of France. By others, from Lewis de Brenne, second son to John de Brenne, the last King of Jerusalem. What relation might be between these two noble families, or if any at all, I cannot say : although it is not unlikely but this latter might be a branch of tlie house of Yol- ston, (one of which being stiled, in the first year of K. Edw. 2, consanguineus regis, the King's chosen) which was so nearly related to the royal family. However, this latter family settled in Lincolnshire, and the eastern parts of England ; some of which still continue there in honourable degree. But to return. This gentleman, Richard Viscount Main, was in his time, a great courtier ; and in mighty credit and favour with K. Hen. 2. mito whom, in blood, he was so nearly allied. Insomuch, that King was graciously pleased to provide a royal husband for his other daughter Ermegard , and bestowed her in marriage upon William, King of Scots ;" for p^^^'^jif g^j'^^f his singular justice, as one says, surnamed the Lyon.' The solemnity was celebrated wei, ms. at K. Henry's charges, who was pleased to honour the same with his gracious presence, land'', iiv r.'^b^ Which King William had issue two sons and two daughters; but whether they were p- I'^'J- all by this lady our countrywoman, I cannot affirm, for she is said to have been his second wife.* His two daughters were Margaret and Isabel ; which by the articles of' id. ibid, p, peace between the two crowns of England and Scotland in the reign of K. John, were, ^' after nine years time, to be married to that King's two sons Henry and Richard. For which K. William promised a considerable dowre with his daughters; though it doth not appear that they ever proceeded to a consummation of marriage. His two sons were Alexander and John. Alexander succeeded his father in the Scottish crown, and was a brave prince. John, the younger,'' with his nurse audi. ibij. p. 134. divers others, was drowned at Perth, by a sudden inundation of the two rivers Tay and Almond; the King, his Queen, and part of his family, hardly escaping. This right antient and noble family of Beaumont, or Bellemont, as Dugdal calls it,'' Ban vol. t flourished a long while in great honour at Yolston, aforesaid ; even from the days of ''"^^ K. Hen. 1. unto the reign of K. Hen. 7th, near upon four hundred years. They were lords of the mannor and hundred of Sherwel ; though I do not find they were ever barons of parliament here in England ; and had a very noble estate by marrying divers daughters 62 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. k R A flaiighters and Iieirs, by names of Punchardon, Crawthorn, Stockey, Potesford, Wil- supra! "" ''"'* lington, Champernon, Palton, and others. '^ Now if the curiosity of any should lead them to enquire what, at length became both of the families and the estate. The family abo\it the days of K. Hen 7, issued into female heirs, in whom this antient name, in the direct line, expired. But for the estate, after the death of Hugh Beaumont, the last heir male of this house, there arose three potent competitors for it, viz. Basset, who had married Jone, daughter of Sir Thomas Beaumont, the father. Chichester, who had taken to wife Margaret, the daughter and heir of Hugh Beaumont, a younger son by a second venter; and one John Bodrugan. But how Bodrugan came by his title, may be worth the Pofe' ?no''aiT- '"elating.' tea.Mr.westc. William, the eldest son of Sir Thomas Beaumont, having first passionately courted, fn"'Gittisiianr' ^'' ^^ugth married a youug lady, of an honourable house in this county, for which reason MS. I shall conceal her name. After a while, some other fancy possessing liim, he estranged himself both a mensa & toro, as to her bed and board; and went away to London, where he lived from her two years, and then died. His lady took this, at first, very unkindly, and for a while lived very retiredly: until, at length, she began to admit the visits of her friends; among which, one using more familiarity than became him, she proved with child ; and in due time a son was born, and bred up secretly, and without suspicion. After this, her husband Beaumont departed this life, and Philip his brother succeeded in his lands, as next heir, and died quielty possessed thereof: having first, for want of issue in himself, settled them on Thomas, his next brother by a second wife. Thomas Beaumont also dying without issue, they came to Hugh, his younger brother; whose daughter and heir, Margaret, married into the honourable family of the Chichesters. Hugh, the last male heir, being dead, John, the son of Jone, wife of William the elder brother, being come of age, entered upon the estate of Beaumont, and claimed his right therein, as heir to William his father; it being proved, that he was born in wedlock. Much contention grew, and many suits commenced between these powerful contenders; and in fine, it came to be a ))arliamentary case, in the days of K. Hen. 7. The parliament possessed hereof, resolved, Nollumus legis Anglian mutari, that they would not make a bastard of one born in wedlock. But this matter, it seems, was so plain, that it was consented to, that proclamation should go throughout the kingdom, that the pretending heir should be named John, the son of Jone Bodrugan, (her second husband) and so be esteemed as a bastard. However, at length, an agreement was made between all parties, and there was alloted unto John, the son of Jone Bodrugan, an hundred pounds per an. rent of assize; amonc;st which, Gittisham, near Honiton, was "^ This nassa"G. *■ ^ . -, . ^ . . Sir w. Pole part;™ where he inhabited , and his son took to him again the name of Beaumont, tells us is^wr^t- ^,j^jj,j^ Continued for three generations down, in great esteem. a fair book, re- And then Heuiy Bcaumont, the last, having no issue of his own, passed over the ^^'dsof.si'r Rt' estate of Gittisham unto Sir Thomas Beaumont, of Leicestershire, of tlie house of Cole- Basset. surv.oiOrton; whose son, Sir Henry, not liking so well this country, sold it to Mr. Nicliolas ^"^"^ MsP'"''Putt, whose great grand-son now inhabits there, at his house called Combe, in the sham, MS. ,- r t /■xr < quality oi a baronet. (JSote.) Heanton, and some other estates, fell to the share of Basset, whose habitation there is called Court. Yolston, Sherwel, and other lands, to the value of 200 marks per an. old rent, fell to the portion of Chichester; and the honourable Sir Arthur Chichester, haronct, is the now lord thereof; and hath made a very noble dwelling of Yolston, where he lives in great repute, worthy of that honourable stem from whence he is descended. But we must not so slightly take our leave of so wortiiy a personage, as was this Henry Beaumont, the last of this family in this place; he deserves to be recorded among BEAUMONT, RICHARD, LORD VISCOUNT MAIN. 63 among our conntiy worthies, especially for his great charity to the poor, of which he left behind him very signal testimonies, one whereof was this," that by this deed in- ° ^^ *"♦''?'■• dented, bearing date ^Gth Feb. an. 30. Q. Elizab. IdSS. He did give, grant, and enfeoffee, unto the poor of the parish of Honiton, in this county, for ever, those four closes or parcels of ground, containing, by estimation, 29 acres, or there-abouts, com- monly called or known by the name of Rapshays, lying in the parish of Buckerel, in this said county, which in that place can't be computed less, it may be more, than 20/. per an. as by the said deed at large, it doth, and may more fully appear. In which deed also is this memorandum expressed, that it was the desire of the above named Henry Beaumont, that all people should know and understand, that the lands above given, were the inheritance of John Beaumont, of Combe, Esq. his elder brother; and descended to the said Henry as heir to the said John Beaumont: and that it was the intent of the said John, to have settled the premi.ses to the use of the poor of Honiton ; and that the said Henry did make this conveyance to fulfil the intent of his said brother, who by sudden death was hindered from doing it. This is required to be constantly published when the quarter-mony is given among the poor; and at the giving up of the receivers account. The rents and profits of the premises are to be distributed to the poor of Honiton, aforesaid, quarterly, within twenty days after the receipt thereof, as the ma,jor part of the feofl'ee shall think fit. And to prevent all abuses herein, the feoifees shall not grant any longer estate in the said land than for one and twenty years; but shall set it for the most tliey can make of it, for the use and advantage of the poor aforesaid. And 'tis further provided, that when the number of the feoflees shall come to six, with what convenient speed they can, they shall re-enfeoffee the said land, with its appurtenances, unto twenty-four honest inhabitants of the parish of Honiton aforesaid; every surviv- ing feoffee, naming four, if they cannot otherwise agree. Which persons, on the day they are so enfeoffeed, shall swear on the holy evangelists, that every one of them will, for his own part, to the utmost of his power, as nigh as God shall give him grace, perform and fulfil the will of the donor herein declared. A noble charity, hardly to be determined, whether more piously designed by the elder; or, when no law obliged him thereunto, more generously confirmed by the younger brother. But least any should imagine, that this was rather the benefaction of another, than his own, the said Henry Beaumont, by his last will and testament in writing, bearing date the 17th of March, 1.590. Ordained and appointed" that eiglit iiundred pounds" Ex Aiitogi. should be employed for the purchasing of so much land as might be purchased with the said eight hundred pounds. Moreover, if it might be so, he willed and desired, that the said money should be laid out towards the purchasing of lands and tenements of twenty pounds rents of assize by the year; which he thus, by his said will, devised. 1. That lands and tenements of 31. rent of assize, per an. should be granted and conveyed for the use of the poor people of Ottery Saint Mary. 2. That the lands and tenements of 4/. rent of assize by the year, should be for the use of the poor people of Gittisham, where his mansion-house was, which, with what his widow added, amounts now unto forty seven pounds a year. 3. That lands and tenements of 3/. rents of assize, by the year, should be settled on the poor of Honiton for ever. And 4. That lands and tenements of 40^-. rents of assize, by the year, should be for the poor people of Sydbery for ever. All which places are within the county of Devon. Farther, the will of the said Henry was, that the surplusages of the said 20/. rents of assize by the year, should be distributed to the use of five of the servants, therein named, of him the said Henry. Of which his last will and testament he made and ordained Elizabeth his wife, (the daughter of Sir Roger Bluet, of Holcombe-Rogus, Kt. 64 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Kt.) his sole executrix : who (in execution of the said will of her deceased husband) purchased, of Sir William Courtenay, Kt. to her and her heirs for ever, the mannor of Stevely, in the county of Somerset ; with certain lands and tenements, with the ap- purtenances. Out of which, the said Elizabeth, by her deed indented, bearing date 1 June, an. 36. of Q. Eliz. 1594, did grant, enfeofFee, and confirm unto twelve inhabi- tants of the town and parish of Honiton, aforesaid, all those closes or parcels of lands, meadow, and pasture, commonly called, or known by the name of Stevely Land, containing, by estimation, forty acres, or thereabouts, l3nng within the parishes of Abbots-Isle and Aishil, in Com. Somers. for the use and benefit of the poor of the parish of Honiton for ever. Which feoffees are to employ or bestow the rents and profits, arising out of the same, yearly, quarterly, monthly, or weekly, as need shall require, among the most aged, impotent, and poor people of the parish of Honiton, in such sort, and at such time and times, as the said feotVees, or the most part of them, in their discretion shall think fit and convenient. This settlement also is made with great care and caution, viz. that the said feoffees shall not at any time alienate, sell, imploy, or convert the said land, or any part there- of, to any other than the use afore-mentioned. That they shall not extinguish, release, or make void any rents, &c. reserved; nor grant any longer estate than for two or three lives at the most; and that none of the feoffees shall have, take, or occupy the said land, or any part thereof, by lease for lives, years, or otherwise to themselves or their children, or to the use of them or either of them, &c. This generous and charitable gentleman, Henry Beaumont, aforesaid, died on the 1st of April, in the year of our Lord 1591, and lyeth interred in the south-isle, ad- joyning to the chancel of the parish chinxh of Gittisham ; to whose memory is there placed, in the wall, a fair pollished monument of white marble; where may be seen his portraicture, armed cap-a-pee, kneeling on a cushion before an altar, with his hands lifted up as in prayer, having a book lying open before him. Behind him is Elizabeth his wife in the same posture ; near whose side lyeth a little infant, which died in its swadling cloaths. Over-head the monument is adorned with divers coats of arms; with a noble atchievement of twelve escotcheons, belonging to the several daughters and heirs, with which this antient and noble family had matched, f These follow- Underneath is this epitaph.^ iafeiy^'received Interred here within this tomb doth Henry Beaumont rest, vT i"\f^^" ^ f"^" of just and upright life, with many graces blest, johnKost,'^the Who leam'd to know God's hol}^ will ; all wicked works defy'd ; orthe'ciulr'cb ^^^^ ^^ '^^ learn'd, so did he live; and as he liv'd he dy'd. of Gittisham. AVhat good he might, he gladly did, and never harmed any ; Courteous he was in all his life, and friendly unto many : But most of all his liberal gifts, abounded to the poor ; A worthy practice of that word, which he had learn'd before. Born of what honourable race, is needless for this verse. Since French and English chronicles so oft his name rehearse. Which antient blood within himself by want of issue spent. The sinking line thereof he cork'd by one of that descent. He liv'd thrice ten years and nine with his most godly wife, Who yielded him his honour due, void of unkindly strife : And for true witness of her love, which never was defac'd. In duty last this monument she caused here be plac'd. Obiit, April 1. A. D. 1591. Now BEAUMONT, RICHARD, LORD VISCOUNT MAIN. 65 Now while we are in this isle, we can't but take notice of two other monuments here standing ; their gay aspect commanding our observation. The one (which is very stately) is in memory of Sir Thomas Putt, late of Combe, in this parish, baronet; and of Ursula his lady, daughter of Sir Richard Chomeley, Kt. by his wife a Pawlet, of the noble family of Hinton St. George, and relict of the famous Dennis Rolle, of Stevenston, in this county, Esq. It is a tomb, iitanding on the floor, covered with a table of black marble, under a large arch, all over crusted with the same. Upon which stand two very large urns of pollished alabaster, with flambeaux on the top. On the outside are two columns, finely turned, of white marble, with gilded capitals and pedestals ; on the middle whereof are the following inscriptions. That on the right-hand hath this : 'o' Here lieth the Body of Sir Tho- mas Putt, of Combe, Bart. Who departed this Life June 25th, 1686. in the 43d. Year of his Age. Underneath is this motto : Libenter Mortalis, quia futurus Immortalis. That on the left is thus: Ursula, Ladv Putt, Died April the 22 d. 1674, Possess'd Of as much Beauty, Wit, Wisdom, Learn- ing, and Piety, as Nature, Art, and Grace, ever produced : Excelling all, in a generous Aftection to her Husband, Sir Tho. Putt, who dedicates this to Her Memory. Within the arch are these coats of arms : on the right-hand is this : Argent a lion rampant within a mascle sab. and a hand sinister gul. in a canton. Putt. On the left is this : Gules two helmets, arg. in chief; and in base a garb or. Chomeley. The other monument in this isle is of marble also, well polished, and finely adorned. It is in memory of a young gentleman John Fiennes, Esq. who coming to visit his relations at Combe, died there, and was here buried. On a fair plank of marble is engraven this epitaph ; which, for the floridness thereof, will not be unacceptable to the ingenious reader. Adeste Nivei, Candidiq ; Lectores ; cum Liliis, & Hyacinthis Libate Lachrymas : Tales enim deposcit Exequias Mellitissimus ille Juvenis Johannes Fiennes, Hospitii Graysensis Armiger; Filius Johannis Fiennes de Amwel in Agro Hertford. Armigeri (secondaj Sobolis, a patre suo Gulielmo Vice-Comite Say and Seale) & ipsius Uxoris K Susannas. 66 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Susann?e, filife & haeredis Thomas Hobbs Hospitii Grayensis Armigeri Foelix Filius, Speratusq ; Pater, Qui per illustre Fiennoriim Genus perennaret Posteris. Fuit nimirum Adolescens ad Natura? normam perpoHtus: .-Eque Corporis ac Animi dotibus Ornatis- simus. Quibus, vel a Pueritia, Prudentia Senilis Mores Maritavit amaenissimos ; ut audiret, Secub Par Decus & Debcise. Sed raro Pragcoces diurnant Fructus, Dum nimium festinans ille Surculus (futurum Famibfe Cobunen) in iEtatis vcrnantis Anno vicessimo tertio. MDCLXXI. Caclebs immatura Morte pr^ereptus est. Lugete, Lachrymisq ; Cineres ejus irrorate, Prtesto estote vos charites onines, & bigete Musae. In the floor of the same isle before the monument, is a fair marble stone laid, having this inscription on it in English. Here lyeth the body of John Fiennes, Esquire, son and heir of John Fiennes, of Amvvel, in the county of Hertford, Esquire; (second son of the' Right Honourable William Viscount Say and Seal) and of Susannah, daughter and beir of Thomas Hobbs, of Grays-Inn, Esq; who died Decemb. 1st. A. D. 1671. in the 2:3d. year of his age. Where are also engraven his arms, viz. — Azure, three lions rampant, or. In the chancel of the same church of Gittesham, we may behold on the north side thereof, another very fair and beautiful monument, arched with marble, adorned with pillars of the same, polished and gilded, in memory of Jone, the wife of Glid Beaumont, rector of this church ; who was a branch, not of the family which sometime flourished at Combe, but of Cole-Orton, as appears from bis arms. The inscription on this monument here follows : Dilectissimae sorori suae Epita- E H pbium hoc Amoris & Ho- E P noris Ergo. This urn holds sacred dust : each pious eye Here drop a tear, and weep that she should die. ■ , No one perfection of the female kind ■ ■ . But lies with her, within the tomb enshrin'd. Here wants no epitaph : I' th' hearts of men ^. Writ are her praises ; tears are now the pen. ^ Only this proud stone needs would have it told What precious dust it doth hereunder hold : Hold it a while in peace, 'till it shall be Rais'd to a better life, and glory see. Underneath is this written : Here lieth the body of Jone, the wife of Glid Beaumont, rector of this parish; and (laughter of Edmund Green, of Exon, Gent, who died May 14. MDCXXVII. Their arms are thus empaled : — 1. B. a lion rampant semide-Iis or. 2. Arg. a fess ^'ules between three bull's heads couped Sab. ADDITIONAL BEAUMONT, RICHARD, LORD VISCOUNT MAIN. , 67 ADDITIONAL NOTE. COMBE has continued (o be the residence of the family of Putt, since it was purchased in 1614 by Mr. Nicholas Putt of Smallridge in Somersetshire. By his second wife, the daughter of R. Duke, Esq. of Otter- ton, he was the father of William Putt, who had, among otiiers, two sons, Thomas and Edmund ; Thomas was created a baronet in 1666, and was sheriff of Devon in 1673. He married Ursula, daughter of Sir Richard Cholmondeley, baronet ; and had issue three daughters and a son, Thomas, who succeeded him. He was twice married, first to Margaret, daughter of Sir John Trevelyan, Baronet, and secondly to Juliana, daughter of Prestwood of Boterford, Esquire, and relict of Roger Hele of Holwell, Esquire, but had no issue. Upon the death of Sir Thomas Putt, in 1721, the baronetcy became extinct, and Combe devolved to his first cousin, Reymundo Putt, son of Edmond abovementioned. He had three sons, Thomas, William, and Reymundo. Thomas died in 1787 without issue ; William, who succeeded to the Combe estate, died in 1797, leaving issue, by Mary, daughter of Samuel Walker, Esq. two sons, Reymundo hereafter mentioned, and Thomas, rector of Gittesham, and six daughters. Reymundo, the third son, married Lucretia, the daughter of the Rev. John Bed- ford of Plymouth, and dying in 1790, left issue Thomas Putt, rector of Trent in Somersetshire, and Caroline, married to the Rev. Coryndon Luxmoore of Bridestowe. Reymundo Putt, Esquire, the eldest son of William, who was sheriffof Devon in 1800, is the present respect- able possessor of Combe. BERRY, mis< 68 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BERRY, SIR JOHN, KNIGHT. Fior. A.D. Berry, sir Jolm, Kt. Govemour of the Castle of Deal, and oue of the Com Carfii!^^' sioners of the Royal Navy, was a native of this county, born in the vicarao-e-house of Knowston, near South-Molton, in the north-east parts thereof, A. D. 1635. He was the second of the seven sons of Mr. Daniel Berry, vicar of Molland and Know- ston aforesaid (both within this county, and not far asunder) Batchelor of Divinity, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of John Moore, of Moorhays, Esq. which Daniel Berry's father, was sometime vicar of both those parishes before him, and descended from the gentile family of the name ; that hath long flourished at Berry-Nerber, near Ilford-Combe in this province, even three descents before Adam (I mean) Biry, who « Pole's smv. lived there, anno 19 King Edward the third.^ Which place, both gave unto, and of Devon, 111 iqq]^ name from, its most antient inhabitants ; beins; sometimes the seat of Willihel- "Westc.Descr.iTius Ncrbcrt dc Biry;'' then of Ralph Biry de Nerbert. Which inversion of names, ofDev.iaBer. though it seemed somewhat strange at first, even to Cambden himself, yet have we ' '"^' several examples thereof in this count}'; as William Coffin, of Coffin's-Will, near Newton-bushel; John Culm, of Culm-John, in Broad-Clist, &c. which still retain those names unto this day; tho' Nerbert de Biry hath long since settled in Berry de Nerber ; or, as the family is vulgarly known to this day, by the stile of Berry, of Berry-Nerber. From which gentile stock, sprang, not only Sir John Berry, of whom we are speaking, but that very courteous gentleman, the late Sir Thomas Berry, Kt. for many generations back ; the antient residence of whose family, was at Eastley, in the parish of Westley, lying over against Bytheford in this shire. But to return. Mr. Daniel Berry, the father of our Sir John, being a very loyal, as well as learn- ed divine, fell under the ruins of the church and state, in the grand rebellion, in the days of King Charles the first, which he vigorously, tho' in vain, endeavoured, ac- cording to his duty and conscience, to support. For which reason, the very zealous, tender-conscioned reformers of those times, thought fit to turn him out of his bene- fice (which was his freehold) contrary to all law and justice: and not only so, but to strip him of all he had, even to the bed he lay upon. Which goods and moveables of his thus seized upon, were sold by the sequestrators at a publick survey, (as it is here called, a kind of auction, long practiced in these parts) all, except his books ; and those being of good value, were liberally bestowed on that famous independent preacher, Mr. Lewis Steukley, who sometime lorded it at Exeter, with more than prelatical rigor; for which, this great zealot, as he had not the conscience at first to refuse ' My author them," SO had he never after the honesty to restore the value of one farthing for them ; terireceWed*' tho' there were no less than nine horse loads of them, and the poor family reduced to from a son of ycry great extremities. With the grief of which barbarous, or rather, inhuman Divii^^a"'! a treatment, Mr. Berry contracted such distempers and diseases, as at length brought brother of Sir iji,^^ to his GTave ; leavius; behind him, to the Divine protection, a poor widow, and John Berry, . ii ^i 1 1 ' r now living at nuic Small Children. Stone, near yj^g good father thus gone, they having nothing left to trust to, such of the chil- thf« ounty.'" dren as were grown up, resolved to dispose themselves abroad in the world, as Pro- vidence should direct 'em. Hence, what they thought might turn to the best future account, with the least present charge ; the eldest of them betook themselves to the sea; John, the second son, went to Plymouth, where having an opportunity, he bound himself an apprentice, to serve him in seafaring afi"airs, to one Mr. Robert Mering, a merchant of that town ; but God was pleased so to cross his first begin- nings, that the poor youth was taken, in two several voyages by the Spaniards, and suffered BERRY, SIR JOHN, KNIGHT. «9 suffered long imprisonment in Spain. His master Mering also, had his losses come so thick and fast upon him, one on the neck of another, like Job's fatal messengers, that he was no longer able to support his trade : whereupon, having no farther imploy for a servant of this kind, he freely discharged Mr. Berry of his apprentice-hip. The young man thus manumitted, betook himself to London, near about the time of His Majesty, King Charles the second's happy restauration ; where, by means of some friends, he got a warrant to be the boatswain of the King's ketch, the Swallow. A while after this, the Swallow was ordered to the West-Indies, Captain Insam, com- mander; after they had dispatched, the affair they were sent about, in those parts, being homeward bound, in company of the Worster-gate and the Griffin (two other of His Majesty's ships) in the Gulph of Florida, they met with a violent storm, so that the Worster-gate and the Griffin were cast away on the Boliemian sands, and all the men lost : But God so ordered the preservation of the Swallow, that by cutting down their masts, throwing over board their guns, with most of their provisions, she got cleer off those sands: So that for sixteen weeks time, driving up and down in the bay of Mexico, they at last had no provision, either of meat or liquor, left them. But Almighty God, who shews his wonders in the deep, supplyed the defect thereof, by sending such abundance of fish by their vessel side, tliat they kill'd enough for every day, and saved none for to-uiorrow ; as if amidst their utmost dangers, they re- membred, and could confide in that advice of our blessed Saviour, Mat. 6, 34. Ne sis solicitus in crastinum : Take no thought for the morrow, for tiie morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. And for a supply of drink, they had such abun- dance of rain-water, as was sufficient to quench their thirst, and served their occa- sions all the time. Nor did their fish ever fail them, until they got into Campechy; where, though the Spaniards (in whose hands then it was, but seized on by the Eng- lish, being deserted by the inhabitants, anno 1662) would spare them no furniture for their ship, they had provisions of them for tlieir money. From Campechy to Jamaica, is aljout three hundred leagues ; the wind on those coasts constantly bloweth one way, viz. between the north-east, and the south-east ; and is commonly called a trade wind : But at that time God so changed the course thereof, that in three weeks time they came to Jamaica. At which time, one Mr. Peach, of Southampton, was bound thither also; but in his way to this place, he un- fortunately met with a pyrate, formerly belonging to that island ; who having taken him, would have put him and all his men to the sword ; but the doctor and mate of the pyrate not consenting to so hainous a villany, they all, at length agreed, to put Peach and liis com])any ashore, upon a certain desolate island not far from, where no person inhabited. But such was the mercy and providence of Almighty God to tliose distressed people; that, as he would have it, a sloop from Barbados did land on the same island the next day to wood and water; who finding Mr. Peach and his men there, very kindly took them aboard, and landed them at Jamaica, whether they were bound. At this time. Sir Thomas Muddiford, Kt. (a native also of this county, being born at Exeter) was goveniour of that island : who being informed of what had passed, caused the Swallow ketch to be refitted, and eight guns to be put on board her; and being now well manned and provided, he ordered her to go in pursuit of tlie pyrate. Accordingly she did so, with Mr. Peach on board her; in wliich expedition, this our Mr. Berry was become the lieutenant, or next to the captain. To sea they go, and after three weeks time, they found the pyrate riding in a bay, at Hispaniola; who had on board lier eighty men, and seven guns: whereas the Swal- low had eight guns, and but forty men. When captain Insam came near the pyrate, his courage flagged ; insomuch, at length, he plainly told his company, That the blades they were about to altaque, were men at arms, and had been bred Buchaneers, and 1« THE WORTHIES OF DEVON". and were abundantly superior to them, both in arms and men. Unto whom, lieute- nant Berry, with undaunted courage, replyed. That they themselves likewise, were men at arms; That they were come thither to serve their King and country ; and that if the captain's courage failed him, he might go off the deck. To this brave propo- sal, all the crew consented, and fully resolved to board the pyrate; though indeed at great disadvantage, for the pyrate riding at anchor to the windward, the Swallow was forced to make two trigs under her lee; upon whom the pyrate fired two broadsides, with some vollies of small shot ; but they never fired a gun in answer, before they boarded her on the bow, then firing in a broadside, they killed the pyrate twenty-two of his men ; and withal, getting on board, they fought on the deck, until they came on to the main-mast; at what tune they called to the doctor and the mate, to go over board, and hang by the rudder, which they did accordingly : So fighting on with re- solution and conduct, they took the pyrate, and put all to the s\vord, except seven of his men which were wounded; who being brought into Jamaica by the Swallow, they were tryed by a court-martial, and being found guilty of several piracies and de- predations, were sentenced to death, and executed accordingly. In all which action, what is a wonderful providence, the Swallow lost but one man, and that was the boat- swain's mate. However, matters must not rest t;o : Behig itturned to Jamaica, Captain Insam, greatly disgusted at what had hapned, brought Mr. Berry upon his tryal, before a court-marttal, for usurping, as he said, the captain's office ; but upon a full hearing of the matter, the governour and the court were so fully satisfied of the business, that they ordered the captain to take Mr. Berry on board him again, and live peace- ably with him ; which accordingly he did, and so returned for England. Soon after this return of his, the war with Holland break out ; at which time Mr. Berry got a commission to be a captain of a small frigat, of fourteen guns, called the Maria. In which he so well plyed his business, that he took with her thirty-two prizes in four months time. Not long after, having gotten reputation, both for conduct and courage, captam Berry had a commission given him to be captain of the Coronation, an hired ship, of fifty odd ?uns. Soon after which, the King (Charles II.) ordered him to go for the West-Indies, with some other ships under his command. When he was come to the ' Barbados, the governour took up such merchant ships as were there, and made them men of war; so that joyned to those that came from England, the whole amounted to a squadron of about nine sail ; all of which were put under the command of captain Berry. • • i i j • Tliis little fleet, being very well equipped, the governour aforesaid, ordered captam Berry forthwith to go for Mevis, or Nevis, one of the Leeward Islands, to secure that island from the French ; who had already taken St. Christopher's, Aatego, and Mon- serat, from us, and were making great preparations for the assault of this also ; for, from St. Christopher's, which is not above four leagues, and the other islands, they had gotten togetlier a fleet of about thirty-two sail of ships ; whereof, with the con- juncrion of three or four of tlie Dutch, two and twenty were men of war, the rest "transport ships for the soldiers. Thus appointed, they made towards Mevis, which already, they had, in their hopes, devoured, looking upon it as an easy conquest. Cap"tain Berrv seeing the approach of the enemy, weighed anchor, and came out of the road to fight them; but as our fleet turned the point of the island, one ot our ships, by misfortune, blew up, before they came to engage. However, Captain Ber- ry, nothing daunted, goes on, and fought at once, both the French and Dutch; and that with sucli happy success, as notwithstanding that vast advantage they had over them, more than two to one odds, he made them run to St. Christopher's, under com- mand of their cannon; thither Captain Berry pursued them; and sending in a fire- ship, . BERRY, SIR JOHN, KNIGHT. 71 sliip, burnt the French admiral inifler the shelter of their castle: and then he returned to Mevis to refit his ships, with resolution to engage the enemy again the next morn- ing. But having had, as they thought, fighting enough the d^y before, they got away in the night, the French to Martineco, and the Dutch to Virginia. But a while after this, Sir .John Harman coming thither from England, with a fresh squadron of ships, understanding that the French lay still at Martineco, went thither and destroy- ed them all. Captain Berry having dispatched the aflairs he was sent about in the West-In- dies, returned for England ; where he was ever after employed in the Royal Navy, either abroad against the Turks, or at home against the Dutch; or upon some other important occasions. Not long after his return, there fell out a more than ordinary necessity for men of Captain Berry's character. For in the year 1672, a second war with the Dutch, after the King's restauration, broke out, wherein were engaged, the English and French on the one party, against the seven provinces on the other. At this time. Captain Ber- ry had the command given him of a very stout ship, of seventy gun's, called the Reso- lution. On the eight and twentieth of May that jear, the fleets met in South wold bay, upon the coast of Suffolk (though the French seemed to come rather to leara the art of naval fighting, than to fight) and there began a bloody and doubtful engage- ment. In which action, Captain Berry observing the general, viz. his Royal High- ness the Duke of York, at that time Lord High Admiral of England, hardly beset by the enemy, left his station, and came in to his relief; where the service proved so very hot, that in less than two hours time, he had above an hundred men killed, and as many wounded ; and being become very leaky also, he was forced to go out of the line of battel, to stop and mend his leaks: which having done, in less than an hour's time he fell into his place again. In which action. Captain Berry behaved himself so very well, that his Majesty, King Charles the second, coming on board the Royal Soveraign, at the boy of the Ore, to welcome his brother, was there pleased to con- fer upon him the honour of knighthood ; as a perpetual badg of the royal favour, and his own great merit. Some years after this, the King apprehending some dangers might arise, from the great prejudice, divers potent men, as well in the House of Lords, as Commons, had • taken up against his royal brother, the Duke of York: to avoid the storm, he order- ed his royal highness to withdraw into Scotland, under the character of Lord High Commissioner of that kingdom. Sir John Berry was appointed to carry him thither by sea, in the Glocester fiigat. But by the wilfulness of the pilot, and the obstinacy of the duke, in adhering to the said pilot's advice, depending too much upon that old adage — Periti in suis artibus sunt credendi — the ship was cast away, and near three hundred men perished in the waters: but without the least imputation on Sir John Berry's part ; for he plainly laid before his royal highness, the danger they would incur, if they continued to steer the course they vvere then in. But all in vain, for the Duke of York did so much depend upon the pilot's judgment, that no perswa- sions could move liim to alter the course, or lie still until tJie morning. So that they soon fell into that extream danger, which proved fatal lo most of them. In this ut- most peril of their lives, Sir John Berry shewed a wonderful conduct and presence of mind; and under God, was the main instrument of preserving his royal highness's life, though with the hazard of his own. For when they had nothing left them to trust to, but God and their long boat ; and every one was pressing into it to save his life (wliich had they been permitted, would soon have sunk her) Sir John stood with his drawn sword, and threatned death to any that should dare step in, until his royal highness was safe on shore; by which means the duke, with some few others, escaped, with his life : whilst divers eminent gentlemen, as well as others, vvere cast away. When 72 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. When his Majesty, King Charles the second, found by a costly experience, that the keeping of Tangier (one of the oldest cities of Africa, lying at the mouth of the Straights of Gibralter, on the Barbary side) was abundantly more chargeable than profitable; after our possessing of it for divers years, viz. from 1662, to 1683, he came at length to a resolution of demolishing it. For which purpose, the King sent thither a considerable fleet, under the command of the Lord Dartmouth, whose Vice- Admiral in this expedition, was our Sir John Berry ; who, while my lord was on shore ordering all the forts and works to be blown up, had the sole command of all the fleet. In which affair, he behaved himself with much conduct ; whereby, in de- spight of all the opposition of the Moors, they utterly destroyed the mole (that with infinite charges for divers years had been making) and brought olf all the English with their effects, without loss or damage. In which business Sir John Berry behaved himself so well, that upon his return, he was made one of the commissioners for the navy; in which honourable post he continued to his dying day. In K. Jam. 2d's time. Sir John Berry was made rere-admiral of the whole royal navy ; and after the landing of K. William, he had the sole command thereof for some time after my Lord Dartmouth laid down his commission, and before the fleet was called in. His present Majesty, K. AVilliam 3d, had Sir John Berry in so great esteem like- wise, that he held frequent consultations with him about naval affairs; and once, for above a whole night together. As for the preferments this worthy commander had, they were not many, nor be- j^ond his merit. Besides his being commissioner of the navy, he was governour of Deal castle in Kent, a place of honour and trust, and captain of a foot company : All which he held to the time of his death, which now hasteneth on apace ; and hap- ned after this manner. Sir John Berry being ordered down to Portsmouth, to pay off some ships there, was taken sick on shipboard, as he was discharging that affair; upon this, he was car- ried on shore at Portsmouth, and about three or four days after, died (as was suppos- ed, of a feaver. This hapned anno 1691, but after his death, when the physicians had opened his body, they said. Sir John had no fair play shewed him for his life ; so that 'twas thought he was made away; tho' by whom, or for what reason, I do not find : nor may it be proper to surmise. As for this gentleman's character, so far as it relates to courage and conduct in sea- affairs, we have already had a full and fair description ; but there was something yet more considerable in him, and of truer honour; that he was a good christian, and a devout son of the church of England, by law established : One, who did not think the least part of true valour lay in defying God, or blaspheming his name or his word, but that the truest instance thereof, was to subdue those potent enemies of our souls, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Neither did he suffer his zeal to become eccen- trick, and run a madding after every Ignis Fatuus of a new-light that was hung out, but in the orthodox way of our established church, He chose to worship the God of his fathers. He was also a son of that ingenuous duty to his parents, that he caused a fair mo- nument to be erected to 'em several years after their decease, in the parish church of Molland, where they lie interred ; wherein he hath given ample testimony, not only of a filial duty to his natural parents, but also to his civil father the King, and his spi- ritual mother the church : openly professing an honour for all those, who in the late times were sufferers for them ; as may appear from this epitaph thereon : Under this monument, lielh the body of Daniel Berry, B. of D. sometime minister of this church, and that of the parish of Knowston, wherein he was born : who for his BERRY, SIR JOHN, KNIGHT. 73 his zeal in the support of the church of England, and loyalty to that martyr'd King, Charles I. was first sequestrated by the then rebels, and ever after persecuted, 'till he died; being the 18th day of Mar. A. D. 165|, and of his age 45; leaving behind him 7 sons, Robert, John, Daniel, Nathaniel, Anthony, Philip, and Tho- mas ; and two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne; by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of John Moore, of Mooreliays, Esq. who died 13 Octol>. 1663, and lieth here like- wise interred. ' The second of their sons, who received the honour of knighthood from ' his present Majesty K. Ch. 2. for his long and many good services at sea, ' honouring the memory of all orthodox and loyal men of the late times, ' and out of a pious regard of his father's sufferings, erected this monu- ' ment, 17 day of Jul. A. D. 1684. Sir John Berry being thus deceased, as we have heard, at Portsmouth, his corps was carried to London, and decently interred in the chancel of Stepny church, there- to adjoyning; over whose grave a noble monument was ordered to be erected, of no less cost than an hundred and fifty pounds ; which is now finished accordingly. It is all of white marble, of about 10 foot in heighth, and 5 in breadth, finely po- lished. In a nich in the middle, stands on a pedestal, the eftigies of Sir John, cut, with a campaign wig and a cravat, in pure alabaster; over his head are the arms of his family; underneath, on a table of white marble, is the following epitaph, in black letters. ' Ne id nescias lector D. Johannes Berry Devoniensis, Dignitate Equestri Cla- ' rus, Mari tantum non Imperator, de Rege & Patria (quod & barbari norunt) ' bene meritus, Magnani ob Res fortiter gestas adeptus GloriamFamtesatus, post ' muitas reportatas victorias, cum ab aliis vinci non potuit Fatis cessit 14 Feb. ' 1691. Baptisatus 7 Jan. 1635. He left a widow, but no issue to inherit his fortunes. He bears, Gul. 3 Bars Or, with his difference. E BIDGOOD, 74 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Floi. A. D. 1680. R. K. Car. a. ' He is not mentioned to have taken any, in the Fast. Ox. V. bclore his death, desire pardon and forgiveness of all the world ; especially of several persons 76 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. persons with whom he had any anymosities. Which I mention, not to his dispa- rao-ement, but honour; it being truly christian, and that comprizes the truest notion ofgentihty. And th[s hath led me to a brief view of his mind, which far excelled his outward frame and structure, tho' that was manly and decent enough. As to learning, espe- cially in his profession, he was very eminent; in all other parts thereof, he had very competent skill ; but for success in his practice, it was extraordinary. His wit was very readv, and when he so pleased, satyrical enough. His discourse was wont to be judicious; and his phraise, terse and significant. " Lactantiiis. As to his religion (which is what more discriminates a man from a brute," than his reason doth) in his younger years; he was observed no less loose in the speculative, than the practical part thereof; being supposed to verge much upon atheism. He was rarely wont indeed, for many years, to frequent God's publick worship ; tho' when he did so, it was always, as established in the church of England, and cele- brated in the cathedral of the city, wherein he lived. But in his latter years, when he came to retire into himself, and his country .house at Rockbear, six miles to the east of Exeter, he was a constant, and an early attendant, on the divine service, celebrated in the parochial assembly, to which he belonged. And I well remember, when he was in attendance on a sick lady, in an honourable ■' The honour- family of this county,' he was wont to joyn in the solemn church devotion there per- i\,'rt,na''n^at fomied, with great seeming reverence and attention. Sir Eiiward Insomucli, we may charitably hope, that whatever liberty he might sometune hou"ra?Ber.i"flii'ge himseU in, yet before his death, he was seriously affected (as most come to «•"•• ' be) with the usefulness and importance of religion ; and had a better opinion thereof, than he had of the efficacy of his own faculty. Of which, when he saw how unsuc- cessful it proved, as to his own particular, he is reported to have fallen out of conceit with it ; saying, " there is little or nothing in it ; 'tis meer trick and sham : sobriety is the best pliysick ; and the kitchen and the garden afford the safest drugs, and the most healthful compositions." At length, this skilful and learned physician, after a long and happy practice to the recovery of others, so far neglected himself, that his subtile disease became stub- born and incurable. For taking his malady at first, to be only the hemorrhoids, he slighted it so long, 'till it proved a fistula' in ano ; of that inveteracy, it would not yield to all that art and care could do for its cure. So that thereof, at last, after some months linguering pains, the Doctor died ; vastly rich, being worth between five aud twenty and thirty thousand pounds, (all of his own getting) at his house in St. Peter's Close, in the city of Exon, on the 13th of Jan. 1690, in the 68th year of his age. He was buried in our Lady Mary's Chappel, at the upper end of the north isle of the cathedral there, (unto which he had been a benefactor at his death) just before the door, at the entrance thereinto. Over whose remains, is a flat stone laid, having this English inscription : Here lieth the body of John Bidgood, doctor of physick; who was born the 13th of March, 1623; and died the 13th of Jan. 1690. Who by education, study, and travel, rendred himself one of the most accomplished and bene- ficial physicians of his age. Underneath which, is engraven his coat of arms, as before. Nor is this all the honour done to his memory. For in the wall of the same chap- pel, BIDGOOD, JOHN. 77 pel, on the right hand coming in, is fixed a very fair marble monument, by his near kindsman, Mr. Humphry Bidgood, whom the doctor made his heir, who did not sur- vive him above a year, having this inscription in letters of gold : Memorine Johannis Bidgood, M. D. hac civitate iii. Id Martij nati i. i. xxiii. de- nati vero idibus Januarii i. i. xc. S. quern si artis medical Anglicaniq; nominis decus & ornamentum, si Hippocratem, Gallenum istiusve sseculi Esculapium dixeris vere- cunde dixeris viator. Under which, in the same black marble table, is this farther added : — Hum. Bid- good consanguineus et in totum assem haeres institutus, gratitudinis aeternae ergo hoc posuit. Accumulat divitias & nescit BLONDY, 7S THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BLONDY, RICHARD. BLONDY, Richard, Lord Bishop of Exeter, was bom in this county, being a 'iz. Cat. of native of the said city. A late author, for what reason he best knew, tells us,' he was Bps.ofExoB. of Bedfordshire, which lieth in the eastern parts of this kingdom. Wiiereas Dr. Ful- ler, in his Worthies of that county, doth neither challenge him as such, among the prelates thereof; nor so much as insert his name, either among the sherilTs, or the gentlemen, that were returned into the chancery, by the commissioners appointed to that purpose, in the 12th year of the reign of K. Hen. 6th. That this prelate was born, as is said, in the city of Exeter, we have the testimony \uciffiBfe"er "^^ ^'^ ^"^''^"*^ record, in the Monasticon Anglicanum ;'' where, speaking of the time vol. I. ill Abl when, and the persons by whom, the Abby of Newenham, (vulgarly Newnham) in eui?" '^'^ '^'^^ *'^'^ county, was founded, we are informed it was. Anno gratiaj 1246, regnante in Anglia Henrico christianissimo rege, filio Johannis regis, gubernante ecclesiam Exon. Mro. Richardo Albo, de eadem civitate Exoniensi nato. When the most Christian King (we see to whom that title was once ascribed) Henry, son of King Joim, ruled this kingdom ; and when Mr. Richard White, born in the city of Exeter, did govern the church of Exeter. 'Of Misceiia- A copy of the same record I find elsewhere, sc. in a large MS." of that learned anti- ""^^' quary. Sir W. Pole, of this county, Kt. who tells us, he extracted it out of tlie leiger- book oftliatabb}^ belonging to Robert Rolle, of Heanton, Esq. an. 16()6, wherein we have the same passage verbatim. Now, that this Richardus Albus, or White, was at that time bishop of Exeter, is plain, " De Prasui. both from Bishop Godwin,'' and Mr. Izaac also,*^ though under the name of Blondy, f""''""^"""' (Blund, or Blont, signifieth, in old Saxon, M'hite, or bright yellow. Vesteg. Antiq. of Exon. '"'p. 331. He being, as it seems, denominated with an alias; a thing common enough in England, even from the time of the conquest; when William, of Normandy, was sometime sirnamed the Conqueror, and sometime the Bastard. Nor was there any other bishop of Exeter, called Richard, either before, or for some hundreds ofycar.s after, but only this Richard White, alias Blondy. But then, what is farther remarkable, I find, also, that the name Blondy did flourish very well in the city of Exeter, both before and after this bishop's time ; William fMr. iz.Mem. pi(j,^jy^f l^gij^g tljg third by name, (RilTord was the first, and Fitz-Robert was tlie second) who executed the office of mayor in that ancient city. Now, that Blondy, at this time, was also called White, we have probable grounds to conclude, from a passage in Mr. Izaac himself; where the person, wiiom before he called Hilarie Blondy, and was mayor of Exeter, an. 12.58, most likely is the same £ Ibid. p. 15. ^vhom, in the same page,' he calls Hilarie White, and mentions as mayor there, an. 1261. All which circumstances being duely laid together, we have sufficient evidence to conclude, tiiis prelate our own. Richard Blondy, alias White, thus born, as is said, in Exeter, we may well suppose, was the son of William Blondy, aforementioned, who began his mayoralty of that city, 15th King John, A. D. 1213, and continued at for three years together, which suits very well to the compulation of time, wherein they both flourished. Where this eminent prelate had iiis education, or what the first preferments he had " Rirh. Bimijin the churcli were, I find no mention ; nor any thing else recorded of him, (except cibatQr.''Dnl;'! "^'''.y ^''''■t 1^*^ ^^'^^ ^^'^ to be an abbol'' until he was promoted to be bisiiop of Exeter, Moil. Ansi. V. an. 1245. He was consecrated by Bonifacius, archbisho[) of Canterbury, (a man fa- ?nAb.*'dc*"^'"ious for being .son to the Earl of Savoy, and brothei to the Q. consort, and for no- Newen. thinvenbam, his lands m Stamnierlegh. Ralph de Stedhay gave them his lands in Stedhay. Richard de Wranghey gave his lands in Wranghey. Robert de Bacaler gave them his lands in B. Bacaler, in that parish. Robert Cotliey gave 14 acres of land in Cothey, in the same parish. Robert de Lov gave his houses near the Barbican, in Exon. David Anselm, chantor of Crediton, gave his houses in Exon. William Toller gave all his lands in Tollershays, now Tolshays. Adam Cock gave all his lands in the mannor of Axminster, called Cockshays j and divers else. All which, notwithstanding, with many others I might name, this abby amounted, at the dissolution, in the days of K. Hen. 8, but to the sum of 231/. 14^. kd. per k.h'.s. ■ About eight years after the founding of the abby, the foundation of a church, for iEk lib. Ab-the better service of God there, was laid, an. gr. 1254,'' by that venerable man, as he batb. praed. j^ called, Reginald de Moliun, the founder: he, on the Ides of Septem. that year, laid the first stone of that church; which was dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary. He placed three large stones, signed witli a cross ; the fourth stone was laid by William de Mohun his brother ; and^he fifth by Sir Wiinond de Ralegh, Kt. who, the second 'Etinan.tMo.year after, was lord of Smalridge,' in the same parish : these five stones were placed postea Don,, j,^ honour of the H. Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and All-Saints, m presence of Henry, ibid.'"' " °'' the then abbot, and all the convent. This building was carried on by the care of Galfridus de Blanchvile, the fourth abbot of that convent, who caused so good a dis- patch to be made therein, that he was the first who had mass celebrated there. In this church were the bodies of many honourable and eminent persons buried; some of which were these following : Sir Reginald de Mohun, the founder, died at Tor-Brewer, on the 13th of the Ca- lends of Feb. A. D. 1257, and was buried before the high alter here, an. 41, H. 3. Isabella Basset, his wife, died 2. Cal. Nov. 1260, and most likely was buried here. Sir Will, de Mohun, german brother (as he is called) of the said Reginald, and one of the founders, died on St. Lambert's day, 1265, and was buried here, annoq; 50, of Hen. 3. , r , <- -\ r i Prid. Cal. Dec. or on the last day of Nov. 1280, died William Mohun, of Mohuns- Ottery, son of Sir Reginald ; he turned this abbot and convent out ot the advowson of the church of Luppil ; and v/as buried here 8 Edw. 1. ,■ t -f Sir Giles de Cancellis, or Chanceaux, Kt. (whose was sometime the mannor of Lit- •SirW. Pole's ton,' in this county) died, and was buried in this church. ^n.-jfMs' Sir Nicholas de Bolevila, or Bunvile, as 1 take it, who gave 26. v. 4f/. ot annual rent to this house, died ; and was here buried ; with many oiners. t r ^ i And here I shall insert the names of the abbots of this monastery, as 1 find tliem in the Monust. Anglic, and proceed. „. BLONDY, REGINALD. 81 The first was John Godard, born in Canterbury; a man of noble science, and ad- ^• mirable eloquence, A. 1246. The second was Henry de Spersholt, a Berkshire man born ; he obtained consider- ii. able revenues to his house, and began his government there, an. 1247. The third was John de Pont-Robert, prior of Beuly, in Hants. He gave the four Hi. Evangelists to this church. The fourth was JeflPery de Blanchvile, who was created abbot thereof, A. 12.52. He iv. was a good benefactor to his house. The fifth was Hugh de Cokeswel ; chosen an. 1262, but never received the episco- v, pal benediction. He, by his crafty deahngs, changed the convent of that place, an. 1265, and retiring secretly to Beuly aforesaid, they there chose ' The sixth abbot, John, of Northampton, and twelve monks for his convent. vi. The seventh was William de Cornwal, prior of Beulv ; he was created abbot of vii. this place, an. 1272, who, after many labours, became blind and decripped. The eighth that succeeded, was Richard de Chichestre, a monk of Beuly, an. 1288, vill. who, with his own hands, in open court,' tore and cancelled the King's charter, of the advowsan of the parish church of Axminster, which this abby claimed to them- selves, even after it had been determine i • , i i i • i • i • i i Bps. of Exou. compacted among themselves, whilst the bishop lay weak and sick in his bed, to make unto themselves the conveyances of .such livings as then lay in the bishop's disposal. Accordingly they made out advowsans, and other settlements, as to them seemed best; which were forthwith sealed and delivered according to the orders among themselves concluded and agreed on ; though all was reversed, or they punished by the next bishop. That his officers might impose upon the meekness of his disposition, and the weak- ness of his bodily constitution at that time, is not unlikely : but that they did it by any slothful connivance of his, is not so apparent ; for 'tis said, they took the ad- vantage, whilst he lay sick and weak in his bed, without his privacy or consent, antl when he was passed all hopes of recovery. 'Tis true, this reverend prelate, is represented, by our best writers, as a man of a mild spirit, and of a good and gentle nature : which is so far from being any dis- paragement to his memory, that it is sufficient to perfume it, and to render it fra- grant to posterity. Was not the great Bishop of our souls meek and lowly in mind ? Is not this that very lesson He would have all his disciples learn of him ? S. Matth. 11. 29. And when St. Paul reckons up those excellent ingredients, which constitute the character of a Christian bishop; he mentions, among other, this as one, " not given to wine," (which is thus explained : not ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as MTim. 3. 3. one in wine) " but patient."^ Solomon makes it a badge of wisdom to be of a " cool • Prov. 17. «7.spirit ;"" and positively asserts it, that " he that is slow to anger, is better than the c. 16. V. o'.'. i^^igijty . and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." That this reverend bishop was meek and tame, to the prejudice of his office, or his » Hook. Piiut. church, we no where else do find : rather the contrary is testified of him,'' that how- Exon*^ ^^^ "'ever he was a mild-spirited man, he was very stout against such as, in his time, did offer any injury to the church. An argument, that as he had occasions enough for the tryal of the temper of his mind herein ; so upon the push, he had approved it true as steel, and quitted himself with the courage and resolution which became a bishop. He was also a worthy benefactor to his church ; contributing very liberally towards Catof'B^rot'^^'^ buildings of his cathedral :' for that noble pile, (which, for the uniformity thereof, Exon. may seem to have been built by one man in one age) was not, opus unius saeculi, the BLONDY, REGINALD. 8S the work of an age ; but four hundred thirty and seven years in finishing." For from "^^^^ ^^^^-^ its first foundation, in the reign of K. Athelstan, A. D. 932, to the compleating thereof by that noble prelate John Grandison, Bishop of Exeter, (descended from the ancient house of the Grandisons, Dukes of Burgundy) an. 43 Ed. 3. 1369, is no less space of time. What part or portion thereof fell to this bishop's share to carry on, I no where find. But, however, the particulars of his good works may be for- gotten on earth ; 'tis sufficient to his reward, which shall be hereafter, that a faithful register of them all is kept in heaven. He continued bishop of the church of Exeter about the space of twelve years ; and then, having finished his course, he put off his garments of mortality, which were decently deposited under the south tower of his own cathedral, in a tomb covered with touch-stone, A. D. V257, which I take to be that mausolajum, adjoyning there to the south-wall thereof. As to his arms, a certain author hath bestowed upon him a different coat from that before mentioned: but how well it fits him I cannot tell; most likely not at all. If any one be disposed to try it on, 'tis thus emblazoned by him,' Lozengy Or and Sab. «i2.Cat.ofthe If I should by any be thought tedious and impertinent, in my so full clearing up "P'- °^^''°°* our title to this reverend prelate's birth in this county, the motto to his arms shall be all my apology ; which i.s thus in English, Truth will overcome. BLUEi; 84 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. I'lor. A. D. l,6w- R- K. BLUET, COLONEL FRANCIS. Car. 1. » Ex Regist. Bluet Collonel Francis, was bom in the year of our Lord 1582,^ at the antient house belonging to his family, call'd Holcomb-Court, in the parish of Holcomb-Rogus, lying about six miles to the north of Cullumpton, in this county, on the borders of Somersetshire. Some perhaps, from the name, may, at first hearing, take up a scandalous opinion of this place, as if it fetched its original from rogues, or bond-men, that sometime lived there. Others, with a modester probability, may imagine, it was so called from rogus, a funeral-pile, much in use among the Romans (sometime in this country) in their wars, who, to prevent the indignity might be offered them by their enemies, were wont to burn the dead bodies of their generals, and chief captains, upon the level, near the Via strata, or Militaris, the whole army congesting upon their ashes, pure grassy turfs, i}„„,] Hist ^^^*' f''oi^i the surface of the ground, which became their tumulus.'^ of Warvvicksh. Nor is this the true account of the denomination of this parish, which is so called ''■^' from a very antient knightly family, wliich were lords thereof, so far back as the days ' Sir w. Poles of K. H. L" whosc name was Rogus, Rogon, or Roges. The first was Rogon Fitz P<'J^''j"fpp^- Symon, whom succeeded Symon tilius Rogonis ; then William filius Symonis fdii Ro- iMs. "" gonis ; then Rogon fdius Symonis. Next Sir Jordan Fitz-Rogan, Kt. After him, Sir Symon Fitz-Rogus. And, last of all, succeeded Sir Symon Roges: in the whole about seven generations. But omitting this, I shall proceed to the honourable family from whence the gentle- I man before us descended : He was the second son of Richard Bluet, of Holcomb- Rogus, Esq ; by Mary his wife, the daughter of Sir John Chichester, of Ralegh, in this county, Kt. sister to the Right Honourable the Lord Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland; who by along line of noble ancestors, is said to be derived from William '' Westc. in his Bluct, or Bloct, Earl of Sarum. So a certain author tells us,'* although I must acknow- Pedigrecs.MS. j^,^]^.^ I can meet with no such Earl in all Dugdal's Baronage of England. Which William Bluet, Earl of Sarum, is said to have had a younger son named Sir Rowland Bluet; who, by one of the heirs of Ragland, Lord of Ragland, had issue Sir Edmond Bluet, Lord of Ragland ; wlio, by the sister of Sir Humphry Bawen, had issue Sir Ro- ger, and Robert Bluet, lord bishop of Lincoln, (of wliom God willing more hereafter) which Sir Roger, by the daughter of Sir Lewis de Powis, Lord of Powis, had issue Sir Thomas ; who had issue Sir Ralph; who, by Flawis his wife, the sister to Ralph de Mounthermer, Earl of Hertford and Glocester, an. 129G, had issue Sir Walter; who, by the co-heir of Symon de Greenham, of Greenham, in the parish of Ashbrittle, in Somerset, bad issue Sir Walter Bluet, of Greenham, Kt. the first of his name, I find resident in these parts; which Sir Walter had issue Sir John ; who bad issue John Bluet, of Greenham ; who, b}^ the daughter and co-heir of Chiselden, (the other mar- ried Wadham) became the Lord of Holcomb-Rogus ; as Chiselden did by mari-ying, three generations before, the daughter and heir of Roges : which antient and pleasant seat, continues in the honourable name of Bluet unto this day ; of which it hath been possessed about eight generations following, matching, as it came along, into many of the noblest families in those parts, as Mallet, Fitz-James, Saint Maur, Blunt Lord Mounjoy, Chichester, Grenvile, Portman, and others; until at length, John Bluet, this gentleman's elder brother's heir, of whom we are speaking, having no issue male, conveighed away to his four daughters a considerable part of this large and fair estate, who thereby brought a great addition to the fortunes of their husbands, Jones, Wallop, Stonchouse, and Basset. But of this enough. Collonel BLUET, COLONEL FRANCIS. 85 Colonel Bluet being a younger brother, could expect no better fortune ; and if he followed a lazy life at home, no better treatment, than what usually attend such a rela- tion : He being, therefore, of a vigorous martial spirit, resolved not to let it rust in sloath and idleness in his father's house (as too many cadets are wont to do) but rather to cultivate, and improve it by travel, and brave adventures. The Low-Countries, at that time, being the famous academy for war, where noble young sparks might come to brighten and furbish up their courage and resolution, he (as a great many gentlemen's sons of the first rank then did) betook himself thither ; where the first thing he did, was to learn to obey, that thereby he might the better know how afterward to command. Lie began with trayling a pike (some of the greatest generals have done the like) ; but ended with trayling a regiment. What particular post he arrived at in those countries, I cannot say ; but having served more than one apprenticeship therein, he thought fit to return unto his own. It was not long before the civil wars brake out in England, that this gentleman retired home, when there fell out but too great occasion for the employment of men of his profession ; his blood, honour, and conscience, soon taught him what side he ought to adhere unto : He took up a commission in the service of King Charles the first, of blessed memory, and was of that reputation, both for courage and conduct, that he was deservedly preferred to be a collonel; and having thus put his hand to the plough, he never looked back, but continued zealous and affectionate in supporting the best cause and the best King had ever sate on the English throne, to the last drop of his blood. Sometime after this, it fell out, that the little obscure town of Lyme, in Dorsetshire (lying just upon the borders of Devon), though surnamed Regis, shamefully turned tail, and engarrisoned it self on behalf of the parliament ; it was hereupon thought fit, by Prince Maurits, and other the great ofticers, that then commanded the King's army in the West, to bring tlieir forces thither to reduce it unto duty. Accordingly, in the month of April, anno, 1644, they sate down before it, with great assurance of carrying it in a very few days ; and some were so very confitlcnt, as to say of it. It would be but a breakfast work, and that they would not dine till they had took the town. And, indeed, the King's party had reduced it to the last extremity, for, notwithstanding the great assistance of their women, they were in so great want, they could not have held it out three days longer, had not the Earl of Warwick (the parliament's admiral) very • seasonably relieved them by sea. But the royalists observing the distress of the place, thought to have carry ed it before their relief came; this made them push on a general assault, with utmost vigor; at what time Collonel Bluet, leading on his soldiers, with undaunted courage and resolu- tion, even home to the enemies works, he was there slain, to the great loss of the royal cause, and grief of all that knew him : He was soon stripped, and his scarlet coat fell to the share of a common centinel, whom I knew. Soon after this, Prince Maurits, the Lord Pawlet, and the other general oflicers, when they had spent here about a montli's time, and lost near fifteen iiundred gallant men, thought fit to raise the siege, re infecta. Though, indeed, the town being of no great consequence, they had been better to have slighted it, and not beleaguered it at all, as some believed. The Collonel thus fal'n asleep in the bed of honour, liis body was no sooner de- manded, than granted, by the governourof Lyme (or at least it was fetched ofl"), to be decently and christianly interred, where his relations pleased; who accordingly took care to have it conveyed back to Holcomb, aforesaid; and on May 10th, anno 1644, it was decently deposited with military solemnity, i.e. mourning drums, pikes trayl'd on the ground, vollies, and the like, among his ancestors, in the parish church there- unto belonging. He 86 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. . He lieth under a plain stone, without any inscription ; to prevent (as is supposed) the indignities might be otYered his loyal ashes by the rebels ; some of which, in their furious zeal, could not forbear violating the sepulchres of the dead. However, there is as yet no monument erected to the memory of this worthy gentle- man; yet in the same church are seen two belonging to this family. Tiie one is raised in remembrance of the colloncl's father and mother, on the which lie their efiigies, elegantly cut in black marble, finely polished ; in a table whereof may be read this epitaph : To the virtuous Me- mory of Richard Bluet, Esq ; late of Hol- Rog. who Deceased March the 3d, MDCXHH. Who lieth here Inter'd, together with his Wife, which was the daughter of Sir John Chichester, of Rawlegh, Kt. and sister to the Right Honourable the Lord Chichester, Lord Deputy of the Kingdom of Ireland. The other is in memory of John Bluet, Esq. (the Collonel's elder brother's heir) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Portman, of Orchard-Portman, in the county of Somerset, knight and baronet. This is a very noble monument, where the defunct lie in eOigy, curiously wrought, in white marble; with eight daughters kneeling by their side. The inscription is thus: Memorise Sacrum Viri vere Nobilis & Generosi Johannes Bluet Armigeri & Clarissimae illius Conjugis Elizabethte Johannes Portman Militis & Barronctti Filial, Ille qiiidem Fato Cessit 29 die Novem. Anno yEtatis Sua^ .'31. & Salutis MDCXXXHII. Ha?c vero Septimo Die Julii . (JEvMh XXXII. Anno. ^Salutis MDCXXXVIH. I might farther mention another very worthy person, of this antient stock, Sir Roger Bluet, Kt. who marry 'd the daughter of John Row, of Kingston, Serjeant at law, and buildcd the great hall at Holcomb-Court, where his name is yet to be seen. But, omitting him, and all others, I shall crave leave, according to my promise, to insist a little on Robert Bluet, Lord High Chancellor of England, and Bishop of Lincoln ; who, thougii I cannot say he was a native of this county, yet being so nearly related to this family, I shall here record his history. What the particular education, and accidents of his youth were, I no where find; nor any thing else of iiim, until such time as, by King William Rufus, he was advanced to be Lord Chancellor of England, a place of the first rank about the crown ; he, next after the King, and Princes of the Blood, in civil affairs, being the highest person in State of EiiKi. the kmgdom.' Part i.pa. ij-.-. After this, by the same Kin'<'t'?'i■ t^y what he could effect by art and policy; what doth he do, therefore, but stir up qflodeosdemc" Thomas, Lord Archbishop of York, against Robert, the new bishop of Lincoln ; pre- p'^copati's pr<^- tending, that Lincoln lay within his province, and so was sidjject to his archiepiscopal d'erirRudboiii authority. Accordingly, a prohibition was issued out against his consecration byV'osup- Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury; in fine, the King so ordered his business,; RobertnsDe. that the contention could not be appeased, until the Bishop had paid him down 3000'" Biiiud,!. Hist scoiarships, to earn ni the tour. & Antiqii. Ox- Fjipther yet, since the revemie of tho school is augmented, 'tis common with the ""'wiiietsSy- trustees, to grant exhibitions to several other scholars, which goe from this school to iiops. Papis. p. ^[-jg university: To some five, to others ten pounds per annum, for four, five, or more years, as they are pleased to agree. The names of the trustees, appointed by the founder, by his last will and testament, for this school, are these following : Sir Francis Popham, Lord Chief-Justice of England. Anthony Pollard, Esq. Rich- ard Bluet, Esq. Charles Bere, Esq. Roger Ashford, Esq. Roger Ware, Esq. Roger Giflard, Esq. James Clark, Esq. Henry Worth, Esq. These were gentlemen in the neighbourhood of that town. To which were added these following tradesmen, for the most part clothiers of that place. John West, senior. Humphry Coleman. John Waldron. Edward Amey. Nicholas Skinner. George Slee. Richard Hill, alias Sparway. Richard Prowse. John West, junior. Peter West. Robert Chilcot, alias Cummyn. John Deyman. John Blundell, Peter Blundell, William Tanner. Roger Slee. Wiliiam Cross, and Arthur Cross. Seven and twenty in all. This trust was made to them, and to their heirs after them. Besides "this, 'tis said, Mr. Blundell left a large legacy to Rol)ert Chilcot, alias Cum- myn, of the town aforesaid, towards his erecting another school for teaching to read English, write, and cipher: Of which (God willing) more hereafter. insomuch his pul)lic liberality to the town of his nativity, is computed at more than seven thousand [)Oiniils. Moreover, he gave above ten thousand pounds to some relations and acquaintance in Tiverton. About five thousand pounds more to his acquaintance and friends in London. And abundance of good legacies to particular people, as carriers, inn- \ keepers, tuckers, and such as had been assistent to him in the way of his trade. Who ■^ . not BLUNDELL, PETER. . 91 not being thought beneath the grateful remembrance of this worthy ]ierson in his will, I hope will not be held unworthy to be thus mentioned here ; when 'tis intended too, to the greater honour of the donor. Now (what is yet more) when all these legacies and benefactions were paid, and discharged, there was a good estate remaining ; which he left to his executors, Mr. AVilliam Craven, (ancestor to the present Rt. Hon. Earl of Craven) and Mr. William Parker, merchants in London. Mr. George Slee, John West, sen. and John AVest, jun. clothiers in Tiverton in trust for the good of his heir his brother James; whose posterity still remains in good esteem, in those parts, as may be seen underneath. He was never married, and so had no issue of his body to leave that vast estate unto, which by God's blessing, and his own industry, he had acquired. His legacies and good works are comi)uted to near forty thousand pounds of themselves : how much more then might the whole bulk be supposed to amount unto ? If it be but a little beyond this, what a prodigy of industrj^ or rather of a very benign Providence, might he justly be reputed? But when we consider the pious and charitable methods he disposed all this in, we can't but admire at his generous and noble mind as much as either. Some years before his death, for the more convenient management of his affairs, he settled himself in London, in the parish of St. Michael-Royal : for by his last will, dated at London, June 9, A. D. 1599, he ordered that his burial should be in that church. Within a very few years after which time, this truly great and generous person stooped to fate, and was accordingly interred in the place of his appointment. May 4, I601, aged eighty-one years. Here it may not be amiss, to give a brief account of the progeny and issue of this r 1 II r^- -^ r 1 • i il • 1 e I o J <= From the Pe- lamily ; and whai, condition it stands m at tins day. di"ree in my Peter Blundell left James his brother his heir, who by Margaret Howper, his wife, bauds, had issue John ; who by Joan Reed, his wife, had issue Peter; who by Priscilla Colla- niore, his wife, had issue John Blundell, Esq. who by Mary Crossing, of Exeter, his wife, had issue Richard; who by Mary, daughter of Philip Gadd, of Taunton, mercer, had issue 1. Richard, 2. John, (both died without issue) 3. Philip Blundell, of Brim- ridge, near South-Moulton, Esq. a youth of about thirteen years of age, 1699. N 2 HODLEY, 92 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON .BODLEY, SIR THOMAS. Fior. A. D, BODLEY, Sir Thomas, was born in the city of Exeter, as appears from that his- Etob.^' ^ tory of his hfe, written by himself, which I shall here offer to your view, in his own excellent words ; from a manuscript (on probable grounds) supposed to be his own "Walter Bo- haud-writing, now in the custody of a neighbour-gentleman,^ nearly related to his fombe &iq. family ; at the end whereof, I shall presume to carry on his history, home unto his tomb, and there take my leave of his honourable ashes. I was born at Exeter in Devon, the ^d of March, in the year 1544, descended by father and mother, of worshipful parentage ; by my father, from an antient family of >■ Eldest son of Bodley,'' of Bodleigh, of Dunscomb by Crediton ; and by my mother, from Robert Exo'n!*"sm?oV^^on*?' Esq ; of Ottery St. Mary, nine miles from Exon. jobnEodieyof My father, in the time of Q. Mary, being noted and known to be an enemy to po- Jondlsmi'^of P^""}"' was KO cruclly threatned, and so narrowly observed, by those that maliced his Will. Bodky religion, that for the safeguard of himself and my mother, (vvlio was wliolly affect- Ath^na^'oxmi'. ed as my father) he knewno way so secure, as to fly into Germany ; where, after he vol. i.p. 326. had been a while, he found means to call over my mother, with all his children and familv; whom he settled for a time at Wesell in Clealand, (for there, as then, were many English, which had left their country for their conscience, and with quietness enjoyed their meetings and preachings) and from thence we removed to the town of Frankfbrd, where was in like sort, another English congregation. Howbeit, we made no long tarriance in either of these towns, for that my father' had resolved to fix his abode in the city of Geneva; where, as far as I rememi)er, the English church consisted of some hundred persons. I was at that time of twelve years of age, but through my father's cost and care, sufficiently instructed to become an auditor, of Chevalerius in Hebrew, of Beraldus in Greek, of Calvin and Beza in Divinity, and of some other professors in that university, which was then newly erect- ed : Besides my domestical teachers in the house of Philibertus Saracenus, a famous physician in that city, with whom I was boarded, where Robertus Constantinus, that made the Greek Lexicon, read Homer unto me. Thus I remained there two years and more, until such time as our nation was ad- vertised of the death of Q. Mary, and succession of Q. Elizabeth, with the change of religion; which caused my father to hasten into England, where he came with my mother, and all the family within the first of the Queen; and settled their dwelling in the city of London. It was not long after, that I was sent thence to the university of Oxford, recom- mended to the reading and tuition of Dr. Humphrey, who was shortly after chosen chief reader in divinity, and president of Magdalen college : There I followed my studies, till I took the degree of Batchelour of Art, which was in the year 1563. Within which year I was chosen probationer of Merton college; and the next year ensuing, admitted fellow. Afterward, viz. in the year 1565, by special perswasion of some of my fellows, and for my private exercise, I undertook the publick reading of a Greek lecture in the same college-hall, without requiring or expecting any stipend for it: Nevertheless, it pleased the fellowship, of their own accord, to allow me, soon after, four marks by the year; and ever since to continue that lecture to the college. In the year of our Lord 1566, I proceeded Master of Arts, and read for that year, in the school-streets, Natural Philosophy. After which, within less than three years space, I was won, by entreaty of my best affected friends, to stand for the proctor- ship, BODLEY, SIR THOMAS. 93 ship/ to which I, and my colleague Mr. Bearblock, of Exeter-college, were quietly' ^i>' . , ' , ^^_ -^ • , * • ■ • p .1 he performed elected in the year 15o9, without any competition, or countersuit oi any other. withsieatcom- After this for a long time, I supplied the place of university orator: and bestowed ]^'^^"'^q°"^" my time in the study of sundry faculties, without any inclination to profess any one quo prius. above the rest : Insomuch, as at last, I waxed desirous to travel beyond the seas, for the attaining to the knowledg of some special modern tongues; and for my increase of experience in managing affairs, being wholly then addicted to employ myself, and all my affairs, in the publick service of the state. My resolution fully taken, I departed out of England,"* A. 157fi, and continued" witu leave abroad very near four years, and that in sundry parts of Italy, France, and Germany. d™','',iKUocTeTy A good while after my return, I was employed by the Queen to Frederick, father to of his Coii. he the present King of Denmark, to Julius, Duke of Brunswick, to William Lantgravc |j3"wth the of Hess, and other German Princes. The effect of my message was, to draw them allowance be- to joy n their forces with hers, for giving assistance to the King of Navar, now Hen. jrafgUer.'" id. 4th, of France. My next employment was to Hen. .Sd., at such time as he was en- it- forced by the Duke of Guise to fly out of Paris: Whicli I performed in such man- ner as I had in charge, with extraordinary secresy ; not being accompanied with any one servant, (for so much was I commanded) nor with any other letters than such as were written with the Queen's own hand to the King, and some selected persons about him : The effect of that message it is fit I should conceal ; but it tended to the good not only of the King, but all the protestants in France, and the duke's apparent overthrow, which also followed soon upon it. It so befel after this, in the year' — 88, that for the better conduct of her majesty's '.""^'ng^""""' rp ■ ■ .1 ■ •, 1 T I 1 /- • 1 • .1 1 that time inar- aiiairs in the provinces united, 1 was thought a nt person to reside in those parts, and ried Ann, the was sent hereupon to the Hague in Holland : where according to that contract, which ii above-cited. 1 o reuiovc this inconveiiiency also, viz. the streightness thereof; the great Bodley once more proposes to the university. That with their liking, he would make an ad- • dition to the structure, and enlarge it to a much greater capacity. Which motion '"'ibid '') ip' ^Iso was most thankfully embi-aced by that venerable body:' Insomuch, Jul. 19- A. 1610,™ the vice-chancellor, doctors, proctors, with many masters of art, in their proper robes and formalities, being present, with a speech beforehand made, the first stone BODLEY, SIR THOMAS. 97 stone was laid, and money offered thereupon, according to custom. But the great good man did not live to see this part of his undertaking, with some other designs he had for the advantage of the university, brought to full perfection ; though (ac- cording as he had said) he left wherewithal to do it with some friends in trust. While this was transacting, the university maturely considering," that if they <> Hist. & An- should add three other sides to what was already built, there would thence arise a no- '2'.''p.^3°°' ''''' ble quadrangle, and spacious rooms for schools of arts ; but being unwilling to give farther trouble to Sir Thomas Bodley herein, who had been at such vast charges al- ready, they thought fit to apply themselves to the generous bounty of such noblemen, bishops, and others, who had former]}^ been members thereof, for their assistance. The knovvledg whereof coming to this worthy gentleman, he was not only serviceable herein by his great interest with many eminent persons, but very liberally contributed towards it, out of his own pocket, so that at last, his debts, legacies, and funeral charges first defrayed, he conferred iiis whole estate upon those glorious enterprizes; as by the copy of that part of his will, here quoted in the margent, to tliis purpose may more fully appear." ° Caeterum ne For the better improvement likewise of this his noble gift, and promoting the in- g[,';^'°I,'p"nsi, terest of his library, as became a prudent founder, he composed and left behind him premeretur very judicious statutes, for the better managing the affairs thereof; whereby he ap- ^^"'|.^^^^^^"' pointed eight guardians, viz. the vice-chancellor, and the proctors, for the time be- sumptus quos ing, the three faculty, and the two tongue (Hebrew and Greek) professors (who have ^'me*'rsu?os°°iQ an honorarv stipend allowed them for their care and pains) to see all things well eam vero rem ^, 1 *' ^ ' ' Latifuudia sua pertormed, omnia, ac tene- And lest this his magnificent donation might in time, by repairations, or otherwise, menta, pensi- become a rent charge to the university, this great man was pleased, further, to settle JJ,^" re'dditus two hundred pounds per annum on the said library for ever : Out of which he appoint- Pf*^""'^^^^"^' ed near forty pounds a year for the head librarian, ten pounds for the sub-librarian, reauiatq; mo- ( whose office is to keep the books in order) and eight for the janitor. biiia, testa- •KT T , 1 1 r- r^- rr^i T^ 1 1 > • ■ "I r it, mciiti cufatori- Nor did the zeal of Sir Thomas Bodley herein yet expire, until, tor the encrease bus dividen- of his pubiick library, and the advancement of the commonwealth of learning, he dum m^^nd*^';!!; had obtained a law,f That the company of stationers in London, should cause one c.t.' copy of every new book which they printed, to be presented thereunto. By all p Quod lege ab which it is now become (the famous Vatican not excepted) one of the most glorious "U^ 'le^nentui' and magnificent librarys this day in the world.'' And there are so many various books —id. ib.p. 5i. found therein, that the very catalogue of them amounts to a large volume in folio : \7,^^^J;i;,'|;|f'" Which renders it the less strange, that that learned prince. King James the first, •„ Lycajo aut of pious memory, should wish, if ever he were a prisoner, it might be in this library, P'^]^}'p''^*^;,,"l'no among those fellow-prisoners the books, which are there enchained. So that in and Musaeo magpi- toward the building, repairing, and finishing the university library, we are told,' Sir ^3bat'"paiias^ Thomas Bodley, in lands, goods, and money, gave about eighteen thousand pounds, id. quo prius. Having thus considered the magnificent works of this our noble country-man, pro- f^3:.^'*' ceed we next to his death and funeral. Though his illustrious deeds can render him p^g' icJq°^' immortal, yet they could not bayl him from the arrest of death : For having brought to so great perfection his truly generous designs, for the advancement of learning, God was pleased to call him to himself, Ne post illiid immortale factum, mortale aliquid faceret,'' least after that immortal exploit, he should be found in any mortal action, as » Hales. Orat. the orator expressed it at his funeral. vftas seie'rUo- Thus it pleased the great Almighty, the sole arbiter of all our lives and fortunes, to res, p. 431. send sickness (death's harbinger) unto him, to make ready for the entertainment of that King of terrors, whose approach was now near at hand : This happened in the month of January, sixteen hundred and twelve. During the time of whose illness, the vice-chancellor, aixl chief heads of the university of Oxford, testify by a con- O doling 98, THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. doling letter to him, how very deeply aflhcted they were for his sickness ; the begin- ning whereof ran in this tenour, What griefs the connate members of the body feel, when their heart is ill affected ; the same, most noble Bodley, do we labour under, now you, our dearest heart, may seejn to be in danger : But neither could the muses or the graces, with all their wit, or oratory, or beauty, encharm inexorable death, to delay the execution of his summons. So that on the eight and twentieth of the same month this excellent person put off his garments of mortality, which were interred with a solemnity answerable to his worth and quality; as by this brief account thereof • Ex Hist. & will more fully appear.' o"'"' I'b'^'i' The doleful tydings of iiis death, being now come so far as Oxford, the university, p. 3v:o. in convocation, consulted what exequies might best honour the remains of this their great Mecaenas : And it was therein at length agreed, that the nine and twentieth day of March, 1613, should be the set time for the solemnity of his interment, which was intended to be made in Merton college chap]jle. A few days before which, tiie honourable corps was brought from his house in St. Bartholomews the Less, London, where he died, accompanied for the greater honour, with three heralds at arms, (of which number Cambden Clorenceanx was one) his brother. Doctor Laurence Bodley, Sir John Bennet, judge of the prerogative court of Canterbury, William Hakewell, Esq; counsellor at law. Doctor George Hake- well, and many other persons of quality ; the herse was adorned with his arms and ensigns of honour, suitable to his degree, and reposed in Merton college-hall. The day for the solemnity being come, the \ ice-chancellor, doctors, j)roctors, and heads of tlie university, with almost an innumeralde company of schollars, every one in their distinct liabits, came thither to attend the funeral. Tlie vice-chancellor, the preach- er, (Dr. William Goodwin, dean of Christ-Church) both the proctors, all the bedles, with the fellows, chaplains, portionists, and servants of Merton college, together with sixty-seven (the age of the defunct) of the poorer sort of the university, (all in mourn- ing, besides his own servants, and many others) being ready about nine a clock in the morning, they bring forth the corps; and that there might be the more space for so great an assembly, they deduce it through Christ-Church college up to Cairfaix ; thence to St. Marys; and then through School-street into the Divinity-school: where a while are deposed the sacred relicts, until such time as Mr. Corbet (who then ofliciated as the publick orator) iiad made an eloquent oration in praise of the illus- trious Bodley. At the end whereof the}' all retrxrn to St. Mary's church, where a cenotaphium, or empty herse, was erected in honour to the dead ; and then the aforesaid Dr. Goodwin, preached the funeral sermon. All things being over here likewise, that could contribute to the glory of the solem- nity, they return the corps to Merton college-church; where the fatuous Hales, then fellow of the house, made an excellent oration in latin at the grave : Which ended, the sacred remains of this great person were laid up, with profound reverence, under the north-wall of the higher part of the choir there. The interment thus finished, the vice-chancellor, and heads of houses, with the mourners, return to the college-hall, where was prepared for them a most sumptuous dinner of no less than an hundred pounds cost ; part of the thousand marks alotted by himself for his funeral charges. ' - Thus have we brought our great Bodley to his grave, in peace and honour; where we shall leave him to his rest, in expectation of a far more glorious resmnection. You having thus beheld him, in his life and in his death, give me leave to lay be- fore you the encomiums which have been liberally bestowed upon him ; and the ho- nours done imto his memory : And here should I stay to enumerate those titles of esteem and dignity, which private learned men of our own and foreign countries, have BODLEY, SIR THOMAS, 99 have in their writings endeavoured to adorn him with, they would amount to a vo- "^^ i'|f"b''a"ta hime of themselves : I shall therefore choose to insist on those only, which are more s.ia de manu eminent and illustrious. d'^biMiothecs King Jam. 1. of blessed memory, was pleased to bestow upon him, not only the a. r. a. con- honour of knighthood, but what is greater, the title of the Founder of the University ^'^,^f^^'';;J^;'!'J' Library of Oxford." tnndatoiem Not only his particular college of Merton, employed one of their most eminent fel-^-j"* HiTtTn- lows," to make an oration in his praise at the grave, but the university also appointed tiq. Ac. Ox. their orator at that time' (as was said before) to do the like at the schools: Both [) ^^^'P'^^^J which very eloquent speeches may be found at large in Dr. Bates's select lives of emi- , ^r. Corbet nent men.'' successively It was ordered in convocation. That the whole body of the university of Oxford ^Pj''jJ^^^.|°'^'* should, with verses in his praise, celebrate the obsequies of this most renowned man ;' y p. 415, &c. which was done accordingly in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English. -— Ordinatum And that the name and memory of this excellent person might be consecrated to ^^N "' 'ptt^- . immortality, Thomas Sackvile, Earl of Dorset, and Chancellor of the said Univcrsi- tatis coi-pu?, ty, caused his statue to be sent to Oxford, while yet livinar. A. 1605 ; and ordered it viro,ciar.ssinio •^ . . 1 ■ 1 r , ■< • I • 1 11 • • I -xi '"picediis varus to be placed m a nitch 01 the wall within the library, in a conspicuous place, witli parentaret. these words under-written : Lib!2V"3-'' Thomas Sackvillus Dorset com. summus Anglite Thesaurar. Hujus Acad. Cancel. Thonife Bodleio Equiti Aurato Qui Biblioth. banc instituit Honoris causa P.P. The university of Oxford also, in the wall of the east side of his library, caused to be sate up in letters of gold, to the perpetual memory of the illustrious founder, this inscription. Quod feliciter vortat, academici Oxoniens. Bibliothecam hanc, vobis reipublicaeq; Literatorum T. B. P. Thus is he stiled the Ptolemy of the age he lived in. The most illustrious patron ; and dignified with expressions of the highest honour and respect; and yet when this is done, thev are all acknowledged to be short of his merit." Which is all the apo- ' \" *''a ^e'" , r 1 I-/-- i-Ti 1 i-i-T J. lebusq ; gcstis logy I need to make, 11 in any thing 1 iiave spoken 01 him, 1 may seem to some enairandis, ne- too large and tedious, "'.° ""i"^™ "'- To all this may we yet add the honour done his memory by Doctor John Morrice, tent. Hist, cannon of Ch. Ch. Oxon, who in his last testament bequeathed to the university five j^j^'^J- <^;^»"- pounds per annum,'' to be given to a master of art, that should make and speak ab Atbcna^ speech in praise of Sir Thomas Bodley every year, on the eighth of Nov. (on which O"""- vol. 1. the visitation of the library commonly is) to be nominated by the dean of Christ-''"'" " church, and confirmed by the vice-chancellor for the time being. Which gift was not to take place until the death of his wife, which happened not until the year one thousand, six hundred, eighty and one: And then in the year fol- lowing, November one thousand, six hundred, eighty and two, the will of the donor was accordingly executed; and the practise has ever since been laudably continued. It now remains only that I should give some account also of his sepulchral monu- ment and epitaph, and then, with due reverence, withdraw from his sacred urn. ""Sir Thomas Bodley lyes interred in the choir of the collegiate cliurch of Merton '" ^jj''^*" (f^'on''' Oxford ; where in the side of the north wall, is fixed a monument of white and black lib. 2. p. 89. ' marble, having this device: His effigies is there erected in a scholar's gown, drawn to the middle, encompassed round with books; at the corners wliereof stand grammar, rhetorick, nuisick, and arithmetick; he is placed between two angels, that on the left-hand holds him out a crown; that on the right-hand ofiers him a book open, having these words written therein, Non delebo nomen ejus de libro vitje. Under 100 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Under all is this iugraven. Memorise Thomse Bodley militis, publicae bibliothecae fundatoris sacrum. Obiit 28 Jan. anno, 1612. Underneath is the figure of a woman sitting before the stairs of the old library} holding in one hand a key, in the other a book, (wherein the greatest part of the al- phabet may be seen) behind which appear three small books shut up ; on the outside of whose leafs are inscribed their authors' names, viz. Priscianus, Diomedes, Do- natus- Thus have I finished what I intended, not what might be spoken of our immortal "Apud. Bates. countryman; of whom I shall take my leave in Mr. Corbet's words,"* in his funeral viz. select, p- oratiou on him. Quid non semper dicenti superesset, pro Bodleio ? Nee vita potuit '■ "° Bodleius, nee morte indigere ; nee Coelo, nee sepulchro. Ampliat aetatis spacium sibi vir bonus, hoc est Vivere bis, vita posse priore frui. BODLEY, { 101 ) BODLEY, LAWRENCE, D. D. BODLEY, Lawrence, D. D. younger brother to the famous Sir Thomas Bodley,Fior. a. d. (though, by mistake, he is said, in the History and Antiquity of the university ofg^?^,,^- ^• Oxford,' to be the elder) was also born in the city of Exeter, near about the year ofaL-b.i, pg, our Lord, so far as we may conjecture, 1546. He was the pious son of religious pa-320. ' ' °" i-ents ; for the family was eminent as well for their piety as gentility, according to the testimony of an excellent author,'' who says thus thereof, In familiag Bodleianae pree-' M-"- Joha coniis, non tantum gentilitiam dignitatem, (quanquam fuit ilia perillustris) quam "raT 'oration' quod fuerit pietatis laude florentissiuia, among the praises of the Bodleian family, nol <>" Sir Tho. so much the dignity of their gentility ought to be regarded (though that was very il- iSsdecf lustrious) as the honour they got for their piety; who early embraced the reformed ?• ^^s. ' religion, which not being permitted to profess openly, neither safe to practice private- ly in England in the hot Marian days, they fled into Germany;' and from thence theyc sir The came to the city Geneva, where they continued until that black cloud" of persecution, Bodieys ufe, which hung then over the church of England, by the providence of God, blew away • ^'„'"e'i" ''^ And then Mr. Bodley returned with his family back into his own country, and settled " Nubecula est in London. cito transitura. From whence his son Lawrence was sent to Oxford, and placed into that noble se- minary of virtue and learning there known by the name of Christ-Church; for so much may we infer from that circumstance. That after the interment of his honour- able brother, he was created'^ Doctor in Divinity, as a member of that college. In < Athens Ox- this famous college he continued a studious and industrious scholar (though in what ""• '"'• ^- P- capacity, whether as a commoner or student it appears not) until he had finished his^^'^' degrees of arts : What the particular accidents of his life were, while he here resid- ed, I no where find. From hence he removed into his own country, at what time his merit was so con- spicuous, that he was made one of the canons residentiary of the church of Exon, and rector of Shobrooke, about seven miles from thence, a rich parsonage near adjoyn- ing to the antient town of Crediton • AVhich was all the preferment (so far as 1 can find) that this eminent person ever owned, who yet deserved more and better ; for he was a person of extraordinary worth, and did much good in his generation. Among other things, for which he deserves to be recorded, this is none of the least, that he was of great use to his noble brother. Sir Thomas Bodley, in foundincr his fa- mous library at Oxford.' At whose funeral, celebrated with great solemnity there, he r ,,r was chief mourner: At what time, by the body of the university in convocation, he Devf "' von in was thought worthy the honour of the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and was so ere- ^'"'''' ated accordingly. May SO, 1613, a little after the interment was over." As for the faithful discharge of the duties of his function, one who was his parish- 'of i.'p^'sTf oner, and knew hnii well, hath left this honourable testimony of him upon the file of" M'estc. quo time m these words, That for his pious zeal and continual labours in this vocation, he'^P"' cannot be over-praised. A character of so high a strain as might justly raise, in those of his profession, a pious emulation, to deserve and obtain the like. Farther, 1 find Dr. Bodley was capable of obliging, and actually did so, by some preferment he had the donation of (1 suppose in his ball at Exeter) the famous Dr. Prideaux, while he was rector of Exeter-college in Oxford, and regius professor of divinity there. The paiticular instance whereof I cannot learn; but the thing itself fully appears from the dedication which that grateful doctor made him, of his Act- lijfaf "^Et" sermon, preached at St. Mary's, Jul. lOth,' in which he calls him his worthy patron ; «"« backslid-" and takes occasion to commend him as a pattern to patrons, for disposing the Lord's on^Re''v."2!T" portion 102 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. portion in those his days. Wherein, he tells him, that buyers and sellers break into the temple : And Judases what will ye give me ? And Simon Magus his offering make most bargains for benefices. A severe charge against that age ; though 'tis feared the present, upon this account, deserves not a milder one. He was also of an hospitable disposition ; but very liberal and open-handed to the poor; whose charity they were not obliged unto death for, as the manner of some is, who give nothing so long as they can keep it : No, he freely bestowed it in his life- jj, time, in a daily doing good to some or other; prudently making his eyes his overseers, and his own hands the executors of his alms. * Nor was his piety towards God less signal or sincere, which was not by lucid in- tervals, but ran through his general conversation. A short evidence whereof we may observe in that elegy he made on his and our famous countryman's death, Bishop Jewel, " Ex. D. Hum- of pious memory; so much of which as is a confirmation of it, I shall here insert.'^ phredi vita jueiiiin Caice. Interca, decor O I doctorum summe virorum, & pater, & patriae gemma, Juelle, vale. Chare, vale : Donee superorum sede recepti Perpetuo juncti stabimus ante Deum, Tu modo pniscedis, quia te prascedere dignum est : Nos per idem lasti mox veniemus iter, &c. How great an encourager this reverend divine was of the weighty ordinance of the gospel preaching, (that great duty indeed of his high calling) may appear not only from his assiduous practice thereof, in his own person while alive, but from that con- ' Ex. Regist. siderable summ of money, he gave to that purpose at his death.' For by his last will Ecci. Exon. and testament, He bequeathed to the mayor and chamber of E.xeter, Four hundred pounds in money, to purchase twenty pounds a year in lands, towards the mainte- nance of a preacher in that city : Who is now wont to officiate as that honourable body is pleased to direct. Having lived to a considerable age, near 70 years, in this vale of misery, the good man surrendered up his pious soul into the hands that gave it, (most probably) in the same city where he first received it, on the 19th day of April, A. 1615; for he lieth interred near the choir in St. Peter's church there, under a flat marble-stone, which had this epitaph sometime legible thereon : but being now obliterated by the feet of m Risd. Descr. m^n and time, I shall here insert it, as I find it quoted by an industrious author." of Devon, in ^, . . . j v i Mr. East- Clarissimo viro, nee non reverendo, ohm hu- churchescopy jyg gcclesiae canouico residentiario Dno. Lau- rentio Bodleo, Johes & Laurentius Bodle- us nepotes hunc, dialogum, memorise sacrum devotissime consecrarunt. Laerentius Bodleius. Anagramma. — Bonus Dives ille erat. Johannes. J lie erat ! Hoc miserum non nunc Ubinam pia Facta, Virtutis Corpus, Spiritus, Ossa, Caro ? Laurentius. Ossa jacent terra & Corpus Pia Facta Supersunt (Protypa virtutis) Spiritus Astra Colit. Obiit Decimo nono Aprilis, A.D. U)15. BODLEY, ( 103 ) BODLEY, SIR JOSIAS, KT. BODLEY, Sir Josias, Kt. was born (as is probable) at Exeter, where his brothers pior. a. d were; he was the fifth son of John Bodley, of that city, gentleman, by Joan his wife, l;''''^- R- K- one of the six daughters and heirs of llobert Hone, of Ottery St. Mary, Esq. and so the whole brother to the great Sir Thomas Bodley : Which five sons I find" ranged in thisi westc. pedi- order, and thus named : 1. Sir Thomas, the founder of the library at Oxford, 2. John, g^ees in Bodley a minister, 3. Lawrence, D. D. 4. Zachary, a minister, and 5. Sir Josias. Two of these, John and Zachary, lived privately in the country ; though where beneficed I do not find. The other three most worthy brothers of this family, (as one that knew them stiles them)'' we may not pass, without a due remembrance. We t ^ ;„ pg have already done right to the two former; the last comes next to be spoken of: Be- script, of De- fore I proceed to which, it may not be unacceptable, to give some brief account of this lil\ '° ^"^=- gentile family.' John Bodley, aforesaid, the father of Sir Josias, was the son of John, by Alice, hisdigr'cesof, &c. wife, daughter of Thomas Gale of Dartmouth, in Devon, gentleman ; which John, was the second son of John Bodley, of Dunscombe, in the parish of Crediton, Esquire ; his eldest was called John, also, who married the daughter of Copleston ; and had issue George, which married the daughter and heir of Hurst, of Exeter, Esq. that had issue William, who by a daughter of Dowrish, of Dovvrish, (a very ancient and gentile tribe) had issue Thomas; who by a daughter of Arscot, of Tetcot, in this county, Esquire, had issue John and others. One of which, in the last age, departed with Dunscombe; and it is now the inheritance of Moses Gould, Esquire: Of which, at present let this sufiice. Sir Josias Bodley, whei'esoever he had his puerile education, at Exeter, London, or elsewliere, was brought up to letters. And having made a good proficiency in school- learning, he was sent to Oxford, and jjlaced in the same college there, of which his eldest brother, Sir Thomas, was at that time fellow ; and that was Merton.'' How lone: . ., ^ , II , • ^ 1 1 •••IT. • 1 1 , " Ath. Oxon. he contmued there is uncertain; though certain it is, he did not in that place make vol. i. p. 328. any long court to those shie mistresses the muses. But being of an active martial spirit, he devoted himself betime to the wars; so that throwing down the pen, he took up the pike. The Low-Countries, at that time, were the great cock-pit of Europe : Whither they, who were of the true game kind, repaired; at once to improve and try tlieir valour; and to karn that skill and experience, in military afi'airs, in another nation, which might upon occasion, be useful in their own. Thither Mr. Bodley also betook him- self, in his youthful years; whose highest honour, at first, was to trayl a pike. But, in a little while, he so well improved himself in the art-military, that passing through the several other interior degrees of office, he came to be advanced to that of a captain. At this time it was, that the Irish, instigated thereunto, as well by their own disposi- tion, as by their priests' and Jesuits' instigation, made a violent elTort in that kingdom, for the recovery of their former liberty and religion, under the conduct of that wilely subtile general, the Earl of Tyrone : who raising a formidable rebellion, in that country, carried it on for several years with great success. Insomuch, having given the English a great defeat at Blach-Water, in the year of our Lord 1598, all Ulster, Munster, and Conaught, were in arms against them ; and Tyrone was celebrated as the deliverer of his country.' Whereupon it was thought necessary by the English go- « Fines Moris. vernraentJ.":,7'P''" •■'''• p. *D^ 104 - THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. vernment there, that more forces should be sent for over. Accordhigly several old companies, (to the number of a thousand men, and upward) drawn out of the Low- Countries, were dispatched out of the west of England thither : Of which regiment 'Id. ibid. ;^j. Bodley was one of the most eminent commanders ; and is mentioned* as the second captain therein ; whose company, at that time, consisted of an hundred men. Being now arrived in Ireland, Captain Bodley signalized himself, by many distin- guishing actions of valour and conduct ; all which to relate would be too tedious, had they been recorded. One of which, however, must not be pretermitted, and that is, e III. ibid. p. his and Captain Blaney's taking of the island, called by my author^ Loghrorcan. ^^' ^^' Being come to the place, and having made what discovery thereof they were able. Captain Bodley made ready thirty arrows with wild-fire. And some playing with an hundred shot upon the island, while the others delivered their arrows, suddainly the houses took fire, and burnt so vehemently, as the rebels, lodging there, forsook the island, and swam to the other shoar. In which action the rebels sustained great loss ; not in men so much as in butter, corn, meal, powder, cows, sheep, and other provision, laid up there as a safe magazine: the English had only two slain, and seven hurt. This happened anno, 1601, at which time, I find Captain Bodley was overseer of the trenches, when those of our nation laid siege to King-sale, Baltamore, Berehaven, and Castlehaven, then in the Irish hands ; who were greatly assisted by the Spaniards, come thither on purpose to their succour, though but few of them returned back to give an account of their famous exploits. For this, notwithstanding, out of all their strong-holds were these at length beaten, by God's blessing, on tlie English conduct and valour: Towards which, this our Bodley contributed not a little; for 'tis recorded to his praise, that he behaved himself bravely, " AtiJ- Oxon. j^Qti^ \yy (-j^g works and in the battle.'' Which battle must have relation to that had quo supra. ^^^^^^ ^^^^ great Oneal, wherein he was defeated, and all his army, but by a small hand- ful of the English routed : So that the Earl confessed himself to be overthrown by a sixth part of his number. Which he is said to have ascribed to God's great work, i Morison ubi beyoud man's capacity.' prius, p. 178. for all which his good services, he did in this country, (as he well deserved) was Captain Bodley honoured with knighthood, by the Lord Deputy Blunt, Earl of ' Wcstc. Pe- Devon ; so one :'' Though I find him not mentioned under that title by Mr. Morison, digree. j^ |^jg Itinerary, during the time of that noble Earl his prudent government of that kingdom. It is therefore more probable he received that honour from the hands of his most honourable country -man, Arthur, Lord Chichester, who succeeded my Lord Blunt therein : for in his time I find the last quoted author gives him the title of Sir Josias, but not before. We may therefore, from what foregoes, acquiess in that, as a true character of him, which was given by one that was no stranger to his person or fiime,' That Sir Josias scH^t.'*o'f De- Bodley was a worthy commander : in relation to whom he says, he might enlarge, von. ill Duns- and yet not stray from Albinus his counsel ^a valiant leader of the Britains) to the his- combe, MS. j-Qj-jans of his time, offering to write his actions. Write, quoth he, of those that are dead, whom you need neither fear nor flatter. Nor did Sir Josias so addict himself to the sword, as wholly to neglect the pen; he knew how to brandish both, to good advantage of himself and his country. Thus CaBsar-like, the wise observations which he made upon the civil and military affairs of the kingdom of Ireland, he committed to writing. Nor was he of so severe a brow, but he could unbend sometimes to wit and railery : a specimen of both which "' '^"•; Oxon. i^g \y^^\-^ igft yjjto posterity, in two manuscript treatises, thus entituled :"" ''"^ "'"*''• * ^ ^ Observations BODLEY, SIR JOSIAS, KT. 10^ Observations concerning the Fortresses of Ireland, and the Brittish Colonies of Ulster. A MS. in folio; sometime in the library of Sir James Ware, now supposed to be in that of Hen. Earl of Clarendon. A Jocular Description of a Journey, by him taken to Lecale, in Vlster, anno, 1602. A MS. sometime in the same library. He continued many years in Ireland, into which he came anno 1598, and was there living anno 1613, when he was Director-General, and Overseer of the Fortifi- cations of that kingdom." ■ Morison nbi How long after this he lived j when, or where he died, and lyeth interred, I no^"""'^*^' where find. (Note.) ADDITIONAL NOTE. He died the 19th day of August, 1617, and was buried in Christ-Church, Dublin. ROGAN, 106 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BOGAN, ZACHARY, M. A. 1658*^ k" r' BoGAN, Zachary, M. A. was the third son of WilHam Bogan, of Gatcombe, gen- Car. 2. " tleman, and Joan his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Zachary Irish, of Chidlegh, in this county, gentleman. He was born at Gatcombe, aforesaid, in the parish of Little-Hempston, two miles east of the town of Totnes, in the road to Exeter, about the feast of St. John the Baptist, in the year of our Lord, 1625. The most antient residence, that I find, of this family, was in Totnes, aforesaid ; where it flourished a while in that corporation. Thus John Bogan was Mayor thereof. Anno Dom. 1550. William Bogan succeeded him in the same office, the year after, 1551. And from this place was the name and family transplanted to Gatcombe, where it hath continued for three generations, and no more. But omitting these things; Mr. Zachary Bogan was, even from his childhood, won- derfully addicted to learning, insomuch, when at school, he was wont herein to surpass his seniors : being then excellently grounded in grammar, and the classick authors, by tliat eminent school-master of his time, Mr. Batten, of Marldon (a small parish abont four miles distant from his father's house) he was sent early ripe to the university ' Ath. Oxon. of Oxford; where he was admitted commoner first, of St. Alban-Hall,' under the tuition Vol. 2. p. 151. of Mr. Ralph Butten, fellow of Merton College, in Michaelmas term, anno, 1640, in the fifteenth year of his age. Here he continued about a year, and then was chosen on the 26th Novem. 1641, scholar of Corpus Christi College there ; in which happy state the studious youth coidd not long continue, for the civil-wars breaking out, the soft and charming voices of the Muses (in whose melody he most delighted) began to be drowned at Oxford, by the hideous noise of drums and trumpets : so that wiien that city was turned into a garrison, he retired to his father's house, to pursue his beloved studies in the calmer region of the country. Here he continued with no mean proficiency in learning, until such time that Oxford was surrendered into the handsof the parliament ; and then hoping for greater leisure to carry on his passionate addresses to those fair dames, the Muses, in the year 1646, he returned again to his college; and in Michaelmas term, the same year, he took his batchelour's degree: and in the following year (his excellent learning and piety being taken notice of by that house), he was elected probationer-ffllow thereof. Four years after this, and about eleven from his first entrance in the university, viz. " Id. ibid. 1651,'' he proceeded master of arts : not that his degrees were retarded on the account of any deficiency in learning or morals; but for that the constitution of the college is such, that whosoever are chosen scholars or fellows thereof, are obliged to tarry so many terms, from the time of their election (if they wanted but one term of standing) before they are admitted to their degrees. Mr. Bogan, now being a senior scholar in the university, though but a junior master At). Oxon of arts, is abundantly fitted for the office, and at length obtained the character-^ of an loi. L'p. 624?' excellent tutor. And, indeed, those two so necessary qualifications thereunto, learning and piety, meeting in liim, must needs render him very accomplished for so weighty a trust. And, by God's blessing, and his own industry, he became very happily suc- cessful herein; for he had several persons his pupils, who afterward became eminent men, as Mr. Fulhnan, Mr. Agas (unto whom at his death he bequeathed his library); and several others. Learning is of use to all; but in a tutor necessary : for how should he be able to instruct otliers therein, who is himself illiterate? Nor is piety less so, which is, or ouirht to be, the end of all our studies. ■^ * As BOGAN, ZACHARY, M. A. m As to the first of these ; the accomphshments of this excellent person that way, may be abundantly infered from the sundry learned volumes he published ; and designed for the publick, if it had pleased Almighty God to have lengthened out his days. As First : Additions to Mr. Fran. Rouse's ArchaBologiae Atticae ; the four last of those I- seven books of the Attick Antiquities, being written by him while he was very little passed a fresh-man : as we may observe from his Address to the Reader, at the end of tliat book, where he tells us. The most part thereof was finished in his tyrocinium. Here he manifested abundance of reading, beyond what could be well imagined in so young a man , and a judgment above his years. A book so well approved among the learned, that it was printed no less than eight times in a few years. Secondly: Another piece that he published, was his Homerus * ES^aifoii: sive Com- n. paratio Homeri cum Scriptoribus sacris, quoad Norman loquendi. In the Preface to ■which elaborate work, the author declares. That 'tis not his intention, to make any comparison between the authors and opinions of the sacred writers, and Homer : but only of their idioms, and ways of speaking. To which is added. Thirdly : Hesiodus 'o(*»!5ifa>. Wherein he shews (as in the former, not how Homer m. did immitate the Hebrews, but how he did speak after the same manner with the He- brews, so in this) how Hesiod expresses himself much after the same manner that Homer does.'' This book was written in Latin, and printed at Oxford 1658. 8vo. braia."?.' 409.* Fourthly : He wrote a large and learned epistle to Edmund Dickenson, at that time iv. master of arts of Merton College, Oxon ; since a famous professor of physick in Lon- don, not prefixed, but affixed to a book, published in that author's name, but said to be written by Henry Jacob, of Merton' aforesaid (which if not so, 'tis strange that* Ath. Oxon, that Doctor doth not purge himself of so foul a reflection), intituled — Delphi PhaBni-*^"'-'^- 1^-^*- cizantes. Wherein he shews, that whatever was famous at Delphos, tlie Grecians derived it from the history of Joshua, and the sacred writers ; in which epistle, having shewn much reading and criticism in the tongues, Mr. Bogan concludes with a large copy of verses, in praise of the supposed author. Dr. Dickenson. This book was first printed at Oxford, anno 1655, then at Franckfort,* 1669, and lastly at Holland (with p'^^uonrad several other tracts), by Thomas Crennius, anno 1691, under this title, Fasciculus Dis- Lectorem. sertationum, Historico-Critico-Philologicarum. Printed at Rotterdam, by Peter Vander Slaart. 8vo. He had also designed, what he never accomplished, the publication of a discourse about the Greek particles ;' and the giving an account of the best use of the Greek and foj^^Amr** Latin poets ; and after that, matters of greater moment, if God should vouchsafe him. Lector, eden. what he then greatly wanted, and ever after, his health ; but the want thereof, and a t""pus"^tracta! longer life, obliged him to lay aside those brave designs for the advancement oftum de Paiti- learning. '^"''' ^.~='^'- All which elaborate works speak him to be a person of admirable learning, especially dio opere su- for one of his age, he being, when he published most of these things, not above eight ft^adversa^lale' or nine and twenty years old. We need not therefore question but he well deserved tudo. Epist. ad the title given him by a late author,'' of, Vir studiosus & linguarum peritissimus, a very ^0^' "r ^Tbra! studious per.son, and a most expert linguist. And 'tis no small honour to his memory, ^ Hist. & An- that he is ranked among the most skilful in the Oriental languages of the age he lived on.'L."'.p.243i in: Thus the author of Athenag Oxon,' speaking of a third person, tells us, He had'Voi. 2. p. yi. conversed o)^enly with those most excellent in the Oriental tongues, Pocock, and Bogan of C. ^ ."*C. Proceed we next to a consideration of his piety, that other most necessary ingredient His piety. to the making up of a good tutor, and we shall find he was no less eminent for that, than the other. He was of the number of those who did truly fear God himself; and they who do so, will endeavour to bring others also to the same Divine temper, especi- ally them who are under their more immediate charge and inspection. They who P 2 remember 10« THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. remember him well, are still ready to give him this testimony, that he was a person of an extraordinary pious and holy conversation: although, should they be silent, we might infer so much from that vein of piety and goodness, which runs through the whole body of his works. The clearness of the streams, commends the purity of the fountain from whence they flow ; and they are thus intituled. V. Fiftiily : Of the Threats and Punishments recorded in Scripture, alphabetically com- posed; with some brief observations on sundry texts. Printed at Oxford, 1653. 8vo. Dedicated to his father. VI. Sixthly : Meditations of the Mirth of a Christian Life, and the vain Mirth of a AVicked Life. Printed at Oxford, 1653, Svo. Dedicated to his mother, in four books. vii. Seventhly : Help to Prayer, both extempore, and by a set form ; as also to Medita- tion. Printed at Oxford, 1660, in 12mo. Published by Dan.Agas, fellow of C.C. C. after the author's death. Whether this excellent person published any thing else, or left any MSS. behind him fit for the press, I cannot say. What I have further to add, in relation to him, shall be reduced to these three heads, His christian benefaction, his bodily constitution, and his final dissolution. I. _ First: For his benefaction. He was (for a younger brother) very competently qualified hereunto, having a good portion left him by his father, of fifteen hundred pounds : which we may be sure he was no waster of, though he was utterly averse to the improvement thereof by usury. And undoubtedly he would have bestowed very bountifully out of it, either upon his college in particular, or on the university, or perhaps on both (in imitation of his very near kindsman the famous Bodley); but at that time, the university being in very great danger of ruin and dissolution (the army officers having in their greedy minds, divided some of the best colleges among them- selves), this worthy man was utterly disheartened from settling any thing that way: whereupon, he diverted his pious designs to another use, and, as what he thought ' Ath. Oxon, would prove of longer duration, by his last will and testament,'' he save five hundred pounds to the city of Oxford, to be improved for the use of the poor thereof In grateful acknowledgment whereof, that city has caused his picture to be hung up in their council-chamber, adjoyning to the Guild-Hall, where it still continues. The remainder of his fortune (some iew legacies excepted) he left to his elder bro- ther, William Bogan of Gatcombe, Esq. now long since deceased; a most worthy, loyal gentleman, [that did scorn to have eaves-drop'd, and sworn against an orthodox clergyman, of the church of England, to the pleasuring of any one,] than whom, in his time, the King had not a more faithful subject, nor the church a more affectionate son. An hospitable, useful person in his country, unto which he was serviceable many years, in the capacity of a justice of the peace, and a deputy-lieutenant. For the many personal civilities I have received from him, gratitude obliges me to take this opportunity (whereof I am glad) of making this publick recognition so long after his death. II. Secondly : As to the bodily frame and constitution of Mr. Zachary Bogan. He was melancholy and sickly ; 'tis what he complains of in most, if not all his works. Thus 'Epi!-t. Dcd. toin his address to his mother' he says, He had spent whole years together in sadness. afiiTt'i-in'iife.''^^"'^ ^°'' '"°'**' of his other pieces, which he published, he was under various distempers when he wrote them. Thus in his Preface to his Horn. Hebr. he tells us, — per varios morbos, quasi per saxa, per ignes, hunc quern cernis libellum, ad umbilicum deduxi. And in the conclusion of his learned epistle, to Dr. Dickenson, he adds a copy of verses in that author's praise, which thus begins: Implicitam limo & morborum compede mentem. Quid vetat innocuis excoluisse modis ? Mitto tibi carmen medico, non mitto saluteni; Non habeo; medicis plurima; niitte mihi. A mind BOGAN, ZACHARY, M. A. 109 A mind oppressed with chains of sad disease, Why may we not with harmless fancies please ? Doctor, to you I verse, not health do send : I han't ; doctors have much, pray some me lend, &c. Whereby, with many other passages to the ^ame purpose, that might be collected out of his writings, we may see that he was valetudinary, and much afflicted with sickness all his days. One great occasion hereof, it seems, was his excessive and immoderate studying; by which, the author of the Ath. Oxon. tells,"" He had contracted an ill habit of body . ^ Q"o '"P- His keen and eager mind after learning, did cut and fret through the thin scabbard of his body, whereby he was become, as it were, a walking skeliton, long before his death ; as may be inferred from his picture, drawn more to the death, than to the life (so wan and pale it looks) now to be seen in the place before-mentioned. Thirdly : His bodily frame and contexture. Being so very weak and shattered, no m. wonder if an early dissolution came upon him. A\'hich hapned to him accordingly, amidst all his studies and designs of promoting pious and useful learning, in his college at Oxford, on the first day of September, anno Domini 1659, in the four and thirtieth year of his age. Soon after which, by the care and prudence of his eldest brother, William Boo-an, aforesaid, he was interred with a gentile solemnity, and an elegant oration delivered at the grave by one of the fellows of the house. He sleepeth in the north-cloyster, near adjoyning to the chappie of that college, where this good man, this pious christian, and this excellent scholar, hath only this short epitaph engraven on his tomb, whose worth merited a very large one. Zacharias Bogan hujus Collegii Socius: Ob. 1° Sept. A. D. 1659. ^tatis Suje 34". In the north isle of the parish church of Totnes, is a large marble grave-stone, on which were sometime found, inlayed with brass, the effigies of this gentleman's grand- father and grandmother; one of which is torn off: but underneath is still remaining a label of brass, containing these words: Here lyeth the Body of Walter Bougins, of Totnes, merchant, who had to wife, Pro- thasy" the eldest daughter of John Bodley « She was sis- of London, merchant, by whom he had issue *«■■ "> "'« ?'«" six sons, and five daughters ; and departed Bodky""""' this life the fifteenth day of April, A. D. 1591. BONVILL, 110 THE ^VORTHIES OF DEVON. Flor. A. D. 1430. R. R. Hen. 6. »Sir W. P. Descr. of Dev. in Shiite, MS. * Britan. edit. Lat. in 4to. A. 1600, p. 170. in Wiscomb. ' Sir \V. quo sup. Pole " Ibid in the Catal. of fam. Men. in K. R. 1. ' Id. in Wise. fBar. vol. 3. p. 236. e lb. in Shute. >> Id. ibid, in Woodberry, MS. BONVILL, LORD WILLIAM. BON^'^ILL, Lord William, (Note) we may well conclude, was born at Shute: which we are informed was the principal dwelling of this family.' Cambden, by a mistake, calls it Chuton,** when he tells us. Ejus primaria sedes erat Chuton in hoc comitatu; speaking of Devonshire. Whereas it ought to have been Shute ; which is a chapel of ease to the church of Culliton adjoining, lying two miles to the west of Axminster, in this county. This place was anciently called Schete, though now Shute, and gave name to a noted tribe that lived there; whereof two were knights, Sir Lucas and Sir Robert de Schete, in the days of King H. 3." From Schete this estate came to the ancient pro- geny of Pine, of Combe-Pine, in the south-east part of this shire ; where flourished Sir Simon de Pin, of Combe Pin, (as he is called) in the reign of K. Rich. 1.'' who was, we suppose, of the same family with Sir Adrian du Pin, one of the knights of the round-table, of King Arthur's institution, about the year of our Lord 520. Sir Thomas Pine, of Schute, Knight, having no issue male, divided his inheritance between his two daughters and heirs ; who brought their partitions to their husbands, Bonvil of Wiscombe, in the parish of Southlegh, and Humphravil, of Down-Umphra- vil, in Comb-Pine, both in this county. Wiscombe, aforesaid, was the most antient habitation that I find of this name (wliich is of a French original, de bon ville, of the fair village;) and did sometime belong to the abby' of St. Michael in periculo Maris in Normandy ; and by the abbot thereof, about the midst of the reign of K. Hen. 3, under the reservation of 20s. yearly rent, it was granted to Sir Nicholas Bonvile, Kt. where he seated himself and family. Here, because Sir W. Dugd.' acknowledges he hath not seen any thing of the de- scendents of this family (going no farther back than the 29th of K. Hen. 3.) from the 23 Edw. 1, to the 4 K. Rich. 2. I shall insert a fuller account hereof from Sir W. Pole ;^ Sir Nicholas Bonvile, of Wiscombe, Kt. married Amesia, and had issue Sir William Bonvile, Kt. which by Joan his wife had issue Nicholas ; which by Matilda his wife, (Dugd. calls her Hawise) daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Pine, had issue Sir Nicholas Bonvile, Kt., which by Margaret, daughter and one of the heirs of Sir William Damarel, of Woodberry, in this county. Knight,'' (in which family were five knights following) had issue John, and others. John Bonvil died in the life time of his father; but by Elizabeth, lady of Chuton, had issue William, Lord Bonvil, of whom we are speaking : who, by Margaret Me- riet, had issue Sir William Bonvil, which died in the life time of his father; but left issue, by Elizabeth his wife, the only daughter and heir of William Lord Harrington, William Bonvil, Lord Harrington ; which also died in the life time of his grandfather: but left issue by Catharine one of the daughters of Richard Nevil, Earl of Salisbury, Cicely, his only child ; who afterwards brought a vast inheritance to her husband Thomas Gray, Marquess of Dorset. Upon this marriage with Sir Thomas Pine's daughter, and co-heir, the family of Bonvil transplanted it self from Wiscombe to Shute, where it long flourished. A very sweet and noble seat ; adorned in those days, (as still it is) with a fair park, and large demesns. There was a great estate belonging to it, not only in Devonshire (too te- dious to be particularized) but in Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwal. In which last county, their seat was at Trelawn, near West- Loo ; the pleasant habitation of the Right BONVILL, LORD WILLIAM. Ill Right Reverend Father in God Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Bart, the present Lord Bishop of this diocess; whose undaunted zeal for the church of England, and the liberties of his country, will be read in the records of the Tower of London (unto which, with six others of his venerable order, he was committed by K. Jam. 2. for humble-peti- tioning) to all generations. Insomuch, this Lord Bonvil, in the 14 K. Hen. 6, A. 1435, was no less than 920/. in the subsidy-book. He was the son of John Bonvil, of Shute aforesaid, by Elizabeth his wife, the lady of Chuton, in the county of Somerset, lying under the Mendip-hills ; and in his time a great soldier : who making proof of his age, in 2 K. Hen. 5, had livery of his lands." Dudg. quo In the 5 Hen. 5, being then a knight, he went in that expedition then made into^""*" France, and was of the retinue with Thomas, Duke of Clarence, the King's brother. In the 1 K. Hen. 6, he was made sheriff of Devonshire : and in the 4th, he had livery of the mannor of Meryet, in Com. Somers. In the 21 K. Hen. 6, he was retained to serve the King, for one whole year, in his wars of France, with twenty men at arms, and six hundred archers; being at that time also made seneschal of the dutchy ot Aquitane. And meriting so well for his services in those wars, and otherwise, A. 28 H. 6, he had summons to parliament, amongst the barons of this realm ; and ever after to his death. And in 31 of that reign, in consideration of his further services, he was constituted governor of the castle of Exeter, for life: his title was Lord Bonvil, of Chuton ; which place descended to him from his mother, who brought it into this family. And moreover, a learned author tells us,'' he was admitted companion of the » Cambd. bh- , , •' 1 /. ^, ^ tan in Somers. noble order oi the garter. uit. Edit. In 32 K. Hen. 6, he was made lieutenant of Aquitane. And in the .S3 of that King, there fell out a shrewd dispute between Thomas Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, and this Lord Bonvil, about a couple of hounds; which could by no mediation of friends be qualified, or appeased ; until it was valiantly tryed by a single combat, on Clist-Heath, near Exeter, wherein (as Dugd. tells us,' this lord prevailed. But another i Quo Prius. writer saith," that after they had well tryed one the other's strength and valour with mwestc. view their naked swords, they at last, as was said of the two Kings Edmond and Canutus, fj^'^s""'^"^' in the Isle of Olney, near Gloucester, A. 1016, lovingly agreed, and embraced each other, and ever after continued in great love and amity, which I can hardly believe, for a reason, which hereafter may be observed in reference to this lord. Not long after this, the civil wars breaking out in England, between the two famous houses of York and Lancaster; notwithstanding the honour, and personal obligations, this noble lord had received from K. Hen. 6, he was always found on the side of his enemy, the Duke of York. But whether induced hereunto from a principle of meer conscience, towards what he apprehended the right line, or by the subtile insinuations of Nevil, Earl of Salisbury, whose daughter he had married up to his grandson "Wil- liam Bonvil, Lord Harrington, I shall not take upon me to determine. But in that battle, fought at Northampton, between the Yorkists and Lancastrians, that unfortunate prince K. Hen. 6, was taken prisoner; and, among others, was com- mitted to the care and custody of this Lord Bonvil. After which, 'tis observed," he wasocamb. Bri. never prosperous : as if he liad been picked out as an example of the instability of'^"-'^^^*""*'''''' fortune: for all these mischiefs soon succeeded the neck of one on the neck of the other, as if (saith Mr. Cambd.) a fury had haunted him for revenge. He was an eye-witness of the vuitimely death of his only son, (nobly married to the Lord Har- rington's daughter and heir) and of Bonvil, Lord Harrington's grandson, both slain before his face, in the battle of Wakefield : and presently after, to make his old age as miserable as could be, whilst he was in expectation of better fortune, himself was taken prisoner, in the second battle of St. Albans: and though his own party had then the better, and King Henry had promised him he should receive no bodily hurt; yet, such 112 ' THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. such was the indignation of the Queen towards him, as also of the Duke of Exeter, and the Earl of Devon, that being now in their power, however they had lost the day, never rested till they had taken off his head ; which happened in the .'39th and last year of the reign of K. Hen. 6, A. D. 146u. Notwithstanding, this lord's memory was q. epostliminio — as it were restored to him by act of parliament, after his death, » Id. ibid. 1 Ed. 4. declaring him innocent:" and in regard he had stood up so stoutly against the Lancastrians, Elizabeth, his widow, that same year, had likewise an assignation of a very large dowry out of his estate in Somerset, Dorset, Cornwal, and Devon; by name, Combe-Pyne-Seton, Combe-Pyne, Down-Uniphravile, Charletone, Head and Pole, Northcote, with divers lands in Birches, Sydeford, Axminster, and Toregge, all 'Dudg. quo in this county.'' ''""^' Tlie author of the Memoirs of the city of Exeter, who should best have known, 1 Pag. 187. being at that time chamberlain thereof, tells us,"" that William Lord Bonvile founded an alms-house in Rocks-Lane, alias Combe-Rew, within that city, for twelve poor people; and endowed the same with lands, of the yearly value of one and twenty 'Quo Supra, pounds, eleven shillings and four pence: but Sir W. Dugdal,' with greater probability of truth, attributes this charitable benefaction to another, viz. to Sir William Bonvil, the grandfather of the present Lord Bonvil, who, by his testament bearing date upon Saturday, preceding the feast of our Lady's assumption, A. 1407, 8 K. Hen. 4, be- queathed his body to be buried before the high-cross in the abby-church of Nywen- ham, in Com. Devon; and gave init.o it 40/. in money, for license of sepulture therein to himself and his wives, and to pray for their souls. By this his testament he also ordained, thai his executors should give 300 marks for leave to amortize lands of 50 marks per an. value, for the endowment of an hospital, situate in Combe-street, within the city of Exeter, for twelve poor men and women, there to be maintained forever : <► he, likewise, bequeathed thereunto, for tire honour of God, and the better support thereof, all his rents within that city, excepting his own mansion-house there, which he gave to Alice his wife, to hold during her life, (and afterwards to the heirs male of his body) with 500 marks in money, and the one half of all his silver vessels: to Ann his sister, a nun at Wherwel, in Hampshire, he gave 10 marks : and to William his youngest son, 200 marks, towards his marriage. The probate of which testament bears date 18 Apr. A. 1408. Now upon the attainder of the Marquess of Dorset, (the heir-general to the Lord Bonvil) the lands for the maintenance of this hospital (with others) fell to the crown; •Isaac 1 . j^^jj^ jj^g poor were still paid by the King's receiver:' and upon their respective death, the mayor and aldermen of the said city name others to succeed them, by vertue of Queen Elizab. letters patent to them granted, on that behalf, dated 7 Nov. 4 regni, A. 156'2. But to return. The Lord Bonvil, thus falling by the hand of violence, his corps, it seems, was • Canib. Brit, preserved to a decent sepulture ; for a certain author tells us,' upon what authority in Addcndis he best kuows, that William Bonvil, (whom I take to be the present Lord Bonvil) and his lady, lye interred in the chancel of the church of Chuton, in the county of Somerset. This noble family, in the male line, thus extinct, this vast estate fell to Cicely, this Lord Bonvil his grandson's only daughter and heir, married (as was said before) unto Tiiomas Gray, Lord Marquess of Dorset, half brother, by the mother, to K. Edw. 4. which by the attainder of the Duke of Suffolk fell to the crown : part of which, in this country, came afterward to be purchased of Q. Mary by Sir William Petre, her principal secretary of state ; who exchanged the house at Shute, with the park and lands about it, for other of like value, with one of the ancestors of the honourable Sir John Pole, Bart, whose pleasant seat and habitation now it is. This Com. Souiers. BONVILL, LORD AVILLIAM. 113 This Lord Bonvil, by Eliz. Kirkby,* left a natural son called John Bonvil, on whom* he settled an 100 marks per an. rent, and his estate at Ivy-bridge; (^Ao/fj " Sir w Pole's who by Harris his daughter and heir, of Comb Ralegh, had six daughters, married to ;„ combeKaV. Moor, Kirkham, Fulford, Larder, Dinham, and Fortescue ; but having no issue male ^n<| ivy bridge, by her, he left Ivy-bridge to John Bonvil, his natural son, whose name, after three « Di,gd. quo generations, expired in a daughter and heir, married unto Hugh Croker, of Lineham, ^'"*^- in this county, Esq. ADDITIONAL NOTE. THIS estate bscame afterwards the property of tlie Drakes, and was purchased fiom than by Sir John Rogers, Baronet, of Blachford, in whose family it still continues. Q BRACTON, •414 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Fior. A.D. BRACTON, HENRY. I'.MO. R. K. Hen. 3. "Cowers In- BRACTON, Heiiiy, Lord Chief Justice of England^ under K. Hen. 3, was a native terp. in ^c-^j- ^l^j^ couuty : and reckoned as such, by our most judicious antiquary, Sir William •■Desc.ofDcv. Pole.'' He was born, most likely, in the parish from whence he derived his name, Conner State' ^'"^'^*^°"' "*^^^ Bratton-Clovclley, not far from Oakhampton. That this place was MS. 'antiently called Bracton, clearly appears from the copy of a deed here ensuing, so 'Id. in mag. old, that it is saus date.*^ Sciant, &c. quod ego Mabilia quondam uxor, Baldw. Mallet militis, in pura vidui- tate mea concessi Thomte de Tj'nworth, Sc Lucia? uxori suas, Maner. meum de Bracton in Com Devon, &c. How long before this time, the name Bracton might flourish in this place, is very uncertain; but it continued in these parts many years after: for in the 23d of King Edw. 3, John de Bracton was testis to a deed of Adam de Smith de Stringston, to "W. ibid. p. Simon de Furneaux, of Rent in Stringston.'' As for Henry Bracton, of whom we are speaking, he was a gentleman born; and ' Pal. Cent. 3. as we are informed, cx illustri stemmate ortus," descended from an illustrious stock ; P-'^^*^- which might yield him the priviledg of a more than ordinary education. For the better improvement whereof, he betook himself very young to the university of Ox- ford ; where he applyed his mind unto books, and was so indefatigable in his studies, that he carried away the glory from all his co-temporaries. AVhat he chiefly delighted in, and gave himself most to, was the study of laws, civil and common, canon and ' domestick ; insomuch, after several years thus exhausted, he became utriusq; juris professor, doctor of both laws : how excellently skilled he was herein, and how highly deserving of this honour, may appear to the learned, uj)on their perusal of his writings, of which hereafter. Having thus kindled his taper of light and knowledg, at the sun of this university. Dr. Bracton did not tiiink fit to enclose it in the dark lanthorn of a useless retire- • Loi.dMium (ic ment there; but as the manner' then was, with those that would be somebody, as iirTbir'"'' '^^'^'1 ^'^ now, he went to London. And this he did, when he knew the parliament was there assembled ; at what time he thought he might the better accomplish his de- signs, in obtaining the preferment most suitable to his education. Being thus come upon the public stage, he shewed himself so good an actor, that he could not be long there unobserved. He was first taken notice of by the court ; and being found a man very fit for business. King Hen. 3 was pleased to employ him ; and that he might be the nearer to his royal person, he apj)ointed him the use of William de Ferrers (late Earl of Derby) his house in London, during the minority • Orig. jiirid. of his hcirs ; as appears from this grant, as recorded by Sir Will. Dugdal.' f"®^' Rex, &c. Sciatis quod commissimus dilecto clerico nostro, Henrico de Bracton, domos quas fuerunt Will, de Ferrariis, quondam Comitatis Derb. in London, in eus- stodia nostra existentes ; ad hospitandem in eisdem, usque ad legitiman, astatem hferedum ipsius Comitis. T. R. apud Winton '2.5 Maii, anno 38 H. 3. Which King, finding him so excellently skilled in the laws of the land, was pleased »id. ibid. to constitute him, anno 29 of his reign,'' one of the justitiarii itinerantes, as they were » Id. ibid. p. called, justices itinerant; whose original commenced,' in the days of K. Hen. 2, when he divided this realm into six parts, and into each of them sent three justices » Id. ib. p, , 52. itinerant : so called, as my author quotes it, from our Bracton here before us,'' by *• reason BRACTON, HENRY. 115 reason of their joui-nying from place to place; sometime for the hearing of all causes in general, sometimes only certain special matters. Those, saith he, who are ap- pointed in their iters, to travail from one country to another, for the hearing all causes in general, were to take an oath, for the better behaving themselves in that employment; each of them having a particular writ, to warrant his proceedings therein ; a copy whereof, being short, here follows. " Rex dilecto & fideli suo A. N. salutem sciatis quod constituimus vos, justitia- rium nostrum, una cum diJectis & fidelibus nostris A. B. C. ad itinerandum per Comitatus D. S. R. de omnibus assisis & placitis tarn coronas nostrae, quam aliis, secundum quod in brevi nostro de general! summonitione, inde vobis directo plenius continetur. Et ideo vobis mandamus ; rogantes quod in fide qua nobis tenemini, una cum pra^dictis sociis vestris, ad haec'expedienda fideliter & diligenter inten- datis; ut tarn fidem vestram, quam diligentiam, ad hoc appositam debramus merito commendare. Teste. These justices continued their iters unto K. Edw. 3 time; and then those which we now call justices of assize, served in tlieir stead. Some there are, who tell us, that Mr. Bracton was not one of the ordinary justices itmerant, but that he was chief justice. So Balaeus,' " Eoq; tandem majestatis per- ■ Quo supra, venit, ut Hen. 3, R. beneficio totos viginti annos pruesidis justitite supremi munere fungeretur." That he grew at length, so far in the favour of Hen 3, that he executed the office of chiel justice for twenty years together. But then it must be granted, that Sir W. Duij. mentions no such thino-, either m his Orig. Jur or his Chron. Ser. only he says," that 29 R. H. 3, Henry Bracton, mcbron ,er Kogerde lurkdby, and others, were incrastino Apostolorum Petri & Pauli, made P- ^5- justices Itinerant for the counties of Netting, and Derby ; and in the 30th of the same reign, for Northumberland, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Lancashire- which IS all the mention I there can find of him. Had he been advanced to .so high a post as that of Lord Chief Justice of England, we may well think, so industrious an author could hardly have missed him. But leaving those learned men to ac- ' commodate this matter so well as they can among themselves, we may undoubtedly conclude, that Mr. Bracton was one of the honourable judges in the days of K Henry 3, and a great man; but that is not all, he was more, he was a good man too ; and studied to discliarge his office with integrity and honesty, in the main- tenance and conservation of his country's laws. In which, how very learned he was, may still appear, from that egregious work he wrote in Latin, since published under this title, ' Hen. Bractoni de Consuetudinibus Angliae Libri 5. This was printed at Lon- don, by R. \oung, anno 1640, and so it had been long before by others.' A book famous unto this day; and ever will be so, with all those who love the liberties, priviledges, and government of their country. A book whicli hath ren- dred its author more known of late years, than he had been, perhaps, for several ages beiore. But more especially for a few select expressions therein, which some self-dcsigning men in the last reigns wretchedly abused, by endeavouring to make them justify their proceeding in the attempts of subverting the government; some whereof are these, " Lex facit Regem," Rex autem habet superiorem, Deum sc. - Bract de Item Legem, per quam factus est Rex ; itcrum curiam suain viz. Comites, &c ^"^"et. Angi. Qui si Rex tuerit sine fra?no, /. e. Lege, debent ei frenum ponere, &c." These, and L l s! c. o. 'f! such like words of tins author, it can't be denied, were vehemently urged by i'"'- '• -• ''•i'^- Bradshaw, in the popular harangue which he made at the tryal of King Charles i/^"''-^- *•^^• when with cursed lips, he proceeded to pronounce sentence of death upon that blessed martyr. no THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. martyr, his own gracious soveraign ; which have been much insisted on too by the repubhcan party ever since. Not that we are to think, this loyal and learned author ever intended, or so much as thought, that these expressions should have been perverted by any sub- jects, to the dethroning of their lawful Kings; to the decollating, or taking off their heads, or the utter subversion of the best constituted monarchy in the world. Yet, we know they came to be urged in justification of the worst proceedings ever were acted by the basest of people, upon the best of princes. No! This was quite contrary to this great lawyer's meaning and design in them; for he had, in divers places of that renowned work, expressly secured the just rights of Kings, and vindicated the sacredness of their persons, as well as office ; •Lib. I.e. 8. positively declaring," " Omnis quidem sub Rege, ipse sub nullo, nisi tantum sub Sect 3 ^'f les! ^^°- Satis illi erit pro piiena quod Dominum expectet ultorem. De chartis Regiis ^'■. & factis Rcgum, non debent, nee possunt justitiarii, nee private personas disputare, &c. The substance whereof in English is thus : ' That the King is under none but God : that all orders and degrees of men are subject to the King : that he hath no equal, much less a superior, in his own kingdom : that no man should presume to question his actions," &c. Tliey who are willing to see a loyal interpretation of the Ibregoing sentences, " Lex facit Regem : Rex habet superiorem : debent ei frenum ponere:" let them consult a pamphlet, some years since written, called the Royal Apology; printed at London, in quarto, for Robert Clavel. 'Quo supra. Bcsidcs tliis volumc. Bale acknowledges,? he could never find in all the libraries of England, that this Mr. Bracton published any other works. By which alone, he ob- tained the character (transmitted to posterity) of being a famous lawyer, and renowned for iiis knowledg in the common and civil laws. He flourished in the days of King Henry the Third, anno Dom. 1240. On which iQiio striia year, in the month of February, saith the last quoted author, a kind of a duskey star*" ''If.*!!' .,',"„.?.'.',';. appeared in tlie east, darting its rays towards the west. Why he should mention this. [ii.ibid. unless for the rarity and strangeness thereof, I cannot imagine. But if that were all, I wonder how he should pretermit things no less remarkable, which happened like- wise the same year. 'Annals in H. Such was the earthquake mentioned by Stow,' which shook down the stone gate fJii'^ •'■'*"•''• and bulwark, near the tower of London. And such also, were those strange and great fishes, which the same author tells us, came a shoar; whereof eleven were sea- bulls ; and one of huge bigness passed up the river of Thames, through London bridg, till it came to Mortlake, where it was killed. WMiat these sea-bulls were, or how they came hither, may be a question of some difficulty to determin. I suppose they were not the ordinary sort of your vituli ma- rini, sea-calfs, or seals; although these are a rarity in our seas: but either a different species thereof; or else of a much larger sort than ordinary. »Hi«t. N.it. Pliny gives us this account of the sea-calf,' that it brings forth her young on 1. ?. c. ]j. gi^ore ; that she gives suck ; that after twelve days she carries her young to the sea ; that she is difficultly killed, unless hurted in the head : and that her finns which she swims with in the sea, serve her instead of feet, to go with upon the land. But ■ E Sciioia sa *^^ *^'^^ ^°^ Mariuus, or Phoca, the sea-bull : another learned author gives us this i(-r. Tract. > Godw. (Ip him, are when he was quaestor, or treasurer, to K. Ed. 3, in Picardy;*" which was p.TroV """' most likely, at the time that heroic prince took the town of Calais from the French, Aug. 3, 1.347. An. 21 of his reign. Where this reverend person bestowed those many intervening years, i. e. between his quicstorship and his bishoprick, we cannot tell; nor, indeed, any thing else of him, until the time of the death of the two bishops of Exeter and Hereford ; which happening both together, it so fell out, that the canons of both these churches met, in the choice of Mr. Brentinghnm to be their bishop ; who being left to himself herein, which he would accept, (whether induced by the larger revenues of the one, at that time above, the other, or a natural inclination that might biass him to his own country before the other, I shant determine) embraced the dioccss of Exeter; and was consecrated accordingly by William AVittlesay, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Mar. 31, 1370. About nine years after this, viz. an. 2. Rich. 2, according to Godwin, but an. 1. « ciuon. Ser. Ric. 2, Jul. 19, as Dugdal tells us," was Bishop Brentingham constituted Lord High- page 50. I'reasurer of England. A place which for honour is the second, but for profit the first, * Chamb. pres. about the crown ;'' the late salary, belonging thereunto, was eight thousand pounds state of En|i. j^gj, ji,^,^^,,-,^. This high and honourable office, Godw. tells us," he enjoyed to the 12th "^ Qiio''supra. year of K. Richard's reign; but Dngd. more truly informs us,^ that he possessed it not f Ibid, p.i'j. j^i^Qyg 4 years, and then Robert de Hales, prior of St. John of Jerusalem, was made Lord Treasurer in his place. However, about seven years after this, sc. an. 12. Ric. 2, he was once more ad- vanced to that high oflice ;^ in which he continued one year more, and was then 54. ' ' ''discharged again : What the ground hereof might be, it may not quit cost to enquire ; but we may well suppose, it was without any dishonour to our bishop, as may appear by what follows. The parliament, that then was, b^-ing exceedingly displeased at K. Ri»;hard's menaging the atlairs of the kingdom, suffering himself to be led aside by evil counselluurs, thirteen lords by their order, were chosen, to have the oversight, 'Sir R. Bak. jjnder the King, of the whole government of the realm.'' Of this number this Reverend Ric.'.'. "" Prelate, for his great wisdom and experience, was appointe Wettc. Snr. pleasant story : until, at length, consulting another,'* I found in him also a tale, much Tm mob' Ms" ''° ^^^^ samc purposc; "That the Lord William Brewer had this name, for that his father was taken up in a heath-field (which in the Norman French was called Briewer) by K. Hen. 2, as he was a hunting in New-Forrest. Nay, Cambden himself favours «niit:in in So- this relation," and seems to be the father of it: For, speaking of this Lord Brewer, he mersetsh. p. jgjjg ^^^ . cc j^g ^^^ gQ called fiom his father's being born in a heath.' Brieur," saith ' In ericeto. hc, " is galHce, an heath." eJiit. la" in'lto. Bcforc I shall procced to offer any thing by way of answer hereunto, it must be p. 188. granted, that some of the greatest men in the world, whether for arts or arms, for honour or authority, have sprung from mean originals. Not to make mention of others, so did Maximin, Emperor of Rome, Agathocles, King of Syracuse, Tamber- lain, that great scourge of the Turk, and many more. But, omitting these, I shall crave leave to add two examples of this kind, as what may best parallel the foregoing story, from very credible writers. » Ex Exemp. The first shall be that of Lamusius,* the third King of the Lombards; his mother "ug.'iiitT.'p. being a poor woman, that got her living by her work, having several others, threw s^T^' this child into a pond, with a design to drown it, which, in the language of that country, was called Lama. It happened that Agelmundus, the then King of Lom- bardy, a rich country in the north of Italy, coming along that way, espied the infant; who putting his hunting spear towards him he caught hold of it, and held it so fast, that he drew him asiiore. The King being much moved with the vigour of the child, caused him to be put to nurse; and from the pond, in that language, called Lama, as was said, he bestowed upon him the name Lamusius. Which foundling, having had princely education, did so excel in virtue, and all worthy accomplishments, that Agtl- mundus, when he died, made him heir to his crown and kingdom, whose posterity continued in that honour for several descents down unto Alboinus. The BREWER, LORD WILLIAM. 121 The other instance shall be taken out of the chronicles of our own kingdom.'' King'-Speed-s HUt. Elfred, who reigned over England about the year of our Lord 880, as he was a hunting fn k. Edga^'p' in a wood, heard something like the crying of a young infant. And causing an 333, num.21, eagle's nest thereby to be searched, on the top of a tree, found therein a little child, which he caused to be taken down, put to nurse, and afterwards bestowed upon him liberal and princely breeding, and gave him the name of Nesting. He became a great lord, and a gracious favourite of that King; and his posterity flourished in much ho- nour a long time after. There is no tamily, how antient or honourable soever, but had its beginning. And some, if traced back to their original, may be found of such an one, as the descendants would find very little reason to be proud of. So true is that of the poet:' i Juven. Sat. •' ^ 6, vers. ult. Majorum primus quisquis fuit ille tuorum, Aut pastor fuit, aut illud quod dicere nolo. Whoever was the original. Of this thy princely train, lie something was, I will not tell, Or else some shepherd's swain. Whereas in respect to the present gentleman, we are in no such danger; as may appear from the follo^ving account. To omit the antient mode of writing the name, which was Brigwere, Sir W. Dugdal tells us,'' That this Lord Briv\cre (as he was sometime called also) was the son of Henry" Baron, v. 1, Briwere, a gentleman of large possessions, in this country, in the times of K. Hen. l.P- '■''"■ and K. William : which was long before K. Hen. 2's reign, in which the forenamed authors report, He should be taken up. And the same authentick writer says farther. That to this William and his heirs, K. Hen. 2 confirmed all his lands, in as ample manner as his father held them, in the times of the two first-mentioned Kings. Where- by it is plain, beyond denial, he was no foundling, as some would make him be. Nor was his father, who flourished in the days of K. Will. Rufus, taken up in a heath, as Cambden asserts ; if any credit may be given to that testimony, I lately received from a learned hand, especially in matters of antiquity, (an eminent professor of physick in the city of Bath)' which he assures me, he had from an antient MS. of ' ^■"•^''J:'^".'- all the creations in England, from Edward the Confessor to K. Jam. 1. taken from Let'. Dat. s. s. originals themselves by an eminent person, which asserts: That Richard Bruer, a ^1^"^^"^^')^'^'* Norman, came into England with William the Conqueror, who made him Earl of ' Devonshire. I confess, this is not mentioned in Dugdal, in his Baronage of England j yet, it will appear strange, if tliis noble county, which had given title to so many Dukes and Earls, before the Conquest, should give none now, until above thirty years after ! For so long it was e're K. Hen. 1 bestowed this Ironour upon Richard de Redvers; and made him Earl of Devon, and Lord of the Isle of Wight."" ■» Dngd. Baron. Having thus adjusted this matter, let us go on in the history of this illustrious per- °^^"^' "'''•*• son. The first account we have of him, is the purchase that he made of Ilesham, (a small hamlet, in the parish of S. Mary-Church, near adjoyning to Tor-bay) from Hawise de Ilesham, Raphe her husband, Roger her son and heir, and Auger his bro- ther, in the open county-court of Devon, A. 20. K. Hen. 2, by whom he was constituted High-Sheriff, of this shire, the same year wherein he made his purchase of Ilesham 3 and so continued all the remainder of that King's reign, which was eight years. As to the place from which this Lord derived his honour, that is not mentioned in Dugdal's Baronage of England : But Cambden tells us,* He was Baron of Odecombe, , Britannia in in the county of Somerset. Wherea-^, if greater credit maybe given, in this case, Somersetib. R to 122 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Desciipt. of to our "Westcot," (as I see no reason to the contrary) he tells us, That he was Baron Sr's'of'Exini ^^ Tor-bay, (near adjoyning to his seat) and of Totnes, not far from. MS. " Now, least any should imagine, that what I shall farther add, in relation to this Lord, is only gratis dictum, and without sufficient ground, Dugdal shall be my war- p Baron of rant and authority'' for all, or the most, of what I have to say of him. 70(f, &c. ^ ''' To this Lord William, and his heirs, K. Hen. 2. confirmed all the lands, whereof he was then possessed, to hold as freely as he did in the time of K. Hen. I. As also the forrestership of the Forrest of De la Bere, in Hampshire ; with power to take any person, transgressing therein, betwixt the bars of Hampton, and the gates of Winches- ter : And, likewise, betwixt the river of Romesey, and river of Winchester to the sea; in as ample manner as his father held the same in the times of K. William and of K. Hen. L Moreover, after the death of K. Hen. 2. he stood in such high esteem with. K. Rich. L That, upon the going of that King into the Holy- Land, in the first year of his reign, he, and Hugh Bardulf, were associated with the Bishops of Durham and Ely in the government of the realm. And, soon after, when K. Richard was on his journey, he procured from him a special charter, dated at Chinun, upon the 24th of June, the same year, for the mannor of Sumburne, in the county of Southampton ; and to have a market once every week there, in a place called the Strait, with an yearly rent of XL. s. payable out of the Forrest of Bere. Furthermore, An. 3. K. Rich. I. the King, being then in the Holy-Land, and doubting that the Bishop of Ely, one of the four commissioners, might not discharge the trust reposed in him, according to expectation, this Lord William became one of the three, unto whom the King by his special letters, gave command, That they should assume the whole government into their hands. After this, when that brave, but unfortunate. Prince, K. Rich. I. in the fifth year of his reign, was brought prisoner to Worms, in Germany, (being unkindly intercepted by the Emperor, as he passed through his country homeward from the Holy-Land) this Lord Briwer came thither to him ; and was one of the principal persons in the treaty, held there with the Emperor, for the liberty of the King. From thence was the same Lord sent, with some other persons of note and quality, to make a league with the then King of France : Which, by their prudent conduct, was also soon effected . Upon the King's and his own safe return into England, he was sent to York, to compose a difference, depending there, between the Archbishop, and the Canons of that church ; which he also happily ended. Not long after this, that magnanimous Prince, K. Rich. L yielded up the ghost; of 1 Bak. ChioD. whom 'tis said :'' That in battles, he would sometimes act the part of a common soul- inK. K. 1. (Jier; thougli with more than common valour. After the death of this King, this Lord Briwer was in no less favour with King John, when he assumed the English crown : who confirmed unto him several mannors ; bestowed upon him divers wardships; and also gave him licence to inclose his woods at Toare, (now Torr) Cadelegh, Raddon, Ailesberie (now Ailesbeer) in Devon ; and Burgh-walter, now Bridg-water, in Somerset, with free liberty to hunt the hare, fox, cat, and wolf, throughout all Devonshire. And further, granted him an ample charter for his Lordship of Brugge-waiter, that it should thenceforth be a free burrough, and to have a free market there every week, &c. Giving to this William license, also, to build three castles, one in Hantshire, at Eslege, or Stoke ; another at Brugge-water, in the county of Somerset ; and a third in Devon, wheresoever he should think fit, upon his own lands. He moreover settled upon him ten knights' fees in Cornwal, which Nicholas de Middleton formerly held ; with many other great revenues at Ax- minster, in this county, and elsewhere. Nor BREWER, LORD WILLIAM. 123 ^ Nor was this gentleman ever found ungrateful to this his royal benefactor; but stood faithfulto the interest of K. John, in those times of his greatest trouble from the rebel- lious barons. For having raised two great armies, the one to restrain the irruption of those rebellious lords, who staid in London; the other to march into the North, for the wasting of those countries: The King constituted this Lord William one of the prmcipal commanders of that which staid near London. After which he was sent down to the defence of the city of Exeter ; and had a precept from the King to Robert de Courtenay, governour of the castle there, to be received into it, in case the town couW not withstand the force of the rebels. Neither did his favour at court expire with the last breath of this king ; but (which may be an argument of his strange good fortune, or admirable accomplishments) it rather encreased than diminished, when K. Hen. 3. came to the crown -^ For her n granted hmi the wardship of the heir of Alan de Archis, in the county of York • madepag."ot hnn Governour of the Castle of the Devises, and of New-Castle upon Tine, and Bole- sover Castle ui the county of Derby, and the wardship of the heir of Reginald de Mohun, whom he alterwards married up unto one of his daughters. To all which we may subjoni (what is very remarkable; that, for divers years, he underwent the great care and trust of the sheriffalty of divers counties of this realm, as Nottingham and Derby, Dorset and Somerset, Hantshire, Wiltshire, Cornwal, Berkshire, Oxford- shire, Devon, Sussex, and Glocester. All which honours, publick employments, civil and military places of trust, and the high favour of no less than four Kings followin^r du y considered, may speak him to have been one of the most extraordinary persons either of his own, or any time since. Nor shall it suffice to represent this eminently famous Lord in his greatness only • iJut there are many things recorded as instances of his pietv and goodness also. For Irirst, He founded the Abbey of 'iorr,' in this county, lying in the parish of Tor-' D..gd Mon Mohun, very near the mouth of Tor-bay, for canons of the Premonstratensian order ^"^i-v. s, p. to pray for the health of his soul, and the souls of K. Rich. I, and K. Hen. 2, and the ''^'' souls of some of his near relations. Which abby, at the dissolution, was valued at' ' Speed-, 390/. per an. Ihe greatest part whereof is standing to this day ; and is the pleasant E'T" '" ^• seat of Edward Cary, Esquire. "■ ^• Next He began the foundation of the Abby of Dunkiswel, in this county likewise for monks of the Cistertian order :" Which was endowed, A. 26, K. Hen. 8. with 298/! » Dugd. ibid. lis. 10a. of annual revenue. vol. i. p. 925. After that, He built the Hospital of S. John, at Brug-walter, in Com. Somers for thirteen poor people, besides religious and strangers, to pray for the souls of K. Hen 2, K. Rich. L and K. John. He also founded the Priory of Motisfont, in the county of South-Hampton, valued at 157/. I5s. at the time of its dissolution, for canons regular of Saint Augustin. He moreover built the Castle, and made the Haven at Brugge-waiter; and began the structure of that stone-bridge there, consisting of three arches; which was after- wards hnished by one Trivet; A gentleman, saith Dugdal, of Devonshire." - Baron, v. ,, Ihis William, Lord Briwere, took to his wife Beatrix de Vaile, very likelv the P' '°'' widow, (though my author makes her worse, the concubine) of Reginald, E'arl of Cornvval, the natural son of K. Hen. 1. For in a grant, made by Ilenrv, son of the same Reginald, unto this Lord William, of the Mannor of Karswel, and Land of Hak- tord, he calls him his brother (which seems to imply, rather that she was the daughter of Reginald, Earl of Cornwal.) o By this lady he had two sons, Richard and W^illiam, ; and five daughters, Gra-cia, Margaret, Isabel, Joan, and Alice : And departing this life, A. II, K. Hen. 3, 122(i, was buried before the High-Altar in the Abby-Church of Dunkiswel, aforesaid. Richard, his eldest son, died in his father's life time ; altho' not before he came R '2 to 124 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. to man's estate : For in the 13th of K. John, he answered for fifteen knight's fees' of the honour of Moreton: and A. 15, of K. John, he did his homage, and had possession of the maiinor of Cestrefield, in the county of Derby, which his father held. WiUiam, his second son, called William Briwere, junior, (for that he was eminent also in his father's life-time) succeeded his father in his honours and his virtues; and was Sheriff of Devon and Northumberland. He was also a great benefactor to the canons of Tor, giving to them his lands at Ylsham and Coleton. As also all his mea- dow, lying on the west side of thecawsey, which goeth from the Abby of Tor, towards the sea ; and betwixt that cawsey and Cockinton meadow. And having married Joan, the eldest daughter of William de Vernon, Earl of Devon, (in whose right had he survived, he would have enjoyed that title) he departed this life without issue, A. D. I'i32, being the l6of K.Hen. 3. Whereupon those of his five sisters, who were living, and the heirs of those who were dead, succeeded in this large inheritance. The sisters Avere all thus disposed of in marriage, Gra^cia, to Reginald de Breos ; Isabella, to Dover, by whom she had Isa- bel, married to Wake; Marjory, to La Fert ; Joan, to De Percy; (and these are all ' Britan in So- that are mentioned by Cam'bden)" and Alicia, to Reginald de Mohun,'' whose pro- "sirw.'poie's genie, for the most part, I could likewise delineate; but that I fear, would be thought great MS. oftedioUS. charters, &c. The lordships and lands, belonging to this honourable family, were thus shared, as I find, in respect to some of those daughters and heirs: Alice de Mohun, for her pur- party, had the mannors of Thor, Waggeburgh, (now Wolburgh, near Newton-Bushel) Kadele, Hulberton, Acford, Braworthy, and Axminster, in the county of Devon ; as also the mannor of He, and 4^-. Id. ob. rent, issuing out of the manner of Trent, in Com. Somerset. William de Percy, on behalf of his daughters, his wife being dead, had the mannor of Langestoke and Rissel, in Com. Suth. Blithesworth, in Com. '., ■ Northampt. Foston, in Com. Leic. '25s. Id. ob. rent, in Snainton, in Com. Nott. the mannor of Raddon, in Com. Devon, and 39^". 2(/. ob. rent, issuing out of the mannor of Trent, in Com. Somers. And Margaret, or Margery, de la Ferte, the mannors of ■ Sumburne, and Stockbrigg, in Com. Southampt. the mannor of Stoke, in Com. Northam. and 20/. 4,y. ob. rent, in Snainton, in Com. Nott. What the particular fortunes of the other sisters were, my author doth not declare ; nor is it very material to enquire. Thus ended this antient and noble family in this county ; which however it did not continue long, (only about three generations) yet lived, for the time, in great splendour and reputation : and so deeply intinged its name into several places of this shire, as Tor-Bruer, Buckland-Bruer, &c. that time itself, which devoureth all things, hath not been able, in 500 years, wholly to wash it out ; nor is it likely so to do in a much longer space to come. A certain author tells us of another family of this name Brewer, that came out of => Syiv. Morg. Gallia Belgica into England ; whose posterity took unto them the name of Batman.^ Sphere ofG^it ^^^ ^^ j^^^yg ^ny thing to say of these, is foreign to my purpose. BREWER, Fl..r. A. D. 1 ■iU. R. K. Hen. 3. ( 12.5 ) BREWER, WILLIAM, LORD BISHOP OF EXETER. Brewer, Willlam, Lord Bishop of Exeter, was born in this county, of noble parentage ; but whose son he was, tis not so well agreed on among the antiquaries. '^De Pr^rsu . Bishop Godwin," from Mr. Hooker, alias Vowel," says, That he was son of \\ illianib pri„t. Catai. Brewer, Kt. who married the daughter, and one of the heirs, of William de Verona or^fji'e Bp. ot Vernon, Earl of Devon : and the annals of the church of Worcester,'^ seem to confirm. Apmivvhart. the same, with these words, Williehnus, nepos Willielmi Briwerre, consecratur in*;|- ''"'• ^• Episcopum Exon, &c. William, the nephew or grandson of William Briwer, was consecrated Bishop of Exon, &c. And Dugdal tells r.s," that this Bishop was cousin^ Bar. v. i. p.. (but of what degree he doth not mention) of William Briwer the elder; for which he quotes the authority of Leland's Itinerarium. But this cannot be, if Dugdal himself, and a no less curious author in this n^^^ter^ ^.^j^^.^^^^. than he,'= may be credited, when they say, That William Briwer the younger, diedj„n. 'ob. sme without issue. And Fuller, in his Worthies of England asserts^ That this Bishop wasexim^^^i'abmt the brother, not the son, of Sir William Briwer, Kt. the younger, (being so distin-slr wm Pole, guished in his father's life-time) for which he cites the authority of Bp. Godwin afore- «^]^';*.j!j;^J',';: said ; but it must be the English edition of that elaborate work, that thus informs him, by, a ms. tVii. for the Latin doth not: how'ever he doth not seem well satisfied herein. Because, saith^o^^^'^;;;;^!.' '^^ he, two surviving brethren, both of the same name, are seldom seen in a family. Mr. thii.ijs. Westcot too, agrees in the opinion, that the Bishop was brother to Sir William Brewer, ^'^'' -•'^'-'• junior, whom he stiles Lord of Totnes and Tor-bay. So doth Mr. Hooker also, in his MS. catalogue of the Bishops of Exeter; where he says. That Bishop Brewer was a nobleman born, and brother to the Lord Brewer, Earl of Devon ; which mu.st be understood of Sir William Brewer, juu. who married the eldest daughter and co-heir of the Earl of Devon ; by virtue whereof (if ever he had it) he came by that title. These difliculties and disagreements herein, among those learned men, (not being well able as yet to reconcile them) made me look farther abroad; and coming to an antient house of the name, at Teing, about two miles to the north of Newton-bushel, in this county, I made diligent enquiry after this honourable prelate there ; where I > found another family of this name, that flourished in that place, so far back as K. Henry the Second's days: Anthony de la Bruer had his dwelling there in that King's reign, whom succeeded William de la Bruera, who married Angalesa, daughter of William Briwer the elder, as I take it, of Tor-bruer, and sister to William Briwer the younger;- and had issue, Sir Jetfery de Bruer, Kt. (a benefoctor to the Abby of Tor)"|^^^;|]i^^'^^"'^d« who had issue. Sir AVMlliam de la Bruer, Kt. whose daughter and heir, Eva,' brought ig^ei sa (after- that inheritance to her husband, Thomas Graas ; from whence the place formerly ^^^''^^'^^"Ij',',^' called Teign-Bruer, (tho' it hath not yet lost that name) is now commonly called sororWiii.Bn- Teign-Graas. But after my strictest enquiry here, I could not find any ground to build "^^'^^^"'Jj,!'!'^, a conclusion upon, that this Bishop came from this house; which gave a ditferent amu, Ms. coat of arms from his, viz. Silver four gemels B. over all a Cheveron ingrailed gul.'' , j^, 'j', ^^5^ I was forced therefore to go back again, and make a farther search after this Right of Devon, in Reverend person, at Tor-bruer ; and here I find suflicient reason to fix his birth, and ]yjg= ' (as I think) to conclude him to be the younger son to the Lord William Briwer, the J|, sir w. Pole's elder ; for if the having of two sons of one name in the same family at once, be all the ^y ' objection can be made against it, that weighs but little ; for this was no strange thing in this countiy heretofore, as might be made appear, if it was needful, by many examples. In my farther confirmation whereof, I might here produce a copy of the charter, granted by the Lord William Briwer, the elder, for settling the site of the Abby of Tor, 126 • THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Tor, in the place of St. Saviour's Church there, which is attested by divers prelates, and other great persons: among whom are two of the name of William Brivver ; both which I take to be the sons of the founder: the last of which is thus distinguished, in two several manuscripts I have by me, Will, de Brigwere filio meo, Subdiacono Dovera. What tlie v/ords may import, I shan't undertake to determine ; although tliey seem to ' Monost. Ang. imply, that this son was a clergyman. But then I shall not conceal it, that Dugdal,' in Ad. deToi. j,g^,jj^ji^g this Same deed, instead of Subdiacono Dovera, hath Fulberto de Dovera; making it the name of a man, and a distinct witness. But leaving it to others, who are better able, and more at leisure, to unty this knot, I shall proceed to the more particular history of this honourable Prelate's life. AVhere he had the education of his youth, whether in England, or any foreign countries, we are not certain ; although, likely enough it is, he spent some time among the Muses at Oxford. And in those days also, many of our English convents were eminent nurseries of learning, as well as of religion ; insomuch, 'tis no strange thing that he came to excel in both, as hereafter we shall find he did. The first account we have of him is, when he was well advanced in years ; who being of noble birth, and his father, as I take him to be, at that time, of the Privy "•Speed's Hist. Council to K. Hen. 3," grew great also at court; where being in favour with Peter de K.^H.^3!'p!"RiipilJus, Bishop of Winchester, (that after the death of Marshal the great Earl of 58i°,i5- Pembroke, governed all, in the minority of that King)" and of very ieminent accom- plishments likewise, he was preferred to the Bishoprick of Exeter, and was consecrated " Godwin deon the Feast of the Passover, anno 1224. So one author tells us,° on the 30th of Mzac!Mem"of December, 1225. So another,P by Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Exet.p. 7. what time, that King was about eighteen years of age. In those days, Gregory the 9th, (as his predecessor also had been before him) was very earnest in stirring up Christian princes, and others, to endeavour the recovery of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre, out of the hands of the infidels: to which end the Croisado was published, /. e. the Pope's bull of great encouragement, to all that would undertake the voyage; who were solemnly to be signed with, and to wear the badge of ^vid.Piat.Yit. the cross. In this pious and noble exploit, several Christian princes'' engage them- ^'^'^"' ^' selves, especially Fredric the Second, Emperor of Germany, who Avent in person ; whether voluntarily, or by compulsion of the Pope, let others enquire. Nor were the great men less zealous here in England, who raised a potent army, of no less than 40000 men, which they put under the conduct of Peter de Rupibus, Kt. 'Isaac quo su. and Bishop of Winchester, and William Brewer, Bishop of Exeter;' so a late author ''"■ expressly tells us. Although I must confess, I find little or no mention of this expe- dition in our English chronicles, written by Stow, Speed, and Baker. Now if any would know how they could prevail with so many persons voluntarily to undertake so long and dangerous a voyage, they may understand, tiiat this was done in a time, when, although there might be less knowledg of, there was more zeal for, religion, than in the present ostentatious age. And farther, what might most prevail, 'Speeds Hist, the Pope' kept much adoe, oft'ered great priviledges and encouragements, which were K.^H.^''p!°every-where zealously preached by his fryers. That whosoever foUoweth the Croisado, i84- though they were polluted with any ever so hainous offence, parricide, incest, sacri- ledg, or the like, he was presently acquitted, both from the sin and punishment of it. Now, however, we may not suppose, that this Christian army did consist of all, or the greatest part, of such as those; yet if so great a blessing, as the pardon of all, even the most hainous sins, might be obtained, on so easy a penance, as the taking on them the sign of the cross, and fighting against the Saracens, to redeem the Holy Sepulchre out of their profane hands, that must needs much increase their numbers. Having thus gotten together so vast an army, our Bishop Brewer and the Bishop of •Isaac quo an Winchester afovcsaid, were constituted the two general captains,' who undertook the ***• conduct BREWER, WILLIAM, LORD BISHOP OF EXETER. 12? conduct thereof accordingly. And setting out about the year of our Lord 1227, safely arrived at the city of Aeon in Phoenicia, called also Ptolomais; where they met the Emperor Frederic, before-mentioned. To which agree the annals of the church of U mchester," sc. an. 1227, Petrus Episcopus Winton. & Willielmus Episcopus Exon. " i.. Whar,. arnpuerunt iter, versus Terram Sanctam. Here these great Prelates of the church ^°^''- ^^''- "*'• militant, continued about the space of five or six years; with what particular success ^'^'"^'"'' may be seen in Fuller's H. War;- and then returned with safety into their own - vid. Fui. h. country, where with great joy they were received^ in the year 1233. }^'''' '• ^' '■'• This Bishop so wisely and discreetly behaved himself,' that he was had in great ^"'mV- Isaac reputation aniong all men, and in special favour with the King, who made him one ^'a™' "*" ^^■ ot his Privy Council; and as a farther manifestation of his ^Royal Grace towards 'H«ok. print. him, K. Hen. having given his sister, the Lady Isabella (a beauteous youn- lady o^^Exe?" '^*"- about twenty years of age) in marriage to Frederic of Germany, Avith a portion of thirty thousand marks,' (hardly the fortune of a private gentleman's daughter in this' Speed ,uo age) he commended her to Bishop Brewer's care, to be conducted to the Emperor • *"p- p- ^5«- n- although he had sent hither tho.se great persons, the Archbishop of Collein and the"'" Duke ot Lorrain to be his ambassadors. The King brought them to Sandwich, with the noble train of about three thousand horse, where taking ship in the month of May, Anno 1235, in a day and a night's ■n.id n 51 space, they arrived at Antwerp, a city of the Empire. And such was the fame and good report spread of this bishop, saith my author," That, as he passed through the ^ Hook. i„ ,„e countries, they were from place to place received with great honour: and bein- come ?""'• t'^""'- <"■ tothecty of Collein, the Archbishop there did not only very honourably entertain E^on.'^"^- "' them, but also accompanied them unto the city of Worms, where the Emperor met them, and the marriage was forthwith solemnized, with great magnificence ■ there being present at it three Kings, eleven Dukes, thirty Marquesses and Earls, besides a number of great Prelates.' AVhen tins Bishop had seen the marriage celebrated, and all other things relatino- ^^ ''"''•""• '"' his embassy worthily performed, he took his leave of their Imperial Majesties and with many great and noble presents, was dismissed, and honourably accompanied homewards by the Archbishop aforesaid, and many other persons of quality At his return into England, he was joyfully received of all the noblemen about the court, and most graciously by the King himself; whom his Majesty used as his snecial and most trusty councellor, in all his weighty causes. How long he continued at E^ter ""''^'^'"" ' """^ ""^ '^"^^'^ S'own aged, he retired to his diocess, and palace at He being come home to his own house, and minding, as his predecessors had done to leave some good memorial behind him, did erect and constitute a Dean, and four and tujnty Prebendaries within his cathedral church. And upon the thii'd Sunday in Advent, mstalled Serb (w nch shews the antiquity of the nameSerl in this count/- a Robert berl, the enth Lord Mayor of London, an. 12l6;Mn which office he continied. Bak chro„ for SIX years doth elsewhere) the Archdeacon of Exeter, the first Dean thereof- unto-K^He'r!:T' whom and his successors, for the maintenance of hospitality, he impropriated Braun- ton which l.eth on the east side of the Bar of Barnstaple, near the north^ and Col I'on- Ralegh, situated near the South-Sea, in this county, for ever He also purchased so much land for his Prebendaries, as every one of them had yearly four pounds some say three pounds and twelve shillings, de claro pro pane & ^le, towards their bread and salt, the greatest necessaries for the sustentation ^of hu donuplVnr. "i ""^°"^'?^^"* afterwards, in Bishop Gauden's time, that constant and eloquent preacher, was increased to twenty pounds a peice, anno 12 Car 2 I66O nf thU ^P'i^Pj^' ^^^'^ Prelate is said to be the founder of the four principal dignities .of the church of Exeter, sc. The Dean, the Chantor, the Chancellor, and the Trea! - surer; 128 f THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ' Loc quo sup. surer; but the three latter are not taken notice of as such, either by Hooker or Godwin.* They rather ascribe them to another, viz. Bishop Quivel wlio succeeded in this see, anno 1'2S0. For he was the first, saith Mr. Hook, that instituted a Chanter and a Sub-dean in his church; to the one he impropriated the rectories of Painton and Chudleigh in this county ; and to the other the rectory of Egloshele in Cornwal. He also is said by Bishop Godw. to have founded the chancellorsliip of the cluirch of Exon; with injunction to him that should sustain that oflice. That he should conti- nually read a lecture to the Canons of Divinity, or on the Decretals: For which purpose he impropriated the parish of St. Newlin in Cornwal, and Stoke-Gabriel in Devon : which, should he fail to do, it may and shall be lawful for the Bishop to resume the said parsonages impropriated, and bestow them at his pleasure. As ap- f Print. Cat. ofpcareth, saith Hooker,' by the said grant, under the seals of the said Bishop, Dean in Q'ufvei?^^"" ^"'^ Chapter, dated the lith of the calends of May, 1283. But of that there is no need nor danger, forasmuch as a pious lecture upon this account is duly preached once a week, at si.K a clock prayers in the morning, in the choir of the cathedral church of that city. Bishop Brewer also, according to the devotion of those times, and the example of one of his ancestors, founded a priory of nuns in the parish of Heavitree, at Polslo, lying a little more than half a mile without the east gate of the city of Exeter, to the e Monast. Ang. 'honour of St. Catherine. This was founded, saith Dugdal,^ by Bishop Brewer vol. i.p. 545. Frater Guhelmi Bruer, avunculi Johannis Regis. The brother of William Brewer, the uncle of King Joiui. Which the Bishop endowed with the manner of Polslo ; and at the suppression of those religious houses here in England, it was found to be of the yearly value of 164/. 8s. lid. This, at the surrender that was made of these houses in K. Hen. 8's time, became the possession of Sir Arthur Champernon, a younger son of Modberry-house in this >• Sir w. Poles county.'" I supposed at first, it had been part of that, which one of this name and family, iu'^Poisio. MS? then great at court, got by implicite faith; who seeing some courtiers on their knees begging something of the King (Hen. 8) and believing they would not ask any thing to their prejudice, kneeled down among them ; whose suite being soon granted, they denied Champernon any share of the boon; saying he was none of their company: He appealing to the King, whether or no, he was included in that royal bounty ? it was declared that he was. Whereby I thought that Polslo had fallen to his share ; ■ Lib. 2. p. 109, but Mr. Carew, in his Survey of Cornwal, tells us,' it was the priory of St. Germans in ''■ that county, valued at 243/. 8s. yearly rent, which was thus gotten ; and afterwards J sold to Mr. Eliot, from whom it took the name (which it still retains) of Port-Eliot. However this was, Sir Arthur Champernon had it, and exchanged it with one Ail- T>- . ■ T, ■ worth of London^ for the more noble seat of Darlington near Totnes in this county; MS. where his posterity still flourishes in worshipful degree. Polslo at length became the inheritance, and is now the residence of the gentile family of Isaac; Colonel Sebastian Isaac inhabiting there: whose eldest sister, Frances, became the wife, and is now the relict of William Cholditch, of Cholditch, in the parish of Cornwood, near Plymouth, ' Ex Autogr. Esq. whose coat armour is thus emblazoned.' " Per pale or and arg. 3 chevrons sab. over all, a file of as many lambeauxes gul. crest. On an helm a wreath of his coUours, a lion's paw crazed sab. supporting a shield per pale or and arg. mantled gul. double arg. His younger sister, Mary, became the wife of George Prestwood, of North-Huish, Esq. who was Iligh-Sherifl' of this county, anno 1692, whose ancestor several gene- rations back, transplanted himself from Worcestershire (where the present gentleman still possesses a fair paternal estate) into this county. He bears sab. a lion ram- pant, between two flasks or. This Bishop also, was not only good to the church, but to the poor ; those of them especially. BREWER, WILLIAM, LORD BISHOP OF EXETER. 129 especially, which are the most worthy objects of our charity, the sick and infinn : For he founded the Lazar-House of S. Mary Magdalen, without the south gate of that city," for such poor people as were infected with that then spreading disease of"isa.Mera.p. the leprosy; whose patron the Bishop was, and his successors were intended to have"* been ; but that a permutation was made between the Bishop and Mayor, and Chamber of Exeter, That the Bishop and his successors should from thenceforth be patrons of St. John's Hospital in that city, and the Mayor and Citizens should be patrons of that of St. Mary Magdalen ; which they continue to be this day. This Right Reverend, and Honourable Prelate, having well governed his church nineteen years and upwards, on the 24th of July died, anno 1244, and was buried in the middle of the choir of his own church; on whom lieth a fair! marble stone, having this inscription, still legible, engraven on it. Hie jacet Willielmus Brewer quondam hujus Ecclesias Cathedralis Episcopus : Fundator etiam quatuor principalium ejusdem ecclesiae dignitatum. ADDITIONAL NOTE. CHOLWICH, of Cholwich-town, in tlie parish of Coinwood. The representation of this antient fa- mily, is vested in the present John Burridge Cholvvich, of Farringdon, Esq. the elder line, which was seated at Oldstone, in tiiis county, having become extinct. BRIAN, 130 .'' : THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BRIAN, LORD GUY. Fior. A. D. Brian, Lord Guy. That he had his birth at the place where his ancestors had Edw.sd'. their residence, and that they had their residence at the place from which they took, or to which they gave, their name, we may reasonably conclude ; and that was Tor-Bryan, a small parish, lying about three miles to the south of Newton- bushel in this county. Here were lately seen near the church, some remains of an antient noble house, some time the seat and habitation of this honoural>!e family. The place derivcth its name, partly from the rocks and torrs which there abound, especially about the church ; and partly from its antient lords the Brians : for this ■ Id. ibid, in was the long continued inheritance of this noble progeny.* The heirs male whereof, Tor-Bryan, ^g jg observed, Were always called Guy, from tlie beginning of K. Hen. '2 reign, unto the latter end of K. Rich. 2, which is more than two hundred years. >■ Vol.?. p. 151. Dugdal in his baronage of England,'' acknowledges, That be had not seen any mention of this name, until the 29 K. Henry. 3, that Guy de Brien received command to assist the Earl of Glocester against the Welsh ; Avhereas we find it flourished in these parts long before, even so far back as the days of K. Hen. 2, when we meet with Sir ' Sir ^V- Pole's Guy de Bryan, of Torbryan in this county Dcscr. ot Dcv. v v ■- - ill his Cat. of The same learned antiquary farther says,"* That the chief seat of this family was h."|''ms'" ^' 1'"^ ^^^^ marches of Wales, as he doth guess. If he hath no better authority for it than " Dugd. quo a bare guess, then it may be lawful for us to guess also : And from the continual mar- »"P- riages of this family for divers generations following, with gentry in these parts, we may guess, it had its chief residence in this county. Thus Guy de Bryan, of Slap- ton and Tor-bryan, married Eve, the sole daughter and heir of the Lord Henry de <■ Dugd. ut an- tes Tracy,^ whose dwelling was at Barnstaple, and sometimes at Taustock near adjoyn- ing. Guy de Brian, in King Henry the third's time, married the lady .Tone de la ' Sir vv. Poles p^ig^ of Pole,' in Slapton aforesaid. Sir Guy, his son, married Sybella, daughter I'n^'or-Biian' of Walter de SuUey, of Iddeslegh, (by whom he or his posterity came to be lord of and Slap. MS. Q^cat Torringtou. Sir Guy, his son, Jonc de Carevv. The Lord Guy de Bryan mar- ried Anne, the daughter and heir of William Ilolway, of Holway, by whom he had issue, Anne, wife of Sir John Gary, the judge; all Devonshire families. Which may ^ preponderate, in the ballance of opinion. That this noble personage was also born here. That they had a great estate in Wales, and that the castle of Walvveyn in the county of Pembroke\vas theirs, as Sir William Dugdal informs us, I readily grant : So they had in Surrey, Middlesex, Dorset, and elsewhere, as well as there ; which is no argument, but" this Lord Guy de Brian, might have been a native of thi.s province. He was a great man in the days of K. Edward the third, and a person of eminent « Dncd. ibid. j-,Qf g .g ^f vvhom that learned antiquary quoted in the margent, gives the following ho- nourable history. Guy Lord Brian, was standard bearer to King Edward the third, in that notable fight he had with the French at Calais, in the twenty-third year of his reign, anno Dom. 1349. Where, behaving himself at that time with great courage and valour, in recompeuce thereof, he had a grant of two hundred marks per an. out of the ex- <;hequer, during life. In the twenty-fourth of the same King, he obtained a charter for free-warren, in all his demesn lands in Surrey, Middlesex, Dorset, Devon, and Wales. After BRIAN, LORD GUY. 131 After this, anno twenty-sixth of the same reign, he was constituted one of" the commissioners for arraying of men, in the counties of York and Berkshire, for de- fence of the realm, against the French, then threatning an invasion. Two years after this, Sc. anno 28 Edward the third, 1354. He was one of the ambassadors, with Henry, Duke of Lancaster, and others, then sent to Rome, to procure a ratification of the league between England and France, from the pope ; and attending the King the year after, in his expedition into France, he was made a banneret; i. e. knighted in the field under the banner royal : Having license for the better support of that dignity, to purchase lands of 200/. per an. value, to himself and his heirs. In the 33d Edw. 3d, he was again in the wars of France ; so likewise the year fol- lowing, where continuing in the King's service, he had respite for the payment of such debts as were due from him for the ferm of the mannor of Westcot. After this, anno 35 Edward the third, he was again sent ambassador to the court of Rome, upon important business : and the King engaged himself to indemnify him for any loss or detriment he might receive in that journey. In the thirty-seventh of that King, he obtained a grant of the mannor of Northam, near Bytheford in this county ; which belonged to the abby of Caen in Normandy. Then went he once more into the wars of France, anno 43 Edward the third, and the same year was made admiral of the King's fleet against the French ; and in the forty-fifth Edward the third, he was employed in the Scottish wars. In all which honourable employments, he behaved himself with so great satis- faction to his prince, that he was elected into the society of the knights of the most noble Order of the Garter : An order first founded by this King in the 23rd year of his reign, anno Dom. 1348, now of the greatest honour in Europe of that kind. Nor was this noble person in the service and favour of this prince only, but upon his decease, he succeeded in that also of King Richard the second, his grandson; and served him with good success by sea and land: In whose court and time, this Lord Brian was of that reputation, that he was constituted one of the commissioners to treat with John, Duke of Brittany and the Earl ofMontfort, for a league of friendship with King Richard ; being the same year in that expedition made into Ireland, with Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. Thus far of the military actions of this Lord Brian, whereby he approved himself a great soldier. Let us next consider him also in his religious deportment ; and according to the devotion of those times, we shall find him to be a good christian. For he founded a chauntrey for four priests, to sing service every day, in the chapel of our lady, within the mannor of Slapton, lying about four miles from Kingsbridg in this county ; which he endowed with lands of ten pounds per annum value ; as also with the advowsan of the church of Slapton. After the dissolution, it was purchased by Ameredeth ; whose grandson sold it unto Sir Richard Hawkins, Kt. the famous sea captain. This Lord Guy de Brian was a baron of parliament, unto which he was summoned, from the twenty-fourth of Edward the third, until the thirteenth of King Richard the second; soon after which he died. Dugdal tells us,'' That he married Elizabeth," Quo supra- daughter to William Montacute, Earl of Salisbury : but it must be understood of his second wife, for his first was Anne, daughter and heir of William Holway, of Hol- way. Esq ; as was said before. He departed this life, Wednesday next after the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin, anno 14th of King Richard 2d, 1391, being then seised of the man- nors of Northam, Slapton, and Tor-brian, in this county. S2 ■ By 132 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. « InTor-bri. By his second wife, whom Sir William Pole' calls Margaret, he had issue two sons, Guy and William. The younger, who was a knight, and captain of the castle of Merk, in the marches of Calais, died anno 21st Richard 2d, without issue. Guy, his eldest son, left two daughters, and heirs to their grandfather, (their father dying before him) married to Devereux and Lovel. The eldest, Philippa, (whose second husband was Sir Henry le Scrope, Kt.) for her purperty, had in Devon, the mannor of Northam, two manners in Somerset, and one in Dorset, called Pomknolle, with the advowsan of that church. Elizabeth, the youngest, was the wife of Robert, the son of John Lovell, whose share was the man- nor of Donhed, in the county of Somerset, the Isle of Londy, with the lordships of Dartmouth, Clifton, and Hardness, in Devon. Thus ended this noble family. BRIDGEMAN, ( 133 ) BRIDGEMAN, JOHN, LORD BISHOP OF CHESTER. JjRIDGEMAN, John, Lord Bishop of Chester, was born in the city of Exeter, Fior. a. d. not far from the palace-gate there, of honest and gentile parentage. His father wascar^i. " Edward Bridgeman, (Note \.) sometime high sheriff of that city and county, for the year of our Lord 1578. ' Who his mother was I do not find. »lz. Cat. ofthe Having very good natural parts, and being observed to be well disposed towards ^'""^' " ^'""'' books and learning, he was carefully kept at school, until he was thought fit to be transplanted thence to the university, Avhich was done accordingly ; and he became a member of Magdalen-College, in Cambridg ; after that a fellow, and lastly the master thereof ' **• o^on. Par 1 D 7R3 Having commenced master of arts at Cambridg, he was admitted ad eundem at Oxford, Jul. 4, 1600. After this he proceeded doctor of divinity : which is the high- est degree a scholar can receive, or the university bestow. Being now of noted learning, a pious life, and courteous deportment, he was ad- mitted, by K. Jam. 1, of blessed memory, into the number of his domestick chaplains; by whose gracious favour he became rector of the church of Wigan, in Lancashire, in the year of our Lord 1615, valued at SO/. \3s. Ad. per annum; the second best benefice in that county, as Winwick is the first, which in the King's books is rated at 102/. 9.f. 8f/. a year.' 'ValorBene- Afterwards he A\as, by the same his royal master. King James the first, preferred ' to the bishoprick of Chester, raised by King Henry the 8th, out of the ruines of the abbies and monasteries here in England. He was consecrated at the same time at Lambeth, with Doctor Hovvson, bishop of Oxford, and Doctor Searchfield, bishop of Bristol, viz. on the 9th of May, 1619'^ Which see being of no great yearly value, "Atb. Oxon. for so high a charge, but four hundred and twenty pounds per annum; he was made, '*'"'• P-^si- A. 1621, rector of Bangor also, which he held in commendam. For many years did this learned and pious divine continue the faithful and watch- ful bishop of this church; though how long exactly I cannot learn. In that memo- rable year 1641, when the unchristian rabble were encouraged, by no mean preten- ders to Christianity, to bawl down, and mawl down, protestant bishops, as they came in their barges to the parliament-house at Westminster, this reverend prelate was then living: however, whether detained at home by age, or hindered by some other occa- sion, he was not present in the house, to joyn in the protestation made by his right reverend brethren, against the proceedings of that parliament." Hence he happily 'Fuiich. Hist, escaped that long and tedious imprisonment, unto which most of them, notwithstand- '^'^■*'" P-'^^^' ing their great years, and their greater piety and learning, who subscribed it, were confined for eighteen weeks together. Such was this prelate's merit, that there is this lionourable character of him, trans- mitted to posterity, that he was as ingenious as grave; and a great patron of those gifts in others, he was the happy owner of in himself^ He was thirty years bishop of'LiojdsMem. Chester, and every year maintained, more or less, hopeful young men in the univer- •*■ *'''" sity, and preferred good proficients out of it : by the same token, some, in those times, turned him out of his livings, whom he had raised into theirs. He was a good benefactor unto Chester (the particulars whereof are not come to hand) but a better, under God, to England, in his son the late honourable Sir Orlando Bridgeman, sometime Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; after that Master of the Rolls ; then lord-keeper of the great seal of England, under our late gracious soveraign King Charles the 2d, who was a sufl'erer in his majesty's cause, and a great honour to it. His moderation and equity being such, in dispensing the King's 134 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. King's laws, that he seemed to cany a chancery in his Ijreast in the common pleas : endearing, as well as opening the law to the people, as if he carryed about him the King's conscience as well as his own. A clear example, that the sons of married clergymen are successful and accom- plished, as the children of those of other professions : contrary to the reflection of some of the church of Rome, who, against nature, scripture, and primitive practise, forbid the bans of clergymen within their own church, and bespatter them without. Though by this, and divers other illustrious instances, they might easily observe, that the sons of the English married priests, prove as good men, generally, as the nephews of the Roman cardinals : although I must beg pardon for this digression. This learned and holy prelate. Bishop Bridgeman, lived to enjoy the blessings of a good old age ; for after the continuance of about thirty years (as was said before) bishop of the church of Chester, he fell asleep in the Lord at his palace at Chester, aforesaid, near the year 1649, (Note 2. J which was the next year after the fearful perpetration of that horrible murther, by the worst of hypocrites, on the best of Kings. He lieth inter'd in his own church there ; whether with or without any fu- neral monument, I can't at this distance easily inform my self. This holy prelate was famous in himself, but more famous in his son Sir Orlando Bridgeman, before mentioned : a gentleman of great piety, as well as honour and integrity ; and was the first Englishman King Charles the Second advanced to the degree of a baronet, after his happy restoration : whom God so signally blessed, that e Giandine of out of his loyns proceeded two honourable families,^ which flourish this day in the Biidgm. north of England, viz. Sir John Bridgeman, of Great Leaver, in the county of Lan- caster, and of Castle-Bromwich, in the county of Warwick, baronet; and Sir Orlando Bridgeman, of Ridley, in the county of Chester, baronet. fNok' 3.) One of this name, probably, was sometime abbot of Tavistock, in this county, who (as we guess) builded the house in Exeter, now called the Bear-inn, for the use of that abbot, when he came to this city. Which we may infer from the arms of Ordulf, the founder of that abby, and of the abby itself, there yet to be seen in painted glass, in the great window of the dining-room ; and between the two coats from a rebus of this - name, a man standing on a bridge, q. Bridgeman. On the out side of the window is an old inscription not legible. ADDITIONAL NOTES. (1.) Edward Biidgman, the first of this family, wlio settled in Devonshire, was a younger son of William Bridgman, of Dean-magna, in Gloucestershire, where his ancestors had resided for some generations. (2.) The date of the death, and the place of the burial, are stated erroneously. Bishop Bridgman died at his son's house at Moreton, near Oswestre. in Shropshire, and was buried at Kinuersley church, adjacent ; where, on a blue-stone, in the chancel, is this inscription, without a dale: " Hie jacet sepultus Johannes Bridg- man, Episcopus Cestriensis." This plain and brief memorial being deemed insufficient, a handsome monument was alterwards erected by his great grandson, on which is the following inscription ; M. S. Reverendi aduiodum viri, Johaniiis Bridgman, Episcopi Cestriensis : qui iniquitate teraporum, quibus factio et usurpatio valebant, ab episcopal! sede depulsus, ad ajdes filii sui, apud Moreton, se contulit ; ubi latens pietati precibusque vacabat, et tandem suaviter dormiebat in Christo ; cujus reliquiK mortales sub marmore juxta hunc parietem locatE, in resurrectionem supremo die futuram, et omnibus Deo per Hdem inservientibus reconduntur. In menioriam proavi sui optime meriti hoc monumcntum posuit Johannes Bridgman Baronetlus, 21 die Decem- bris, an. Dora. 1719- (3. J Sir Orlando Bridgman, of Ridley, was the eldest son of the Lord Keeper by a second marriage, and was created a baronet in the 25tii year of Charles the Second. The title in tliis branch of the family is extinct. The Lord Keeper's heir, his only son by his first marriage, was Sir John Bridgman, of Castle Bromwicii, Bart, who dying in 1710, at the age of eighty, was succeeded by his son, Sir John, whose son and successor was Sir Or- lando, who married Ann, tiiird daughter and co-heir of Itichard Newport, last Earl of Bradford, and had issue Sir Henry, who oa the 13th of August 1794, was advanced to the peerage by lite title of Baron Bradford. He was succeeded by his son Orlando, the present Lord Bradford. BRITTE. Flor. A. D. ( 135 ) BRITTE, WALTER. BRITTE, Walter, a famous scholar, Avas born in that part of this kingdom which verges towards the west, so Balfeiis tells us/ That indeed, is a very large county ; i^w. R. r. though possibly the parish, and perhaps the house, wherein this gentleman was born, ^ex iUain.( »"'- above four hundred years ago. Four generations of the name Guy, followed one the i"!"h. T ms" other ;^ after that succeeded three more, whereof Raph Britt was one, who was high- "t'Oiv. sheriff of this county with Raph Beaupell, anno 21 King Edw. 3.' And then adaugh-' i^. iind. in ter and heir of this name, brought this inheritance unto the knightly family of AVise, fs''i"!|v'^ p^^g-j of Sydenham; whose issue male became lately extinct in that ingenious gent. Sir Cat! of tV^ Ediv. Wise, Kt. of tiie Bath. sj'^"-- "( Uev. Having thus given a brief account of that antient house, in this county, from which, in probability, this learned person did proceed, I shall now go on to a consi- deration of his personal worth, and more particular accomplishments. Being much addicted unto learning, for his better improvement therein, he went to Oxford, and greatly admiring the most learned choir of Merton college, standing near the banks of the river Isis, he was, at length, deservedly added to their number ;'( Martonei • where following his beloved studies, he acquired a mighty fame for his terse and illus- um chorum*" trious erudition. 5 doctissimum Among other things, he diligently applyed himself to the study of the mathema- isiX, se7ox- ticks; and made earnest court to those fair and coy mistresses : AVhose favour and in-und£ &°'i"se" timate acquaintance he at last happily obtained. Being a joyful man at this his sue- '"<'"'" eo""» cess, he did not imploy his time in lines, and numbers, and proportions, but with an numero!'BaT. industry almost miraculous, he searched out the motion of the stars, and the courses ^ent. 6. page of the heavenly bodies. ^°^" Now at this time it so fell out, that WicklifTe, the phosphorus, or morning-star to in Zlml'nLnT the day of reformation, began to shine forth at Oxford : Unto whom, for his christian [;;"tV^i\|,';'pr'',,d'. and plainly apostolick spirit, this our Britt, as a faithful disciple, did adhere. AVhich tione.'teisaq;' indeed is no small reputation to our country. That in those days of darkness, she ^^^''.'j'''"''"""^- should produce one who did bare so early a testimony to the light. AVickliiTe, in his sermons, and his exercises of the schools,'' took occasion of inveigh- » sir r. Bak. ing bitterly against the abuses of the monks, and the religious orders of those tm^es:'"^-^^^-^-' And by his doctrine won many disciples unto him ; professing poverty, going bare foot, and poorly clad in russet. Among other his doctrines, he taught, That neither King, nor secular lord, could give any thing in perpetuity to church-men. In this undertaking our Britt shews himself a very zealous champion. For when his master AVicklifie, was either dead or banished, he knowing by what tricks andiArre tocaia machins these monks endeavoured to overwhelm the truth, took up his pen, and, with >no vaLsimir utmost power, bravely repelled their vain and weak efforts.' eoium conati- Ihe pomt which he chiefly undertook to maintain, was that principle of his great ^•■■'"ci' '"sob- ^ ° , stitit. Bal. lit master, sup. 13G THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. master, Tliat persons immerged in the possessions of worldly enjoyments, cannot but oppose (as what is so contrary to their carnal love and interest) the eternal gospel of God. Tiiis he endeavoured to make good from the authority of the Holy Scriptures j and by very solid argument, in a Just discourse, written to that purpose, under this title: De auferendis clero possessionibus. lib. 1. " Fatuam iiiam Wherein he endeavours to shew,'' That the rich endowments of the church by the lxc«claos''p7iu-^''"^! devotion of princes, doth prove the pestilent mother of Simony, and the nurse of cipes dotatio- all vicCS. Sniacsp™- He wrote also, Theoremata Planetarum, lib. 1. Tractatum Algorismalem, lib. 1. tis atq; 0111- Dc Rebus Matliematicis, lib. 1. aitricem""™™ With many other things, which he exquisitely composed : though through the neg- Bai. utsupr. ligence and incuriousness of the times wherein he lived, the very titles of them perish- ed before they descended to posterity. What profession this learned person took upon him, and made his employment, whether divinity or philosophy, or where he spent his latter days, whether in the uni- versity or country, or what became of him, and where his ashes lye, we are wholly at a loss, and cannot expect to be informed. All the account which we have farther of him, is. That he was famous in the days of King Rich. 2d, about the year of our Saviour Christ his incarnation, 1390. There were two families of the name of Britt, as by their different armories may ' Sir w. Pole's appear' in this county. iJThis'Descrip. Biitt of Stottcscombc, from which, I suppose, this gentleman descended, gave as ofDev. before. And Britt of Bathin, or Bachin's arms were — Argent 2 chevrons, paly of six or and azure. BRONSCOMBE, ( 137 ) BRONSCOMBE, WALTER. BRONSCOMBE, Walter, Lord Bishop of Exeter, was a native of the same cityjfior- a. d and born there of poor and mean parentage:" which I mention not in the least to dis-Hen.sd. ' parage the memory of this great prelate, but rather to his honour; That from the' Patre natus disadvantage of so low a footing, he should be able to mount up so high. sed tenuissim* Where, or under whom, he had his education, it doth not now appear; tho' plain sortis &^^^ _ ide praes. cost of their friends: who keeping him to his book he being of a towardly and good inEpiscExou. it is, he had a very liberal one; partly at the cost of his parents, and partly at the^^^^j .461. disposition, came to deserve at last, the character of a very well learned man.'' b u k rint He was first arch-deacon of Surrey ; and from thence, on the death of Bishop Blon- cat?°of the dy, he was advanced to the bishoprick of Exon, his native city. AVliat is not a little bishops of remarkable, at the time of his election, 'tis said,*" He was no priest, and therefore not ^ '.^^.j capable of any such dignity. But immediately he took that order upon him, and forthwith he was consecrated bishop : all which being done within fifteen days space, it was counted as for a miracle, for so many dignities to be cast upon one man in so short a time, had not been lightly seen. He was elected bishop in February, and con- secrated at Canterbury, by the hands of Boniface, archbishop thereof, March the 10th, 1257, says Godwin: March the 10th, 1258, says the register of the church of Canterbury :'' which is a year odds. „ consecratus And here it may not be concealed. That some have spoken less honourably of this a Bonjfac. in reverend prelate, than became his character, or perhaps, upon a sober examination ot ^^J; jq^J^s. things, than he deserved to have been; as if he got away several estates from the vvhrrt. ex re- right owners by craft and guile ; unbecoming a churchman and a bishop. ^l^^^ .,puj' Thus he is charged with tlie getting the mannor of Bishops-Clist, near Exeter, by a Angi. Sac. v. trick ; the way thus. Sir Ralph Sachvile, lord of Clist-Sachvile, now from its latter ^' P" *'*°' lords, called Bishops-Clist, being required to attend King Edward the first into France,^ or as others will have it,' Prince Edward, in his voyage to the Holy Land, c poie of pev. that he might put himself into an equipage suitable to his rank and quality, was forced '"**'*''• *^'.'**' to mortgage these lands for a supply of moneys : which he did accordingly, to Dr. ciist-SadivUe. Bi'onscombe, bishop of Exeter. The condition of which covenants ran, not only that the bishop should be re-embursed his money, but that the knight at his return, should satisfie him for all the expences and incidental charges his lordship should be out upon the premises. Sir Ralph being gone out of England, the bishop laid out so much money in stately buildings, rich manurements of the land, strong fences, and the like, that at his return, he found the charges to exceed the principal; and both together, the true value of the thing. Whereupon the knight left it all at the bishop's disposal ; who made here a very fair palace, which he left to his successors, bishops of Exeter; and in whose hands it continued unto the days of bishop Voysey, who alienated it unto the Lord Rus- sel; one of which right noble family about sixty years since, was pleased to part with it : and sold the house and good part of the barten and mannor (the rest unto others) to the ancestor of Richard Beavis, Esq ; whose pleasant and gentile habitation now it is. A gentleman, who hath been much delighted in ringing, and most critically skilled in tuning of bells, of any other in these parts. 'Tis a praise to be eminent in any honest and ingenious faculty. The bishop having thus secured Clist-Sachvile to his see, had a mind also to the advowsan of the church of Sowton, then from its owner called Clist-Fomison ; and there fell out a lucky occasion for the hitching in of that also; thus. The bishop had a frier to his chaplain and confessor, which died in his house at T Clist 138 . THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Clist aforesaid, and should have been buried at the parish-church of Farrindon, unto which that house belonged : but because the parish-church was somewhat far off, the ways foul, and the weather rainy, or the like, the bishop willed and commanded the eHook. Print, corps to be carried to the parish-church of Sowton, near adjoyning.^ Mr. Fomison, shopsV Exet.t'^6 1*5''^ and patron at that time of that parish, understanding the bishop was minded inbp. Br. to make or claim a new way over his lands, without his leave or consent, calls out several of his tenants and servants to preclude the passage. The bishop's men being come with the corps, and finding their way stopped by the adverse party, endeavour to open it by force; and meeting all on a narrow bridg over the Clist, which parts the two parishes, they strive and contend so long, that in the end, my lord's frier fell in the water. The which, the bishop took in so much indignation, that a holy frier, a religious man, and his own chaplain, should be so irreverently treated after he was dead, that he fell out with the gentleman ; and upon I know not what pretences, proceeded to an excommunication against him ; until at length, he was forced to purchase his peace and quiet, at the price of his advowsan aforesaid, with a piece of land into the bargain, granted unto the bishop ; and which continues in the hands of his successors unto this day. These are the things, with I know not what story, of his wiping his dean and chap- ter of Cornish- wood, for the enlargement of his barton at Clist, which do blur and ble- mish the memory of this great man. 1 am no way willing (having suffered so severe- ly under 'em) to become the advocate of oppression or injustice in any, though a fa- ther. Nor yet can I consent, so reverend a person should have any stain stick to his memory, whicli may fairly be wiped off. We have here heard only one party, whose story is good until the others be told. He in this time, luidoubtedly, could have made a just defence of himself herein. To say nothing of Clist-Sachvile, which it seems was only answerable to the agreement made between the bishop and the knight, the quarrel with Mr. Fomison was wholly accidental, and undesigned of his lordship : the circumstances whereof, did we tho- roughly understand 'em, would be found to make a great alteration in the case. But shall we enquire farther into these things ? It will be no difficult matter to con- jecture from whence all those stories and criminations came ; even from the malice of those persons, who had deservedly participated of his lordship's justice : for he caused the chancellor of his church, the register, the official, and the keeper of the seal to his predecessor, to do open penance in St. Peter's church, at Exon, upon Palm-Sunday, March 19, 1267, For false contriving and disposing of sundry spiritual livings of the said church, under the former bishop's seal, without his privacv or consent, while he Exe.T.5?' '^.y ^ ^y^'S" Fruly, he who shall presume (be he bishop or other) so pnblickly to expose such men as these, who might no more want for wit and parts to raise, than malice and re- venge to spread and propagate such scandalous stories, must not expect to have his • memory descend very fragrant to posterity. His mole-hill shall be bigger than another's mountain; and a mote in his eye shall be held larger than a beam in their own. Shall we consider this prelate, not as represented by the malice of his adversaries, but the impartial records of truth ; we shall find liim a person of great piety and devotion, according to the times wiierein he lived. I shall therefore crave leave ,11. I . 1- to do that right and justice to his memory, as to insert some considerable instances iims. joh. con-thereoi, as 1 find them recorded to his praise. struxit intra pj . .j.j j, jj j g buildcd the hospital of St. John's within East-Gate, Exon;' or portam on- ' ' i ,. riii 11/ i entaiem Exon. rather, as I huiTibly conceive, repaired it; for it was founded by two brethren (whose ^"'^j^'^E^™' names were Long) before. However he was a considerable benefactor thereunto ; Exon. settling upon it two estates at Clist and Rockesdon. He BRONSCOMBE, WALTER. 139 He also founded a noble college at Perin in Cornwal, consisting of a dean and twelve prebends, to the honour of the blessed Virgin and S. Thomas of Canterbury. And what is to be noted, it is said, He was admonished so to do by a vision in the night. Nor did he raise the structure only, but endowed it also with good lands; insomuch, that at the dissolution of monasteries in K. Hen. 8 time, the revenues thereof, with some addition made thereunto, by Peter Quivel, his successor, in the see of Exeter, amounted to the yearly value of '2.051. \Qs. 6d. To his works of piety, let us farther add, the consideration of his devotion ; which, according to the religion of those days, was very conspicuous. The holy angel Ga- briel, being of so great interest in the court of heaven, S. Luke, 1, 19, I am Gabriel, which stand in the presence of God, &c. he thought it a matter very useful, if not meritorious, to institute in his church, a particular feastival to his name; and that the people might not complain of the dearness of this super-added piece of devotion, he appointed good lands to discharge the cost of the solemnity. Farther, if credit may be given to his funeral monument and epitaph, (the best, and all the record we have left us of many eminent persons) which we can't suppose him to have contrived himself; we find there, he was willing all glory should be ascrib'd to God alone, without the least conjunction therein, of saint or angel. And this hath brought me to the consideration of his death. This reverend prelate having well governed this church three and twenty years, de- parted this life July 22, 1280, or as some will, 1281,'' and lieth interred under a very' Tz. Catai. of noble alabaster tomb, which stands fair and undemolished this day, on the south-side^"''' "'^ ^'"'"• of the Lad}^ Mary's chapel, in his own church at Exeter: the figure and device of which monument is thus. Against the side-wall of that chapel, is raised a bed of about three foot and half high, whereon is laid the lively efligies of the deceased bishop, curiously cut out in po- lished alabaster, in his episcopal robes, all at large, well painted. Over which is a very stately arch, supported with marble pillars, and adorn 'd with angels, neatly carved and painted in stone. The first angel hath a label on his breast, with this inscription on it. Soli Deo ho- nor & gloria. The second angel hath this, Deum adora, omni die, omni hora, His epitaph consisteth of twelve hexamiter verses ; six whereof are written in one long continued line in fair characters, on the edge of the monument, which runs from end to end; whereby we may guess at the length thereof, which, with the other six, I shall subjoyn. Olim sincerus pater, omni dignus amore Quot loca construxit.? Pietatis quot bona Primus Walteius, magno jacet hie in honore. fecit ? Edidit hie plura, dignissima laude statuta ; Quam sanctam du-xit vitam, vox dicere quae scit.' Quae tauquam jura, servant hie omnia data. Laudibus immensis jubilet gens exoniensis, Atq ; hoc collegium, quod Glasney plebs vocat Et chorus & turbae, quod natus in hac fuit urbe. omnis, Plus si scire velis, festimi statuit Gabrielis : Condidit egregium, pro voce datur sibi somnis. Gaudeat in caelis igitur, Pater iste fidelis. Thus Englished : This sincere father, worthy of love so high. What buildings he? What pious works did raise.? Walter the first, doth iiere in honour lie. How holy too ? What tougue can speak his He wholsome laws did for his church indite, praise ? That all things safe might keep in peace and right. On this her high renown may Ex'ter glory. Fair Glaseney college, as 'tis cail'd, he founded, In her was born the man so great in story. Warn'd thereunto, b' a voice in's sleep, that Would you know more ? he made to Gabriel sounded. (Heavens bless his pious soul !) a feastival. The motto under his arms is suitable to, and well worthy of his function ; being thus in English, Patience overcometh. T 2 BROWNE, 140 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON BROWNE, WILLIAM. ' Atii. Oxon. Browne, Wllliam, was bom at Tavistock, in this county, A. D. 1590.* His fa- voi. 1. p. 419. tlier was Thomas Brown, of that place, gentleman; most likely a descendant from the knightly family of Browne, of Brownes-Ilarsh, in the parish of Langtree, near Great Torrington, in Devon : Where Sir Thomas Browne built a gentile house ; with a park thereunto belonging, called Brown unto this day. This Sir Thomas was a " Westc. ped. younger brother to the fantious Brute Brown,'' who was killed at sea, by the Spaniards, MS. before Port-Rico : Of whose death Sir Francis Drake, the general, in the voyage, said, I could grieve for thee, dear Brute ; but now 'tis no time to let down my spirits. He had an elder brother called John, whose father was Thomas Brown, of Brownes- Ilarsh, gent, his mother was Joan, daughter and heir of John Lene, of Cutmanslegh, in Cornwal ; son and heir of John Lcnc, and Joan his wife ; sister and heir to Tho- mas Wenwynnick, of Prust, in Cornwal. Tliis family, in the issue male, became ' Risii. Desc. cxtiuct in the last age, and the estate fell among distaffs." But to return, of Dev. in William Brown, greatly addicted to books and learning, went to Oxford; where in the beginning of K. Jam. 1 his reign, he spent some time among the muses ; into whose favour he at length insinuated himself, and became one of their chiefest darlings. From the university he went to the Inner Temple, at London, without any accade- mical degree at this time conferred upon him. Several years after this he returned unto Exeter college again, being then about four and thirty years of age : And be- came tutor, or governour to Robert Dormer, of that house ; the same who was after- Avards the stout Earl of Carnarvan ; and killed at Newberry, in the service of K. Char. 1, on the 20th of Septem. I64.j. At what time, though mortall}^ wounded, he was more solicitous for the King's welfare than his own; breathing out his last with this question. Whether the King was in safety ? dying with the same care of his Majesty • Lloyd's Mem. that he lived.'' p-s^o. Ij-j lYiQ same year, to wit, 1624, was Mr. Browne actually created master of arts ;'' vrrl". i?*ii49. And that with a fair character, being stiled in tlie publick register, Vir omni humana literatura, & bonarum artium cognitione instructus. One accomplished with all human learning, and well instructed in the knowledg of all good arts. A while after this did Mr. Browne leave the college with his pupil ; and became a retainer to the Pembrochian family. He was beloved by that generous count, Wil- liam, Earl of Pembroke ; so that he got wealth, and purchased an estate (which in a - poet, is near as rare a sight as to see a black swan) ; but where it lay we are not told. He had a great mind in a little body : a pregnant and flowing fancy, which addicted him much to poetry. For which he became very famous ; especially after he had pub- lished the poem, intituled, I. Britannia's Pastorals, esteemed then, by judicious persons, to be written in a sublime strain; and for subject, amorous and very pleasing. The first part of it was printed at London, anno 161.3, folio. When it was ushered into the world, with seve- ral copies of verses made by his learned acquaintance, (the most famous men of those times; 'tis an honour to be seen in good company) such as were John Selden, Mi- chael Drayton, Christopher Brooke, &c. II. Tiie second part of Britannia's Pastorals, was printed at London, anno, 1616, folio. And was likewise commended to the world, by various copies, made by John Glanvile (our countryman), John Davies of Hereford, George Wither of Lincolns-Inn, Ben. Johnson, Thomas Wenman of the Inner Temple, (some time publick orator of the university) and others. These two books in folio, were re-printed in two volumes, in octavo, A.D. 1625. He wrote also a poem thus intituled, III. The BROWNE, WILLIAM. 141 III. The Shepherd's Pipe, in seven eclogues, London, 1614, in octavo. The fourth eclogue, is dedicated to Mr. Thomas Manwood, son of Sir Peter Manwood. And the fiftii to his ingenious friend Mr. Christopher Brooke. He wrote also, IV. An elegy on the never-enough bewailed death of Prince Henry, eldest son to K. Jam. 1. A prince of more than the greatest hope ; for he was master of the great- est virtues and rarest accomplishments of any other at that time in Europe. He wrote also other poems, whose titles are not recorded. As he had honoured his country with his elegant and sweet pastorals, so was it ex- pected, and he also intreated' a little farther to grace it by his drawing out the line ot f^Carpent. his poetick ancestors, beginning in Josephus Iscanus, and ending in himself. A noble ^^°f^ lib. 3. design if it had been effected; and what would have contributed much to the adorn- ation of this work. Nor shall I thus dismiss this ingenious person, without presenting you with a tast of his poetick vein : which I shall do out of the first song, of the second book of his Pastorals ; where speaking of a deformed woman, he thus paints her to the life -J u^frit,?. " And is not she the queen of drabs ^"*'*' ^' " ' " Whose head is perriwig'd with scabs? " Whose hair hangs down in curious flakes, " All cuil'd and crisp 'd, like crawling snakes ? " The breath of whose perfumed locks, " Might choak the Devil with a p — " Whose dainty twinings did entice " The whole monopoly of lice, &.c. But there's another poem ascrib'd unto this author, which, because it was never, as I know, hitherto printed, is more historical, and no less facete and witty, I shall here insert. It is the excursion of a luxuriant fancy, on the most antient town and bur- rough of Lydford, lying in Dartmoor; the largest parish in the county or the king- dom, the whole forest of Dart belonging to it : To whose parson or rector all the tythes thereof are due. You must esteem this a satyrical description of what it was, (in this poet's time, which was some scores of years since) rather than wliat it is at pre sent; having met with some late improvements. re- I OFT have heard of Lydford law, How iu the morn they hang and draw, And sit in judgment after: At first I wonder'd at it much ; But since, I find the reason sucli, As it deserves no laughter. II. They have a castle on a hill : I took it for an old wind-mill, The vanes blown off by weather : To lye therein one night, 'tis guess'd, Tuere better to be ston'd and press'd, Or hang'd, now chose you whethei'. III. Ten men less room within this cave, Than five mice in a lanthorn have, The keepers they are sly ones. If any could devise by art To get it up into a cart, 'Twere fit to carry lyons, IV, When I beheld it, Lord! thought I, What justice and what clemency Hath Lydford, when I saw all ! I know none gladly there would stay ; But rather hang out of the way, Than tarry for a tryal. V. The prince an hundred pound hath sent, To mend the leads, and planchens wrent, Within this living tomb : Some forty five pounds more had paid, The debts of all that shall be laid There till the day of doom. VI. One lyes there for a seam of malt ; Another for a peck of salt ; Two sureties for a noble. If this be true, or else false news, ^ You may go ask of Master Crews, ' JohnVaughan, or John Doble.' VII. » The steward. ' Attorneys of the court. 142 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. VII. More, to these men that lye in lurch, There is a bridge, lliere is a church, Seven ashes, and one oak: Three houses standing, and ten down ; They say the parson hath a gown. But I saw ne'er a cloak. VIII. Whereby you may consider well, That plain simplicity doth dwell At Lydford, without bravery : And in the town, both young and grave Do love the naked truth to have ; No cloak to hide their knavery. IX. The people all within this clime Are frozen in the winter-time, For sure I do not fain : And when the summer is begun, They lye like silk-worms in the sun, And come to life again. One told me in King Csesar's time, Tlie town was built with stone and lime ; But sure the walls were clay : And they are fal'n for ought I see ; And since the houses are got free. The town is run away. XI. Oh ! Caesar, if thou there did'st reign. While one house stands come there again. Come quickly while there is one ; If thou stay but a little fit. But five years more, they will commit The whole town to a prison. XII. To see it thus, much giiev'd was I : The proverb saith. Sorrows be dij ; So was I at the matter ; Now by good luck, I know not how. There thither came a strange stray cow,. And we had milk and water. XIII. To nine good stomachs with our whigg, At last we got a roasting pigg ; This dyet was our bounds : And this was just as if 'twere known, A pound of butter had been thrown Among a pack of hounds. XIV. One glass of drink I got by chance, Twas claret when it was in France ; But now from it much wider : I think a man might make as good With gi een crabs boyl'd, and Brazil wood. And half a pint of syder. XV. I kiss'd the mayor's hand of the town. Who, though he wears no scarlet gown. Honours the rose and thistle : A piece of coral to the mace. Which there I saw to serve in place. Would make a good child's whistle. XVI. At six a clock 1 came away. And pray'd for those that were to stay Within a place so arrant: Wide nnd ope, thp winds so roar. By God's grace I'll come there no more. Unless by some Tyn Warrant. " Westc. quo supra. 'Tis said, that this town," in its best strength, was able to entertain Juhus Cassar, at his second arrival here in Britain : But anno, 997, it was grievously spoil'd by the inhuman Danes. Recovering again, it had, in the Conqueror's days, one hundred two and twenty burgesses. This is still the principal town of the Stanneries, wherein the court is held relating to those causes. But of this enough. To return to Mr. Brown ; where or when he died I do not find : for I presume he is a different person from him of the same name, who died at Ottery St. Mary, in this county, in the year of our Lord 1645. Nor have 1 met any thing else memorable of him. BUDEOKSHED, ( 143 ) BUDEOKSHED, ROBERT, ESQ. Flor. A. D. 1400. R. R. CUDEOKSHED, Robert, Esq. was born in this county, about the year of our Lord"'"'^" one thousand three hundred and sixty, at the antient mansion-house of the family, called by the same name, lying in the parisli of St. Budeox, a daughter church to the town of Plymouth, near three miles to the north thereof^ on the east side of the river Tamer, over-against Salt- Ash, which standeth on the Cornish slioar. This name, as most other antient ones were, was variously written, as Bodokshed, Budokside, Budeokshed, and now vulgarly Budshed. A family this was of great note and antiquity in those parts: For Alan de Budokside lived in this place in the days of Knig Hen. 3' whom succeeded, in the male line, no less than thirteen generations. 'Sir w. Pole-j They all matched into very honourable families of this and the neighbouring- P«^"-°'"D"- counties, as Pomeroy, Halwel, Strode of Parnham, Prouz, Trencreek, ChampernonVMS.' and divers others. This gentleman, of whom we are speaking, married Ann, daughter of Sir Thomas Pomeroy ; by whom he had issue Thomas Budokshed, high-sherilT of the county of Devon, an. 26 King Hen. 6. They much advanced their patrimony by marrying the daughters and heirs of Trevalloade, and Trencreek of Trenhall ; which last was the mother of Robert, now before us. He was a person of great worth, and deserves a place in tlie register of honour : More especially for two qualifications, the best ornaments of a christian and a gentle- man, his piety and his charity. Such was his piety, that he was the sole founder of the now i)arish church of St. Budeox, aforesaid ; a very neat and handsome pile. This he did for the better and more decent solemnizing the worship and service of Almighty God. A work most deserving honour and esteem, above other, in the just acknowledgment of all, who have any veneration to religion. 'Twas the great argument which the Jews made use of to our Saviour, why he should heal the centurion's servant, telling him plainly. That the man was worthy, wherefore he should do this for him: For, say they, he loveth our nation, and hath built us a synagogue, St. Luk. 7 c. 5 v. As if this were the most evident instance of his love. To prepare them a proper place for the publick service of God. But then the charity of this good man was conspicuous in this. That in build- mg the church in the place where it now standeth, he particularly consulted (what is justly acknowledged the most valuable of all temporal blessings) the health of his neighbours and parishoners. The parish had a church in it before this time (such as it was): But it stood, 'tis said," in a remote and unhealthy » rm. Descr. place, too near the water-side. Which great inconvenience this gentleman piously o*" ^ev. in St. and christianly considering, at his own cost and charge, he pulled down the old, ^"''^'"'' and erected a new church, in a more healthy and convenient place, as may be now seen. But see his fate, or rather the inscrutable event of Providence ;*= this gentleman's c ij. ibij. own daughter was the very first that handseld it, the place of her burial. This antient family failed, in the issue male, upon the death of Philip Budokshed, whose three sisters became his heirs j who thus disposed of themselves in marriage, Winifred unto Sir William Gorges j Elizabeth unto John Amidas, of Ply mouth ;■*" Sir w. Poie and Agnes nnto Oliver Hill, of Shilston. Winifred brought Budokshed unto the ''"'° ^'"''• family U4 ■ THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. family of Gorges, in which name it continued two or three generations ; and then Sir Arthur Gorges sold it unto Trevill, and Lethbridge Trevill, Esq. is now lord thereof. (Note.) Mr. Budokshed lieth buried in his own church -, whose whole pile is his lasting and visible monument. ADDITIONAL NOTE. FROM Trevill, Budshed passed into the family of Tielavviiy, by the marriage of the co-heir of Trevill, and relict of Stawell, with Brigadier General Henry Trelawny, younger son of Sir John Trelawny of Trelawny, baronet, and brother of Sir Jonathan Trelawny, baronet, one of the seven bishops sent to the tower in the reign of James the second. His son, Sir Harry Trelawny, who succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his first cousin, the son of the Bishop, resided at Budshed ; which estate was sold by his grandson, the present Sir Harry Trelawny, to George Leach of Plymouth, Esq. by whom it has since been sold to Richard Hall Clark, Esq. of Bridwell, and of Burnington in Devon. BURCHARD, ( 14.5 ) BURCHARD, BISHOP OF WURTZBURGH. BURCHARD Bishop of Wurtzburgh, in Germany, an apostle, and a saint, was, Fioi. a. d. most probably, a native of this county. ^^^* ^"'''* There were, heretofore, several eminent persons of this name ; as Burchardus, Bi- shop of Wormes, an excellent scholar, who flourished, A. D. 1020;^ Burchardus An- » Trithem. de vilensis, an Alsatian knight : Burchardus Mithobius, a famous astronomer ; Johannes ^'^"p*-, ^*^*^'- Burchardus ; Petrus Burchardus ; who were all foreigners, and writers.*" k 'si,^'i. gibii. We meet, also, with Burchardus Dorcestrius," (as he is called) an Englishman, and oth- a Dorsetshire man born, as his name informs us: he wrote the life of Fremundus, one'^"'- Cent. si. of the West-Saxon kings ; and lived in the year of our Lord 870. But the person, whom we challenge for our countryman, the most eminent of them all, is Burchardus Herbipolensis ; so stiled among the learned for his being Bishop of Wurtzburgh ; which we do upon this probable evidence, for that he was, gente ac patria Anglus, a Bonifacio Moguntinensi Archiepiscopo, suo consanguineo educa- tust,"^ by country and nation, an Englishman, and very near kinsman to Boniface, « id. ibid. par. Archbishop of Mentz; which Boniface, at first, called Winifred, is generally acknow- - '=^°'' ^^- P* ledged to have been born at Crediton, now Kirton, in this county. In, or near unto, which place, 'tis not unlikely but that this Burchard received his first breath. His life hath been written at large by Egilward, a monk of his own monastery, near Wurtzburgh, aforesaid ; which is related into the history, written by Laurentius Suriusde Sanctis ; and from thence reduced into English by the pen of the famous F. Serenus Cressy : from whom I shall lay the abstract thereof before you, mostly in his own words.' « in tiie Cb. Some aflirm, as this author tells us, that S. Burchard, and S. Svvithun, of whom, J^'*'* ?[ ^/i^' upon the encouragement of this relation, I may speak more largely hereafter, were c. a.'page esf, brethren ; born of noble parents in the kingdom of the West-Saxons, in Brittany : and ^'"' that they were kinsmen to S. Boniface. Certain it is, that S. Burchard was one of those who were called out of Brittany, A. D. 725, to assist S. Boniface in his apostolick office in Germany, where being arrived, he destined him in a prophetical manner to the flock of Christ, which had been gathered by St. Kilian, an Irish saint, and his companions at Wurtzburgh, for which they had suffered martyrdom. But to fit him for so high an employment, he lived some years in the society of several devout and learned priests, under the con- duct of S. Boniface. After which, S. Boniface, joyning to his own, letters also writ- ten by K. Pepin to Pope Zacharie, requested that the city of Wurtzburgh might be erected into an episcopal see. The request was easily condescended to, after his holiness had been informed, that the said church was endowed, by S. Boniface him- self, with sufficient revenues to sustain the necessities of the poor, as well as of the clergy. And upon the testimony given by S. Boniface, S. Burchard, his disciple, was consecrated the first bishop of that episcopal see. These things being happily efiected, S. Boniface, conducting his now fellow-bishop to Wurtzburgh, recommended him to his flock ; by whom he was most joyfully re- ceived : where being left, he omitted no duty of a worthy prelate, being (according to this high character given of him) " assiduous in reading, alTable in conversation, powerful in preaching, exemplary in life, liberal in alms-giving, tenderly loving, and beloved by his flock." U In 146 THE AVORTHIES OF DEVON. ' Bohun's Ge- ogr. Diction. eBal. piius. quo In the second year after he was consecrated bishop, by the advice, and with the consent, of S. Boniface, he made diligent search for the sacred bodies of St. Kihan and his companions, the holy apostolick martyrs of Christ; which having found, he with great devotion took them out of the place, into which tliey had been ignominiously cast by their murtherers, the idolatrous pagans. As soon as the earth was opened, 'tis said, a coelestial fragrancy was breathed from thence ; and thougli their flesh was already resolved into dust, yet the vestments and the books, which had been cast with them into the pits, were found intire, and nothing at all defaced. They were carried to the church of Wurtzburgh, where the reputation of the mi- racles wrought by them, so encreased men's devotion, that the church there became enriched with great possessions. S. Burchard gave unto it a village, called Micheln- stat, which Prince Caroloman had formerly bestowed on him. And K. Pepin, after- wards, gave a certain castle, called Karelburg, with several other ample posses- sions. Which have been, since, so well encreased, that now it has a large territory belonging to it, extending, from north to south, fifteen German miles; insomuch, the bishop thereof is this day a potent prince, as well as prelate ; and a duke of Franconia.' Near this place did S. Burchard build a magnificent monastery, unto which he did often retire, whensoever he could obtain any vacancy from the solicitudes of his charge and conversation of men ; and there did he attend to God and coelestial things. About this time, it so fell out, that the Saxons, being overcome in battle by Charles the Great, were forced to give hostages to the conqueror, for their well-bearing for the future:^ for security whereof, they delivered up twelve youths, of the best quality and rank among them, into the Emperor's hands. The young gentlemen being thus given into his custody, the gracious prince took great care of their education. And not knowing how better to dispose of them to their advantage, he was pleased to commit them to the care and conduct of this holy prelate Burchard : who discharged his trust well, and brought thcni up in the knowledge of the liberal sciences; and other useful learning; and instructed them also in the principles of virtue and re- * Crpss. quo ante.1. Forty years'' did this holy bishop spend in the exercises of perfect charity ; either to God in prayer and contemplation ; or to men, in advancing their souls in the same divine charity. And oh ! what good might so able a workman do? what improve- ments might he make? Or rather, might he not make in the Lord's vineyard, in so long a tract of time ? But after such incessant labours tlierein, his corporal strength diminishing, he called his clergy together, to whom he declared his desire to see his episcopal see, provided of a person able to sustain the weighty employments of it. For which purpose, he proposed unto them, his disciple and companion, Megingand, well known to them for his eminent virtues and piety. Who was immediately, by. common consent, elected to be, after his death, his successor ; and during his life, his assistant. A confirmation whereof, he easily obtained, from his metropolitan, the archbishop of Mentz; diaries the Great, King of France, consenting thereunto. Having discharged his mind of so great a care, he took with him only six of his disciples, and by boat descended to a certain castle, called Hohenburgh, where he employed the remainder of his days in great austeritys, in watching, fasting, and in- cessant prayer. He had a desire to have continued his journey to Michelnstat, where his purpose was to build another monastery : but his infirmity encreasing upon him, would not permit him to accomplisli his desire; for within a i'ew days after his coming to Hohenburgh, on the river Main, he gave up his soul, after he had received the holy rites, with admirable fervour, and spiritual joy, into the hands of his Redeemer, about the year of our Lord 791- His BURCHARD, BISHOP OF WURTZBURGH. 147 His sacred body was, by the affectionate care of his disciple and successor Me- gingand, transported to his cathedral church of Wurtzburgh ; where it was reposed near to the sacred rehcts of S. Kilian ; all the nobility, and, in a manner, all the inhabitants of the country, being assembled to honour the funerals of their beloved pastor, who, as in his life time he had been an instrument of great benedictions to them, so after his death, according to the devotion of those days they were made believe they experienced many effects of his love by frequent deliverances and con- solations. His feast is observed, in the Roman kalender, on the 14th of October, the day of his translation. This reverend person, Burcliard, was not only a very pious, but a learned prelate • as the books he wrote would testify," if they might now be found. He left them all'Bai. quo in the custody of Sigwius, whom Bala^us calls his brother i though it doth not appear ™P'- that he had ever any so denominated. But what became of them after his death, or whether any ot them are now extant I do not find; for not so much as the titles of them are to be had, in any author I have met withal. U 2 BURGOIN, 52, 148 1. THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BURGOIN, WILLIAM, ESQUIRE. Fior. A. D. BURGOIN, William, Esquire. Dr. Fuller hath thought fit to insert this gentleman 1620. R. R. among the Worthies of our county:^ And I shant presume to exclude him. Altho' •In Devon, p. I niust acknowledg, that I can find very little memorable of him, more than what is 96S. summ'd up in his epitaph; which notwithstanding may be sufficient to speak him great. At what particular place in this county he was born, I do not find: The name and family hath, for divers descents, flourished in the hamlet of Zeal, not far from South- 'Risd.inZeai. Tawton.** This Originally was a branch of an antient stock in Bedfordshire; which ^^^- being providentially planted here, he liked our soyl so well, that it hath flourished in reputation for many ages, and spread itself into divers parts thereof, and doth flourish still. William Burgoin, Esquire, a lawyer by profession, and probably the first of the name in these parts, was recorder of the city of Exeter, anno. H, of K. Hen. 7th, ' In ut^"a I'^QG," for two years ; which is now more than two hundred years ago. And William 50. ' Burgoin, (as I take it) his son, was the first high-sheriff of that city and county, an- id. ibid. p. no 1540,"* being the 3'2d year of the reign of K. Hen. 8. What relation the gentleman we are discoursing of, had to the recorder aforesaid, we cannot say positively : probably he was his grandson ; who did no way degenerate from the worth and honour of his ancestors: He being eminent for those four virtues, which carry their own praises and recommendations along Avith them, viz. hospitality, wisdom, charity, and religion. He was taken notice of for an hospitable person : And, indeed, hospitality is one of the best evidences of true gentility. For what is there that more distinguishes a right gentleman from a sordid clown or miser, than a frank and hosfjitable disposition ? He also did greatly excel for his wisdom and understanding in business. He could advise and assist a friend in many diflicult and knotty cases; whereby he became, in his voisenage, what good Job was among those with whom hesojourn'd. He was eyes Job, 29,15. to the blind, and feet was he to the lame." He had (what is well-becoming a country gentleman) some knowledg in the practical part of physick ; and was wont to keep by hini such medicinal preparations, as did often conduce to the recovery of his sick neighbours : A very gentile, as well as useful and obliging, quality. Nor was his charity, in relief of the poor and needy, less conspicuous. And this is more than a gentleman-like property ; for 'tis god-like to be good, and to do it. Hereby mount we up to the honour of becoming, what we should endeavour to be. Homo homini Deus, by kindness, love, and charity, to be instead of a God unto one another. Though I know who hath sensibly found the truth of the alteration of the proverb into Homo homini Daemon, man is a Devil to man ; there being no creature more cruel to its kind, than he is to his. And then for true piety towards God, (the crown of all other accomplishments) he was exemplary for that also. He abominated and controuled vice, as the shame and disgrace of our natures. He loved and embraced grace and virtue, as ovu' crown and glory'in this world, as well as what will be our joy and great reward in that to come; as if he had fully consented unto that of the Christian poet. Si Christum discis nihil est si ca^tera nescis : Si Christum nescis, nihil est si cietera discis. If Christ you learn, what if nought else you know ? If not, all learning else is but a show. Insomuch, BURGOIN, WILLIAM, ESQUIRE. 149 Insomuch, it may be said of this good man and worthy 'squire, (so he is called in his epitaph) That having been a blessing to the place where he lived, the loss of him administered the greater occasion of grief and sorrow when he died; which happen'd upon the twelfth of August, A. D. 1623. His remains lye safely reposed in the church of Arlington, (a little parish so called, lying about seven miles north-east of Barnstaple in this county) under a marble stone, having this inscription :' (which you' We»tc. De- may observe, avouches the foregoing character of the person, though not the excel- ^'o^fl; Ari!^^ lency of the poet) ms! Here lies Will. Burgoin, a 'squire by descent; Whose death in this world many people lament, The rich for his love. The poor for his alms. The wise for his knowledg. The sick for his balms, Grace he did love, and vice controul, Earth hath his body, and heaven his soul. The twelfth day of August in the morn died he, 1 6 2 and 3. ADDITIONAL NOTE. THIS family leniiinated in an heir female, married to Jackson, of Exeter, merchant. BURLEGH, 150 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. BURLEGH, CAPTAIN JOHN. Fior. A. D. IjURLEGH, Captain John, was born in the parish of Modbiry, which hath within Carf if*' ^' ^^ ^ sweet and pleasant market town, of the same name, lying in the South-Hams, about ten miles to the west of Totnes, in this county ; which name flourished there (I take it) at Clanacombe, in good repute, for several descents ; although now, it is ei- ther extinct or become obscure. Captain Burlegh, tlien, was a gentleman, by birth, and by education; but what employment he followed, or how he lived, in his younger years, I do not understand : The first tidings that we have of him, are, of his being a captain in the King's army, Charles the first, in tiie times of the grand rebellion ; but his commission being either • Heath's ciir. recalled, or laid down, he retired into the Isle of Wight," (lying in the British ocean. Wars'* an"' "*^^ ^'^' from Portsmouth) where he lived quietly, until such time as those prodigious p. 163. ' votes of that part of the parliament, who were then pleased, by a certain figure call- ed a synecdoche, /. e. a part for the whole, to stile themselves the lords and commons of England, had passed the house, which (perhaps to the astonishment of all that never heard of them before) I shall here insert. I. First, It was voted. That no farther addresses be made to the King. IL Secondly, It was voted, That no address be made to the King without leave of both houses. III. Thirdly, It was voted. That the person who shall break this order, shall incur the penalty of high treason. IV. Fourthly, It was voted and declared. That the lords and commons will receive no more any message from the King. |>Id ib 162 "^'^ which were voted die sabbathi, being the 13th of January, IGA?."* Upon these so disloyal and unreasonable votes, many were the discontents of the good people of England, against them who called themselves. The parliament, and their proceedings. At this time it was, that the King, being informed that his royal person was in some danger from the agitators, fled from Hampton-court, where then he was, (with some 'Bak. Chron. f^w Confidents) to Southampton, with a design to escape to the Isle of Jersey;" but the continued by ship failing his expectation, the King, upon some confidence he should meet with bet- Ch! iTcd'it. an- ter usagc at his hands, for his chaplain's sake, who was his brother, put himself under no 1660. tiie protection of CoUonel Hammond, then governour, for the parliament, of the Isle of Wight, upon promise only of safety, but not of liberty ; so that he was soon confined a prisoner to Carisbrook-castle, in that island. Now it was that the deep sighs of the King were imagin'd to be heard over that isle ; the which, with a deep sense of the King's captivity, so affected Captain Burlegh, then an inhabitant there, that he caused a drum to be beat up at Newport, for God and King Charles; intend- ing to gather a force, suflicient, if possible, to rescue the captive King out of their hands, who, had he been timely assisted herein, by those whose duty it was, as well as his, to have done it, that pious prince might not have come to that untimely end he did ; nor the nation have sustained that disgrace and mischief it hereupon fell into, and hath been under ever since. Now, however, this noble and loyal enterprize of Captain Burlegh, wanted the hoped success (that not always lying in man's power, may not be his fault, if disap- pointed) ; yet this must be acknowledged of him, in the words of the poet, Magnis tam excidit ausis. Altho' it prov'd not worth a doit. He yet fell from a brave exploit. And BURLEGH, CAPTAIN JOHN. 151 And we see that God, in his inscrutable wisdom, had determined, that neither should the time be now, nor should his deliverance come this way ; so that this stout and honest gentleman, instead of delivering the King, was himself soon made a captive: For being quickly suppressed, and seized by Hammond, he was sent over to Win- chester, in order to his tryal, by a special commission of Oyer and Terminer. This matter was delegated to Serjeant Wilde, and Sir Henry Mildmay, betwixt whom, and a jury for their purpose. Captain Burlegh was found guilty of high trea- son, for levying war against, because for, the King. At the same time, one Major Rolf, accused by a servant of the King's, whose name was Osborn, of a design to have assassinated his Majesty, was brought down thither, and tryed there, likewise, by the same judges and jury; but he was acquitted by them of his wilfully intended parri- cide, by ignoramus: For both which acts, sc. the shedding the blood of the one, a loyal and worthy gentleman ; and saving the life of the other, a murderous bloody vil- lain ; the author of the Athenae Oxon tells us,"* Wilde received a thousand pounds for^ voi i i,, each, out of the privy-purse at Darby-house. As if 'twere the same thing to him, fast, p.sba. to hang or to save, so he were well paid for both. Captain Burlegh, being thus condemned for that then unpardonable crime of loyalty, was soon after brought to execution; which happened on the 1 0th of February, the same year, 1647, at what time he courageously sealed his cause with his blood, dying a loyal martyr for his King and country; and' is worthily inscribed by the chronicler^ Heath quo into that number. ' supra. Some possibly, insensate and uncompassionate of their soveraign's miseries, may be ready to censure Captain Burlegh, for being rash herein, and inconsiderate : whereas, had there been more thus animated with a sense of their dut_y, and so loyal a resolution, in great probability we had escaped many of those dreadful miseries, which the nation hath since felt; and which, for want thereof, may seem to be still entayl'd upon us for many generations yet to come. Had that pious protestant prince been permitted to have lived out those many years, which in the course of nature he might have arrived at, he had prevented the mischief of the royal prince's being sent beyond seas, and falling under the temptations of having their religion alter'd, or their manners corrupted ; whereby it is plain, that what change they fell into, in those matters, is chiefly owing to those who, out of a pretended zeal to a stricter reforma- tion of religion, cut oif their royal father's head : Of whom King James the first his father, had long before given this true character, That Charles his son would manage a point in divinity with the best divine of them all. And how excellent he was here^ in, both in respect of popery on the one hand, and presbyterianism on the other, may be seen in the controversies he maintained with the marquess of Worcester, on the one side, and Mr. Henderson on the other. Captain Burlegh, died at Winchester, anno 1647. BURY, 155 THE AVORTHIES OF DEVON. Flor. A. D. 1643. R. R. Car. 1. » Mr. RisH. MS. ofUev. in Chimlegh., ■■Ath Oxon. T. 2. p. 27 9. ' My author herein is his son, Dr. Arth. Bury, Kect. of Ex. Col. in his Letter from Oxon, Oct. 19. 94. " Ath. Oxon. Loo. Citat. « Wharton. Ang. Sac. v. 2. p. 641. BURY, JOHN. Bury, Jolm, canon residentiary of the cathedral of St. Peter E.xon, was born at the famous town of Tiverton, in the county of Devon, an. 1580. Descended from the antient and gentile family of his name, still flourishing at Coleton, in the parish of Chimlegh, a noted market town in this province also; a seat, which heretofore did for many generations belong unto a tribe, of the name of Cole,' whose heir general, brought these lands, in King Rich, the second's days, into the possession of Bury ; which name has flourished there in great reputation ever since, unto this day, which is now above three hundred years. But omitting these things. John Bury having had his birth, we may reasonably suppose, he had his breeding also, in the town of his nativity, as to his first and tender years. Howsoever that may be, this is certain, that he being a youth of very pregnant parts, made good proficiency in school learning ; so that in the seventeenth year of his age, he was sent to Oxford ; and was there, Feb. 9, 1597,'' admitted scholar of Corpus Christi College: after this, a few years, being then batchelor of arts, he became (anno 1603) the first fellow of Baliol College, that was put in there, to receive the benefaction of his noble countryman, Peter Blundell, that famous encourager of learning; which was done by the appointment of Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench; one of the executors in trust to Mr. Blundell's will. In this station, with no mean improvements, both in virtue and learning, doth this worthy person continue for many years together; even to the time of his proceeding batchelor in divinity : when considering with himself (what some superannuated per- sons therein, little do) that the university was never designed to engross men's whole time and parts, (the case of governors and eminent professors excepted) and there to bury themselves alive in an useless obscurity ; but rather, as a nursery to bring them up in knowledg and virtuous accomplishments, until they become fit to be transplanted abroad, into the garden of the church or state, for their producing fruit to the ad- vantage of both. Upon which thoughts, Mr. Bury (now excellently accomplished for the ministerial function) retires into his native country, where he soon became vicar of Heavytree, and canon of the church of St. Peter, Exon. After some years continuance there, he was pleased to resign his vicarage of Heavytree unto a relation ; and then accepted of a presentation to the rectory of Widworthy,' about three miles to the east of Ho- niton, in this county, nigh the London road, where he continued their pious and vigilant pastor, unto the time of his death. And that you may see what reputation this praise-worthy divine was of at this time, and that with persons of the first rank; in December 1643, were the chancel- lor's letters read in convocation on his behalf, that Mr. Bury, (then batchelor in di- vinity) as in the said letters is expressed)'' might be actually created doctor of that faculty. But he being then absent in the King's service, (on what particular occa- sion is not mentioned) it was voted, " that he should have that degree conferred upon him, whenever he should desire it." But the times becoming boisterous and turbu- lent then, and a long while after, the modest man neglected the taking of it then, and to his dying day ; contenting himself with this, that in the opinion of the most learned imiversity of Europe, he had deserved, tho' he never wore, the title of D. D. In relation to whom, that of Simon Fraxinus to his Cambrensis, with very little variation, may be applyed." — Tibi maxima laus est, Hunc meruisse, nee est hoc caruisse pudor. It BURY, JOHN. 153 It must be granted, that the learning of this reverend person, may not be calcu- lated from his published works; which indeed are not many, nor of any obstruse or profound argument , he chosing rather to imploy his time in preaching (in which he was another Apollos) than in printing. Tho' some few fruits of his labours this way, 1.1/- . •, 1 i-.i r n i 'Ath. Oxoa. has he leit unto posterity, wliose titles tollow : ubiprius. I. The School of Godly Fear; an Assize Sermon at Exeter, Mar. 20, 1614, on 1 Pet. 1. 17, " Pass the time of your sojourneying here in fear." Printed at London, 1615, 4to. II. The Moderate Christian; a Sermon preach'd at Exeter, at a Triennial Visita- tion, on 1 Cor. 10, ver. ult, " Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved." London, print. A. 1631, 4to. III. God's Method for Man's Salvation: or, a Guide to Heaven; leading between Errors on both Hands. London, printed, 1661, in two sheets, Svn. It is a catechism designed for the use of his parishioners, at Widworthy. These are all of this reverend person's printed works, which are yet come to our knowledg. But then there are works of his of another kind, which ought not to be passed over in silence. He was very eminent for his loyalty to the best of princes in the worst of times. King Charles the first, of blessed memory. Which, notwithstanding he had a very near relation at tiiat time, who was a great man among the other party, viz. CoUonel John Bury, his son, cost him very dear, all the time of anarchy and confusion. For his charity, he was most conspicuous, being of a very obliging tender sp'''it."'J^f*^""h°^ especially towards the sick and poor ; for whose relief, he had an express runner in son, Dr. Arth. his Scriptorie, titled, Pixis Dei, whereinto he constantly put the tenth of his receipts ; e^^^he^^^^^ and if at any time he had need to borrow any of it for a present occasion, he left in of Exeter cot- place of it, a note of the debt, which he discharged out of his next receipt. 'ege. All the land which he had, he charged with annuities for pious uses ; and to pro- voke others to add thereto, he so settled them, that they should otherwise be lost, viz. He granted to the dean and chapter of Exeter, an annuity of 25/. in trust for a school in St. Sydwel's parish, Exon ; and for maintenance of thirteen poor in St. Catherine's alms-house, (which stood near his door, within the close) so long as there shall be settled and assured by the said dean and chapter, fourteen pence weekly, and it be duly paid to each of the poor people ; and the residue to be paid to the master of a work-house, as soon, and as long, as the young poor people of that parish of St. Sidwel shall be kept at work. And by his last will, he so added to a publick work-house, to be built in the parish of St. Sidwel aforesaid, as to make up the annuity 40/. provided, that within twenty years after his death, there be built an house sufficient to keep all the poor of that parish at work ; then so long as they shall be so kept at work, it shall be paid to the steward of the said work-house. That so good a design might not miscarry, by the industry of an eminent citizen of that place, alderman Butler, and the contribution of good people, au house was accordingly built; over the outer gate whereof is the effigies of the canon placed, as the chief founder thereof, or the most principal benefactor thereunto ; a very prudent and charitable design : so that if any poor shall want work, or live idly in that parish, this benefactor's good intentions will be greatly disappointed : for he designed no less to remedy their idleness, than their poverty. What I have farther to add hereunto, is only this hearty wish, that this good design of the deceased may have its due effisct ; that there may be no just occasion for so sharp a reflection on any; that, as nothing could have been bettf;r intended, so nothing can be worse performed. X Nor 154 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Nor may I here pass over in silence, the admirable temper of this worthy divine : of so excellent a frame, both of mind and body was he, that the greatest affronts (to which good men are often exposed) could hardly discompose him, or put him into the least passion. He was of so strange, unusual abstemiousness, that he was rarely known to drink wine, unless at the holy communion, all his time; and when he has been invited thereunto, after he was past seventy years of age, he was wont to put it off with this excuse. That he was not old enough as yet to drink wine. As for his piety, the diamond in the gold ring of his virtuous accomplishments, it was very sincere, though not ostentatious; more conspicuous in private than in public ; not caring to make a great glare or noise in the world, like some glow-worm zealots, but to live as he ought, in his own parish and family. At length, this reverend, learned, pious person, sinks beneath the burthen of a vast age; and on the .'^th of July, 1667, he yielded up the ghost, in the 87th year of his life; and lieth interred in the middle area of the cathedral church of St. Peter in Exon, a little below the pulpit : together with his wife Agnes, under a fair stone ; having this inscription : Hie juxta Agnetis, sic denuo conjugis cineres, suos deposuit Johannes Bury, hujus ecqlesise canonicus residentiarius. Qui obiit July 5to. A. D. 1667, astat. suae 87. CARDMAKER, ( 155 ) CARDMAKER, ALIAS TAYLOR JOHN. CaRDMAKER, alias Taylor John, chancellor of the church of Wells, and a mar- Fj°^g- a. d. tyr, was born in the city of Exeter, as we are informed by a cotemporary of his there, euw! 6. that must have known him well:' he had his education in both the universities of this* id. ibid, in land, spending sixteen years at Oxford and Canibridg, in the study of logic, philoso- ^^'^"J'jj.^^''"'" phy, and divinity. "" He was very well learn'd, and of a sharp wit; a religious, of i> past. Oxon. the order of Minorites, which is the strictest among the Franciscans / whose life is *• i-P- ^83. most rigid, who were neither to have granaries, nor two coats; they were for con-„fRg^|„ p*;" templation and action too, namely, preaching : at this day, their habit is a long coat 306, 307. (with a large hood of grey) girded with a cord. Such vertue hath been held in a Franciscan garment, that divers princes have desired to be buried in it, thinking thereby to be safe from the devil; as did Francis the second. Marquess of Mantua, Robert King of Sicily, and divers others. Father John Cardmaker supplicated the university of Oxford, A. D. 1532, that he might proceed batchelor of divinity; but whether admitted to it, appears not."* He " Fast. Oxou. J03ai'd himself to, and accompany'd with the best learned men, and professors of the'""^"''" gospel, in those days: and the older he grew, the more he loathed those popish doc- trines, which before he had professed ; so that in the end he cast off his coule, and the opinions he had learned in his cloyster, all at once. About the time of the disso- lution of abbies, A. 1535, he preached freely against the power of the pope ; and was in such favor with the then Bishop of Wells (whom I take to be Dr. John Gierke) that he was made, by him, one of the canons of his cathedral church. In the reign of K. Edvv. 6, he married a wife, and had by her a female child, near which time, he became reader of a divinity lecture, in St. Paul's London; whose doc- trine was so sweet, true, and plain, that it was greatly to the comfort aud edification of all his auditory, who embraced the reformation: but his lectures were so offensive to the popish party, that they bred in them an immortal hatred against him; so that they abused him to his face, and with their knives they would cut and haggle his gown behind his back. About that time also, he was made chancellor of the church of Wells, by the name of John Taylor, alias Cardmaker; and was looked upon there, and at London, as the most zealous minister in all those parts, to carry on the work of reformation. But after the death of that pious hopeful young prince, K. Edw. 6, when Q. Mary (a most zealous devotee to the church of Rome) came to the crown, he was deprived of his spiritualities, and called before Dr. Gardener, Bishop of Win- chester, (the Lord Chancellor of England) and Bonner, Bishop of London, and charged with heresy, as they called it ; for which he had been committed, before, a close prisoner to the Fleet, in London: to whom, both he, and Bishop Barlow of Bath and Wells, who was examined with him, made such discreet answers, that the chancellor, with the rest of the commissioners, allow'd them for catholicks.'' So that to those ^Foxs Acts & that follow'd in the examination, they objected the example of Barlow and Card- ^°";^i''"3' p_ maker, commending their soberness, discretion, and learning: but tliis notwithstand- 201. ing, Barlo.v was led back to the Fleet (from whence afterward being delivered, he fled beyond sea) and Cardmaker was conveyed to the Counter, in Bread-street, and from thence to the stake. Now however, the papists would needs seem to have a certain hope, that Card- maker was become theirs, yet the continual great conferences divers of them had with him, with reasonings, perswadings, and threatnings, argued the contrary, though they were all to none effect. At {his time, Dr. Martin, an eminent man of the church of X 2 Rome, 156 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Rome, wrote against Mr. Cardmaker, in the point of transubstantiation. Which he answered largely, learnedly, and substantially ; opening the falshood of his ar- guments, and restoring the fathers to their true understanding : which tract (it seems) perished in manuscript, Mr. Fox wishing it had come to hand. The principal articles alledged against him by Bishop Bonner, were these : !• I. I Edmund, Bishop of London, object against thee Sir John Taylor, alias Card- maker, that thou, in times past, didst profess the rule of St. Francis, and didst, by vow, promise to keep poverty, chastity, and obedience, according to the rule of St. Francis. To which he answered and confessed, that he, being under age, did profess the said order; and afterward, by the authority of K. Hen. 8, he was dispensed with for the same. H. II. I object against thee, that thou in times past, did receive all the orders of the church then used, Tam majores quam minores To which he answered, and confessed the same in every part. in. III. That thou, after thy said entry into religion and orders aforesaid, did'st take to wife a widow, and did'st get on her a woman child, breaking thereby thy vow and order, and the ordinance of the church. To which he answered, and coaifessed the first part thereof to be true ; and to the second part of the same article he saith, that in marriage he brake no vow, because he was set at liberty to marry, both by the laws of this realm, and the laws and ordi- nances of the church of the same. IV. IV. That thou iiast believed and taught, and so do'st believe, that in the sacrament of the altar, and the visible signs there, that is to say, under the forms of bread and wine, there is really and truly the true and very natural body and blood of our Sa- viour Jesus Christ. To which he answered, that he confessed he did believe, that Christ is present spi- ritually to, and in, all them, which worthily receive the sacrament; but that his de- nial was still of the real, carnal, and corporal presence of Christ in the sacrament. So that Mr. Cardmaker resolutely refusing to recant, what the Bishop was pleased to call heresy, the Bishop gave judgment and sentence against him, that he should be burnt in Smithfield. Between which sentence, and the execution thereof, two or three days before he 'Id. ibid. p. suffer'd, one Beard, a promoter, came unto him' in Newgate, and said, " Sir, I am ^'^^' sent unto you, by the council, to know whether you will recant or no ?" To whom he replyed, " From what council are you come ? I suppose, you are not come from the Queen's council, but from the commissioners, to whom ye belong : but whereas you would know, whether I would recant or no, thus I pray you report me to those that sent you : I have been a preacher these twenty years, and ever since that, God, by his great mercy, hath opened mine eyes to see his eternal truth, I have, by his grace, endeavored to call upon him, to give me the true understanding of his holy word : ■ and, I thank him for his great mercy, I hope I have discharged my conscience in the setting forth of the same, according to that little talent I have received." " Ay, but what say you," says Beard, " to the blessed sacrament of the altar?" To whom he repiy'd, by way of question, " Whether the sacrament, he spake of, had a beginning or no?" Which when he granted, Mr. Cardmaker thus infer'd, " If the sacrament, as you confess, had a beginning, and will have an ending, then it cannot be God, who hath no beginning, nor ending." Upon which he departed from him. At the time of execution, when he, and his fellow sufferer, John Warne, upholster, of the city of London, were come to the stake, the sheriffs called Mr. Cardmaker aside, and talked with him secretly, so long, that in the mean time Warne had made his prayers. CARDMAKER, ALIAS TAYLOR JOHN. 157 prayers, was chained to the stake, and had wood and reed set about him ; so that no- thing wanted but the string. This made the people fear, what they heard before, that Cardmaker would recant, which put them in a marvelous dump and sadness. And departing from the sheriffs, he came to the stake, and, in his garments as he Avas, kneeling down, he made a long prayer, in silence to himself; which confirmed the people in their fancy of his recan- tation, seeing him in his cloaths, and no semblance of his burning: but his prayers being ended, he 'rose up, put off his garments to his shirt, went with bold courage to the stake, andkiss'd it sweetly; took Warne by the hand, and comforted him heartily, and so gave himself up to be bound to the stake, most gladly. The people seeing this so suddainly done, contrary to their fearful expectation, as men delivered out of a great doubt, cry'd out for joy, with a great shout, saying, God be praised : the Lord strengthen thee Cardmaker, the Lord Jesus receive thy spirit. Which continued while the executioner put fire to them, and they both passed through this purgatory, to the blessed rest and peace of God's martyrs, to receive the crown of glory, laid up for the righteous. This hapned in Smithfield, on the 30th of May, A. D. 1555. CAREW, 158 - THE WORTHIES OF DEVON Fior. A. D. CAREW, SIR JOHN, KT. 1350. R. K. Edw. 3. CAREW, Sir John, Kt. Baron of Carew and Mulsford, was born at Mohuns-Ottery, an antient house hi this county : so called from its Lords, the Mohuns, who inhabited »SiiW. Pole's there :^ but before that, it had the denomination of Ottery-Flemniing, from its more Desci. of Dev. antient Lords, the Flemmings. Which name was sometime owner of a great estate in in Li.ppit, MS. ^j^g^g parts, as the places to which it still adheres, viz. Stoke-Flemming, Bratton-Flem- ming, &c. may declare. This house standeth in Luppit, quasi Low-pit, a small parish, near the town of Honiton ; where some monks at first inhabiting in a low ground or pit, gave occasion to the name : which monks were afterward removed thence, by Sir William de Mohun, brother to the Lord Reginald de Mohun, unto the Abby of Newham, or Newenhani, then lately erected by them, in the parish of Ax- "InBp.Biond. minster ; of which before.'' Here, before I proceed to the person, I shall crave leave to speak something, as to the antiquity and genealogy of this right noble family. 'VVestc.Descr. Some there are,'' who would fetch its original from the dukes or kings of Swevia, a BicWegb MS. ^^'^'■t^'i^ region in Higher Germany; and that upon a double account. First, From that brave and martial temper of mind, both those families observed to be of: The Swevians are reported to have been a bold and warlike nation, surpassing all the rest of the Germans ; Gens populosa, fortis, audax, & bellicosa ; & Germano- * Id. ib. Ex. rum priestantissima.*^ So the most of this family have been in all ages, martial men, Piutar. jj,^(j worthily deserving of their prince and country : as I hope hereafter, by some particular instances, more fully to demonstrate. Secondly, My author would infer this farther. From that agreement between them in their coat-armour ; The Swevian dukes or kings giving, Sol three lions passant Saturn ; which is the same with Carew's coat, save only, tliat the former hath the lions gardant. And so it is supposed, that some younger brother of that royal house, com- ing hither in quest of honour, either with the Saxons, Danes, or Normans, seated himself in this kingdom ; in which his posterity hath flourished unto this day. But I shall dismiss this, as little more than conjecture, and proceed to a more certain and substantial account of the matter. A worthy gentleman of the name and family, 'Ijb.8,p.i03, Qyyj^g their original to have been from France, in his ingenious survey of Cornwal ;" whose words are these, Carew, of antient, Carru was; And Carru is a plow : Romans the trade. Frenchmen the word; I do the name avow. The name being thus owned to be French, we may conclude, the family came into England with the Conqueror, William of Normandy. So that I shall trace it so far back as that conquest ; authenticating what I have to say hereof, from the unques- ' Quo supra, tjonablc testimony of Sir William Pole ; who speaking of the same, assures us,' That he goes no farther in these matters, than records and deeds will give him certain warrant. The first of this line in England, was Walter de Windsor, so called from his being made Castellan de Windsor, or governour of the castle of Windsor, son of Otho ; which Walter had issue two sons, W^illiam, from whom the Lords Windsors are de- scended ; and Gerald, from whom the Carews and Fitzgirahls. This CAREW, SIR JOHN, KT. ]59 This Gerald, was Castellan, or steward of the castle of Pembroke in Wales ; and was an expert man, both in war and peace; and in great favour with K. Hen. 1, who bestowed upon him the Lordship of Mulsford, in the county of Berks. He married Nesta, the daughter of Rees, Prince of South Wales, a fair lady; whose dowry was the castle of Carew, in those parts : From whence a certain author tells us, notwith- standing the forementioned derivation of it from Carru, this antient family derives its name of Carew,^ A Carew castro in agro Pembrochiensi cognomen sortitus est : Tho' <■ Hist. & Ant. he doth not say from whence that castle fetches its name. ,y^"'^- '^""g- This Gerald de Windsor, by this lady Nesta his wife, had issue three sons,'' William, "TUe'sai'd Ne- Maurice, and David. David, the youngest, was bishop of St. David's, in Wales, oi^^l^^^^^^f ^^l whom nothing else is recorded remarkable. From Maurice Fitz-Gerald, the second aid, was marri- son, are issued the noble families of Kildare and Desmond, in the kingdom ofpjJaircasttuan Ireland. olAberteyvy; William the eldest son of Gerald, T.ord of Canio, had issue Raymond, Otho, and ij^d^t^'Rob^ others : Raymond married Basilia, daughter of Gilbert, and sister of Richard Strong- f't^stephan, bow. Earls of Pembroke, but died without issue. Otho de Carrio bad issue William, qterf/ofirel unto whom K. John, in the I4th year of liis reign, made a grant of Mullesford, reciting '■'"<*• .s»- w. the deed, formerly made unto Gerald, by K. Henry the first. This was the first vv ho to,'.pe'v"erd,"" took to him the name of de Carrio or Carru. This William had issue William ; which ^'^• had issue Nicholas; which had issue William, Baron of Carru and Mullesford, for so is he stiled ; who had issue Sir Nicholas, the father of Sir Nicholas, Baron of Carru and Mullesford; so summoned to parliament by writ, in the days of K. Edw. 1, for those baronages then, were not, as now, hereditary; but only during life. Nor did they always give a place in parliament, without the King's special writ, by Mhich he might advance thither whom he pleased; after the expiration Avhereof, they could challenge no right of voting there. This Sir Nicholas, Baron Carew and Mullesford, married the sister and heir of Sir John Peverel of Weston-Peverel, near Plymouth, in this county, Kt. in the reign of K. Edw. 1, by whom he had a great estate in these parts, as this Weston Peverel, Ashford-Peverel, Mamhead, and other places.' At which time, this honourable stock' i«i. ibid, in took such deep rooting in this county, and liked the soyl so well, that it hath flourished J'^'^mT^^''*" well herein ever since, unto this day, now above four hundred years. By this his lady, sister of Sir John Peverel, Sir Nicholas, Baron Carew, had issue four sons, viz. Sir John, Thomas, Nicholas, and William. From Nicholas descended the honourable family of CareAV, of Beddington in Surrey, in the eastern parts of England. Sir John, the eldest son, successively married two wives, his first was Elenor, daughter and heir of Sir William Mohun, of Mohuns-Ottery, Kt. a younger brother to the lord Reginald de Mohun, of Dunstar, in Com. Somerset, by wlioni he had issue Nicholas : His second wife was Joan, daughter of Gilbert Lord Talbot, by whom he had issue Sir John Carew, the person of whom we are about to speak. Nicholas, the eldest son, married the sister of his father's second wife, a daughter of the Lord Talbot's, and died without issue. But before his death, being in right of his mother, seized of all her inheritance, he convey 'd his lands unto the issue of his father ; by means whereof, Mohuns-Ottery, and the rest descended in this honoui-able name, and the succeeding family there, quarter'd the arms of Mohun with their own, altho' they issued not from that blood. This they made the place of their residence, in which they flourished in great honour for many succeeding generations, even down to the days of Q. Eliza- beth, of never dying memory. When Cicely, sister and heir unto Sir Peter Carew, the last of this line, married unto Thomas Kirkham, of Blagdon, Esq. left it to her daughter Thomasin; who brought it to her husband, Thomas Southcot of Indeho, in the parish of Bovey-Tracy, Esq. In which antient and gentile name it having con- tinued 160 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. tinned about three descents, the heir thereof, was pleased to alienate it unto Sir Walter Young, baronet, the father (if I mistake not) of the present honourable Sir Walter Young of Eslcot, baronet, in whom it now remains. Having thus given a large account of this noble family in general, I shall now pro- ceed unto the most memorable occurrences in the life of Sir John Carew in particular; the history whereof comes very short and imperfect to our hands; yet we have him transmitted to us under a double very honourable character, of a soldier and a states- man. '• Sir vv. Pole, First: He was a great soldier; and is said,'' valiantly to have served K. Edw. 3 F."'s'oidTers!^'' against the rebels in Ireland ; and 'tis farther added, that his son Sir John Carew was MS. slain there. But I fear, by some mishap or other, this will prove a mistake, for I find not any contention that King had with the Irish all his reign : Tiiat account therefore 'Risd.Surv. of given by a later author, seems' more agreeable to the truth, who tells us. That it was lm7s.Ottefj!'' i" his wars in France, that he served that puissant prince. And very probable it is, that our Sir John Carew was present at the battle of Cressy there, fought between Edw. 3 of England, and K. Philip of France; at what time the English, under the auspicious conduct of that son of Mars, called the Black Prince (a wonderful general, but of fifteen or sixteen years of age), got an entire victory, with the slaughter of no " Speed aud less than thirty thousand of the enemy :" In which engagement, likely enough it is, Bak. Cr. in K. gjj. John Carcw lost his valiant son, called by his own name ; whose courage and con- duct had prefer'd him also to the honour of knighthood. How great a statesman he was, we may best infer from hence, that K. Edw. 3, (as well a wise as valiant prince) in the 24th year of his reign, was pleased to make him "SirW. Poles Lord Deputy of Ireland ;" how long he continued in that most honourable post, and Loc. uit. ^i^at the memorable actions were he did there, I no where find : Only this I do. That he lived after this several years. So that likely enough it is, he came back into Eng- land, and lieth inter'd, either in the church of Luppit aforesaid, or some other in this county. He died anno 3Q of K. Edw. 3, and of our Lord 1363, on the l6th day of o Id. ibid, in May." Mohunsotte- ^,^jg gj^. j^^j^j^ Carcw, by Margaret his wife, daughter of John Lord Mohun of Dunstar, had issue Sir John Carru, who (as was said) died in his father's life-time without issue ; and Leonard, Leonard de Carru, married Alice, daughter of Sir Ed- mund Fitz-Alan of Arondel, second son of Edmund Earl of Arondel, and had issue Sir Thomas de Carru of Ottery-Mohun, Knight. This Sir Thomas was also a great soldier ; he had the trust of the navy, and three thousand English soldiers committed to him, for the securing of the Emperor Sigis- » Riad.in Mcli. mxuid, during his stay and abode here in England,^ in the beginning of the reign of K. otterj. Henry 5, he valiantly served also that heroic prince in his wars in France; and was, undoubtedly, at the battle of Agincourt in that kingdom, when the victory was so great, that the English had taken more prisoners, than there were soldiers in their army. Sir Thomas de Carru was appointed to keep and defend the passage over the river isirw. Pole's Sein, anno 6 K. Hen. 5, and was made Captain of Harflevv." He died the 25th of hJlmiufnt^s^oN January, in the ninth year of K. Hen. 6 ; and by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Sir diers. AVilliam Bonvile of Shute, Kt. left issue Sir Nicholas Baron Carew ; who by Joan his wife, daughter of Sir Hugh Courtenay of Haccombe, Kt. by Philippa his wife, daugh- ter and one of the heirs of Sir Warren Ercedecon, of that place, Kt, had issue Sir Thomas, and many others. Sir Thomas Carew, Kt. Baron of Carew and Mujjesford, and Lord of Mohuns-Ot- tery, married Joan, daughter and one of the heirs of Thomas Carmino; and had issue Sir Nicholas Carew, which married Margaret the eldest daughter of Sir John Dinham, sister CAREW, SIR JOHN, KT. 161 sister and one of the heirs of John Lord Dinham of Nutwel, in this county, Lord High- Treasurer of England ; and left issue Sir Edmund Carew, Kt. This Sir Nicholas Carew was a very eminent person, and great at court, where he died on the I6th of Novemb. in the 1 1th year of K. Edw. 4. He and his lady lie in- terred in the abby church of Westminster, among the Kings and Queens of England, To whose memory an antient plain tomb of gray marble is there still seen erected, with an inscription in brass round the ledg, and some coats of arms on the pedestal, whereby may be gathered, saith my author,' that Nicholas Baron Carew, and his wife Keep's Mon. the Lady Margaret, who was the daughter of Sir John Dinham, Kt. were here en- ^*'*™*P'''^^' tombed. He died on the 6th day of December, (so the epitaph) in the year 1470, and she on the 13th day of the same month, and year following. The epitaph here follows:' ' '■ 'lb. p. 252. " Orate pro animabus Nicolai Baronis. Quondam de Carew, & Dominae " Margaritas uxoris ejus filiae Johannis Domini Dinham, Militis: Qui quidem " Nicolaus obiit sexto die mensis Decembris, anno Dom. 1470. Et praedicta •' Domina Margareta obiit 13 die mensis Decembris, anno 1471." There was another Sir John Carew of Devonshire, as the historian calls him, who was an eminent soldier, and served K. Hen. 8 at sea, against the French; what rela- tion he had to either of the gentlemen aforementioned I cannot say; but probably he was a younger brother to Sir Philip or Sir Edmund Carew. When the Lord Admiral Howard had prepared a great fleet, the King, Hen. 8 went himself to Portsmouth to see it, where he appointed captains,' for one of his chiefest ships called the Regent,' Bak. chron. Sir Thomas Knevet, master of his horse, and Sir John Carew :" Who engaging with a^^*-^'^-^- French carrick of great force, they entered her, which when her gunner saw, he des- Sir jo'hn^a- perately sate fire to the powder, and blew them both up ; when Sir Thomas Knevet, y^'^^J^ g^^' and Sir John Carew, with seven hundred men, were all drowned or burnt. Poles Catai. of Of this noble family more hereafter. (Note.) Knights in the •' ' / rcign of K. H. 8. MS. ADDITIONAL NOTE. THE following short statement may conduce to the more ready comprehension of the relation and con- nexion of the principal branches of this ancient family, so loosely detailed in this and the ensuing articles. Otho, who lived in the lime of Edward the Confessor, was the father of Walter, styled de Windsor, who had two sons, William and Gerald. — From William descended the noble family of Windsor, Earl of Plymouth; from Gerald sprang the families of Fitzgerald of Ireland, and Carew of Devonshire. The latter name was first assumed in the reign of King John, by William de Carew, from whom the eighth in lineal descent was Sir Nicholas Carew, who lived in the reign of Henry the sixth, and by Joan, daughter of Sir Hugh Courtenay, of Haccombe, knight, was the father of five sons, four of whom, viz. Thomas, Nicholas, Alexander, and William, were the founders of numerous families. Tlie family by the elder son failed in the male line after some descents, having given origin to the Bickleigh branch, wliicli was by a female heir united to the Haccombe family, and to the Totness branch of which was George Earl of Totness, treated of in a subsequent article. From Nicholas the second son, who was tlie founder of the Haccombe line, the sixth in descent was created a baronet ia 1661 ; and his descendants are mentioned in a subsequent note. Alexander, the fourth son, was the founder of the family, seated at East-Antony, in Curnvvall, from wlioai the fifth in descent was created a baronet in 1641. This branch failing in the male line after six descents, the baronetcy became extinct. It is now represented by the Right Honourable Reginald Pole Carew of Antony, who is the grandson of Carolus Pole, fourth son of Sir John Pole of Shute, the third baronet of that family. William, the fifth son of Nicholas Carew, was the progenitor of the Carews of Crocum in Somersetshire. CAREW, 16^ THE WORTHIES OF DEVON Fior. A. D. CAREW, THOMAS, ESQ. 1513. R. R. > > ^ Hen. 8. CAREAV, Thomas, Esquire, the first that settled this name at Bicklegh in this Catew^."^ ''''''° county, was born at Mohuns-Ottery, near Honiton, of which before/ He was the second son of Sir Edmund Baron Carew, by Katharine his wife, daughter and one of the heirs of Sir WiUiam Huddesfeild, Kt. Attorny General to K. Hen. 7- Which Sir Edmund being a brave soldier, and at the siege of Terwin in France, when K. Hen. 8 sate down before it with a great army, was, in the fifth year of that King's reign, as he sate in council there, unfortunately slain by a cannon-ball tliat came from '' Bak. Chron. the town.'^ This Thomas proved a son worthy of such a father, being also of a martial sK. H. 8. i;pi,.;t ; whereby he got great honor and renown in the wars, as in tlie sequel of this discourse will appear. But before we come to that, it may not be improper here to give a brief account of a softer enterprize ; which, however in the issue it proved successful enough, yet for the present it administred an occasion of trouble, that hastned him on into the wars, sooner than he intended. You may please to know then, tliat Bicklegh in this shire, was somtime the inheri- ' Sir w. Pole's tance of the honorable family of the Courtenays of Powderham Castle;'' which was ^"^R 'ii?' h*^'^°"* to be a portion for a younger son of that house. At length it came to be settled ic eg . ^ j.^ Humphry, the youngest son of Sir Philip Courtenay ; who dying before his father, left his only daughter and heir unto his care. Sir Philip entrusted her over unto Sir William Carew (Thomas's eldest brother) who liad married his eldest son's daughter, cousin-german to this lady. Mr. Thomas Carew living with his brother, became very familiar with this young fortune, courted her, and won her good will ; which having obtained, he secretly by night, carried her away and married her. This he did, not only contrary to Sir Philip her grandfather, and Sir William his brother, their likeing and approbation, but to the high displeasure of them both : For the better pacifying whereof, after due time of consideration, concluded, nothing would conduce more thereunto, than absence. Being young and lusty, of an active body, and a courageous mind, having in him the inherent seeds of hereditary virtue, he resolved for the wars; and soon found an occasion suitable to his inclination and reso- lution ; which thus hapned : The Scots taking the advantage of K. Hen. 8th's absence in France, invaded Eng- land. Against whom, Tiiomas Earl of Surry (whom the King had made his lieutenant in the north at his dei)arture) raised a potent army of five and twenty thousand men; unto whom, his son, the Lord Howard, Lord Admirnl of England, having the King's " Speed. Chr. navy at sea, brought a great supply of good soldiers, well appointed for the war;"* inK. H. 3. P-jii^-iong whom was this Mr. Tliomas Carew. The Earl marciied his army from New- Castle, and pitched his hoast beside a little town under FJodden-lIill, a mountain lying in the north of Northumberland, on the borders of Scotland, betwixt the rivers of Till and Tweed ; on the top whereof K. Jam. 4, with his Scottish forces, well near ' Bak. ciiion.an hundred thousand men,^ lay so strongly encamped, that 'twas impossible to come iiiK. H. 8. j^,,j^p them without great disadvantage. str Siuv Before the battle began,* a valorous Scottish knight made a challenge to any English of Devon, iii o-entlemau, to fight with hiui for the iionor of his country ; I suppose 'twas the same, Bicki. MS. ^^ii^ i^y ^/jj. Sp(^g(| ig called Andrew Barton ; unto whom, he tells us, the Lord Admiral sent word, lie would in person justify his action against him, and abide to the last drop of his blood in tiie van gard of the field. Mr. Carew begged the favor of the Admiral, CAREW, THOxMAS, ESQ. 163 Admiral, that he might be admitted to the honor of answering the challenge. It was granted him ; they both met in the place appointed; where, to his high commendation and great endearment with the Lord Admiral ever after, Mr. Carew got the victory ; which was, it seems, only an earnest of that which ensued : For soon after this, fol- lowed the famous battel, called the battel of Flodden- Field ; wherein the Scots were totally routed, their King, with a multitude of noblemen and gentlemen, and thirteen thousand of the common soldiers slain, (some say but eight) and near as many taken prisoners, with the loss only of about a thousand English. It is a memorable, but scarce credible thing, says the historian,'^ which Buchanan e Baker quo relates, concerning this K. Jam. 4th, K. of Scotland: That intending to make this^"P- war with England, a certain old man, of venerable aspect, and clad in a long blue garment, came unto him; and leaning familiarly on the chair wherein the King sate, said this to him : ' I am come to thee, O King ! to give thee warning, that thou pro- ceed not in the war thou art about; for if thou dost, it will be thy ruinc.' Having so said, he pressed through the company, and vanished out of sight; so that by no en- quiry, it could be known what became of him. But the King was too resolute to be atfrighted with phantoms, and no warning could divert his destiny ; which had not been destiny, if it could have been diverted. Thus he. To proceed with Mr. Carew. His courage and conduct had gotten him great fa- vor, as was said, with the Lord Admiral; but after the battel was over there hapned another occasion, which greatly encreased it, and fixed him deeper in his artection. For my Lord taking Mr. Carew in company with him, as he rode forth upon service, descryed a band of Scots coming towards them : the Admiral, at a very strait narrow passage of a bridg, was in danger to be entrapped and taken : To prevent which, Mr. Carew instantly entreated him to exchange his armor and martial attire with him, that by such means, if need were, he might make the easier escape ; the which the Admi- ral well considering of, soon consented to. The enemy coming on to this narrow passage, Mr. Carew, in his rich habit, well mounted, crossed the bridg with his horse ; and for a time, so valiantly defended the same, that no man could pass; that way gaining time, the numbers between them being very unequal, for the Lord Admiral's escape. However, Mr. Carew himself was at last taken prisoner, to the no little joy of the enemy, who thought they had taken the general himself; as indeed by the ricliness of his armor they had reason to imagin. But in fine, finding themselves deceived, they courteously carried him to the castle of Dunbar, lying twenty Scotch miles to the east of Edenburgh in Scotland; where he was courteously entertained by the lady thereof: who having a brother then a pri- soner in England, hoped, by the advantage of an exchange, to have him delivered to her again. This lady then was always affable and courteous to her prisoner; but the keeper of the castle was of a malicious and churlish nature, and dealt most cruelly with him. As an instance of which, on a time, as Mr. Carew was sitting by the fire-side in his chamber, he came suddainly upon liim, with his sword drawn, and an intention to murther him ; which he timely perceiving, took up the chair whereon he sate to de- fend himself; which, using his best skill to defend his life, he managed so well, that he gave his keeper a deadly wound ; whereupon, more help called in, he was presently cast into a deep dungeon, and kept there in such hard and cruel manner, that he fell dangerously sick ; and what did mo:?t afilict him, was a dysentery, or a long tedious flux, which never quite left him to the time of his death. However, at lengtli he was redeemed, and so returned to his manner at Bicklegh. After which, the Lord Ad- miral never forgot the noble services Mr. Carew did him, but ever entertained him with all courtesy and friendship ; made him his Vice-Admiral, and assisted him in all his affairs. Y2 After 164 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. After this, Mr. Carevv lived in his own country several years, and out-lived his first wife, the heir of Courtenay, by some; who settled on him and his heirs for ever, all her estate. By her he had issue, a son and a daughter; John their son, married Gil- bert Saint Clere's daughter, but died without issue. His monument is in Bicklegh church, having this inscription on it. A Remembrance of John Carew, Esquire, who died, A. D. 1588. ' Marmora, nee tumuli, grandesve ex apre colossi, ' Nee genus aut proavi, nobile nomen habent. ' Buccina nobiliimi virtus sit, claraque vitas ' Postera transactae gens canit acta bene.' &"■ After the decease of this first lady, Mr. Carew aforesaid, took unto his second wife, the daughter of one Smart, by whom he had issue Humphry Carew, Esq. unto him, John, his half-brother, before his death, convej^ed his estate: He had issue Peter; who by the daughter of George Cary of Clovelly, Esq. had issue Sir Henry Carew, late of Bicklegh, Kt. the last heir male of this line : who marrying one of the daughters of Sir Reginald Mohun of Cornwal, Kt. had issue two daughters and heirs ; the eldest of which, was married unto Sir Thomas Carew of Haccombe, Baronet ; who left issue Sir Henry Carew, late of Haccombe and Bicklegh, Baronet; who married, first Eli- zabeth, one of the daughters of Thomas Lord Clifford, Baron of Chudlegh in this county, without issue; secondly, Katharine, one of the daughters of John Fowns, of Whitlegh in this county, Esq. without issue ; thirdly, he married Gratiana, one of the daughters of Thomas Darrel of Cornwal, Esq. by whom he left issue, the pre- sent Sir Henry-Darrel Carew, of Haccombe and Bicklegh, Baronet, (a minor, of about ten years of age) Thomas, and Charles, and one daughter, whose name is Frances. As for Bicklegh-House, 'tis an antient pile ; built with turrets, and moated round with water; which, whether it may conduce most to the health of the inhabitants, it becomes them most, that must live there, to enquire after. We know not when this Mr. Tnomas Carew died ; nor can we find in Bicklegh church (where we suppose he lleth interred) any monument of him. But instead thereof, 1 shall present you with that of Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Carew of Bicklegh, Esq. who was married unto Richard Erizie of Cornwal, Esq. she died in child-bed, as appears from her epitaph. Carew's daughter, Erizie's wife, her name Elizabeth ; By pleasure of Almighty God, in child-Vjed found her death. Which suddain, unexpected chance, with grief did kill the joy Of gladded parents, and her mate, in bringing forth a boy. To God she liv'd, to God she di'd, young year'd, in virtues old; And left, until it rise again, this tomb her corps to hold. And here, seeing Bicklegh and Haccombe are now united in one and the same lord, let us divert a little into Haccombe, where we are sure of a civil reception. This came into this honorable family, by the daughter of Sir Hugh Courtenay ; and Philippa his first wife, daughter, and one of the heirs of Sir Warren Lerch- deckne. Banneret ; whose eldest son, Sir Thomas Carew of Mohuns-Ottery, diso- bliging her in a high degree, she settled seventeen mannors of land on her younger sons, which proved the occasion of three great families, which have florished ever since. CAREW, THOMAS, ESQ. 165 since. She settled Haccombe, with four mannors, on Nicholas her second son, to whom fell, by entail, the third brother's inheritance. Unto Hugh, she gave Biry, from whom is descended Carew of Stodelegh ; and to Alexander, she gave Anthony in Cornwal. Her second husband was Sir Robert Vere, unto whom she brought John deVere; whose son John was fifteenth Earl of Oxford. Haccombe, as to number of dwellings, is the smallest parish in England; consisting but of two dwellings, the mansion-house and the parsonage, about two miles south from Newton-bushel in this county ; but it enjoys priviledges beyond the greatest : For it is out of any hundred," and beyond the precincts of any officer, civil or military, » My Lady Ca- to take cognizance of any proceedings therein. And by a royal grant from the crown, J^j'* q^.'" 31!' it is exempted from all duties and taxes, for some noble services done by some of the leys. ancestors of this family, towards the support thereof. And the rector of this church (at present, the Reverend Francis Strode, descended from the antient house of Newn- ham in this county) hath great priviledges belonging to it, viz. A sine-cure in Corn- wal, of good value; and quatenus rector hereof, he is arch-priest ; and 'tis said, may claim the priviledg of wearing lawn sleeves, and of sitting next the bishop ; and is under the visitation only of the Archbishop of Canterbury : A kind of chorepiscopus." ' Vid. Dr. Feiid From the house (whose form and figure pleads great antiquity) the present habita-°|^'^^ ''••'• ^• tion, of that eminently pious lady, Gratiana Lady Carew, relict of Sir Henry aforesaid, through a green court, under a canopy of laurel, we walk into the church ; on whose door may be seen, two of the four shooes of a horse, which a gentleman of this family swam a prodigious way into the sea, and back again, upon a wager of a mannor of land, and won it : for which, the horse was deservedly manumitted from all future services ever after, and his shooes fastened to the church-door ; where some of them yet remain, in perpetuam rei memoriam. Within the church (w hose face speaks it of as long standing as any in the county) appear many monuments of antiquity; in the chancel, under an arch in the south- wall, lieth Sir Stephen de Haccombe, Kt. cut in stone to full proportion, all in armor, finely florished with black, cross-legged, and spurred, in token of his knighthood; and that he had acutely been, or avowed himself a soldier in the Holy Land; having on his breast, his sheild argent, charged with three bendlets sab. There were several knights of this name, that successively florished here" unto K. Edw. 2d's reign. The'SirW^Pde^s first of which, was Sir Jordan de Haccombe, in K. Hen. 3d's days; whose paternal inHac.and ttTe name was Fitz-Stephen. which he changed to Haccombe, the place of his resi- Kts. in several . , ^ - ° '■ Ks.' reigns. dence. 'Camb.Brit.in Which name of Fitz-Stephen, I find also very antient and honorable; whose original ^ev. p. 30. habitation was at Norton (afterwards honored with the addition of its Lord's name, Dauney) in the parish ofTounstal near Dartmouth. For here florished Sir Gilbert Fitz-Stephen, R. R. Edw. '2. Sir Richard Fitz-Stephen, who died a. 17 Edw. 1. Sir William Fitz-Stephen, in K. Hen. 3, and K.John's time, and Sir William Fitz-Stephen ofTounstal, in the reign of K. Rich. L Of which family we may conclude, was^ Ralph FitZ'Stephen (and Robert Fitz-Stephen, tho' he is said to have been" a Welsh- and iref. by r." man) one of the first Englishmen" that conquered Ireland, under that valiant com-B-P-^is- mander, Strong-bow Earl of Pembrooke, in K. Hen. 2d's days; (of which before m i„ irei. p. 971! Barry). Ralph Fitz-Stephens was possessed of lands at South-Huish in this county, Ed't- «i'. at the time of the Conquest, which before belonged to Algarus the Saxon." oWesto.Deser. In the upper part of the north-isle, under an arch in the wall, lies the portraicture g^mJH""^',, '° of a woman, at lull length, cut in stone, on whose breast are the arms of Haccombe ; which ma!;es me think she was the daughter and heir of that family, married to Lerchdeckne. In the same wall, lower down, under another arch, lieth a marble tomb, having a small 166 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. small cross embossed thereon, that runs from head to feet, without an}' arms or e^jitaph to signify unto whom it should belong. Then under the arch that parts the chancel and the north-isle, is raised a bed, near four foot in heighth, and as much in breadth ; on which are laid the portraictures of Sir John Lerchdeckne, a Cornish Kt. and his lady, Cicely, the daughter and heir of Haccombe, lively cut in stone ; lie in armor, with his helmet plumed under his head. Near the transverse-wall, farther back, lieth a lady, cut out in grey marble, with a book in her left hand, and her right on her breast ; whom I guess to be, either Lerch- deckne's daughter and heir, married to Sir Hugh Courtenay, Kt. or rather. Sir Hugh Courtenay's daughter, married to Sir Nicholas Baron Carew. At her feet, lieth the eftigies of a youth, curiously cut in alabaster, and finely po- lished, in a frame of the same, two angels supporting his pillow, and a dog at his feet; who may be supposed to have been the brother of the last mentioned lady, and only son (by his first lady) of Sir Hugh Coiu'tenay aforesaid. If he had lived, he had been, not only Lord of Haccombe, but Earl of Devon. On the north side of the communion table, is a fair marble stone, whereon is the figure of Nicholas Carew, Esq. cut out in brass, armed cap-a-pee; the first of this name that had Haccombe by the gift of his mother; under whose feet, on a brass plate, are engraven these verses, in old letters. ^ ' Armiger insignis jacet hie Carew Nicholaus ; ' Prudens, egregius, de stirpe nobili natus. ' Vitam praisentem Septembris clausit enndo ' Ab isto mensis die decinio tertio mundo ' Edwardi nono regni quarti Regis anno ' Nee non mileno C. C. C. C. qusi pleno ' Cum sexageno nono Domini mei nato. ' Cujus solamen animae cito det Deus. Amen.' On the south-side of the said table, is the figure, in brass, of Thomas Carew, Esq. under which are these words ; * Hie jacet corpus Thomae Carew, arm. qui obiit 28 die Mart. A. D. 1586. JEtat. suae 68. On a fair stone near by, is the effigies of his wife, in brass also, and under it are these words : ♦ Hie jacet Maria Carew, uxor Thomas Carew de Haccombe, arm. & filia Will. ' Huddye de com. Dorset, arm. Quae obiit 19 die Nov. A. D. 1588. In the middle of the north-isle, is the figure of a woman in brass, on a fair stone, with this inscription : Here lieth Elizabeth the wife of John Carew of Haccombe, Esq. and daughter of Robert Hill of Shilston, Esq. who died on Assention-day, A. D. 1611. In the chancel is another fair brass table, containing the effigies of Thomas Carew, »ByFr. Moore his wife, five SOUS, and one daughter; with this epitaph :? Tracy"' ^"^' ' Here lieth the bodies of Thomas Carew, Esq, and Ann his wife who departed 'the 6th and 8th day of December, 1656. Two bodies lie beneath this stone, Whom love and marriage long made one ; One soul conjoyn'd them by a force. Above the power of death's divorce ; One CAREW, THOMAS, ESQ. io7 One flame of love their lives did burn. Even to ashes, in their urn. They die, but not depart, who meet In wedding, and in winding-sheet: AVhom God hath knit so firm in one, . - Admit no separation. Therefore unto one marble-trust We leave their now united dust : As root, in earth, embrace, to rise Most lovely flowers in Paradise. For the honor of this family, I farther find,'' That John Carewf'AW(°.^ of Haccombe, , ^.^^ g^^^^ was a commander in the army, sent into Italy, under the leading of Monsieur Lautrec, of Dev. in Hac. by Francis the French King, and Hen. 8 of England, a. 1527, to rescue Pope Clem. '^*' 7th, then prisoner in his castle of St. Angelo, so made by the Emperor, Charles 5th, his general ; at what time Rome was ransacked with worse violence,' than by the ^ sir Paul Ri- Goths and Vandals ; whose success was so fortunate, they soon set the Pope at ^,^"%opgg' ^ liberty. This army was stiled, Exercitus Anglite, & Gallorum Regum pro Pontifice ciem. 7, p. 57, Romano liberando congregatus. 58. ADDITIONAL NOTE. THIS John Carew was the eldest son of Nicholas Carew of Haccombe beforementioned, the second son of Sir Nicholas Carew by Joan Courtenay. He died at Pavia, in 1528. To him succeeded John, Thomas, John, Thomas and Thomas, who was created a baronet in lb(il. He married the co-heir of Sir Henry Carew of Bick- leigh, kniglit, and had issue Sir Henry, who was thrice married. By iiis third wife Gratiana, daughter of Tiiomas Darell of Trewornan in Cornwall, Esq.» he had issue Sir Henry Darell, who died at the age of eighteen, and Sir Thomas, who. by Dorothy, co-heir of Peter West, Esq. had issue Sir John, who married Elizabeth, only daughter of the Rev. Henry Holdsworth, of Dartmouth, and had issue Sir Thomas, who, by Jane, daughter of the Rev. Charles Smaluood, was the father of the present Sir Henry Carew of Haccombe, High Sheriff ol the county of Devon, in 1808, who married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Walter Palk of Marley, Esq. and has issue two sons, Walter Palk, and Henry. » Thomas Darell of Trewornan was descended from the ancient family of Darell, which was sealed inthe reign of King John at Sessay, in the county of York ; whence issued numerous branches, which have flourished in seve- ral counties in England, particularly in Wiltshire at Littlecot, at Collingborne, and at Hungerford : in Kent at Calehill, where the family has resided more than four centuries ; in Sussex at Scotney and Pageham ; in Bucking- hamshire at FuUamoor; in Berkshire at Westwoodley, of which place was Sir John Darell, created a baronet in 1622; in Hampshire at Chacrofl ; and in Cornwall at Trewornan. The latter place was inherited by tiie father of Lady Carew, who was the grandson of Sir Thomas Darell of Pageham, kt. from his uncle John Roe, Esq. and was the residence of his descendants during several generations. Upon the death ot Henry Si. George Darell of Richmond in Surry, and of Coldrenick in Cornwall, which latter estate, together with the additional name of Trelawny, he had derived from the will of Charles Trelawny, Esq. of Coldrenick, whose mother was a Darell, Trewornan became the property of Darell Crabb Trelawny, and was devised by his will to its present possessor, the Rev. Darell Stephens, younger brother of the late Edward Trelawny, Esq. of Coldrenick, whose son is the representative of the Pageham, .Scotney, and Trewornan branches of the Darell family. CAREW, Flor. A. D. 1608. R. R. Jac. 1 , • Ath. OxOD. v.l.p . 451. 168 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON CAREW, GEORGE, BARON OF CLOPTON. LiAREW, George, Baron of Clopton, and Earl of Totnes, was born in this coun- ty;^ but whether at Upton-HiHon near Crediton, or at Exeter, in the house there, belonging to the arch-deaconry of Totnes, or where else, I am not able to determin. He was second son of George Carew, D.D. who was third son of Sir Edmund Carew, of Mohuns-Ottery, Kt. by Katharine his wife, daughter of Sir William Huddesfeild (of whom, God willing, more hereafter). Which Sir Edmund, was a brave soldier, and knighted for the gallant service he did unto K. Hen. 7 at Bosworth-feild. He " Sir w. Pole's had four sons, all famous men;*" as first. Sir William, who by Joan his wife, daughter Derln'iwjfh- ^^ ^'' ^''ham Courtenay of Powderham, had issue George Carew, drown'd at sea in ottery, MS.' the Mary Rose, a. 37 K. Hen. 8, Sir Philip, a knight of Malta; and Sir Peter, an eminent soldier in the Irish wars ; who all died without issue : whereby Mohuns-Ot- tery fell to their sister and heir; whose daughter and heir brought it to Southcot ; of which already. Second, Sir Edmund had issue, Thomas Carew of Bicklegh; of whom before. Third, George Carew, D.D. and fourth. Sir Gavven Carew of Wood, in this county, Kt. a great courtier, belonging to Q. Eliz. George (however the genius of the family enclin'd the others generally to arms) ad- dicted himself to the arts; and became a member of the university of Oxford, spending ' Primam ju- some time in the house'' then called K. Henry the eighth's hall, since swallow'd up of ventutem in Christ-church. How long he continued is uncertain ; but certain it is, that having posuit. Hist, been resident here a while, he betroth'd in marriage a noble young gentlewoman, of g^^'ii'i-U"'''- excellent vertues;'' who being a little after snatch'd away from him by immature 254. ' death, he took the stroke so tenderly, that he resolv'd to leave his country, and travel " ubi despon- beyond sea. After some time, returning into England, he took holy orders ; with roicamaUquam^his cspecial aim. That he might be no more obnoxious to love, and the contingencies id. ib. of matrimony." However, at length he chang'd his resolution, and married Anne, tim con'^smrne '^^"ghtcr of Sir Anthony Harvy, Kt : by whom he had two famous sons. Sir Peter, Matrimonio an excellent soldier, and Sir George, Earl of Totnes ; and one daughter, married to noxlusesset Salter Dourish of Dourish, in the parish of Sanford, Esq; from whom, in a direct id. ib. line, is descended the present heir of that antient name and family. Before I proceed to the earl, I shall crave leave to speak somthing farther of his father, Dr. George Carew. He was, first, arch-deacon of Totnes ; then dean of Bristol ; next, chantor of the church of Salisbury; after that, chapplain and dean of the chappel to Q. Eliz. then dean of Christ-church, in Oxford, anno 1559 ; after- ward dean of Exeter ; and lastly, dean of AVindsor. From all which preferments, growing ricli, he purchased a good estate, rebuilded the house at Upton-Hilion aforesaid ; which he left unto his son. Sir Peter, (having bought the site and demesns himself) ; who dying without issue, left it to his brother, the earl of Tot- nes ; who sold it to the ancestor of Sir Walter Young, Baronet, whose now it is. But to go on. George Carew, the younger son of the dean, for his better education, went to Ox- 'Ath. Oxon. ford,' v\ here he became gentleman commoner of Broad-Gates-Hall, now Pembrook- quo supra. college, an. 1572, and of his age 15. At the same time, two of his name are said to have studied in University-college; which hath given occasion to some, to challenge this person for theirs. However, This gentleman being more delighted in martial af- fairs, than in the solitary shades of a study, left the university, without taking any degree, and betook himself to travel. The CAREW, GEORGE, BARON OF CLOPTON. 169 The first place we find he went unto, was Ireland, at that time the scene of noble actions j where he had soon a command given him in the wars, which he diligently pursued against that noted rebel, the earl of Desmond, a subdolous man; who occa- sioned great distiubance to the English government in that kingdom. This gentleman having behaved himself very well in Ireland, his merits, at length, were made known to Q. Elizabeth of gracious memory; upon which she made him one of her council there, and master of the ordnance in that kingdom. In which last employment he behaved himself with great renown in various expeditions ; as he did likewise, some years after, in his voyage to Cadiz in Spain. Somtime after this, he returned to England ; and coming to ^ Oxford, he was, ^ Fast. Oxod. in company with other persons of quality, as Ferdinando earl of Derby, Sir John^- 'P' Spencer, &c. in the year of our Lord, 1589, in the month of September, created master of arts ; before which time he had been advanced to the degree of knight- hood. Somtime after this, he went back into Ireland again ; and when that unhappy king- dom was, in a manner, over-run with a domestic rebellion, and a Spanish army, Sir George Carew was made lord president of Munster for three years ; at what time, joyning his forces with those of the earl of Thomond, he took in divers castles and strongholds, in those parts; as Logher, Crome, Glane, Carigroile, Ruthmore, &c. ;'' "Dugd. Bar. and at length brouglit the titular earl of Desmond, one of the most active rebels there, ™'- ^- P- '*-^- to his tryal. How greatly this carriage and conduct of his, pleased his gracious mis- tress, Q. Elizabeth, of glorious memory, may appear from that letter sent him by her Majesty, an. 16()1, written with her own hand. A copy whereof here follows." 'Moris, itin. part 2. p. 133. " My faithful George, " If ever more services of worth, were performed in shorter space, than you have done, we are deceived among many eye-witnesses: We have received the fruit there- of; and bid you faithfully credit, that whatso wit, courage, or care may do, we truly find, they have all been thorowly acted in all your charge. And for the same, believe, that it shall neither be imremembred, nor unrewarded: And, in the mean while, believe, my help, nor prayers, shall never fail you. " Your soveraign, that best regards you, E. R." After K. Jam. 1. of blessed memory, came to the crown of England, Sir George Carew was called home; and in the first year of his reign, was constituted governor of the Isle of Guernsy and Castle-Cornet. In the third year of that King, he was advanced to the dignity of a baron of this realm, by the title of, the Lord Carew of Clopton : He having married Joice, daughter and co-heir to AVilliam Clopton of Clop- ton, in the county of Warwick, Esq ; Afterwards he became vice-chamberlain and treasurer to Q,. Anne, consort-royal to K. Jam. 1, then master of the ordnance throughout England, and of the privy-council to that prince. Upon the death of K. James, when Charles the first succeeded in the English throne, he was, by that gracious King, on the 5th of Febr. in the first year of his reign, created earl of Totnes, in his own country ; the same place whereof, before, his father had been the archdeacon. At what time he was under this most honorable character,'' That he was a faithful subject, a valiant and prudent commander, an ho- n Atii. Oxob. nest counsellor, a gentile scholar, a lover of antiquities, and a great patron of learn- q"o »"?"• ing. For amid'st his busy employments there (what is not a little observable) as an argument of his affection to that kind of study, he wrote an historical account of all the memorable passages which hapned in Ireland, during the term of those three years he continued there, under this title : Z Pacata 170 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Pacata Hibernia: Or, The History of the late Wars in Ireland. Lend. Print, fo- lio, 1633, with his eihgies before, and these verses under it : ' Talis erat vultu : sed lingua, mente, manuq : ' Qualis erat, qui vult dicere, scripta Icgat. ' Consulat aut famam, qui lingua, mente, manuve * Vincere hunc, famajudice, rarus erat. Which may thus be rendred into English : Such was his face ; but's tongue, his mind, his hand, Who best would know, from's works must understand. Him who excels, in tongue, in hand, in mind. Though fame herself be judg, 'tis rare to find. Of which history, containing those three years transanctions in Munster, that he was there, the said earl's own exploits are not the least part. This work, while he lived, was first reserved for his own private satisfaction. Se- condly, preserved for the furtherance of a general history of the kingdom of Irela 'd, when some industrious writer should undertake a compleat description of those affairs. And lastly, out of his own retired modesty. It was by him held back from the stage of publication, lest himself, being a prin- cipal actor in many of the particulars, he might be thought to give utterance to his. private merit and services; however justly memorable. After the earl's death, this book came into the hands of his faithful and trusty ser- vant, if not his natural son, called Thomas Stafibrd, for his good services in Ireland ' III his Epit. also knighted,' by whom, being first offered to the view aud censure of divers learned of- Wa^nvick"' ^^d judicious persons, it was at length published. i>. 518. 1). Besides his Pacata Hibernia, this noble earl hath, in four large volumes, collected several chronologies, charters, letters, muniments, and other materials belonging to Ireland : which, as choice rarities, are at this day reserved in the Bodleian library. He also made several collections, notes, and extracts, for writing the history of the reign of K. Hen. 5, which were remitted into the History of Great Britain, publish-, ed b}' John Speed; of which author, and his work, one hath given this remarkable ■" Atii. Oxon. character," ' For stile and industry (saith he) it is such, that for one who (as Martial iitio sup. p. 452. speaks) had neither a Grascum x«'pe) nor an Ave Latinum. It is without many fel- lows in Europe.' This noble earl ended his days at the Savoy, in the Strand, near London, on the. 27th of March, 1629, being then of the age of seventy-three years, and near ten months. Soon after his death, his body was conveyed to Stratford upon Avon, in Warwickshire, in which stood Clopton-house, the seat of his lady's family; and was interred at the upper end of an isle, on the north side of that parish church, among her ancestors, and near the place where she herself was afterwards laid. Over whose grave, and to whose memory, a very stately monument was soon after erected, by the care and kindness of Joice his lady; adorned by Ursula, the wife of Henry Nevil, of Holt, in Leicestershire, Esq; this lady's sister's daughter, as may ' Dngd. Ant. be Seen from this inscription :" Warw.p.519. • ry- . ^ . . * Georgio lotonesue Comiti & ' Comitissa; Jocosa? Guil. Clopton ' Arm. Cohaeredi, materterje suae • Optime merenti ,,.... P. ' Ursula uxor Henr. Nevil de ' Holt Leiccs. Arm. A very CAREW, GEORGE, BARON OF CLOPTON. I71 A very lively draught of this noble monument, may be seen in Sir William Dug- dal's antiquities of Warwickshire; where the earl and his countess are represented, lying side by side, in their robes and coronets, under a noble arch, adorned with their coats of arms, in the midst whereof is a fair marble table, containing this large epitaph." "ibid, p. sis. D. O. M. Et Memoriae Sacrum. Qui in spem Immortalitatis, Mortales hie deposuit exuvias Georgius Carew, antiquissima nobilissimaq ; Ortus Prosapia: eadem scilicet mascula stirpe qua illustrissimas Giraldinorum in Hibernia & Windesoriensium in Anglia fa- milisea Carew-Castro in agro Penbrochiensi Cognomen sortitus est. Ab in eunte M- tate Bellicis Studiis innutritus, Ordines in Hibernia adhuc Juvenis contra rebellem Desmonite Comitem primum duxit. Postea Elizabethfe foelicissimte memorise Re- ginas in eodem Regno Consiliarius, & Tormentorum Bellicorum Pra?fectus fuit. Quo etiam nninere in variis Expeditiouibus, in ilia priiesertim longe celeberrima qua Cades Hispani ^ en i V Peter Prideaux, Baronet. Will. Put, of Combe Esq ; j^,^^^ p^,^,^ Baronet. "• o '■^' n ' William Fry, of Yarty, Esquire. Park, Lrent. Nicholas Put, of Combe, Esquire. What else this venerable person did, worthy commendation and imitation, I do not find, nor when nor where he died. Only this we may observe of him. That he was of a generous temper : and not in every thing easily match'd by those, who perhaps may take occasion to carpe at his memory, and at my self also, for recording these things of him. There was another (more eminent person than the former) of the same name, born, 'Fior. A.u. probably, at the same place, called also, Thomas Chard;' for we are told, he was a Hen^'s^'^' Devonian:" which may induce us to conclude him a descendant from this family, » Atii. Oxon. there being no other of the name, that 1 find in this county. V. 1. p. 576. ' He was bred a Benedictine monk; and among those he had his education for a while in Oxford : where he very well bestowed his time ; altho' how long he continued there, or what degrees he took therein, doth not appear in the public registers, which about that time were not very faithfully kept. However, he must have been of considerable standing, in that he afterward became so eminent in the church: For retiring into his own country, he was made suff'ragan to Dr. Hugh Oldham, bishop of Exeter, under the title of bishop of Saliibrie; tho' where that is, unless in Greece, or inter partes infidelium, I shall not undertake to determin. Which bp. Oldham, altho' he were no great scholar himself, yet was a great favourer of learning and learned men ; as appears from his joyning with bp. Fox, in his founding and endowing that famous nursery of such, Corpus Christi college in 'Cat. Bps. of Oxford. In relation to which, 'tis memorable what Mr. Hooker tells us,' That when Exet. print. ^^ ^qx would have had it made a house for monks, Oldham would have it a college for scholars ; alleadging very prudently. That monks were but a sort of buzzing flies, whose state could not long endure; whereas scholars brought up in learning, would be profitable members to the common-wealth, good ornaments to the church of God, and continue for ever : unto whose opinion in this matter, that wise and prudent pre- late consented. Mr. Chard then, as was said, became a suffragan bishop ; which what that was, the practice having for many years been discontinued among ourselves, may not be "Chorepiscopi generally known. A suffragan was ordained by the hands of three bishops," as any were ordained others bc, and designed for the help and assistance of the particular bishop of the di- like tiirsnflra' ocess, iu the cxccution of his episcopal function, or spiritual office.'" Which was gan Bps. ofour ^j^Qjj^j-j^ ^Q l^g Qf gQ great use, that an. 26 Hen. 8, ch. 14, it came to bc enacted, o'niie Ch. 1. 5. ' That it should be lawful to every Diocesan at his pleasure, to elect two suflicient men '^■''^'^: within his diocess, and to present them to the King, that he might give the one of in SuflVag. "^ them such title, stile, name, and dignity of sease, as in the same statute is specified.' He was called suffragan, from his suffrage, voice, consent, and judgment, which he gave with chard; THOMAS, DOCTOR OF DIVINITY. 199 with the bishop ; something hke, the' not altogether the same, with the Chorepiscopi of old. By this title was Mr. Chard collated to the vicarage of Wellington, in Com. Somer- set, on the resignation of Richard Gilbert, Doctor of Decrees, an. 1512. Three years after this, or thereabouts, he was chosen prior of Montacute, a monastery of the Cluniac or Benedictine order, in the same county, valued at 524/. 12.s-. per an.," upon >= Speed in k. the death of John Water.!' After that, an. 1521, he was admitted to' the church of"-*^- Tintenhul, in the diocess of Wells, a small vicarage in the deanery of Yevelchester ; q^o'si^T* all little enough to support his honorable dignity. 577. By his last will and testament, made Oct. 1, an. 1541, and proved Nov. 4, 1544, he became a benefactor to the church of St. Mary Otterv and Holberton in Devon ; and to the church of St. Mary Magd. in Wellington, &c. in Somerset. What the particular sums were, I find not ; but from the whole we may infer, he was piously and generously disposed: and so an ornament to our country, and fit to be here insert- ed. He died about the year 1543 ; tho' where interred, I find not. Only this we may observe. That being suffragan to bishop OkH]am, about the year 1510, he was of a great age at 1543. \^ CHARDON, vol 200 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ^if: R «• CHARDON, OR CHARLDON, JOHN, LORD BISHOP OF DOWN, &c. Elizab. CHARDON, or Charldon, John, Eord Bishop of Down and Conor, in the kingdom Ath. Oxon, of Ireland, we are expressly informed,' was a Devonian born ; upon which authority, .1, p. 271. J shall challenge him for our own, and relate him hither: although, I must acknow- ledg, I can't so much as guess at the place where he was so, unless, perhaps, in the city of Exeter ; whither we find him to retire, when he first left the university. Cherleton, Charldon, and Charlton, I take to be originally all one name; the dif- ferent way of writing making no difference in the person. Of which name was an antient family, somtime tlorishing in this shire : which name still adheres to a parish, called Charldon, nigh Kings-bridge, at this day. Cicely, the daughter of Pagan de Cherleton, granted to Hugh her son, pro homa- t Sir w. Pole's gio, one fardel land, in Cherleton, in the beginning of K. Hen. 3d's reign:'' Witness diTt &c'ivis* "'^'^''^"^ ^^ Lomine, John Malherb, Richard de tribus minetis (or trimenet), John de p. 536. " Cherleton, &c. Of which mannor was Sir Alanus Charlton, Kt. the possessor in K.' If^DevoifTu' E*^'"'- ^"^'^ days; whose seat, we are told,"" was at North-Molton, in this county. Chaiit. But what relation this reverend prelate had to this family, or whether he had any at all (although it appears he was a gentleman, from the quality he was entred of in the university) I am not able to say. Omitting these things, therefore ; Mr. Chardon was a youth of ver^? pregnant parts, that soon got the rudiments of learning, as we may infer from hence, that, Quamprimum x Hist. & Ant. per getatem licuit,** as soon as his age would give leave, he was sent to the university a, "'^96."*" ' of Oxford, where he was admitted sojourner of Exeter College, in the year of our ' Atii. Oxon, Lord 1562, or thereabouts." Of how towardly a disposition he was, may appear from qnosnpra. j^.^ bciug choscn probationer fellow of his college. Mar. 3, 1564, when he was but two years standing ; two years from which, he was admitted perpetual. Soon after he had taken his batchelor of arts degree, he entered into holy orders, viz. in the month of August 1567, when he must be very young : and on the sixth of April, the year following, he resigned his fellowship, as having some preferment in his own country. Leaving the university very early, he retired to his preferment in the city of Exeter: Where after some years continuance, he returned to Oxford, and proceeded in arts. Which done, he came back to Exeter ; where he so industriously attended the duties nd. ibid. of his high calling, that he became a noted preacher, ' And,' says my author,^ ' was wonderfully followed for his edifying sermons.' In the year of our Lord 1581, he paid another visit to his mother, the university; and received her blessing in the degree of batchelor of divinity; and was admitted to the reading of the sentences, or (as some stile it) the Epistles of St. Paul. Five years after this, he proceeded doctor of divinity. And in the year 1596, in the month of May, ob egregia merita ad episcopatuni Dunensem & Connor, in Hibernia «Hist. & Ant. promotus,* for his egregious worth and merits, he was promoted to the bishoprick of ^ii'oantea'""'' Down and Connor in the kingdom of Ireland; unto which he was consecrated in the church of St. Patrick, in Dublin, the same year. What particular occurrences in the life of this reverend prelate hapned, or what eminent good services he did in the church of Ireland, not being able to get a sight of Sir James Ware's useful book, intituled, ' De prtcsulibus Hibernia) commcntarius,' I shall not undertake to relate: It shall sufiice us to add, what we have from good * In Piiiioso- hands,'' that while he was in his college, he very happily bestowed his labor in the a'feHMnrcoU study of philosophy and divinity; and became a famous disputant, and no mean locavit opcram, orator. "^'' ■ What particular works else he printed, I do not find ; but all that is extant of them, are , CHARDON, JOHN, LORD BISHOP OF DEVON, &c. 201 are only several sermons, preached in the churches of St. Peter's Exon, St. Alary's Oxon, and at St. Paul's-Cross, London : A catalogue of which, we are obliged for, to the laborious author of the Athena; Oxon,' and thus it is. 'lb. quo prius. A Sermon of the World; on St. Luke xxi. 25. 'There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars,' &c. Print. 8vo. 1580. A Sermon at St. Mary's Oxon, on Joh. ix. 1, 2, 3, ver. 'And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man that was blind from his birth,' &c. Print, at Oxford, 8vo. 1586 A Sermon at St. Mary's-Oxon, on the lltliDecemb. 1586, upon the 9th of St. John, ^, 5, 6, 7, ver. ' I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day,' &c. London, 8vo. 1587. A Sermon at St. Paul's-Cross, May 29th, 1586, on St. Matt, vi, 19, 20, 21, ver. ' Lay not up for jour selves treasures upon earth,' &c. Lond. 8vo. 1586. A Funeral Sermon on the 1 Thes. ch. 4, ver. 13, unto the 18. ' But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep.' Oxon, 8vo. 1586. A Sermon on the I Isaiah, 1, 2 ver. ' The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amos,' &c. Print at Lond. 1595. Some other sermons he is supposed to have printed, which, what they were, my author declares he had not seen. Soon after the printing this last mentioned sermon, this learned prelate went into Ireland ; where having continued in the pious execution of his episcopal function, about the space of five years, he yielded up the ghost ; and lieth inter'd, most likely, in his own cathedral churcli in that kingdom. What the paternal coat of this pious bishop was, I cannot say ; but William de Carleton Seneschallus, or steward to the Lord W^alter de Manny, of his manner of South-Hiwish, in this county, in the days of K. Edw. 3, gave, in a feild — four mullets ; in a canton dexter, a lion rampant gard :'' But whether it may fit this , „. , prelate, I do not know, i.S'l;,''"!,? C| • /-> t-> Rutlandshire, Anna uxor Tho. Dom. Bruce Bar. de Kinlosse filia Roberti Chichester Eq. Bain, pag. .-,». familia illustri in agro Devonien. — Matrem liabuit Franciscam filiam, & ex semisse h;ered. Johan, Dom. Harrington Bar. de Exton: Ipsa matris ha'res ex asse. — Faemi- iia pudicitia?, tum recti scientia, tum amore in conjugem intenso, munitissima. No- bilissimis moribus, serenitate perpetua, ingeniiq. admirabili elegantia, placentissima. Convixit marito an. iv. mens ix. peperitq. ei filiuni Rob. Bruce superstitem, eo partu cum es.set ab sumpta omnis vis corporis, sanctissimam animam, pia morte paucos post dies, Deo reddidit, diexx Martii anno a^tat. suas xxii, human;i3 salut. MDCXXVH. Dilcctissima conjugi, ob egregias virtutes & insignia in se merita monumentum hoc, brevemq. titulum faciund, cur. moer. mar. On in CHICHESTER, ROBERT, LORD BISHOP OF EXETER. 205 On the other side of the same monument is the like in English, which, for the grati- fying of such as may not understand the former, I shall here subjoyn/ ' id. ibid, p, Anne, wife of Thomas Lord Bruce, Baron of Kinlosse, daughter of Sir Robert Chi- chester, Knight of the Bath, of an antient family in the county of Devon, and of France, one of the two daughters and co-heirs of John Lord Harrington, Baron of Exton, sole heir to her mother ; a lady endow'd with a natural disposition to virtue, a true understanding of honour, most noble behaviour, per|jetual cheerfulness, most elegant conversation, and a more than ordinary conjugal affection. Slie was married iv years and ix months, and left one only child, named Robert Bruce : Weakned by that birth, she died in child-bed the xx day of March, in the xxii year of her age, anno Domini M.DC.XX.VH. Erected and inscrib'd to the memory of his most beloved and most deserving wife, by Thomas Lord Bruce. Sir Robert Chichester, by his second wife, a daughter of Hill of Shilston, in this county (an antient and honourable family, as I may shew more largely hereafter), had issue Sir John Chichester Baronet, the father of the present Sir Arthur Chichester of Youlston, in the parish of Sherwel, Baronet. Having thus deduced this honourable family from its original unto this time, let us return unto the bishop : He was bred a scholar ; then first made dean of Salisbury ;^ « Godw. De and from thence advanced to be bishop of Exeter, in his own country ; he received his p'^458'' ^"^'' consecration, anno 1128. He is much celebrated among writers, for his zeal in religion; which yet is said to have consisted most in that, wherein the devotion of those days greatly lay, viz. in frequent pilgrimages, sometimes to Rome, sometimes to one place, sometimes to ano- ther ; and ever at his return, was he wont to bring with him some holy relicts, which he purchased at a great rate and for which he was held magnificent.'' " Quod leii- This honourable prelate was also (to use the words of my author)' a liberal contributer njhji"e"cuni''re- to the buildings of his church, the sumptuous cathedral of St. Peter in Exon : Al- portage consue- though what particidar part thereof fell to his share, we do not find. However, nftlfo' ha'betur! generous and noble he was, not only in carrying on the building, but in the beautifying i''- '•>'''• and adorning thereof; so that the whole is now of that decent uniformity, altho' it of the Bps! 'of was above four hundred years in finishing,'' as if it had been, what Lucius Florus p^*- speaks of Rome,' Res unius a^tatis, built all in one and the same age. part i, p.s.' Bishop Chichester, having well-govern'd his church the space of two and twenty ' "'*'• '■''• ^' years, concluded his days, Feb. 4th, 1150, according to a late author:"" But according n,'iz. quo piins to the annals of the church of Winchester, he sate here twenty-seven years, and died ^^J"^ Tot" ex- 1155." This is opposed by Hooker, with this reflection, That the monk never saw on. the records of this church, which are to the contrary." An"i"'saT.''voi! He was buried in his own cathedral at Exeter, on the south-side of the high-altari.pag. sno. there, where is seen the tomb of a certain bishop -.p That is Bishop Chichester's, is°,[p|..J'f"''" ''"" hence collected, viz. from the monument near adjoyning, belonging to one of this" J^p-. C'«'iw. honourable family, as by the arms thereof may appear, of which before. " ■pnus. There was another eminent person of this name, and an extract of this antient family, born likewise in this shire, Richard Chichester, a writer : In what parts he had his more Juvenile education, it appears not; the first notice we have of him, is, that he was a monk of Westminster, under the rule of St. Benedict; where, with the friers of that society, he continued in that course of life to the end of his days.'' ;> Bai.de scrip. He was a very learned man, vir ipse literatissimus, as Bale calls him; and a great'" '^"'' ''■^■^"' improver of his time, seldom taking any of it away from serious affairs, to bestow it upon his pleasure or his vanity. He was not like those, who, to the reproach of their persons or professions, exhaust the best part thereof, to consume it in a swinish 206 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. swinish lazy lifej but he carefully expended it in his study, either in reading the holy scriptures, or in perusing history, the restorer of times, and the mistress of " Vei. Historiis life, as Scncca somewhere calls it.' By which means he became no mean chrono- te'mpor^T'gfapher, for having, with no vulgar diligence, search'd into the libraries of several vitsE niagistrap, monasteries, and perused their manuscripts, he began to compose an excellent chro- dit. ^id'tbid?' nicle, as a certain chronicler calls it,' which he deduces from Hengist the Saxon, who • k' Ed ^^^' ^^'"^ i"to Britain, anno Dom. 449, unto the year 1348, containing the occurrences '''of about nine hundred years. The title which he gave his works was this, Anglo-Saxonum Chronicon in lib. 5. Besides this, Bostonus Buriensis, though he mentions his name, records no other works that he published. He flourished in the year of grace 1348, and is supposed to have died about the year 1355, and to be buried in the casmetery belonging to his convent at Westminster. But of others of this right antient and honourable family more here- after. CHICHESTER, ( 207 ) CHICHESTER, SIR ARTHUR, KNIGHT. Chichester, sir Arthur, Kt. Baron of Belfast, and Lord Deputy of Ireland, Fior. a. d. ivas born at Ralegh, near Barnstaple, in this county. He was the second son of Sir V"^- ^- ^• John Chichester, of that place, Kt. by Gertrude his wife, daughter of Sir William Courtenay, of Powderham, Kt. They were wonderfully blessed in a noble issue, male and female ; having five sons, (Note \.J four whereof, were knights ; of which, two also were lords, viz. a baron, and a viscount; and eight daughters, all married to the chief- est tamihcs in these parts := As fu-st, Elizabeth to Hugh Fortescue of Phillegh, Esq ; -id. ibid. secondly Dorothy to Sir Hugh Pollard of Kings-Nimpton, Kt. thirdly, Elenor to Sir Arthur Basset oUmberlegh, Kh fourthly, Mary, to Richard Bluet, of Holcomb- Rogus, Esq; fifthly, Ciciha to Thomas Hatch, of AUer, Esq; sixthly, Susanna, to John Fortescue, of Buck and-Phillegh, Esq; seventhly, Bridget, to Sir Edmund Prideaux, ot Farway, Bar. all in Devon ; and eighthly, Urith, to Trevillian of Nettlcconibe, in Somerset, Esq; ' The grandfather of this Sir John Chichester, had two wives successively first Margaret, daughter and heir of Hugh Beaumont, of Youlston, Esq; from whom pro' ceed.s the present honorable family, that now inhabits there. Secondly, Joan, dauo-h- ter of Robert Brett, of Whitstaunton in Somerset, and of Pillond near Barnstaple "in Devon, Esq; by whom he had issue, first, John, of Widworthy in the east aiid se- condly Amias, of Arhnston in the north parts of this county ; whose posterities, in botli places, tlonsh in worshipfull degree this day. (Note 2.) As to the knightly family of this name, which resides at Hall, in Bishops-Tawton whereofmyhonoredfriend Francis Chichester, Esq; and batchelor of laws, is now the lord, that issued out of Ralegh-house, four generations before these last mention- ed. The first that settled there was Richard, third son of Richard Chichester, of Ra- legh, by Ahce his wife, daughter and heir of John Wotton, or Watton, of Widwor- thy; with whom tjiat mhentance came into this family. Which Richard, was the grandson of John Clnchester and Tliomasin Ralegh his wife, the first of this name that possessed Ralegh Richard ChichPster aforP.aid, n.arried Thomasin, daughter and heir of Simon Hall, ot Hall, by whom he had this fair inheritance Whose pos terity match'd into many eminent houses, as Gough, of Aldercoinb in cJrnwal Ackland of Ackland, Marwood, of Westcot, Basset, of Umberlegh, Strode, of Newn- ham. Pollard, Carew, &c. and yet prospers well in this place (Yo'e 3 J Having premised these things, for our better understanding of the fair spreadincr of this noble family, I shall now proceed unto him, whom we ought chiefly to comme- morate, Arthur Lord Chichester, of Belfast in the kingdom of Ireland ■ vvhom to pass over in silence, were to drop one of the chiefest ornaments of our country ' This gentleman spent some part of his youth in the university, which being a too sedentary sort of life for his active genius, he went into the ^vars; and at every place where his sovereign s service required, there he was, by sea and land, in England and in France: in the ast of winch, lor some notable exploit done by him, in the pre- sence of the French King, Hen. 4, he was by that puissant prince, honored vVith Knighthood." "-w t- n While he followed feats of war in France, his next brother, being also of a martial °J ^r/'*" spirit, sought glory and renown ,n Ireland; whose valor and puissance there, were '' rewarded with knighthood. So that he came to be distinguished Irom his elder bro- ther who was of the same name and degree, (but rarely fbund at once in the same fa- mily) by the title of Sir John Chichester the younger. He being at length traiter- ously murthered there. Sir Arthur, not so much to revenge his brother's tfeath as to recover that kingdom, then in a desperate condition, put himself into that service In which employment, he manifested to the world, valor and wisdom, so fairly and ' evenly Ralegh 208 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. evenly tempered, that his generous actions expressed an extraordinary sufficiency. For lie was effectually assistant, first to plough and break up that barbarous nation, by conquest, and then to sow it with seeds of civility; when by K. Jam. 1, he was made lord deputy of that kingdom, A.D. 1604. He managed his affairs with such pru- dence and resolution, that all the swarms of brooding rebels were in a little time, ei- ther vanquish'd and executed, or, upon submission, pardoned, and received to mer- cy. For which his great services, he was, by K. James aforesaid, honored with the title of baron of Belfast, in the kingdom of Ireland: Unto whom one applys these verses," written, he says, by a learned poet, on Joseph in iEgypt, only with the trans- id. ibid, iu mutation of tiie names : With all these honors, and with wealth conferr'd. With great apjilause, Chichester is preferr'd. To rule all Ireland; which with great dexterity. Wisdom and worth, care, courage and sincerity. He executes 'Tis true, good laws and provisions had been made by his predecessors, to the same purpose before ; but alas, they were like good lessons set for a lute out of tune, use- less, until the lute was fitted for them.'' And therefore, in order to the civilizing of "Fui.Woitb. the Irish, in the first year of his government, he established two circuits, after the manner of the English nation, for justices of assize, the one in Connaugh, and the other in Munster. And whereas the circuits in former times, only encompassed the English pale, as the cynosura doth the pole, henceforward, like good planets in their several spheres, they carried the influence of justice round about the kingdom. In- somuch, in a short time Ireland was so cleered of thieves and capital offenders, that so many malefactors have not been found in the two and thirty shires of Ireland, as in six English shires in the western circuit.' •^ Sir John D;i- TIlis noble lord during his lieutenancy in Ireland, reduced also the mountains and gliiis on the south of Dublin (formerly thorns in the English pale) into the county of Wicklow : and in conformity to the English fashion, many Irish began now to cut 1 heir mantles into cloaks. And so observant was the eye of tliis excellent governor, over the actions of su.^j>prtpd persons, tliat tlie earl of Tyrone was heard to complain, Tliat he could not drink a full carouse of sack, but the state in few hours after was advertised thereof. After that this noble person had continued there many years together, no less than eleven, as a certain author tells us,' in this principality, the stile thereof being TiHik's Lives Prorex Hibernian, K. James his master, called him home, out of no displeasure or \.h. Usii. disaffection, but rather, as knowing his great abilities, to employ him elsewhere : for soon after his return, he sent him liis ambassador to the emperor and the German princes. In his Journy thither, or from thence (which is not very material) he touch'd at Maiuchine, as my author calls it ;« or, as I suppose, Manheim, a city of the Low- «F.ili.ul)ipii. er- Palatinate ; a ])la"ce much indebted to the prudence of my Lord Chichester, for the seasonable victualling of it. While he was there, his lordship, with the rest of the city, was besieged by Count Tilly, the emperor's general ; upon this, my lord sent the count word, ' That it was against the law of nations to besiege an ambassador.' Tilly return'd, ' He took no notice that he was an ambassador.' Upon which my lord Chichester replied to the messenger, ' Had my master sent me with as many hundred men, as he hath sent me on fruitless messages, your general should have known, that 1 iiad been a soldier as well as an ambassador.' At his return into England, K. James entertain'd him with great commendation, for having so well discharged his trust ; so that he died in favor with God and man, " M. Westc. so one,*" in as great honor as any English-man of our age, so another author expresses ■''Fuiicrioc it,= about the year of our Lord God, 'l 620. uit. cit. From vie's Disc, of Irfl. p. 'J70. p. 'Mi CHICHESTER, SIR ARTHUR, KNIGHT. 209 From which account, given by the historians, a late writer hath made these obser- vations on him:^ That my Lord Chichester was stout in his nature, above any disor- !jj''"y?'s state der upon emergencies ; resolv'd in his temper, above any impressions from other 75-1, 755! princes; and high in his proposals, beyond the expectation of his own. There is a memorable observation of Philip, K. of Spain, called El prudente, the prudent ; That when he had design'd one for ambassador, the man came faintly and coldly to him, to propose somthing for his accommodation ; of whom he said, * How can I ex- pect that this man can promote and effectuate my business, when he is so faint and fearful in the solicitation of his own ?' Yet was not my Lord Chichester more resolute in Germany than Avary in Ireland ; where his opinion was. That time must open and facilitate things for reformation of religion, by the protestant plantations, by the care of good bishops and divines, by the amplification of the college, the education of wards, an insensible seisure of po- pish liberties, &c. In a word, this brave gentleman had an equal mind, that kept up it self between the discourses of reason, and the examples of history, in the enjoy- ment of a good fortune, and in conflict with a bad. Where this noblest lord lieth interr'd, we are expressly told, that dying about the time that K. James the first did, he was buried at Belfast, in Ireland, to the great grief of his country ; because it was in such a time as most required his assistance, courage, and wisdom ; which are often at odds, and seldom meet ; yet in him shook hands as friends, and challenged an equal share in his perfections. Alex. Spicer, his chaplain, and, I think, a native of Exeter, wrote elegies on his death.' Whether 1 Ath. Oson. his brother and heir, the Lord Edward Chiche&ter, might afterwards bring over, and^' ^"P" '"^^^ lay his remains in the sepulchre belonging to his house at Eggesford, (Note 3.J I know not ; only this is certain, that in a little oratory adjoyniiig to the very little church of Eggesford, on the north side of the chancel, I saw this memoria' of him; to wit, A head cut out in coarse marble, where his face is represented to the life, yielding a look, stern and terrible, like a soldier. They who are skill'd in sculpture, aver it to be an excellent piece of art. - This right noble lord, although once married,"" luito Letice, daughter of Sir John m Mr. Westc. Perrot, lord deputy of Ireland, left no issue behind him ; he made, therefore, his P***- ^^• youngest brother his heir, viz. Sir Edward Chichester, Kt. who succeeded him in his estate and in his honor ; being created Baron of Belfast aforesaid, an. 16'24 ; but ex- ceeded him in his title, being made Viscount of Carrickfergus, in the same kingdom ; as his son Arthur did them both, who was advanced to the earldom of Donnegal ; •which continues in his posterity unto this day, and may it still continue. (Note \.) This right honorable lord, Edward Viscount Chichester, was also a very worthy and eminent person ; well accomplish'd, as well for war as peace. He was very ser- viceable in the wars of Ireland, and gave good proofs of his valor there ; for which he was knighted, and made governor of Carrickfergus aforesaid. And he gave no less demonstration of his wisdom and sagacity; on which account, he became one of his Majesty's most honorable privy council for that kingdom. In the parlour at Eggesford house, I lately saw the effigies of this noble lord, drawn to the full proportion, having this motto nigh it ; which, for that it expresseth a mind full of virtue and generosity, I shall here insert. Tempori servire malum : Mutare tempore pejus : Pessimum autem malorum, Temporis quam veritatis Rationem habere. 2 E This 210 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. This noble viscount married Anne, sole daughter and heir of John Copleston, of Eggesford, Esq ; a small parish so called, lying near Chimley, in this county, by whom he had issue three sons and two daughters, and a large estate in those parts. He surviv'd his lady two and thirty years; but at length dying, he was buried by her, in the little oratory before-mentioned: where is erected a noble monument to their memory, prepared by himself, but finished by his son, Arthur, Earl of Donnegal. It is a lofty bed, on which do lie the portraictures of this noble lord and his lady aforesaid, in their full jiroportion, in polished marble, having their five children kneeling by; all under a stately canopy finely painted : On the top is this inscription. In memory of Edward Lord Viscount Chichester, and dame Anne his wife; and in humble acknowledgment of the good providence of God, in advancing their house, A little under are these verses ; Fam'd Arthur, Ireland's dread in arms, in peace Her titular genius, Belfast's honor won : Edward and Anne, blest pair ? begot encrease Of lands and heirs, viscount was grafted on. Next, Arthur, in God's cause, and King's stak'd all; And had, to's honor, added Donnegal. In the hollow underneath, on a fair table of marble, is this large remembrance to be seen ; Here lieth, in hope of the resurrection, the body of the Right Honorable Edward Chichester, Kt. Lord Chichester, Baron of Belfast, Viscount Cliichester, of Carrick- fergus, governor of the same, and one of his Majesty's most honorable privy council for the kingdom of Ireland, son of Sir John Chichester, of Ralegh, Kt. and the body of dame Anne his wife, sole daughter and heir of John Copleston, of Eggesford, Esq; who had issue, — 1. Arthur, his eldest son, now Lord Viscount Chichester, Earl of Donnegal (who first married Dorcas, daughter of John Hill, of Honneley in War- wickshire, Esq ; and had issue by her one daughter ; afterward the Lady Mary, el- dest daughter of John, Earl of Bristol ; and had issue by her six sons and two daugh- ters). John, his second son, who married Mary, eldest daughter of Roger Viscount Rannelagh. And Edward, his youngest son, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Fisher, Kt. Elizabeth, his eldest daughter, who married Sir William Wrey, Knight and Baronet ; Mary, his youngest daughter, who first married Thomas Wise, of Sydenham, afterward John Harris, of Radford, Esquires. He departed this life on the 8th, and was buried on the 13th of July, A. D. 1648. She departed this life on the 8th, and was buried on the 11th day of March, 1616. This monument was prepared by himself in his lifetime; but now erected and finished by the said Arthur, Lord Viscount Chichester, Earl of Donnegal, 1648. In the same oratory is another most sumptuous monument, erected to the memory of the said Arthur, Earl of Donnegal, and his two ladies ; where he standeth in full and just proportion, curiously cut out of pure alabaster, finely polished, between his two ladies, lying in effigy by. ; On the right-hand lieth his first lady, in memory of Avhom is this written ; M. S. Here lieth interr'd, the body of Dorcas, daughter of John Hill of Honnely in the county of Warwick, Esq; and first wife of the Rt. Honbl. Arthur, Lord Viscount Chichester, Earl of Donnegal. She left issue one daughter, viz. the Lady Mary, now living; and departed this life, April 10th, 16.'30. Aged 23. Then CHICHESTER, SIR ARTHUR, KNIGHT. 211 Then follow these verses, Weep reader, weep, and let thine eyes With tears embalm the obsequies Of her blest shrine ; who was in all Her full dimensions so angelical. And rarely good, that vertue might repine. In wanting stuff to make one more divine. This lady's sole daughter, the Lady Mary, became the wife of John Saintleger of Donorades, m the knigdom of Ireland, son of Sir William Saintleger, Kt Lord Pre- sident of Munster; by whom he had issue, Arthur Saintleger, Esq; the present pos sessor of, and mhabitant at Eggesford aforesaid ; a very ingenuous and oblicri„o- o-en- tleman. On the left-hand lieth his second lady, who hath this memorial, ° * " M. S. Here lieth interr'd the La- dy Mary, Eldest daughter to the "Right Honorable John, Earl of Bristol, and second wife to Ar- thur Earl of Donnegai. By whom He had issue, six sons, viz. 1. Arthur, 2. Arthur, 3. Edward, 4. Digby, 5. John, 6. James; and two daughters, viz. Beatrix, and the other born dead,' and interr'd with the mother, who departed this Life, Nov. 5, 1648. Under which is this epigram ; Lo ! here the mirror of her sex, whose praise Asks not a garland, but a grove of bays : AVhose unexemplar'd virtue shined far And neer ; the western wonder ! like some star Of the first magnitude; which though it lies Here in eclipse is only set to rise. In the same oratory is another very handsom monument fixed in the wall to the memory of John Copleston, Esquire, and Dorothy his wife ; where is also to be read this epitaph. Here lieth buried the body of John Copleston, Esq; and Dorothy his wife Daughter to Sir George Biston, of Biston Castle in Cheshire, Kt. They had issue' Anne, then- sole daughter and heir, who is now married to Edward Chichester' Esq; one of the sons of Sir John Chichester, of Ralegh, Kt. In whose memory, the said Edward Chichester, their son-in-law, hath erected this monument A. D. MDCXIV. She departed the 24th July, in the year 1601. He departed the Uth of November A. D. MDCVI. They lived together XXX years, in much Peace with God, and loving Society each with other. This monument is adorn'd with divers coats of arms, viz. Copleston's, Biston's Keyney's, Chichester s, and others. ' Unto \yhat hath been spoken, in relation to this antient family, I shall crave leave only to add a remarkable instance of the strange fertility of that branch thereof which 2 E 2 ' y,t 212 . THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ° Mr. Wcst.'s yet florislicth at Arlington." Amias Chichester, of that place, Esq; by Joan his wife, Ariuigton. Ms! tlaughtcr of Sir Roger Gifiard, of Brightly, Kt. had nineteen sons; every one of which (what you may think much stranger) had no less than four sisters; fourteen of the nineteen lived to be proper gentlemen ; though not above three of them had issue. When they went all to church, the first would be in the church-porch, before the last would be out of the house. Edward, the ninth son, was slain in a duel ; and Paul, the eleventh, was a worthy captain, both in the Netherland wars, and elsewhere ; he was slain in the Portugal action, A. D. 1589. ADDITIONAL NOTES. (1) or these sons, the eldest was Sir John Chichester, who was one of those, who with tlie Judge of Assize, died in consequence of infection received from the prisoners tried at the Castle of Exeter, in 158.5. His grand- son John was advanced to the dignity of a Baronet, in 1641. He was succeeded by his sons Sir John, and Sir Arthur, to wliont in lineal succession were three Sir Johns. The last died in 1808, without issue, upon which the Baronetcy devolved upon the present Sir Arthur Chichester. (2) These brandies of tiie family still continue at Arlington and Hall. (3J Eggesford, in tiie time of Henry 3d, belonged to the family of Reigny, and after many descents in that name, became, by the marriage of tlie co-heir of Reigny, the property of Charles Copleston, of Bicton, whose grand-daughter conv»yed it in marriage to Edward Viscount Cliichester. It was afterwards purchased by Mr. Fellowes, and is now the residence of the honourable Newton Fellowes, second son of John, Earl of Ports- mouth, by Urania, the daughter o( Coulson Fellowes, Esq. (J-j Arthur, the fourth in descent from the hrst Earl of Donegal, was created a British Peer in 1790, by the title of Baron Fisherwick, and in 17!"2, was advanced to tlie dignity of Earl of Belfast and Marquis of Donegal in Ireland, whose son is the present Marquis. CHILCOT ( 213 ) CHILCOT, ROBERT. LiHILCOT, alias Comin, Robert, was bora in the town of Tiverton, where also hef^o""- ^- J"- had his education. He was servant and nephew to that eminently great and good jac. i. '" man, Mr. Peter Blundel (of whom before), being his sister's son. Air. Chilcot, following the kersy trade, with other profitable ways of merchandising, as his uncle did, got also a very fair estate, though much short of his. But to shew that generosity runs in blood, (as the apostle intimates it may, in his ivycsri^ii, These were better born than they of Thessalonica)' he did, as his said uncle had done before him, " Acts ir, ii. lay out a very considerable share thereof, between two and three thousand pounds, in works of piety and charity : The particulars are thus recorded, which I shall here memorize, as well to the example of well-disposed persons, who are living, as to the honor of the dead. He gave'' " wuiefs Syn. Papismi. pag ^ . . . - 1229. To Christ's-Hospital in London, To poor prisoners, lying for 5/. debt. To a free English-school in Tiverton, for 100 boys, to prepare them for the Latin-school, To the maintenance of this school, and certain poor of that place, per an. That is. To the school-master, for whom is provided an handsom house adjoyning, per an. To the clerk, i>e\' annum Towards the reparations thereof, per an. For 1.5 poor men's gowns, and to each of them Qs. in mony, yearly. To 15 poor artificers, per an. To 15 poor people, each 6d. per week for ever Towards repairing the church of Tiverton, yearly. To other good uses, by the year. For the due payment of which legacies, he settled his lands in Yorkshire, of good value, upon thirteen trustees of the town of Tiverton aforesaid, chosen by him for that purpose. He was a considerable legatee in his uncle Mr. Blundel's will, and one of his exe- cutors in trust, for the better performing thereof. Mr. Chilcot, before he died, settled liis habitation in London, where very probably he expired, and lieth inhumed; altho' in what particular church, by reason of that grand conflagration, which hapned in the year 1666, and destroyed so many funeral monuments, we can't certainly determine; nor what isgue he left behind him. Pounds. Shillings. 100 00 100 00 400 00 90 00 20 00 3 00 2 00 y, 16 10 15 00 19 10 10 00 4 00 CHn.DE, 21i THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. CHILDE, Mor. A. D. 1340. R. R. Edw. 3. CHILDE, ■ His christian name is unknown; nor can it be at this day reco- inDev p^'aee^^'"^^' ^^^ ^^^^ ^ gentleman of antient extraction," and fair possessions, at Phmstock in this county ; a small parish, lying on the east side of the river Plym, very near the mouth thereof; over against the large and populous town of Plymouth. Of this per- son, is a memorable passage left us by tradition; of which, whoso shall deny or doubt '■Id.ib. the credit, we are told,'' all the vicinage will be highly offended with them. Mr. Childe having no issue of his own, and being the last of his ftimily, is said to have made his will and last testament; wherein he ordained. That where-ever he should happen to be buried, to that church should his lands belong. " .'^l?''- Descr. It so fortuned a while after, that riding to hunt, in the forest of Dartmore," being in Piiinst ' liot pursuit of his game, tho' in a cold and sharp season, he casually lost his way and his company, in a very bitter snow. Being thus left in this wild and desolate place, the poor gentleman, exceedingly benum'd with the cold, killed his horse, and having embowelled him, crept into his warm belly for a little heat; which not being able to preserve him long, with some of his blood, he thus farther confirmed his will He that finds, and brings me to my tomb, The land of Plimstock shall be his doom. And soon after, the same night, he was frozen to death, ford'''"'"'"''' Now something in confirmation hereof,'' I find. That there is a place in the forest of Dartmore, near Crockern-Tor, which is still called Child of Plymstock's tomb; whereon, we are informed, these verses were engraven, and heretofore seen, tho' not now. They first that find, and bring me to my grave. My lands, which are at Plimstock, they shall have. After this sad accident, the snows being at length abated, some passenger coming that way, found Mr. Childe there, thus frozen to death. Now some notice of the whole affair being brought to the friers of Tavistock, they come and fetch the corps ; and with all possible speed, hasten to inter him, in the church belonging to their own abby. This business was not so secretly carried, but the parishioners of Plimstock had some intimation of it also : to prevent, therefore, the design of the monks of Tavistock, they planted themselves at a certain bridg, which they conceived the corps must ne- cessarily pass, with resolution to have wrested the body out of their hands by force. But they must rise betime, or rather, not go to bed at all, that will over-reach monks ' Full, ut sup. in matters of profit.' The monks then, apprehending themselves to be in such danger of losing the preci- ous relict; what do they do, but circumvent the Plimstock men with a guile ? For they presently' cast a slight bridge over the river at another place, and so carried over the corps and interr'd it, without ever inviting their Plimstock friends to the funeral. This thus done without resistance, these monks enjoyed the lands of Plimstock (which is uell known to be true) a long while after. In memory whereof, the bridg, not f Quo Slip. that extemporare one, but, as Dr. Fuller believed,^ a more premeditate structure, raised in or near that place, bears the name of Guile-Bridg unto this day. « Bp. Gndw. A story very strange ! yet a parallel hereof, in several cirucmstnnces, we may find de P sEsui. m history ; which for a diversion, with the reader's pardon, I shall here briefly relate ADgl. Ill C int. I- •' , ' *' ex capt;r. vti. irom a gravc author.^ Malmes. p. 72. ElsinUS, CHILDE, ^l^ Elsinus, Bishop of AVinchester, being desirous to succeed Ode in the see of Canter- bury, about the year of our Lord 960, whom yet in his lifetime, he could never brook ; coming to Canterbury after he was dead, and had gotten his place, contumelioush^ and scornfully spurned at the tomb of this his predecessor; using these despightful words after, ' Now at last thou art dead. Old Dotard;*' and tho' long first, hast left thy placet. Tandem siii- to a better man. What therefore I have so long desired, I now possess, whether tho" ^""'"a"nini"m' wilt or no : for which I con thee but little thanks.' eft'udisti; & Our historian's report, That the night after this, Odo appeared unto Elsinus in bis ^;'^''™)'|* ,^^™; sleep, threatening a speedy and fearful revenge, for so great an indignity to the dead, taciens, abUsti. AVhich tho' he made no reckoning of it for the present, yet afterward it fell out ac- ^''- ' ' cordingly : For as Elsinus travelled to Rome for his pall, upon the Alps, he was so oppressed with the cold, that having no other remedy,' he was constrained to rip up i Nihil aViad the bowels, and to put those feet, wherewith so despightfully, he had spurned at bis f^.'J^Yscl' potHe- predecessor's tomb, into his horse's belly, yet reaking hot; notwithstanding whichiit, qnam exeu- ilevice, he yet there died of the cold. '^^omm'^Ji, The Roman legend is full of such stories. Nor is that any better, which a late pedes immer- popish author,'' has the front to relate, of Q. Anne Bullen, wife to K. Hen. 8. That IJ'j^'^j^ ''"„,„"„. when Bishop Fisher was beheaded, she should desire to see the head before it was setinm concuica- up ; at sight whereof, she should say contemptuously, ' Is this the head that so often "pr. 'riiomas exclaimed against me? I trust it shall never do more harm :' And with that, striking BaiiysLifeami it upon the mouth with the back of her hand, hurled one of her fmgars upon a tooth, pisher, p. wg, that stuck somewhat more out than the rest did: which fingar afterwards grew sore, «i^>- and putting lier to great pains many days after, was nevertheless cured at last with much difficulty ; but the mark remained ever after. A story not worth the confutation. As for Mr. Childe, we have nothing of him that is farther memorable ; he is sup- posed to have lived in Ed. 3's reign. CHUDLEGH, ->;. 216 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON CHUDLEGH, SIR GEORGE, BARONET. Flor. A. D. jafi^' ^' CHUDLEGH, Sir George, Baronet, was born at Ashton, in this county ; a sweet and pleasant seat, six miles south-west from Exeter. It is so called, as if one should Bisdon. say, A town in a wood of ashes :' It's name, more antiently, was Asseriston, and Asheriston ; but in the Saxons' time, Esseton ; as may be seen in Dooms-day. The first possessor of these lands, after the Conquest, was that noble Kt. Sir Her- vius de Hilion, who received them, as a gift from the Conqueror, William of Nor- "Poie'sDeser. mandy ; whom followed, in this place, seven of the name Hilion, all knights,'' whose oiUevon. names 'twould be thought too tedious to relate. From them they came to the dignous family of Le Pruz, vulgarly Prous : and a daughter of Richard, second son of Sir William Prous, Thomasin by name, brought them, with other lands, unto her husband John, the son of John Chudlegh of Chudlegh, near adjoyning : Unto whom the said Richard Prous (in the life time of John his son) made this conveyance, as by the deed ' Pole's great appeareth ; a brief whereof followeth.'' MS- of chart. tiim, Bai. As to these works of our countryman, I shall not conceal the modest censure of a (luoantea. p. j.^j.^ j^ujijQp.k < ^Po speak impartially,' saith he, ' that concerning the Revelations of "fuUci- in bis Elizabeth, abbess of Schonaugh, and the legend he wrote of St. Ursula, (a Cornish or Worthies, Loc. Devonshire woman) and her ele\en thousand virgins killed at Colen, are full of many fond falsities.' Where this Roger dy'd, or was inter'd, whether at Ford aforesaid, or in Flanders, I can make no certain discovery. All that 1 find farther of him is, that he flourished in the year of our Lord one thousand one hundred and eighty, under the reign of King Henry the second. CLIFFORD, ( 221 ) CLIFFORD, LORD THOMAS, BARON OF CHUDLEGH. Clifford, Lord Thomas, Baron of Cliiullegh, and Lord High Treasurer ofpior. a. d. England, was born, August the iirst, 1630, at Ugbrook, nine miles to the south of J.^^^^g/'*' ^• Exeter, in the parish of Chudlegh, aforesaid. A pleasant and noble seat now it is, much enlarged, with the addition of a curious chappel, and very useful apartments ; and accommodated with a flvir park, by the last Lord Clifford; beautify'd and adorned with stately stables ; large walks, beset with horse-chesnut, lime, and other trees (which, in their season, yield a pleasant and fragrant entertainment to the passenger,) by the present right noble Lord, Hugh Lord Cliiford of Chudlegh. Thomas Lord Cliftbrd was the son of Hugh Cliiford, of Ugbrook, Esquire, collonel of a regiment of foot, in the first expedition against the Scots, in K. Char. Ist's time;" who was the son of^.^*- ^''°"; Thomas Clifford, a justice of peace for this county; an eminently pious and learned person, as may appear, were it not too tedious, from that large elegant Latin epigram, made, in his praise, by that celebrated poet, Charles Fitzgiffery ; a copy whereof I have in MS, which thus begins : Flosq; leposq; virnm, proavitsB nnbile germen Stirpis, & heroas laudis non deneger hteres, &c.' by Amy his wife, daughter and heir of Hugh Staplehill, of Bremble, in the adjoyning parish of Ashton, Esq. ; which Thomas was a younger son of Anthony Clifford, of Borscombe, in Wilts, and Kings-Teignton, in Devon, Esq. by Anne, daughter and one of the heirs of Sir Piers or Peter Courtenay, of Ugbrook, Kt. upon whom his father settled U^gbrook, which continueth in his noble posterity. The elder son, whose name was William Clifford, Esq., possessed Borscombe and Kings-Teignton, aforesaid ; but is wholly omitted, with his issue, by Sir Will. Dugdai, in his genea- logy of this right honorable family,'' for what reason, I do not know. The last of" Bar. of Eng which name, in that place, James Clifford, Esq. (a very honest and worthy gentleman) ^"'■^■''■"'^*' left issue Mary, his only daughter and heir, married unto the honorable Collonel Hugh Bampfeild, the only son of Sir Copleston Bampfeild, of Poltiniore, in this couuly, baronet ; he died before his father, but left issue, by his lady, two sons, the present Sir Copleston Warwick Bampfeild, and John Bampfeild. Which Anthony Clifford, of Borscombe, was son of Henry, son of William, son of Thomas Clifford, of Borscombe, by Tbomasin, daughter of John Thorpe, of Kings- Teignton ;" the grandmother of which Tlioraasin, was Cicely, daughter and heir of '1*'^*'" ^''*''- John Burdon, of Kings-Teignton (he died an. 8 K. Hen. 4,) an ar.tient and knightly Kinss-Teigo. family, that had long florished in that place, even from the days of K. Hen. 2, home '^'*- unto that time ; from whom the mannor of Kings-TLMgnton, aforesaid, and half the hundred of Teign-Bridg, by these steps, came to this noble famil}' ; and by purchase, from James Clifford, last mentioned, it is now the possession of the present Lord Clif- ford, of Chudlegh. Which Thomas Clifford was the son of John, by Florence his wife, daughter of John Saint Leger, who was the son of William, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Arnold Savage, Kt. son of Sir Lewis Clifibrd, knight of the most noble order of the garter, in the days of K. H. 4,'^ who was son of Sir Roger de Clifford, by ■'Dugd. ibid. Matilda, daughter of Thomas de Beuchamp, Earl of Warwick, the son of Robert, by Isabel his wife, daughter of Maurice Lord Berkley, of Berkley Castle, the son of Ro- bert, by Matilda, the aunt and heir of Thomas de Clare, the son of Roger, by Isabel, daughter and co-heir of Robert de Vipont, son of Roger, the son of another Roger, who was the son of Walter de Clifford, by his wife Agnes, the only daughter and heir of 222 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. of Roger de Cundi, the son of Walter, who first took to him the name of Chfford, from the place of his residence, in the county of Hereford; where Simon Fitz-Richard, Fitz-Ponce, founded a priory of Cluniac monks, in the days of K. Hen. 1, of 65/. 1 Is. Tan. Notit. yearly value.* Walter, the first of the name ClitTord, was the son of Richard, the son MonastinHe. ^^ Ponce, or Ponsius, who came into England with William, sirnamed, the Conqueror. I might farther shew how this noble family of Ugbrook stands allied to the late right honorable Henry Lord Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, in whom the issue male, of that line, expired, Decemb. 11th, 1643; but they whose occasions, or curiosity, may lead them to enquire farther into this matter, may consult Dugdal's Baronage of England, vol. 1, pag. 342, &c. Only here I shall take occasion to observe, that the honorable name of Clifford, florished in this county, many centuries of years, before this family came into it ; which was not long before the reign of K. Hen. 8. Here was Sir Reginald de Clif- ford, of Godeford, in' the parish of Awlescombe, near Honiton, Kt. in K. Edw. I's days; and Sir John Clifford, of Godeford and Cullome-John, in the reign of K. Edw. 3, but what relation these families had unto one the other, I cannot say : though plain it is, that originally they were all one ; so that Clifford of Godeford, very probably, was a younger branch, that sprung early out of this antient and noble stock, and planted itself (by what providence I know not) in these western parts, where it flo- rished well, divers descents; initil at last it expired in Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir John Clifford, of Cullome-John, Kt. married unto Sir Roger Prideaux, of Orchar- ton, in this county, Kt. This allience with the east country family of this name, we may infer from the coat-armor, which (as our best antiquary Sir Will. Pole tells) Clif- fCatai. of ford of Cullome-John did bear,' checque or and b. a bend gules; which I find^ was Arms, MS. j^jjg ^jj.gj. bearing of this noble name, before it changed the bend (for what reason, the ciifforirs Pe- hcralds best know) into a fess, as now it is. But hereof enough. dig. of LU Fa- This right honorable persoH, of whom we are discoursing, Thomas Lord Clifford, ''"^' had the happiness, in his youth, of an education suitable to his birth and quality. From the school he went to the university; and on the 25th of May, 1647, was ad- "Ath. Oxon. mitted fellow-commoner of Exeter college, in Oxford,"" under the care of an ingenuous quo sup. tutor, Mr. Baldwin Ackland, B. D. and fellow of that house. After some consider- able stay there, well furnished with academical learning, he went to the inns of court, ' Grand, of the and was of the society of the Middle Temple, London.' After he had continued a Law. p. 27. vvhile there also, he went to travel into parts beyond the seas; where, by having an excellent genius, highly improv'd by education, it might well be expected, he should return into his native country, as he did, a most accomplished gentleman. Inthatgreat crisis of the kingdom, which hapned in the year of our Lord 1660, when, after a long and deplorable delirium of many years, it began to return to its wits, and settle upon its antient bottom, in respect to the government, both of church and state, this honorable gentleman, in the beginning of April, was elected one of the burgesses of Totness, in his own country, to serve them in that parliament, which began at Westminster on the 25th of the same month; and very loyally brought home the King, to the throne of his ancestors. Car. 2, of gracious memory. That parliament, having thus finished the greatest good they were capable of, were dissolved ; and the King, being now restored in peace, according to the usual me- thods, issued out his writs for the chosing of another, to meet at the same place, on the 8tb of May, 1661. Mr. Clifford was chosen a second time by the town of Tot- nes, aforesaid, to be one of their representatives in this parliament also. Being thus become a member, once more, of that noble and august senate, Mr. Clifford had room and scope enough for his excellent parts to expatiate in : for having those very graceful qualifications of a great presence of mind and body, and a sound judgment and ready elocution, he became a frequent and a celebrated speaker in the house ; CLIFFORD, LORD THOMAS, BARON OF CHUDLF.GH. 223 house; at first, against, but at length, in behalf of the royal prerogative: for which he was taken notice of at court, and admitted into the royal favor. Being thus ad- mitted, he knew well how to improve his opportunity to the best advantage, and to grow therein : as a badg whereof, he soon after received the honor of knighthood from that gracious prince King Charles the second. Nor was Sir Thomas Clifford less qualified for the camp, than the court ; he could as well sustain the fatigues of war, as enjoy the softs of peace." As a confirmation ^ Ath. Oxon. whereof, he attended his then royal highness the Duke of York at sea, and was in that i"o sup. victorious battel fought with the Dutch in the beginning of June 1665. He con- tinued at sea the same year, when the English fleet was commanded by that noble, but unfortunate general, Edward Earl of Sandwich. He was also in person at the expedition of the English, at Bergen in Norway, when they made a bold attempt upon the Dutch East India fleet, gotten into that port, on the second of August, the same year. He was also sent envoy, not long after, to the two northern Kings of Sweden and Denmark, with full power to conclude new treaties and alliences with them. In the year 1666, that year of wonders, so much spoken of before hand. Sir Thomas Clifford attended his highness Prince Rupert, and his grace the Duke of Albemarl, again at sea, in another expedition against the Dutch ; and was in that fight Avhich continued on the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th days of June. He was with the same generals also, upon the 25th of July following, in another great fight with the Dutch. On the 8th of Novemb. following, was his majesty, K. Ch. 2, pleased to give him the white-staff of comptroler of his houshold, in the place of that honorable country- man of ours. Sir Hugh Pollard, of Nimpton-Regis, knight and baronet, who died the day before, and on the 5th of Decemb. followmg, he was sworn one of his majesty's most honorable privy-council. All which favors, as 'tis expressly said, were granted him, ' For his singular zeal, by Avhich he had, on all occasions, so well merited in his majesty's service ; and more eminently in the honorable dangers he had sustained in the then late wars against the Dutch and French ; where he had been all along a constant actor, and (as it was ob- served, to the honor of his valor) had made it his choice, to take his share in the warmest part of those services.' On the 12th of June, 1668, died Charles Viscount Fitz-Harding, treasurer of his majesty's houshold, (K. Ch. 2) whereupon Sir Thomas Cliflbrd changed his white staff for a better ; and by the King, was advanced to that honorable post the day following : much about which time also, his majesty was pleased to make him one of the lords commissioners of his treasury. Upon the death of Sir John Trever, and in the absence of Henry Earl of Arlington, Sir Thomas Clifford executed the office of secretary of state, in the year 1672, until the return of the said Earl from his embassy into Holland, and of Mr. Henry Coventry, from his embassy into Sweden. On the 22d of April, 1672, did K. Ch. 2 create Sir Thomas Clifford, by his letters patents to him, and his heirs-male. Baron Cliflbrd of Chudlegh, in his own country. And on the 28th of Novemb. that year, his majesty, valuing his many eminent services, and confiding in his great abilities, and experience in the aflairs of his treasury, was pleased, farther, to advance him to the second most honorable, but the first most pro- fitable, office in the kingdom, to wit, that of Lord High Treasurer of England. Which place had remained void, being executed only by commissioners, from the death of Thomas Lord Wriothsley, late Earl of Southampton, who had, with the highest reputation of integrity, long filled it. In this high and honorable station my Lord Clifford continued about the space of a year, and then, finding himself to decline somthing in his health, he resigned his lord treasurer's 224 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. treasurer's staff back into his majesty's hands, and retired into his own country. Where arrived, his distemper, the stone, grew upon him, with that violence, that, after a few weeks continuance, it put a period to his life, in little more than the mid'st of the age of man : which hapned at his house at Ugbrook, in the month of Septemb. A. D. M.DC.LXX.ni. astat. suie xliii ; where he lieth buried in a vault, underneath his own chappel. He was a gentleman, of a proper manly body, of a large and noble mind, of a sound head, and a stout heart. He not only had, but had the command of, most ex- cellent parts, and knew how to employ them to his best advantage. He had a vo- luble flowing tongue, a ready wit, a firm judgment, and an undaunted courage and resolution. (Note I. J He married one of the daughters and heirs of Martin, of Lindrege, in the parish of Bishops-Teignton, Esq. by whom he had a large issue, both of sons and daughters. His eldest son died in his travels beyond sea, before his father ; his corps was brought home, and honorably laid up in the vault of the chappel at Ugbrook. His estate and honor, at his death, descended to his second son, the present right honorable Hugh Lord Clifford, Baron of Chudlegh ; in whom seem to be epitomized all the honor and virtues of his noble ancestors. He married Anne, one of the daughters of Sir Thomas Preston, baronet 3 whom, yet living, he hath made one of his heirs. By this lady my Lord hath a fair and hopeful issue, three sons and as many daugh- ters, whom God preserve. {Nule 2. J COCKE, ADDITIONAL NOTES. (1.) THE devotion of our author to the house of Stewart, which obviously influenced him in tlie selection of his Worthies, has led him every where to speak in terms of high encomium of those wlio adiiered to Charles the first It cannot be doubled that in most of these instances the attachment to the unfortunate monarch arose from the best and most honourable motives, and hence the language of panegyric will be excused by those whose political sentiments might lead them to think differently of the propriety of that attachment. But no such excuse can be allowed for the extravagant praises bestowed upon the ministers and favourites of Charles the second. The character of CliflTord is here delineated, not falsely, but partially. The qualities ascribed to him, he pos- sessed in an eminent degree, but they were made subservient to the worst purposes. He was a member of an administration, of which, it has been said, that never was there a more dangerous ministry in England, nor one more noted for pernicious counsels. Clifford possessed the talents of parliamentary eloquence and intrigue, and his daring impetuous spirit gave him weight, as Mr. Hume observes, in the councils of the king, whose confi- dence he possessed in an eminent degree. The staff of treasurer was obtained by the advice of a measure, by wliich the wants of the monarch were to be supplied at the expence of the honour and credit of the government, and by the ruin of many of his subjects. This was the expedient of shutting the exchequer, and retaining all the payments made into it. " It liad been usual," says the historian above mentioned, " for the bankers to carry their money to the exchequer, and to advance it upon security of the funds, by which they were afterwards re- imbursed, when the money was levied on the public. The bankers by this traffic, got eight, sometimes ten, per cent, for sums wliich either had been consigned to them without interest, or which they had borrowed at six percent,: profits, which they dearly paid for by this egregious breach of public fjilli. The measure was so suddenly taken, that none had warning of the danger. A general confusion prevailed in the city, followed by the ruin of many. The bankers stopped payment; the merchants could answer no bills ; distrust took place every where, with a stagnation of commerce, by which the public was universally affected. .\ud men, full ol dismal apprehensions, asked each other, what must be the scope of tliose mysterious counsels, whence the parliament and all men of honour were excluded, and wliich commenced by the forfeiture of public credit, and an open vio- lation of the most solemn engagemenis, both foreign and domestic." To Clifford also, is especially attributed the advice of the second rupture with Holland, than which a more impolitic, or unjustifiable war was never entered into. The Test Act, one of the first measures of the parliament which this war, and the consequently increased necessities of the King, compelled him at length to assemble, de- prived Clifford of his staff, which his ill health must soon have compelled him to resign. The cause which disabled Clifford from retaining his official situation, has continued to deprive tlie country of the services, in the senate at least, of his noble descendants. But, while it has confined ilieir political influence within a narrow limit, ( 225 ) COCKE, CAPTAIN, Cocke, Captain, (his christian name I can't recover) (Note.) was born at Ply- Fior. A. D. mouth, in this county, or very near it: He is mentioned by Dr. Fuller among our g^f/jb*^' "' worthies ;* and it doth not become me, enviously to exclude him tliat number ; nay, he » worthies of very well deserves a place among them, as one who valiantly sacrificed his life to the ^ngi- p- 26i- honor and safety of his country, in time of its greatest danger. He was, it seems, by profession, a navigator; and brought up in maritime affairs, wherein he became so expert, that he arrived at the honor of commanding a ship of some force ; which too, by the blessing of God, was all, or most, his own. And, in time of danger, he thought he could not better employ it, than in the service of his prince and country ; which being threatned by the foreign invasion of bloody enemies, every good subject is in commission to defend them, as well as he is able. Now was come that year of remark, which had been propliesied of for ' Annus mira- bilis.'^a wonderful year, by an astronomer of Konningsberg, an hundred years before" CambH. An- it came, I mean 1588, and so indeed it proved. For at this time, Philip the third, "^'^ '**^^' ^''^' King of Spain, partly out of zeal to popery, to subdue England to the church of Rome, and partly out of revenge for the many depredations the English had made upon him, both in Spain and in the Indies, prepared a mighty fleet, christned, by the pope, with the name of the Invincible Armado, consisting of 130 ships, Q5 galeons of a thousand and eight hundred tun apiece, 19 pinnaces of one hundred and seventy tun, manned with 8350 seamen, with 19290 soldiers, and 2080 gally-slaves, having aboard 2630 great ordnance. Over all which, was the Duke of Medina-Sidonia tlie general, at- tended with many brave and experienced commanders. Thus equip'd, they put to sea. May 29, 1588, out of the river Tayo in Gallicia; but a suddain tempest drove them back again, with much damage. However, new rigged and supplied, they put out again July 11th, and soon entred the English channel. It was now high time for the English to hasten out their fleet, which they did with all imaginable speed; consisting in all of about an hundred sail; whereof fif- teen were victuallers, and nine gentlemen volunteers ; of which last number was Captain Cocke. July the 20th, the English discry the Spanish fleet in the Channel, like so many moving castles, come floating slowly on, towards Plymouth, in form of an half moon; the horns whereof extended above seven miles wide. The English being ready, the battel soon began; and in a few days time, by God's blessing, and the English valor, this mighty Armado, so long a preparing, and so well provided, was misera- bly shattered and dispersed; so that of an 134 ships, that sailed out of the Groin, only 53 returned into Spain. Captain Cocke, like a loyal subject, and a brave Englishman, in his own ship, yielded what assistance he could, to the safety of his country. And God was pleased to vouchsafe us a signal victory, though this worthy man did not live to enjoy it, being slain in the fight. And, wliat is very remarkable, while there was not a noble family in Spain, but, in that battel, lost either son, brother, or nephew, Cocke was the only man of note, among the English, that lost his life, to save his queen and country. Insomuch, that of the poet may, in some measure, be applied unto him also : limit, it has left ample scope for the exercise of their talents, and their virtues. The name of Clifford retains its ancient respectability undiminished, and is reverenced and loved within the circle of its domestic influence and example. (2.) By this lady he had nine sons, and six daughters. He was succeeded in the title by Hugh, his seventh son, whose great grandson is Charles, the present Lord Clifford, who succeeded his brother Htigh Henry Ed- ward, being the seventh possessor of the title, and the fifth in lineal descent from the first Baron. 2 G Unus -2G THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Unus homo nobis pereundo restituit rem One man hath restor'd our state. By his being unfortunate. Which is the testimony the famous Cambden hath given of Iiim, in his annals of ■^ In a. 1588. Queen Ehzabeth," ' Sohis Cockus, in sua inter medios hostes navicula, cum laude periit,' Cocke was the only Englishman of note who died honorably, fighting in his little ship amidst his enemies ; and indeed, not above an hundred common soldiers besides. " ^"" ^"P'''^- Pity it is (says Dr Fuller)'^ his memory should ever be forgotten : And in great compliment he professes, ' That his pen is sensible of no higher preferment, than when it may be permitted to draw the curtains about those who have died in the bed of honor.' Captain Cocke, being killed at sea, whether he was buried in the deep, or (not being far from) whether he was brought ashore, and interred at land, is to me unknown. But, instead of an epitaph, I shall here add an epigram, made on this engagement between the English and Spaniards, at this time ; which may serve as a specimen of the wit and fancy of those days. The Latin original had for its author Theodorus Beza (who dedicated it to Queeo » Hackiuifs Elizab, translated into our language by an unknown hand." voyages, p. o tn J Straverat innumeris Hispanus classibus aequor, Regnis juncturus sceptra Britanna suis, &c. I. Spain's King with navies great the seas bestrew'd. To joyn the English with the Spanish sway ; Ask you, what caus'd this proud attempt? 'Twas lewd Ambition drove, and Avarice led the way. II. 'Tis well Ambition's windy puff lies drown'd. By winds; and swelling hearts, by swelling waves: 'Tis well ! Those Spaniards, who the world's vast round Devour'd, devouring sea most justly craves. The coat armor, beforementioned, belonging to Cocke of Plymouth, as appears from the Herald's Office, seems to speak Captain Cocke to have been a gentleman by descent; but the canton intimates, as if that were an augmentation of honor granted to his posterity, for the eminent service he did at this time against the Spaniard. <06. ADDITIONAL NOTE. His name was William Cocke, COFFIN, > ■ . - { 227 ) COFFIN, SIR WILLIAM, KT. Coffin, Sir William, Kt. was born in this county, at the most antient seat of llieFior. a. d. name and family, called Portledge, in the parish of Alwington, bordering on the Severn Hcfu.'sf' ^' sea, abont six leagues to the east of the isle of Londy, which stands therein ; a most antient tribe, of no less antient inheritance. For I find* Sir Richard Coflin of Al wing- a sir w. Poio-s ton, Kt. so far back as the days of K. Hen. 2, and that the mannor of Alwington hath ^J^•^ Ku/^'^'^t' been in the name of Coffin, from the time of the Norman Conquest unto this day.'' .sev. Kings' As farther evidence of the antiquity of this gentile family, there is a boundary-deed J'^^j'^'j ^'^^^-p^- (a copy wliereof is in my custody) made near the Conquest," written in the Saxon of Dev. in Ai- tongue, which giveth good confirmation thereof Which said deed, expresseth the "'°?- ^y p^, bounds between the lands of Richard Caffin, Lord of the mannor of Alwington and ibid. Cockemenlon, und the abbot of Tavistock, in relation to the lands belonging to that abby, in the near adjoyning parish of Ablotsham. Some of the terms and articles of which agreement, between them, are these. 'That the abbot and convent of Tavistock, should give to the said Richard Coffin, and his next heir, full fraternity in his church of Tavistock, to receive there the habit of reli- gion, whensoever (God so inspiring) they would ; and that, in the mean time, he should have the priviledg of one monk there,"* &c. " Hoc modo This family very early spread itself into several branches, which florished so well in f°/,\''„^.^^'ij^"^" divers places of this county, that they left their name and adjunct to them, as Combe- Conventus de- Coffin, now Combe-Pyne, in the east part, Coffin's-AVill in the south part, and J^jTo^jnJo'Here- Coffin's-Ingarly in the west part of this province; in which last place, the mansion- dimeo post me house was near the church ;" to which was belonging a fair deer park, now wholly {^(.^"ps" s"j^^^j" demolished. Ta^'^t- »''''«'•!• Nor is it less observable, that some of those places yielded gentlemen with gilded uim'reiiijio'snm spurs, as Sir Jeftery Coffin of Combe-Coffin, in the days of K. Hen. 3 ; and before 'ithout any avocations, follow his beloved studies, and so better improve himself in virtue and learning. In this station doth the modest man continue for many years ; proceeding, with good applause, in the degrees of arts (the particular times of which, for what reason I know not, are omitted in the Athenie O.xon.), which, in more than name and title, he made himself master of And having acquainted himself with all kinds of learn- ing, the better to qualify him for her favor, he made his most passionate addresses to divinity ; as what was not only the most sublime stud}, but might best transform him into the divine likeness (the happiness and perfections of our natures), whereby he might be enabled, by the ministerial function (unto which he was at length called) with the grace of God, to transform others also. The first settled place I find, that he exercised his talent in, was Lymington, that = In that ordi- considerable incorporate town (as I take it) in Hampshire; which hapned somtime named 'joi'in l^cfore the year 1643 : For then his learning was so conspicuous, being at that time CnnantotLy- also batchclor of divinity, that he was constituted one of the assembly of divines,^ ap- Ea'cha'a Di- I'ointcd, by an ordinance of the lords and commons in parliament, to meet at West- vinity. minster, for the settlement'' (as they pretended) of the government, and liturgy of the 'refi!fe?'to" church of England; of which assembly, more fully account may be seen in Dr. Ful- their Confis- ler's Church History.' Air. Conant having now, for his great piety and learning, sion oi laith, Qbt.^,j(^,fi ^ mighty reputation, as well in his own college in particular, as generally ' Lib. 11. p. throughout the university of Oxford, was, upon the death of that rare scholar and di- 198, &c. vine. CONANT, JOHN, D. D. 231 vine. Dr. Hackwill, on the 7th of June, 1649, with one mind, chosen, by the fel- lows thereof, rector of Exeter college.'^ And, indeed, a more proper head in all re- " H'st- & Ant. spects, at that time, could not easily be fitted to that learned body : Whose wisdom ^."plg. 9°"' and vigilancy influenced every part and member thereof, into an encrease of learning and sobriety. After this, in the year 1654, Mr. Conant was honored, by that university, with the degree of doctor of divinity.'' At what time, there being a great scarcity of fit' AOi. Oxon. and able men, left to undertake that weighty office (the parliament visitors having j;;^gy''^'"*' thrown Dr. Sanderson, for the great crime of his loyalty, out of the chair, and other the most learned men out of the university) Dr. Conant was pitched upon, as one best able to sustain the regius professor's place. He succeeded Dr. Joshua Hoyle (who had quitted it by death) in that honorable chair; as Hoyle did the most famous Dr. Sanderson, turned out by the parliamentarians, as was said before. This Dr. Hoyle, coming out of Ireland, (where he had been regius professor of di- vinity, in the university of Dublin), upon the account of the grand rebellion there, into England, being greatly addicted to the cause, was made, by the regulaters of the university of Oxford at that time, master of University college : And after that, regius professor of divinity there.' A person of great reading, industry, and memo- fu. p. 113. ry; but of little judgment; as may appear from the dull oration he made, when he assumed the chair; and his, as dull lectures in divinity:^ A specimen whereof, for aeHist. & Ant. diversion to the learned, and that the world may see, what a blessed change those ['"J*'4[?f°prol zealous reformers then made in that university, I shall here subjoyn,'' out of the Hist. fossorisRegii of the Univ. of Oxford. ^ :;L;TD.Hovie The professor Hoyle, undertaking to prove from the 1st chap, of St. John's Gosp. OrationepiauJ and the 1st ver. That our Saviour Christ is eternal, thus argued. enldit'kuiis'om- _ . . . . ^ . niniocliE pior- I. A pnncipio luit, ergo est seternus. susexpeita. II. ^oyo; est, ergo & agternus. " u. ib. ut- III. Non tantum a patre sed de patre, ergo & aeternus. ti™ aetemum " IV. Filius patris est, ergo ejusdem natura^, ergo & a;ternus. esse, imnc tan- turn ineptus in Bv which his ratiocination, together with the manv mistakes and barbarisms he "O''"'" t"'"'"'- committed, the doctor lost that little reputation which he had gotten. 413.2. And that we may see that the regent masters, at that time, were of the same seize with the doctor's, they examined under graduates, and batchelors for their degrees, in such bald and barbarous questions as these.' 1. Pro quo gradu tu stas ? 2. Rhetor > Idem. ibid. & Orator (taking up the middle syllable very short) quoinodo differunt? 3. Quis fuit mater Rcmuli? &c. Insomuch, there greatly needed some to retrieve the reputation of the university, in point of learning, and in particular, to restore the divinity chair to its former ho- nor. A fitter person to which purpose, than Dr. Conant, either for universality of learning, soundness of judgment, or orthodoxy, in all the fundamental points of faith, could not be found out, among all the party. So that (what can't be deny'd) he discharged this post, with great honor to himself, and to the general satisfaction of the whole university. Should those learned lectures, and judicious determinations in divinity, this reverend pi'ofessor then made, ever become public, they will not only confirm what is spoken, but greatly oblige the world. But then it may be urged, by some, as a blemish upon this worthy doctor's memo- ry. That he did conform so much to the usurpers then in power; who had killed, and also taken possession : That to get, or continue in, places of trust, he took the cove- nant, engagement, and the like. For reply hereunto; I will no more endeavor to justify all, tliat either this gentle- man, or any other, did in those days, than the}' themselves would do, if now living; Yet 232 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Yet this I say, that a good man may, nay ought to do, what justly he can, in order to get into, or continue in, places of trust, in the government, under which, God, in his providence, shall place him, as well to keep worse men out, as to right and succor such good men. whose consciences will not permit them, in all things, to comply. Had it not been for such men as Dr. Conant, Dr. Wilkins (afterwards bishop of Ches- ter), Dr. Ward (lately bishop of Sarum), and others, not only learning would have fared much worse than it did, in those days, but even the royal party also. We find, in the Holy Scripture, that good Obadiah, that feared the Lord greatly, executed the office of comptroler of the houshold, under Ahab; who though he might be no imme- " 1 Kin. 18, 3. (^iatg usurper, was yet a very wicked and idolatrous King.'' And we know what 'Scotland. some in a neighboring kingdom' lately did, who by receding from their places, left an ope for their adversaries to get in, to the ruine both of themselves, and their cause. Now with what caution and tenderness, this eminent doctor proceeded, in these matters, as became (what he was) a truly conscientious person, we may very well ob- serve, from those express conditions and limitations, he openly declared before hand, he took the engagement upon. Where, e're we proceed farther, it may be proper to propose to the reader's view, the engagement itself, which, in those days, was enforced by ordinance of parliament " Heaths ciir. (as it was then called), only at first, upon persons in office or trust ;'° though after- Warsof Eng. Ward, all sorts of men, throughout the kingdom, above eighteen years of age, were Sic. part'.'. p. obliged to take it in these words. 255. ° * You shall promise to be true and faithful to the common-wealth of England, as it is now established, without King or house of lords.' The doctor, indeed, did take this engagement ; but then it was with such restric- tions and limitations, as another man, in his circumstances, with a good conscience, might have done the same ; as may appear from the following declaration, thus in- 1 Out of an tituled :" autlicntick CO- Alr!D?G.''MS. DR. CONANT'S DECLARATION BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS, WHEN HE TOOK THE Engagement. " Being required to subscribe, I humbly premise : *' I. That I be not hereby understood to approve of what hath been done, in order unto, or under this present government, or the government it self, nor will I be thought hereby to condemn it : They being things above my reach, and I not know- ing the grounds of the proceedings. " n. That I do not bind my self to do any thing, contrary to the word of God. " HI. Tliat I do not hereby so bind my self, but that, if God shall remarkably call me to submit to any other power, I may be at liberty to obey that call, notwithstand- ing the present engagement. " In this sense, and in this sense only, I do promise to be true and faithful to the present government, as it is now established, without King, or house of lords." " JOHN CONANT." This may prove the doctor to be a man of prudence and conscience; and purge him, in a great measure, from those dirty reflections, any censorious bigot might as- perse his memory withal: Who yet, perhaps, in the same circumstances (how squeamish soever he may now seem), would have swallowed all a whole, without chewing. The practise of so great and good a man herein, may become a pattern unto others, in CONANT, JOHN, D.D. 233 ra a like case; in all dubious, and especially, dangerous matters, to proceed with all the precaution they may be allowed: And to take oaths and make subscriptions, in all doubtful cases, expressly, with all the latitude that may be granted them : which may suffice for his apology herein. In the year of our Lord, 1657, was Dr. Conant chosen vice-chancellor of the uni- versity of Oxford; at what time, his kindsman, Mr. Samuel Conant, of the same college, was one of the proctors. In this honorable office did Dr. Conant continue, by annual election of the university, for three years together : In all which time, he shewed himself a prudent and vigilant governor. And though the times, that then were, were very dangerous and ticklish, and the mouths of the men in power, began to water upon the colleges, and the revenues thereunto belonging, yet the doctor stoutly defended his post, maintained the rights and liberties of the university, and kept all in peace and quiet. Upon the 24th of Aug. 1662, Dr. Conant left his rectorship of Exeter college, and the university, both at once ; and that upon the account of some insiiin ruble scru- ples, at that time, which had invaded his conscience against conformity to the liturgy and discipline of the established church of England. AVhat they were in particular, I am not able to relate : but have heard, in those days. That it was chiefly out of a tenderness of giving offence to others, grounded upon that passage of the apostle, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 8 chap. 10, 11, 12, and 13 ver. the short whereof is this. If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. Whether this alone, or some others joyn'd with this, was the true ground of the doctor's nonconformity for a while, I cannot say : But under some invincible preju- dices against conformity, he lay for some time ; which yet he managed Avith great .^ prudence and caution : For he retired to a kindsman's house of his own, Mr. Sam. Conant, B. D. aforementioned, in the country, where he remained very peaceably and orderly, neither keeping conventicles, nor frequenting any. And afterward, by God's peculiar blessing (who hath promised, ' That if any one doth his will, he shall be taught of God, and if in any thing one be otherwise minded, than the truth, if he be willing and obedient, God shall reveal even this unto him.' Phil. iii. 15.) he overcame all his scruples ; and rendred himself to the church of England, as by law established. Of which, by his exemplary piety, and matchless learning, he became at once, an ornament and a pillar. Hereupon, he was soon preferred to be vicar of the great church in the town of Northampton ; a town equal to some cities. This hapned a little before the time, that that place was wholly consumed by a dreadful and resistless fire. How useful this good man was, towards the relief of the poor, and the comfort of the distressed, and the re-edifying the town, in a much more beautiful and uniform condition than before it was, many, yet alive, may be able better to declare. Here he continued a vigilant, peaceable, painful pastor, unto the time of his death. As for his other preferments, all much short of his worth, they were these: On the 8th of June, 1676, he was installed arch-deacon of Norwich, in the ])lace of his brother-in-law, Mr. John Reynolds, deceased;" which dignity was conferred upon °^A^tU.^Oxon. him by Dr. Edward Reynolds, bishop thereof, whose daughter Elizabeth, the doctor ^; /gg" had married. Some four years after this, on the third of December, 1081, he was preferred prebend of Worcester, in the place of Nathanael Tonikiiis deceased. These pre- ferments the modest man never courted ; and many more his modesty made him to refuse : Being equal to what he had, and superiour to greater too, if he had had them. But then there is one thing his modesty can't be approved of, that it would not per- 2 11 "'it 234 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. mit him to oblige the world with more of his learned labors : he not suffering himself to be prevailed upon, to publish any thing; save only, a little before his death, one volume of sermons under this title : Sermons preached by John Conant, D.D. Lond. print. Svo. There is another volume of his sermons now in the press, published by his son. Dr. p Dr. Painter, John Conant, doctor of law. With a brief account of his life.P Col?' hL^Let- Whether, hereafter, any other offspring of his learned brain, may be permitted to ter to me, Jul', see the light, tliough much desired, I am not able to determine. (Note.) 29, 1696. jjg ^g^g ^ grave and solid preacher ; whose sermons were well studied ; and better fitted to affect the hearts of good christians, than to tickle the ears of itching hearers. He was but small in stature, though great in all things else, any opinion only of his own greatness excepted. He was of a meek and humble spirit, yet of zeal and courage enough, when they came to be concerned, either for piety or justice. He lived in a great town, a very private, but pious life. He neither loved to make, nor to be in, much noise ; as knowing that ' Animae quiescendo fuint sapientiores.' It pleased Almighty God, some years before his death, to visit him with blindness: whereby he was rendred unfit for the administration of the public offices of his place and calling. However, when God was pleased to visit him with blindness, that he could not preach from the pulpit, his conversation was a visible sermon, laid open to the eyes of all that saw him. He lived to a vast age, and at length sunk beneath the burthen of no less than four- score and six years ; dying at Northampton aforesaid, on the l^th of March, 1693. He lieth interred in his own church there ; to whose memory, his disconsolate relict '- raised a very sumptuous monument; on which is found this epitaph. Hie juxta requiescit Johannes Conant, S. T. P. E Devonia ortus apud Oxonienses enutritus; ibidem CoUegii Exoniensis Rector, AcademiEe Professor Regius, et tertio Vice-Cancellarius: Quibus valedixit. Anno 1G6'2. — Postea Archidiaconus Norvicensis Ecclesi* Vigorniensis Praebendarius, et hujus Ecclesiae Vicarius. Vir omnibus hisce Muneribus (quorum nullum ambivit, plura refugit) par & superior. Doctrina, mo- ribus, Pietate, non Aliniis quam Annis Consummatus obiit Anno .^^Ltatis suae LXXXVI, Domini M.DC.XC.III. Mensis Martii die xii. Elizabetha Uxor Moes- tissima viro Charissimo hoc Marmor Amoris & Observantias ergo posuit. COPLESTON, ADDITIONAL NOTE. THERE weie altogether six volumes of his sermons published: the first in l693, in the author's life- iime; the second in 1697, which is the volume alluded to by Prince as being in the press ; the third in 1698; the fourth in 1703; the fifth in 1708, which last four volumes were edited by the Bishop of Chichester; and the sixth and last volume was published in 1722, and edited by Digby Coates, M. A. principal of M.igdalen Hall, Oxford, at the request of the author's sou, Joim Conant, L.L.D. but no account of the author's lile ac- companied either of tliese voluines. A life, however, was afterwards written by his son, from which the fol- lowing particulars are extracted. Dr. Conant was born October 18, l608, and descended from a good family which had flourished for many years in this county, but which was originally !• rendu His parents were persons of great integrity, and pos- sessed a competent, though not a large fortune; so that he had no occasion to be ashamed ot his family. He gave very early tokens of his inclination to learning, and was taken under the caie ol his uncle, the Rev. John Conant, rector of Lymington, in Somersetshire, who charged himself in a particular manner with the care of his education; and having sent him for some time to the free-school at Ilchester, placed him afterwards under the tuition of Mr. Thomas Branker, a very laborious and learned school master, in the neighbourhood ; and dur- ing ( 235 ) COPLESTON, JOHN, ESQUIRE. COPLESTON, John, Esquire, sirnamed The great Copleston, was born at the an- F'or. a. d. tient seat of the name and family, called Copleston, in the parish of Colebrook, about Hen.' r.' four miles to the north-west of Crediton, in this county : From whence the name should be derived, divers have diversly conjectured/ but most yield to this, at .^ g^^^tj^^'^j^^ quater foix, which we term a cross-way, where four ways meet, near the house is copYestf"" "" erected a fair square moor-stone, about twelve foot high, from the surface of the earth, and twenty inches broad, every square : which is now vulgarly termed Copston- stone, heretofore Coplestone. Hence is the family supposed to take the name of Le- Cop-ston, or Cop-le-stone, which florished here in high reputation for a longtime: Which stone, altho' not very large, as you have heard, yet standeth ('tis said) in four several parishes, viz. Colebrook, Crediton, Sandford, and St. Mary-Down, i. e. All these parishes meet in that stone, q. in puncto. It is one intire stone, roughly carv- ed, with various florishes, which some have taken for old Saxon characters, now not legible ; and, as I suppose, never were. But more probable it is, from the hollowness on the top like a mortice, it had sometime a cross placed thereon, according to the mode of antient times. When this family first grevr eminent, I do not find ; but if the common tradition holds true, it florished in these parts before the Conquest, as was observed before in Sir Robert Cruwys. However, if so, it was eclipsed, as most of the Saxon race were along while, by the interposition of the Norman conqueror : For Sir William Pole tells us,"^ He had not found, in all his search, any of this name, until the days of K. ^^f ?^^ i*;*^ Edw. 2, (Note \.) in which William de Coplestona was set down as a witness to aju""'" deed of grant, betwixt Matthew de Wodeton or Wootton, of AVootton, in the same parish of Colebrook, and Richard Copleston of Copleston: Which Richard stands first in the genealogy, given us by that last mentioned antiquary of ours, who had issue Adam; wholiad issue John; who by Katharine his wife, daughter and heir of John Graas of Ting-Graas, in this county, had issue John Copleston of Copleston ; who by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of John Havvley of Dartmouth, and of Emma his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Tresilian, the famous, or rather in- famous, lord chief-justice of England, in the days of K. Rich. 2, and Emmalin his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Richard Huish of Chagford, in this county, Kt. had issue, first Philip, second John of Exeter, and third Walter of Bowden, in Yalhamp- . ton, whose posterity florishes there this day. (Note 2.J Philip Copleston of Copleston and Warley, was high sheriff of the county of De- von, anno 11 Edw. 4, 1470, and by Anne his wife, daughter and heir of John Bon- vil of Shute, by Joan his wife, daughter and heir of John Wibbery of Trewollick,'p^J'^«g'_ (descended from several daughters and heirs, as Fitz-Walter, Flemming, Barkley, &c.) had issue Ralph; who by Ellen, daughter of Sir John Arrundel of Lanhern, m Corn- ing his continuance at both places, occasionally assisted him in las studies. His youth promised all that his r;,>„. „».,..c .,v„^,,.»^ His disposition was always mild and modest, so that he contented hunsell with the satis- wal. % 236 ' ■ THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. wal, Kt. had issue John Copleston of Copleston, of whom we are speaking ; Nicho- las of Nash, in Dorsetshire, and Richard of Otterham, and Woodland, in Little Tor- rington in Devon, whose posterity yet survives in worshipful rank in that place. John Copleston of Copleston, Esq; married Katherine, daughter of Ralph Bridges in De- von, and had issue Christopher, high-sherifl' of this county, anno 3 Q.. Eliz. who by Jane his wife, daughter of Sir Hugh Pawlet of Hinton St. George, in the county of Somerset, had issue John, high-sheriff of this county, anno 39 Q. Eliz. who married Susanna, daughter of Lewis Pollard of King's-Nimmet, in this county. Esq; and had issue Amias; who by Gertrude his wife, second daughter of Sir John Chichester of Ralegh, Kt. had issue John, who dying without issue, this great estate fell to his two sisters, his heirs, of whom more hereafter. From whence, we may observe, what honorable houses this antient family all along match'd into, as Courtenay, Bonvil, Pawlet, Chichester, Pollard, Bridges, and others: And how many daughters and heirs, as Graas, Hawley, Tresilian, Huish, Bonvil, Wibbery, Fitz-Walter, Flemming, Barkley, &c. Notwithstanding which, we find no knight belonging to it all along, down to the present age: They rather contented themselves with an hereditary title of honor, given them, 'tis said, only in this county ; and now long since worn out of date ; be- ino- wont to be stiled Copleston the white-spur: Of which attribute of honor, it may " Weav. Pnn. not be improper (in this place) to give this brief account.'' Mon.p. 595. There were five distinct sorts of esquires heretofore in England, as first, The prin- cipal esquires are accounted those, who are elect for the prince's body; second, knights' eldest sons ; third, younger sons of the eldest sons of barons, and other nobles of higher estate; fourth, the white-spurs; and fifth. They who are so by office, and by serving the prince in any worshipful calling. Now the fourth sort of esquires (which was in this family of Copleston) was made by creation of the King ; the ceremony whereof was thus : What gentleman the King was pleased to bestow "this honor upon, he was wont to put about his neck a silver collar of esses or S. S. S. and to confer upon him a pair of silver spurs : Whereupon (says my author) in the west parts of the kingdom, they be called white-spurs ; by which they are distinguished from knights who are wont to wear gilt-spurs, and to be stiled, Equites Aurati, golden knights, from their spurs. This title of white-spur was hereditary, and always belonged only to the heir male of the family. There was but one tribe (Note 3.) more in all this country, that I can find, digni- fied with this title, and that was Winslade of Winslade, in the parish of Buckland- Brewer, in the north-west parts thereof, a generous and a long continued race ; who had also a great estate in Cornwal, whose seat there was at Tregarrick : One where- of, John by name, married Jane, a daughter of the antient and honorable family of ' Sir w. Poles Trelawny,"' by whom he had issue William, who made title unto the Earl of Devon- DeflnWin.1 ^''''"e's lands ; but sold all his own, and came unto great poverty. Some say,' he lost > Risd. ai,d them by attainder, as being concerned in the western rebellion, m the days of K. Buck!' Bruer ^"^^^^^'- ^ ' ''"^ *'^^' ^ ^'^^^^ I'^'stored the barton of Winslade to his eldest son ; which is long since gone out of the name, and the whole race in those parts extinct. The gentleman of whom we are discoursing, was wont to be called The great Co- pleston, not from the bigness of his stature, above other men ; altho' they are, and have been, many very proper gentlemen of the name and family : But from the great command he had from the great possession he enjoy'd, and that high port he lived in here in these parts. His father, Ralph Copleston of Copleston, was an hundred «H«ii. Col. ofPou"<^s in the subsidy book to the King, anno 13 K. Hen. 6,^ (a good estate) and a Arms in Co- justice of peacc, auuo 30 of the same King, a great honor in those days, pie. MS. rpj^j^ family had its residence somtimes at Warley, a pleasant and profitable seat, near the river Tamer, in the parish of Tamerton-Foiiot, about four miles from Ply- mouth, COPLESTON, JOHN, ESQUIBR. 237 mouth, in this county, of which before in Bishop-Foliot; which came into it by match with Bonvil's daughter and heir, in the days of K. Edw. 4. After several de- scents here, and at Copleston (somtime residing at this, and somtime at that seat) there fell out a most unfortunate occurrence in this place of Tamerton, which (in all probability) hastned the extinction of the name and family here, and at Copleston also. The history whereof, altho' I take no delight in reviving the infirmities of men, now well nigh buried in oblivion ; yet, out of charity, it may be worth the relating, to stand as a land-mark to posterity, that all may beware how they give themselves up to the transports of a bloody malice and revenge, which in the end will hurry them into the bottomless gulph of woe and misery. Esquire Copleston of Warley,'' (I can't recover his christian name, altho' I suppose " Tbis relation it was John) in the days of Q. Elizabeth, had a young man to his godson, that had gg[|^,g^™" \ been abroad for his education: Who at his return home, hearingof the extravagancies near neighbor of his godfather's conversation, expressed in some company, his sorrowful resentment of *° **"* ^''*"" it ; which was not done .so privately, but the report thereof was soon brought [as there be tale-bearers and whisperers, which separate very fiiends, enough every where] to his godfather's ears. This exceedingly enkindled the indignation of the old gentle- man against his godson, and (as 'twas supposed) his natural son also ; making him break out, saying, ' Must boys observe and discant on the actions of men, and of their betters ?' From henceforth he resolv'd, and sought all opportunities, to be re- venged upon him ; at length they being both at Tamerton, their parish church, on a Lord's day, the young man observing by his countenance, what he was partly in- formed of before, that his godfather was highly displeased at him, prudently with- drew betimes from the church, and resolved to keep himself away, out of his reach, until his indignation should be overpass'd. The old gentleman seeing his revenge likely to be disappointed, sent the young man word, that his anger towards him was now over, and he might return to his church again : accordingly the young man came, at the usual time; but cautiously eying his godfather, he found the expression of the poet too true : ' Manet alta mente repostum.' That his displeasure was not laid aside, but laid up in a deep revengeful mind : Whereupon, as soon as the duties of religion were over, he again hastned out of the church as soon as he could : upon this his godfather followed him, but not being able to overtake him, he threw his dagger after him (the wearing whereof was the mode of those times) and struck hira through the reins of the back, so that he fell, and died on the spot. Upon this Mr. Copleston fled, but his friends improved all the intrest they had at court, to procure a pardon, which at length, at the cost of about thirteen mannors of land in the county of Cornwal, they hardly obtained : which very pardon hath been seen by my avithor; and still remains (unless lately lost) in the custody of the present possessor of Warley-house. However this gentleman escaped the just penalty due to so vile a crime, fi-om the laws of man ; he did not, it seems, escape the revengeful hand of Providence, which was pleased, either in his son or grandson's days (who is said to have been a hopeful young gentleman' to blot his name quite out of that place ; and at his other place, toi Risd. Desc leave nothing remaining but the name. For this estate came to two daughters and ^^i^^^"- '" heirs ; the eldest was married to Elford, Esquire ; and the youngest unto Sir John Bampfeild, of PoUimore, Baronet, fyole A.J The eldest sister had Copleston-house and demesns, which is all in mines, and the estate sold ; it is now in the possession of Sir Walter Young, of this county. Baronet. The youngest sister, for her partition, had Warley, in whose posterity it still remains; and 238- THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. and is the inheritance of lier great grandson, Sir Copleston Warwick Bampfeild, Ba- ronet; whom God long preserve, and make highly eminent and useful in his country. ADDITIONAL NOTES. (1) IN another part of his work, Sir William Pole observes, that William de Copleston, held Copleston in the time of King Henry the second, but whether Henry is there written by mistake for Edward, or whether it vyas the result of his farther inquiries, we cannot determine. Tlie continuation of the descents as they stand in the text, and in Pole, correspond with the later date. (2) This branch of the family is extinct, and Bowden is now the property of John Pollexfen Bastard, of Kitley, Esq. representative in parliament for the county of Devon since the year 1784. The family of Bastard, is found in the earliest annals of the county in possession of extensive property. Eflford, Stonehouse, Mevey, Bickeston, Haraldeshore, and Blacheurde, were the inheritance of William le Bastard in the 20th year of William the Conqueror. In the reign of Edward the second or the third, the great possessions of this family passed into that of Beaudyn, and thence into that of Whitlegh ; but the name was continued, as Sir William Pole observes. In latter times, Gerson, in this county, was the seat of the descendants of this family, of whom was Sir William Bastard, sheriflf of Devon, in 1676. From Gerson, their residence was transferred to Kitley, by the mar- riage of . Bastard with the heiress of Pollexfen of that place. His son, Pollexfen Bastard, married Bridget, daughter of John, first Earl Poulett, K. G. by whom he had issue William Bastard, father of the pre- sent possessor of Kitley. In 1779, the exertions of William Bastard, Esq. at a moment of alarm, from the appearance of an hostile fleet in the channel, were distinguished by a patent of Baronetcy, the title of which, however, was never assumed. (3) Kent, in his abridgment of Gwillim, attributes this distinction to another family hereafter mentioned in this work, namely Wollocombe of Wollocombe, " An ancient and gentile family, producing many while spurs of estimation." (-4) John Elford, of Shepstor, Esq. by his first wife, Elizabeth, the co-heir of Copleston, had issue four daughters, Susanna, who died unmarried at the age of sixteen, in 1647: Gertrude, married to Roger Wollo- combe, Esq. of Combe; Elizabeth, married to Edmund Fortescue, of London ; and Barbara, married to Arthur Fortescue, of Wear, Esq. from which match Hugh, Earl Fortescue, is fourth in descent. This John Elford had four wives; by his second wife, the sister of the first Sir John Northcote, Baronet, he had male issue, from whom is descended Sir William Elford of Bickiiam, Baronet. The half of the Copleston property, including the manor of Copleston, which came into the Elford family, passed, in consequence of the failure of male issue, into the families of Fortescue and Wollocombe; the other half, in which was Warlegh, passed into and continued in the Bampfylde family. Warlegh descended to John Bampfylde, of Hestercombe, in Somersetshire, who was the second son of Hugh, eldest son of Sir Copleston Bampfylde, Baronet, and by him was sold in 1741, to Walter Radclifle, son of Jasper Radcliffe, of Frankland, ia Devon, who was sheriffof that county in 1696, and was descended from the Radcliffes of Chatterton in Chester. This Walter Radcliffe married Admonition Bastard, grandaughter of Sir William Bastard, of Gerson, Knight, by Grace, daughter of Sir John Bampfylde, Bart, and Gertrude Copleston. His children, who were thus allied in blood to the family of Copleston, were twelve in number. Of these, Walter and John were successively of Warlegh, and died unmarried. Copleston (vicar of Stoke Climsland) married Sarah, daughter of Samuel Peter, of Percothan, Esq. and had issue three sons and three daughters. Walter, the eldest son, upon the death of his uncle, John Radcliffe, in 1805, succeeded to the Warlegh estate, where he now resides. COTTON, ( 239 ) COTTON, EDWARD. Cotton, Edward, doctor of divinity, and treasurer of the cathedral church of^ofA-R- Exeter, was born in this county, about the year of our Lord I6O8, at the parsonage- csr.'s. house of Whimple, or Silferton; at which, I am not certain, in that his father was rector of both, at the same time. He was second son of the reverend Mr. William Cotton (not Edward, as, by mistake, a late author tells us,* chauntor of the church of * ^^'h- Oxon. Exon, and rector of the parishes aforesaid ; who was eldest son of Dr. AVilliam Cotton, gis. Lord Bishop of Exeter, by one of the daughters and heirs of Hender, of Bos- castle, antiently Botreaux Castle, so called from a noble family of that name, in Corn- wal. The other daughter of the said Hender, became the wife of the first Lord Ro- berts of Cornwal, and was mother to the late noble Earl of Radnor, lord deputy of Ireland, and lord president of the council to King Charles the second. Mr. Edward Cotton, having laid a good foundation of school learning, went to Ox- ford, there to raise upon it a superstructure of more useful knowledg and wisdom. He was admitted a member of Christ Church, where he led a sober, studious, and cheerful life until he had finished his degrees in arts : after Avhich, he retired into his own country, and having all along devoted himself to the work of the ministry, he was ordained deacon. But the unhappy civil wars, near about this time, breaking out in the nation, he proceeded no farther, for many years after. For sober learning and piety, if mixed with true and eminent loyalty, found but slender encouragement in those days : nay, 'twas crime enough to be found notoriously guilty thereof, inso- much, they who would not renounce the one of them, loyalty, must neither expect new preferments, nor long to enjoy their old, what right soever they had to the other, I mean learning. That was sin enough to throw many out of what they had for the present, and to bar them out for the future : whereupon, Mr. Cotton contented him- self to share in the common lot of loyalty, and to take his portion in the sufferings of the King and of the church ; living privately upon that competent fortune which could accrue from a suffering clergyman, to a younger son, among his honorable friends and relations in this country. Now there was, at that time, in this county, a triumvirate of topping wits, gentle- men of excellent parts and accomplishments, Thomas, afterwards, Lord Clifford of Ugbrook, Henry, afterwards. Sir Henry Ford, of Nutvvel, and William Martin, of Lindrege, Esquire, all great amico's : with these did Mr. Cotton much associate him- self ; being all so well suited, as to their humors, parts, and education, that they could not easily be then matched, in this, or any other county. And to signify the esteem that Mr. Martin had for Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Ford, altho' he was of a different opi- nion in point of religion, he bequeathed, by his last will and testament, his study of books, to be divided between those two gentlemen, and the present lady dowager Clitford, of Chudlegh, his near relation. AVhose two shares, Mr. Cotton, at length, purchased, at a valuable consideration (the lady's with an organ for her chappel ;) all which, at his death, he gave to the library, belonging to the cathedral of St. Peter's, Exon, where now they are. After some years thus exhausted, it pleased God, upon the restoration of the King, Charles the second, to bring both learning and loyalty into vogue and esteem again ; and both found countenance and reward, especially in tlie universities of this king- dom : as to Oxford in particular, it was the pleasure of tliat most gracious prince, and the most noble Marquess of Hartford, then chancellor, and of Sir Edward Hide (afterwards Earl of Clarendon,) who succeeded him in that honorable office, the same year, that there should be a creation,'' an. I66O, in all laculties, of such, who had ^ Fast. Oxon. suffered "■ ^- ?• ^"^- 240 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. suffered for his majesty's cause, and had been ejected out of the university, aforesaid, by the visitors, appointed by parliament, in the year 1648. Amon^ a great many other learned and loyal sufferers, Edward Cotton, master of arts, of Christ Church, 'Id. p. 815. aforesaid, was, March 1, 1660, actually created doctor of divinity ."= Having, also, received the order of priesthood, after he was fifty years of age, from the hands of tliat venerable prelate (if I mistake not) Dr. Gauden, then bishop of this diocess, he was deservedly advanced to the archdeaconry of Cornwal, which he en- joyed, from this time, unto the death of the reverend Mr. Baldwin Ackland > and then he succeeded him in the office of treasurer of the church of Exon, which he held unto the time of his death. Unto this, he had added a canonry, in the same church, which, with the rectory of the rich church of Silferton, were all the preferments he possessed : though even these, he had not more to his own advantage, than to the good of others. And this hath brought me to consider, that excellent improvement, the good doc- tor made of those dignities and incomes, which the providence of God had blessed him with ; and we shall find it was much, every way : for he was a great ornament to his profession, both as a christian man and a clergyman, strictly observing the apos- tle's rule of ' living soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present world.' While some derive all their honor tiience, he was an honor to his places ; imploying the pro- fits and revenues of them, either in charity to the poor, or in hospitality to the rich : to the one, his purse was always open, and to the other, his arms. He was none of those, who thought the revenues of the cluirch were conferred upon them, to make them rich, or to raise a family: he expended what he had, charitably and generously ; hating stindginess, no less than prodigality, and that sordid humor of living poor, to die rich. 'Tis the property of a swine to be useful only when dead, which renders his life undesired, and his death unlamented. Whereas this eminent divine, as best be- comes a christian, and a gentleman, did good with God's blessing here; and, in the time of life, yielded a rich harvest of good works: insomuch, they are to be looked upon no other than gleanings, which he left at the time of his death. A brief account whereof follows, in relation to the poor, to the university, and to the church. First, for the poor : by his last will and testament, proved in the consistory-court of ExOffic.Re- Exon, A. D. 1676," he gave fifty pounds to the parish of Bampton in the Bush, in the gist. Exen. county of Oxford, to this use, namely. That the interest thereof should go yearly to such poor house-keepers there, as are not chargable to the parish, and do duly fre- • quent their church, and receive, likewise, the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper. He settled, also, by the same will, some houses and lands in Silferton, in Devon, on the wardens and officers of that parish, upon this condition, that the profits and re- venues of them, should go to such poor house-keepers there, as did also keep their church, and receive the holy sacrament. Where the piety, as well as charity, of this most worthy man is observable, that he did consult the good of their souls, as well as their bodies ; and did so prudently settle his charity, that they, who would not regard their souls should not reap the benefit thereof to the relief of their bodies. Let us next consider his generous benefaction to the university: we find, that he • In Regist. was pleased to settle, by the same will,' the sheafe of the parish of Thornmew, on the pradict. Ex- j,^jiiggg of Christ Church, in Oxford; /. e. what remains over and above the fine, to be paid for renewing the estate, every seven years, to the college of Windsor. Which gift, notwithstanding, was not to take eftect until the expiration of eight years then 'Mr Wear ensuing; for which term, he had granted it unto a kindsman' of his, for his main- one of his s'is- tenance in tlie university. At the end whereof, the whole profit of the sheafe (except, ter'ssons. ^^ before excepted) were to come unto two batchelors of art, which had been servi- tors, and should be esteemed most worthy thereof by the dean and chapter of Christ Church, aforesaid; always preferring, in their choice (where indigency, parts, and learning COTTON, EDWARD. ' 24.1. learning are equal) persons born in Exeter, Devon, Cornvval, or the c\ty, or county of Oxford. But no one, by the same will, is to enjoy this bounty above four years ; where is obvious, the great prudence, as well as charity, of this settlement, that the income thereof, must go unto such batchelors of art who had been servitors for their support, when to serve was become beneath them ; and they are to enjoy it four years; at the expiration of which period, they may be at least twelve months stand- ing master of arts : who are to enjoy it but four years neither, for it may justly be supposed, by that time, if ever, they would become tollerably fit to be transplanted thence, and so make room for others, to be implanted in their places. As for his bounty towards the church, besides his library of books, already men- tioned : he gave a very sweet organ to the choir, for the use of the choristers, for the perfecting of the seniors of the church, before they performed in public ; which now stands in the college hall, belonging to the cathedral church of Exeter, and is used accordingly. And yet, notwithstanding all these high endowments of grace, goodness, and learn- ing (very eminent in him) they would not priviledg this worthy person from the arrest of death, nor bail him from the prison of the grave: but, being much impa. d by the acute disease of the stone, and the decays of nature, which a good old age had brought upon him, he sickned at the treasury of Exeter, where he surrendred up his pious soul into the hands of him who gave it, on the 1 1th of November, 1675. From hence were his venerable remains carried to the cathedral church there ; and, on the l(Jth of the same month, they were deposited near unto his grandfather Bishop Cot- ton's grave, in the south side of the choir, behind the bishop's chair : in which place is erected, to his memory, in the south side of the wall, that parts the choir and the ambulatory, by the piety of his younger brother. Sir John Cotton, of Botrcaux-castle, Kt. a very curious alabaster monument, containing the bust of the defunct: at once, lively representing the innocency of his mind, and the figure of his body, which is encircled with a laurel wreath, cut in the same stone; under which, in a fair table, with black letters, is this epitaph written : Edvardus Cotton, S. T. P. Thesaurarius & unus e Canonicis Residentariis, fiiius Gulielmi Cotton Prascentoris, filii Gulielmi Episcopi Hujus EcclesiiF. In argumento & ingenio subtilis; Doctrina, Pietate, & Charitate Angelicus ; Ad damnum Ecclesia^, & ad dolorem Amicorum, Viz. Omnium obiit 1 1 Novembris Anno Salutis 167-5. Nor may I here omit this brief character of his person: that he was of body, tail and comly ; of humor, universally sweet and obliging ; his deportment, like his aspect, was grave and reverend, and yet, withal, very innocently chearful and plea- sant. A certain gentleman," who knew him well, has left, upon record, this testimony Uz. Mem. of of him (the truth whereof was never yet questioned;) ' That, in his lifetime, he was^"®*- P- "^* much beloved ; and his death generally bewailed, by all ranks and conditions of men, that knew him : for he was a right honest and worthy gentleman, a constant and ex- cellent preacher, a great lover of hospitality, an universal scholar, and a daily liberal benefactor to the poor.' Insomuch, when one asked a certain i)oor man,'' why he" Canon c— wept so at this doctor's funeral ? he replied, ' We have all reason to weep lor so good witness iieVeof. a man ; we have lost the best friend we had.' ^'^ p*!'^'.!," Neer unto this reverend doctor's grave, lies interred liis grandfather, Dr. William °6'94. '^ ' "' Cotton (somtime canon of St. Paul's, London, and from thence, advanced to be 2 I bishop 242 ' THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. bishop of the diocess of Exon;) who, having well governed this church three and twenty years, died on the 26th of Aug. A. D. 1620, and lieth buried near by. In memory of whom, is a fair monument there erected, containing his portraicture, at large, in his robes, cut in alabaster, curiously carved and painted ; which, in the Mz.jb. p. 148. time of the late troubles, was preserved, by being removed into an isle," at the upper end of the said church; but since the restoration, is brought back into its place ; where, in a fair marble stone, may these verses be found : Memoriae Reverend! Patris Dignissimi Prsesulis Domini Gulielmi Cotton olim Exoniensis Episcopi Sacrum. Venentur titulos alii, atq; encomia capteut : Tu propria virtute nites, dignissime Praesul. Corda virum tumuli, tibi sunt epitaphia linguae, Virtutesq; tuae, tituli : qua3 dissita multis Juncta tibi, zclus prudens, prudentia niista Serpentem innocua caute moderata columba Fa^ta operumq; fides, opera edita, & abdita, mundo Abdita (si humilis pietas jubet) edita caslo ! Mite supercilium, facies Augusta, sereni Vultus, majestas frontis veneranda serena, Ira fugax, solcm raro visura cadentem. Mensa benigna, domusq; patens, aditusq; paratus Condivit tua dicta lepos, gravitasq; leporem Pacificis placidus, tantum hostis seditiosis Non tibi, sublimi mores in sede superbi Vita nee in prima (ut multis) fuit ima cathedra Praelatusq; gregi, sed non elatus honore es. A Paulo ad Petrum piate Regina vocavit. Cum Paulo & Petro, citli Deus arce locabit. Sic Petrum Paulus, sic claves adjuvat ensis Perge Petro plures mittere Paule tuos. »Wortbiesof The two first of these four last verses, are thus translated by Dr. Fuller;'' the two EnL'. Loud. , ^ , ... ,, S06. '^st by this author : V>Miom th' Queen from Paul to Peter did remove, Him God, with Paul and Peter, plac'd above. . So Paul helt)s Peter ; so the sword the keys : To Peter, Paul, send more such men as these. I have the rather added this, that the world may see, that between these two near relations, the agreement was not nearer in blood, than in virtue, and pious dispo- sition. COURTENAY, Bar. ( 243 ) COURTENAY, WILLIAM, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. COURTENAY, William, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, (Note \.) and Cardinal, f!°;- a. h- was a native of this county, and born about the year of our Lord, as we may guess, Edw! 3. 1334; his eldest brother Hugh, being born 1327.' \ ^"^''dsg I should have thought, he had received his first breath at Colcombe, one of the antient seats of this noble famil}^ standing in the parish of Culliton, in the soutii-east parts of this province, about three miles from Axminster : For there, we are inform'd,'''' ^''" ''"^' did his father, the Earl of Devonshire, reside; and his grandfather, who dejiarted tliis life, anno 1291, before him, in the reign of K. Edvv. 1. But we are positively assured,' that this noble prelate was born at Exminster, a little parish that S'^eth ^^^^''^^''"i^"',^^; name to the hundred, about four miles below the city of Exeter, on the west side of didt, in ad- the river Ex. f^^\ T'^\-c He was, saith Sir W. Dugdal, the fourth, the fifth son, saith Sir W. Pole,'' of Hugh 795! Courtenay, the third of that name, but the second of that house, who had the title of •,,"jf,p''Ha*^^.o,fy" Earl of Devon, by Margaret his wife, daughter of Humphry de Bohun, Earl of Essex of piimton. and Hereford, by Elizabeth his wife, who was daughter to K. Edw. 1. '^'^" Some, indeed, of this name, came into England with William the Conqueror, as may appear from Battle- Abby-Rolle ; but the first of this most noble family that came to reside here, was Reginald de Courtenay, who, with his son William, accompanied hither, out of France, Lienor, daughter and sole heir of William, the fifth Duke of Aquitain, the wife of K. Hen. 2. Which Reginald, was younger son of Florus, according to Dugdal, of Peter, ac- cording to M^ons. de Bouchet," who was a younger son of Lewis le Gross, King of^'^j^^^^'j.^"^'^ France. The elder son of Florus, tlorishes in France to this day, under the high title du Roy louU of Prince de Courtenay. Of which family, Alons. de Bouchet, afore-mentioned, hath [!j gg"y*g*\jgt written in French, a large history in folio. The reign of Lewis le Gross aforesaid, be- lais, tut Piere gan in the year of our Lord 1 109, which was long after the Conquest ; and therefore a^ Jrodnrt ''"1" it is impossible for his posterity to come into England with the Norman Conqueror. branch royaie This Florus, and his issue, were the first who assumed the name of Courtenay, from Histoire'^'gene- their mother, an heir female of that family.' aide lamaison Reginald de Courtenay, aforesaid, being in great favor with K. Hen. 2, had com- Jeiiay! cap!"i^j mitted to his gardianship, by that king, Hawise and Matilda, two daughters and p- ?•. heirs, by two several husbands, of Mawd or Matilda, daughter of Randolph Avenel,is taken tVom and Adeliza, sole daughter and heir to Adeliza, daughter of Baldwin de Brioniis, sur- ''"^^ ''"^eai"" named Sap, a noble Norman knight, by Albreda his wife, neice to William the Con- queror; which last Adeliza, was sister and heir to Richard her brother; on whom K. Will. 1 bestow'd the honor of Okehampton, the castle of Exon, and the sheriffalty of Devon. Which daughters, by each husband being great heirs, and in minority, were by K. Hen. 2, as was said before, conmnitted to the custody of this Reginald de Courtenay; he therefore discerning the advantage he had, by thus being their guardian, by the King's consent, took Hawise the elder for his own wife; and match'd Mawd or Ma- tilda, the younger, to William de Courtenay his own son, by a former wife, \\ ho came into England with him. Thus Ducfdal. But there is a far difierent and truer account given of this matter, by a no less faith- lul and skilful antiquary, in those affairs, than Dugdal himself, who acknowledges,^ he ' ibid. p. 637. 2 12 had 2^4r THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. had seen no more of this business, than what the monk of Ford, in his genealogy of Quoprius. tj^j^ family, reports ; which Sir W. Pole expressly says, is altogether false.'' I shall therefore present before you the history of this affair, as it is found in the iiPfhe' 'ba?o*n''y P'''^''S'"ec, taken out of the leiger-book of Okehampton, in that author's own words.' of Okehamp- Baldwin de Brioniis or Sap, afore-mentioned, had, by his wife Albreda, neece to "'°- AVilliam the Conqueror, issue Richard, Adela, and Emma. Adela, tho' married, died without issue. Emma was married twice ; first, unto William Avenel, by whom she had issue Ralph or Randulph Avenel ; and secondly, unto William Averinches or de Abrincis, by whom she had issue Robert de Averinches. Richard, the son and heir of Baldwin de Sap, lord of Okehampton, having no issue of his own, loved Robert Averinches, his sister Emma's son, by her second husband ; and caused him to take homage of the knights, of the honor of Okehampton, and made the tenants of all the mannors belonging to his barony, to swear their feally to him, as unto his licir and their lord. And shortly after this, the said Robert Averin- ches departed out of England, and took unto wife the daughter of Godwin Dole, beyond the seas; and begot on her Matilda his daughter; which was married to the Lord of Ayncourt. Richard being dead, Adela, though she had no issue of her own to succeed her, suc- ceeded her brother in the inheritance, and made Ralph Avenel, the eldest son of her sister Emma, her heir, to succeed in her inheritance, and the honor of Okehampton; unto whom Reginald Earl of Cornwal, uncle to K. Hen. 2, did offer his daughter in marriage ; upon his refusal whereof, and his marrying the sister of Richard de Redvers, Earl of Devon, and William de Vernon the Earl of Cornwal, grew angry, and swore he would cause him to lose his honor of Okehampton. Whereupon, the Earl sent for Matilda, daughter of Robert de Averinches, remaining beyond the seas; and brought an assize against tlie said Ralph Avenel ; that is to say, a tryal. Whether Robert de Averinches were seized of the honor of Okehampton, by the homage of the knights, and fealty of the tenants of the mannor to the day he went beyond the seas? And whether the said Matilda be the next lieir of the said Robert ? All which being found accordingly, Ralph Avenel lost the honor of Okehampton to this day. Which Matilda, daughter and heir of Robert de Averinches, was twice married, first, as 'twas said, unto the Lord of Ayncourt, by whom she had issue Hawise of Ayn- ; court ; and secondly (being brought into England) she became the wife of Robert Fitz-roy, natural son to K. Hen. 1, by whom she had issue Matilda. Which Matilda, after the death of Robert Fitz-roy her father, was by K. Hen. 2 given in marriage unto Reginald de Courtenay, whom Q. Lienor brought with her into England : And William de Courtenay, his son by a former wife, by the advice and command of his father, took unto him Hawise, the eldest sister of ALatilda, his fatlier's wife : who begot on her Robert Courtenay. The said Matilda continuing barren, the honor of Okehampton came unto Robert Courtenay, son of Hawise of Avncourt. Thus Sir W. Pole. And to let us see, that this is not gratis dictum, the said knight confirms what he says by several deeds ; some brief transcript whereof, so far as is necessary to my pre- sent occasion, follows: L^niversis, &c. Hadewisia de Courtenay salutem. Noveritis, &c. me concessisse, &c. Testibus Roberto de Courtenay & Reginaldo fratre suo, filiis meis,' &c. ' Notum sit quod ego Reginaldus de Courtenay, consensu Matildas uxoris mete con- cessi,' &c. But of this enough. Which Robert Courtenay, son of William and Hawise his wife, son of Reginald Courtenay, marry 'd Mary, daughter and, at length, sole heir to Wdiiam de Redvers, sirnamed COURIENAY, WILLIAM, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 245 siniamed de Vernon, from the place in France, where he was born. Earl of Devon ; which afterward brought that earldom into this noble family ; in which it florished for at least ten generations in very great honor. Whereby we see that this great prelate, William Courtenay, archbishop of Canter- bury, was most nobly, nay, royally descended. Dr. Holland informs us,'' That another ' Camb. Brit, branch of the family of Courtenay, in France, came to be Emperor of Constantinople, Jjum. is edit! and enjoyed that dignity for three or four descents. So that had Horace lived in hisu"- age, and had him for his patron, he might more probably have saluted him, than he did his Mecienas, with a ' Hon L. 1. Courtenaie atavis edite regibus — Oh ! thou that springs From race of kings. Nor were his personal virtues and accomplishments, any way unworthy of the noble, or rather the royal, stem, from which he sprang : A consideration whereof J shall pro- ceed unto, and begin with the place where he had iiis education, and that was in the famous university of Oxford ; where, from his tender years, he diligently applied him- self to his studies; and, as what he most affected, especially to the study of the civil and canon laws,*" which, at that time, did best qualify for the preferments of the "> Etiammim a- church ; and that with such happy success, that he was deservedly honor'd with the ^a.^ani'," Pon' title of, Doctor utriusq. juris, doctor of both the laws. titiciiq; studio Being thus qualify 'd for, he entred into, holy orders ; soon after Avhich, the prefer- g"ft''."'o(,i"v."' ments of the church flowed in amain upon him ; for he had one prebendship in the de Praesui. church of Exeter, another in the church of Wells, a third, in the church of York; be- p .%"' ^'"''' sides abundance of rich benefices. Notwithstanding which, it seems, he did not quit his academical life; but continued still in the university', where he grew into so great reputation, for his parts and learn- ing, as well as his parentage(Qui quidem Regem ipsum cognatione attingebat, says the historian)" that he was chosen, A. D. 1367, chancellor thereof; it being the free and u^'^'' o^o^"'' earnest desire of all the masters, regent and non-regent, that he would adorn that pro- lib..', p. 3w. vince." Which, in those days, was not a meer honorary, but a residentiary office. „itrd°ni'a"i.'tn3 The great man undertook it accordingly, and continued therein about the space of regentibus & three years ; at the period whereof, he left it, being very worthily promoted to the see°t"pf^^i"pi"^ of the church of Hereford; unto which he received his consecration, an. 43 K. Edw. 3,ii!ani omau- in the year of our Lord 1369.'' A bishoprick of good value, rated in the pope's, eigli- ibra.'^'^ '"^ teen hundred florens, and in the King's books, 768/. lOs. lOd. ob. q. per annum.'' " Ooiiw. nbi. In this cliair doth this honorable prelate contirtue lor the space ot live years and six HeieC. p. 540. months; and then was he translated to an higher, viz. that of London, anno 1375, ^J^'- "''''• p^s- valued yearly to the pope, in three thousand florens, and to the King, in 1119/. Sjr. Ad. ' id. ibid. p. About three years after this, viz. 1378, a learned author tells us,' what I know some ^*-^' ^'^'^ [,°fj, dispute,* That he was advanced to the purjjle, and became a cardinal of the church Cai.iiiiai. in of Rome; the highest dignity therein, next to the tripple-crown. p.^75'.'"" Near about this time, tiiere arose' a secret grudg between his eminence the cardinal, ^ Dr. Heyiiu. and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the King's uncle ; which at length brake out pra°su". Lond. into an open feud, insomuch, the bishop was grievously traduced, and bespatter'd by p. 245. the duke ; which the Londoners hearing of, took very ill, and in great numbers flew to arms, beset the duke's house, and would have slain him outright, had he not con- sulted his own safety by a very timely flight. When the Londoners understood that, they began to fit materials wherewith to burn his palace ; but the more charitable bishop interposed herein, and with many intreaties, very S46 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. .717. 1 Godw. De Pr^sul. Cant, p. 225. very hardlv prevail'd with them to spare it. The ground of which diflerence was som- thing relating to the opinions of Wickhff; of which they who would see more, may consult the ' Acts and Monuments of the Church,' written by that painful martyro- v.i.p.487. logist, Mr. Fox. This honorable prelate. Bishop Courtenay, having continued in the see of London for the space of six years, upon the barbarous murder of Simon Sudbury, by the shame Speeds Hist, and disgrace of rebels, Wat Tyler and Jack Straw." (the monks of that church electing, "',^^' '''''^'"' and the King, Rich. 2, also consenting) was translated thence to the archiepiscopal throne of Canterbury, A, D. 1381, the valuation whereof in the king's books, we are informed, is, 2SlG/. I?.*'. 9(/. per an. which pay'd, before the Reformation, to the Pope of Rome, ten thousand florens (every floren, in our mony, being worth Ks. 6(/.) for its first-fu-uits, for the pall 5000.' The ceremonies of the instalment being over, and the temporalties of that church, upon paj^ment of the accustomed homage to the King, being restor'd, the archbishop came to his palace at Lambeth, over-against "Westminster; where a certain monk, sent by the prior and convent of Canterbury, presented him with the holy cross in 'Nimcius sum these words, ' Pater reverende,^ reverend father, I am come as the messenger of the siimmi Regis, highest king, who beseecheth, requireth, and commandeth thee, that thou would'st &c^ ibid. p. u,-j(jg,.tj^]^e tl^g government of his church ; and that thou would'st love and protect her: In token of which message, I deliver into thy hands the banner of this great king, to be born by thee.' And witii that he delivered the cross into his hands. These things thus dispatched, the new arclibishop betook himself to the execution of his place and office; first, he began, by his ecclesiastical authority, to restrain the bailiffs of the city of Canterbury from punishing, by their lay-authority, the sin of ' adultry, and other crimes, which were wont to be corrected by the authority of the church. Next he summoned a synod at London ; wherein he condemned, as heritical, the opinions of Wickliffe, which for the greatest part, are received for orthodox in the reformed churches this day ; and even in those times were well embraced, not only among the vulgar, but the learned themselves. Altho' indeed, but few men then had the courage to vindicate them, it being of such dangerous consequence in respect to the world, so to do : For Robert Rugg, our country-man, as I may shew hereafter, an eminent person, a doctor of divinity, and chancellor, at that time, of the university of Oxford ; and Thomas Brightwell, a doctor of divinity likewise, for favoring of those tenets, were brought, by this archbishop, to a recantation. However Nicholas Here- ford and Philip Repindon, doctors of divinity (the last of which, was afterwards Bishop of Lincoln, and a cardinal) together with John Ashton, M. A. when they would not be removed from their opinion, he proceeded against them, to the sentence of excom- munication. After this. Archbishop Courtenay celebrated another synod ; in which himself preached a Latin sermon, on this text, " Super murum Jerusalem constitui custodes." Is. Ixii. 6. I have set my watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem ! At which time, the parliament met also; wherein, when some certain peers were to be impeached, for raising sedition between the king and his nobles, the canons of the church forbidding tlie presence of clergymen, in any matters wherein blood might be concerned, the arch bishop, with his suffragans, were pleased to withdraw, according to their duty ; having first entered their protest in these words, which, for that they do but rarely occur, I shall here insert. "''• ' Cum de jure et consuetudine Regni Anglia» ad Archicpiscopum Cant.'* &c. Where- as by the laWs and constitution of the kingdom of England, it belongeth to the arch- • Godw. antea. bishop of Canterbury, his suffragans, fellow-bishops, abbots, &.c. in right of their baronies COURTENAY, WILLIAM, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 24?' baronies which they hold from the King, as peers of the realm, to be personally pre- . sent, with other the peers in parliament ; yet, forasmuch as in this parliament, there came some things to be transacted, at which, by the holy canons, it is not lawful for them to be there, they protest that they go out, reserving every one his right of peerage safe unto himself , Protestant. But how zealous soever this most reverend prelate shewed himself, in relation to the ?<"■!■» ■''^ »i*i'"- church, he was not, it seems, over eager in his defence of the court of Rome. For in [iT'^'ciOirsUbet" his time, an. 1388, another parliament being called at Cambridg, among other thino-s, «?™™' semper it was enacted. That it should not be lawful for any one for the future, to accept of "aivo. 1T173, any ecclesiastical promotion in England, by eolation from the pope. And if any one thereafter should so do, he was by this law excluded the King's protection : and the patron had power to present, as if the place were actually void. A bold stroke for those times. • <. However, this great prelate was a zealous defender of the revenues and pri\iledges of the English chiuxh : For when the laity in parliament, a little before this, sc. an. 1385,'^ had attempted, under K. Rich. 2, to dispossess the clergy of their temporal ' Speed's Hist, estates, William de Courtenay, Archbishop of Canterbury, 'tis said, most stiffly opposed K.K'iciT.'s" p" it ; alledging, that the church ought to be free, and not in any wise to be taxed by the 726. laity : and that himself would rather die than that the church of England should be made a bond-maid. The King having heard both parties, commanded the Commons to silence, and caused their petition to be razed out, saying, ' He would maintain the English church in the quality of the same state, or better, in which himself had known it to be, when he came to the crown.' AVhich indeed is a matter which highly re- dounds to the honor of the archbishop, as well as of the King. After this, Archbishop Courtenay, being well defended by the pope's bulls, set hhn- self upon the visitation of his province; who having gone thro' Rocliester, Chichester, Worcester, and Wells, came at last to Exeter ; where he found not, that ready obedi- ence he expected, any more than Simon Mepham had done before, when he attempted the like affair : For Thomas Rrentingham, then bishop, and late Lord High-Treasurer of England, upon divers pretences, required his diocess not to submit to the archie- piscopal visitation. But then at length, by the ill management of the business, among some of his under officers, as was said before,'' the bishop was forced to submit him- ■'inBp.Breut. self to his metrapolitan. Whereupon his grace, as became a good christian, and a true gentleman, generously pass'd by all offences, and admitted him into his favor, as formerly he had been. While these things were thus transacting, John Waltham also. Bishop of Sarum,''God. ut sup. taking example from Exeter, plucked up his spirits, and depending much on that favor, P' "' he thought he had with the King, did refuse likewise to submit to the archbishop's visitation ; pretending that Pope Urban the sixth, from whom he derived his diplomas, was new deceased. But the archbishop being no less skilful in the law, than the Bishop of Salisbury, very well knew that his power of visitation did not depend upon the papal authority, however he might think, it might some way support it; he pro- ceeded therefore in his visitation, with a Non obstante to Bishop AValtham's appeal to Rome ; and did so toss him with ecclesiastical censures, that he thought it his wisest course to let fall his appeal, and make trial of his grace's clemency; and this he found so large and generous, that at length, upon his due submission also, by the intercession of the Earl of Salisbury, he was received likewise into his favor. Insomuch, after this time none of the suffragans would ever presume to question his power of visitation; for no resistance was of proof against him : all his opposers that gave him any trouble, gave the most disgrace to themselves; and were soon suppressed, as a certain author tells 175. .248 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. fF.iliei'3 Wor- tells US,' by his high bloofl, strong brains, full purse, skill in the law, and plenty of ti.ies.p.ssi. powerful friends, both in the English and Roman court. Not long before his death, he demanded of the clergy of his province, the sixtieth part of the yearly rent of their revenues : How he succeeded herein generally is not mentioned; but he was opposed in it by the Bishop of Lincoln, who would not suffer it to be collected in his diocess. Whereupon an appeal was made to the pope, but pendcntc-lite, the archbishop died. The personal virtues of this high prelate were very eminent, especially these two, his piety, and his great humility. For the first, we have this confirmation; his raising a demolished college at Maid- stone in Kent,' for secular priests; whose yearly rents, at the dissolution of abbies in K. H. 8's time, amounted to an hundred and forty pounds. E Piuia bona He was likewise very beneficial to his church of Canterbury,^ giving a thousand 'e°cd's\'=^cint! marks, and more, which was a vast sum in those days, towards the building of the sc. a'dfabricambody of it, the cloysters, and the close. obit'' Aichi™ He gave one rich cap, wrought with red, and adorned with precious stones; also Cant, apud " one imao-c to the high altar, representing the Holy Trinity,'' and six of the apostles, slc%''i p. «': consisting of an hundred and sixty pound weight in silver; which at three pounds per •> Unam'Trini- pound valuc, amouuts to about four hundred and eighty pounds more. He gave also tatem cum sex 1 . . i < ^ ., i_ . .^K ,K Apostoiis Cen- very rich copes and vestments to the same church ^, -^ turn Sexagiuta Besides these things, he restored the church of Mepham to the use ot the uiin-m Idl'ur'""' ^''' brothers, which was much fallen into decay ; and builded four new houses near ad- joyning to it. He bestowed likewise abundance of money, in repairing and adorning "the buddings belonging to his seat, especially the castle of Saltwod. He gave^moreover, six choice books to his church of Canterbury, to wit, S. Augustini Milleloquium. A large Dictionary, in three volumes. De Lira, in two volumes. Which books, Richard Courtenay his kindsman, and somtime Bishop of Norwich, was to possess during his life, who entred into a bond of three hundred pounds, that they should be restored to the church aforesaid, by his executors after his death. He gave farther, many things to tlie church of S. Martin at Exminster aforesaid, where, 'tis said he was born. For all which his liberalities, there was an anniversary ap- • pointed'to be celebrated for him by two monks, to pray for his soul ; as there had been before, for Simon Islepc, his predecessor. Havino- thus beheld iiis munificence, let us ne.xt behold his humility, the most 'Id. ib. endearing ornament of a great man : and we find him' represented under this charac- ter, 'That he was aftable, in particular to the monks of his church; he was pious, and very merciful.' How great his modesty and humility were, may further appear from that clause of one will, which runs thus, ' Voluit k ordinavit, quod quia non reputa- vit se diunum [ut dixit) in sua mctropolitana, aut aliqua cathedrali aut collegiata ecclesia sepeliri.^ Because he did not think himself worthy to be buried in his metrapolitan, or in any cathedral or collegiate church, he therefore willed and ordained to be buried in the church-yard of the parish church of Maidstone in Kent, in the place appointed for succession. John Botelcrc his csquue. .,, , Arcbiep. Cant. Xhis high bom prelate at length, as all must, whether high or low, yielded to fate, Ss™uo after he had well governed his province almost twelve years, so says Bp. Godwin:' supia p. 121. p 11 fourteen • so the Obituarium Cantuariense,'" with the addition of ten months and ' De Aiciibp. ' tvventv Cant, ubi sup. lV\tUty "> Apnd Wliar. quo autea. COURTENAY, WILLIAM, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 249 twenty three days, as Mr. Wharton tells us. This hapned to him at his palace, at Maidstone aforesaid, the last day of July,' A. D. 1396. By his last will, he appointed his interment at the place, where it should please God that he died : and in a former, he had ordered it to be in the church of Exeter, near the high cross there ; but where it was is not so apparent. For however he had ordered that his interment should be at Maidstone, yet a late author tells us," That the King, Rich. 2, being then at Canterbury, commanded his body to be brought thither ; and that he lieth interr'd in the great church there, at Prince Edward's feet ; on the south side of S. Thomas's shrine, under a noble alabaster tomb. But Mr, Weaver seemeth to be of another opinion in this matter: For however this honorable prelate may have an honorary tomb in his church of Canterbury (as it was the prac- tice of old, as well as of later days, in relation to men of eminent rank and quality, to have monuments in more places than one)" yet he positively concludes, that he lieth buried at Maidstone in his own church, under a plain grave-stone, (a lowly tomb for such an high-born prelate) upon which his portraicture is delineated ; and this large epitaph inlaid with brass about the verge." (Note 1.) Nomine AVillielmus, En ! Courtnaius, Reverendus, Qui se post obitum legaverat hie tumulandum. In presenti loco quemjam fundarat ab imo j Omnibus & Sanctis titulo sacravit honoris. Ultima lux Julii fit vitae terminus illi; M. ter C. quinto decies nonoque sub anno. Respice mortalis quis quondam, sed modo talis, Quantus & iste fuit, dum membra calentia gessit. Hie primas patrum, cleri dux & genus altum, Corpore valde decens, sensus & acumine clarens. Filius hie comitis generosi Devoniensis : Legum Doctor erat, Celebris quem fama serenat. Urbs Herefordensis, polis inclita Londoniensis, Ac Dorobernensis sibi trinte gloria sedis. Detur honor digno fit cancellarius^ ergo ; Sanctus ubique pater, prudens fuit ille minister Nam Jargus, lastus, castus, pius, atque pudicus Magnanimus, Justus, & egenis totus amicus. Et quia Rex, Christe, pastor bonus extitit iste, Sumat solamen, nunc tecum quesumus. Amen. ' Weav. Fun. Mon. p. 285. "> Whart. in Ad- dend. Ang.Sac, V. 1, p. 795. " Weav. ib. p, 225. " Id. ibid. p. 285. p Sure it is In be understood Cardinal, lor lie was never Chancellor. Weav. il). ADDITIONAL NOTES. (1.) THE history of the illustrious, but unfortunate, family of Courtenay, has not been confined to genealogists, but has seduced into a pardonable digression the historian of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Tlie fortunes of the counts of Edessa, of the emperors of Constantinople, of the unsuccessful but unyielding claimants of the honours of the blood-royal of France, and of the potent barons of England, have been rapidly sketched by his elegant pen. But his object neither required nor admitted the minuteness of genealogical detail, and the reader previously imacquainted with the subject, might find some difficulty in comprehending their connection. So extensively diffused have been the female alliances of the English branch of the Courtenays, that there are few families of distinction in the counties of Devon and Cornwall, that may not enumerate them, m various degrees ol remoteness, in tlie listof tlieir progenitors. The interest which this connection is calculated to excite, may justify a sketch of the principal descents of the family, which in this, as ia other instances, are disjoined by our author, and narrated in different articles. Atho, 2 K 250 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Atho, the founder of the castle of Courtenay in Fratice, in the eleventh century, had two grandsons, Milo and Joscelin, the younger is enrolled among the leaders of the first crusade, and received the investiture of the county of Edessa on either side of the Euphrates, vvhicii was inherited by his son, but abandoned by his infant grandson, who retired with his mother to Jerusalem, where he afterwards attained the first office in the kingdom. In him expired, in the male line, this younger branch. Milo, the elder son, was the father of Reginald, from whom sprung the Constantinopolitan, the French, and perhaps the English branches ; the two former through his female heir by his first marriage ; the latter by his male issue by a second marriage. The daughter of Reginald married the seventh son of King Lewis the Fat, and the reputation in which the family was then held may be estimated from their imposing their name on the son of their sovereign. Peter, the eldest son of this marriage, was father and grandfather to Peter and Baldwin, successively emperors of Constantinople. In the maintenance and loss of their empire was involved the ruin of their patrimonial estates, and this eldest line of the family soon became extinct. From the younger sons of Peter was derived a long succession of Courtenays in France, who at various times asserted their claim, and i)roved their right to the honours of the blood-royal, but succeeded not in obtaining permission to enjoy them. The male line of this branch terminated in 1730. Reginald de Courtenay, having united his daughter to the son of his sovereign, is believed, from reasons which tradition has not preserved, to have abandoned his possessions in France, to have accompanied Eleanor, the con- .sort of Henry the second, to England, and to have received from that monarch an establishment in Devonshire. Whether he was really the person of his name, who then came into England, may admit o( some doubt ; and if the supposition be correct, he must have been accompanied by a son of some age, since he and his son are proved to have niaried two sisters, Matilda and Hawise, in whom was vested the barony of Oakhampton. Reginald had no issue by this marriage, but his son William had issue Robert, who inherited the barony of Oakhampton, and married Mary, the daughter of William de Rivers, sixth Earl of Devon of that name. To him succeeded John, Hugh, and Hugh, who upon the death of Baldwin de Revers, the eighth Earl, suc- ceeded to the earldom of Devon and the barony of Plympton. This son was Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, who married in 1325, the daughter of the Earl of Hereford and grandaughter of King Edward the first, by whom he had many sons, and among these the subject of this article, and the progenitor of the Powderham branch, as will be hereafter mentioned. The Earldom descended to Edward the son of his second son, who was sirnamed the blind and the good Earl of Devon. To him succeeded Hugh his son, Thomas his grandson, and Thomas, Henry, and John, his great grandsons, successively Earls of Devon, of whom the first was beheaded after the battle of Tovvton ; the second beheaded at Salisbury; and the third slain in the battle of Tewkesbury. In the first year of Henry the seventh, the title was restored in the person of Edward, grandson of Sir Hugh Courtenay of Haccombe, younger son of Hugh, second Earl of Devon. This Edward was the ninth Earl of Devon, and the father of Earl William, who married Katharine, daughter of King Edward the fourth. Henry, his son, was created Marquis of Exeter, was attainted and executed in the reign of Henry the eighth. Edward his son restored in blood, was tiie twelfth and last Earl of Devon. Upon his death, which happened at Padua in 1556, the de- ' scendants of the four sisters of his great grandfather, Edward Earl of Devon, were found by an inquisition to be his heirs; and thus into the families of Trelhurfe, Arundel, Mohun, and Trelawny, passed the possessions of the elder line, and the dormant claims to the baronies of O.ikhampton and Plympton. The representation of the lamily devolved to the Powderham branch, which originated, as has been already observed, in Sir Philip Courtenay, fifth son of Hugh the second Earl of Devon. It is unnecessary to pursue the individual succession tinough a long series of distinguished names, to the present time. For this we refer the reader to Collins' s Peerdge. It will be suflicient here to observe, that the fourteenth in lineal descent from Sir Philip, was in 1762 restored to the peerage by the title of Viscount Courtenay, whose grandiion, llie present Viscount, is seventeenth in descent from Hugh second Earl of Devon, twenty second from Reginald, who came into England in the reign of Henry the second, and twenty-fifth from Atho, who built the Castle of Courtenay, in France, and gave that name to his descendants. To this dry detail of genealogical succession, we may be allowed to add the observations with which the historian already mentioned concludes his account of the English branch of the family. " The Earls of Devonshire of the name of Courtenay were ranked among the chief of the barons of the realm, nor was it till after a strenuous dispute that they yielded to the fief of Arundel, the first place in the parliament of England. Their alliances were contracted with the noblest families, the Veres, Despensers, St. Johns, Talbots, Bohuns, and even the Plantagenets themselves; in a contest with John of Lancaster, a Courtenay, Bishop of London, and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, might be accused of profane confidence in the strength and number of his kindred. In peace, the Earls of Devon resided in their numerous manors and castles of the west: their ample revenue was appropriated to devotion and hospitality; and the epitaph ol Edward, sirnamed, from his misfortune, the Blind, from his virtues, the Good, Earl, inculcates with much mgenuity a moral sentence which may however be abused by thoughtless generosity. .A.fter a grateful commemoration of the iilty-Iive years of union and happi- ness which he enjoyed with Mabel his wife, the Good Earl thus speaks from the tomb : What we gave, we have ; What we spent, we had ; What we left, we lost. " But their losses, in this sense, were far superior to their gifts and expenses ; and their heirs, not less than the poor, were the objects of their paternal care. The sums which thev paid for liverv and seisin, attest the greatness of COURTENAY, WILLIAM, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 251 of their possessions, and several estates have remained in their family since the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. In war, the Courtenays of England fulfilled the duties, and deserved the honours of chivalry. They were often intrusted to levy and command the militia of Devonshire and Cornwall ; they often attended their supreme lord to the borders of Scotland ; and in foreign service, for a stipulated price they sometimes maintained fourscore men alarms, and as many archers. By sea and land they fought under the standard of the Edwards and Henries: their names are conspicuous in battles, in tournaments, and in the original list of the order of the garter ; three brothers shared tiie Spanish victory of the Black Prince; and in the lapse of six generations the English Courte- nays had learned to despise the nation and country from which they derived their origin. In the quarrel of the two Roses, the Earls of Devon adhered to the house of Lancaster, and three brothers successively died either in the field or on the scaffold. Their honours and estates were restored by Henry the seventh ; a daughter of Ed- ward the fourth was not disgraced by the nuptials of a Courtenay; their son, who w'as created Marquis of Exeter, enjoyed the favour of his cousin Henry the eightii ; and in the camp of cloth of gold, he broke a lance against the French monarch. But the favour of Henry was the prelude of disgrace ; his disgrace was the signal of death; and of the victims of tiie jealous tyrant, the Marquis of Exeter is one of the most noble and guiltless. His son Edward lived a prisoner in the Tower, and died in exile at Padua; and the secret love of Queen Mary, whom he slighted perhaps for the Princess Elizabeth, has shed a romantic colour on the story of this beautiful youth. The relics of his patrimony were conveyed into strange families by the marriages of his four aunts; and his personal honours, as if they had been legally extinct, were revived by the patents of succeeding princes. But there still survived a lineal descendant of Hugh the first Earl of Devon, a younger branch of the Courtenays, who have been seated at Powderham Castle above four hundred years, from the reign of Edward the third, to the present hour. Their estates have been increased by the grant and improvement of lands in Ireland, and ihey have been recently restored to the honours of the peerage. Yet the Courtenays still retain their plaintive motto,* which .isserts the innocence, and deplores the fall, of their ancient house. While they sigh for past greatness, they are doubtless sensible of present blessing; in the long series of the Courtenay annals, the most splendid era is likewise the most unfortunate ; nor can an opulent peer of Britain be inclined to envy the emperors of Constantinople, who wan- dered over Europe to solicit alms for the support of their dignity and the defence of their capital." ('J.j In 1794 it was ascertained that the burial place of Archbishop Courtenay was in Maidstone church. In consequence of a search made by the late Reverend Samuel Deane, his skeleton was found in a grave between five and six feet deep in the middle of the chancel. This discovery terminated the contention which had long been carried on among antiquaries respecting his real burial place, and which, through the artifice of a monk of Christ- church, in making a false entry in an ancient manuscript, had been frequently affirmed to have been in Canterbury cathedral. SeeGough. Sepulchral Monuments, vol. 2. Int. p. cxxxvi — cxl. Beauties of England, viii. 1249. » Ubi lapsus ! Quid feci ? 2 K ii , COURTENAY, 252 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Flor. A. D. 1390. R. R. Rich. 2. • Baron, of Engl. V. 1, p. 639. "Speed. Chr. inK. R. 2. ' Diigd. quo antea. ' In Life and Reign of K. R. 2. COURTENAY, SIR PETER, KNIGHT. COURTENAY, Sir Peter, Knight of the Garter, called by Dugdal,* Sir Piers de Courtenay, was the sixth son of Hugh, the second of that name. Earl of Devon. He was younger brother to the archbishop, above mentioned, by the same parents ; and so probably born at the same place. This gentleman was a true son of Mars, and actuated with such heroic fire, that he wholly addicted himself unto feats of arms. The first proof he gave of his valor, was in a sea fight, against the Spaniard, in the expedition of the great Duke of Lancaster, when he went to challenge the crown of that country in right of Constance his se- cond wife, daughter and heir of Don Peter the Cruel,"" about the year of our Lord 1378 : at what time he was assisted by Sir Philip Courtenay, Kt. his valorous bro- ther, who was the first founder of that truly honorable family of the name, which this day florisheth, (and God grant it always so to do) at Powderham castle in this county. In which fight. Sir Philip was sore wounded, but escaped the hands of his enemies.'^ After which, in 7 K.. R. 2, he was constituted lord lieutenant of Ireland for ten years. Sir Peter Courtenay aforesaid, was also sore wounded in that fight, and taken pri- soner : but for his enlargement, he had a grant from the King, of the benefit of the marriage of Richard, the brother and heir of Thomas de Poinings. His next scene of action, was the court of France ; in which he followed that manly exercise of Justs and tournaments; now justled out of fashion by your carpet knights, who regard no arms, but those which are for embraces; wherein he behaved himself so bravely, that he was much honoured by the King of France himself Hence, in the 7th of K. Ricli. 2, he had license to send into France, by Northampton Herald, and by Anlet Pursevant, eight cloths of scarlet, black, and russet, to give to certain noble men of that realm. As also, two horses, six saddles, six little bows, one sheaf of large arrows, and another sheaf of cross-bow arrows, for the King of France's keeper : likewise a grey-hound, and other dogs. All which were for presents to the French, in respect to the great honor that King had done him, at such time as he combated there, with a knight of that realm. Here I shall crave leave to speak somthing, as to the manner and magnificence wherewith these justs and tournaments were wont to be solemnized. And this, from that particular one held iiere in England, an. 1390, of which we have this account in Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle.'' " In the 13th year of K. Rich. 2, a royal justs was proclaimed, to be holden within Smithfield, in London, to begin on Sunday next after the feast of S. Michael ; which being published, not only in England, but in Scotland, in Almaigne, in Flanders, in Bridiant, and in France, many strangers came hither. Amongst others. Valerian Earl of St. Paul, that had married K. Richard's sister; and AVilliam, the young Earl of Ostervant, son to the Earl of Holland and Heinault. At the day appointed there issued forth of the Tower, about three a clock in the afternoon, sixty coursers apparelled for the justs; and upon every one an esquire of honor riding a soft pace. After them came forth four and thirty ladies of honor, Froisard saitli, three score, mounted on palferies, and every lady led a knight with a chain of gold. These knights being on the King's part, had their armor and apparel garnished with white hearts and crowns of gold about their necks." Undoubtedly on the other part, whosoever undertook to perform it against the King, they were but very little less glorious and magnificent. Tliey came riding through the streets COURTENAY, SIR PETER, KNIGHT. -^ ^^ streets of London unto Smithfield, at what time we need not question, but this our valiant knight. Sir Peter, or Sir Piers Courtenay made one. The justs lasted divers days, some say four and twenty; which were grac'd all the time with the king and queen's roj'al presence; who lay at the bishop's palace by St. Paul's church, and kept open house for all comers. In the 1 1th of K. Rich. 2, was Sir Peter made chief chamberlain to the King, a place of great honor and trust; whose fee is an hundred pound yearly, and sixteen dishes each meal, with all the appurtenances.* But his martial mind was more intent 'Cham. Pre*, upon glory in the feats of arms, than upon the soft dalliances of a court life. He ob-p_'\|o.'"''' *' tained therefore the same year, license to go again to Calais, with John Hoboldod, Esquire, to challenge the French for the performance of certain feats of arms, and be- haved himself bravely there. Whereof the ensuing history, which I have met with in a certain manuscript, contains a full demonstration ; which I shall here relate, with very little variation, in the words of my author.' IfDew in'the " In the reign of Charles the 6th, King of France, A. D. 1.S90, were divers noble Earis thereof, knights in his court, men at arms, and of great prowess: three whereof were of great ^^' name. Monsieur de Bauciquant, Monsieur Raynant de Roy, and Monsieur de St. Pie, all gentlemen of the King's chamber; who had proclaimed a great tournament, to be held the 20th of Novemb. J 389, and vahantly performed it accordingly; at which were present an hundred gentlemen at arms of the English nation : if our Sir Peter were not there at first, he came soon after to Pans ; and after he had rested a few days, he challenged Monsieur Tremouly, a noble gentleman, who having obtained leave of the King, accepted the same, and appointed the day and place. " The time being come, the King, associated with the Duke of Burgundy, and other high estates, were present to behold it; the first course was exceedingly well performed by both parties, with high commendation ; but the King inhibited any farther proceedings, seemingly offended with our knight, who had made sute to do his utmost. Sir Peter herewith grieved, thought good to leave the court and country ; at which the K. was very well pleased, and sent him an honourable gift at his de- parture (the Duke of Burgundy did the like) and commanded Monsieur de Clary, a great lord of his train, to accompany him to Calais, then in English hands. " By the way thither, they visited Valerian, the third of that name. Earl of St. Paul, who had married King Richard's half-sister, Maud, daughter of Sir Thomas Holland, and widow to Hugh Courtenay, the younger son of Hugh Earl of Devon, Sir Peter's eldest brother, where they had fair reception ; and sitting one night at supper, communing of various arguments, among other things, the Earl asked Sir Peter, ' How he liked the realm of France, and his opinion of the worth of the nobi- lity thereof?' To whom Sir Peter, with a soniwhat sower countenance, replied;" ' That he found in France nothing to be compared to the magnificence there was in England ; tho' for friendly entertainment, he had no cause to complain : but for the chief cause that moved him to come into France, he returned unsatisfied. For I protest,' says he, ' before this honourable company, that if Monsieur de Clary had come into England and challenged any of our nation, he should have been fully answered. Whereas other measure hath been tendered to ine in France ; for when Monsieur Tremouly and I engaged our honor, after one launce broken, the King commanded me to stay. I have therefore said it, and wherever I come will say. That in France I was denied reason, and leave to do my utmost.' " Monsieur de Clary especially, was much moved at these speeches; yet having it in charge from the King, to conduct Sir Peter safe to Calais, for the present he for- bore. But the Earl replied, ' Let me tell you Sir Peter, it appears to me, that you depart from France with much honor, in regard, the King did vouchsafe to entreat you to stay the fight ; wliom to obey, is both wise and commendable.' " Sir 254 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. " Sir Peter having now taken his leave of the Earl, passeth on his journy with Monsieur de Clary; and as soon as they were entred the English territories, he hear- tily thanked him for his noble company : but Monsieur de Clary, having admitted a deep impression to be made in his mind, by Sir Peter's eager speeches at the Earl of St. Paul's, began thus to accost him : • Now Sir, I have done my duty, in performing the King my master's commands, in conducting you to your friends. However, before we part, I must remember you of those inconsiderate speeches you have lately uttered, in contempt of the nobility of France; and that you may have no cause to boast when you arrive in England, that you were not fully answered, lo ! here 1 am, this day, or tomorrow, (tho' inferior to many other of our country) to do you reason : not out of any malice to your person, or vaingloriously to boast of mine own valor, but to preserve the fame and lustre due to the French nation ; which never wanted, sure, gentlemen at arms, to answer any English challenge whatsoever.' ♦You speak well and nobly,' quoth our knight, ' and with very good will I accept your challenge : and tomorrow I will not fail to attend you, armed with three launces, according to the French custom.' " Upon this agreement and resolution, Sir Peter Courtenay went for Calais, there to furnish himself with arms and accouU>^Mients proper tor the rnmbat. And the Lord Warren then governor there, was made privy to the business. " The next day he returned according to his promise, to meet Monsieur de Clary between Calais and Bulloigne ; with whom went the lord governor and other gentle- , men, to behold the combat. " At the first course, either party broke well ; but at the second, hy default of the English knight's armor, he was hurt in the shoulder : which moved the Lord Warren to tell Monsieur de Clary, ' You have done discourteously to hurt Courtenay, his armor being broken.' To which he answered, ' I am sorry; but to govern fortune is not in my power: it might have hapned to' me, what befel him; and so they parted." tBar. V. p. Of which action, perhaps Sir William Dugdal« may be understood, when he said, •*'• ' That Sir Piers de Courtenay did not ably manifest his military skill and valor, at a tournament held in France, to his high renown.' However de Clary came otT with Courtenay, his welcome to his king, upon his return, was very sharp and severe; an argument he had not acquitted himself to ex- pectation. Nor did Sir Peter's action better please the King of England; for there was a message brought him from K. Rich. 2, ' That he the said Sir Peter Courtenay now at Calais, should forbear to exercise any feats of arms with the French, without the special leave of Henry de Percy, Earl of Northumberland.' These things being well over, in the 14th of the same King, Sir Peter was made con:,table of Windsor castle : and in his l6th year, when divers knights came out of Scotland, to challenge the English to certain feats of arms, one Barrel challeng- ino- Sir Peter, they ran at one another witli sharp spears. For all which his brave ex- ploits, he was, by K. Rich. 2, made one of the knights of the most noble order of the « Sir w. Poif's garter." , • u r Uescr.ofDev. It was not long after this, when this noble chevalier had another combat with a tar Fam. Sold. ^^^^^ mighty champion than any of those afore-mentioned, by whom he was soon foil'd, ami that v\as his death; which took him off by an unhappy stroke in the flower of his' age, in the 10th year of the reign of K. Hen. 4, A. D. 1409. Where he died is not certain; but he lieth interr'd in the cathedral church of St. Peter, Exon, about the middle of the body of it, near his father the Earl of Devon- shire's tomb, where a fair grave-stone, richly inlaid with gilded brass ; containing the portraicture of the said Sir Peter, arm'd cap-a-pe, might heretofore be seen : whose iiz. Mem. of epitaph, so much of it as remaineth, here followeth." Exct. p. 60. Devoniae 640, COURTENAY, SIR PETER, KNIGHT. ^55 Devoniae natus comitis, Petrusque vocatus, Reo;is cognatus, camerariiis intitulatus : Calisias gratus, capitaneus ense probatus. Vitae privatus, fuit hinc super astra relatus. Et quia sublatus, de mundo transit amatus, Casio lirmatus, maneat, sine fine beatus. Wliich verses are thus translated in my last quoted author: The Earl of Devonshire's son, Peter by name. Kin to the King, Lord Chamberlain of fame. Captain of Calais, for arms well approved} Who dying, was above the stars removed. And well beloved, went from the world away, To lead a blessed life in heaven for aye. COURTENAY, '256 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. COURTENAY, RICHARD, LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH. Fior. A. D. COURTENAY, Richard, Lord Bishop of Norwich, was born at Powderham-castle Hen.' 5. ' '" this county. He was, we are expressly told,' second son of Sir Philip Courtenay, » Sir w. Poles of that placc, Kt. by Anne his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Wake, of Bisworth, Kt, i^Powdert^" ^^'"'^^'^ ^^'^ Philip, was the fourth (so some),'' the fifth son (so others),' of Hugh MS. 'Courtenay, the second of that name, Earl of Devon, and of Margaret his wife, " Id. ib. daughter of Humphry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, by Elizabeth his wife, 'Diigd. Bar. daughter of that puissant prince, Edw. 1, K. of England ; by which we see how near- ' ' " " ly related this venerable prelate was to the blood-royal. But omitting these, as things not properly his own, let us go on with the history of his life. He had the education of his youth under his uncle AVilliam, Lord Arch- bishop of Canterbury (of whom before) who it seems, took him as his own adopted son; which is the title his grace bestowed upon him in that clause of his will, by *Angi. Sac. p. which he gave him a legacy of an hundred marcs. The words are these;'' *^^'^'*" ' Item, Lego R. C. filio & alumno meo C. marcas.' ' I bestow upon Richard Courtenay, my son and foster-child, an hundred marcs.' Being thus tender to him, the arch-bishop took very great care about his education; •Id. ib. and had him well brought up in virtue and learning ; for so we are informed,' ' Cura ipsius, bonis literis est institutus. By his oversight he was bred a scholar.' Having so great a man for his foster-father, he had the university of Oxford to his nursing-mo- ther : so that being under the nurture of such eminent parents, he could not miss of very great improvements. What particular college had the honour of this gentle- »Fui. wor. in man's residence therein, I do not find: But this I do,^ That he was a very successful ev. p. 252. gtyjgj^t^ and became excellently learned ; and was especially skilled in the knowledg of both laws, civil and canon, as his uncle the arch-bishop was. His great uncle aforesaid, even froiu his youth, had devoted him to the service of the church of God, and designed him for the clergy. And that he might the better encourage him to undertake the holy function, he not only bestowed large sums of mo- ny upon him to train him up in learning, but some particular gifts, leading and en- • MuitosLi- dining him thereunto.' Thus he bequeathed unto him by his will, many books, in quo'c"ericHs ^^^^ ^^^ would bc a clcrgy man; and his best mitre, if it hapned that he should be a esse velit & bishop. tra™X;mi' ^^^ ^^^ ^'^^ youi^g gentleman wanting to the good wishes of his most reverend &c. whart.' uucle ; for soou after his decease, he was admitted into holy orders ; and not long af- quo supra. ^^^, ^]^^^^ yjg i^ear the year of our Lord, 1402, was he made Dean of St. Asaph : and on the first of June, 1403, he was chosen one of the canons of the church of York. During all which time, we may conclude him a residentiary in the university of Ox- ford ; for about the Feast of St. John the Baptist, 1406, he became chancellor there- "Hist.&Ant. of:'' so again, an. 1408; and again, an. 1411, and an. 1412; an argument he was Univ. Oxon. 1. j^p|j ^^ |jg ^^ excellent governor: this beinc; in those days more than an honorary of- 2 p. 402, - fice, as was said before. During which time, so gracious was he with the King, Hen. 4, that his Majesty, at his desire, bestowed upon that university, a very large silver iQuofiagitante cross, double gilded with gold.' Nor was he in less favor with K. Hen. 5, his son, ^a'nT"ra"^T *^^^^^ puissaut prince ; for at his earnest suit and endeavor, he was, by the monks of demdeauratam the churcli of Norwich, choscu their bishop, in the year of our Lord, 1413, 1 Hen. '^" 5, a bishoprick, whose yearly value in the King's books, is said to be 899/. S.v. ^d. q. but in censu Romano, it was rated at 5000 ducates. He was consecrated by the •■Godw. dc Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Thomas Arrundel, the same year, in the presence of the Prasni. Norw. KiuET, and a ffrcat concourse of the nobility :'' but being hindred at that time bv the p. 495. &' O JO ■'• Ui u " weighty COURTENAY, RICHARD, LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH. 257 weighty affairs of the King and kingdom, wherein he was employed, he did not live to be installed. For in the second year after his consecration, K. Hen. 5, going into France, with his victorious sword in hand, demanding the crown thereof, as his right and just due, this honorable prelate attended him thither. Where, while that warlike prince was carrying on the siege of Harflew in Normandy, the bishop was taken ill of a dysentery or bloody-flux, whereof he soon after died, in the strength and vigor of Jiis age ; on the 14th or 16th of Septemb. 1415. . If any are so curious, as to be willing to know what he was, as to his person, he descends unto us under a very honorable character,' That he was by his blood noble, 'Sanguine no- for stature tall and proper, of comly countenance, an eloquent tongue, and every way pi.te™Tfeoie a graceful presence of body. decoms Lingua As to his benefactions, he had not time enough to do much, yet somthing he didJrcXrj"'" to eternize his memory; for Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, having laid the ^'■""^'^•^ p«^- foundation of a public library in the university of Oxford, died before he could bring rc^Nor^fqJo It to perfection: And however there were several other benefactors thereunto, yet the'"i"'='- work received its last hand in the time, and by the care of this honorable prelate; as we are expressly told by the laborious author of the history and antiquities of the said university." -Ant.aWood He was a prelate of eminent learning, and great sanctity of life; which, with his '■'■'' P"*^' erect presence of body, won him great love and favor among all men, but especially with the King; ' Qui eum implicatissimis regni negotiis semper voluit interesse;' who would always concern him in the most involved and intricate business of the realm. All which notwithstanding, inexorable death took him off untimely, to the great loss both of church and state in those days. Being thus dead in Normandy, his venerable remains were brought from thence into England, and with great state intomb'd at Westminster, on the north-side of St. Ed- ward's tomb, behind the high altar," among the royal sepulchres of our Kings. AVHiere ° Monad., having none of his own, I shall subjoyn the epitaph which I find on his grandsire's ^Irt foe*"* monument, the Lord Bohun, Earl of Hereford, in the south-isle of the cathedral q"" *»p- p- church of St. Peter, Exon ; where that illustrious person lieth in effigy, all in armor, *'*'• cross-legg'd, curiously cut in stone: over which, in a marble table, is this inscription. Epitaphium Domini Bohunni illustrissimi quondam Comitis Herefordiae, O ! Bohunne Comes ! claro de sanguine Nate I En I rapit vita; Stamina Parca tuae. Dejicit ilia viros illustri stemmate Natos; Insuper obscuros dejicit ilia viros. Aspicite humanam Bohunni in imagine sortem .? Cunctos mors panda Falce cruentA Secat. ■ 2L COURTENAY, 258 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. COURTENAY, PETER, LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. Fior. A. D. COURTENAY, Peter, Lord Bishop of Winchester, we are expressly tokl,^ was Edw;4."'^* born at Powderham, in this shire. He was a younger son of Sir Philip Courtenay, ^Fui. Wortii. of that place, Kt. by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Walter Lord Hungarford," who ["^«^''- was, by Joan his wife, widow of Sir James Chudlegh, Kt. and daughter of Alexander Prasu"' iu" Champernon of Beer-Ferrers, son of Sir John Courtenay of Powderham-castle, Kt ;* Epis. Ex. j^j,(j j^g^ i^y Anne his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Wake, Kt. was the son of Sir Des'c^^oV'uo'v' Philip Courtenay, fourth son of Hugh, the second of this name. Earl of Devon, and in Powderii. *^' Margaret his wife, who settled Powderham upon him, and his posterity, in the days of k! Edw. .3, where, worthy of their noble ancestry, they have florished ever since, now above three hundred years, and God grant them still to florish. Before we proceed farther, it may not be ungrateful to the reader, to give some ' Id. ii). hvM account of this place : Powderham had antiently lords of the same name j"* in the E^'t^p'^Ti "'^ days of K. Edw. 2, 'tis storied, that John Powderham" alias Powdras, a tanner's son, gave out, that himself was the true Edward, eldest son of the late K. Edw. 1, and by a false nurse was changed in his cradle ; and that the then K. Edw. 2, was a carter's son, laid in his place: but being to be hang'd for his treason and forgery, he confess- ed he was perswaded thus to say, by the instigation of a familiar-spirit, which he had kept in his house, in the likeness of a cat, three years before; that assured him he K^Edvf"''" shoidd be King of England.^ "■^" The castle of this name, stands near the confluence of the river Ex, and the riveret Ken ; about six miles below the city of Exeter, on the west-side of the Ex, in a frnit- ot'^Dei.^i'ir' ful and pleasant place, as a modern poet sings.^ I'o^vdel■h. MS. AVliere Ex meets curled Ken with kind embrace, In chrystal arms they clip fair Powderham place. 'Riit. iuDev. jj ^yj^g built, saith Cambden,'' by Isabel de Ripariis, daughter of Baldwin de Ripa- riis, or Rivers, Earl of Devon; and hath a fair prospect of that river. This mannor, at first, William de Ow, a noble Norman, held by the Conqueror's in"K*'w KiifiS'^'^' ^''^- William of Normandy; he is called in Speed,' William of Anco, who being p.4i'i. ' 'accused of conspiring with Robert Mowbray, and other lords, to deprive K. William Rufus both of crown and life, and of setting up Stephen de Albemarle, his aunt's son, whil'st he dared combat with his accusars, had his eyes pluck'd out by the King's command, and his virilities taken off. But hereof enough. Mr. Peter Courtenay, of w honi we are treating, having spent some time in laying a good foundation of learning in the university of Oxford, for his better improvement in knowledg and science, went to travel; and going beyond sea, he came to Padua, a famous university in Italy, where, an argument he had applied himself to that kind " Goriw. De of study before, lie was created doctor of laws.'' How long he tarried in these parts, p.'^SsI" " ""' is uncertain, but likely enough it is he visited Venice, being but twenty-four miles from Rome ; and several other places, before his return. Being come back into England, he went once more to Oxford, where he was in- 'id. ib, corporated, by that university, into tlie same degree he had taken at Padua.' Hav- ing now on his doctor's degree, lie was made arch-deacon of Exeter (valued in the ■"Valor Bene-Kuio's books at 6()l. \5s\ Scl. per annum) ;"' after which he was advanced to the dean- fic.jn Devon. ^^ J^ ^j^^ ^.^^^^ churcli ; if wc may credit a late author herein," who tells us, ' That supt'p^s'J!"* a controversy hapning between the mayor and citizens of Exeter, and the company of taylors, after great charges, it came to be determined by the King, Edw. 4, whose final order therein, was sent to Dr. Peter Courtenay, then dean of that church, to be COURTENAY, PETER, LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. 259 be delivered unto both parties; which deanry is vakied at 158/. per annum, in the King's books. About two years after this, viz. anno 1477, he was prefer'd to the episcopal throne of Exeter; and consecrated in St. Stephen's chappel, at Westminster, where the com- mons now use to sit in parliament, by Thomas Bourchier, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, in the month of November, the same year. At his coming thither, he found the north-tower of his cathedral church unfinished, for however now there be two towers, distinguished by their site, the south, wherein is a cage often very sweet and tunable bells; and the north, in which is the great Peter bell ; yet at the'time of this honor- able prelate's instalment, the north tower was not far advanced ; whereupon, he forth- with undertook, and sate about the work, and, in the short time he remained bishop here, at his own charges and expenses, he brought the same to perfection ; and it is now a very noble and stately piece of building. Which having thus finished, that it might not remain an empty and useless steeple. Bishop Courtenay was pleas* d farther, at his proper cost, to furnish with one bell, of an immense magnitude, weighing, as we are told," twelve thousand and five hundred pounds. So that by reason of the" w.ib. p. 2. weight and bigness of it, it can't be rung out, without the help of many men ; which that it may be the better done, it hath a double wheel, and tvvo distinct ropes fasten'd to them ; by help whereof, it may be done." It retains the founder's name, and frorn' J^'^*^Pi™P'*„'. him it is call'd Peter's-bell, unto this day. sum, sine mui- Here, by a profitable digression, give me leave to speak somthing of the first in-J"™"^^"",'" vention, and inventor of bells in churches. non potest pnl- As to the invention of them ; they were designed to congregate people, for thCq'J.o^rtu^s^"'" worship and service of God. Upon the far and wide spreading of christian families, bells became more serviceable to this ])urpoEe, than cither the silver trumpets among the Jews, or the voices of men from the tops of steeples, in practice this day among the Turks and Mahometans ; they being of a much deeper and louder sound : For wliicii great conveniency, a certain author tells us, he thinks they were devised by divine inspiration.'' " i Westc. De». From this let us proceed to the first inventor of them, and we are informed it wa^tiLd-^otExoiK Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, a city in Campania Fa^lix, fourteen miles from Naples to- wards the east, an excellent and famous prelate of ccpial standing in time, with St. Hie- rom and St. Augustin, who used them first in his church and diocess : hence Nola in Latin is used to signify a bell. And 'tis not unworthy our observation, that no law, sect, or profession of religion whatsoever, have the use of bells for divine service, in their temples, but onl>' the Christians. Unto this great and famous bell was Bishop Courtenay pleased to add a clock (the city's time intelligencer to this day) and unto the clock a dial, of very curious inven- tion, especially for that age ; for it shews the variable changes of the moon, the pass- age of the days of the month, and the hours of the day, all running with the clock. Now let it be considered, clocks will be found not only a very useful, but an admira- ble invention, which speaking by the sound of a bell, at just intervals and periods of time, do proclaim the hours of the day or night; by benefit whereof, blind-men that can see no sun nor shadow, and sick-men confin'd to their beds, may know how the time goes, and how lone; they have been there, tho' asleep all the wiiile.' Tiie mosf r Hist, of Man. curious piece, in tiiis kind, is the famous clock of Strasburgh, in Germany; the in- Arts, p.7. vention of Conradus Dasypodiiis, one of that nation : but this is a younger brother to that at Exeter, almost by an hundred years. The use of clocks was first brought into churches, in the time of Phoeas, the emperor, and Sabiiiianus tiie pope, who lived about the year of our Lord, 600. Bishop Courtenay having, with many great advantages, well govern'd the church of Exeter, about the space of nine years, upon the death of Wainfleet, Bishop of '^ L '2 Winchester, 260 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Winchester, the famous founder of Magdalen college in Oxford (' Cui in toto Christ- ' Gndw. De iano orbc hand temere reperias aliud conferendum,' says the historian ;' another such p. 294. can hardly be found in the whole Christian world) was from hence translated thither. 'iz. Mem. of This was done by the peculiar favor of K. Hen. 7,' unto whose cause and interest he X. p. 94. j^jj^j shewn himself very faithful, against that bloody usurper, Richard the third. Now Winchester was at that time, as still, not only of great revenues, double to that of Exeter, that being valued but at six thousand ducats per annum, this at twelve, but of higher honor ; for the Bishop of Winchester is prelate of the garter by his place ; and indeed he is the only one of that quality in England. Hither was he "Ibid, p. 295. translated anno I486, so Bishop Godwin;" ' Bulla innocentii'P. data, 1487,' So the AnghSac. vol! continuator of the History of the Church of Winton tells us." 1, p. 319. In this honorable chair doth Bishop Courtenay continue about the space of six years, during which time, what his particular benefactions were to this church there," or to the public, I am not informed : Altho' we need not question but there were ma-. ny instances thereof, had the historians of those times been careful to record them. He died on the 'iSd of September, 1492, and as Godwin from Hooker tells us, MV^oith. of lieth buried in his church at Winchester; though wliere about Fuller tells us'' that zjntheEiK'i. author confesses,^ he did not know. Much it is indeed, that a prelate of so illustrious edit. a birth, should have so obscure a burial ; wbicli makes me think, that however he died at Winchester, he was not inter'd there; but brought thence to Powderham, in this county : In which church is a monument found, on which may be seen somthing of the efligies of a prelate, in his pontificalilnis, as I have been inform- ed ; which may well be thought to be this bishop's, and hath been so accounted. That this piece of a page may not be wholly vacant, I shall here briefly consider, the successor of Bishop Courtenay in both his sees, and that was Bishop Fox, in Ex- v*?'"'^Vm' "t ^*^^' inimediately, and in the other mediately, Bishop Langton coming between them." E.\. "^ This Bishop Rich. Fox, was a faithful counsellor, both at home and abroad, to K. Hen. 7, who successively made him Bishop of Exeter, Bath and Wells, Durham, and Winchester. He was lord privy seal, and of the privy-council to this King, and his son K. Hen. 8. This noble prelate's memory shall be eternally blessed, for being the cause (under God) of reducing Great Britain under one and the same crown ; for from the union of Jam. 4, King of Scotland, and the Lady Margaret, K. Hen. 7's eldest daughter, came the union of these two kingdoms ; and England and Scotland are now but one Great Britain: When some English lords objected, ' That by this means, the crown of England might happen to come to the Scottish nation,' The |> Bak. ciiron. King wisely reply'd,'' ' If it should so happen, it would not be an accession of Eng- 263.' ^ '' '^""^ to Scotland; but of Scotland to England, as now it is. This lady's portion was but ten thousand pounds, and her joynture but two thousand pounds a year: Not the fortune of some of our private gentry. Bishop Fox was a great favorer of learning, in testimony whereof, he founded C. C. C. in Oxford, and endowed it with above 400/. per annum. He builded a free-grammar school at Granthamj where he was born, in Lincolnshire ; and another at Taunton, in Somerset. . . COURTENAY, ( 261 ) COURTENAY, LORD EDAVARD, EARL OF DEVON. COURTENAY, Lord Edward, Earl of Devon, was probably born in Devon, at the mosty^^g ^ g- antient seat of the family, the castle of Tiverton : He was the only son of Henry, Earl Mar, of Devon and Marquess of Exeter, by Gertude his wife, daughter of William Blount Lord Mountjoy; who was son of the Lord William Courtenay, by Katharine his wife, the seventh and youngest daugiiter of K. Edward 4, and sister to the royal consort of K. Hen. 7, queen of England. Which Lady Katharine died the 15thof Novemb. an. 1527, at Tiverton, aforesaid, and was buried in the parish church there; for whom was afterwards erected, by Henry her son, a fair chappel, on the south side of the high-altar 5 and therein a tomb, with the effigies of this noble lady thereon.' »Dugd. Baron. This Lord Edward, was the no fortunate son of a very unfortunate father; for how-^"' '^' ever at fust, he was greatly in the favor of K. Hen. 8, and had, by his royal bounty, several estates confer'd upon him, and was advanced, from being the Earl of Devon, to be Marquess of Exeter ; yet, afterwards, he fell into his great displeasure, being accused, for holding correspondency with Cardinal Poole, and other the King's ene- mies beyond the seas, and conspiring tlie King's destruction. Hereupon, he was committed to the Tower, the5tli of Novemb. the .^Oth of K. Hen. 8, 1538 ; and on the 3d of January following, being brought to his tryal, before Thomas Lord Audley, sit- ting high-steward ior that time, lie was Ibund guilty, and received sentence of death. Though the King had long favored him as his kindsman, yet 'tis said,'' in regard of his' W. ibid, near alliance to the crown, he became so jealous of his greatness, whereof the Mar- quess had given some testimony, in his so suddain raising divers thousands against the Yorkshire rebels, that he gladly entertained any occasion to cut him off. Where- upon he was soon beheaded, and attainted in the parliament, held the next ensuing year. This noble Lord Edward, as if he must partake of his father's guilt, because he did of his blood, was hereupon committed to the Tower, where he remained a prisoner divers years, viz. from the latter end of the reign of K. Hen. 8, unto the beginning of the reign of Q. Mary ; who, in the first year thereof, coming to the Tower, had at her entrance there, presented to her, Thomas Duke of Norfolk, the Dutchess of Somerset, Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, and this Edward Lord Courtenay: Who all kneeling down, the Queen kissed them, and said, 'These be my prisoners;' and caused them presently to be set at liberty."^ And on the 3d of Sept. the same year, = Bak. ciiron. she restored the Lord Courtenay to the honor of his family, and created him Earl of ^^ f^ ^^'•^^' Devonshire, at her palace of Richmund. This most noble young Earl, was a person of lovely aspect, of a beautiful body, sweet nature, and royal descent, all which concurring in him, the Queen cast an obliging countenance upon him ; and as 'twas generally conceived, intended him an husband for herself Of which, report hath handed down unto us this confirmation, a jr,,!]. Holy That when the said Earl petitioned the Queen, for leave to travel; she advised him, ^''"•''P-^'^^ rather to marry, ensuring him, that no lady in the land, how high soever, would refuse • •■ • him for an husband ; and urging him to make his choice where he jjlcased, she pointed herself out unto him, as plainly as might consist with the modesty of a maiden, and the majesty of a queen. Hereupon, the young Earl, whether because his long durance had some influence on his brain, or that naturally his face was better than his head, or out of some private fancy and affection (which is most probable) to the Lady Elizabeth, or out of a loyal bashfulness, not presuming to climbe so high, but expecting to be called up, is said, to have requested the Queen for leave to marry her sister, the Lady Elizabeth, afterwards the 262 • THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. the most glorious star in the British orb, or indeed the whole western horizon, queen of England. Unhappy it was for both, that his choice went so high, or no higher ; for who could have spoken worse treason against Mary, though not against the Queen, than to prefer, in affection, her sister before her? Upon this, he was ever after sus- pected ; and the Princess Elizabeth (innocent lady!) did afterwards dearly pay the score of this his indiscretion. But what did greatly contribute to their troubles, was a false accusation laid to their charge, by Sir Thomas Wiat of Kent; wlio having raised considerable forces, to oppose (as he pretended) Q. Mary's match with Philip of Spain, being suppressed and taken prisoner, in hopes of his life, lie accused this noble Earl, and the Lady Elizabeth, the Queen's sister, as privy to his conspiracy : Whereupon the matter was so urged against them both, by Gardiner, Bisliop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor, that they were both committed to the Tower. At which place, I suppose it was, she was baited with this question, ' What she thought of these words of Christ, ' This is my body?' Whether they did not imply the true body of Christ in the Sacrament?' to which catching question, after some pausing, the royal princess returned this discreet answer : Christ was the Word that spake it : He took the bread and brake it : And what the Word did make it. That I believe, and take it. However, they Avere, by Wiat's accusation, committed to the Tower, they were soon after released ; for at his death, he cleared them both, and protested openly, that they were altogether innocent, and never had been acquainted with his proceedings. Nor was this favor of Q. Mary to this noble Earl, an effect only of a private affec- tion ; but in regard of his royal descent, florishing youth, and courteous disposition, he was one of the tliree, then proposed to her for an husband, by her council ; the first, was Cardinal Poole, four and fifty years old, as old for a batchelor, as she for a maid (bein^ then seven and thirty years of age) ; but he was laid aside, as not so likely for procreation: The second was this Lord Courtenay, Earl of Devon, a goodly gen- tleman, but there was this exception against him, as if enclining, as was thought, to Lutherism : The third took effect, Plnlip Prince of Spain, the Emperor Charles the 5th's eldest son. When these matters were well over, the Earl's humor returned npon him to travel ; and he obtained leave of the Queen to go and see foreign countries. An undertaking, well manag'd, no less profitable than delightsom ; as what not only furnishes the tongue with variety of good discourse, but the mind also with experience and understanding. Hereupon 'this noble Earl fitted himself for his journy ; and leaving England, he tra- velled into Italy ; where having seen several other places, he came at length to Padua, where he died, not without suspicion of poison, on the 4ih of Oct. 1556. His honorable remains, after his deplorable decease, were reposed in St. Anthony's church in that city, where a noble monument was erected to his memory, having this • Cambd. Re- inscription.' maius. i i • Anglia quem geiiuit, fueratq ; habitura patronum Corteneum celsa haec contintt area ducem: Credita causa necis, Kegni affectata cupido ; Reginas optatum tunc quoque connubium, Cui regni proceres non consensere Philippo Reginam Regi jungere posse rati. Europam nude fuit juveni peragrare necesse Ex quo mors misero contigit ante diem. Anglia COURTENAY, LORD EDWARD, EARL OF DEVON. 263 >• Anglia si plorat, defuncto principe tanto Nil mirum. Domino deficit ilia pio. Sed jam Corteneus caelo fruiturq ; beatis Cum doleant Angli, cum sine fine gemant. Cortenei probitas igitur, prsestantia, nomen, Dum stabit hoc tcmplum, vivida semper erunt. Angliaq ; hinc etiam stabit, stabuntq ; Britanni Conjugii optati fama perennis erit. Improba naturae leges libitina rescindens. Ex tequo juvenes, praRcipitatq ; senes. This Lord Edward was the last Earl of Devon, of this most noble and antient family, which had enjoy 'd the title for no less than ten descents together ; with the interposi- tion onl}' of Humphry Stafford, Lord Stalford of South-wick ;^ who by K. Edw. 4 was f poie-, d^^c. created Earl of Devonshire ; and had granted him the honors of Okehampton and of Dev. in the Plimton, with the lands thereunto appertaining. But he did not enjoy the honor above ^'° three months, for having dealt traiterously with the said King, he was apprehended at Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, and beheaded: He died without issue, Whereupon, Sir Edward Courtenay, son of Sir Hugh Courtenay of Boconock, son of Sir Hugh Courtenay of Haccombe, younger son of Sir Edward Courtenay, brother of the Earl of Devonshire, was, by K. Hen. 7, in the first year of his reign, restored, and made Earl of Devonshire. There were three of this name that succeeded him in the earldom ; but Edward, the last, dying without issue, the lands were divided among the heirs of Edward's four sisters, that was advanced to the earldom, as was said, by K. Hen. 7. Thus disposed of in marriage ; Elizabeth, to John Tretherfj Mawd, to John Arrundel of Talvern j Isabel, to William Mohun; and Florence, to John Trelawny, the ancestor, in a direct line, of the present honorable, and right reverend Father in God, Sir Jonathan Tre- lawny, Baronet, Lord Bishop of this diocess. Should I proceed to give an account of the lives and noble actions, of the several branches of this antient family, I might find matter enough to furnish out a large his- tory ; for of itself, it is enough to enoble a county. I might begin and end with a William, several hundred years asunder. The present Sir William Courtenay, of Powderham-castle, Baronet, descended, in a direct line, from Hugh, the second Earl of Devon, of this name; and hath wanted no- thing but his health, to have rendred him as illustrious as most of his ancestors. COWELL. 264 , THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. COWELL, JOHN, DOCTOR. F'or- A. D. dOWELL, John, Doctor, and somtime the King's majesty's Professor, of the civil jac. 1. ' ^^w, in the university of Cambridg, was born at Yarnsborow, saith Dr. Fuller, in this » wortbies of county;^ which is mistaken, probably, for Ernsborough, a large court house hereto- " Ris'ii.Des'cr. fore,'' in the parish of Swimbridge, vulgarly Sumbridge, a chappel of ease to Bishops- of Devon, in Tawton, near Barnstaple. It had, heretofore, lords of the same name ^ Baldwin de Ernsborough was lord thereof, in the beginning of K. Hen. 3d's reiga ; whom three of that surname succeeded. After that, it was the fair seat of the Flavels, whose inhe- ritrix brought this, with a goodly patrimony, to Sir Roger Mules, second son to the Lord Mules, Baron of North-Cadbury, in Somersetshire ; whose heirs-general, passed it unto the noble families of Courtenay and Botreaux. Of which enough. That Dr. Cowell was a Devonian by birth, is attested, not only by Fuller, but by ^ Vol. 1, in the author of the Athenae Oxon ;" so that having such good authority for it, I may be exempted from any farther labor herein ; and immediately proceed to a brief narrative of the more memorable occurrences in the life of this eminent person. This gentleman then, although he had his birth in Devonshire, had his education elsewhere ; for his more tender years were well cultivated with all useful initial learning, in the school at Eaton, in the neighborhood of Windsor, famous for one of the King of England's most royal palaces. From this place, he was chosen scholar of King's- College, in Cambridg (a royal foundation, begun by that devout prince K. Hen. 6, " ^y"°P'- P^'P* consisting of seventy scholars and fellows; whose goodly chappel, saith Dr. Willet/ is such, as this kingdom cannot shew the like) : Here was he admitted, in this capa- city, A. D. 1570; and a while after, was chosen fellow: for which he afterwards tes- tified his gratitude, by giving an hundred marcs, in books, to the library, belonging to ' ^''- "''^- tliis house.^ Having, with general applause, gone through the accustomed exercises, by the university statutes required thereunto, he took the degrees of arts ; and, being sixteen years standing in, he was chosen one of the proctors of that university, for the year of our Lord 1586. Soon after which, he took the degree of doctor of laws. And anno 1600, coming to Oxford, he supplicated that university, to be admitted, ad eundem; 'Fast. Oxon. ^yi^igli being granted simpliciter, no doubt but he was so.^ Being now no less eminent for his learning than his degrees, Dr. Cowell was chosen master of Trinity-Hall, in his own university: A college famous, beyond any other there, for the study of the civil law. In the knowledg whereof, he became so famous, that he was preferred to be regius-professor of it. And then an. 1603, he was made chief governor there, in the quality of vice-chancellor. And an. 1604, a certain author c Fill, quo an- tells us,^ lie was doctor of the arches; which (I suppose) is the same with the dean of the arches, i. e. the chief consistory court, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury, for the debating of spiritual causes; and is so called of tlie church in London, where kept, commonly called Bow-Church, for the fashion of the steeple, whose top is builded archwise, like so many bent bows: Hence it hath the name of, the court of " Dr. Cow. in- the archcs, as this same learned author tells us in his interpreter.'' Farther, Dr. Cowell terp.iu Arches- ^^,,,g vicar-geucral to Archbishop Bancroft, for the province of Canterbury ; /. e. super- visor, under his grace, of all spiritual causes and persons: A great honor and trust too. Now however the civil law was Dr. Cowell's profession ; yet (such was his skill in 'FuUeribid. the common law) we are told,' that he was as well able to practise in Westminster- Hall, as at Doctors-Commons ; which raised first, tlie emulation, and next the ill-will, of the gentlemen of that robe against him. For in his time, the feud between the civil ' and COWELL, JOHN, DOCTOR. 265 nnd common lawyers came to be heightned : The great champion of the latter, was the Lord Chief Justice Coke, as Doctor Cowell Avas of the former ; who (saith Fuller) obtained the favor of K. Jam. 1, of his side, so far as it could be with convenienc3^ Great, indeed, were the abilities of this learned Doctor, however that grand oracle of the common law, as he was called in his time, was pleased, in derision, to call him Dr. Cow-heel : a jest that savored more of envy, than of wit. Which however intended to ridicule him ; " Yet I assure you," saith Dr. Fuller, very gravely, " a cow-heel well dressed, is so good meat, that a cook, when hungry, may lick his fingers after it." But jesting apart ; this eminent Doctor was a studious and learned man, in earnest, as may appear, at this day, from those monuments of learning, he left unto posterity, in print ; whereof we have this catalogue. First; ' Institutiones Juris Anglicani, ad Methodum Institutionum Justiniani Com- positae.' Print, at Cambridg, A. D. 1605, &c. 8vo. Secondly; ' The Interpreter:' A book containing the signification of words, where- in is set forth the true meaning of all, or the most part, of such words and terms, as are mentioned in the law writers, or statutes of this kingdom. Printed first at Camb. 1607, atLondon 1637, in 4to ; afterward it was printed in folio. Of which more by-and-by. Thirdly ; He had also some towardness (as he says),'' a tract, ' De Regulis Juris' (a ^ Preface to his distinct thing from his Institutions, as may be seen, by comparing the first edition of ^°**''P'^^'*''- that book, and his Interpreter, published two years after) : In this book, his intent was (he says) by collating the cases of both laws, to shew that they be both raised of one foundation; and differ more in language, and in terms, than substance; and there- fore were they reduced to one method, as easily they might, would be attained (in a manner) with all one pains; but the Doctor did not live to finish this piece. As to the second published book, ' The Interpreter,' it may not be amiss to speak somthing, First, as to the qualification of the author for such an undertaking, And secondly, as to the fate and censure, that work met with in the world, at its first coming into it. As to the first ; we are told by no incompetent judg," that he had both the essentials ' Full. ibi.!. of an interpreter, for he was both gnarus and fidus ; he was skilful and he was faith- ful : and unless both had met in him, he had not been equal to so great an undertaking. As to the second, the fate of the book, meeting with envious readers, it did not find the entertainment he expected, and that deserved. Many, which is common, slighted the book, who notwithstanding used it: There were those who critically surveyed it, to find out all the weak and infirm passages in it : some of which being obnoxious there wanted not envy enough to aggravate them, to the author's extream trouble and vexation. For where envy takes the text, and witty malice makes the comment, there is like to be mad work in the application, be it in relation to the infirmities of men or books, or whatever else ; so unanswerable is Solomon's challenge, ' Who can stand before env}-?' Prov. xxvii. 4. The points in this book (the Interpreter) that gave distaste, are said to have con- cerned the King's prerogative; that the author should assert, That in some cases it is limitted. This, in those days, was looked upon as false doctrine, if not heresy, in the state; whereupon, the book was called in ; and on the 26th of Mar. 16 10, an edict was published against it. This is assigned, ainong the learned, as the true reason thereof: And therefore, unlikely it is what Sir A. W. reports, though he did not be- lieve it himself, that it is to be read in Dr. Covel's book, as he ihere calls our author, that the King, that then was, Jam. 1, did not take the usual oaths, all kings are bound unto, at their coronation." However, if any reflections on, or heterodoxy to, the "> Court of K. government, were ever found in that useful and learned book, which I much question, ^^"'- ''^yj^"'^- we may be sure they are left out in the latter editions of it, His most active and vigor- '^'^ ^' 2 M ous 266 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ous antagonists then, in this matter, were the common Lawyers, who looked upon this TuU. quosn- book as a double trespass against them ;° the one of pedibus ambulando, that acivihan ^"" should interlope, in a profession several to themselves ; the other, that he should pluck up the pales of the hard terms of the law, wherewith it was enclosed, and so lay it open and obvious to common capacities. But the worst of all, was the accusation, laid to its charge, of assigning to the King a double prerogative, the one limitted by law, the other unlimitted. For which being complained of in parliament, the book was called in and condemned. All which, with some other advantages, which his adversaries got over him, occa- sioned a great deal of trouble to this worthy person ; the grief whereof [and sad it is to have to do with a potent multifarious malice] went near his heart, and hastened his death, near about the 60th year of his age, A. D. I6II. He died in Cambridg, where his remains found a rejjository, in the chappel belonging unto Trinity-Hall, whereof he was master. He lieth interred there, under a flat stone, just before the altar, having this inscription on it, to preserve his memory. Johannes Cowell, Legum Doctor, Custos hujus Collegii, Juris Civilis in Academia hac Cantabrigiensi, Professor Regius, Vicarius Generalis Cantuariensis Provincias, sub Domino Richardo Bancroft, Archiepiscopo, Cantuariensi, Hie Expectat Resurrectionem. Obiit xi die mensis Octobris A. D. MDCXI. DE CREDITON, ( 267 ) DE CREDITON, FREDERICK, BISHOP OF UTRECHT, &c. DE CREDITON, Frederick, Bishop of Utrecht, and a Saint, was by nation an lior. A. d. Englishman, and by county a Devonian, as one expressly tells xis / This also weRemiiph'. might spell, not only from printed letters in authors, but those characters with which ' '^^^^^'^p^j^f^ his name is so fairly written on his forehead. ' Fridericus Cridiodunus' he is called ; ?ievonius,&c. by the learned, Frederick of Crediton, an antient town so named in this district, where, most likely, he was born : Which derives its name from the rivulet Creedy, antiently Cridy, near which it stands. For so were our ancestors the Saxons wont to bap- tize places, after the names of the rills, or rivers, that flowed by them. Some foreign writers would have this Frederick to be a Frison born, against the authority of our own; but a late author of ours, was willing thus to accommodate the matter,'' That Frederick's parents, led with the fame of their near relation St. Boni-" f. Cressy in face's great piety and zeal, at that time the apostle of the Germans, went into Ger- 27, cl's,^!'?^! many to him, where this their son was born among the Frisons. AVhereas this is but conjecture, and we were better depend upon the evidence and authority we have already in the matter; first of Harpsfeild,"" who positively aftirmeth from William of' id. ibid. Malmsbury, That his parents were of Devonshire; and next from his name, taken from a famous town herein ; which, if born in Germany, how should he come by ? And then lastly, from the near relation he had to St. Boniface, who on all hands is acknowledged to have been born at Crediton, whose scholar also he was. Frederick, being grown in years and stature, mov'd hereunto, whether by nearness of relation, or commendable zeal for conversion of souls, or altogether, I shan't under- take to determin, accompanied his uncle Boniface in his travels; first to Rome, unto which he went, to wait on Pope Gregory II. for confirmation of his apostolical power and authority; and then into Bavaria, Hossia, Friezland, and other German provinces. So that despising all the dangers they were exposed unto, in disseminating the chris- tian faith among those barbarous and savage nations, he continued the undivided companion of his uncle, in all his labours and travels ;"^ shewing himself always faith- " Comes iiii in- ful, and yielding utmost assistance to him in the work of conversion, home unto the nlortem usq ; martyrdom of that saint. &=• Bai. quo Upon the death of Eoban, Bishop of Utrecht,' a great, strong, and populous city, f The foiiowins and capital of one of the seven United Provinces, our Frederick succeeded him in that account is ta- see; altho' by reason of the fierce obstinacy of the nation at that time, 'twas a great last quoted aiT- while before he could quietly be possess'd thereof: But at last, the Emperor Ludovi- ?'"":' "'''^ ^'^ cus Pius, son of Charles the Great (if this be consistent with chronology, which I de Pontic. 1. 1, much doubt), gave him a peaceable establishment there, in regard, he had shewed •"■ i^'"* I''- ''^'''• himself an imitator of the sanctity of his famous master and uncle St. Boniface. This he did, altlio' there were many others in court, who either for themselves, or their friends, earnestly sued for that prelature. On the day of his ordination, the said emperor invited his new prelate to dinner, and to honor him the more, placed him next to himself on his right-hand. Towards the latter end of dinner, the emperor directing his speech to him, exhorted him ' To be mindful of the duty and obligation imposed on him, by his new profession ; and in imitation of his uncle and predecessors, to declare and preach the truth to all, without exception of persons ; and not to spare inflicting anathemas on all such as should contemn his admonitions.' The holy bishop, with a modest and humble look, thus answer'd him : ' My lord the emperor, you do very well to encourage a weak man with your holy exhortations; but I beseech your majesty, resolve me a difliculty, which hath long troubled my 2 M 2 mind. 268 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. * mind, and which I will discover to you by this example : In carving this fish lying here before us, where should we begin, at the head, or at the tail ?' The emperor not perceiving the subtilty of this question, answer'd, ' At the head.' The holy bishop thereupon presently reply'd : • That is right, my lord, that is right; and therefore your majesty being our head, let christian faith and piety oblige you to amend your errors and offences, lest your subjects, by your example, become despisers of Christ and his religion. Renounce, therefore, your incestuous marriage which you have contracted of late, for this your Lady Judith, whom you have made companion of your bed, is your nearest kindswoman ; and it is a great scandal to see the royal couch polluted with incestuous lust.' This sharp admonition, tho' it pierced deeply into the emperor's mind, yet with great modesty he held his peace; and din- ner being ended, dismissed the bishop, who returned to his church. But such words as these, publickly spoken in a great assembly of princes and cour- tiers, could not be conceal'd ; so that coming to the knovvledg of the bishops of that country, their hearts were wounded with envy and indignation, that a new bishop and a stranger, should have the christian courage publickly to reprove those things, against which they durst not so much as secretly murmur. Thereupon, they resolved to take heart, and by frequent consultations among themselves, and with the nobility, they at last forced the emperor to a divorce, and to lead a single life. Yea, moreover 'tis said, they detain'd him in prison, and the lady they shut up in a monastery : And in all this •■Id. ibid conspiracy (as my author calls it)' Lotharius, the emperor's eldest son, had the great- est influence ; pretending zeal to remove so great a scandal to religion, but indeed, instigated by envy. But not long after, by the mediation of Pope Gregory, it was decreed, That after a certain penance imposed on, and performed by the emperor, he should be freed, and restored to his power. To this sentence he, being a meek and humble-minded prince, willingly submitted, withal, clearing his heart of all rancor against any. But Judith, swelling with rage and poison, in an assembly of her friends and adherents, made bitter complaints of the injuries done her by the holy Bishop Frederick, whom she esteemed the author of all her miseries : And amongst them there were two who promised her to kill the bishop. The holy prelate, in the mean time, was not ignorant of these designs against his life, which ('tis said) were supernaturally revealed to him ; but, without any fear, he expected these executioners coming, impatiently longing to ofter his life a sacrifice to God: So that the same morning in which he knew they would arrive at Utrecht, he prepared himself to say mass ; and when he had begun to vest himself, his servant came to give him notice of two messengers from the empress, who desired to be ad- mitted. But he excusing the present impediment, desired them to expect a while. As soon as mass was finished, without devesting himself of his pontifical robes, he retired into a private room, and commanded the messengers to be admitted alone, and all others to depart. When they were come in, the chearful gravity of his looks, and reverence of his sacerdotal vestments, did so surprize them, that losing all courage, they let their swords fall out of their hands. But he observing this, of his own accord, bid them execute what they came for (which how consistent this may be with that care every one ought to take for the preservation of his life, I sha'nt dispute at this time) : Whereupon they, being men easily encouraged to any villan}^, drew their swords, and as he was sitting in a chair, they both run him into the belly, making wounds so wide, that his bowels issued forth. This being done, he bid them make haste away to save their lives ; which they did, running to the river, where they took boat. After which, his chamberlain coming in, ask'd him. Why he sate there with such pale looks ? He answer'd nothing, but only com- manded him to look over the wall, to see whether the messengers were passed the Rhine j DE CREDITON, FREDERICK, BISHOP OF UTRECHT, &c. 269 Rhine; and having found they were out of danger, he sent for all his clergy in haste, and holding his hands before his belly, that his bowels might not fall down, he, without any interruption in his speaking, or any signs of fear, clearly discovered to them the whole order of this tragedy. Having done this, he commanded the monument, prepared for the bishops, to be open'd, and beginning to sing the Antiphon — ' Open unio me the gates of righteous- ness,' &c. he laid himself down therein, chearfully expecting death, which coming, presently gave liberty to his soul to fly to heaven, upon which only, all his affections had been placed. This relation, saith the author Malmsbury, I thought expedient not to deny to the reader, both for the dignity of the matter, and because it is a glory to the Eng- lish nation (and I may add, unto this our county in general, and to Crediton herein, in particular) that they have had natives, who, by their sanctity, have illustrated also foreign countries. Which relation of Malmsbury, F. Cressy tells us, is but little dis- agreeing from a more large account, given of the life of Saint Frederick, by an antient nameless author, whose manuscript was found in the old archives of the church of Utrecht. MiriEUs, in Fest. Belg. reckons him the eighth bishop of Utrecht ; and tells us, after his martyrdom, that he was buried there, in the church of the canons of St. Saviour. This Frederick was canoniz'd in the church of Rome, and his name is commemo- rated among the saints thereof, on the 18th day of July. Balceus tells us,^ from Gulielm. Malmesburiensis, that this bishop wrote in his time ' Qno antea manv things, much to the use and profit of the churches of Christ; but time hath en- vy 'd' the descent of the very titles of tiiem to posterity (so far as 1 can find), for 1 meet with no mention of them. There is only one thing which seems needful to be accommodated, and that is the time wherein this famous prelate flourished. Balaeus tells us*" it was A. D. 760, when ' Qno snpra. Kenulphus ruled over the West-Saxons ; but F. Cressy makes his martyrdom to be under K. Ethelwolfe, an. 838, near fourscore years after this time. I shall not con- cern myself in this fruitless controversy ; but leave the learned herein, to agree among themselves. CROCKER. 270 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. CROCKER, SIR JOHN, KNIGHT. Klor. A. D. 1480. R. R Li ROCKER, Sir John, Knight, (Note.) cup-bearer to K. Edw. 4, was born at Lineham, Edw. 4. a pleasant seat by the side of the river Yaum, or Yalham, in the parish of Yaumton or Yalhampton, lying about six miles to the south-east of the town of Plymouth, in this county. This was somtime the inheritance of Joiin, sirnamed from his house, Line- De'Jc.^f D'e!''^^'"-" ^^ which name it continued from K. John's days, unto the reign of K. Ed. 3, von. in Lineh. then Topcliffe had it, and his son after him. In the beginning of K. Hen. 4th's days, John Crocker dwelled here ; where his name and posterity have florished ever since, in worshipful degree unto this day, now near upon three hundred years : not that we are to suppose, that this family had its original here at this time, for it came hither then, whether on the account of match or purchase, I cannot say ; though I suppose the former, from their house, *■ Id. ibid, in called Crockers-Hele,'' in the parish of Meeth, in Sheaber hundred, in this county. How long they lived there, before their removal thence, I do not find; but for many generations undoubtedly they did, as we may collect from the name, still adhering to the place. Nor may we think that this was the primitive seat of this family, in this province j for very likely that was at Crockers-well, or Crockern-well, as 'tis now called, a ' W- j''''^'" small hamlet in Drews-Teignton parish; which, we are told,' was the antient inheri- tance oi Crocker. There is another famous place in this province, which seems to derive its name also from this family, and that is Crockern Tor, standing in the forest of Dartmoor, where the parliament is wont to be held for staunery causes ; unto which the four principal Stannery towns, Tavestock, Plimton, Ashburton, and Chagford, send each twenty- four burgesses ; who are summon'd thither when the lord warden of the stanneries sees occasion ; where they enact statutes, laws, and ordinances, which, ratify 'd by the lord warden aforesaid, are in full force, in all matters between tinner and tinner, life and limb excepted. This memorable place, is only a great rock of moor stone, out of which a table and seats are hewen, open to all the weather, storms, and tempests, having neither house nor refuge near it, by divers miles. The burrough of Tavestock, " Westc. Surv. is said to be the nearest, and yet that is distant ten miles off.'* ao.^rstan". Now this family seems rather to have given to, than to have taken name from, any Causes, MS. or all of thosc places ; for it is of the antient Saxon race; and it was a considerable tribe in these parts, before the Norman Conquest. I have heard the present heir of the family, Courtenay Crocker, of Lineham, Esq. (who hath been a traveller, and is a well accomplish'd gentleman) say, that when he was in Saxony, he met some gentlemen of his name there ; and that they gave the same coat of arms that he doth. A plain argument that originally they came out of that country. One of this house was wont to be free in his railery, with a certain gentleman, who boasted much, that his an- cestors came into England with William the Conqueror, saying, ' It was not much for his honor to be descended from those, who came hither only to rob and plunder him, and others, of their lands and fortunes. As to the present seat of the family, Lineham aforesaid, it is an antient house, which being grown weak and dccript thro' age, is now a repairing, or rather rebuild- ing, by the present possessor, Courtenay Crocker aforementioned, who is a justice of peace for the county, and a burgess of parliament, this present year 1699, for the burrough of Plimton Morice, in this shire. There was also a park belonging to the same. CROCKKR, SIR JOHN, KNIGHT. 271 same, useful both for sport and hospitality, and (what I should have mentioned first) an antient chappel, for the more decent worship and service of Almighty God, now wholly neglected; altho' methinks, out of prudence as well as piety, it should be re- stored to its primitive designation ; I mean of true devotion, not popish superstition, it being just with God, to suffer their houses to fall, who neglect his. But to come nearer home to the person before us ; most of the heirs of this family, in antient times, were called John ; no less than seven so named, succeeded one the other, without intermission:* who matched into several eminent houses, as Arrundel,*Sir w. Pole, Pollard, Strode, Yeo, and others ; and with divers daughters and heirs, as Servington,''"''^"''"' Dauney, Bonvil, &,c. And the present possessor Courtenay Crocker, Esq. son of John, hy his wife, sister to Sir Courtenay Pole, of Shutc, baronet, married first, daughter and co-heir of Richard Hillardson, of Membland, Esq. by whom he hath issue, one daughter; secondly, he married Sarah, daughter and co-heir of John Tucker, of Exeter, gentleman. As to Sir John Crocker, what brought him first into favor at court, whether courage and skill in arms, or readiness of address, or what else, I do not find; but he became so gracious with K. Edw. 4, that he was admitted his sworn servant in the honorable ofiice of his cup-bearer ; who, in reniuneratione servitii, gave' a cup d"^i^-i^«"'-E^*- • ,. Dart 1 p 22 or, for the crest unto his coat armor; and moreover, bestowed upon him the honor of knighthood. Nor was he a courtier only, but a soldier, as he fully approved himself to be in his own county (being at that time retired from the court) when Perkin Warbeck, as he was called, that imaginary counterfeit Duke of York, set up by the Dutchess of Bur- gundy, in hatred to the house of T-aneaster, invaded tliese western parts, in the days of King Henry 7, where it may not be improper to give some brief account of this action,' and the author of it.s ' ^P«*^ ^"^ T7-. T. , , , /. . . . Bak. in K. H. King Edward 4, left two sons at his death, as successive heirs to the English crown ;7. both which were murdered in the Tower, by their treacherous uncle, K. Rich. 3, who usurped their throne : by whose death in the field, when K. Hen. 7 came to the crown, the Dutchess of Burgundy, sister to K. Edw. 4, envying him that glory, bred up a Dutch boy of mean parentage, but rich parts and comely person, and taught him how to personate the Duke of York, the youngest of K. Edw. 4th's sons; who, as it was given out, was not kill'd, but escaped beyond sea. This youth, commonly known by the name of Perkin Warbeck, a diminitive of Peter, doth this Dutchess at length trump up, as heir to the English crown, to the great disturbance of K. Hen. aforesaid: for this Perkin going into Scotland, found so great credit there, that James the King of Scotland bestowed upon him, in marriage, the Lady Katharine Gourdon, a lady of excellent beauty and virtue, and a near kindswoman of his own. But upon a truce concluded between England and Scotland, Perkin was commanded to depart thence, who thereupon, with his wife and family, sailed into Ireland ; where, under- standing that the Cornish men were ready to renew the rebellion, begun, not long before, by Thomas Flammock, a lawyer, and Michael Joseph a blacksmith, having with him only four small ships, and about six score men, he landed in Cornwal : which is near about the same number with which the Duke of Monmouth landed at Lime-Regis, in Dorsetshire, A. D. 1685, and met near with the same success. Being come into Cornwal, with fair words, and large promises, he so prevailed with the people, that he had gotten to him above three thousand persons to take his part; with which marching on to Exeter, he laid siege to that city, his army being now en- creased to six thousand men. This place he assaulted with great violence, and the citizens defended with as great valiantness ; whereof when the King heard, he was about to send some forces to the rescue of the city ; but before they came, the Lord Edward o,o THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, and the valiant Lord William, his son, ac- companied with Sir William Courtenay, Sir Edmund Carew, Sir Thomas Fulford, Sir John Hallwel, Sir John Crocker, and other gentlemen of this county, came to their aid. Upon whose coming. Parkin, with the slaughter of two hundred of his men in the assault, left the siege, and retired to Taunton; whither being pursued (most likely) by the Devonshire forces, and understanding that the King was at hand with a great power, many of his men fled from him, and he got into a sanctuary, in a town called Beuly, near Southampton ; not far from which place also, was the Duke of Monmouth taken. But at last surrendring himself to the King, he was sent to the Tower; from whence attempting to escape, he was hang'd at Tiburn. Thus ended the designs of Perkin Warbeck (that prince in a play, as Cambden calls him) after he had troubled both King and kingdom for the space of seven or eight years : towards whose suppression. Sir John Crocker so signally distinguished himself, that he is me- morized, among other noble patriots, for his valor and conduct herein, not only in the private manuscript histories of the county, but the public chronicles of the " Speed and kingdom.'' Bak. in K. H. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ j.^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ j ^^^ ^^^^ ^\^ ^^ ^^^ . fo,. however a certain author 'WestcPed. tells us,' he^'was high sheriff of this county, in the second year of K. Hen. 8, yet I ^^- ' rather think it was his son ; for he is called John Crocker, Esq. in five or six distinct catalogues of the sheriffs of this county, which I have by me. What year he departed this life I do not know; he lieth interred in the parish church of Yaumpton. What funeral monument he hath, or whether any at all, I am not certain. There have been several other very eminent persons of this name and family, whose merits it may be thought tedious particularly to mention : only one there is, whom for his o-reat loyalty to his prince, K. Charles the first, and that near relation I had unto him, being son to his brother's daughter, I may not pass over in silence, and that is Sir Hu"-h Crocker, Kt. who being a younger brother, was bred a merchant in the city of 'Exeter. God was pleased to bless him with great success a long while in that employment: insomuch, he was possessed at one time, with no less than ten ships intirely his own. He liv'd also in good reputation in the city, and was chosen mayo'r thereof, anno 1643, at what time K. Char. 1, of precious memory, came thither in pursuit of the Earl of Essex, the parliament's general, who with his accomplices was then marched into Cornwal ; whom the King having routed and overthrown, his majesty returned to Exeter again, where he was pleased to confer the honor of knight- hood upon this gentleman, at that time mayor thereof: a title, which how well soever he deserved, he was not very ambitious of For he was a person of great humility as well as of great integrity, and eminent loyalty, always expressed to that best of princes, in the worst of times : for which, when the rebellion became predominant, "Catai. of he sufle'red much, both in purse and person. His composition at Goldsmith's Hall'' Comp. Print. ^^^^ j^j^ ^^^ lpgg jj^^^j^ qss pounds, as it did at the same time his brother-in-law. Sir ""* John Colaton of Exeter, Kt. (whose sister he had married) 244 /. lO.v. He died anno 164-, and lieth interred in Exon. ADDITIONAL NOTE. AS the autlior's account of this ancient family is neither so full, nor so correct, as from his relationship to it miKht have been expected, we subjoin the following particulars. Of its Saxon origin, and its residence in the county before the Cloiiquest, no recorded proof remains, but botii the one and the other rest on the firm authority of unquestioned tradition. In the reign of Edward the second, however, we find William Crocker dwelling at Crocker's CROCKER, SIR JOHN. KNIGHT. 273 Crocker's Hele, near Hailierleigh ; and in the 50th year of Edward the third, a WilliatB Crocker was a repre- sentative in parliament for Tavistock. The first of the family who resided at Lynham, was John Crocker, son of John Crocker, of Hele, in the 4th year of Henry the fourth. Tliis estate probably came into the family by mar- riage with a Churchill. Sir William Pole does not indeed mention this name in the succession of proprietors, but Collins, in his English Baronage, says, that Giles Churchill, second son of Elyas Churchill, (who lived in the reign of Edward the second, and whose third son was the ancestor of the great Duke of Marlborough) had the lordships of Yealmpton and Lineham, which estates, by a daughter and heir, descended to the family of Crocker, of Devonshire. The arms of Churchill, indicating such an intermarriage, are among the quarterin;is in the achievements of the family in the church of Yealmpton : and Sir William Pole incidentally says, that Sir John Crocker, in the reign of Richard the third, married Agues Churchill. It is obvious that the possession ol Lynham is not to be derived from this marriage ; but it is not improbable that Sir William Pole's mistake is only as to the time and person, and that the marriage really took place with Sir John's grandfather, whom he states to have been the first possessor of the estate. Sir John Crocker, the fourth of that name in succession, and the third resident at Lynham, died in May 1508, as appears from this inscription on his grave stone, in Yealmp- ton church, ^'' Hicjacel Johannes Ciokcr miles ijuondani ac signifer iltuslrissimi regis Edwaidi t/tiarli qui obiil 18 Mail anno Domini millesimo quingcnlesimo oclavo." This date solves our author's doubt respecting his having been sheriff in the second year of Henry the eighth. His eldest son was sheriff in the first year of that King, and married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Lewis Pollard, one of the Justices of the Common Pleas, and secondly, Jane, the daughter of Arundel Lord of Ceely, in Cornwall, by whom he had no issue. His eldest son John married Elizabeth daughter of Richard Strode, of Newnhani, Esq., and had issue John, who married Agnes the co-heir of John Servington, of Tavistock, Esq. Their issue were Barbara, married to Walter Elford, of Shepstor, Esq.; and Hugh, who married the heir of John Bonvil, Esq. a descendant of William Lord Bonvil, mentioned in this work, and had issue John, who married the daughter of Leigh, and relict of Webber, who died in 1611; and, secondly, Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Arthur Champernon, wdio died in \6bG. By his first marriage, he had issue John, born in 1610, who married in 1657, Jane daughter of Sir John, and sister of Sir Courtenay Pole, Bart., and had issue Courtenay Crocker, of Lynham, the last male of the name, the repre- sentative of Plympton, in parliament, in the 7th, lOth, 12th, and 13th of William the third. He married the co-heir of Richard Hillersden, of Membland, Esq.» and left an only daughter, Mary, married to James Bulteel, of Fleet, Esq. descended from a family of that name, resident at Tournay, in the province of Hainault. Peter Bulteel, grandson of James Bulteel, of that city, came into England, and was resident in London in 1633. His third son, James, settled in Devonshire, having married the daughter of Peard, Esq. of Barnstaple. His son, and grandson, of the name of Samuel, resided at Tavistock. The son of the latter was James Bulteel, of Fleet, near Modbury, to whom that estate was devised by Richard Hele, Esq., in default of issue of his son Richard Modyford Hele, who died a minor. He represented Tavistock in four parliaments, in the reign of Queen Ann. His marriage with the heiress of Crocker has been already mentioned. He had issue two sons, James Courtenay, and John, and four daughters, Mary, married to John Francis Pengelly, of Sortridge, Esq. ; Jenny, married to the Rev. John Candy, Vicar of St. .\ndrew, Plymouth; Catharine and Azazecl, unmarried. Jan)es Courtenay Bulteel left an only son, Courtenay Crocker, who was succeeded by his uncle John Bulteel, who died September 16, 1801, having married Diana, the daughter of John Lord Bellenden, by whom he had issue, four sons and three daughters; James, who died uiunarried in 1804: John, the present possessor of Fleet and Lyn- ham, sheriff of the county of Devon in 1807, who married Elizabeth daughter and heir of Thomas Perring, of London, Esq. and has issue three sons and three daughters ; Thomas Hillersden, who married Anne, daughter and co-Iieir of Christopher Harris, of Bellevue, Esq. and has issue five sons and two daughters ; and Harry Bel- lenden, who died young. The daughters were Catharine, married to John Harris, Esq. of Radfoid, as hereafter mentioned ; Diana, married to Robert Kyrle Hutcheson, Esq., and Mary, who died unmarried. •f Membland, which had been in the possession of the latter family from the days of Edward the third, (their former residence having been Hillersden, in this county, in the reign of King Henry the third) was sold by the late John Bulteel, of Fleet, Esq. to Peter Perring, Esq. and is now the residence of !iis nephew. Sir John Perring, Bart. 2 N . CRUWYS, 274 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. CRUWYS, SIR ROBERT, KNIGHT. Fiof- A. D. CRUWYS, Sir Robert, Kt. was born at the antient seat of the name and family, in Edw:3/ ■ the parish, now called Morchard, in the hundred of Witheridge, about five miles to the west of Tiverton in this county. It was heretofore called Morcester ; which word, » Vesteg. Anti: cester, is often used in the old Saxon tongue, for castle, or fortress;' tho' its original ecilt miXo be Latin, as derived from castrum : but an ingenuous gentleman, the present heir of ' His Let dat this family, John Cruwys, Esq. thinks," that it doth as often signify a seat, or seated; 31 May, 'i69t>.' and then Morcester, will be the place, or parish seated by, or near the Moor. But, for what I know, it may do as well, to interpret it a castle, or place of defence; the same, or the ruins whereof, might be there, tho' now not apparent, at the first deno- mination of the place, in, or near the Moor ; unto which it well agrees, as adjoyning to the forest of Exmoor. But then at length it obtained the adjunct of Cruwys, from this antient and knightly family ; that even from the Conquest, if not before, were lords thereof, and was called Morcester-cruwys, and now generally Cruwys-morchard ; the reason of which last termination, I must own my self ignorant of. As to the etymon or derivation of the name Cruwys, the last mentioned gentleman apprehends it to be de Cruce, the High-Dutch and Germans calling this family Cross and Cruce; and their stile in Latin was, Dominus dc Cruce, the Lord of the Cross. Which induces me to believe, they derive this name from some notable cross, or place so called heretofore, near tlieir house or habitation. Which was a practice 'Quoprius, c.much in use among our Saxon ancestors, as Vestegan observes;" whose words, for -' P-^**^- confirmation of this surmize, I shall crave leave here to insert ; ' Divers of our an- cestors took their sirnames, by reason of their abode, in or near some place of note, where they settled themselves, and planted their ensuing families, as at a wood, a hill, a field, a brook, a ford, a green, and the like; as Robert of the Green, came to be called, by abreveation, Robert a Green, and at last, Robert Green.' So Robert de Cruce, might come at length to be Robert Cruwys. But of this enough. How long this name and family have possessed this antient inheritance, is not certainly known ; but 'tis supposed, from before the Norman Conquest. There is a tradition in this country, of three eminent iamilics, still flourishing herein, that they were here before that tunc ; according to that old saw often used among us in dis- course, Crocker, Cruwys, and Coplestone, When the Conqueror came, were at home. There was antiently a vast estate in this name and family, here in this county ; which came to be much impaired by the heat and violence of Sir Alex. Cruwys, Kt. who in the days of K. Ed. 3, unhappily quarrelling with Carew on Bicklegh Bridg, ran him thorow, and the rails breaking, threw him into the river. Whose pardon, yet to be seen, according to a tradition in the family, cost him two and twenty mannors of land. Notwithstanding which, there remained a noble estate to the heir ; and a very fair one still doth: altho' the present gentleman's grandfather, Lewis Cruwys, Esq., lopped off from him, near a thousand pound a year more ; upon what occasion, seeing I am not informed, I list not to enquire. Only this I shall add, as very re- markable, tliat they have lived ever since Sir Alexander Cruwy's time,^in K. H. 3's reign, now near upon five hundred years together, in the same house at Cruwys-Mor- chard, witli an handsom estate, without the least help of a gown, a petticoat, or an apron ; CRUWYS, SIR ROBERT, KNIGHT. 275 apron; i. e. without any augmentation from a lawyer, an heiress, or a trade, in the /» • 1 Which was first in the possession of this family, Morchard, or Nether-Ex, I cannot say: Otnel de Cruwys held Nether-Ex in K. H. 2's days;" and an. 1233, being the ^^Si- J. Poi^- 18th of K. H. 3, Sir Richard Cruwys held it; whose son William leaving five daugh-i„ Nether-Ex. ters and heirs, this mannor was parted among them ; who brought their purparties to ms. their husbands, de Lucy, de Luccombe, a knightly tribe in this shire heretofore ; Saint-clere, le Reis, or Keis, and de Whitfeild. Another family of this name flourished long at Ansty-cruwys, in the north-east parts of this county, near the confines of Somersetshire ; which was a younger branch of Morchard house, planted there in the reign of K. Edw. 1, which, after four generations, expired in two daughters and heirs, married to Norton and Pollard. But this land, notwithstanding all liicir endeavours to the contrary, reverted to Morchard house ; being, after a tedious suit at law, re- moved by judgment. There was yet another family of this name, which did sometime prosper well, at their seat called Denvale,' in the parish of Bampton, in this shire; and continued '^W-ibid. i" there, from K. Edw. 1, unto Q. Eliz. days ; when by the heir general, it was sold unto a gentleman sirnamed Tristram. But as we may guess by the arms, this was a dif- ferent family from that of Morchard ; for they gave in a feild gold, a chevron gul. between 3 mullets. There were several knights of this family before Sir Robert Cruwys time, of whom we are treating, who was the eldest son of Sir Alexander Cruwys, that was unhap- pily engaged in a duel M'ith Carew : of which before. Whose father having greatly exhausted and incumbred his estate, this young gentleman betook himself to the wars j which he chose rather to do, as became a man of honour ; when by serving his King and country, he might get profit and renown abroad, than to lie rusting at home in sloth and luxury : and like a true bred English gentleman, however some efieminate beaus ridicule them by the name of grinning honours, and honourable scars, he rather sought danger than declined it: and having acquitted himself well, returned back to his native country with great reputation. The scene on which he acted his part was France; and the general under which he served was that famous captain, the Lord Walter de Manny ; who, tho' a foreigner by birth, had a great estate in England, and some in Devonshire. For we are told, South- Huish, near King's-bridge, was his, in the reign of K. Edw. 3J If we would then f R^sd. De^cr. know what particular exploits our Sir Robert Cruwys was engaged in, we must en- 1°,^ ^g. ' quire into the actions of that great commander ; in most, if not all which, we may suppose him to have a share. In the 14th of Edw. 3, this lord made great spoil in the north parts of France," slew ^ Dugd.^ Bar. more than a thousand soldiers, and burnt three hundred villages. In the 15th of^"*' " *"' Edw. 3, he came to the castle of Conquest, which the French had won the day before ; saying, ' He would not go thence, 'till he saw who were in the castle, and how it had been won:' and at length finding a breach in the wall, entred thereat. About that time also, he attended upon K. Edw. 3, to the siege of Nantz ; when the King made him several grants of priviledges and emoluments, for the support of himself and 50 men at arms, with 50 archers on horse back, in that expedition then made into France. His own wages as a banneret was 4^^. per diem, the knights (which v/ere twelve) 2,v. a piece ; the esquires. Is. and the archers 6(/. In the 18th of Ed. 3, being one of the mareschals of the host to the Earl of Derby, he went with him to the assault of Bergerath (says Dugd.," which I take to be Ber- " Quo supia. gerac a city of Perigord) in France, which being made by sea and land; the town soon yeilded. After this in the 19tli of the same King, he was at the relief of Aube- 2 N Q roche ; 276 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. roche ; where falling on the French in their tents, he utterly vanquished their whole host. Shortly after, he was at the taking of Mauleon, where he did great service. In the 20th of Edw. 3, he was, and most likely. Sir Robert Cruvvys also, in the famous battel of Cressi, beincc >in eminent commander in the van of the Ensrlish armv : ISpecd.Chron. a little before the battel began, what is somewhat remarkable, 'tis said," that shoals p. 689. ' ' and clouds of baleful ravens, and other birds of prey and ravin (as fore-shewing the harvest of carcasses at hand) came flying over the French hoast. Here the English obtained a glorious victory; which the historian makes a controversy of, whether 'twas owing to the cxemplaiy manhood of the English, or their singular piety. ' Great was the victory,' says he, ' great was the prowess, and great the glory : bat they, like christian knights and soldiers, forbore all boast ; referring the Avhole thanks and honour to God.' Soon after the battel, K. Edward went and sate down before the strong town of Calais; which the Lord Manny knowing (being now, as I suppose, with the Duke of Lancaster, in Guien) among his prisoners at Cressi, having taken a French Kt., who otTered three thousand crowns for his ransom, he remitted the whole sum for a pass, which he obtained from the K. of France, that he might ride through part of his country, with twenty of his company, to CaUii<, then besieged by the English. Whether Sir Robert was one of this twenty that accompanied the Lord Manny is uncertain ; most likely he was not, but rather stayed behind with those forces he had left, with Henry of Lancester, Earl of Derb)'- ; who (the Duke of Normandy being sent for by the King of France, to come to the relief of Calais, which yet they were not able to effect) was left master of the field in Guyenne. And having a considerable army there, of 1200 men at arms, 2000 archers, and 3000 other foot, took in most of the towns of Xantoigne and Poiclou ; and in the end, besieged and sacked Poictiers : and then returned to Burdeanx, with more pillage than his people could well bear. ' ciiron. inK. So Sir R. Bakcr expressly tells us.*" tdw. j. That Sir Robert Cruwys was in this action, and a great contributor to the success 'Sir W.Pole thereof, is more than probable; in that I find it recorded of him,' ' That he gave his ij'r^'^rD' acquittance for his wages at Burdeaux,' an. 20 Edw. 3, which was the same year the MS. victory was obtained at Cressi, with the slaughter of 11 princes, 80 barons, 1200 "Boh. Gcog. knights, and 30000 common soldiers of the French." Diet, in Creci. ^^j^^^ gj^, j^^^j^g^.j Cruwys should fight under the command of the Lord Manny, let none esteem it as a disparagement to his honour; when K. Edward himself, and the -Quoantea. Black Prince, his son, either in the taking (as Dugdal) or defending (as Baker") of the town of Calais, fought both under his banner. In all, or most of whose exploits, this our countryman was so signally assisting, that he received the honor of knighthood upon that account; tho' whether from the general or the King's hand immediately, ♦ Ris(i. Descr. is not mentioned. For so we are expressly told," ' That Sir Robert Crews, of Crews- ciews-^Morch. Morchafd, as they are vulgarly called, was knighted for his valiant service done in ™s. France, under the leading of the Lord Waller Manny, in the age of K. Edw. 3.' Sometime after this he quitted the wars ; and being paid off, we may well suppose. Sir Robert Cruwj'S returned into his own country; loaden with trophies of honour, and the military spoils of the declared enemies thereof: whose rents also being carefully improved in his absence, at home, and his purse well filled by his services abroad, he became able to take off the incumbrances on his estate, and to pay his just and ho- nest debts, under which he lay. And this he did, as I am told by the present heir of iiii foremen, the fainily,P in the church, or rather the church-porch, belonging to his parish, soon Letter. ^^j^j, i^j^ arrival home. Wherein he shewed no less christian policy, than integ- rity ; in that no one can justly expect, that that estate should continue long in his postcritv, or that God should ever bless it, which he posses by fraud or violence; and with CRUWYS, SIR ROBERT, KNIGHT. 277 with the cries and curses of miserable orphans and widows, undone and ruined by his non-payment of his just and honest dues. But 'tis not so here; for the estate of Crewis-Morchard hath continued ever since in his name and posterity, now twelve generations following : which we look upon as an argument of God's particular favour, and that justice and honesty, which hath hitherto been so conspicuous in this family. How long after this Sir Robert survived, I do not find; nor where he lieth interr'd; altho' most probably, it is in an old chappel belonging to the house, now wholly de- molished. In which, that there were some funeral monuments heretofore, may ap- pear from some broken pieces of alabaster, that have heretofore been digged up there. As for the church, the old being wholly destroyed, and the present built but about the 20th K. Hen. 8, there are no vestigia or tracts found, of an}^ antient monuments. And before the late flagration by lightning (which hapned an. 1689,'' so dreadful, that it< Camb. Brit, wrent the steeple, melted the bells, lead, and glass, nothing escaped but the communion ^g^'*''*"' plate) there were only orates for some of the family, with coats of arms inting'd, or painted on the glass. Some of this family, very likely, were the founders of the antient parish church, which they endowed well with glebe lands, which, with the tythes thereunto belong- ing, makes the rectory amount to an hundred and sixty pounds per an. cleer. Sir Robert de Cruwys, de Morcester-cruwys, Kt. left issue Alexander Cruwys, of Cruwys-Morchard ; who had issue John; who had issue John ; who had issue Tho- mas; who had issue John ; who had issue John ; who had issue John ; who had issue John ; who had issue Humphry ; who had issue Lewis ; who had issue Henry ; who had issue John Cruwys, of Cruwys-Morchard, Esq. who hath issue, which God bless to all future generations. I shall here only add a few remarks on the coat-armor of this family, which is, a bend between six escalopes ; which escalopes, we are informed,' are an emblem of that <■ Ouii. Despi. steadfast amity, and constant fidelity, that ought to be, between brethren and compa-"*^^^™'**- "<=. nions of one society. For take one of those fishes and divide the shells, and endeavour ' to sort them, not with hundreds, but millions of the same kind, you shall never match them throughout. The consideration whereof, moved the first founders of the order of S. Mich, in France, to sort the escalope shells in the collar of this order by couples. And then the number six, some arraorists hold it to be the best of even articulate numbers, that can be born in one escotcheon. And the bearing the escalope in arms, signifies the first bearer of such arms, to have been a commander, who by his valor had gained the hearts of his soldiers, and made a reciprocation of truest love between them. CUTCLIFFE, ^78 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. CUTCLIFFE, JOHN, Fior. A. D. CUTCLIFFE, John, commonly known among the learned, by the name of Johannes Edw! 3.' " ^^ Rupescissa, q. Cut-cliffe, was bom in the mannor of Dammage, not Gammage, as through mistake it is called by Dr. Fuller, in his Worthies of England, p. 263. The long continued seat of a gentile family of the name, which flourishes there this day; lying in the parish of Illfarcombe, a convenient little port in the Severn sea, about ten miles to the north of the town of Barnstaple, in this county. Dr. Fuller gives us but a short, and (according to his wont) a kind of quibling ac- count of this famous person. What he says of him, he acknowledges, he derives from Sir John Northcot's manuscript, in these words : ' In the time of K. Ed. 3, Johannes Rupescissanus, or de Rupescissa, being a very sincere and learned man, opposed himself against the doctrine and manners of the " De quinta cs- clergy, and wrote against tlie pope himself.' B^.'a'n. 1597. Whereas, had that laborious author (tho' he could find nothing of him in Balasus p- 9- or Pitzaeus) but looked into Trithemius, De Scrip. Eccles. or Simlerus's Bibliotheca, dJscriT'Ec ^^ ^^"^ John Fox's Acts and Monuments of the Church, he might have had a farther ci. p. 112". and fuller account of him. ' Cum strepitu Before I proceed to what others say of him, I shall first take notice of what this iiin verbo- eminent man says of himself He tells us,"* " That he studied philosophy for five rum, & con- years in the flourishing accademy of Tholose in France (before he entred into the dispiitationuiii. order 01 religion) which was that ot the triers minors;" alter this, he continued for sent'^'^q'' '^^ ^^^ years longer in the same study : which he did not bestow altogether in the "Etiam tern- Wrangling part thereof, that consisteth in noise and empty words ;"^ but applied pore jHventutis himself, cveii in his youth, to the diligent study of the nature of things; in which, pore Xuit nllhi God was SO graciously present to him, that in time he became able to reveal to the Deus, ut reve-poor in Christ, and the professors of the gospel, (who forsake all for his sake) How, ciiristi"&F"an- with little learning, and small expences, they may be able to heal their natural and ^ne*^h m ''*' ^odily infirmities : So that, the more expeditely, with all their strength, they might doctrina, sine most devoutly scrvc OUT Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. '"* Whereby it is apparent, notabihbnsex-ji^g^j. ]jg ^j^g j^,^ excellent philosopher, if he made sjood his undertaking. pensiSjSuas cor- .i^-.f' r ^ ■ r j t-t poraies niiseri- Nor was he a Icss eminent divine, as appears irom the testimony ot others. He was nrnfiVaVT s'ana-^ ^°'^''-°''" *^^'^'^'"^*-y' ^^ ^^^'' ^^ ^" egrcgious philosophcr ;' and very studious of, and reTid.ib.p. 10. extraordinarily learned in, the holy scriptures.' Which renders the matter less strange, 'Sacra> Tiie- having the advantage of tliis blessed light, that he should in those days of thick dark- soilic Pii™oM>- ness, make such notable discoveries of the errors of the church of Rome ; calling that piius egregius. church, ' The whore of Babylon : and the pope, the minister of Antichrist : and the edit. lib. de cardinals, the false prophets:' as we are told* he does, by Flaccius Illyricus, a writer qninta esscnt. of i\^q j^st a n- d lu i non vulgaris, Oraculum Cynl]i,P lib. 1. nonrainorta- De considcrationc quintas Essentiae omnium Rerum, lib. 2. men naturalis ^ rainimequr' Tliis last, vvas first published at Basil, an. 1561: after that, it was republished at ventriaiitAva-the Same place, more correct, by Guliel. Gratarolus, an. 1597, 8vo. qurphysic^' Which he calls. Opus sane Egregium ; a very notable work. In his preface to ac proinde rei which, he givcs a Very fair character of the author : " That tho' he was by profession, naVnua^I^* "o vulgar diviuc, he was a no less natural philosopher ; who penetrated into the arca- non vuig^ipe-na of physick, with no common skill and study: and among other things, produced laboreinter this famous work, out of lovc to piety, and for the benefit of those, who labour in the csterahoc gospel.'"' In which, Rupescissanus says, ' That by the vertue God hath put into na- amore.pro '^ ture, and made subject to mankind, a man may come, to overcome the incommodities Evangeiicis of old age; with which, evangelical men are much hindered in the work of the gos- vins conscnp. , ? ii c iii-i ir sit. Ep. Ded. pel, and restore lost youth, and recover lormer strength ; tho not m the same degree.' 'Quod per Where this excellent person died, as well as when, we are uncertain, unless in the DeufconS' prison aforesaid ; but he flourished under Lewis the emperor, A. D. 1340. naturx, potest homo incom- moda senectu- lis curare, & amissam juven* tutem iterum restaurare, &c. Can. 1, p. 12. DAVIE, ( y«l ) DAVIE, EDMUND, DOCTOR OF PHYSICK. Davie, Edmund, Doctor of Physick, was born, A. D. 1630, at Canon-Teign, in i'^"^- '^ ^• the parish of Christow (antiently Cristenstovv, which heretofore had owners of that car.'s. name, whose daughter and heir was married to Weeks,*) lying not far from Chidlegh, 'Risd. pesc. in this county. Canon-Tcign derives its name from its lords, the black-canons, of^*^^';^'^\" the priory of Merton, in Surrey, founded by K. Hen. 1, and its situation near the river Teign. As for the original of tliis name and family, f Note. J some derive it from ""de la Way, ^Mr.West. or de Way, their ancient seat, in or near the parish of Harwood, three miles to the von Horw. south-east of Bytheford, in this county; which was, at last, contracted into Davie. ' Mr. Risdon Others give it a Latin derivation, for it being written in old deeds, De via, as Robertus 5^^'^"''"^''' de Via, &c. (which signifies of the way) in time it came to be soften'd into Devie, and then into Davie, as we may probably conjecture. The place where this name long florished, was Uppecott, in tlie parish of Beuford, near Great Torrington; which he- reditarily descended unto it from Gilbert, sirnamed thereof, who owned it in K. Edw. 2d's reign : Here Henry Davie lived, in the beginning of this age, who was eminent for his knowledg and skill in matters of antiquity. That the gentleman we are speaking of, descended from this house, I make no question, for either the elder, or (most likely) a younger brother thereof removed to Crediton, where Robert Davie, of that place, had four sons ; the three former are not mentioned by name, by my author ;"* the fourth is said to be John Davie, thrice i Mr. westc. mayor of the city of Exeter ; thus he. But the pedigree of the family, in Sir Wil- P^i^'S- '" ^^''• Ham Davie's custody, tells us (with most likelihood of truth), that John Davie, of the city of Exeter, was the eldest son of Robert ; Avhich John was a very hospitable and charitable person, of which are many instances. In his first mayoralt}^ A. D. 1584. Don Antonio, King of Portugal, being driven out of his country, by Philip, King of Spain, came to Plymouth,' and from ' i^- Mem. of thence to Exeter, where he and his retinue were lodged by tiiis mayor, in his own ^'"'■''■^^'' house, and by him very nobly entertained, during his abode there ; which was some considerable time. As to his charity, he founded an alms-house within the parish of St. Mary-Arches, in that city, for relief of two poor men and their wives, and two single per.-jons. The couples are allowed \Ad. a piece, and the single people \S(I. per week. He erected another at Crediton, for the like number; to each married couple, he allowed 2^". 4^/. to the single persons, Is. 6d. per week. In the whole, he gave 40/. per an. for ever. To which liberal benefaction, the inscription on his monument, in one of the churches at Exetei/ liath relation ; which, to the honor of his memory, I shall here ' st. Mary Subjoyn. Arches. This marble monument, this fading brass. Might have been spar'd, for neither needful was. To stand a register of Davie's name; Who living, did erect a fairer frame. And far more lasting ; whose foundation AVas firmly grounded on the corner-stone : Whose bar, was faith ; whose pillars, piety ; And whose engravings, works of charity. 2 O Then '282 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Then let the dead trust to a dying tomb ; But how can death in Davie find a room ? Whose soul in heaven alive doth aye remain. Whose works on earth so many lives maintain. This John Davie, of Exeter, Esq ; by Margaret, daughter of George Southcot, of Calverley, in this county, Esq ; left issue John Davie of Greedy, Esq ; who by Ju- lian, daughter of Sir William Strode of Newnham, Kt. left issue John, and William, a counsellor at law. Sir John Davie of Greedy, Baronet, having no issue male that survived him, left his estate and title to Sir John, eldest son of his brother AVilliam Davie, who was high-sheriff of this county, an. 1 K. Will, and Q,. Mary, 1689, as his ' uncle, Sir John Davie, was, an. 24 K. Gh. 2, 1671 : Who settled on a school at Sandford, near Crediton, in which his mansion-house stands, 16/. per annum, for ever, towards teaching twenty poor children to read, and finding ten of them cloaths and bibles yearly. Sir John the nephew, dying a batchelor, the estate and title is now in the honorable collonel Sir William Davie, Baronet. The other three sons of Robert Davie, of Grediton aforesaid, were (very probably) the original of three families of Ganon-Teign, now extinct, Medland (which florishes there still), and Ruxford. John Davie, Esq ; the last of this name at Ruxford, left two daughters and heirs ; the eldest married to the honorable and reverend Richard Annesley, D. D. and dean of Exeter, 3'ounger son to the right honorable Arthiu", late . Earl of Anglesey ; the youngest to the honorable and reverend Leopold AVilliam Finch, D. D. and warden of All-Souls in Oxford, a younger son to the right honorable He- neage. Earl of Winchelsey. The second son of the said Robert, was Gilbert Davie, of Ganon-Teign ; who by Mary, daughter of John Geer of Heavy-tree, had issue ; from whom Dr. Davie pro- ceeded, who was the second son of Robert Davie, of that place, gent, (his eldest was William, a counsellor at law, and a justice of peace of this county, whose daughter and heir became the relict of Sir George Gary, late of Glovelly, Kt. .sans-issue). ^ For thus was he matriculated in the university of Oxford, Edmundus Davie Devoniensis, eExMatiic. fiHus Roberti Davie de Gristo in Gom' predict' generosi,^ he was entered a member Epl'st'. jTa of Exeter college, Apr. 9, A. D. 1646, in the sixteenth year of his age. Wood m'ihi lit Being thus incorporated into that learned body, he, in protract of time, became a Mar. i.'i, 1094. ^^,^^j^ omamcnt to it. When he was about two years standing, he was chosen fellow of his college ; and two years after, viz. Jan. 1.5, 16.50, he took his first degree in arts; and in April 165,'3, he proceeded master : About twelve years after, he accumu- lated the degrees of physick, and proceeded batchelor and doctor of his faculty at the * Fast. Oxon. game time.'' V. 2, p. 836. I3eijig now well accomplished to that purpose, as well with learning, as with the authority of academical degrees, he resolved to make physick his sole profession : For his better practice whereof, about the year of our Lord 1667, he retired into his na- tive country, and settled himself in the gentile city of Exeter; first, only as a tabler in the house of his kindsman, Mr. Robert Davie, goldsmith ; after that, in the chauntry, belonging to the cathedral there, where he continued in great esteem and honor many years, even to the time of his death. The worth of this learned doctor, I must acknowledg such, that he requires a more skilful pencil to draw him to the life : I shall therefore let that alone, contenting my- self only with some faint stroaks of him; as one who was personally known to him while alive, and doth still honor his memory now he is dead. Dr. Davie then (as must be granted by all that knew him) was a person of excellent natural parts, of a quick fancy, a ready wit, and a sound judgment : All which were highly improved by the advantage of many years standing, in that most excellent seminary of vertue and learning, DAVIE, EDMUND, DOCTOR OF PHYSICK. 283 learning, the university of Oxford, whereby he became an eminent scholar, and was well read, not only in books relating to his particular profession, but in all the polite and curious parts of learning. If we consider him as a physician, his success in practice was not owing meerly to experience, but (under God) to his judgment and learning ; by which he compre- hended the nature of the disease, and so could prescribe those compositions, as could best master and subdue it. He was none of those who deal in nostrums, and book- recipes, but had a large stock of learning and knowledge of his own to proceed upon ; by which, he came to be esteemed the great ^sculapius of his time, in these western parts. He was a witty, as well as learned man ; yet was he none of those, whose wit out- runs their wisdom, for the ostentation thereof, many times, in a blunt jest, shall not care what enemies they make, or friends lose : Who are so far from wits, in a sober sense, that they are rather like Solomon's madman, ' They throw about fire-brands, arrows, and death.' In whose com])any a man is always in danger of having his per- son bespattered with tlie froth of a luxuriant fancy, or his reputation blown up with the wild-fire of an audatious tongue. But every one was safe and easy where the doctor was, secured from the sharpness of his wit, by the interposition of his pru- dence and discretion, which always rendred him desirable, as well as pleasant com- pany. He was also, by humor and disposition, much a gentleman, as well by birth and education, which he always shewed by his great humanity ; being ready to prescribe to the poor gratis, and to take moderately of the rich. So free and obliging was he herein, that he would direct some how (upon occasion) to prepare and apply their own physick : He was neither rapax nor tenax ; if so, he might have much exceeded in his estate, the ten thousand pounds, he is said to have died possessed of; the great- est part whereof, he settled upon a son of his kindsman's, (being never married him- self) Mr. Robert Davie, goldsmith, aforesaid. What may not be omitted, as of especial remark in this worthy doctor, is the great respect and friendliness he was wont to shew unto the clergy, not only in his being sparing in taking fees of them, unless very rich, but in the freedom of his table and conversation, unto which he readily admitted them. Farther yet, he seemed to rank himself in their number, thougli none of their order ; doing every thing incumbent on them, except the inseparable offices of their function : He lived in one of their houses, kept residence there as a clergyman, I mean by his exemplary charity and hospitality ; frequently feeding the poor at his door, and feasting the rich at his table, as well by invitation as occasion. He was aiso greatly addicted to the interest of the established church of England, whose cause he would, on occasion, no less zealously than judiciously defend; where- by he did contribute, not a little, to the credit and reputation thereof, in the city where he lived. He -was likewise, endow 'd with principles of duty and loyalty, to the crown of England ; yet an asserter also of the rights and liberties of the subject, as became a true Englishman, and a lover of his country. To this, I shall only add his great modesty and humility : he was no forward push- ing man, either as to place, or discourse. He could be content to hear others speak in their turn, and yield them the respect and defference due unto their parts and worth : For himself, he was like a taper, whose rays enlighten others, but about itself casteth a modest sliadow ; for however he highly merited, he never coveted the praise of men. Hence, in his last will and testament, he did expressly forbid any pompous epitaph to be put upon his tomb, contenting himself with a bare ' Hie jacet Ed- mundus Davie, M. D.' At length, this eminent physician, who had been so instrumental (under God) in 2 O 2 preserving 284 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. preserving the lives of others, could no longer protract his own, but died of the gout, w^hich had long afflicted him, at the chauntry in Exon, (where he lived) on the 22d of Jan. A. D. 1692, and tetatis suae 62. He lieth interred in the south-isle of the Lady Mary's chapel, at the upper end of the cathedral of St. Peter's, Exon, under a flat stone, having this inscription. Hie jacet Edmundus Davie, M. D. 1692. In the wall, near adjoyning, is erected to his memory, a fair monument of alabaster, containing his bust, cut after the life, in wigg and cravat ; imder which is found this short epitaph. In Memoriam Edmundi Davie Qui obiit 22 Jan. 1692. ADDITIONAL NOTE. THE first ancestor recorded in the pedigree of this family, which is very complete, is William Delaway, alias Dewy, who came over willi William the Conqueror ; his picture is painted on tlie side of the pedigree, in the armour of those times, with a helmet on his head and a plume of leathers, in his right-hand a battle axe, and slung over his left-arm his shield with his arms : argent a chevron sable between three mullets pierced e- to Axminster. This, we are told, from good authority,^ was the long continued dwell- i,?patm'ksr" ing of the name of Dovile, or De Ovile, a knightly race, Sir Tho. Dovile the last of° i''*"'" '^^- '" the name in this place, was attainted, for what particular fact I cannot find, in the f^'sir''vv! Pole latter end of the reign of K. Edw. the third. Which, however, hindred not the descent "' p'""^.- '". of that land unto his daughter Alice; who claimed the same, as convey 'd before r^Kiinrent!' Though afterwards, it was purchased by Sir William Bonvile of Shute, near adjoyning. ' ^^'- ^^'^^ From whom it descended unto Henry Gray, Duke of Sufiblk, by whose attainder it in K'iim''cntonr came to the crown ; from which it was purchased by the ancestor of the right honor- able the present Lord Petre, in whom is the inheritance of that pleasant seat, wiiicb was the habitation of George Southcot, Esq. lately deceased. But to return. Henry Davils, being of a stout martial spirit, followed the wars, and became an excellent soldier. AVhethcr that was the first academy he learned the art in, I cannot say, but Ireland was his chief stage of action, where he performed his part admirably well, to his great honor and renown. The first occasion of his going over into that kingdom, was to assist in the quellino the insurrections and rebellions of that nation, in the days of Q. Elizabeth ; which be- ing impatient under that soft and gentile yoak, clapt upon their necks by the English, endeavoured by all possible means to shake it off again. Many attempts they made towards it, turned every stone, and were ready to say with Media : ' Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta raovebo.' If bend I can't the Gods above. The pow'rs of hell I then will move. ' Knowing, therefore, how prevailing a thing the pretence of religion is, they first made use of that, and declared their design to be, ' the restoration of the Koniish faith in the Isle.' Hence they sent their agent, James Fitz-morris,'' a near kindsman of the|',a^™'Q'^i"[ Earl of Desmond, to the pope for his blessing ; who granted them two priests, Sanders '• 2, p. 98, an. and Allen, a little mony, an hallowed banner, and letters recommendatory to the king^^''^' of Spain. To him, therefore, fearing the former should fail, they applied themselves for arms; who 288 . THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. who furnished them with three ships, and a small power of men, which safely landed at Kerry in Ireland : Where, in a place solemnly consecrated by the priests, they erected a fort, for tlieir better security ; unto those, John and James, brethren to the Earl of Desmond, gathering together a few Irish, did joy n themselves. The Earl him- self, a very potent person, having almost whole countries in his possession, and five hundred gentlemen of his own name and family to follow him, highly favoured the cause ; though he gathered his men together, under colour, as if he meant to resist the rebels. The Lord Deputy Drury, as soon as he had certain intelligence that the enemy was landed, commanded the Earl of Desmond, with his brethren, forthwith to assault the 'Id. ib. p 99: fort of Kerry aforesaid. This command was sent them by our Henry Davils,' who was in joynt commission, and is characterized by the annalist, ' That he was an English gentleman, and a stout soldier, and with the Desmonds very familiar.' But they, instead thereof, shifted oil the matter, and refused to do it, as being full of danger. Davils hereupon departed, and John Desmond followed after him, and at >= This follow- Trasly, a small town, he overtook him, lying in an inn." And in the dead of the night, taLnfromVr'. having Corrupted the hoast, he break into his chamber, with certain murderers, with Cambd. quo their swords drawn ; where Davils slept securely with Arthur Carter, Lieutenant to *"'*■ the Marshal of Munster, a most stout old soldier. Being awakened with the noise, when Davils saw J. Desmond in the chamber, with his sword drawn, he raised himself up, saying, as Caesar somtime did, when Brutus assassinated him, ' ««. o-u' Wx^o.;' 'What is the matter my son?' (for so was he wont to call him familiarly.) ' I will be no longer thy son,' said he, ' nor thou my father: thou shalt die.' With that, to observe Irish treachery and cruelty, they slew both him and Carter, thatslep with him; stabbing them in many places, after that Davils lacky-boy, by interposing his naked body, had done the best he could, for a while, to defend his master, and had received some wounds. Then he slew all Davil's servants, one after another, who were lodged here and there in several chambers. And so returning all begoar'd with blood, he vaunted among the Spaniards of the murther. But see that signal vengeance that attendeth at the heels of murther and rebellion, this Sir John of Desmond, as I take him to be, was afterwards taken prisoner by Mr. John Zouch, and his body hanged over the gates of his native city, to be devoured by 1 Hackluits ravens.' And this great Earl Desmond was, in less than three \'ears after his breaking 2 varrof'tiie'3 out into rebellion, and adhering to the Spaniards, beaten from -his holds; his lands vol. pag. 174. seized and given to her majesty Queen Elizabeth by parliament; he himself taken and beheaded by a soldier, of Ids own nation, and not so many as ten gentlemen of his name left alive, of all this numerous family. Mr. Davils was slain anno Elizab. 22, 1579. ADDITIONAL NOTE. WILLIAM DAVILS, or Davailes, the father ot Captain Henry Davils, was the second son of Lewis. His eldest son was John, vi'ho lived to a great age, and left Merland and his other property to his only daughter and heir, who was married to Arthur Harris of Hayne, Esq. DENNIS. { 289 ) DENNIS, SIR THOMAS. Dennis, sir Thomas, a Privy-Councellor to K. Hen. 8, was born anno 1480, orFior. a. d. near thereto, at Holcomb-Burnel, antiently Holcomb-Bernard, from the first owners ^''g^'g*'* *'• thereof the Fitz-Bernards, lying in this county, about three miles to the south-west from Exeter. This estate came into this family by an exchange, which Sir Thomas Brook, Kt. made hereof with Thomas Dennis of Bradford, for his estate at Wycroft, in the parish of Axminster, anno 9 K. Hen. 6;' which descended imto him by the mar- » sir w. Pole's riage of the heir general of Christenstow, or Christow, the antient proprietor, into his |^^„^^t™'^' family. This name and family came hither from Bradford aforesaid, lying near Holdsworthy, in this county; Thomas Dennis of Bradford Dabernon, had two wives, the first was Alice daughter of Thomas Baunfeild, (antiently so written) of Poltimore ; by whom he had issue Gilbert Dennis of Bradford : His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Hatch of Woolly, by whom he had Thomas Dennis of Holcomb-Burnel,'' the" id. in Hole, ancestor of this gentleman. Burnei. This name and family is of very great honor and antiquity, in this county; the most antient place I can find of their re&ideuce is Pancras-Wike, or Wike St. Pancrasii, in the north-west part of this county; and the first of the name was Jellanus,*^ then = id.mOrlegh. Raph, who held Pancras-Wike in K. Hen. 2d's time. This Raph had issue Robert and William ; from William descended that gentile family of the name Dennis of Or- legh, in the parish of Buckland-Bruer, near Bytheford ; wliich after a continuance there, in great esteem, for eighteen descents in that name, expired in the present age, in two daughters and heirs, married unto Sir Thomas Hamson of Com. Buck. Baronet, and Nicholas Glynn of Glynn in Cornwal, Esq. which last hath lately alienated it un- to Mr. John Davies, a rich merchant of the town of Bytheford, near adjoyning, whose now it is. (Note. J This family wrote their name, heretofore, Dacus, or Le Daneis ; and derive them- selves from the Danes,** vviio lorded it here in England, before the Norman Conquest ; i Risd. MS. of in token whereof, they bear for their armory three Dane- Axes; and were antiently ^"^^^ '° ^°^- written Le Dan Dennis, by which name the Cornish call the Danes unto this day. An old rampire in Cornwal, where the Danes encamped, is by them called Castellan- Dennis, in English, The Danes' Castle. There have been divers knights of this name in this county, as well as several emi- nent families, as Sir Alan Dacus, or Denneis, of Holdsworthy, Kt. Sir Robert Dennis of Manworthy his son. Sir Robert Dennis of Wike St. Pancras ; all living in the reign of K. Hen. 3." Sir Robert le Denis of Blagdon in the Moor, (antiently the lands of ^P"'*'.' '^^S-"' this name, from whom, by marriage, they came unto the worsh. family of Kirk ham, men of this and thence, the same way, unto the honorable family of Blunt) lying in the parish oi ''"""'y- Paynton, in the days of K. Ed. 1,' and many others too tedious to enumerate. fij_ ,„ Bia"d. Among them all, I find not any more eminent and honorable than the gentleman 'nPaynt. before us. Sir Thomas Dennis of Holcomb, Kt. who, as he lived in the distinct reigns^eiz. Mem. of of no less than eight kings and queens of this realm, so was he greatly preferred !jy Exet. p. lor. several of them : For he lived in the days of K. Edw. 4, K. Edw. 5, K. Rich. 3, K. Hen. 7, K. Hen. 8, K. Edw. 6, Q. Mary, and Q. Eliz. all this he might do, and yet not exceed eighty years of age. As for the honors which he received from those princes, they were very consider- able ; he was a domestic servant unto K. Hen. 7,'' in what quality I find not; one of ' Idem ibid, the privy-council to K. Hen 8 ; chancellor to Q. Anne of Cleve ; custos rotulorum 2 P of 290 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ' Id. qi.0 prius. of Devon ; and lastlj, seven times' high-sheriff of this county, nine times, according x Cat. of the to Sir Will. Pole," viz. ult Hen. 7, 1st, 4, 10, 14, 19, 23 K. Hen. 8, 3d Edw. 6, and Sbcrifl-sofDev. j^^^^Q j^^^^ 'iz.ib.'inCat. Once he M'as sheriff two years together, sc. 23d and 24th of K. Hen. S,' contrary to the^^'il^'' fare ^'^^ statute made the 23d of K. Hen. 6, whereby he forfeited two hundred pounds to of*K. Hen.'rs the King and the informer, a moiety to each. Having acquainted the King herewith, [ni^to s^r'^wfil. 1"^ majesty ordered his attorny-general to file an information against him for the same; Pole's Cat. " and had judgment thereon, which the King pardoned ; and the informer acknowledged Exet. p!*i07,° satisfaction on record." In one of the years of whose sheriffalty, viz. the 23d of K. Hen. 8. an. Dom. 1531, it hapned, that Thomas Bennet, a Cambridge man by birth and education, being a master of arts of that university, was found guilty of heresy, at Exeter, and executed for the same thereby. " Hook. Syn, Of vvhom we have this short account :" That being carried with the desire of the of Dcven. j^^^^,^^ j^^ forsook Cambridge, and came to the city of Exeter, that he might more freely servo God. And having taken to himself a wife, he gave this as the reason, ' Ne scortator aut imnumdus essem, uxorem duxi,' I married, for that I would not be found an whore- monger, or unclean person. He carefully frequented all sermons ; was of quiet beha- viour, of agodlyr conversation, of a courteous nature, humble to all men, and offensive • Foxs Mon.to nobody;" and got his living, and sustained his famiiy, by teaching little children. oftbech. V. 2, This holy man, not enduring the blasphemies and superstitions of the church of ^' '''^' Rome, set up certain bills on the cathedral church doors in the city, ' That the pope is Antichrist, and that we ought to worship God only, and no saints.' In doing of which, he was at last discovered, and called before Dr. Voysey, Bishop of Exeter, where, in the open consistory, he was condemned to be burned. Herepon, a writ, De Hferetico Comburendo, being brought to Sir Thomas Dennis, then sheriff of the county, he commanded a stake to be erected at Southenhay (within (. iz. Mem. of the city limits), in order to the execution of him.? But the chamber of Exeter, not Exet.p. 116. suffering it, he was carried to a place near by, now called Livery-dole, and there burned to death. After this. Sir Thomas Dennis, whether out of a principle of charity at large, or touched with the atrocity of the fact (he having been so nearly concerned in it), as is most probable, in this place founded and erected a fair alms-house, for twelve aged men to inhabit, allotting to each of them a low room, and a chamber over the same; and a little plat of ground for a garden, all enclosed with a wall. This house stands a mile to the east of the city of Exeter, just in the London road, being before a waste, parting the two roads leading into the city, one into the east, the other into the south-gate thereof. Besides this, the pious gentleman gave twelve pence a week to the poor thereof, each man severally, for their maintenance ; with a gown, and a hundred of faggots each, yearly for ever: A very generous and noble piece of charity. And that we may see he had no less regard to the good of their souls, than he had to the welfare of their bodies, he raised a decent chappel within the said house, and appointed a chap- lain to read prayers daily therein. 1 Iz. Mem. Nor was this gentleman good only to the publick, Init promoted the interest also of This land cime ijjg family, and added to it Bickton,^^ in this county; which he bought of Charles Co- s'ton,"riuire;pleston, Es(i. who derived it from Sachvill, as he did from La Balister, or Alabaster, '^''"soi.uTunto \^'ho dvvelled there, anno 1229.' Before him, John Janitor (so called from his office) thrat'oi'S" held it by gift from K. Hen. 1, who, by tenure of these lands, was to keep the com- ni' ni'o."""mo>i-P>i''On within the county of Devon. And here was it wont to be kept; but the ■■"s.V. Pole's nlace bein"- of no great strength, it was removed within tiie walls of the city of MS. of Dev. f o o ° Exeter, ill Bickt. DENNIS, SIR THOMAS. ^ Exeter, where, near the castle thereof, it still continues, and is kept by the same tenure. Sir Robert Dennis, son of the said Sir Thomas, by Elizabeth, daughter and heir '^Poies^Ris.^of of Sir Angel Dun of London,' new built house, made a park for deer, with the addi- Bur.' tion of divers commodities, both for use and pleasure: Who left it to his son. Sir Thomas Dennis (knighted in Holland by E. of Leicestershire, an. 1586)' who, by < la. inter mi- Anne, daughter of William Powlet, Marquess of Winchester, left it, with his other '^*eg_°E,];.^"''- estate, to liis two daughters and heirs ; Anne, wife of Sir Henry RoUe of Stephenston, and Margaret, wife of Sir Arthur Manwaring, who sold Holcomb aforesaid. Sir Henry Rolle left issue Dennis Rolle, Esq. the darling, in his time, of this country (of whom more, by God's permission hereafter) whose daughter, Florence, was married unto Sir John Rolle, Knight of the Bath, whose now Bicton is. Sir Thomas Dennis, beforementioned, died in the year of our Lord 1602, aged near about eighty years. He lieth interred in the parish church of Holcomb-Burnel, where is a fair monu- ment erected to his memory ; whether with, or without, an epitaph, I am not informed ; nor have I leisure now to enquire. ADDITIONAL NOTE. FROM the family of Davie (erroneously called Davies above) Orleigh lias lately passed into the possession, and is now the residence of, Edward Lee, Esq. From the Orleigh branch of the Dennis family was derived another branch, situated at Windy-Cross, near Great Torrington, of which was Abraham Dennis, contemporary with the last of the Orleigh line. His great grand- son, Abraiiam, married the heiress of Nortlileigh of Northleigh, and had issue five sons, of whom Abraham, William, and John, died unmarried; Thomas had issue Elizabeth, married to the Rev. William Moore of Lova- ton: and Joseph left issue Abraham Freeman Dennis of Tavistock, the last male heir of this family. P '2 DEVON, 298 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. DEVON, RICHARD. 4224 R r' Devon, Richard, called in Latin authors, Richardus Devoniensis, or Richard of Hen.'s. ' Devonshire, was a native of this county, as his name plainly tells us. He went out of England very young, and became a monk in France, spending good part of his days at •Hist. & Ant. Felcamp, or Fiscamp, a noted monastery in Normandy." S^es!'"'"' '■ When K. lien. 3 had confirmed the rule of St. Francis here in England, the news thereof, soon flew over to the other side of the Brittish ocean, and came into France. Upon which, nine brothers (four whereof were clergy, and five lay) resolved speedily for England ; of which number our Devoniensis was one, at that time an acolyte, or a subdeacon in the church. These friers, furnished at tiie charge of the abby aforesaid, transferred themselves from 1 hence to Dover, in the year of grace I'224, and from Do- ver they came to Canterbury ; where staying a while, they agreed to divide their company. Our Devoniensis, with another eminent person, whose name was Ingeworth (a priest and a preacher), and two others, went lor London, where they were kindly entertained for fifteen days by the Dominicans ; at the expiration whereof, dropping the two lay- brothers, that accompanied them thither, they bent their course towards Oxford ; where making at present but a short stay, they set forth from thence to Northampton, at which place they found so much credit, as to raise a small convent, in the parish of St. Giles, in that town, whose first guardian was frier Peter Hispanus ; and its first founder, a Devonian. Having thus settled this house, they resolved for Cambridge where arrived, by the favor of the burgesses of that town, they had an old .synagogue adjoyning to the castle, given them for their use ; which they also converted to a religious house : But being here, much disturbed in their devotions, by the rude noise of their ill neighbors the prisoners, they obtained a piece of ground a little farther off; towards the purchase whereof (such was their growing interest at court), they had ten marcs out of the Ex- chequer. Here they raised a small oratory ; how small you may guess, by what the M.l.ib.p.es. historian relates of it,*" That it was, ' Oratorium perobscurum, quale nimirum unius diei spatio faber lignarius compingere poterit,' such a one as a good carpenter could raise in a day. The first warden of this little convent was Thomas de Hispania. • Having done here, Devoniensis and Ingeworth resolved once more for Oxford, in which journy they succeeded so well, that tliey were now not far ofi' the city ; but be- ing igiiorant of the way, and the night coming on apace, and, what was worst of all, the rains having swoln the rivers up above the banks, they thought it most adviseable to turn into a little cell of Benedictines, built on the grange belonging to the convent ' Puisatoievi- of Abingdon, .six miles from Oxford. Coming to the door they softly knocked,' and Dei"anu;7em begged, for the love of God, to be admitted in there that night, or else they were like petebant. Ibid, to perish witli cold and hunger. ^'^^' The porter, seeing this miserable pair of brothers with squallid looks, coarse cloaths, and outlandish tones, took them for some wandering zanies, that were going about to make sport : With this conceit away he ran to the prior, and delivered him the joyful news ; who, with his sacristary and butler, came to the gate, and invited them in, hoping to see some pastime from them. But the two brothers, with a se\'ere and composed countenance, told them, 'That if this were all the reason of their invitation, they were like to be deceived of their expectations; that they were not the men they took them for, but the servants of the great God ; for whose sake, they said, they had chosen this apostolical kind of life. Pfereupon the Benedictines, thus disappointed of ^ then- DEVON, KTCHAHD. 293 their hopes, treated the two friers in a most unworthy manner, and with kicks and knocks, late as it was, turned them out of doors. Having now no shelter left them, the poor friers knew not what to do; at length, after they had wandered up and down a little while, they laid them down under a tree, to take some repose. And here they might have perished e're the morning, had not God put it into the mind of a certain young monk, of the house, after the prior and his com- pany were gone to bed, to get leave of the porter, to go out and bring them in. AViio having refreshed them in the best manner that he could, committed them to their rest, on a bundle of hay, he had provided for them, and himself to their prayers; which done, he betook himself to his lodging. Here I begin to hesitate a little, whether I was best to go on with the story, and subjoyn what is farther said to have hapned ; but seeing so grave a prelate as Dr. Fell, late Bishop of Oxford, and the editor of the history and antiquities of that university, is pleased to insert it into that laborious work ;'' and seeing, also, the relation may a Quo supra, afford us some representation of the devotion, or tricks rather of those times, I trust it V, ill not be ungrateful to the reader for me to do it also here ; and thus it was. The young monk being gone to bed in his cell, fell asleep, and in his sleep he dream'd, that our Saviour Christ was come to judgment, and sate down upon his dreadful tribunal, executing his last sentence upon all the world ; at what time, he heard liim call forth this prior and his monks, whom he commanded to appear before him. Which done, he by and by saw standing forth a miserable poor man, in tiie habit of a frier-minor, who there accused them before the judgment seat, in a short speech, to this purpose ; ' Oh ! great Judg, revenge the blood of thy servants, whom ■the barbarous cruelty of these men, exposed to the dangers of cold, need, and night : Remember, oh ! Lord, how ready they were to bestow those supports wc wanted, upon juglers and gypsies ; but denied them to thy servants, that, for thy sake, re- nounced the world, and for whose souls. Thou wert pleased to undergo the agonies of death.' At this the dreadful Judg, looking severely on the prior, with an angry voice, asked him, 'To what order he did belong?' When he answered, ' Tu the Benedictines;' Christ turning to St. Bennet (who was thereby), demanded of him, ' AVhelhcr this were so ?' To \\hom he replying, ' That these were most vile subverters oi'liis order, he having commanded, that his houses should always be open unto strangers.' Sen- tence was forthwith denounced, ' That the prior, the sacristy, and the butler, should immediately be hung up upon the neighboring elm." ' De ulmo vicina suspendantur."^**' ''"'*■ By and by our Saviour Christ, espying that other monk, by whose kindness and humanity the lives of our Devoniensis and his brother were preserved, asked him, ' What order he was of?' He fearing, if he should acknowledg himself a Benedictine, he should run the same fate with his prior, said, ' He was of the order of St. Francis.' Upon which our Saviour asked of St. Francis, there present also, ' If this were so?' he running to the young man, cried out, ' Mens est Domine, mens est,' ' He is mine Lord, he is mine, from this time forward I receive him into mine arms and family.' And therewith embraced him so hard, that he suddenly awaked out of his sleep. The young monk thus rouzed, with all speed, catching up his cloaths, ran away, half dressed, as he was, to the prior's lodgings: whom he found, together with the other menks there, almost all strangled, as if they were hanging indeed. But being at length, with difiiculty, awakned, upon the monk's relating his foregoing dream, they all fell into a mighty fear. After this, soon leaving them, he returned to visit his two guests, whom he thought to have found upon the hay, where he left them ; but they fearing to fall again into the prior's hands, had consulted for their safety by a timely flight. The conclusion of the whole was thus : So religious an awe and fear hence fell upon them all, that not the young monk only, but the \n-\uv and cell, and the whole convent 294 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. convent of Abingdon, soon after went to Oxford, and took upon tliein the stricter order of St. Francis. But to return again to our countryman. Devoniensis and his companion Ingeworth, set out, as was said, very early from the cell, in their way to Oxford ; praising God as they went, and making vows and prayers to him, that they might obtain love and favor from the inhabitants when they came thither. Nor did they pray in vain, for coming into the city, they went to a convent of Dominicans, whom they found as kind and obliging, as the monks of the cell, be- longing to the abby of Abingdon, had been rude and uncivil. Here they staid eight days, and were entertained with diet, lodging, and other con- veniencies; but they, not unmindful of their order, thought of looking out some man- sion of their own, where to settle St. Francis's rule. At last, they, obtained a house in the parish of St. Ebbs, in the same city, and in little time, that fraternity there greatly encreased, by the means of our Devoniensis. These two friers having thus settled so many houses of the Franciscan order, here in England, they both resolved to travel beyond sea again ; how long they continued to- gether after this, I cannot say : But Ingeworth going into Syria, with an earnest zeal of promoting the christian faith, died there. Which way our Devoniensis directed his steps, I know not ; only this is said of him, that touched with the same holy zeal his companion was, he visited divers nations ; and after fifteen years peregrination, he returned back again into England. By this time his body being much wasted, what with long and tedious travel, and what with a quartan ague he had gotten, he retired to a place called, by my author, Romanhale ; though where this place is, I can no where find in the Villare Anglicum. Which makes me think, that 'tis mistaken for Romanslegh ; so called, not from the f Mr. Risd. Romans,' but from St. Rumon, a famous bishop and saint, that lived there, but was E^^Romanss! buried in the church belonging to the abbj^ of Tavistock. And if this were the place, MS. as is most probable, that our Richard of Devonshire had recourse unto, there to repose his bones; 'tis very likely that he received his first breath, and was born there also. Which Romanslegh lieth in the hundred of W^ytheridge, not far from Chymlegh in this comity. In which parish church, or yard thereunto belonging we may suppose he found a resting place for his wearied bones. Devonius Baldwinus. See Baldwin A. B. of Cantcrb. Devonius Josephus. See Josephus Iscanus. DEVONIUS. ( 295 ) DEVONIUS, ALIAS DE FORD A, JOHANNES. DEVONIUS, alias de Forda, Johannes, or John of Devonshire, abbot of Ford, j'^^fg^-^; chaplain and confessor unto John, King of England, carrys the signature of his coun-johaii. try in his forehead : Altlio' we can't name, hardly guess at, the parish where he was born : yet 'tis sufBcient to our purpose, that he was plainly a native of our county. How he came by this name, is no difficult matter to define ; for eminent men, in antient times, as was observed before,' were wont to have names given them from the places g^pjou'"*^ where thev were born ; which was generally from the house, and somtime the parish : But here this person, for that the county was more known, than the obscure place of his birth, was denominated from the shire, John of Devon. And this, indeed, is an argument that he had travelled, and spent much time abroad in the world ; where having signalized himself, and acquired some reputation for learning, piety, devotion, or all, he got this name. About which time it was, that English-men, who were lovers of learning, especially in these western parts of the kingdom, that lieth a short cut over against it, were wont, for better improvement therein, to betake themselves to France ; which it seems, was then so common a prac- tise, and they so welcom there, that a certain school, or college, was erected, pecu- liarly for them, in the university of Paris : So an author, of good authority in this matter, assures us, in these words, ' Quod schola, sen collegium Anglorum luteti^ sub id seculi, llOU erat erecta ; ubi nostratium hand pauci, annos aliquot in Uteris ponentes, Sec.'" From whence, after some years spent in diligent study, and, what "j^Hist.^^ Ant. improves more, learned conversation, they were wont to return well accomplished forj/pVss. the service of their country. Although I grant, 'tis but an odd sort of character, that Nigellus Wireker hath given of their behaviour, at this time, in that university ; which, that you may see what temper the English students were of, in those days, and how much they are changed from it, in ours, I shall here subjoyn, in the poet's iir/^r^o .c • Natioiie qiii- ^*^'^^- deinAnglu^, Inde scholas adieus, secuni deliberat utrum iisdem a" nu'' Expediat potius, ilia, vel ista, schola stmiebat popu- Et quia subtiles sensu, considerat Anglos, mores perstrin- Pluribus ex causis, se s(jciavit eis. git Nigellus Moribus egregii, verbo, vultuq : venusti ; MS.**ld?ibld. Ingenio poUent, consilioq ; vigent. Dona pluunt populis, & destestantcs avaros, Fercula multiplicant, & sine lege bibunt. Washeyl & Drinkheyl, nee non persona secunda ; Ha;c tria sunt vitia qua; comitantur eos. His tribus exceptis, nihil est quod in his reprehendas: Hir-c tria si tollas, cajtera cuncta placent. However, after all this, it must be acknowledged, that 'tis imcertain, whether this our Devonius was a student there, or no, although probable enough it is, that he was so ; but this is sure, that he was a monk of the abby of Ford,"* lying in the east-most ^R^d^ R^sc. part of this county; which, in its time, was of good value, and great reputation ; xiiornc. yielding divers learned and very eminent men unto the church ; as Baldwin, Arch- bishop of Canterbury, Bartholom^uslscanus, Lord Bishop of Exeter, and many others: The yearly value thereof, at the dissolution of those houses, in Hen. 8th's days, was 574/. '■i96 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Yo^TjIlxfa ^'^^''- '^*'- ^^^- °^- ^^ Diigd.;^ but Speed makes it somvvhat more, viz. 381/. lOi. fin.' " "" 6f/. ob.' 'inK.H. 8. How long our Johannes Devonius continued here, I do not find; but undoubtedly, he very well improved his time while he was so, and became eminent, both for his learning and devotion ; for which reason, he was called to court, and made chaplain in ordinary to Jolm, King of Enghmd, in whose grace and favor he so encreased, that he became his confessor. 'Tis but an ill account which the monks of those times gave of that prince, as if * ^k''tS'"^°"' '^^ were very irreligious ; and there are two stories quoted for the proof of it -.^ one is, ' That receiving an overthrow in France, in great anger, he cryed out, That nothing had prospered with him, since the time he was reconciled to God and the pope.' The other thus, * That, on a time, opening a fat buck, he said. See how this deer hath . prospered, and how fat he is, and yet I dare swear he never heard mass.' Whereas Balajus gives us a far ditferent account of him, ' That he vvas> pietate Christiana a puero rite institutus, &c. from a child, rightly instituted in the cliristian Num'75 ^' ^'^'t'i> learned in all good arts, and illustrious for his candid behaviour."' He that is s6-t. ' desirous to see more of him, and those several volumes which he wrote, may consult the author, as quoted in the margin. What some would infer from the foregoing sto- ries, repeated to his disadvantage by the monks, is, that K. John was zealous enough for the christian religion, but no great lover of popery; which, whether that were owing, in any degree or measure, to this his confessor, we cannot say. And here, I must acknowledg, 1 have proceeded on some mistake about the name, ' ^- •"»'"'' a- having found at last, that the same person whom Sir R. Baker,' and Mr. Risden,'' do Men! call Johannes Devonius, is by Bale' called, Johannes de Forda. Most likely, he was " In Foid-Ab- bom at La Ford, in the parish of Musbury, near Axminster, where a family of this by, MS. name florished about that time ; whose daughter and heir, Hawise, brought this 66,^p. 258. ' estate to a younger son of Sir Nicholas Bonvile of Wiscomb, Kt. who left his paternal •"Sir W.Pole name, and took the local one,"" De la Ford, or else he might be so called from his ab- d'f '^'^J''^" by. This John de Forda, is said (according to what foregoes) to have travelled into bury. foreign parts, and to have returned home, stored with good learning, and stocked with ° Fuller's Wor- good manners." He had his youth well cultivated with, the misteries of the christian p.'^6j?^^^' religion, which he sucked in with the learned arts and sciences; so that, even in his younger years, he promised a great encrease, being of an excellent indoly or dis- position. After some years that he had been a monk, he was chosen abbot of Ford; in the govenmient of which house, he was very fliligent, desiring to render his charge, like •Cupiebat nnto liimself, in all good things." He carefully looked after those public exercises, coinmissiim SI- vvhcrebv the minds of vounsr men come to be sharpned, and made keen, towards no- bi gregcm, sui , , r.' J o i ' A MS. pedig. the Lx)rd Martin ; thence to Fortescue; at length to GifTard of Brighlegh," who sold "^'"Jj'J:^^^'^'''' them to Judg Dodderidge aforesaid: Where he built a very fair and gentile house, miknownhand. about the year of our Lord 1622 ; but having no issue of his own, at the time of his death, he left it to his brother, Pentecost Dodderidge of Barnstaple, merchant ; from whom it descended to his son, Joiin Dodderidge, of whom before, and more here- after. This reverend judg, as was hinted before, was a person of great integrity, as may be inferred from that notable expression of his, for which he was famous, ' That as old as he was, he would go to Tiburn on foot, to see such a man hanged, that should prefer money to a place of that nature.' For certainly, those, who buy such offices by wholesale, must sell justice by retail, to make themselves savers. He was com- monly called, the sleepy judg, because he would sit on the bench with his eyes shut; which was only a posture of attention, to sequester his sight from distracting objects, the better to listen to what was alledged.' 'Full. Worth. Having thus dispatched these things, I shall now proceed to the death and funeral P' "^'^' of this honorable and most worthy person ; for notwithstanding all the esteem, love, and respect, by his great learning, and useful conversation, so justly acquired, he was summoned, by that grim serjeant, to surrender up his pious soul into the hands of him that gave it; and he did it accordingly, with great chearfulness, at Forsters, near Egham, in Surrey, September the 13th, in the year of our Lord, 1628, near about the 73d year of his age. Soon after which, his venerable remains were carried thence, according to his de- sire, unto the city of Exeter; where they are honorably deposited in the cathedral church. 304 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. church, near the Lady Mary's chappel, viz. in the ambulatory, before the library door ; under a fair large stone, on which is this inscription : Hie situm est Johannis Dodderidge, militis & judicis, quod fuit. Cujus memoriae proximum hoc monumentum positum & sacratum est. Obiitxiii die Sept. A.D. 1628. Underneath which words is this motto : Lex Norma Morum. Then we have his coat armour, with the mantling engraven on the same stone ; and underneath that, these words. Beati qui in Domino moriuntur. Within the library near by (formerly part of the Lady Mary's chappel), at the up- per end thereof, is a very sumptuous and noble monument erected, to the memory of this Judg Dodderidge, and his lady ; containing their representation at large, cu- riously cut in alabaster, under a stately arch, supported with marble pillars, well pol- lished. He lieth in his scarlet gown and robes, with a court-roll in his hand ; she in very rich drapery, suitable to her sex and quality. In memory of both which persons, were distinct epitaphs somtimes found ; which being written with letters of gold, on tables of marble, time hath well nigh washed away ; but so perfectly as I find them, I shall here endeavor to transmit them to pos- terity. To the memory of Sir John Dodderidge, Knight, who was first, serjeant at law to Prince Henry ; afterwards, solicitor-general to King James of famous memory ; after that, principal serjeant at law to the said King James ; and lastly, was called by him, to be one of the judges of the honorable Court of King's-Bench ; whereof he re- mained a judg the rest of his life, for the space of seventeen years. He departed this life at Forsters, near Egham, in Surrey, the thirteenth day of September, Anno Dom. 1628, about the seventy-third year of his age; and, as he desired, was here buried, the fourteenth of October, then next following. Nunc obiit Doderigus Judex. Learning adieu, for Dodderidge is gone To fix his earthly to an heavenly throne. Rich urn of learned dust ! scarce can be found More worth inshrin'd, within six foot of ground. Then follow some Latin verses, which are so licked out by the tongue of time, that my author could not transcribe them exactly in his time ; much less can they be so now : However you may please to take them, as I find them. Qui Themidis sacrs interpres, jurisq ; tot annos Municipalis apex, virum quem magnus Jacobus Equestri clavo ornavit, jussitq; tribunal Ascendere juridicum. populisq ; evolvere lites Ambiguas, dignaq ; rependere crimina paena Explorata pari, qui me gravitasq ; fidesq ; Justiciaq; gerit prudentia, tandem Concessit fatis. Cum poterit altera caelum Pars repetit, pietasq ; jubet fraternia Corporis exuvias requiescere Mausolaso. Quoto aetatis ? Quoto salutis decessit. Chronogramma. En ! ipse letho extinguitur . -r^i Doderigius Judex Carus. " y The DODDERIDGE, SIR JOHN, KNIGHT. 305 The inscriptions to the memory of his lady, were these:" vkwoToevon. Hie jacet Domina Dorothea uxor Johannis Doderidge militis; unius justiciariorum '°^^^'•^'^• Domini Regis ad placita coram Rege tenenda assignati ; & filia Amisii Bampfeild miUtis. Qua; obiit primo Martii, A. D. 1614. Mortua jam statua est, iilustris faemina vivens Viva typus verje, qute pietatis erat. Hanc igitur pietas terras deplorat ademptam ; Huic pietas CoeH regna tenenda dedit. To which is added, Apostrophe ad Spectatorem. Mens mea quam gremio corpus conceperat annos Binos terdenos, fiha parta Deo est. Mors lucina fuit, lucem dedit ilia fruendam Coeli quo primae luceo Stella notae. As when a curious clock is out of frame, A work-man all in pieces takes the same j And mending what amiss is to be found. The same rejoyns, and makes it true and sound ; So God this lady into two parts took, Too soon her soul her mortal course forsook ; But, by His might, at length her body sound. Shall rise, rejoyn'd unto her soul, encrown'd. 'Till then, they rest, in earth and heaven sunder'd. At which conjoyn'd, all such as knew them wonder'd. His matri charae cor gnati triste parentat. Mortem ejus celebrans qua sibi vita data est. This reverend and learned gentleman, leaving no issue of his own, his brother, and then next, his brother's son, suceeded in his estate, John Dodderidge, Esquire, ol whom I said I would speak more largely ; and here I shall endeavor to absolve my promise. ' This gentleman was also a native of the county of Devon, born in the clean and neat town of Barnstaple aforesaid, Novemb. 11th, 1610. He was the son of Pente- cost Dodderidge, (a sufficient merchant of that place) by Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of one Mr. Westcombe, merchant. He was bred to the law, which he made his profession; and grew very eminent for his learning and knowledg therein : For which reason, he was chosen recorder of the antient corporation of Barnstaple aforesaid, the place of his nativity ; and was also its representative in parliament. In matters of which kind, he was excellently skilled, as he was in other parts of learning also, especially in antiquities. In the year 1658, he published a little book, in 8vo, numbred before among his uncle the judg's works, thus entituled : Opinion touching the Antiquity, Power, Order, State, Manner, Persons, and Pro- ceedings, of the High Court of Parliament of England. Together with which, are published also. The Opinions of Arthur Aggard, Joseph Holland, Francis Tate, and William Campden. 2 R Wiio 306 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. "^Ath. Oxon. Who (by a late author^) are said to have been all eminent antiquaries and histo- rians. 'Ibid. p. 444. And having mentioned Mr. Joseph Holland, a Devonian also/ not being furnished with sufficient memoirs to insert him into his proper place, in this work, I shall crave leave here, for to record the character I find given of him, before I go farther. He was educated in the study of the common law, in one of the temples, and be- came learned therein ; as also in several other curious and polite sorts of literature. Being much delighted with those kind of studies, he became an excellent herald, genealogist, and antiquary ; as several things of his writing, now in the college of arms, commonly called, the herald's office, do testify. Among which, is a very long roll of parchviient, containing the arms of the nobility and gentry of Devon, before, and to his time, said to be made anno 1585. I have a manuscript, called a collection, containing the arms and names of the gen- tlemen, at this present remaining in the county of Devon, in about ten sheets, in quarto, subscribed, Joseph Holland, 1580. There goes also from hand to hand, a folio manuscript, of his collection, containing ""Ath. OxoD. the arms of the nobility and gentry of Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Cornwal.^ quo Slip. g^^l^ ^^ return to Mr. Dodderidge ; he was thrice married, first unto Jane, daughter of Hele of Soutli-Hele, in this county. Secondly, unto Martha, daughter of Sir Tho- mas Dacus, of Hereford, Knight. Thirdly, unto Judith, daughter of Robert (another says John) Gourdon of Ashington-Hall, in Suffolk, Esquire (who afterward became the wife of John Gould of Clapham, in the county of Surrey, a native likewise of this province, being born at Hays, in the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle, near Exon). This last marriage of Mr. Dodderidge was solemnized, Octob. 8, 1657- He had a son named John, who died young, and was buried in the church of Barn- staple, anno 1653; but at his death left no surviving issue. He was a good benefac- tor to his house at Bremeridge, and made some addition to it ; which at his death, to- gether with his other estate, fell among his three sisters, thus disposed of in marriage: Mary, unto John Martin of Exon, merchant; Dorothy, first unto John Clarke of Exon, merchant, and secondly, unto John Levering of Barnstaple, merchant; and Elizabeth Dodderidge, unto Richard Crossing of Exon, merchant, Aviiose youngest daughter, Sarah Crossing, married unto John Blundel of Tiverton, Esq; brought Bremeridge unto that name and family, in which it now continues, viz. in Philip => Pag. 99. Blundel, Esq ; a minor of about thirteen years of age, as was said before.* This worthy and eminent person, John Dodderidge aforesaid, died an. 166 — , and was buried the 22d day of March, at Cheshunt, in the county of Hereford. DOWNE, ( 307 ) DOWNE, JOHN, BATCHELOR OF DIVINITY. DOWNE, John, (Note.) Batchelor of Divinity, was born at Holdsworthy, an emi- Fior. A. d. nent market-town, in the north-west parts of this county. He was the son of John jac.i. " Downe of that place,' by Joan his wife, the eldest of five daughters of John Jewel of'p^M^- J«^tc. Bowden, in the parish of Berry-Nerber, gentleman; by which he became nearly re- oentt'in jewel! lated to the famous Bishop Jewel. There were antiently belonging to this county, two distinct families, so called, whose names yet adhere to their lands and places of residence. As Ralph de Doune of Doune-Ralph, a parish so called from this lord;" though fo''g^^'J^^f^^'*^* extent, the least in the county or kingdom, the rectory thereof being valued, in the J'^o^n-Ra. " King's books, but 5^-. \d. per annum, lying near Axmouth, in the south-east parts thereof, ^d Axminst. This family held these lands in K. Hen. 2d's time, and inhabited somtimes here, and somtiraes at Wike, in the parish of Axminster, not far from Doune-Ralph aforesaid : One of which, Pascasius de Doune byname, making his last will and testament, in the year of our Lord 1341, bequeathed his soul into the hands of God, and his body to be buried in St. Mary's (the parish church of Axminster).' There were several '^Legoanimam knights of this name and family, who lived in great port ; until, at length, the two co-pus meum Se- heirs of Hugh de Doune, brought the estate to their husbands, Holcomb and Ledred. ^^J^^"^*!'™ lyj". The other family of this name, lived in the north parts of this county, and had its rise Ue Aimm- habitation at East-Doune, about nine miles to the north of Barnstaple; where Henry *jl^j";,^^'|;Jj[g_ Doune held two knight's-fees, so far back as the 27th of K. Hen. 3d, whom four of of Chart, pag. that name succeeded there ; and then Eleanor, daughter of Philip de Doune,'' (on whom 'f^^^ .^ j,^j_ her father had so settled the estate, that having issue male afterward, by a second ven-Down, NS. ture, whose posterity still florishes in the parish of Pilton, near Baruni, or Barnstaple, aforesaid, he could not, or would not, revoke it) brought East Doune, and other lands, by her marriage, unto the antient race of Pyne, then of Ham in Cornwal, now still remaining at East-Doune, aforesaid. From this last-mentioned family of the name, did this Mr. Downe, we are speaking of, descend; whose great worth will add a lustre, not only to the antient stock from whence he sprung, but the whole county. Lest any should imagine, that what I say of him is meerly flattery, or mine own invention, they may know, what follows is au- thenticated, for the most part by the testimony of that eminent divine. Dr. Hackwel, his near neighbor and acquaintance, in the sermon he preached at his funeral, since printed, and prefixed unto Mr. Downe's works ;° the subject whereof was this, ' They ' Mnt. at OxC that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many "^ ''' to righteousness, as the stars, for ever and ever.' Daniel xii. 3. A subject rarely well suited to the occasion, as maybe observed, by what follows in that excellent discourse. Mr. John Doune, or Down, was brought into the light, during the reign of that truly noble and renowned lady Q. Elizabeth, about the year of our lord 1570, and, by that means, was baptized in the same faith and religion, in which he departed this life. He was descended of an honest, a vertuous, and a religious parentage; brought up in a liberal and free manner, first in the country, and then in the university : Where he lived to receive the highest degree, that mother of his, Cambridge (where he was fellow of Emanuel-College) could bestow upon him, save one (viz.) batchelor of divi- nity ; into which also he was incorporated at Oxford, with divers others, in the act held there, in the month of July, 1600.' But, in the judgment of all that knew him,' Ath. Oxon. ' '' ^. 1^ ^ , V. 1. in Fast. 2 R 2 he p. 783. 308 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. he deserved the highest degree also, better than many wlio have received it, both be- fore him, and since him : So as whether his degrees more honored him, or he them, as well by the exercise he pei'formed for them, at by his sweet conversation, and abilities in all kind of learning, is not easy to determin. By the Divine Providence, he was there incorporated into that seminary, which hath yielded many goodly plants to our church ; and among the rest, the right reve- rend Bishop Hall was his cotemporary, and antient acquaintance. He had to uncle, by the mother's side, that jewel of prelates, the mirour of his age for sanctity, piety, and theology, all in one, viz. Dr. Jewel, somtime bishop of Salis- bury, whom he proposed to himself as a pattern of imitation ; and he could not have a better among meer men. He lived to see his children's children; and his eldest sister's children's children's children, to his great comfort ; and yet, by God's blessing, was his father's brother living and present at his funeral. Had his means been answerable to his worth, he had not lain in such obscurity as he did; but had doubtless moved, and shined, in a far higher and larger sphere. He - Fast. Oxon. was fu'st presented, by the master and fellows of his college,^ to the vicarage of Wins- ▼ i,p.783. ford, in the county of Somerset, where he continued for a while; what the ground of his removal thence was, I do not fmd. He afterwards became rector of Instow, in his own country ; a small parish, lying just in the angle, where the two famous rivers of this county. Taw and Turridge, meet, and go hand in hand together into the Severn sea : A parsonage of about an hundred pound per an. but it was so much more worth (he was wont to say) for that his patron did not live there ; which is very true, if he should be neither kind nor just. And though he had no great income, yet God so blessed him with competent means, that he lived contentedly, brought up his children in a decent manner, furnished himself with a fair library, relieved the poor, and was not wanting to his kindred, that stood in want of his help. And for hospitality, he was constant in it, entertaining his friends, and such as came to visit him, in a chear- ful and plentiful manner. But upon these things I will not insist, chosing rather to come to those, which are more proper to him, his intellectual, his moral, his civil, his spiritual wisdom, and his turning many to righteousness. First then, for his intellectual wisdom; the sharpness of his wit, the fastness of his memory, and the soundness of his judgment, were in him, all three, so rarely mixed, as few men attain them single, in that degree he had them all. His skill in the languages was extraordinary, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and (I think) Italian. His knowledg in the liberal arts and sciences Avas universal, grammar, logick, rhetorick, poetry, history, philosophy, musick, and the rest of the mathematicks. In some of which sciences he so far excelled, that I dare say, in these western parts of the kingdom, he hath not left his equal ; Neither do I speak any thing (says this reverend doctor) to amplify by way of rhetorick, I speak less than the truth. His moral wisdom appeared, in the checking of his appetite by temperance and so- briety : Free he was in the lawful use of God's creatures, but never excessive, nor ever could he be drawn to it, either by example or persvvasion. Which in a constitution so crazy, was no doubt, under God, a special means for the drawing out the thread of his life. In his carriage he was grave, yet sociable enough, courteous, yet without affectation, or vain complement ; a sure friend, to the utmost of his power, where he professed it, yet witliout flattery. His civil wisdom appeared, in the government of his parish and his family ; in the education of his children, and the children of his friends, upon special request com- mitted DOWNE, JOHN, BATCHELOR OF DIVINITY. 309 initted to his charge ; in his own matches, and the matches of his daughters ; and lastly, in the preserving, managing, and disposing of that estate, which God lent him, in an orderly manner. His spiritual or divine wisdom, appeared in his great knowledg in the sacred scrip- tures, in which, with Timothy, he was trained up from a child ; and as another Apol- los, grew mighty in them ; whereunto he added the help of the best interpreters, both antient and modern, the serious study of the fathers, the school-divines, the ecclesias- tical story, and the controversies of the present times, as well with the Romanists, as among ourselves ; and that in matters not only of doctrine, but discipline : In all which he was so well studied, and upon all fitting occasions, so willing and ready, either by writing or speech, to express himself, as many, and those not unlearned divines, were content, nay, glad, to draw water from his well, and to light their candle at his torch ; nay, some of his adversaries in his life time, have in open pvdpit, since his death (to God's glory, their own comfort, and his honor) confessed as much. But the highest point of his spiritual wisdom, appeared in the practise of piety ; in a due conformity of his actions, in his speculation, drawing out (as it were) a fair copy in the course of his life, of those wholsom lessons which he found in his books, formed in his brain, and taught to others. And herein, indeed, do I take the very marrow and pith of spiritual wisdom, to consist in the possession and fruition of supernatural truths, according to that of the great Earl of Mirandula, ' Veritatem Philosophia queerit, Theologia invenit, Religio possidet,' Philosophy seeks the truth. Divinity finds it, but Religion possesseth it ; Religion, I say, that binds us to the performance of our duties to God and Man. One main branch of this duty, and effect of this wisdom, was his teaching; he taught every where and every way, by his example and by his pen, but especially by his tongue. By his tongue, both privately and publickly : Publickly, by expounding, by catechising, by preaching; in which he was so diligent, that since his entring into the ministry (which he often professed to be ' his greatest honor, and comfort in this world') he waded thro' the whole body of the bible, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelation. And as he was thus diligent in teaching, so was he constant in his course, as long as his health and strength would give him leave; and I may truly say, beyond his strength, resolving (with that uncle of his, Bp. Jewel, no less good than great) That a general should die in the field, and a preacher in the pulpit. The manner of his teaching was not by loud vociferation, or ridiculous gesticulation, or ostentation of wit, or affectation of words ; but in the evident demonstration of the spirit and power, it was demonstrative, masculine, and mighty, thro' God, to the pulling down of strong holds ; deep it was, and yet clear, rational and yet divine, perspicuous, yet punctual, artificial, yet profitable, calm, yet piercing, ponderous, yet familiar; so as the ablest of his hearers might always learn somwhat, and yet the simplest understand all : Which was a rare mixture, and in this mixture he ran a middle and moderate course, most aoreeable to the canons and constitutions of that church, in which he was born and bred; betwixt the apish superstition of some, and the peevish singularity of others ; betwixt blind devotion, and over bold presumption ; betwixt unreasonable obedience, and unwarrantable disconformity ; betwixt popish tyranny grounded upon carnal policy, and popular confusion, guided by meer fancy: The one laboring for an usurped monarchy, and to turn all the body into head ; the other for a lawless anarchy, and to have a body without a head. Now tho' in his teaching he ran this middle course, yet did it always aim, not only at the information of the judgment, but the reformation of the will; the beating down of 310 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. of impiety, and the convincing of the conscience, to the drawing of his hearers, as from ignorance to knowledg, and from error to truth ; so hkewise thereby, from rebel- lion to obedience, from profaneness to rehgion. And truly I little doubt, but many a good soul, now a saint in heaven, did they understand our actions and desires, and withal, could make known their conceits to us, would soon give us to understand, that, under God, he was the instrument for the turning of them to righteousness, and sofor the directing and conducting of them to that place of their bliss. And as little doubt I, but many a good soul, who hears me this day in secret and in silence, blesseth God, and the memory of this good man, for that spiritual knowledg and comfort which they have received by his ministry. Once, I am sure, that a vertu- ous gentlewoman, of good note and rank, hath, since his death, by her letters written with her own hand, to some of his nearest friends, testify'd, her turning to righteousness to have been first wrought by his means. And no question, but many others might as justly and truly do the like, were they so disposed, or occasion required it. This was the course of his life ; now for the manner of his departure hence. When his last sickness first seiaed him, he accounted himself no man of this world : when he was in his best health, tho' as a pilgrim he walked in it ; yet as a soldier, he never warred after it j but now being thus arrested and imprisoned, he professed to his friends, who came to visit him (holding up his hands to heaven) ' That though his body was here, his heart was above, and consequently his treasure ; for where a man's treasure is, there will his heart be also.' He likewise assured us, ' That though he saw death ap- proaching, yet he feared it not; Death being now but a droan, and the sting thereof taken out.' During his sickness, he made his houshold his congregation ; his chamber his chap- pel, and his bed his pulpet, from whence he cast forth many holy and heavenly ejaculations, and made a most divine confession of his faith ; not only to the satisfac- tion and instruction, but the admiration of his hearers. Among the rest, two things there were which he much and often insisted upon, the one, ' That he hoped only to be saved by the merits of Jesus Christ ;' the other, • That he constantly persevered in the fait^i and religion, professed and maintained in the church of England, in which he was born, baptized, and bred.' And this he many times, and earnestly protested, in a very serious and solemn manner, pawning his soul upon the truth thereof. His glass being now almost run, and the hour of his dissolution drawing on (though his memory and senses no way failed him) he desired to be absolved after the manner prescribed by our church ; and according to his desire, having first made a brief con- fession, and thereupon expressing a hearty contrition, together with an assurance of remission, by the precious blood of his dear Saviour, he received absolution from the mouth of a lawful minister; and having received it, professed, that he found great ease and comfort therein ; and withal, that he was desirous likewise, to have received the blessed sacrament of the eucharist, if the state of his body would have permitted him. And not long after, imagining with himself, that he heard some sweet music, and calling upon Christ, ' Sweet Jesus kill me, that I may live with thee,' he sweetly fell asleep in the Lord ; as did the protomartyr, who ready to yield up the ghost, prayed, and said, ' Lord Jesus receive my spirit.' Thus he lived, and thus he died, near approaching the great climacterical year of his age. A great loss, in the loss of this one man, in those days; his flock lost a faith- ful pastor, his wife a loving husband, his children a tender father, his servants a good master, his neighbors a friendly neighbor, his friends a trusty friend, his kindred a dear kindsman, that whole country a great ornament ; the King lost a loyal subject, the kingdon\ DOWNE, JOHN, BATCHELOR OF DIVINITY. SU kingdom a true hearted Englishman, the clergy a principal light, the church a dutiful son, the arts a zealous patron, and religion a stout champion. Thus far the learned and judicious Dr. Hackwel, whose own learnmg and piety- made him a competent judg of those excellent accomplishments in another; and whose integrity must render his testimony beyond all exception. Yet for the farther comfir- mation liereof, we have the concurrent suffrage herein, of that famous pious prelate. Bishop Hall ; who encouraging Dr. Hackwel in the printing his Funeral Sermon and publishing Mr. Down's works, is pleased to give his attestation to all that had been spoken of him, in these words; " "Worthy Mr. Dr. Hackwil, " I do heartily congratulate to my dead friend and collegian, this your so just and noble a commemoration. It is much that you have said; but in this subject, no whit more than enough. I can second every word of your praises, and can hardly restrain my hand from an additional repetition. How much ingenuity, how much learning and worth, how much sweetness of conversation, how much elegance of expression, how much integrity and holiness have we lost in that man ? No man ever knew him, but must needs say, that one of the brightest stars in our west is now set ; the excel- lent parts that were in him, were a fit instance for that your learnedly defended posi- tion of the vigor of this last age. — Besides those skilful and rare pieces of divinity tracts, which you are about to publish I hope (for my old love to those studies) we shall see abroad, some excellent monuments of his Latin poesy. In which faculty, I dare boldly say, few, if any, in our age, exceeded him. In his polemical discourses, how easy is it for any judicious reader to observe, the true genius of his renowned uncle. Bishop Jewel ? Such smoothness of stile, such sharpness of wit, such interspersions of well- applied reading, such grave and holy urbanity," &c. Thus that holy bishop. Dr. Hall, in his letter to Dr. Hackwel, dated Exon Palace, Mar 22, 1631 ; which is added immediately after the Funeral Sermon prefixed to Mr. Down's' works. A Catalogue whereof, published by that learned Doctor, here follows. 1. A Treatise concerning the Force and Efficacy of Reading. Printed at Oxford 163.3, 4to. A Sermon ad CJerum, on Acts xv. 21. 2. Christ's Prayer for his Church. Oxf.'l633, 4to. 3. A Godly Discourse of Self-denial. Print. Oxf. 1630, 4to. 4. An ApolloVy of the Justice of God. Print. Oxf. 1633, 4to. 5. An Amulet or Pre- servative against the Contempt of the Ministry. A sermon ad clerum, on Tit. ii. 15. Print. Oxff 1633. 6. The Dove-like Serpent, on Mat. x. 16. Print. Oxf. 1633, 4to. 7. Subjection to the Higher Powers, on Rom. xiii. 3. Print. Oxf. 1633. 8. A De- fence of the Lawfulness of Lots in Gaming, against the Arguments of N. N. Oxf. 1633. 4to. 9. The real Presence by Iransubstantiation unknown to the antient Fa- thers! 10. A Defence of the former Answer, against the Reply of N. N. All which were printed in one volume, with the Doctor's Funeral Sermon on tiie author at Oxf. 4to, 1633. jju>. After this, were these following Treatises printed at Oxford, in 4to, \6i. 1 1 A Treatise of the Nature and Definition of Justifying Faith. 12. A Defence of this Treatise, against the Answer of Baxter. 13. Of the Faith of Infants, and how they are justified and saved. 14. Not Consent of Fathers, but Scripture, the Ground of Faith 15. Of Sitting and Kneeling at the Communion. 16. St. Paul and St. James reconciled about Justification. 17. Of the Authors and Authority of the Creed, 312 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Creed, and why called a Symbol. IS. A Short Catechism. 19. Peccatum formaliter & proprie non esse infinitum. 20. Of Choice of Meats, and Abstinence. 21. An Answer unto certain Reasons for Separation. 22. Of Vows, and especially that of Virginity. 23. A Letter. 24. The Blessed Virgin Mary is truly Dei para, the Mo- ther of God. 25. M. Antonius Muretus's Institution for Children, translated into English verse. 26. A Translation into English Verse, of certain Psalms, viz. 1, 12, 13, 23, 119 Beth. 125, 130, 131, 133. 27- Some Occasional Poems. Where (for a tast of the poetry of that age, and as a specimen of this worthy di- vine's faculty that way) I shall here crave leave to subjoyn one (his works, p. 393) thus entituled ; The Epicure and Christian. Epicure Christian. Time doth haste, Life as a shadow flies ; Breath, as a vapor, soon doth waste, And none returns that dies. Come let us banish woes. And live while life doth last ; Crown we our iieads with budding rose. And of each pleasure taste. What, tho' precise fools do us blame. Shall we forgo content ? Pleasure is substance, vertue name. And life will soon be spent. Time shall cease. Archangels' tromp shall sing ; Death shall his prisoners all release. And them to judgment bring. Then shall these sinful joys To endless wailing turn ; And they that scorned vertue's choice In brimstone flames shall burn. Then they that erstfond stoicks, Shall Wisdom's children prove ; When they among the saints esteem'd. Shall reigu with Christ above. He was a zealous and strict conformist, not only to the doctrine but discipline of our church ; and by the piety of his conversation, and painfulness in the duty of his function, he was a great ornament to that church, of which he was so worthy a member. He died at the parsonage house of Instow aforesaid, in the year of our Lord, 1631, and lies interr'd in the chancel of that parish church, under a very fair marble stone, near the communion-table; round whose edge is this inscription; In Memory of John Down, Rector of this Church of Instow, and Rebecca his Wife. He died in the month of 1631. She was buried Octob. the 6th, 1614. In the south wall of the same chancel, is erected a neat monument, in memory of the said Mr. John Down; on which are inscribed these words; An Epitaph consecrated to the memory of Mr. John Down, B. D. the late learn- ed and reverend pastor of this church. Here lie the ashes of that lamp-divine Which here with zeal did burn, with knowledg shine. Such beams his life, and learning, did display. As chang'd our twilight to a perfect day. For which great light, this orb too low by far. He's plac'd in heaven, and there shines as a star. He DOWNE, JOHN, BATCHELOR OF DIVINITY. 313 He left, among several other children, one son, call'd Henry Down ; who having a while studied here in England, travelled into France;' and at Caen in Normandy, ;Atb.Oxo„. proceeded doctor of physick. Upon his return into England, commg thither, he w^as incorporated at Oxford into the same degree, an. 1647. After which he retired into his own country, settled himself in the sweet town of Barnstaple, married a s'ster of Sir Thomas Berry of Northam, Kt. and dying there, about the year of our Lord 1666, he lieth interr'd in the parish church of Barnstaple. Mr. John Down aforesaid, had another son, whose name was John ; a young man of great hopes ; who having been two years in the university of Oxford, coming into his native country, died at Instow, to the great grief of his relations. In the same south wall of the chancel of the church of Instow, is a very fair monu- ment erected to his memory also ; where his statue is cut in stone, to the middle, m an oval frame; having one hand to his head, leaning on a dead skull, and the other holding a book ; underneath which is this inscription. Sacred to the memory of that vertuous and hopeful young man, John Down, Son of that late Reverend Mr. John Down, and Agnes his Wife. Who after some two Years' Stu- dy in the University of Oxford, Departed this Life the 12th of July, . (Dom. 1640. ^""H^tat. 21. Whilst this sweet youth with studious care did strive T' excel in grace and vertues, being alive ; So fair a progress his young years did make. As made (it seems) even death itself mistake. Who numbring years by vertues, thence grow bold, To mow him down, because he thought him old. Unhappy error I since the world must want So rare example in its greatest scant. Oh ! reader then, with tears well ma\' thine eye, Bedew the place here, where his ashes lie. While we are in tliis church, I can't in duty pretermit the monument of my reve- rend uncle, Mr. Leonard Prince (my father's youngest brother) lately the painful rector of this church ; whose remains lie near those of the Reverend Mr. Down, under a fair stone, with an inscription, too large at present to be transcribed. He was born at Nower in the parish of Kilmington in this county ; descended from a knightly family of his name, still florishing in Shropshire; bred at Oxford and at London; beneficed, first at Ilfarecombe, then at S. John's in the city of Exon, lastly here; where he was buried about the year of our Lord, 1695. He was a pious, powertui, practical preacher; much desired in his life, and much lamented at his death, which hapned about the 68th year of his age. In the south wall of the same chancel, is placed a fair table of bkck marble, hnely polished, on which is this title, in golden letters; 2 S ^"^ 3U THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. In Memory of Rebecca, Daughter of Leonard Prince, Rector of this Parish, and of Mary his Wife, obiit 2.5 Febr. .,^,^^fDom. MDCLXXXV. ^""H^tatissueelX. Non quam diii, sed quani bene. ADDITIONAL NOTE. HENRY DOWNE, M. D. left issue by the sister of Sir Thomas Berry, John Downe of Barnstaple, who mar- ried Anne, daughter of Sir John Chichester, Baronet, and had issue Henry Downe of Burrough, who, by Elizabeth, heiress of Daniel Philips, Esq. had issue John, who married Anna daughter of the Honourable Commissioner Cleveland of Taply, and had issue Henry, a lieutenant-colonel in the army, who, dying in 1801, left issue, by Elizabeth daughter of the Rev. Lewis Gregory, an only daughter, Anna Maria, who is married to Robert Barton, Esq. captain in the royal-navy, of an ancient family in Lancashire. Their eldest son, Robert Cutts Barton, ia the representative of this family of Downe, DRAKE, 1 r 4' If tew _^> .■■J SI.R FIRANCI.'^; 33 RAKE I'uhlished Df^S^ i^^!) h' ^^' ^' ('"^"■^- f{y"wufh \ 315 ) DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS, KNIGHT. Drake, sir Francis, Knight, was born in, or nigh, Tavistock, in this county; ^"d Fior.^ a^ i^' had his christian name given him by his godfather. Sir Francis Russel," afterward Earl Eiizab. of Bedford. His father, (Note \.J being a minister, fled into Kent, in K. Hen. 8th's • Eogi. Hero, time, for fear of the six articles; wherein the sting of popery" still remained in Eng- p^8- ^• land, thongh the teeth thereof were knocked out, and the pope's supremacy abolished. » Fuller's Holy Coming into Kent, Mr. Drake bound his son Francis, an apprentice to the master ^'*'®' P" ^^^' of a small bark, which traded into France and Zealand ; where he underwent a hard service, which was not afterward unuseful to him. For pains with patience, in youth, does knit the joints of the soul, and make them more solid and compact. His master dying unmarried, in reward of his industry, bequeathed his bark unto him for a legacy. For some time he continued his master's profession ; but the narrow seas were a prison for so large a spirit ; wherefore, selling his bark, he luifortunately ventured most of his estate with Captain John Hawkins, into the West-Indies ; whose goods were taken by the Spaniards at St. John de Ulva, and he himself scarcely escaped with life. To make him satisfaction, Mr. Drake was perswaded by the minister of his ship, that he might lawfully recover the value of the King of Spain, by reprizal, and repair his losses upon him any where else. The case was clear in sea-divinity; and few are such infidels, as not to believe doctrines which make for their profit; whereupon, Drake, though then a poor private man, undertook to revenge himself upon so mighty a monarch. After two or three several voyages, to gain intelhgence in the West-Indies, and some prizes taken, having now gotten a commission. Captain Drake effectually set forward from Plymouth ; first, with two ships, the Dragon and the Swan, in the year 1570 ; and the next year in the Swan alone. Whereby, having obtained certain notice of the persons and places he aimed at, he resolved on a third voyage. Pursuant whereunto. May 24th, 1572, being Whitsun-Eve, Captain Drake, in the Pascha of Plymouth, of seventy tuns, and his brother, John Drake, in the Swan, of twenty-five tuns, having in both seventy three men and boys, all volunteers, well pro- vided with victuals for a year, with all other necessary ammunition for men of war, and three handsome pinaces, taken asunder, and stowed aboard, to be set together upon occasion, sailed out of the Sound of Plymouth, with all secresy, for Nombre de Dios ; which city was then the granary of the West-Indies, wherein the golden harvest, brought from Panama, Mas hoarded up till it could be conveyed into Spain. July 2, they came in sight of the high land of America, and directed their course to Port Pheasant, so named of Captain Drake in a voyage before, for the multitude of those fowls they met with there. Coming ashore here, they found evident marks that Captain Garret of Plymouth, had been lately there; who on a plate of lead, fastned to a very great tree, which four men together could not fathom, left these words en- graven : ' Captain Drake, ' IF you fortune to come into this port, make haste away ; for the Spaniards, which 3'ou had with you here last year, have betrayed this place, and taken away all that you left here. I departed hence this present 7th of July, 1572, ' Your loving friend, ' JOHN GARRET.' 2 S 2 Not- 316 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Netvvithstanding which warning. Captain Drake resolved to build his pinnaces in this convenient port ; which finished in seven days, there came into the port an Eng- lish bark, of the Isle of Wight, James Rawse, captain, with thirty men aboard, some of which had been there with Drake the year before; who being made acquainted with his design, joined with him therein. July 22, They sailed out of this harbor for Nombre de Dios ; where being come, they lay close to the shoar all day, to prevent discovery, and lay quiet all night, intending to attempt the town, in the dawning of the day. But he was forced to alter his reso- lution, and assault it sooner; for he heard his men muttering among themselves, of the strength and greatness of the place : wherefore he presently raised them from their nests, before they had hatched their fears ; and to put away those conceits, he perswad- ed them it was day-dawning, when the moon rose, and so he instantly set upon the town, and won it, being unwalled. In the market-place the Spaniards saluted them with a volly of shot: Captain Drake returned their greeting with a flight of arrows (the best antient English complement) which drove their enemies away. Here he received a dangerous wound; though he valiantly concealed it a long time, knowing, if the general's heart stoops, the mens' will fall ; and that if so bright an opportunity once setteth, it seldom riseth again. However, he held it out, till, at the public treasury, they had discovered a vast heap of wealth in the lower room, consisting of bars of silver, piled up against the wall, se- venty foot in length, ten in breadth, and twelve in height, each bar between thirty-five and forty pounds weight ; withal telling them, ' That he had now brought them to the mouth of the treasury of the world ; which if they did not gain, none but themselves were to be blamed. After this, he commanded his brother, with John Oxnam and their company, to break open the treasure-house ; but as he stept forward, his strength, sight, and speech, failed him, and he began to faint for want of blood, which he perceived had issued in great quantity from a wound in his leg ; which he had hitherto concealed, lest he should discourage his company. He lost so much blood as filled his very foot- steps on the sands, whereat his men were much troubled, and giving him somwhat to drink, to recover his spirits, they bound up his wound with his scarf, and perswaded him aboard for his recovery ; the which he refusing, they added force to their en- treaties, and so carried him to his pinnace. Divers of his men were wounded, though but one, and he a trumpeter, slain. Ma- ny of them got good booty before they left the place, but being thus necessitated to betake themselves to their ships, they put off to an island, called The Isle of Vic- tuals, two leags distance thence, where they staid two days. During their short stay there, a gentleman, belonging to the garrison, called an Highdaldo, came aboard them; protesting, that his coming, was only to see and admire the courage of those, who, with so small forces, had made so incredible an attempt. And because many of the Spaniards were wounded with arrows, he desired to know, ' Whether the English poisoned them, and how they might be cured ? And if he were the same Captain Drake, who had been the last two years on their coasts ?' To whom the captain re- turned answer ; ' That he was the same Drake they meant ; that it was never his custom to poison arrows ; that their wounds might be cured with ordinary remedies ; and that he wanted only some of their gold and silver, which they got out of the earth, and sent into Spain, to trouble all the earth.' Being thus so unhappily disappointed here, Captain Drake proceeds to Rio de Grand and Carthagena ; in his way thither, he took several Spanish ships, loaden with pro- visions and merchandize. And entring into a confederacy with the Symerons (who were Indians) at mortal enmity with the Spaniards, he proceeded also to take Venta Cruz. This King dwelt in a city, sixteen leags south-east of Panama, and was able to DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS, KNIGHT. 317 to raise seventeen hundred fighting men. They had towns of about sixty famihes, in the which the people lived cleanly and civilly. Captain Drake, being informed of a great number of recoes, or companies of mules and people, travelling, consisting of somtimes thirty, somtimes fifty, somtimes seven- ty, in a recoe, on which they carry the King of Spain's treasure to the ports, coming from Venta Cruz to Nombre de Dios, way-laid them in the road. But being disco- vered by one of his company, who had taken a Httle too much aqua-vitae, starting up to see a Spanish horseman passing by, he was disappointed of that design also. How- ever, he resolves to fight his way thorow the enemies, and, upon their flight, pursues them into the town of Venta Cruz, and enters with them : where (to shew Captain Drake's great humanity and prudence) he strictly charged the Symerons, and all his company, that they should not hurt any woman, nor man unarmed; which order they faithfully obey'd. In their way hither, it was, that Captain Drake was informed of a certain tree, from whose top they might at once discern the North-sea, from whence they came, and the South-sea whither they were going. Being come thereto (which stood on a very high hill) one of the chief Symerons, taking Captain Drake by the hand, desired him to walk up this famous tree, wherein they had cut divers steps, to ascend almost to the top, in which they had made a convenient arbor for twelve men to sit ; hence, without difiiculty, they might plainly discern both the North and South Atlantick Ocean. Captain Drake having thus ascended the tree, and (the weather being fair) taken a full view of that sea he had heard such golden reports of, besought God ' To give him life, and leave, once to sail an English ship in those seasj* and he was heard in what he asked, as will hereafter appear. But to return, at present, being, by the folly and carelesness of this one man, dis- appointed of a very rich booty, it fell out, that he became more fortunate afterwards : for o-oino- back from Panama, having ended their business at Venta Cruz (which they took and rifled) between Rio Francisco and Nombre de Dios, they took a recoe of fifty mules, each carrying three hundred pound weight of silver, and some bars and wedges of gold : of which, carrying off what they could, they left several tun of silver behind them, buried in the sands ; which one of his soldiers, being taken by the ene- mVj was, by torture, compelled to discover to the Spaniards. So that, at their return, they found it was almost all gone, the place having been digged up for a mile round about. Captain Drake having thus made his voyage, hopes to meet his pinnaces at the appointed place; coming thither, instead thereof, looking out at sea, they saw seven Spanish pinnaces, that had been searching all the coasts thereabouts, which made him greatly doubt his own were burnt, or taken. Being now reduced unto great fears, that his frigat and ships were also lost, and that it was very doubtful, if he and his company should ever return to their own coun- try ; in this extremity, he resolves upon a desperate adventure, which was, to make a raft with the trees, the river brought down in its current : which being fitted and fast bound, and a sail made of a bisket-sack, with an oar shaped out of a young tree, for a rudder, to direct their course, he, with three others, put out to sea. Having sailed upon this raft about six hours, sitting always up to the waste in water, and at every wave, up to the arm-pits, by God's wonderful providence, they had sight of the pin- naces coming towards them. But the pinnaces not perceiving the raft, nor suspecting any such thing, were forced, by the wind and night, to run for shelter behind a point. Which the captain seeing, and judging they would anchor there, ran his raft ashore, and got about the point by land, where he joyfully found them : who going about to Rio Francisco, took in the rest of their company, with their treasure; and made such expedition, 318 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. expedition, that they soon recovered tlieir frigat and their ships ; which done, they re* solved to dismiss the Symerons, and return for England. Upon their parting, Pedro, an eminent person among the Symerons, and one who had been greatly serviceable to Captain Drake, had a great mind to a rich cymeter, the captain had, but was unwilling to ask it, lest he should prise it also : which known, the captain freely presented it to him. Who being willing to make a grateful return, desired him to accept of four wedges of gold, as a pledge of his thanks : whose impor- tunity not being able to avoid, Captain Drake received them courteously, but threw them into the common stock, saying, ' That it was just that those, who bore part of the charge with him, in setting him to sea, should likewise enjoy their full propor- tion of the advantage at his return.' An argument of a generous and an honest mind. Being now resolved for England, they sailed directly home, and that with so pros- perous a gale, that in twenty-three days, they passed from Cape Florida to the Isles of Sicilly. And arriving at Plymouth, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 1573, in sermon time; the news of Captain Drake's return being carried into the church, there remained few or no people with the preacher ; all running out to observe the blessing of God upon the dangerous adventures and endeavors of the captain, who had wanted one year, two months, and some odd days, in this voyage. 'This is col. From this, let us pass to that valiant enterprize, accompanied with happy success,' discourse" all- ''^y ^his rare and right worthy ca})taiu atchieved, in first turning up a furrow about the eti, The World world.'' Having had a view of the South-Atlantick Ocean from the high tree afore- pubHshed^by ' Said, he still retained his noble resolution to sail an English ship thereon. But partly his nephew, by secrct envy at home, and partly by public service for his prince and country abroad, in™4to, au.^' (whereof Ireland, under Walter, Earl of Essex, gives honorable testimony) being hi- 1628. therto prevented, he at length obtained a gracious commission from his soveraigu; was Uie first *'"" ^'i^'i with the help of divers friends adventurers, he addressed himself to this glo- commander of rioiis-dangerous voyage : For the well accomplishing whereof, he fitted himself with compassdttiis ^^'^'^ ships, the Pelican, admiral, burthen an 100 tuns, Francis Drake, captain-general ; globe ot the the Elizabeth, vice-admiral, 80 tuns, John Winter, captain; the Mary gold, a bark turu'd s'ltV*^ of 30 tuns, John Thomas, captain; the Swan, a fly-boat of 50 tuns, Captain John home au'uin. Chester ; and the Christopher, a pinnace of 15 tuns. Captain Thomas Moon. in'Ame'r.'p? These ships he manned with 164 able and sufficient men, and furnished them with -*■*• such plentiful provision of all things necessary, as so long and dangerous a voyage did seem to require; withal, stowing certain pinnaces aboard in pieces, to be set up as occasion required. Neither did he omit to make provision also, for ornament and delight ; carrying, to this purpose, with him, expert musicians, rich furniture, all the vessels for his table, yea, many belonging to his cook-room, being of pure silver, with divers shews of all sorts of curious workmanship, whereby the civility and magnifi- cence of his native country, might, among all nations whither he should come, be the more admired. Being thus appointed. Captain Drake set sail out of the Sound of Plymouth, about five a clock afternoon, Nov. 15, 1577 ; but by a fearful storm, wherein they sustained some damage, he was forced to put back again : When having, in few days, supplied all defects, on the 13th of Decemb. the same year, with more favorable winds, he once more hoisted his sails, and put to sea. The general and his little fleet touching at the island of Mogadore, under the do- minion of the King of Fess, direct their course from thence to Cape Verde ; where, near the Isle of St. Jago, they took prisoner Nuno de Silvia, an experienced Spa- nish pilot, whose direction was of great use to them, on the coast of Brazil and Ma- gellan Straights. Having somthing refreshed themselves at those fruitful and pleasant islands. DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS, KNIGHT. 319 islands, lying about Cape Verde, they departed thence, directed their course towards the Stiaights, so to pass into the South Sea, in which course they sailed sixty-three days without sight of land, and fell in with the coast of Brazil, in April following. During which long passage on the vast ocean, having nothing but sea below, and heaven above, they saw the wonders of God in the deep ; often meeting with unwel- com storms, and less welcom calms, being in the bosom of the burning zone, not without the affrights of flashing lightnings, and terrifying claps of thunder, yet still with the admixture of many comforts ; for being but badly furnished with fresh-water, and meeting no convenient place to get a supply, yet, for seventeen days together, were their necessities constantly supplied with rain-water; nor was their fleet, in all that time, dispersed, nor lost company, except a Portugal prize (they had taken) for one day, which then came in again to their great comforts ; the loss whereof, would have defeated the voyage. Amono^ many other strange creatures whirh they saw, they heedfuUy took notice of one, as strange as any, the flying fish : A fish of the bigness and proportion of a reasonable pilchard ; whose fins are of the length of his whole body, from the bulk to the top of the tail, bearing the form, and supplying the like use to him, that wings do to fowl: by the help of which, when he is chased by thebonito, or great mackerel, and hath not strength to escape by swiming any longer, he lifteth up himself above the water, and flieth a pretty heigth, but after some ten or twelve stroaks, the fins be- coming dry, he must needs into the water again, and some fall into boats and ships as they pass along. Passing thro' the Straights of Magellan, at the entrance into Mare del Zur, or the South Sea, called also Mare pacificum, they met with a terrible tempest, which arose with such violence, that they had little hopes left of escape ; in which miserable con- dition thev continued full fifty two days together, which caused the sorrowful separa- tion of Captain Thomas from the fleet; and after that, of the Elizabeth, the vice-ad- miral, which afterward came safe into England. So that now the admiral might well retain her name of a Pellican, being left alone in a wilderness of waters. Sailing along continually in search of fresh water, they put ashore at a place called Tarapaca, where they lighted on a soldier asleep, who had lying by him thirteen bars of silver, weighing about 4000 Spanish ducats ; the care of which, they soon eased him of, leaving him, if he pleased, more securely to take the other nap. After that, they met a Spaniard, with an Indian boy, driving eight Purvian sheep, each carrying two leather bags, with fifty pound weight of refined silver ; and not enduring to see a Spanish gentleman turn carrier, they became his drovers, and soon brought ihern into their boats. Which sheep are thus described, ' That they are as large as an or- dinary cow ; and three men and a boy sate on one of their backs at once, their feet not touching the ground by a foot, nor the beast complaining of its burden; their necks are like camels, but their heads like other sheep ; their wool is very fine, and their flesh good meat. Sailing hence, they came to Lima, where they met a Spanish ship, wherein were fifteen hundred bars of silver, and a chest full of royals of plate, which they quickly took possession of. And what was more, they had notice also of another ship, called the Cacafogo, the Glory of the South Sea, gone from Lima fourteen days before, loaden with gold and silver for Panama; they hasten after her wiUi all speed, to get sight, if possible, of this gallant ship. In tiieir pursuit, they had notice several times of this great prize, particularly by a ship they took, wherein were eighty pound weight of gold. At length, about mid- day, they descried a sail a-head of them, wiiich coming up with, they perceived to be the same they had been informed of. In which they found some fruit, conserves, and, Qther victuals; and (what was the chief cause of her slow sailing) a certain quantity 320 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON, of jewels and precious stones, thirteen chests of rials of plate, fourscore pound weight of gold, 26 tun of uncoined silver, two very fair gilt silver drinking bowls, and other like trifles, valued at about three hundred and sixty thousand pezos. They gave the master some hnen, and other things, in exchange of these commodities, and after six days left him to his voyage to Panama. Being come now one degree north of the line, to the entrance of the bay of Pana- ma, and the time of the year drawing on, wherein the general (if ever) must prose- cute his design of discovering a passage about the north parts of America, from the South Sea into our own ocean, which would be serviceable to bis country for the fu- ture, they concluded to find out a convenient place for trimming their ship, and get- ting necessary provisions aboard : Which at length they did at tlie Isle of Cainos, at what time there hapned a terrible earthquake, so violent, that their ship and pinnace, though near an English mile from the shoar, trembled and shook, as if on dry land. Sailing from hence, they canit to Guatulco, inhabited by Spaniards; where, by trading, they supplied themselves with bread ; and, at their departure, forgat not to take along with them a pot, of about a bushel full of rials of plate, they found in the town, with a chain of gold, and other jewels, which they intreated a Spaniard, who was flying away with them, to leave behind. Next day, they went directly to sea, and in little more than six weeks, they sailed fourteen hundred leags ; where the wea- ther was so strangely altered, fi'om heat to cold, as that they seemed rather in the frozen zone, than so near the sun. By reason of which, the ropes of the ship grew so stilf, and their hands so benumb'd, that six men were hardly able to perform what was wont to be done by three ; whereby a suddain and great discouragement seized upon the minds of the men ; yet would not the general be discouraged, but as well by comfortable speeches of God's providences, as by his own chearful example, he put a 3iew life into them all, and every man became resolved to see what good was to be done that way: Wherefore sailing on, they, awhile after, fell in with a convenient harbor, and came to anchor there. The next day, the people of the country shewed themselves, sending off a man in a canow, who, at a reasonable distance, made a solemn oration, after his manner, using, in the delivery thereof, many gestures and signs. The general's ship havinfr received a leak at sea, the}'- hal'd her nearer the shoar, with a design to repair her: Landing therefore his men, he made all necessary precaution for their defence. Which when the people of the country perceived, as men set on fire for defence of their country, in great companies, with such weapons as they had, they came down unto them, but with no hostile meaning, or intent to hurt them, standing, when they drew near, as men ravished in their minds, with the sight of such things, as they ne- ver had seen or heard of before that time; their errand being rather with submission, to worship them as Gods, than to have any war with them as mortal men. And great numbers of them, leaving their wives and children behind them, came with their pre- sents, or rather sacrifices, in such sort, as if they had appeared before a God indeed; thuiking themselves happy that they might have access unto the general, but much more happy, when they saw that he would receive at their hands, those things which they had so willingly presented; and, no doubt, thought themselves nearest unto God, when they stood next him. The King also of the country (a man of comly presence and stature), attended with a guard of an hundred men, comes in person, and makes his supplications to the ge- neral, that he would be tlie king and governor of their country ; to whom they were willing to resign the government of themselves and their posterity. And the more ful- ly to declare their meaning, the King, with all the rest, unanimously singing a song, joyfully set the crown upon his head, inriching his neck with chains, and honoring him with the title of Hiob; concluding with a dance and song of triumph, that they were DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS, KNIGHT. 321 were not only visited by the gods, as they judged them, but that they had a great god become their King and patron. The general observing them so freely to offer all this to him, was unwilling to dis- oblige them, seeing he was necessitated to stay longer with them; and therefore in the name, and for the use of Queen Elizabeth, lie took the scepter, crown, and dignity of that land upon him, and called this country Nova Albion, because of its white cliffs towards the sea, and for that its name m'ight have some likeness to England, which was formerly so called. Before they went hence, the general caused a monument to be erected, asserting the right of Queen Elizabeth and her successors to that kingdom, all engraven in a plate of brass, nailed to a firm post ; with the time of their arrival, and the free re- signation of their country, by the King and people, into their hands; with the Queen's arms, and underneath his own. Departing thence, to the great sorrow of this poor people, the general observing, that he could not find a passage thro' these northern parts, bent his course eastward, to run to the Molucca Islands. And touching at Terrenata, he was, by the King there- of, a true gentleman pagan, most honorably entertained. The King telling General Drake, ' That they and'he were all of one religion, in this respect: that they believed not in gods made of stocks and stones, as did the Portugees. And farther, at his de- parture, he furnished him with all the necessaries that he wanted. The general now considering that his ship, for want of trimming, was grown foul, resolved to fall in with such a place, as might be most convenient for such a purjiose, with which resolution sailing along, within a little after, he arrived at a small island to the southward of Celebes, standing in one degree and forty minutes towards the pole Antartick. Finding this a convenient place for their purpose, they tarried here twenty-six whole days together, and performed all businesses, to content. All necessary causes of a longer stay, in this place, being at last finished, the ge- neral prepared to go on in his voyage; and as he was sailing with a fair wind, and a smooth sea, his ship ran aground on a dangerous shoal, and strook twice on it, knock- ing, as it were, twice at the door of death, which no doubt had opened the third time. Here they stuck from eight a clock at night, till four the next afternoon ; hav- ing ground too much, and yet too little to land on ; and water too much, and yet too little to sail in : Had God, who holds the winds in his fists, but opened his little fin- gar, and let out the smallest blast, they had, imdoubtedly, been cast away ; but there blew not any wind all the while. Then they conceiving aright, that the best way to lighten the ship, was first to ease it of the burthen of their sins, by repentance, humbled themselves, by fasting, under the hand of God ; afterwards, they received the commu- nion ; then they cast out of their ship six great pieces of ordnance ; and threw over-board as much wealth as would break the heart of a miser to think on ; then betook themselves to their prayers (the best lever at such a dead lift) : After all which, it pleased God, that the wind, formerly their mortal enemy, became their iriend of a suddain, for chang- ing from the starboard to the larboard of the ship, cleared them off to the sea again ; for which they returned their unfeigned thanks to Almighty God, for no strength of iron or wood could possibly have endured such a violent shock, as their ship suffered, if the extraordinary Providence of Heaven had not interposed. Having thus happily escaped this, with divers other dreadful dangers, the general thinks of returning home: and passing by, and touching at the Isle of Java, he, with many of his men, went ashoar, and presenting the King with their musick, they were generously entertained by him.. The next day, three roytelets of the island, came aboard, in person, to visit the general, and to view the ship and ammunition, being much pleased with their entertainment, and what they saw. Taking their leave of Java, they sailed directly for the Cape of Good Hope ; and 2 T passing 322 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. passing by the coast of Affrica, they returned safe into England, and with joyful minds, and thankful hearts, arrived safely at Plymouth, in this county, upon Monday, Sept. 26, 1580, from whence they had set out two years, ten months, and a kw days In which voyage, this great captain discovered many admirable things, gave names to several islands and countries, performed many strange adventures, escaped many dano-ers, and overcame many difficulties, in his encompassing this earthly globe, and sailing round the world; he being the first who made a girdle about it, and retured in safety home. • , • t- i i i- Now (what is here remarkable) the day whereon they arrived m England, according to their account (in the keeping whereof they had been very exact), M'as Sunday; but according to ours, Monday : Whereby it appears, that having passed through so ma- ny different climates, they had lost one day. Neither is this strange, if it should be so ; though, perhaps, few there be, who un- c Dr. Wallace derstand how it comes to pass: But the matter is plainly demonstrable, thus,= ' Sup- f bLb'^Dal' posing the earth to be round, and the sun moving from east to west, you must allow, 79. '" that it comes sooner to the eastern parts than to the western ; it will sooner be noon m Holland than in England, and in England than in Ireland; if ye ask. How much soon- er ^ fifteen deo-rees of longitude westward, makes it an hour later ; and so in propor- tion allowino^'^an hour for every fifteen degrees, by that time one hath got round the whole circle of three hundred and sixty degrees, /. e. four and twenty time fifteen, (the circumference of the terrestial globe) it will be later at the place where he set out, the time lie returns to it again, by four and twenty hours, the continent of one day, 2. e. it will be but Saturday noon with him that went hence, when it is Sunday noon with those who staid here.' , • , • . ta .r j i i r . A while after this. General Drake brought up his ship to Depttord, where he feast- «• Sir w. Poles gd Queen Elizabeth aboard; who knighted him, anno 1.581,' and much honored him f^-lToni^hv this service; he being the first who had accomplished so vast a design. For tho' county. Ferdinando Magellan had already discovered those straights, which still bear ins name ; yet he lived not°to come home, being slain at the Molucca Islands, in endeavoring to "reduce the natives to the obedience of their new King. . , . , . ^. After this voyage. Sir Francis Drake is said to have given for his device, ' I he globe of the worldt with this motto, Tu primus circumdedisti me. Thou art the first who did'st encompass me round about ;' but not excluding his former motto. Divine auxilio. By the help of God. , . .i .• ^ .i • • On which noble atchievement, a certain poet, of those times, made this ingenuous epigram : Drake pererrati novit quem terminus orbis Et quem bis mundi vidit uterq ; polus : Si taceant homines, facient te sidera notum. Sol nescit comitis non memor esse bu'i. Thus Englished by Dr. Holland, in his Britannia: Sir Drake, which both ends of tli' world knew, that he did compass round. And both the poles of Heaven did view, which North and South do bound. The stars in sky will spread thy fame, if men here silent were ; The sun cannot forget the name of 's fellow traveller. The DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS, KNIGHT. ^^^ The ship, wherein this eighty hero ^^^^.^^^^^ X^S^nf 1^ Deptford; where it cont,nuedse^^ralyea^, and wa^^^^^^^^^^ ^.^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ many who came purposely to see^it. But ^^"^ ^^"^^p^.^.^ted to the university U- broken up, and a cha,r made of the if "^l^ [^^f ^^^^^'^ K which chair the famous brary of Oxford, by John Davies oi Depttora, t-sq. yjn w g Occasional Cowley made these verses :« ^Si^ie^o, To this great ship, which round the globe has run. And match'd in race the chariot of the sun, This Pythagorean ship (for it may claim. Without presumption, so deserv'd a name, By knowledg once, and transformation now) In her new shape this sacred port allovv. Drake and his ship could not have wish d from tate, A more blest station, or more blest estate. Forlo' a seat of endless rest is given. To her in Oxford, and to him in heaven. -.of li5,« 1 Pindarick ode, upon his sitting drinking in And the same ^^-^E^^'^^fVoet has a X™^^^^^ reader! I shall here . tViUrhair- two stanzas ot whlCll, tor a leirebiimeui, lu m^ j (.Occasional "',. ' h' Poems, ib. p. subjoyn : 8. I. Chear up my mates, the wind does fairly blow. Clap on more sail, and never spare ; Farewel all lands, for now we are In the wide sea of drink, and merrdy we go. Bless me, 'tis hot, another bowl of wine. And we shall cut the burning-line : Hey boys ! she scuds away, and by my head 1 know, We round the world are sailing now. What dull men are those that tarry at home. When abroad they might wantonly roam. And gain such experience, and spy too. Such countries and wonders as I do ? But prithee, good pilot, take heed what you do. And fail not to touch at Peru ; With gold there the vessel we'll store, ^ And never, and never be poor, > No never be poor, any more. J II. What do I mean ? What thoughts do me misguide ? As well upon a staff may witches ride Their fancied journys in the air, As I sail round the ocean in this chair : 'Tis true ; but yet this chair, which here you see. For all it's quiet now, and gravity. Has wandred and has travelled more. Than ever beast, or fish, or bird, or ever tree before. « T 2 324 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. In every air and every sea 't has been, 'T has compass'd all the earth, and all the heavens 't has seen. Let not the pope's itself with this compare; This is the only universal chair, &c. But after, I fear, a too tedious digression (for which I beg my reader's pardon) to return again to the remaining part of the story of this great man ; should I recount vlyl^^I'mid '^" '^'^ other noble actions, as his prosperous expedition into the West-Indies,' an. PuicimsL Vii- 1585, accompanied with Capt. Christopher Carliel, Capt. Martin Forbisher, Capt. glim. Francis Knollis, and many other captains and gentlemen, with his taking the towns of St. Jago, St. Domingo, Carthagena, and St. Augustine : These cannot but be re- puted, services of immortal honor; and were there no other, they are enough to ren- der him famous. And to all this, should I add (as I might) a full account of his Dev^liipfy."'^'^"^^*^"^ exploits, along the coast of Spain,'' in the year 1587, when, with a small fleet, mouth. he braved the Spaniards, took, burnt, and sunk 10000 tuns, at least, of their ship- ping, in their own bays, under the forts, in sight of their admiral, the Marquess De St. Cruce (which, in his noble soldier-like stile, he termed, the sindging of the King of Spain's beard,) the' in so pleasing a subject, I might, to some, seem tedious, and, to others, incredible. But, pretermitting these things, let us proceed to another, of greater intrest to our selves, and of no less renown to him, his glorious actions at sea, 'Camb. Annals in the year 1588; the only miraculous victory of that age," as Cambden calls it. l^ ' '^' The Spaniards, with their Invincible Armado, being entered our channel," it was Cocke* p.''225. ^'^^" high time for the English to hasten out their fleet; the command whereof, Avas committed to the Lord Howard of Eflingham, as Lord High Admiral of England, and to Sir Francis Drake, as vice-admiral ; which consisted, in all, of about 100 sail, whereof 15 were victuallers, and 9 gentlemen volunteers. The battle soon began by the admiral himself in the Arkroyal, who fell, with much fury on the Spanish ships; Vice-admiral Drake, Hawkins, and Forbisher, came up soon after, and played so violently on the hindermost squadron of the enemy, that they were all forced to save themselves, as well as they could, in the main fleet: How- ever, two great ships were disabled, the Vice-admiral Oquendos, which took fire, and the upper part only being burnt, fell into the hands of the English ; who sent her, with the few broiled Spaniards that were left in her, into Weymouth. The other commanded by Don Pedro de Valdez, Vice-admiral Drake summoned to yield : To whom the Don returned, ' They were 450 strong; that himself was Don Pedro, and stood much upon his honour.' But Don Pedro understanding it was Capt. Drake that summon'd him (whose name was terrible to the Spaniards, over all Spain and the Indies) presently yielded, and with 46 of his attendance, came aboard Sir Francis ; where, with a Spanish congee, he protested, ' That they were all resolved to have died fighting, had they not fallen into his hands, whose felicity and valor was so great, that Mars, the god of war, and Neptune, the god of the sea, seemed to wait upon all his enterprizes ; and whose noble and generous carriage had been often ex- perienced by his foes.' The soldiers, as they deserved, were well recompenced with the plunder of this ship, wherein they found fifty-five thousand ducats of gold, which they shared among them, with other good booty. At length, after a battle of three or four days continuance, by God's signal bless- ing, and (in a good measure) the courage and conduct of Sir Francis Drake (but " Tiiey^who without detracting from the honor due to many other brave commanders) this mighty journal of this fleet, SO loug a preparing, and so well provided, that they boasted it to be invincible, engagement, ^^^^ miscrablv shattered and dispersed ; so that of 1.34 ships, that sailed out of the let them con- , "^ „ i • o • n t i i i • i ■ . • suit Mr. Groyn, only 53 returned into Spam. In short, they lost, in this voyage, 81 ships, Cambd. Annals T<5^nA ofQ.Eliz. an. l^OUU 1588. DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS, KNIGHT. 3'i5 13500 soldiers, and about 2000 taken prisoners : Insomuch, there was hardly a noble or honorable family, in all Spain, which, in this expedition, lost not a son, brother, or kindsman. There is one voyage more, which must not be pretermitted, that this renowned commander undertook ; which proved that also, wherein he launched out of this into the boundless innavigable ocean of eternity ; Q. Elizabeth, perceiving that the only way to make the Spaniard a cripple for ever, was to cut the sinews of war in the West-Indies, in the year 1595, furnished Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Haw- kins, with six of her own ships, besides twenty one ships and barks of their own, for some service on America. But, alas ! this voyage was marred before begun, for so great jireparations being too big for a cover, the King of Spain knew of it, and sent an adviso to the West-Indies iDefore hand ; so that they had intelligence there, three weeks before the fleet set forth of England : AVhereas in General Drake's other voyages, not two of his own men knew whither he went. Besides, Drake and Hawkins, being in joynt commission, hindred each other ; the latter taking himself inferior, rather in success than skill : Rut Hawkins, soon after their setting off from England, dying. Sir Francis Drake became absolute ; and holding on his course, came before Port-Rico, a city in South- America ; where, riding in the road, a shot, from the castle, entered the steerage of the general's ship, and took away the stool from under him, where he (with some other gentlemen) sate at supper, and killed two of his dear friends, Brown and Clifford ; which so raised his indignation, that he soon after fired five Spanish ships of 200 tuns apiece, in spight of the castle. But his com- ing into the Indies being known before-hand, the Spaniards had made such provision, that he saw there was but little good to be done ; wherefore, contenting himself with burning Nombre de Dios, and other places, whose treasure the Spaniards had convey- ed away, lie began to prepare for his return home. But his grief and vexation at this disappointment, was so great, and had such fatal influence on his body, that it did cast him into a violent flux, which soon wrought his death. Sickness did not so pro- perly untye, as sorrow did wrend, at once, the roab of his mortality asunder : His great spirit, always accustomed to victory and success, was not able to bear so great a check of fortune ; so that coming near Bella Porta, in America, he departed this mortal life upon the sea, Jan. 28, 1595. Having thus recounted the glorious actions of this hero's life, it may not be imper- tinent to observe, that his more vacant hours were not meanly imployed ; rather, that they were better placed than some other mens, more busy ones in their most import- ant undertakings ; for he did that, at his more leisurable minutes, and, as it were, by- the-by, which was suflicient to have eternized a>.other's memory ; I mean, that great work,' ever to be recorded with praise, his bringing a running stream of water, through all the streets of Plymouth, from avast distance off. This famous place, before his time," was a very dry town; and the inhabitants "Westc. MS. were enforced to fetch their water, and wash their cloaths a mile from thence : but, p,y^['''" '° by his great skill and industry, he brought a fresh stream, many miles, unto this place. The head of the spring, that thus waters the town, is found to be no less than 7 miles distant, in a directline; but by indentings and circlings, he brought it thirty, and that thro' valleys, wastes, and bogs, but what was most troublesom of all, through a mighty rock, thought to be impenitrable. However, by his undaunted spirit, like another'Hanibal, marching over the Alps, Avho said, ' Aut viam faciam aut inveniam,' so he made the way he could not find ; and overcoming the difticulty, he finished the enterprize, to the continual commodity of the place, and his own perpetual honor. And fine would have been the diversion, when the water was brought somwhat near the town, to have seen how the mayor and his brethren, in their formalities, went out to 326 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. to meet it, and bid it welcom thither ; and that being thus met, they all returned to- gether, the gentlemen of the corporation, accompanied with Sir Francis Drake, walked before, and the stream followed after into the town, where it has continued so to do ever since. Sir Francis Drake, having thus gloriously run his course, at length found his grave in that, over which he had so often triumphed; he lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it; the manner thus: his body being laid in a coffin of lead, was let down into the sea, the trumpets, in a doleful manner, ecchoing out their lamentations for so great a loss ; and all the cannon of the fleet discharged, according to sea obse- p Engl. Hero, ouies : on whom (instead of an epitaph) are written these verses -.p p. 206. ^ Where Drake first found, there last he lost liis name. And for a tomb, left nothing but his fame : His body's buried under some great wave ; The sea, that was his glory, is his grave. On whom an epitaph none can truly make. For who can say, here lies Sir Francis Drake ? ' Risd. MS. of Nor shall I here pass over, in silence, what another, iu those days, added on the Dev. in Plyni. • a ' same occasion :^ The waves became his winding-sheet ; the waters were his tomb ; But, for his fame, the ocean sea was not sufficient room. If any should be desirous to know somthing of the character of Sir Fran. Drake's person, he was of stature low, but set and strong grown ; a very religious man to- ' Full. Holy wards God and his houses,' generally sparing churches where ever he came ; chaste in state.p. 131. Yi\s life, just in his dealings, true of his word, merciful to those that were under him, 'The World and hating nothing so much as idleness; in matters (especially) of moment, he was Encompassed, j^gy^j. ^^Qj^t to rclv' oulv on Other mens care, how trusty or skilful soever they might published by "•-•>-i vvv...i. .v^ j j i c • ^ i i i i • his nephew, seem to be : but always contemning danger, and retusing no toy], he was wont him- Drake'"in'4to' ^elf to be one (who ever was a second) at every turn, where courage, skill, or industry, an.io'is, p.i8. was to be employed. ■Full. Worth. To all which, I shall crave leave to add, only that tetrastick, which was made on P'^^*' his being buried in the sea, and runs thus :' Religio quamvis Romana surgeret olim, Eflbderet tumulum,'Aon puto Drake tuum : Non est quod metuas ne te combusserit ulla Posteritas ; in aqua tutus ab igne manes. Thus Englished : Though Rome's religion should in time return, Drake, none thy body will ungrave again ; There is no fear posterity should burn Those bones, which free from fire in sea remain. This great person left no issue of his body, tho' he was once married ; but his name and family is preserved by his younger brother's issue, Mr. Thomas Drake's, unto whom he left his estate. Whose posterity yet florishes in the degree of a baronet (so created by K. Jam. 1, May l6th, 1622) at Buckland Monachorum, near Tavistock, in this county. And this hero's name surviveth iu the present honorable CoUonel Sir Francis DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS, KNIGHT. 327 Francis Drake of Buckland, Baronet ; and may it still florish to all future generations. (Note 2.; Here followeth Sir Bernard Drake, as being knighted after Sir Francis. ADDITIONAL NOTES. f 1 ) IN a recent Baronetage, the father of Sir Francis is said, but without any authority being cited for it, to have been a sailor, by name Edmond Drake, and to liave been born in 1544. (2) Francis Drake, son of Tiiomas, the brother of tlie great Sir Francis, was created a baronet in 1622. By Joan, daughter of Sir William Strode of Newnhani, he had five sons. Sir Francis, Thomas, John of Ivy- bridge, William of Netherton, and Joseph. Sir Francis, the eldest son, having no issue, the title devolved on Francis, son of Thomas, who, by his tliird wife, the daughter of Sir Henry Pollexfen, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, had issue Sir Francis, who, by Anne, the daughter of Samuel Heathcote, Esquire, had issue Sir Francis Henry Drake, the late baronet, Francis William, and Francis Samuel, who being a rear- admiral in the victorious fleet commanded by Lord Rodney, on the 12th of April, 1782, was created a baronet, and died witliout issue; and a daughter, Anne Polexfen, married to Sir George Augustus Elliot, K. B. created Baron Healhfield of Gibraltar. Sir Francis Henry dying in 1794, at the age of 70, bequeathed his property to his nephew, the present Lord Heathfield, who possesses, in consequence, two seats in this county, Buckland-Abbey, beautifully situated on the banks of the 1 avy, and Nutwell near Exmouth. The baronetcy was deemed to be extinct, but has been claimed by Francis Henry, son of Francis William, brother of the last baronet. Independently of this claim, it was not however extinct, but vested in John Savery Drake of Plymouth, who is llie great grandson of Joseph Drake beforementioned, as the fifth son of the first baronet. DRAKE, 328 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. DRAKE, SIR BERNARD, KNIGHT. fsss. R R.' Drake, sir Bernard, Knight, was born at Ash, an antient and gentile seat Eiiza'b. " ' in the parish of Musbury, about a mile and three quarters to the south of Axminster, in the eastern confines of this county; the barten thereunto belonghig, lieth partly in the parish of Axminster and part in the parish of Musbury. Ash, was sometime the dwelling of Quardus de Ash, the most antient inhabitant ,s.'^w!"poi.'''^*^?^* ^ ^'"^^'^^''^' '^^'^^S^^^ ^^' *'•' ^oo'^ "''^i^^e from, the place;' after whom, it was Desc.of Dev. given by John Lord Courtenay, lord of themannorof Musbury, unto Henry deEsse, or ia^Musbury, Ash; who gave it to Julian (likely his daughter) wife of John de Orway, of Orway, in the parish of Kentisbeer nigh CuHumpton in this shire ; whose son Thomas, had issue John, that died sans-issue ; and two daughters, first Joan, wife of John Stretch ; and secondly Philippa, wife of Warren Hampton. Stretch left issue John, that died with- out issue; upon which. Ash fell to Hampton, who had issue, first Joan, thrice mar- ried, to Bonvile, Sachvile, and Farringdon; secondly Alice, wife of John Billet, unto whom Ash was alotted. / . John Billet and Alice his wife, had issue Christian, their sole daughter and heir, who was married first unto John Drake of Exmouth ; secondly unto Richard Fran- cheyney, and had issue John Drake and Christopher Francheyney ; which Christopher held Ash, and his son Simon after him. Against whom, John Drake brought his For- medon, as being son of John and Agnes, daughter of John Kelloway, the son of John, and daughter of John Cruwys, of Cruwys-morchard, son of John and Christian his wife, daughter and heir of John Antage, who was eldest son of Christian Billet, by John Drake her first husband, and recovered Ash, which he left to his posterity ; in ►■id.ib. among which it hath florished ever since, now upward of two hundred and fifty years ' ttincp in tills '^^i • ,•. t i -ii,-... ,™ _. _ ../»'--_ those in this counfv. who' "^'''^ antient and honorable family, as before was hinted, came originally from Ex- rctaintiieiiant. mouth, a Small hamlet on the east-side of the river Ex, where it flows into the mouth lauds. qJ- j.j^g Brittish ocean ; from whence it deriveth its name. Here dwelleth John Drake, ^id. quo prius. a man of great estate, so recorded by my author ;*= and a name of no less antiquity. If Def mI'T, ^"^ ^'^^^^ ^^'"^ '^^ '^^^ *^^" ^ ^'^^'y '^^'^ ^^^^^' ""*^° which Walterus Draco was a testis, Ash.^"' "'"with AVymondusde Dennex, and others. What is somwhat remarkable, the heir of this family was always called John, only one excepted, for ten generations following. John Drake aforesaid, having recovered Ash, married Margaret, daughter of John Cole of Rill, in the parish of Wythecombe-Ralcgh, near adjoyning to Exmouth j which he gave, together with the mannor of Wythecombe afoi'esaid, unto a younger son ; whose daughter and heir brought it to her husband, Thomas Raymond of Chard, whose posterity yet florishes in those parts, and had issue John Drake of Asli; who ^y Amy h's wife, daughter of Roger Grenvile of Stow in Cornwal, the ancestor to the present Right Honorable John Earl of Bath, had issue our Sir Bernard Drake of Ash, Robert Drake of AViscombe in the parish of Southlegh, about three miles from the townof Culliton, in the south-east part of this county, and Richard Drake of Surrey. Having thus deduc'd the pedigree home to Sir Bernard himself, it may be thought time to consider his personal accomplishments. I find him to descend down to us, under a very honorable character, That he was a gentleman of rare and excellent ac- complishments ; and as well qualified for a soldier as a courtier: he was in gi-eat favor with that illustrious princess of immortal memory, Queen Elizabeth ; and of high esteem in her court. A good DRAKE, SIR BERNARD, KNIGHT. 323 A o'ootl argument, That Sir Bernard was a soldier, and a brave man at arms. For such was the prudence of that great princess, that she respected men for their personal •worth; and they had most of her grace, who could be most serviceable to her crown and dignity. Whether encourag'd thereunto, from the greater dangers of such adventures (the true whetstone of valor, that makes it sharp and keen) or from some other unknown motive, I find Sir Bernard chiefly applied hiiTiself to sea-service: for thus doth Mr. Purchase testify of him,' " That Sir Bernard Drake, a Devonshire knight, came to p^j'[,|''™j'g*gg^' Newfound-Land with a commission ; and having divers good ships under his com- mand, he took many Portugal ships, and brought them into England as prizes". And for his great undertakings this way, he is ranked the 2d among the most famous sea^ w p i • captains of our country in his time \ (than whom no age before or since could boast offan,.so'i.orthis greater) : to wit. Sir Humphr Gilbert, Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, &c. county, ms. In those days the crown of England had long and glorious wars with Spain ; when the English gave the haughty Don such knocks about the ears, as made him stagger then, and go stooping ever since. At which time Sir Bernard Drake was very service- able to hiscountry ; and having been at sea, in his return he took a Portugal shipj^'J"' '^'""•P- which had for a long season been hovering up and down upon our coast, and brought her into Dartmouth, a fine harbor, lying within the mouth of the river Dart in this county: which action, how brave soever it might be, proved fatal to himself, and many other persons of quality ; as hereafter shall be farther shewn. About this time it was, that there fell out a contrast between Sir Bernard,'' and the I',a'|j'''frfnf *§;/ immortal Sir Francis Drake ; chiefly occasioned by Sir Francis, his assuming Sir Ber-joim Drake, of nard's coat of arms, not being able to make out his descent from his family; a "matter ^-^^J^*-^*^ in those days, when the court of honor was in more honor, not so easily digested. Tlieiion. godfather, feud hereupon encreased to that degree, that Sir Bernard, being a person of a high spirit, gave Sir Francis a box on the ear ; and that within the verge of the court. For which offence he incurr'd her Majesty's displeasure ; and most probably, it prov'd the occasion of the Queen's bestowing upon Sir Francis Drake, a new coat of everlasting honor, to himself and posterity for ever ; which hath relation to that glorious action of his, the circumnavigating the world : which is thus emblazon'd by Guillim,' 'u,7f^'e&u' Diamond a fess wavy between the two pole-stars Artick and Antartick pearl ; as before. ^^''^' And what is more, his crest is, A ship on a globe under ruff,^ held by a cable rope, i^e",c^or^!;v* with a hand out of the clouds; in the rigging whereof, is hung up by the heels, a in the Cat. of Wivern gul.' Sir Bernard's arms; but in no great honor, we may think, to thatj^™}': ^'ii;or's knight, though so design'd to Sir Francis. Unto all which, Sir Bernard boldly reply 'd, s. joim Drake ' That though her majesty could give him a nobler, yet she could not give an t^^^;""""" antienter coat than his.' All this notwithstanding. Sir Bernard returu'd at length into her Majesty's favor ; who revolving in her royal breast, the many good services that he had also done her, . . she was pleased to confer upon him the honor of knigiithood (which she was very careful not bestow unworthily) in the 27th year of her reign, 1585.°" " ■" S- w. Poie-s Having thus brought this gentleman so far, through several scenes of his life, and in'^Kts" imdet meeting no more of his heroick actions upon the file of time, we shall hasten on to his O-Eiizab. death which was thus occasioned. Sir Bernard, as was said, having taken a Portugal ship, and brought her into one of out western ports, the seamen that were therein, were sent to the prison adjoyning to the castle of Exeter. At the next assizes held at the castle there, about the 27th of Queen Elizabeth, when the prisoners of the county were brought to be arraign 'd be- fore Serjeant Flowerby, one of the judges appointed for this western ciixuit at that 2 U time. 330 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. time, suddainly there arose such a noisom smell from the bar, that a great number of the people there present, were therewith infected ; whereof, in a short time after, died the said judg. Sir John Chichester, Sir Arthur Basset, and Sir Bernard Drake, Knights, and Justices of the Peace, then setting on the bench ; and eleven of the jury impan- "iz. Loc. quo neled, the twelfth man only escaping ; with divers other persons." >"''"'• If we would know the natural ground of this so suddain contagion, my Lord Bacon o Nat Hist seems to give the most probable account thereof," " The most pernicious infection," Cent. 10. No. g^ith that great philosopher, " next the plague, is the smell of the gaol, when prisoners ^"'^"' have been long, and close, and nastily kept; whereof we have had in our time expe- rience twice or thrice, when both the judges that sate upon the gaol, and numbers of those that attended the business, sickned upon it, and died. Out of question, most dangerous is the smell of man's flesh or sweat putrified; for," saith he, " they are not those stinks which the nostrils straight abhor and expel, that are most pernicious ; but such airs as have some similitude with man's body, and so insinuate themselves, and betray the spirits." Thus he. Sir Bernard, it seems, had strength enough to recover home to his house at Ash, but not enough to overcome the disease ; for he died thereof soon after, and was bu- ried in his church of Musbury, an. 1585, in an isle of which, are several monuments, but, I think, no epitaphs ■, his effigy is there in statue. If any should repute this gentleman unworthy the honor of a place in the rank of heroes, for that he is said greatly to have exhausted his estate, that may chance to prove, that he is most deserving thereof; that is, if he nobly expended what he did (as 'tis most probable) for the honor and safety of his country ; in the discovery of fo- reign regions, and such other vertuous achievements, as purchase glory and renown : For there is, undoubtedly, more of the hero often seen in a noble expending, thrai in a niggardly getting, or kee]>ing an estate; little narrow souls maybe able to get estates, but^hey are the wise and generous, that know, and dare, rightly to lay them out. Should the curiosity of any lead them farther to enquire, what became of the poste- p s w. Pole's rity of this gentleman, they may please to know. That Sir Bernard Drake? by Gertrude Desc. oV Dev. ^jg ^ife, daughter of Bartholomew Fortescue, of Fillegh near South-Moulton in this in Ash. MS. ^^^^^j^^^^ ]gfj iggyg John, and others. John, by Dorothy, daughter of William Button, of Alton in Wilts, left issue Sir John Drake of Ash, and William Drake of Yardbiry, in the parish of Ciilliton, near adjoyning. Sir John Drake, Kt. by Elenor his wiie, daughter and co-heir of the LordBotelerof Bramfeild, had issue (Note.l.) Sir John Drake, knighted by K. Char. 2d, and after that, by the same King made a baronet. Which Sir John Drake, Knight and Baronet, married, first Jane, daughter of Sir John Young of Culliton, Kt. by whom he had issue John, Walter, and Elizabeth; secondly he married Dewnes, youngest daughter of Sir Richard Strode of Newnham, near Ply- mouth in this county, Kt. and had issue Bernard, George, and Wilham. Sir John Drake of Ash, Baronet, died, (as did his second brother, Walter, before him) unmarried. But though he did not live to build up his family, he did his house; for Ash being burnt and demolished in the times of our late civil wars, lay long in ,^ ruins, his fether, Sir John, having made his abode at Trill, about a mile distant from, in the parish of Axminster, until it fell into this gentleman's possession : who being a sober, serious, and prudent person, sat about the re-building of it ; enlarged and beau- tified it to a greater perfection than it was of before ; enclosed a park adjoyning to the house with a good wall; made fish ponds, walks, gardens well furnished with great variety of choice fruits, &c. so that now it may vye, for beauty and delight, with most other seats iu those parts. ^ During which time. Sir John, for a while, chose to live beneath (for he sojourn d at a tenant '"s house near by) that he might at last live like himself. But see the fiite of all DRAKE, SIR BERNARD, KNIGHT. 331 all worldly felicity ! He no sooner was come to inhabit in this sweet and pleasant place, which with so much care and cost he had finished, and began to live, but he presently died. , , i i j Some while before his death, his next brother, who was the eldest by the second venture, having very highly disoblig'd him by an indigestable extravagance, Su- John cut off the entail of his estate, with design to settle it upon his youngest brother, Wil- liam, a very hopeful youno- jrcntleman, then a scholar and master of arts of C. C. C. in Oxford ; but before he had fully finished it to his mind, he departed this life: where- upon, the whole estate fell to his only sister, Elizabeth ; who being of the whole blood with her brother. Sir John, became his heir at law. So that the inheritance was en- tirely in that lady, freely to dispose of, where she pleased : yet, to her immortal honor be it here recorded, such was her generosity, she settled it all, to a very inconsiderable share reservetl to her own use, as her brother. Sir John, had intended it, upon the pre- sent Sir William Drake, who was knighted by K. Jam. 2, and upon Ihc death of his brother. Sir Bernard (George the other brother being dead some years before) became a baronet also, a very wortiiv, obliging, and hospitable gentleman ; who married Ju- dith, daughter and co-heir of Evelegh of Tallaton, near Ottery St. Mary, Esq. by whom he hath issue ; (Note. 2.) which God prosper. DRAKE, ADDITIONAL NOTES. f 1) THEissueoflhis marriage was four sons and eight daughters, all of whom died unman ied, or issueless, ex- cept John, the eldest son, and the daughters, Ellen, Elizabeth, Jane, and Anne. Ellen, the third danght", married John Briscoe, Esq. of Cumberland. Elizabeth, the fourth daughter, married Sir Wniston Churchill, Kt. of Minthorne in Dorsetshire, who, having sided with the royal party in the reign of Charles the first, suflered severely in his fortune, and was compelled to seek refuge at the seat of his father-in-law. By Sir Winston she had several children. The eldest of her sons was born at Ash, in 1650, the illustrious John, Duke of Marlbo- rough: the eldest of her daughters was Arabella, who was maid of honour to the Duchess of York, and mistress, subsequently, of the Duke, afterwards King James the second, from which connection sprang the family of Fitz- James, Duke of Berwick. Jane, the seventh daughter of Sir John Drake, married William Yonge of Castletoii in Dorsetshire, brother of Sir Walter Yonge, Bart. And Anne, the eighth daughter, married Richard Strode, Esq. of Chalmington, in the same county. (2) The issue of Sir William Drake, by this marriage, was John, who died unmarried in 1724; William, who succeeded to the title and estate ; Elizabeth, married to William Walrond of Bovey ; Judith, who died an infant ; and Ann, married to Thomas Prestwood of Boterford. Sir William married secondly Mary, daughter of Sir Peter Prideaux, by whom he had no issue. His second son and successor. Sir William Drake, having no issue by his marriage with .\nne, eldest daughter of William Peere Williams, the baronetcy, at his death in 1733 became extinct, there being no survivingmaledcscendant of Sir John Drake the first baronet. He kit the whole of his property to his widow, in her free and absolute disposal, to the exclusion of his own family. About four years after Sir William's death, she married George Speke, Esq. of Whitelackington in Somersetshire^ by whom she had a daughter, married to Frederick Lord North. Soon after her death, which happened in 1793, the Ash property, the advowson of the living, and all the other estates, which had been bequeathed to his widow by Sir William Drake, were sold by Lord Guildford in parcels, and passed into various hands. In this manner the honours of the family became extinct, and its ancient possessions were alienated ; but there remained a representative and supporter of ils name in the Yardbury branch, w Inch was derived from a bro- ther of Sir John Drake, Knight, the father of the first baronet. This brother was called William, and married Margaret, the sole daughterand heir of William Westover of Yardbury, in the parish of Colyion, in the county of Devon. He died about the year 1039, and was succeeded by his son William, who dieescr.j,^pev. name we now call Drew (as Dugdal tells us) ;' from whence might proceed the stirp, xeigii, ms. v/hich remaineth still in great reputation in this county. warw"'p 609. Having a. 336 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Having given this account of the family, proceed we next to that great ornament tliereof, the serjeant, Edward Drew, who, laorn at Sharpham, was brought up in that learning which might qualify him for any ingenuous employment. Having spent some time in the university, he came to a resolution, that the laws of our country E Fill. Worth, should be both his study and profession; which, as one notes,^ is the natural inclina- iuDev.p. 257. j^j(3j^ of our natives. " They," says he, " of this county, seem innated with a genius to studv law; there being no other in England, Norfolk excepted, that affordeth so many, who by the practice thereof, have raised such great estates." For the better promoting of which study, Mr. Drew aforesaid, entered himself a member of the In- ner-Temple, London : where following his business well, he became an eminent counsellor. After that, in the 26th of Queen Elizabeth, 1584, he was chosen Lent jiHd^'" le'e"' '■•^sder of his house ; at what time he was recordator civitatis London," recorder of the city of London. Whether before or after this, I am not certain, because authors are not well agreed herein, he was also recorder of the city of Exon in his own country. ' Mem. part 1, Mr. Izaac, late chamberlain thereof, tells us," " That Edward Drew, Serjeant at Law, ^'^' was made recorder of Exeter, anno 34 Eliz. 1592; and that afterward, being chosen recorder of London, he then surrendred this office." That he was recorder of both is plain, to determin of which he was first, is not very material, and therefore I shall let it pass. About five years after, his solemn reading in the house, was Mr. Drew, with Thomas Harris of the Middle-Temple, and John Glanvil of Lincolns-Inn, his coun- " Chron. Ser. trymen, called to the degree of serjeant at law;'' and in the 38th of the same reign, ^'^^' he was made the Queen's serjeant: beyond which, I do not meet with any other preferments that he had. Of which three Serjeants before-mentioned, it was com- monly reported in their days, altho' now not known how to appropriate it respec- ' Fui. Worth, t'^'ely. That' in Dev. quo /■ r^ • j> supra. r Gained One-x Spent Vas much as the other two. (.G ave } "^ • lliat Serjeant Drew was on the getting side, may be collected from the many good purchases which he made, in Combe-Ralegh, Broad-Hembery, Broad-Clist, and else- ■"Risd. Descr. where ;■" altho' for the perfecting of them, he parted with Sharpham (which at that of Devon, ib. time had large demesnes belonging to it) vmto John Giles of Bovvdon near adjoyning. Esquire. The Serjeant took up his residence at Killerton ; a pleasant seat in the pa- rish of Broad-Clist aforesaid : which his son. Sir Thomas, sold unto Sir Arthur Ack- land; and it is now the dwelling of Sir Hugh Ackland, Baronet. (Note i.) By » Idem ib. in his wife, daughter of Fitz-Williams,° the serjeant left issue Sir Thomas Drew, a Broad-Henib. very eminent gentleman in his time, knighted by King Jam. 1st, at his coronation here in England. In the 10th year of King Charles 1st, 1634, he was high-sheriff of the county of Devon; as his grandson, and namesake, now living, was, anno 4th King Jam . second. Which Sir Thomas having built a fair house (Note '2) in the parish of Broad- Hembery aforesaid, settled himself and his family there, which he left to his posterity ; and it is now the dwelling of Thomas Drew, Esquire, aforesaid, a justice of the peace, and one of the knights for this county, in the present parliament at Westminster, 1699. A worthy, honest, and discreet gentleman. He is a recruit in the room of that honor- able and courteous person, Collonel Courtenay of Povvderham castle, lately deceased, who had served his country in that capacity, with honor and faithfulness, divers parliaments. Serjeant Drew, having lived to a considerable age, yielded up his soul into the hands of God, at his house at Killerton aft)resaid ; of whom is this honorable character "Id. ib. given," ' That his soundness for council, knowledg in the laws, and uprightness in judgment. DREW, EDWARD, SERJEANT AT LAW. 337 judgment won him a general love and respect.' He died A. D. 1622, and was in- terr d m the parish church of Broad-Clist aforesaid ; where a sumptuous monument is raised to his and his wife s memory, in the south isle thereof, which takes up a con- siderable space m it. They both lie side by side, cut in stone, in their full proportion; at whose feet are their children kn<.eling, in sinall figures, viz. Four sons and three daughters, having a desk between them. The canopy is supported by several pillars of free stone, finely painted ; on the edge of the canopy is this inscripUon, Illustri viro Ed. Drew, qui Reginse Elizab. Serviens erat ad Legem Mnemosynon. En ! Cubat hie Driius, legum meritissimus atlas : Par tibi Aristides, Scaevola parq; tibi. Quo nemo integrior, nemo observantior jsqui Judex, astragae spes, columenq; dete. Cujus munda manus, mens munda, immunis ab omni Munere justitiam quod violare solet. Hie corpus recubat de summo donee Olympo Cum Christo rediens mens ea sumat idem. A. D. MDCXXH. ADDITIONAL NOTES. fl) THE beautiful seat of Killerton continues in the Aclaiid family, and is the residence of Sir Thnm,, n i Acland, Baronet, at this time (1809) high-sheriff of the county of Devon '"""'l^nce of Sir Thomas Dyke (2) The estate in the parish of Broadherabury, on which Sir Thomas Drew built his mansion, is called Grange and IS st.ll m the possession of h.s hneal descendant, Francis Kose Drew of Wotton in the county of Dorset Befni unab e to stale the regular succession of descents from Serjeant Drew to the present representative ofthe family wf insert a copy ofthe mscr.ption on a monument lately erected in the church of Broadhembu.y, by which trdefid ency is m some measure supplied. •" ■' """■" ""= oeuci- Tliis Monument is erected to the Memory of Francis Drwe, Esq. of Grange in this parish, u tj r^ ^^''° '^'^'^ ^'•"''- '°'''' ^^''3> 'iged 61 years. He was eldest son of Francis Drwe, Esq. also of Grange, who represented the city of Exeter in four successive parliaments: And was lineally descended from Edward Drwe, Esq. Serjeant at Law to Queen Elizabeth, and Recorder of the city of London, in that rei°"S sphere of life than his ancestors. He contented h.mse f with livuig to establish the character of a diligent and upright magistrate, a valuable neighbour, a faithful friend, and one of the best of parents • Having been twice married, he had by his first wife seven sons (six of whom survived him). and by his second wife two sons and three daughters (who all survived him). In the family vault in this church are also deposited the remains of F"nc.s Rose Drwe Esq. his eldest son, who died unmarried, 1 .• J 'r • 5 ' . ' ^Sej' ^^ ''"'■^' r^Pected and beloved by all his relat.ves and friends, and agreeable to a request in his will, this monument was erected to the memory of his father. There are also deposited in the same vault, the remains of Edward Drwe (his fourth son) who died 26th of April 1755, in the 1-ltli year of his age. Also of Catharine (his second daughter) who died ISlh of April 1773, ,, r u • ■.. . , . '" '''^ '^''' >'«^'' of her age. Also of Harnet-Mana, daughter and only child of Richard Rose Drwe, of the city of Exeter, Who departed this hfe, Jan 29th, 1801, aged 58, in whom were united all the kind . . , ai'd social virtues. Also the remains of Charles Drwe, Esq. only son of John Rose Drwe, of the city of London, Esq. (his sixth son) who died m the prime of his life on the 5th Nov, 1801, a-^ed 22. 2 X ° DUCK. 338 - THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. DUCK, NICHOLAS. 5617. R. r! l-'UCK, Nicholas, bencher of Lincolns-Inn, and recorder of the city of Exeter, was Jar. 1. born A. D. 1570, at Heavy-Tree, in this county, about a mile and half to the east of that city ; a parish so called, from the fatal tree standing therein, on which execution of death hath been a long while performed upon such capital offenders as are con- demned within this shire. Its more antient name was Woonford, taken from a small rill of water which runneth through it, and gives denomination to the whole hundred, • Sir w. Pole's containing two and thirty parishes." Here was this worthy person born, descended votriDWoonf. from a very wealthy parentage ; as may appear, not only from the alms-house his fa- ther built in that place, but from the considerable estate he left his eldest son (whose posterity still florishes) the liberal education he gave his two youngest sons, whereby they became, in their way, the most eminent men of their time, the one for the com- mon, and the other for the civil, law ; and the large fortunes he gave seven daughters, of about seven hundred pounds apiece. Nicholas Duck, was a hopeful youth, of forward parts, whereby he became qualli- fied for the university, much sooner than ordinary ; for he was entred of Exeter col- lege, in Oxford, in the 14th year of his age, and matriculated there, plebei filius, July » Ex niatricni. the 12th, A. D. 1584.'' How long he continued in this station is not certain ; though mcor'ox- 'tis plain, he made a good improvement of his time while he was so, as may appear w ''T Ms" ^ ^"^'" '"'^ future eminence. He left the university without taking any academical de- gree ; though, 'tis probable, he was standing enough, and of more than competent learning, if he had been so disposed : but his fancy no way enclining him to those dry philosophical studies; and knowing, to proceed in the degrees thereof, would be of no great advantage to him in his designs, he became the more indifferent towards them. From Oxford, did Mr. Duck direct his journy towards London, where he entred himself a member of Lincolns-Inn, and apply'd himself to the study of the laws of his country with so much diligence and good success, that he became famous for his skill in that honorable profession. In protract of time, he was chosen one of the govern- ors of that learned society, and continued so many years, viz. from the 12th of K, James 1st, to the 4th K. Charles 1st; that is, to the time of his death, which was near about fourteen years. Anno 15 Jac. 1, 1617, was he elected lent-reader of his house; and in the same = iz. Mem. of year (upon the death of William Martin, Esq.) Recorder of the city of Exeter;' which ^"J; P'"'' '' office he sustained also to the time of his dissolution. He was not only an eminent lawyer, but (what doth not always meet) a person of great integrity, and exemplary devotion. One remarkable demonstration whereof, was this, that being by his office oblig'd to set upon the lives and deaths of all cajjital offenders within that city, the day that he passed sentence upon any guilty malefactor, he was wont to spend in prayer and fasting ; taking only a bit of bread and a glass of water. He was a bene- factor to the buildings of Lincolns-Inn, to which he belonged; as may appear from " Diigii. Ong. his coat of arms placed in the second window of that chappel, towards the north.'' uri . p. J . ^^ j^jg death, he left issue one son, whose posterity florished in good reputation at Mount-Radford, near Exeter, home to these present days; when it expired (in the male-line) in that worthy, but very sickly gentleman, Richard Duck, Esq. who de- parted this life without issue, about the year of our Lord 1695. Recorder Duck died at Exeter on the 2«th day of August, 1628, in the 58th year of his DUCK, NICHOLAS. 339 his as^e, and lieth buried in the cathedral church of that city; on ^vhose tomb this in-^^_^^ ^^^^ scription was somtime found,' tho' whether still so, I am uncertain. ^^ u^; ^^ ' . . cording to the Hie jacet Nicholaus Duck, Armiger copy m the Jurisconsultus peritissimus, ac hujus SohrE^aLV"*^ Civitatis Recordator; de qua optima church, of Meruit. wood. Gent. Obiit vicessimo octavo die Augusti Anno Salutis 1628. This gentleman had a younger brother, no less famous for his knowledg in the civil, ^^^^^ ^ ^ than he was in the common law,' viz. lew. R. R. Doctor Arthur Duck, LL. Dr. and Chancellor of London. He was also born at jac.i. Heavy-Tree, aforesaid, A. D. 1580, about ten years after his brother before-men- tioned. He also had a great propensity to learning, and became early ripe tor the university; where he was entred a sojourner of Exeter college,' in the year ot ou'-;j«3»/„°t';; redemption, 1595, being then but fifteen years of age. He was excell'd herein by Ius^.d. 1595, elder brother, as may be observ'd in what foregoes, though but by few besides «t^i- ^^•^J• He was happy in falling there, into the hands of an excellent tutor, by whose care s.2, p. 98. and instructions, he very greatly profited, both in vertue and good literature; a matter that ought chiefly to be respected, because there can hardly any thing more perni- tious happen to youth, than to be committed to the care of an ignorant or vicious tutor. 11, 1 In the month of June, 1599, he took his batchelor of arts degree, being then ad- mitted fellow-commoner of his college.'- After this, he translated himself to Hait-^Jh^Som-^^ Hall, and as a member thereof, proceeded master, 1602. Two years after, hewaSjji,,, elected fellow of All-Souls college, in the same university, being then of good reputa- tion for his learning and gentile deportment; in which house, his genius leading him to the study of the'civil law, he took the degrees in that faculty; that of doctor, an. 1612. Much about the same time, he resolved upon travelling into foreign countries; that well manag'd being a great improver of the mind. And having gone through 1 ranee, Italy, and Germany, he returned a very well accomplish'd person: soon after which, he vvas made chancellor of the diocess of Bath and Wells;' in which office behaved -^^Ath.^Ox. v. himself with such integrity, prudence, and discretion, that he was both honored and-'i- beloved by Dr. Lake, bp. of that place ; and the more for this, because that prelate was beholding to Dr. Duck for the right ordering of his jurisdiction. Afterwards, he was made chancellor of London, and then master of the Requests; and in all likelihood, he would have risen higher, had not the malignity of those times (which did cast an ill aspect upon learning and loyalty) interrupted his preferment to the Rolls. ^ AT 1 1 • In the beginning of the year, 1640, he was elected burgess for Q. Mynhead in Somersetshire, to sit in tliat parliament, which began at Westminster, April 13lh, that year; when siding witli his Majesty K. Char. 1st, of ever blessed memory, m those I-ebellious times, he suifered much in his estate. Arthur Duck, ol Chiswick, Middle- ^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ sex, was no less than 2000/. deep in their hooks at Goldsmiths Hall. p,.i„t.' svo, In the month of Septem. 1648, he and Dr. Ryves were sent for to Newport, in thei655. Isle of Wight, by his Majesty's command, to be assisting to him in his treaty with the commissioners sent from the parliament ; but that treaty taking no etlect, he re- tired to his habitation at Chiswick aforesaid, near London; where, seeing his royal master murthered before his own door, as if he could not out-live the impudency, as well as barbarity, of so tragic an act, in a few weeks after he also departed this life. ■ 2 X 2 I" 340 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. In all the ofiTices he undertook. Dr. Duck was a person of most exact care and faith- fulness; he was well skilled in history, civil and ecclesiastical ; a tolerable poet, espe- cially in his younger days: but in the knowledg of the civil laws, which was his pro- fession, he was most excellently instructed. If any desire a fuller character of him, let him please to take it in my author's ' Fiii.Worthies, words,' wlio says, " That he was one of most smooth language and rough speech, p. ^62. j^ of jj masculine stile, disadvantag'd by an harsh utterance : so that what the come- dian saith of a fair maid in mean apparel was true of him." "" Ter. ill Phorni. act, 1, seen. 2. Lacrumae vestitus turpis ; ut ni vis boni In ipsa inesset forma, hasc formam extinguerent." "Lloyd Mem, As to his family-relation," he was married to a pious and wealthy consort, viz. Mar- p. 59i;. garet, the daughter of one Mr. fl. Southworth, merchant and customer of London ; who having gotten a great estate there, retired with his family to Weils: which young gentlewoman's devout disposition, suiting very well with the doctor's pious inclina- tion, they proceeded to a marriage ; and Bishop Lake, who never married any besides, married her to Doctor Duck. This eminent civilian's life was, what ours ought to be, compos'd of gratitude ; a vertue that goes a great way in the Whole Duty of Man, how seldom soever found among us. It consisted, first of gratitude towards God, in the strictness of his life, and the good government of his family; reading two chapters of the Bible every day to himself, and three to his houshold. Secondly to his ministry, Mr. Gataker, and others ; of whom he deserved, though a lay wer, the epithite Athens gave some physicians, of 'A»aj yt^o?, one that would take none of them, but give money to them ; with other encouragements likewise, which he called, ' Fees to them at tiie throne of grace.' Thirdly to God's poor, especially at Wells, where he was much missed ; to whom he gave, he said, what he got of the rich ; and at his death left them good legacies, as 10/. to the poor at Chiswick, where he died, and 10/. to the poor of North Cad- bury, in Somersetshire, where he had an estate ; besides other gifts of charity else- "Atb.'Oxon. where, which, for brevity sake, my author passes by." ntprius. Fourthly, to the founder of the college, where he had the best part of his education, Archbishop Chichley, whose life he drew up in Latin, as elegant as his foundation. Moreover, he left considerable legacies to Exeter and All Souls college ; tho' what they were is not mentioned. Fifthly, to his Majesty K. Char. 1st, giving to him 6000/. besides his paying for him, as was said before, 2000/. composition ; besides the many troubles he endured for him : among others, may be reckoned the many years absence he was necessitated to from his dear and sick wife, and the several services he performed to him ; the last whereof, was his appearing as a civil lawyer, to assist his Majesty at the treaty of the Isle of Wight, though not with that good success the cause deserved, and all good men desired. Having thus considered Dr. Duck as a good subject, and an excellent christian, it remains, that we consider him farther as a very eminent scholar ; that his learned works will declare, which he published in Latin, whose titles follow; ' Vita Henrici Chichele Archi Episcopi Cantuariensis sub RegibusHen. .5to k. 6to,' Oxon. 1617, 4to. This is remitted into the lives published by Dr. Bates, A. D. 1681. It was lately translated into English, and published, with the effigies of the arch- bishop before it, in 8vo, 1698. * De Usu & Authoritate Juris Civilis Romanorum in Dominiis Principium Christi- anorum DUCK, NICHOLAS. \U1 anorum Libri Duo,' Lond. 1653 and 1679, in 8vo ; and at Leyden, and other places beyond sea. To conclude, this pious and worthy person also paid his last debt of nature, being, in a manner heart broken, for the untimely death of his dear sovereign, K. Char. 1, in the month of May then following, 1649, and in the year of his age 69. He died upon the Lord's-day, and in effect, at the church of Chiswick, near London aforesaid ; in which he lyeth interr'd. He left no issue male, only two daughters and heirs vastly rich, who married their second cousins, the grandsons of his brother Nicholas, before mentioned; one of which left two sons, Richard his eldest, who married Elizabeth, one of the daughters and heirs of John Ackland, Esq. somtime mayor of the city of Exeter ; he died, as was said before, at Mount-Radford, without issue; and Arthur, who married Marjory, the other daughter and heir of John Ackland, aforesaid; he died in Wales, and his wife, a little before him, near Exeter, leaving issue only one daughter, now living, with her aunt, the relict of Richard Duck aforesaid, at Mount-Radford. EADULPH, 31M. Car. Sur- by the Cornish men, called Lesteevan (Lez, in Cornish, signifieth broad, and those are ve^^i'ffCornw. scatteringly erected) and were antiently termed Lanstaphadon, by interpretation, St. * ' ^' Stephen's church. It consisteth of two burroughs, which have their representatives in parliament, Downevet and Newport : this town (saith he, from Mr. Hooker," was "Cat. of the first founded by Eadulphus, brother to Alpsius, Duke of Devon and Cornwal, an. pjlut?' ^''**' 900 ; and by its being girded with a wall, argueth it, in times past, to have carried some value. This reverend prelate continued bishop of this diocess two and twenty years; who being a public spirited and generous man, God was pleased to extend his life, for the better strengthning and sustaining of this infant church. He died about the year of our Lord 932, and was buried in his own cliurch of Crediton aforesaid ; where, on a fair large stone, was a plate of brass inlaid, having on it the picture of a bishop; whe? ther it was of this, or some other bishop, I can't determin possitively, but it had this epitaph there on ;° " Mr. Westc. Ucsc. of Dev, in Credit. MS. "^ Sis testis Christe, quod non jacet hie lapis iste. Corpus ut ornetur, sed spiritus ut memoretur. Quisquis eris qui transiris, sta, perlege, plora ; Sum quod eris, fueramq; quod es ; pro me precor ora." Which may be thus translated into English : ' Christ ! bear me witness, that this stone is not Put here t' adorn a bod}', that must rot ; But keep a name, that it mayn't be forgot. Whoso doth pass, stay, read, bewail, I am What thou must be ; was what thou art the same ; Tlien pray for me, e're you go whence ye came,' EDGECOMBE, 344 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON, EDGECOMBE, SIR RICHARD, KNIGHT. ^''or. A. n. Edgecombe, sir Richard, Knight, was probably born at Stone-house in this Mar.' ' ' county, near the place where Mount-Edgecombe now stands, which was in the pos- session of this family, before that noble house was builded. This name was originally of Devonshire extract, taken from the place of their antient habitation -, thougii in what parish, I cannot say, unless perhaps in Cheriton-Fitz-Pain, (Note.) near »Mr. Westc. Creditou, where in that church,' I meet with Edgecombe's isle, adorned with divers von!'ii°chcrit. coats belonging to them. In protract of time, this family removed over the Tamer, Fitz.MS. u'here it settled at Cuttail, in the parish of Calstock, separated from Devon only by the breadth of that river ; where it had not continued long, ere Sir Richard Edge^ combe, son of Sir Piers or Peter (for Richard and Piers were alternately in this pro- geny ten descents following) marrying Joan, daughter and heir of Stephen Dernford of East-Stonehouse, brought it into Devon again ; where it settled at that place : She brought a great estate unto this family, as the whole town of East-Stonehouse, and the \^illage of West-Stonehouse, on the other side the river (whose ruines, yet remaining, confirm the report. That there stood a town, until the French, by fire and sword, fc Mr. Car. overthrew it"") which still florishes in those hands ; and may it still do so. ubXpfioo.'*^' East-Stonehouse had somtime lords of its own name, and was the dwelling of Joel de Stanchouse, 27 K. Hen. 3. It is so called from its owners, and its situation on the east-side of the river Tamer; from a private house, it is become now a convenient <:sirW. Poles big town wcU inhabited;" 'tis a daughter-church to Plymouth, near adjoyning. fon.VEst^''" This honorable family came back into Devon in the beginning of the reign of K. ston. MS. Hen. 7, if not before. Sir Richard Edgecombe, Kt. was sherifl" of this county, an. 2 H. 7, 1486. Sir Peter Edgecombe, Kt. an. 10 K. H. 7, and an. 13 K. H. 7, and an. 9 K. H. 8, and hath yielded many memorable persons. Such was Sir Richard Edgecombe, Kt. the grandfather to that gentleman we are « Sir w. Pole's about to spcak of, reckoned, by our best antiquary, among the natives of this county." suto'meu," He was comptroller of the houshold, and of the privy-council to K. Hen. 7, and by MS. ' him employed in divers embassies ; in one of which, to wit, that unto the Duke of eMr.Carcw's grittain, he died: Of whom this passage is credibly reported," ' That in K. Rich. 3d's f.'gJp.iiT'^'days, he being suspected of fiivoring the Earl of Richmond (who afterwards, by the name of Henry the seventh, was King of England) against that King, was driven to hide himself in those thick woods which overlook the river Tamer, and belong to his house at Cuttail. Being hotly pursued, and narrowly searched for, extremity taught him a suddain policy, to put a stone in his cap, and tumble the same into the water, while these rangers were at the heels ; who looking down after the noise, and seeing his cap swimming thereon, supposed he had desperately drowned himself Hence they gave over their farther pursuit, and left him the liberty to shift over into Brittany, and there to joyn himself to the Earl of Richmond ; who when he came to the crown, upon attainder of John Lord Zouch, whose then it was, for taking part with King Rich- ^Mr. Risden's ard the 3d, 'gave him the castle and honor of Totnes, in this county ; an antient honor, ^'tTuc? jTs" ""to which did belong fifty six knights' fees.' in ncs, . ^^^.^ ^^^^ given at first, by William the Conqueror, unto Judael, a noble Norman, sirnamed from this place, de Totnes, where he seated himself in the castle of his own erecting, now long since demolished, there being little more of it than the walls left standino-. In the posterity of this gentleman it continued, until Piers Edgecombe sold the' castle and manner unto the Lord Edward Seymour, of Berry-castle. Nor EDGECOMBE, SIR RICHARD, KNIGHT. 345 Nor was Sir Richard Edgecombe unmindful of his duty towards God, for his signal providence to him; for at his return in peace, in thankful remembrance of his deliver- ance, he builded a cbappel in that his lurking place, to celebrate his great name; the mines whereof, lately did, if they don't still, remain. Sir Richard Edgecombe, Knight, married a daughter of Thomas Tremayn of Col- lacombe. Esquire, by whom he had issue. Sir Piers Edgecombe, Knight, sheriff of Devon, anno 20 K. Hen. 8, 1528; who by Joan, daughter and heir of Stephen Dnrn- ford of East-Stonehouse, by his wife, the daughter and heir of Rame of Rame (whose seat, I suppose, was at or near the place where Mount-Edgecombe standeth) had issue the gentleman of whom we are now speaking. Sir Richard Edgecombe of Mount-Edgecombe, Kt. was a very accomplished and worthy person, highly deserving of the public weal, as well as of his private family. To begin with the last first ; he it was that built that stately house, called from his name, Mount-Edgecombe, the most beauteous gentile seat in all those western parts; thus lively described by a gentleman, who knew it well (none better), being nearly allied to it, whose words I shall here insert.^ ewr. Carc%rt Surv.oi t oniw. ' Upon the south shore, somwhat within the land, standeth Mount-Edgecombe, a'^-J^-P^-^^' ''• house builded and named by Sir Richard Edgecombe. If coniparisuns were as lawful in the making, as they prove odious in the matching, I would presume to range it, for health, pleasure, and commodities, with any subject's house, of his degree, in England. It is .seated against the north, on the declining of a hill, in the midst of a deer-park, near a narrow entrance, thorow which the salt-water breaketh up into the country, to shape the greatest part of the haven. ' The house is builded square, with a round turret at each end, garretted on the top ; and the hall rising in the midst above the rest, yieldeth a stately sound as you enter the same : In summer, the opened casements admit a refreshing coolness : In winter, the two closed doors exclude all offensive coldness. The parlor and dining- room give you a large and diversified prospect of land and sea, overlooking St. Ni- cholas island (lying in the mouth of the harbor, in fashion lozengy, in quantity about ■three acres, strongly fortified by art and nature) the now royal citadel*" Plymouth" Caird in Uie town, Stonehouse, Milhrook, and Salt- Ash. It is supplied with a never-failing '^"^•"''^ ''''"• spring of water; stored with timber, wood, fruit, deer, and conies. The ground abundantly answereth the housekeepers necessities, for pasture, corn, and meadow; and is replenished with a kind of stone, serving both for building, lime, and marie. On the sea-cliffs groweth great plenty of ore-wood, to satisfy the owner's want, and accomodate his neighbors. ' A little below the house, in the summer evenings, Sayn boats come and draw their nets for fish ; whither the gentry of the house walking down, take the pleasure of the sight; and somtimes, at all adventures, buy the profit of the draughts, before they come asliore. Both sides of the forementioned narrow entrance, with the passage between the whole town of Stonehouse, and a great circuit of the land adjoyning, ap- pertain to this inheritance. These sides are fenced with block-houses; and that next to Mount-Edgecombe was wont to be planted with ordnance ; which at coming and parting, with their deep base voices, greeted such guests as visited the house. ' Which being every way so curious and noble a mansion, it is not strange, that the Duke of Medina-Sidonia, admiral of the Spanish Armado, in the year of our Lord, 1588,' should be so affected with the sight thereof, though beholding at a distance off at 'Full. Worth, sea, as to reserve it for his own possession, in the partage of this kingdom, which in "J,^"™^'^" P" hopes and expectation they had already conquered. ' This stately house is within the comjjass of the county of Devon, us is all that 2 Y ' tract 346 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. tract, antiently called West-Stonehouse, although it be in the parish of Maker, which lieth in the county of Cornwal. * But to return from the house to the master of it : This gentleman was of a truly great and generous disposition, as may farther appear from that particular history of his life, I have been so happy to light upon, in manuscript, written by his grandson, Richard Carew, Esquire, (intituled, A Friendly Remembrance of Sir Richard Edge- combe ; now in my possession ; where are also several poems, written by the same Richard Carew, Esquire, with a learned letter against the supremacy of the pope, and other things) the celebrated author of the Surveigh of Cornwal : whose own language, though somwhat antiquated, I shall here present to the reader's view, and the exam- ple he describes, to his imitation. ' Many (saith he) have been more heedful to rehearse the times of their ancestors* births and deaths, the number of their wives and children, and the pomp of their wealth and offices; than to express the vertues of their minds, shining in the upright- ness of their lives, and haughtiness of their enterprizes. This respect hath the sooner emboldened me to supply that want, which I see utterly unfurnished by any other, in behalf of one, who because he was by nature my grandfather, and in good-will my father, I could not but bear him a dutiful and alTectiouate mind, whilst he lived; and reverence his remembrance being dead. * I will therefore, among many of his vertues, rehearse only those, which were chiefly noted of others, and are fittest for us to follow ; namely. His knowledge, courtesy, and liberality. His Know. His knowledg consisted in learning and wisdom, ledge. * His learning may be divided into divine and profane ; that is to say, religion and the liberal sciences. ' Touching his religion, I will not stand long therein, because I count it a hard matter, for any to judg of another man's heart ; and the days wherein he mostly lived, savored of Romish rust ; yet if guess may be given by outward shew, his upright deal- ing bears witness, That he had the fruits of a good conscience. Besides, in his life- time, he kept an ordinary chaplain in his house, who daily and duly said service : And at his death, he had the grace to call upon God. ' His learning in the arts, he attained by his study in the university of Oxford, where he spent some part of his youth : not idley, nor only whilst he baited his horse (as the scholarly-minister answered the bishop's ordinary) ; but both orderly and pro- fitably : For he could tell, as I guess, by certain rules of astrology, what any man's errand was, that came unto him. And in endicting of letters he was so skilful, that being on a time at the quarter-sessions, where was some difference about the form of one, to be sent up to the lords of the council, he step'd down from the bench, and at a suddain, penned it so well, to all their likings, as, without farther amendment, they allowed and sent it forth : Yea, the Lord Cromwel, in this point, gave him espe- cial commendations. He had also a very good grace in making English verses, such as, in those days, passed for current ; which flowing easily from his pen, did much de- light the readers. The sharpness of his wit was also seen in his apophthegms; of which, though I have heard many, I only remember two, the one, That ingratus was Latin for a priest (understand liim, reader, of them of those times) ; and the other. That where the good-man did beat his wife, there Cupid would shake his wing.-, and fly out of doors. ♦ For his wisdom, I will only give a taste, or essay thereof, that by some parts, the whole may be guess'd. For he that would take upon him, to discourse of every point, must needs be a wise man himself. He used, what occasion soever he had of expenceSj EDGECOMBE, SIR RICHARD, KNIGHT. 347 expences, to keep always a hundred pounds in his chest untouch'd: And yet he would never be long indebted unto any man, neither break promise of payment. W here- in he surely dealt far more discreetly than these, who having fair revenues, are not- withstanding so beggarly, that when any cost is to be bestowed, for their own profit, • the benefit of the prince, or behoof of their country, they are forced to take it up at such hands, as turneth to their great loss ; or else to leave themselves utterly discredit- ed, their country unhelped, and their prince unserved. What grief of mind it pro- cureth them, when they are forced to bewray their want, and to send posting up and down with all haste and less speed; what speech of the people it causeth (who com- monly cast their eyes on their betters to pry on their doings); and how little trust it gaineth among their creditors, to be ever borrowing and never paying, I need not tell them ; since by proof they know it sufficiently already. Neither boots it to warn them by words, when by such wounds and stripes to their good name and consciences, they will not learn to salve the same in time. Augustus the emperor hearing a Roman knight to be dead, who being in his life-time accounted rich, was at his end found so poor, as the sale of his goods was not able to countervail the charge of his debts, will- ed his bed to be bought for himself; ' For I am w^ell assured (quoth he) I shall easily take my rest in that bed, where one owing so much could quietly sleep.'" What ease ' "?^^"f^ «*' they have to lye snorting so m the carelesness ot their allairs, 1 know not; but this 1 ruicitra, in qnJ knoV, that they can give no greater cause of sorrow to their friends, rejoycing to their j'^;^^^^^'™^'^*"- enemies, or utter disliking to the whole world. And this much I have ventured to say dnnnire potuit. the rather, that by displaying the harms of the contrary, his careful foresight in pre- J'u;'"!j*^:f"a'p venting the same, might the better appear. 4, i>. nw. ' He was also very careful to have provision made before-hand, of all things belong- ing to houshold, for two years at least; and would very willingly bestow his mony that way, whensoever any good pennyworth was to be had, though he did not pre- sently need it. Besides, he was so careful for his posterity, as at his death he left 400/. of old gold in his chest, for the suing of his sons livery. 'It was moreover noted in him, that whatsoever he did, he would be always girt with a sword, or at least with a hangar ; which that he did not do of curiosity, as if he would be like Julius Cffisar (he held a sword in one hand and a book in the other, with this motto, Ex utroq ; Cajsar') who carried his commentaries in his bosom, his 'Lfigiis Select pen in his right hand, and his launce in his left; or to imitate Alexander the Great, ti,e Rom.E'm- who slept always with his sword by his bed-side, and Homer's lliades under his pil-per. p.3. low," the plainness of the rest of his life doth sufiiciently witness; His reason there- "> Uiadem Ho- of w^as, (as I have heard) that some part of his oath of knighthood did bind him there- "JaJicnm niam unto. appellans.^atq; ' Another point of his wisdom was, that he continually maintained one at London, o"p-,^Xp..iv?no to be a solicitor of his causes; and to send him advertisement, with the soonest, of all *'='"i'pJ[^J°',, occurrences from the court, and elsewhere; wherein if order were given him, for any ."fvUaAiexand. business, concerning the service of his prince or country, or that his help were craved m. in behalf of his friend, he would not slack any time, nor overslip any fit occasion, for dispatch thereof. For his friend, he would deal as advisedl\^, and follow it as ef- fectually, as if the matter were his own. In his princess's service, lie was ready with the foremost, to execute her commandments; and prepared with the soonest, to re- turn answer. ' And whensoever he was to meet at any place, for his country's aftairs, he would al- ways come with the first, and depart with the last, saying, ' It were better that one man should tarry for many, than many for one.' ' Lastly, he was in speech very spare, and in counsel very secret; and yet was not His courtesy, his secretness towards his friends so close, but that he would lovingly impart unto ci Y 2 them 348 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. them whatsoever was convenient ; nor his silence in speech so great, but that he could entertain every one with courteous words, according to their calling; using to his betters, reverence ; to his equals, kindness ; and to the meaner sort, aflability. And as he was naturally given to believe the best of every one, so could he scarcely be drawn to mislike any, of whom he had been once well perswaded. ' Yea, even to such as were his enemies, being in distress, lie rather lent a hand to take them up, than a foot to tread them down, as by this story following may plainly n Trevanion. appear. There was a knight, dwelling in the same shire," with whom, for divers causes, in King Edward's days, he had sundry quarrels; which as at first they bred inward niisliking between them, so at last they brake forth into open hatred. This knight, in tlic troublesome change of Queen Mary's reign, partly for religion, and partly for other causes, was clap'd into prison: And though the matters discovered against him were hainous, and his enemies (at that time bearing great sway) very grievous, yet he obtained so much favor, as to be tryed by certificate, from the gen- tlemen of the chiefest authority in his country, for his behaviour therein. According to whose report to the council, he was to be either delivered, or more straightly to be dealt with. This granted, he conceived very good hope of every other's friendly advertisement; and feared only the hard favor of our Sir Richard; Avho he doubted would use the sword of revenge (then put into his hand ) to his enemies destruction. It hapned, that upon the return of their answer he was delivered ; and being at liber- ty, to the end he might know how his countrymens' minds were aflected towards him, he by means, procured a copy of all these advertisive letters; in perusing of which, he found that such as bore him fairest countenance, wrote most against him ; and that Sir Richard Edgecombe's certificate made most for him : So as, in all likelihood^ his greatest enemy in show, was the chiefest cause of his deliverance in deed. ' I would stay here in praise of this noble mind, who shewed his valor in conquering his own affections; his vertue in abstaining from revenge, being offered; and his Christianity in doing good for evil ; but that I am carried forth with no less wonder at this knight's thankfulness : Who pretending as though he wist not of this courtesy, to the outward shew, continued his wonted enmity until the next Christmas after. ' At which time, on a night, word was brought to Mount-Edgcomb, that a com- pany of armed men were lately landed from Plymouth, marching up to the house. Sir Richard, having heard before, that this knight was in that town, and mistrusting, he had picked out tliis time to come and set ujjon him unawares, resolved to shew himself neither discourteous to them he knew not, through fear; nor yet to lie open to his enemies, if they pretended any such practice, through heedlesness ; he there- fore caused his gates to be set wide open, and placed his servants on both sides the gate and hall, where they must pass, with swords and bucklars: but they coming in, turned this doubt into pastime, for their armor and weapons were only painted paper, as by nearer approaching was perceived; and instead of trying their force with blows, in fighting with men, they fell to make proof of the ladies' skill in dancing. ' These pastimes at last being ended, they were led into another room to be banquet- ted: where this knight taking off his vizard, and disclosing himself to Sir Richard Edgcomb, uttered, ' That having known the great courtesy shewn him in his trouble, besides his looking, and contrary to his deserving, he was come thither to yield him liis most due thanks for the same; assuring him, that ho would from thenceforth, rest as faithful his friend, as ever before he had shewn himself a professed enemy.' In wit- ness of which his true meaning, and to strengthen the friendship newly begun, in good-will, with a fast knot of aliience, he there presented him a young gentleman, his nephew, a ward, and the heir of his house (who being of fair possessions, came amongst the other company, masked in a nymph's attire) to match with one of his daughters ; EDGECOMBE, SIR RICHARD, KNIGHT. 549 daughters ; which marriage afterwards came to pass. And here I should also run out into commendation of this rare thankfulness, save that this knight's many other shews of his right noble mind, are so well known, that they need not, and so great, that they cannot, be praised enough. ' I will therefore let them pass, and shut up this part of Sir Richard's courtesy, when I have spoken a word or two of his soft nature ; the rather, because I have heard some discommend this his mildness, who were themselves sooner to be pitied for their ignorance, than to be answered for any weight of their frivalous reasons. For if this gentleness of disposition, and familiarity of behaviour, were a fault, neither would Cyrus," Artaxerxes,P Augustus,'' and many such like famous princes, have used it.° CynisCrasi Neither would Trajan have answered to one, who reproved him of the like, ' That tus.'piiu.'vu* he being an emperor, behaved himself towards his subjects, as he would (if he were a '" ^o'""- P ^3. s.ubiect) that his emperor should behave himself towards him.' " ^rtaxerxes t r> -1 1 • 1 -ii 1 ■> y-\ -i ¥■ ■ 1 T> natiiia leni atq; rJesides, that it gettetn good-will, appeareth by Q.. Minutius, the Roman consul, bemtina ibid who was no less beloved of his country-men for his gentleness than proud Appius""^'^''^'''*^.*'' hated for his roughness.' And that it doth our country better service, was well known Macro'bl'sa-'*' in the troublesom times at Rome, when the common people, being grieved with the*""'' '• 2, c. s. nobilities' oppressions, and the cut-throat dealings of usurers, and thereupon refusing ^^^{"'^P'l^J^'j^j^' to obey the magistrates in taking weapons for defence of the country j this notwith- s, p.s.'s. standing, Servilius, with his gentle speech and fair usage, brought them to appear at ' Api'i"s C'a": the musters; and after a sharp battle, to return with a glorious victory over their ene- cum SodisMa- mies. But of this enough. gistiatnmvi ' His liberality rested chiefly in house-keeping and gifts. What provision he made for dcimim dam- house-keeping, is before shewed; which being carefully procured^ was both orderlv"'""*''^*-. *-'"'• and bountifully spent : And as he wanted not store of meat, so had he a sufficient com-Hist.'poetic. pany of servants, to attend him at his table ; the most part gentlemen by birth, and His liberality, all of them both trained in service, and courteous to such strangers as haunted the house; who when they came, found themselves so well entertained, that this good knight was seldom or never unvisited. Yea, if he understood of any strangers come in- to the country, of any calling, either by sea or land, he would freely invite them home. And these, by reason of Plymouth, his neighbor town, were not a few ; so that at one time, besides many other great personages, he received into his house, the admirals of England, Spain, and Flanders. And this he did for some good space. (Id. Survey of Cornwal, pag. 100) A passage the more remarkable, for that the ad- mirals of those nations, never met before so amicably at one table ; nor never since, unless perhaps anno 1605, near to Cadiz in Spain, at what time the English and Dutch fleets lay there. 'Neither could these great guests cause him to forget the poor, who were dail^^ as duly served as himself. Aloreover, whosoever (either his servant or otherwise) had brought him word of any thing to be bought, at a reasonable price, or had done any errand or service for him, was sure of a liberal reward, ' Strangers arriving in the haven, were presented with such things as he had : and the poor, whom he met, received whatsoever came first to hand. It hapned once, that a beggar craved an alms of him, to whom, instead of a shilling, he gave a piece of gold of ten ; the beggar perceiving that he was mistaken, and doubting his displeasure, came crouching, and began to tell how he was deceived, offering him the gold again. But Sir Richard, loath to have his alms known, would not hear him ; but bid him, * Away, knave, and if I catch thee any more here', (quoth he), &-c. So that the poor - ' fellow, shrewdly hurt by this repulse, quietly departed. ' This beggar, for his truth, in my judgment, deserved to possess the horded treasures of many a covetous gruiV; and the knight, for his liberality; was worthy to find the Jieavenly treasure. ' But 350 '■ THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. ' But to draw this tedious discourse to an end, he resembled the Emperor Titus, call- •Suet.invit. ed, for his good disposition, ' The dehght of the world ;" who sitting, on a night, at *'^"'' supper, with his acquaintance, and remembring that he had bestowed nothing on any man that day, cryed out upon a suddain, ' Friends ! I have lost a day.' These his ver- tues procured him favor of his prince and the council, who, in times of danger, chiefly " Sher. of Dev. committed to him, and a very few others, the government of the shire where he dwelt :" 153^6^ &k.*i They got him love among his neighbors, who counted nothing too dear for him ; and Phil. & Mai. coming home in their shipping, from far countries, would hale his house with two or She?.' of Dot."" three pieces of ordnance ; and present him with the best things they had. And lastly, in Mem. of they purchased him credit among strangers, who would commonly call him. The good "**' old knight of the castle. These few things I have touched amongst many, which in him were worthy the noting.' Thus far that worthy author; whom we could farther have wished, that as he hath given a fair account of the life of this worshipful knight, so he had also given us the history of his death and funeral; together with the time when, and place where he was buried. Whether he had any sepulchral tomb, or monument, although I much endeavored it, I could not inform my self. However, the latter part of that epitaph which the fore-quoted author, Mr. Carew, made for the wife or daughter of this gentleman, (in his Poems on various Occasions, in number above one hundred and thirty manuscripts) with the change only of the article, would very well have fitted his marble. The blessings large which fortune gave, I dare not call his own, Nor from himself the fear of God, so sought and kept, was grown : Yet this I boldly may avouch, and truth shall it maintain. His heart dame vertue so possess'd, that vice was banish'd clean. Then give me leave, ye sacred nymphs, of him alone to boast ; Who whil'st he liv'd, in words and deeds, did honor vertue most. And grant unspighted eke of you, each top of stately hill. Each Edgof Comb, each j^it of vale, may sound his praises still. EDMONDS, ADDITIONAL NOTE. THIS conjectural derivation of our aiillior of the family of Edgcumbe from the parish of Chariton Fitzpain, receives no support from the records in tiie possession of its present representative, Richard Edgcumbe of Edg- cumbe, which prove on the contrary, that during the last live hundred years at least, its residence, in the elder line, lias constantly been at Edgcumbe, in the parisii of Milton-Abbott, near Tavistock. The manor of Edg- cumbe is situated at the foot of a sleep hill, stretcliing along the side of a valley, which extends about a mile and a half in length, irom the church of Milton to tlie banks of the river Tamer. On a slone over a gate-way behind the present mansion, are engraved the arms of the family, and four stones over a door leading into the house, have the initials R. E. with the dale of 1292. At this period, namely, in the reign of Edward 1st, this place was the properly and the residence of Richard Edgcombe, whose grandsons were John and William, John, the eldest son, inherited the manor of Edgcombe, and lias transmitted it in lineal succession to Richard Edgcumhe, its present possessor, who lias several sons, one of w^liom is John Edgcumbe, Esquire, Captain in the Royal Navy. William Edgcombe, the second brother, married Hilaria, daughter of Wiiliam, and sister and heir of Ralph de Coiele, of Cotele, in the parish gf Calstock, in the county of Cornwall, beautifully si- tuated on the banks of the Tamer." He died in 1380. His grandson, or perhaps his great grandson, vvai •■••■ Cotele house is a very ancient edifice, having been built, as is supposed, between eight and nine hundred years. It has apparemly undergone very little alteration ; and great care has been employed by its nuljle pro- prietors, of later days, in maintaining its venerable characler by an appropriate style of repair, and by preserving its antique furniture. The hall is decorated with the various arms of offence and defence, which were wielded by our forefathers before the invention of fhe-arms. The walls of several of the apartments are hung with tapestry of excellent workmanship. Various articles of usehil and ornamental furniture exhibit the prevailing fashions, and illustrate the domestic modes of very remote times. ( 351 ) EDMONDS, SIR THOMAS, KNIGHT. Flor. A. a Edmonds, sir Thomas, Knight, and treasurer of the hoiishold to K. James the ]fj°i^-^' , 1st, was born in Devon, saith one,' and particularly at Plymouth, saith another of our . sir w. Pole antiquaries." He was the fifth son of Thomas Edmonds, head-customer of that port, j^J^^y st^«^t<='- and of the port of Foy, in Cornwal, A. D. 1562, by his wife Joan, daughter of An- „ ^r. westc. thony Delaber, of Shirburn, in Dorset, Esq. who was third son of Henry Edmonds, of Pea. in Edm. New-Sarum, gent, by Julian his wife, daughter of Will. Brandon, of the same, gent. The particular education of this gentleman's youth, what it was, doth not now appear, nor what the occasion which brought him first to court : a certain author tells us,'' that led with a kind of emulation, the court-advancements of his relations, = T)av. Lloyd's would not let him sit still in a private retirement. This, very probably, may have re- p's^!:^""''" spect to Sir Clement Edmunds, an excellent soldier and statesman both, at that time master of the Requests, and one of the clerks of the council to K. Jam. 1 . How near the relation between them was, I cannot say ; though this 1 may, that by their dif- ferent coats of arms, they seem to have been of two distinct families. Sir Clement Ed- monds, clerk of the council, as one says,"* had given him by Cambden Clarent. king at-syiv. Morg. arms, an 1610, b. a chevron between three quadrats or. However, probable enough fP„f''=Ji^^*g^«^*' it is, that they were related, and that Sir Clement did lend his namesake his hand to 109. introduce him into court. Being entred there, K. Jam. 1, observing his accomplishments for business, took a special liking to him, and afterward imployed him in several embassies abroad : he first sent him his ambassador to the archduke at Brussels, July 21, 1603;^ after that, ' Camb. An. of his leiger into France, though in what particular year he did so, I do not find. The ^- ''• '' P' *'• learned Cambden tells us,' that Sir Thomas Edmond's lady (who was one of the f ibid. p. 11. daughters and heirs of Sir John Wood, clerk of the signet) died at Paris, in the year a"- i«'i- of our Lord 1614. Two years after this, viz. 1616, K. James returning into England, from his native country, Scotland, where he had been in progress, and come at West- minster, recalled this his ambassador Edmonds out of France ; who had so well dis- charged his trust there, that his Majesty conferred upon him the staff, as the badg of the office of comptroller of the royal houshold, upon my Lord AVotton's being made treasurer thereof: a place of great dignity, as well as profit, his yearly fee, as Dr. Chamberlain says,» being 10?/. 17^- 6(/. with the allowance of sixteen dishes each t Pr. state oi meal. The day after this, he was sworn a member of the King's privy council, and ^"fjgP^" *» accordingly took his place at the board,*" above the vice chamberlain. i.Cam. Annai. Jac. 1, p. 2S. was Sir Richard Edgcumbe, of Cotele, comptroller of the houshold to King Henry tlie seventh, mentioned in the text, who died in 1489. His son and successor was Sir Piers Edgaimbe, K. B. and Banneret, who mar- ried the heir ofDernford, of East Stonehouse, and was father to the first Sir Richard Edgcumbe of Mount Edg- cumbe, the person treated of above, who died in 1562. To him succeeded Piers, Sir Richard, Piers, Sir Richard, K. B. 166O, and Richard, who in 1742 was advanced to tlie dignity of the peerage, by the title of Baron Edgecumbe, He married Matilda, the daughter of Sir Henry Furnese, and dying in 1758, left issue two sons, Richard and George, wlio successively enjoyed the title. The latter was created Viscount Mount-Edg- cumbe, in 1781, and Viscount Valeton and Eail of Mount- Edgcumbe, in 178<). He died in 1795, leaving issue by his lady, the daughter of Dr. John Gilbert, Archbishop of York, one son, Richard, the present Earl of Moiiiit-Edgcumbe, who is the fourteenth in descent from Richard Edgcombe of Edgcoinbe, in the reign of Edward the first. In 35a THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. Ill the year of our Saviour's incarnation, 1618, the Lord Wotton resigning, Sir Thomas Edmonds (being now advanced to the degree of knighthood) was made trea- surer of the houshold in his room; which is also an honorable post, for in the absence of tiie lord steward, he hath power, with the comptroller and steward of the Mar- I Dr. ciiami). shal.sea, to hear and dctermin' treasons, felonies, &c. committed within the verge of 153.'"' '^^' ^ the King's palace ; whose yearly fee is 123/. 14.<-. 8d. and a table also of sixteen dishes "Mr. Westc. each meal. A certain author of our own, who lived at the same time with him, saith,'' quo pirns. That Sir Thomas Edmonds, Kt. was principal secretary of state, in the year of our ■Camb. quo Lord 1619 5 how true that may be, I can't dctermin; but this is certain,' that in the siipi. p. ,jj. yggp IQOQ^ JVJr. Copyn dying, Sir Thomas Edmonds succeeded him as clerk of the crown ; which is a cap-officer, that by his place is priviledged to sit covered in the court of King's Bench. From all which, we may undoubtedly conclude Sir Thomas Edmonds, an extraor- dinary person, being qualified to sustain such weighty honors and employments, of different kinds and natures; for he was equally fit for business of courage and reso- "> Lloy. State- lution, and for affairs of council and complement.'" We can't but bewail it, as a ort . P-^6''- inisfortune to ourselves, as well as the dead, that the history of this gentleman's ac- tions and excellencies, should descend so imperfectly to us ; had it been faithfully re- corded, it might have been of great use to posterity; but so careless, oftentimes, is the present age, of transmitting worthy examples to future imitation, and the steps and methods, by which famous men 'rose to preferments (as if it envied them the happi- ness of doing the same) that it becomes a great hindrance to many, whose excellent parts, if advanced, might prove very serviceable to their country. However, a brief account of his great worth, in general, I have met with in the register of time; which (in my author's words) I shall here endeavour farther to hand " Lloyd's sia. down to posterity." 963I '" "*' " ' Sir Thomas Edmonds had both Livies quallifications for an eminent man. ' A great spirit, and gallant conduct for actions; a sharp wit, and fluent tongue for advice.' Whence we meet him comptroller of the King's houshold at home, and his agent for ° In France, a peace abroad." ^^'^^' I think it was this gentleman (saith my author) who foreseeing a contest likely to ensue between the English and Spanish anibassadors (to the first whereof he at that time belong'd) went to Rome privately, and fetched a certificate out of the book of ceremonies (which according to the canon, giveth the rule in such cases) shewing, that the King of England was to precede him of Castile. A good argument, because ad homines; wise men having always thought fit to urge, not what is most rational in itself, but what, all circumstances considered, is most convincing. Sir Thomas used to puzzle the catholics about six records : first. The original of Constantine's grant of Rome to the Pope. Secondly, St. Mark's grant of the Adriatick Gulph to Venice. Thirdly, The salique law in France. Fourthly, The instrument whereby K. John passed away England to the Pope. Fifthly, The letter of K. Lucius. And sixthly. The ordinal of the consecration at the Nag's-llead Tavern. Neither did he perplex them with these qujeries, more than he angered the faction with his principles, 3 Car. 1. First, That the King was to be trusted. Secondly, That the revenue was to be settled. Thirdly, That the protestant cause was to be maintained. Fourthly, That jealousies were to be removed, and things passed were to be forgotten. Tims he. pAth. Oxon. A certain author intimates,'' as if Sir Clement Edmonds (that translated into Eng- voi. I, p. 402. jj^i^^ ^^^^ wrote learned comments upon Caesar's commentai'ies) was the brother of this "M'l-Westc. our Sir Thomas; whereas there is no such mentioned in the forequoted pedigree;'' * '^' ■ whose brothers names were, Silvester, William, John, and Arthur, according to that writer. The EDMONDS, SIR THOMAS, KNIGHT. 353 The former author tells us,' that our Sir Thomas left behind him a daughter, named ' Q"" s"!"'^ Mauriel, the wife of Robert Mildmay, Esq; and the latter,' that he left issue a son, "ibid. Sir Henry Edmonds, knight of the bath ; which is the truest, or whether they may not be both true, I can't determin. Sir Thomas Edmonds departed this life anno 1639; but where his remains were in- ter'd, I do not find; one says his arms are as before;' another tells us," that this f*^'" Ja^^^J[^;^°gftp lowing coat was granted to Edmonds, of Plymouth, by Clarencieux Cambden, July pedigr. the 2^d, anno Dom. 1599- "Sy'*- ^^""s- Spliere ot Gen- try, I. 2, c. 9, Or a chevron B. on a canton B. a boars head coupee argent, int. 3 lis or. p- lo?. 2 Z EXETER, 354 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. EXETER, WALTER. Flor. A. D. 1292. R. R. 1-, Edw, 1. ILXETER, Walter, (Gualterus de Excestria, as Bale calls him) was born within the •Cent. 10, p. county of Devon ; Devoniensis Patrias Alumnus, says the last quoted author". Mr. "Lib. J p 59. ^^'"^^5 in his ingenuons survey of Cornwal,'' reckons him among the learned men of that shire, as if he had been of Cornish birth; whereas his name plainly demonstrates the place to which he owed his nativity, Exeter, in Devon. A conmion thing for learned men in those days, to leave their paternal (if they had any) and to take up local names, from the places where they were born, as was observed before in Dr. Bampton ; by which means, many villages and parishes, which otherwise would have remained in obscurity, have come to knowledg and reputation in the world. This Walter, of Exeter, was a religious man professed ; but of what order, it is not ' Ibid. so well agreed on among the learned. Bale tells us," he thought he was a Dominican ; " Mem. of Ex. Mr. Carew, that he was a Franciscan frier ; Mr. Izaac,'' that he was a monk of the ''■^^' order of St. Bennet : which of these he was of, as 'tis not very easy, so it is not very material, to determin. He spent most of his days in a little cell in Cornwal, called St. Caroke, near unto «ld. ib. Lestithiel ;* here he improved his time in learning and devotion. That part of learn- ing which he chiefly addicted himself to, was (it seems) the study of history ; for his knowledg therein, he hath obtained this character, ' Quod in historiarum cognitione 'Bale quo an- uou fuit ultimus," that he was none of the meanest historians of his time. ♦«*• That part of history he was most skilled in, was the lives of the saints, and other great men. Hence Baldwin, his fellow citizen (not Baldwin the archbishop, born also in that city, who was dead near two hundred years before) put him upon writing the life of Guy of Warwick ; which accordingly he did under this title ; The History or Life of Guy of Warwick, lib. 1. Now for that some have made a question, if ever there was such a man as Guy of Warwick.? and others, whether all the stories of him are not meerly fictitious ? I shall ^s.w. Dudg. give you a brief account from an author beyond exception.^ However, the monks Hist, of War- (gaith he) have sounded out his praises so hyperbolically, yet the more considerate will wic , p. 299. j^yjjj. j^gjti^gp ti^g one nQj. ti^e other ; inasmuch as it has been so usual with our antient historians, for the encouragement of after ages unto bold attempts, to set forth the exploits of worthy men, with the highest encomiums imaginable ; and therefore, should we, for that cause, be so conceited as to explode it, all history of those times might as well be villified ; I shall therefore here insert it as a fine diversion, leaving it to every reader's pleasure, to believe as much of it as he will. This Guy then, was son of Siward, baron ot Wallingford ; who, marrying Felicia, the only daughter of Rohand, in her right, became Earl of Warwick, about the year of our Lord 920. The memory of which Guy hath ever since been so famous, that the vulgar are of opinion, he was a man of more than ordinary stature, though it seems not: I shall only instance in one exploit of his, from certain authors of good credit, and that is the combat betwixt him and the Danish champion, Colebrand, whom some report to have been a giant. In the third year of King Athelstan, anno 926, the Danes, having invaded Eng- land, cruelly wasted the country, almost as far as Winchester; where the King and his nobles were in consultation about some timely means to prevent the loss of all : Unto whom the Danes made these three proposals, either forthwith to resign the crown to the Danish generals; or to hold the realm of them, paying homage and tribute ac- cording to their appointment; or lastly, that the whole dispute for the kingdom ^ould be determined in a single combat, by two champions, for both sides; it being offered. EXETER, WALTER. 355 offered, that if K. Athelstan's champion had the victory, the Danes would presently depart the land; if otherwise, without more ado, it should wholly belong to the Danes. Of which proposals, K. Athelstan accepted the last; and calling his nobles together, offered that province, viz. Hantshire, for a reward to him that should con- quer the Danish champion : and to the end God would direct him in the choice of one, to undertake the combat, he enjoyn'd a fast for three days, in which, with ear- nest prayers, and abundant tears, he besought his favor. God being moved with the sorrowful tears of the English, sent a good angel to com- fort the King, as he lay upon his bed, the very night of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist ; directing he should rise early on the morrow, taking two bishops with him, and get up to the top of the north-gate of that city, staying there till the hour of prime, and then he should see divers pilgrims enter thereat, amongst which should be a personable man in a pilgrim's habit, bare-footed, with his head uncovered, and upon it a chaplet of white roses ; and that he should entreat him, for the love of Jesus Christ, to undertake the combat. About this time it hapned, that the famous Guy landed at Portsmouth, and being advertised of the great distress the King and his nobles were in, hasted to Winchester; where entring that morning, the King being come on purpose, espied one neatly clad, with a garland of roses upon his head, and a large staff in his hand, looking wan and macerated, by his travelling bare foot, and his beard grown to a great length ; him he concluded to be the same man described by the angel : Unto whom therefore, the King thus applied himself, ' The reason of my staying here, hath been to await your coming, for it is the will of God, that you must encounter tliat wicked Colebrond, for the safeguard of us, and the English nation.' To whom the palmer answered, ' Oh 1 my lord the King, you may easily see, that I am not in any condition to take upon me this fight, being feeble and weak with daily travel.' But at length promised, that, in the fear of God, he would undertake the combat. Guy having been cheer'd up for the space of three weeks, with the best refresh- ments might be gotten, when the day appointed for the duel came, heard three masses; and being well armed with the King's best armor, with Constantine's sword by his side, and St. Maurice's lance in his hand, he got up on the King's best cour- ser, and entred the lists, in a valley near the city aforesaid, v/here he waited for Cole- brond : Who being come, the palmer arming himself also with the sign of the cross, put spurs to his horse to meet the giant ; who, in the encounter, dropping his iron club, as he reached out his arm to take it up, the palmer with his sword cut off his hand. Whereupon the Danes grew much dismay 'd; however, Colebrond held out the combat to the evening of that day, when having lost much blood, he .fainted ; so that Guy, fetching a blow with all his strength, cut off his head. After this, Guy bent his course towards Warwick, where having received alms un- known from the hands of his lady, three days, he retired into an hermitage near by, where some few years after, he departed this life. What other things Walter of Exeter wrote, I do not find ; but dying (as is probable) in his cell, he lieth interred near that place. 2 5J 2 EXETER, 356 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. EXETER, WILLIAM, D. D. Fior. A. D. Exeter, WllHam, D. D. was bom in the city whence he derived his name. He Edw! 3." ^' had his education in the university of Oxford, where, among other things, he appHed himseh'to the study of divinity, and at length proceeded doctor of that subhme faculty. The highest preferment, we find, he had in the church, was his being admitted one of the can'ons of the cathedral of St. Peter, in his own city, ' Ejusdem ecclesia; cathe- » Cont. 5, N.di-alis canonicus fuit prtebendarius,' as Bale tells us.* He was a learned man, and much 33, p. 405. celebrated, by the historians of those days, for his excellent erudition. Now it hapned, in this time, that William of Ocham, and other Franciscan friers, did, in their determinations in the schools, so highly praise the perfection of poverty, that they touched the pope's copyhold of inheritance, asserting, ' That Christ and his apostles were so poor, that they had nothing truly their own, neither in special, nor in common.' This was a bold thrust, for if poverty was so essential to piety, papal pomp and plenty must needs argue profaneness. Ocham stoutly defended his cause, reducing the temporal power of the pope and his prelates almost to nothing : This " Id. ibid, in soon awakned the whole Italian band; awiiy ran to Avinion in France'' (where his Ocham. lioliness then resided) several learned divines ; among others, our William of Exeter, there stoutly to maintain, by disputation, against Ocham, the power of the church in temporalibus. But Ocham was so wise, that he would choose to dispute the matter, not in the pope's court, but the Emperor Lewis the 4th's pallace, to whom he applied himself, saying, ' Potentissime imperator, defende me gladio, & ego defendam te verbo,'' Most mighty emperor, defend me with the sword, and I will defend you with the word.' But this did not do, for the matter being brought to the knowledg of John the 23d, then pope of Rome, he could by no means brook so pernicious a doctrine; hence he proceeded, damnare fratricellos istos, to damn those little friers, who were so audacious as to maintain so bold a position. Our William of Exeter took the pope's part; and however, before this, there had been great intimacy of acquaintance between Ocham and him, now he thought fit to withdraw himself from him and all his associates. And not satisfied to have vindi- cated the cause of his holiness by word of mouth, being a learned man, he caught up his pen, and wrote these books against the Ochamists : Pro Proprietate Ecclesiae, lib. 1 . De Paupert. contra Fratres, lib. L De Generatione Christi, lib. 1. He wrote other things also, though the titles of them are now buried in oblivion ; "Bai. quo sup. antiquity having obscured, as the historian notes,' not only many of his works, but many remarkable passages of his life. As for his adversary Ocham, it must be granted, he was a man of admirable parts and learning ; and in respect of abilities, for Exeter ( — Impar congressus Achilli) " Worthies, p. a very unequal match; although perhaps not so unequal neither, as Dr. Fuller,^ "'^*' more for the roundness of the period, than evidence of the truth makes it, when he EXETER, WILLIAM, D. D. ^ he says, * It was so much, as Exeter, a fair city in Devon, did exceed Ochani, a small village in Surrey. However, what our Exeter wanted in person, was made good in his second ; for William of Exeter, and Pope John 23d, were able to undertake, and baffle too, any author of that age; especially if that be true which is asserted of h'^^'^trodifSn to" ' That he flayed a bishop alive, and afterwards burned him, because he had offended HUt. p. i3i. him ; and deprived the Emperor Lewis of Bavaria, though not without a stout opposi- tion of Ocham, and others. Where this William of Exeter died, I do not find ; nor any thing else memor- able of him, more than that he florished when K-ing Edward the third ruled the land. FISHACRE. •'^58 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. FISHACRE, RICHARD. mo.R.R. FiSHACRE, Richard, was born in Excestriensi Patria," says Bale; which some" Hen.' 3. ' ' Understanding it more strictly, render in the city of Exeter ; but others'' tai'' interpret in Devonshire: And indeed, in Devonshire was antiently a very "Hook. Chor. noted and eminent family of the name, which tlorisiied at Combe- Fishacre, in the pa- ^aac^f^I""''"'^'^ of Ipplepen in this county, in King Hen. 2d's time;" which place, though so nioirs of Dev. many hundred years are since elapsed, retains its antient lord's name unto this day. in'riev.p^^es;'^'^^''^ ^'^^'^ several knights of this family, as Sir Martin Fishacre of Combe- Fishacre, ^Poiesivis. ofKt. in K. John's days; which Sir Martin, by Isabel daughter and heir of William de Fi^h." '" '^'""* Wadeton, de Wadeton, in the parish of Stoke-Gabriel inthis tract, had two sons that were knights. Sir William Fishacre of Combe-Fishacre, and Sir Peter Fi.shacre of More- legh, which lies about five miles to the south-west from Totnes, in the road to Kings- bridg; of which last knight Sir Peter, tradition hath handed down unto us this remarka- « Risd. MS. of ble passage," ' That upon some controversy between him and the parson of Woodlegh, Dev. ,n More- about tythes, the matter grew so high, that the knight in his fury slew the parson.' AVhich abominable flict was so eagerly followed against him, that he was constrained to answer the same at Rome, where he could not be dismissed, until he had submitted imto this penance enjoyn'd him by the pope, ' To build a church at Morelegh ;' which accordingly' lie did ; and lies buried under an arch, in the wall thereof. But his son Sir Martin Fishacre dying without issue, this estate returned to the heirs of the elder- house. And Combe-Fishacre having continued in the name unto K. Hen. 4th's time, Martin Fishacre, the last so called, left his lands unto his two daughters and heirs, Alice married to Ufllet (whose daughter and heir brought Combe-Fishacre into the antient family of Walrond of Bradfield, whose still it is) ; and Joan married unto Hol- way, whose partition was Wadeton; in which family it continued unto the last agej but it has since, more than once, changed its owner, and AVadeton is now Francis Shepherd's Esq. but of this enough. Richard Fishacre (among the Latin writers Richardus Fisacrius) having had his birth in Devon, had his education first in Oxford ; and was somtime a member of ck'm p's?' University-College,^ where he very diligently applied his mind unto his studies. After BBaie Cent, this, he went beyond sea, and became a student in the university of Paris in France;* uit. citat. whose labor and industry were so happily successful in the study of all sorts and kinds of erudition, that he came to be reputed, among learned men the most learned, ' NuU ^ lo non generc eruditionis animum exercens; qui labor tarn felix illi faustusq; fuit, ut 'Hi't^& V'""' '"^'^^'^*^^^*^^ *^''^^*'^^'™"^ haberetur."' He was a wonderful admirer of Aristotle, read Ox. i. i.pl'Jt.' him, esteemed him, and would carry him in his bosom. But at length, desiring to lead a religious life, he took upon him the order of the Res. View of Dominicans, then newly erected;' an order so called from St. Dominic, a Spaniard, insmiit Uy iii.tlie first founder thereof; a person said to have been of so mortified a life. That he pre- ^"■Jfn'Sdannoferred bread and water to the best chear, an hair shirt to the finest linen, an hard board to the softest bed, and an hard stone to the easiest pillow; that he did use to wear an iron chain, witii which he disciplined himself every night for his own sins, and the sins of the world; upon which score he did also spend whole nights together, in weeping and praying in churches; for which he was canoniz'd bj^ Greg. 9th, 1233. The chief end of their institution was to write, expound, and preach the word of God throughout the world; whence they are named Praedicantes, and Praedicatores : they are tied to reject all kind of wealth, mony, and possessions, &c. Of iao5. FISHACRE, RICHARD. 359 Of this order was our Richard Fishacre, whose particular place of abode, vvas in a convent in Oxford ; where he sedulously applied himself to the study of divinity, and acquired no mean reputation thereby." Bale' (I know) very much dispises the worth "AcTheoiogi* and learnmg ot this person, as it (dotmg on foolish toys) lie did notlnng else, wliile at boas fam,. lam si- Oxford and Paris, than spend his time about Hircocervus, and such monstrous ^ophis- bi^^immnjiedj- tries. But this is no new thing, for John Bale, to disrepute those who differ from him ""ft'" HiTai in opinion ; especiuUy in the matters of religion. Those who knew him, as well as Ant- Ox. i. a, Bale could do, and were no less competent Judges herein, than himself, have bestowed icen't. uit. ni. a better character upon him. That he was,' Insignis Philosophus & Theologus, a very '^^^o^^o"'* _^ famous philosopher and divine. ter tiageiaphos Upon which account, he became so dear to that eminent and learned person, Robert ^^^""<='"'*^''^'>^' Bacon, either the elder brother, or the uncle of that notable philosopher, Roger Bacon," °> h. & Antiq. that he made him his inward and familiar acquaintance ; and they were so fast 'i"ked Pj^;^j^_|^P-^j^j in the bonds of friendship, one with the other, as ever Brithus" was to Bacchius, or Bai. Cent. uit. Theseus to Perethous : so that one might say of them, as Burrhus did to his frieiwU ^^st^ jn'cake another Bacon (brother, if I mistake not, to the great Lord Verulam, of that name) inistiiisopei.p.7. his little tract, entituled," ' Impetus Juvenilis — Duo fuit Amici.' — 'Tis true friendship, jg„j,'JJ'iJi'^*^ tho' false Latine. And moreover, as in their life they were united, so in their death itanec inmor- they could not be divided jP for as the turtle having lost her mate, languishes away, vtdi'potn'cliint! and dies, so Bacon gone, Fishacre would not stay behind :'' of both which there is this Lei. in Hist. & character given, by Matthew Paris, ' That they were a pair of brothers, who among uit.' all their order, had none superior to 'em; nay, nor none that were their equals.'' ne ^^^i if"'"'' How excellent a scholar he was, we ma}' farther infer, not only from his learned peiesse Fisa- vvorks (a catalogue whereof hereafter follows) but from the high esteem, that most fa- J^""*' ■''• mous philosopher, Roger Bacon, before-mentioned, had for him; whom, with Ed-quibus non e- mund of Abbingdon, Summe Coluisse creditur,^ he had in very high esteem, and tookP"' M'uorfs, for his great friend, and director of his studies. Which Roger Bacon, there having ib. been so much noise about him in the world, I shall here give a fuller, and no ""grate- ^^^- ^^^"*- *• ful account of.' He was born near Ilchester in Somersetshire, of a gentile family; hes42. studied in his younger years, grammar and logic, at Oxford; after that he travelled to J5^^'*J'|'*"g'(j|[^®J France, and spent some time in Paris. From thence, returning again to Oxford, he of oid Age, became a Franciscan friar there : he laid aside all ambition and covetousness, and ap- i)'']'Bru„ii.'^ plied himself to the diligent search of nature, and the knowledg of the tongues and arts. He was a great experimental philosopher, whose credit, and some men's gene- rosity, was so good, that he in twenty years time, expended in books, and making natural experiments, above two thousand pounds ; a vast sum in those days. He either followed ©r invented such a method in his studies, as by it he discovered unknown things in nature, and did such wonders, that not only the vulgar, but even some learned men, thought him a conjurer. Some report, he made a brazen head that spake; and think he did it by the help of the devil; but Albertus Magnus did the same, and Boethius the like, without any other magic, than natural. I have myself seen some automata, the eflect of magnetism, in the shape of birds and beasts, that have quacked like a duck, berked like a dog, &c. and suppose the same artist could have made the shape of a man's-head, which might have emitted some few words like a human voice. But great was the ingratitude of that age, when so stupid w as it, that his own order would scarce admit his books into their libraries ; and deplorable was this poor man's unhappiness, for being accused of magic and heresy, and appealing to Pope Nicholas the 4th, the pope liked not his learning, and by his authority kept him a close prisoner, a great many years. Some say at last, thro' the mediation of some great men, he obtain'd his liberty : Others, that he died in prison, cither thro' grief, or his hard usage; he died in the 78th year of his age, A. D. 129^, and left behind him, near fourscore volumes of his own composing; one of which, ' Tiie Cure of Old Age, 3§Q ' THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. -^ Age, and Preservation of Youth,' was translated into English, and published with learned notes, by Rich. Brown, M. D 1683, 8vo. But to return to Mr. Fishacre. His learning may be farther seen in those many books he wrote, a catalogue where- ^ of, as Bale hath given it, here follows. Sententiarum Commentarios lib. 4. In primum nocturnum Psalterii lib. 1. In parabolas Salomonis lib. 1. De Paenitentia lib. 1. Postillas Morales lib. 1. Commentarios Biblias lib. 1. Quaestiones varias. lib. 1. Quodlibeta quoqne. lib. 1. And many other things: whose help, in his writings against Wicklifl", William Wode- " ^2%^^°'' **foi'd makes great use of;" as does also William Byntre, in his ordinary disputations. « H. & Antiq. This learned man died, A. D. 1248, and was buried in the chappel belonging to the Ox. I. 2,p. 61. j^Qj^^jj^j^j^i^g convent in Oxford ;^ but when that convent removed their seat from the parisli of St. Edward, without the walls of that city, they took the corps of this eminent person, or at least his monument, along with them, and placed it in the western part of their church. FITZ, ( 361 ) '" FITZ, JOHN, BENCHER OF LINCOLN'S-INN. FlTZ, John, Bencher of Lincoln's-Inn, was born in the western parts of this county, ^?/g ^ «: at or near the town of Tavistock, famous for its production of so many eminent sages Hen. 6. in the law (the profession also of this gentleman) the study whereof he sedulously fol- lowed in that illustrious hostel, called Lincoln's-Inn, and became so expert therein, that he raised his family to great reputation, both for quality and estate ; in which it continued divers generations after. He was undoubtedly one of the readers of that honorable society, Lincoln's-Inn ; which hapning before the date of the register mentioned by Sir Will. Dugd. doth be- gin,' we can't expect to find him there : But then this can be no argument that he « Orig. jurid. » p. 249. was not so ^ However, in the catalogue of the governors of that society, which commences forty years before that of the readei-s, as may be seen in that author,** we find that John » ihi.i. p. 257 Fitz and John Speke*^ (who was either born in, or fetch'd his original from, this coun- "Jbldlp^lfsr. ty), where two of them, an. 6 Hen. 6, which was in the year of our Lord 1428 ; Fitz, and Fortescue another native of this county, an. 7 Hen. 6. Fitz again, and Adam Summayster, who was likewise born in this county, an. 8th of the same King. This gentleman therefore, becoming so eminent for his great skill and profound judg- ment in the law (a rare matter in that age, wherein learning was at so low an ebb in the nation, that 'twas thought much for a person to be able to read and write) had great practice, whereby he acquired a considerable fortune, which descended to his posterity. He settled his family at a pleasant seat, lying in the parish, about a quarter of a mile distant from the town of Tavistock aforesaid, at that time called Ford, from the neighboring passable stream that gl'idcth along by it ; unto which, either he, or some of his ancestui>, gave their additional name; from thence called Fiti^-Ford unto this day. This gentleman married, and lett issue John and Walter :** John dying without issue, " Sir w. Poie Walter succeeded; and by Mary his wife, the daughter of Sampson, had issue '"''^^''^'^"'•^''' John; who by Agnes his wife, daughter of Roger Grenvile of Stow in Cornwal, had issue John, and others. John Fitz of Fitz-ford, Esq. was also in his time a very eminent counsellor at law ; a short specimen of whose skill therein, I shall here insert, as I find it annexed to a letter, sent to a diraitary of the church of Exeter of that time:' Which shewing so''^^"'- "^^ ^I'f' much of the learning, ingenuity, and spirit of him that wrote it, and of that age in andarciideaco'n which written, may not prove ungrateful to the reader. Though it may be necessary j'j^^"™"'' "* that it should be first known, that both the letter and the case have relation to Tyth- Wood, where the counsellor gives his opinion as to Sylva Caedua ; which if it proves displeasing unto any, they may observe, that here he was himself both the council and clyent, and so herein makes the law speak as he would have it. To offer the letter first. . . ., ■ V ' Mr. S. ' I yield you my hearty commendations, &c. For answer to your letter, touching tyth-wood above twenty years growth, which you demand of B. W. so it is, that I and C. sold the same, and are bound to discharge him of the tythes ; so as, mea refert, to stand in it as law will permit ; especially to put off in- jury offered to us 'summojure, aut potius nuUojure,' in mine opinion.— As for the old jars you mention, it may be truly verified, as well by sundry surmises you and yours have delivered of me (which you shall never prove), as also by this your hasty attempting of the rigour of the law, without conmiunication had ' Caecus facit convitia in Luscum ;' and that you have neither forgiven nor forgotten those old jars you speak 3 A of. - THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. of. And whereas in words you profess, you would me no ill ; I would the sooner credit your sayings, if indeed it might appear once, that you meant to do me some good ; and then assuredly I would recom- pense it by some means again : Nevertheless, I protest before God in the mean time, I owe you nor any others any malice at all ; but would be as glad to attain the frindship of the simplest enemy, as I do little regard the malice of the proudest. • • Now to the matter in contention : We would be glad to have some end otherwise than by law, if you so please ; if not, we must of necessity shoot at a prohibition (being thus by you urged) and you may take your consultation ' And because, ' Pax semper praeferenda est bello,' we offer peace, and to stand to the judgment of the learned ' utriusq; juris,' if it may be received ; otherwise ' Bellandum est, ut inde veniat pa.\.' In fine, because you shall not think what we do is more of will than of matter, I have set down my opinion in answer of yours ; wishing that you, and some honest lawyer that meaneth both our quiet, will peruse well the same, before you proceed to molest us any further in the law : ' Et tunc deniq; sive pacem, sive bellum optes, precor me certiorem feceris.' Thus most heartily I bid you well to fare, the 10th of May, 1579- ' Yours in friendship to use, ' JOHN FITZ.' The case is thus determined by him : 'First, by the preamble of the statute, an. 45 Ed. 3, cap, 3, it appeareth plainly, that the purpose and intent thereof, was to grant a prohibition for wood twenty years of age and upwards ; for the woods are Que Com. &c. which express words are clearly against your opinion. Now what Cicdua Sylva is, I think it is so called— a Cadendo —which is to fell or cut down, quasi dicas, fellable wood, or wood sea- sonable to be felled ; and as Mr. Ellyot in his Dictionary saith, Wood used to be cut, viz. coppices, which you shall see, by good authority, to be woods under twenty years' growth. First, Mr. Newton, fHook. Synop. Chief-Judg an. 21 Hen. 6, f. 47, (said to be our countryman also,' though 1 cannot find at what place to of Dev. MS. in bri„g hi,,, home, unless at Exeter) saith, ' That an oak or an ash within sixteen years of age is Sylva Lawyers, (^gg^j^^^ jj„j ^^^^^ ^^ j,^,j j^^,,, f^^ firebote ;' SO as by his opinion it seemeth not Sylva Caedua above that age, or at the least above twenty years of growth. Lastly, an. 1 1 Hen. fi, f. 1, It was agreed by the whole court, that a man cannot justify the cutting of wood, as of seasonable wood, if it past the age of twenty years growth. Whereby it followeth, that you cannot have tythes of wood above that age, for then it is not Sylva Ca;dua, but Grossas arbores. Now for Fitz-Herb. vouched, by you, f. 54, b. serveth not your turn otherwise than thus, That you may have a consultation : hut if you mark the book well, yourconsnl:itionsliall be special, viz. ' Sub ronrlitii)ne, ita quod de Sylv:i Cn=Hii:i agatur &. non de grossis arboribus :' With which opinion agreeth llL-pwisp tlip hooL-, an I I Hen. 4, f. 86. So as if you please to ~ put this together, viz. That Syl. Cied. is wood within twenty years' growth, and that your consultation is grauted under this condition, 'Ita quod de grossis arboribus miuime agatur sed de Sylva Csdua,' I durst stand to your own judgment, that you ought to have no tythes of wood above twenty years' growth. Fi- nally, for Linwood's opinion, w hich you quote, it is not to be weighed ; for that our case is to be judged wholly by the aforesaid statute, and by our common law. Neither yet the judgments for the young springs out of the old stocks, being under twenty years' growth, make for your purpose, for they are Sylva Casdua, And for dotterels and dormers will never become timber, as Sylva Caedua may, being above twenty years' B An answer growth, serve both for plowbote and housebote.' hereunto may 'Iterum atq; Iterum valeas.' be found ill Mr. From all which, we may infer somthing of the eminency of this gentleman in his profession ; but an higher demonstration thereof, is a large volume he is said to have left behind him in MS. called " My author Fitz his RcportS.'' the Hev. Mr. , Tiioiiias Long, J ^l^[^^\^ \^ ^yas ncvcr printed ; and whether yet in being, I know not. He was also "■"■ preferred, in his time, to the honor and trust of being high sheriff of the county of 'Sir w. Pole, Devon, an. 2.3d, say some,' an. 25th, say others," of Q. Eliz. reign. ^'Di^'Fuiier, He married Mary, daughter of Sir John Sydenham of Brimpton in Somersetshire ; Mr. izaac. ' but was Very unfortunate "in his issue, of which there is this i-emarkable story : Mr. Fitz being a curious as well as a learned person, had been prying into the secrets of astrology ; his (lady being with child, he would needs be enquiring into the fortune of her burthen, before she was delivered j who being just ready to fall in travel, he erected a scheme FITZ, JOHN, BENCHER OF LINCOLN'S-INN. a scheme to calculate the matter; and as it often falls out in such unjustifiable curi- osities, finding at that time a very unlucky position of the heavens, he desired the midwife, if possible, to hinder the birth but for one hour ; which not being- to be done, ^ ^ he declared. That the child would come to an unhappy end, and undo his family. And it fell out accordingly, for that birth proving a son, though afterwards knighted by the name of Sir John Fitz of Fitz-ford, yet having first slain Mr. or Sir Nich. Slaning' of this county, Kt. and after that, one or two more, he fell upon his own|^SPe^more^of. sword, and destroyed himself. cUoias sianing. This Sir John left issue, by his wife Gertrude, daughter of Sir William Courtenay ot Powderham-castle, Kt. Mary his sole heir; who gave herself in marriage successively to four gentlemen of noble families, first to Sir Alan Peircy, Kt. sixth son to Henry Earl of Northumberland ; secondly, to Thomas, son and heir of Thomas Lord Darcy Earl of Rivers; thirdly, to Sir Charles Howard, fourth son to the Earl of Suffolk; fourthly, to Sir Richard Grenvile, Kt. and Baronet, second son to Sir Bernard Gren- vile of Stow, Kt. who having no surviving issue, she gave Fitz-ford, and her other estate, to her near kindsman the Honorable Sir William Courtenay of Powderham- castle, Baronet, whose now it is. • This family yielded not all gown-men, but at least one soldier; whose effigies lively , cut in stone, all clothed in armor, lieth in Tavistock church aforesaid, the only monu- ment they have there, which is known by tradition more than inscription, no epitaph being found thereon. 3 A 2 FirZ-RALPH, 364 THE WORTHIES OF DEVON. FITZ-RALPH, SAINT RICHARD, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. Floi. A. D. Edw! 3." ' rlTZ-RALPH, Saint Richard, Archbishop of Armagh, and primate of all Ireland', • Bai.Cent.3. (called by some," Ricliardus Radulphi, but most generally, Richardiis Armachanus) on 153. '"^"' ^ pi'obable grounds we may conclude, was a native of this county : some 1 know tell us, that he was an Irishman, and born in the town of Dundalk, in that kingdom ; and hence called by the name of Richard of Dundalk. AVhereas, 'tis possible he might be ' so denominated, not from his birth, but his long residence, or his doing some eminent exploit in that place; or from some other like occasion there. Others no less positively afhrm, that he was an Englishman, and born in this king- ^Tanqiiain Jom ;'' which is uot improbable, for these reasons, that he had his education in Ox- ii.'mu" avi"''Ba'i! ford ; that he was chosen commissary of that university; that he was made arch- '^^''w' ^' ^^' *J'^''if'on of Litchfield ; and that he was encouraged against the cunning encroachments ''ilium ab An of the Mendicant friars, by the English bishops and prelates." If then he was an giornniEpis. & Englishman, I, for these likely reasons, conclude him a Devonian. hldtat lb"** "^ ^'''^^' ^ ^^"^ ^^^^ family of Fitz-Ralffe to have florished in these parts from the Norman conquest, down to the days of K. Edw. 1, in whose reign probably this our Richardus Armachanus was born, when it did not expire, but only exchange its name into that of MB.^Deifin^'^'l^iS^ord," their new habitation near the city of Exeter. They antiently called Widecombe' tlieuiselves Ralph, the son of Ralph (the same as Fitz-Ralph) and Richard the son of amishiu. Ralph, (the very name of our present subject) and had their first dwelling in this county, at Widecombe in the Moor, (q. a. Wide-Combe in Dart-Moor) a parish so called, about five miles to the north of Ashburton) which lieth in or near the south- purleiws of that forest : for there, a little from the church, are found the ruins of an antient house, somtime called North-hall, now corruptly Norral, which was the habi- 'Mr. Hill, n tation of this family ; and is thus described by a modern poet,' whose history may be Ins Desn. ot iiii- ii-t/\^ ' vvie. ill the good, tho liis poctiy be but mditierent. Moor, MS. I'oem. The messuage there, which antiently Wherein good store of fish was bred was chief, or capital, as antient men did say ; Tho' much decay 'd, remaining still, The ruin'd banks whereof remain is called yet North-hall. unto this very day. Whereas the houses, comtlages, And when the family within with gardens, orchards, and would walk into the town, A stately grove of trees, within Or else return, a draw-bridg firm that place did somtime stand ; they presently let down; Were all enclosed round about. And at their pleasure diew it up, with moats of standing water, to keep tlie houshold safe. 6o tiiat no thieves or enemies This liouse did antiently belong could enter in or batter to Raph the son of Rapli ; Tlie houses, walls, roofs, windows, or So is he named in a deed what else besides was there ; of much antiquity, Tlie moats or trenches being fed Which bears no date, for at that time with streams of water clear : was less iniquity, 8cc. A second reason inducing our opinion in the matter is this, that Richard Fitz- Ralph, when he was made archbishop of Ardmagh by Pope Clement 6th, received his fwhaifon's consecration at Exeter, in this county,' Which probably he did when he came to cave,"de" ''take Icave of his acquaintance and relations in these parts; or to adjust some private Script. Etci. (concerns of his own. If the passage hence to Ireland may be urged as the occasion *"' ' thereof, that is not the nearest or most commodious way, either in respect of Dublin or Ardmagh, luiless some other affairs had brought him first into those parts, as 'tis likely enough those of his family here did. Having FITZ-RALPH, RICHARD, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. 365 Having from these circumstances thus cleared up our right unto him as a Devo- nian, the difficulty will still remain to determin, at what particular place herein he was born, whether at Widecombe or Shillingford, aforesaid, unto wliich last place, as was said, the family at length removed, or else in the city of Exeter : at this distance off, we can't positively determin this point. There was one AVilliam Fitz-Ralph of that city, gent, who founded an alms-house there, and called it St. Alexis, for certain poor people to dwell in, in the tenth of K. Hen. 2d, A. D. 1164, as by his deed to that purpose appears.^ The adjusting hereof is not so material; 'tis sufficient to my e iz. Mem. of design if he be found a Devonian, wheresoever he received his birth herein, and his ^''•P- "^*- history be worthy to be transmitted to posterity ; which I shall immediately proceed unto, and so leave all to the readers better judgment. Richard Fitz-Ralph, called afterwards Armachanus, had his education in Oxford, under the tuition of that famous scholar, John Baconthorp, who diligently instructed him in the liberal sciences. So inexhaustible was his diligence, and so great his pro- ficiency in learning, that he became the wonder of those times ;'' for besides his being " Qui, nterat an exact logician and philosopher, he so exceedingly profited in divinity and the laws, l]!,'',s^""''tantTim that the whole university flew unto his lectures, as the bees do to their hives. profecit, quan- At this time it was, that the arrogant tribe of Mendicant friars began to be very nu- admirJ.'jJntur merous ; with whom our Fitz-Ralph did so ill agree, that he could not forbear in his tempora. Bai. publick lectures to reflect upon that new sect and faction, and openly expose their p^"l'J' ^- "*• vain and proud poverty:* who, fox like, tho' they could not well digest the injury,! q„^i.i,jj^ ^a. were yet content to swallow it for the present. nam \ supor- In the mean time Fitz-Ralph grew into great reputation for his learning and vcrtuc, J^"" sS'Tet even with the King himself, Edw. 3, who made him first archdeacon of Litchfield, ii