The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 20 · Section 20
Writers.
JOHN of KENT, so called, because born in this *J. Pits in Ang. Scrip. 1248.County; after he had studied at home with good proficiency, went over into France, where he became Canon in the Church of Saint Maries in Angiers. But afterwards being weary of worldly wealth, he quitted that place, and turned a Franciscan Fryer, and by Pope Innocent the fourth, he was sent a joynt▪ Legate into England. He flourished in the year of our Lord, 1248.
HAIMO of FEVERSHAM, both had his first breath at, and fetched his name from Feversham in this County. When a man, he left the land, and repairing to Paris, applied his studies so effectually, that Leland saith he was inter Aristotelicos, Aristotelissimus.
He became a Franciscan in the Church of Saint Dennis it▪ self, and returning into England, was elected Provincial of his Order. Afterwards he was called to reside in Rome for his advice, where quitting his Provincialship to his Successor, he was chosen General of the Franciscans. Surely he had much real, or reputed merit, being so highly prized by the Italians, who generally do as much undervalue us English, as they overadmire themselves. Speculum honestatis, the Glasse of honesty, …aith *Pitz. in Ang. script Anno 1260.one, was the title given unto him, though dark and false this Glasse, if Bale may be believed, who taxeth him for being an Inquisitor after, and *Bale de scrip. Cent. 4 Num. 27.Persecutor of good people, especially when imployed by the Pope into Grecia. Lying on his Death-bed, at Anagnia in Italy, the Pope in person came to visit him, which was no small honour unto him, but all would not prolong his life, which he ended Anno 1260. Having first, at the command of Pope Alexander the fourth, corrected and amended the Roman Breviary.
SIMON STOCK was born in this *Bale de s…rip. Brit. Cent. 4. Num. 7. & …. in Anno 1265.County, and when but twelve years of Age, went into the Woods (whereof this Shire then afforded plenty) and became a Hermite. This Christian Diogenes had for his Tub, the Stock of a hollow Tree, whence he fetched his name, and (abating his Sex) was like the Nymphs called Hama-druides, which were the properties of Oak Trees. Here he had (saith Leland) Water for his Nectar, and wild Fruits for his Ambrosia. One may admire how this man here met with Learning, except by Inspiration, and except Books (as at the Original) were written on Barks of Trees, where with he conversed: yet the University of Oxford would force a Batchelor of Divinity-ship upon him: and many are the superstitious writings he lèft to posterity.
Reader, behold here how the Roaring Lyon hath translated himself into a Mimical Ape, endeavouring a mock Parallel betwixt this Simon and Simeon in the Gospell.
| Old Simeon had a Luk. 2. 26. Revelation that he should not die till he had seen our Saviour come in the Flesh. | This Simon aged 80. years, had a Bale Ib. Revelation, that before his death, he should behold a holy Order of Carmelites come out of Syria, which fell out accordingly. |
At their arrival in England, our Simon quitted his Oak, and advanced forward to meet them, as of whom, though he had no sight, he had a vision before, which is probably as true, as that he was fed seven years with Manna in Mount Carmel. He was chosen the General Governour of their Order all over Europe: and died in the hundred year of his age, Anno Dom. 1265. and was buried at Burdeaux in France.
THOMAS HASHLWOOD. I find the name very ancient in a worshipful Family in AMP.Northampton-shire, and professe not only my inclination but propensity, to gain him for the credit of my Native Country. But that needs not to be (and I ought not to make it) rich with the wrong of others. Indeed I find a Haselwood (Transposition makes no Mutation) in Suffolk, and another in Northumberland: but their vast distance from the Monastery of Leeds in this County, wherein our Haselwood was bred an Augustinian Fryer, (with some other insinuations, too long to report) prevail with me to fix him in this place. He was an excellent Scholar himself, and a fortunate School-master to teach others, and became a faithful and painful Historian. Bale *De script. Brit. Cent. 5 Num. 20.(out of William Botiner, an industrious Collector of Antiquities) assigneth him to flourish under King Edward the second, 1321. but *Funeral Monvments, pag. 206.Mr. Weaver light on a Manuscript of his making in Sir Robert Cottons Library, wherein he particularly speaks of the Atchievements of Edward the black Prince, which I here thought fit to exemplifie.
Edwardus filius Edw. 3. primogenitus, Princeps Walliae fortunatissimus, & miles in bello audacissimus, inter validissima bella gesta militaria, magnifice ab eodem peracta, Johannem Regem Franciae apud Poyteizes debellavit, & pluribus, tam nobilibus quam aliis, de dicto regno captis, & interfectis, eundem Regem captivavit, & ipsum potenter in Angliam ductum Patri suo praesentavit. Henricum etiam intrusorem Hispaniae, potentissime in bello devicit, & Petrum Hispaniae Regem, dudum à regno suo expulsum, potenti virtute in regnum-suum restituit. Unde propter ingentem sibi probitatem, & actus ipsius triumphales, memoratum Principem, inter regales Regum memorias, dignum duximus commendandum.
Thus have I (not kill'd two Birds with one bolt, but) revived two mens memories with one Record, presenting the Reader (according to my *In our Description of Oxsordshire, in in this Princes life.promise) with the Character of this Prin…, and Style of this Writer, speaking him (in my conjecture) to have lived about the raign of King Richard the second.
Since the Reformation.
Sir THOMAS WIAT, Knight, commonly called the Elder, to distingish him from Sir Thomas Wiat (raiser of the Rebellion (so all call it) for it did not succeed) in the raign of Queen Mary, was born at Allyngton Castle in this County, which afterwards he repaired with most beautiful buildings. He was servant to King Henry the eight, and fell (as I have heard) into his disfavour, about the business of Queen Anna Bollen, till by his innocence, industry, and discretion, he extricated himself.
He was one of admirable ingenuity, and truly answered his Anagram, Wiat, A Wit. *In Brit. in Kent.Cambden saith he was,
Eques auratus splendide doctus.
It is evidence enough of his Protestant Inclination, because he translated Davids Psalms into English meter; and though he be lost both to Bale and Pits in the Catalogue of Writers, yet he is plentifully found by *In suis Noe-uiis.Leland, giving him this large Commendation.
Bella suum merito jactet Florenti… Dantem
Regia Petrarchae carmina Roma probat,
His non inferior Patrio Sermone Viattus
Eloquii secum qui decus omne tulit.
Let Florence fair her Dantes justly boast,
And Royal Rome her Petrarchs numbred feet,
In English Wiat both of them doth coast:
In whom all graceful eloquence doth meet.
This Knight being sent Embassador by King Henry the eight, to Charles the fifth Emperour, then residing in Spain; before he took shipping, died of the Pestilence in the *Wevers Fun. Mon. pag. 853.West Country, Anno 1541.
LEONARD DIGGS, Esquire, was born in this County, one of excellent Learning, and deep judgement. His mind most inclined him to Mathematicks, and he was the best Architect in that age for all manner of buildings, for conveniency, pleasure, state, strength, being excellent at fortifications. Lest his learning should die with him, for the publick profit he Printed his Tectonicon, Prognostick general, Stratiotick, about the ordering of an Army, and other works. He flourished Anno Dom. 1556. and died, I believe, about the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
Nothing else have I to observe of his name, save that heredita…y learning may seem to run in the veins of his family, witnesse, Sir Dudley Diggs of Chilham Castle in this County, made Master of the Rolls, 1636. whose abilities will not be forgotten whilest our age hath any remembrance. This Knight had a younger son, Fellow of All Souls in Oxford, who in the beginning of our Civil Wars, wrote so subtile and solid a Treatise, of the difference betwixt King and Parliament, that such Royalists, who have since handled that Controversie, have written plura non plus; yea, aliter rather than alia of that subject.
THOMAS CHARNOCK, was born in the Isle of Thanet in this County, as by his own *In his Breviary, pag. 298words doth appear. He discovereth in himself a modest Pride; modest stiling himself (and truly enough) the uNLETTERED SCHOLAR; Pride, thus immoderately boasting of his Book discovering the mysteries of the Philosophers Stone,
For satisfying the minds of the Students in this Art,
Then thou art worthy as many Books as will lie in a Cart.
However herein he is to be commended, that he ingeniously confesseth the Persons, (viz. William Byrd Prior of Bath, and Sir James a Priest of Sarisbury) who imparted their skill unto him.
This Charnock in the pursuance of the said Stone (which so many do touch; few catch, and none keep) met with two very sad disasters: One on New-years day (the omen worse than the accident) Anno 1555. when his work unhappily fell on fire. The other three years after, when a Gentleman, long owing him a grudge, paid him to purpose, and pressed him a Souldier for the relieving of Calice. Whence we observe two things, first, that this Charnock was no man of estate, seeing seldom, if ever a Subsidy man, is pressed for a Souldier. Secondly, that though he practised *Theatrum Chymicum, Brit. pag, 476.Surgery, yet he was not free of that Society, who by the Statute 32 Hen. 8. are exempted from bearing armour.
But the spight of the spight was, that this was done within *In his Breviary of Philosophy, cap. 4.a Month (according to his own computation, which none con confute) of the time wherein certainly he had been made master of so great a treasure. Such miscarriages, frequent in this kind, the friends of this Art, impute to the envy of evil spirits maligning mankind so much happinesse, the foes thereof conceive that Chymists pretend (yea, sometimes cause) such casualties to save their credits thereby. He was fifty years old Anno 1574. and the time of his death is unknown.
| FRANCIS THINNE was born in this County, and from his infancy had an ingenuous inclination to the Study of Antiquity, and especially of Pedignees. Herein hee made such proficiency, that he was prefer | ROBERT GLOVER, Son to Thomas Glover, & Mildred his Wife, was born at Out of his Epitaph on his Monument. Ashford in this County. He addicted himself to the Study of Heraldry, and in the reward of his pains was first made a Pursuivant Porcul | THO. MILLES Sisters Son to Robert Glover aforesaid, was born at Ashford in this County, and following his Uncles direction, applyed himself to be eminent in the Genealogies of our English Nobility. | JOHN PHILPOT, was born at Faulkston in this County, and from his child-hood had a genius enclining him to the love of Antiquity. He first was made a Pursuivant Extraordinary, by the Title of Blanch-Lion, then |
| red towards the end of the raign of Q. Elizabeth, to be an Herald, by the Title of Lancaster. A Gentleman painful, and well deserving, not only of his own Office, but all the English Nation. Whosoever shall peruse the Voluminous Works of Raphael Hollinshed, will find how much he was assisted therein by the help of Mr. Thinne, seeing the Shoulders of Atlas himselfe may bee weary, if sometime not beholding to Hercules to relieve him. He died 15. | lis, and then Somerset Herald. When the Earle of Derby was sent into France to carry the Garter to K. Henry the third, Weavers Fun. Mon. Mr. Glover attended the Embassage, and was, as he deserved, well rewarded for his pains. He by himselfe in Latine began a Book, called the Catalogue of Honour of our English Nobility, with their Arms and Matches. Being the first Work in that kind; He therein traced untrodden paths, and therefore no wonder if such Ralph Brook, York; Augustine Vincent, Windsor Herald. who since succeeded him in that subject, have found a nearer way, and exceed him in Acurateness therein. Being old rather in experience than years, he died not 46. years old, Anno 1583. and lieth buried under a comely Monument in Saint Giles without Creplegate, London, on the South Wall of the Quire. Let Brit. in his description of …. Mr. Cambdens commendation pass for his Epitaph, Artis Heraldicae studiosissimus, peritissimusque, qui in foecialium Collegio Somerseti titulum gessit, Robertus Gloverus. | If the expression were as properly predicated of a Nephew, as of the next Brother, one might say, he raised up seed unto his Uncle Glover, in setting forth his Catalogue of Honour, in English, as more useful therein, because chiefly of our Nationall concernment. He was employed on a message of Importance from Q. Elizabeth unto Henry the fourth King of France, be ing then in Normandy, which trust he discharged with great fidelity, and incredible scelerity, being returned home with a satisfactory answer to her Highness before she could believe him arrived there. In memory of which service, he had given him for the Crest of his Arms, a Chappeau with Wings, to denote the Mercuriousnesse of this Messenger. He died Anno 16. | in Ordinary, by name of RoughDragon, and afterwards Somerset Herald. He made very pertinent Additions to the second Edition of Mr. Cambdens Remains, and deserved highly wel of the City of London, proving in a learned and ingenious Book, that Gentry doth not abate with Apprentiship, but only sleepeth during the time of their Indentures, and awaketh again when they are expired. Nor did he contribute a little to the setting forth of his Uncles Catalogue of Honour. He died Anno 1645. and was buried in Bennet Pauls-wharf. |
THOMAS PLAYFERD was born in this County, as some of his nearest Relations have informed me. He was bred Fellow of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge, and chosen 1597. to succeed Peter Barrow in the place of Margaret Professor. His fluency in the Latine tongue seemed a wonder to many, though since such who have seen the Sun admire no more at the Moon, Doctor Collins not succeeding him so much in age, as exceeding him in eloquence.
The counsel of the Apostle is good, foreign. His Foe-Friends commending of him, and his own conceiting of himself made too deep an impression on his Intellectuals. It added to his Distemper, that when his re…election to his place (after his last two years end) was put into the Regent-House, a great Doctor said DETUR DIGNIORI. However he held his Professor-ship until the day of his death, 1609. and lieth buried with an Hyperbolical Epitaph in S. Botolphs in Cambridge.
JOHN BOIS, D. D. was descended of a right ancient and numerous Family in this County, deriving themselves from J. de Bosco, entring England with William the Conqueror, and since dispersed into *Villare Cantianum, pag. 25….eight Branches extant at this day in their several seats. Our John was bred Fellow of Clare-Hall in Cambridge, and afterwards preferred Dean of Canterbury, famous to posterity for his Postils in defence of our Liturgy. So pious his life, that his adversaries were offended that they could not be offended therewith. A great Prelate in the Church did bear him no great good will for mutual animosities betwixt them, whilest Gremials in the University; the reason perchance, that he got no higher preferment, and died (as I conjecture) about the year 1625.