The History of the Worthies of England, Part 1 · Chapter 12 – Chapter 13
CHAP. XII. Of Memorable Persons.
THe former Heads were like private Houses, in which persons accordingly Qualified, have their several habitations. But this last Topick is like a publick Inn, admitting all Comers and Goers, having any extraordinary (not vitious) Remark upon them, and which are not clearly reducible to any of the former Titles. Such therefore, who are over, under, or beside the Standard of Common persons; for strength, stature, fruitfulnesse, Vivacity, or any other observeable eminence, are lodged here under the Notion of Memorable Persons, presuming the pains will not be to Me so much in marking, as the pleasure to the Reader in knowing them.
Under this Title we also repose all such Mechanicks, who in any Manual Trade have reached a clear Note above others in their Vocation.
Objection. It is Deforme Spectaculum an uncouth Sight, to behold such handy-craftsmen blended with Eminencies in ingenious professions; such a mottley colour is no good wearing. How would William Cecill, Lord Treasurer of England, and Baron of Burghleigh be offended, to behold James York the Blacksmith, set with him at the same Table amongst the Natives of Lincolne-shire?
Answer. I am confident on the contrary, that he would be highly pleased, being so great a Statesman, that he would countenance and encourage his Industrious Country man, accounting nothing little, without the help whereof, greater matters can either not be attained or not long subsist. Yea, we see what signal notice the Spirit of God takes of the *Gen. 4. 21, 22, 23.three Sons of Lamech, the first Founders of Tent-making, Organs, and Ironworks; and it is observable, that whereas all their names are forgotten, which built the Tower of Babel (though done on design to get them a *Gen. 11. 4.name) these three Mechanicks, viz. Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal Cain, are nominatim recorded to all posterity. Thus is it better to bottome the perpetuity of ones memory, on honest Industry and ingenuous diligence, then on Stately Structures and expensive magnificence.
I confesse it is easier to add to any art than first to invent it, yet because there is a perfection of degrees, as well as Kinds, Eminent Improvers of an art may be allowed for the Co-inventers thereof, being Founders of that accession, which they add thereunto, for which they deserve to be both regarded and rewarded.
I could name a worshipful Family in the South of England, which for 16. several descents, and some hundreds of years, have continued in the same stay of Estate, not acquiring one foot of Land, either by match, purchase, gift, or otherwise, to their ancient Patrimony. The same may be said of some handycrafts, wherein men move in the same compasse, but make no further progresse to perfection, or any considerable improvement, and this I impute generally to their want of competent encouragement.
CHAP. XIII. Of Lord Maiors of LONDON.
I Have concluded this Work with these Chief Officers in that great City. A place of so great Honour and Trust, that it hath commonly been said, that on the death of an English King, The Lord Maior is the Subject of the greatest Authority in England, Many other Offices determining with the Kings Life (till such time as their Charters be renewed by his Successor) whereas the Lord Maiors Trust continueth for a whole year, without any renewing after the Inter-Regnum.
Objection. Such persons had better been omitted, whereof many were little better then foreign, Though by good fortune they have loaded themselves with Thick clay, and will be but a burden in your Book to the Readers thereof.
Answer. All Wise men will behold them under a better Notion, as the Pregnant proofs of the truth of 2. Proverbs, not contradictory, but confirmatory one to another.
| Prov. 10. 22. | Prov. 10. 4. |
| The Blessing of the Lord maketh Rich. | The hand of the Diligent maketh Rich. |
The one as the principal, the other as the Instrumental cause, and both meeting in the persons aforesaid.
For though some of them were the Younger Sons of Worshipful and Wealthy Parents, and so had good Sums of Money left them; Yet being generally of mean extraction, They raised themselves by Gods Providence, and their own Painfulness. The City in this Respect, being observed like unto a Court, where Elder Brothers commonly spend, and the younger gain an Estate.
But such Lord Maiors are here inserted, to quicken the Industry of Youth, whose Parents are only able to send them up to (not to set them up in) London. For wha… a comfort is it, to a poor Apprentice of that City, to see the Prime Magistrate thereof, Riding in his Majoralibus with such Pomp and Attendance, which another day may be his hap and happiness.
Objection. It commeth not to the share of one in twenty thousand, to attain to that Honour; and it is as impossible for every poor Apprentice in process of time to prove Lord Maior, as that a Minum with long living mould become a Whale.
Answer. Not so, the later is an utter Impossibility as debarred by nature, being Fishes of several kinds. Whereas there is a Capacity in the other, to arive at it, which puts hopes (the only Tie which keeps the heart from breaking) into the hearts of all of the attainablenesse of such preferment to themselves.
Doctor Hutton Arch-bishop of York, when he came into any Great Grammar School (which he did constantly visit in his visitations) was wont to say to the young Scholars, Ply your Books Boys, ply your Books, for Bishops are old men, and surely the possibility of such dignity is a great Encouragement to the Endévours of Students.
Lord Maiors being generally aged, and always but Annual, soon make Room for Succession, whereby the Indevours of all Freemen in Companies are incouraged. But if they should chance to fall short, as unable to reach the Home of Honour (I mean the Majoralty it self, yet if they take up their Lodgings at Sheriffe, Alderman, and Common-Councellour with a good Estàtè, they will have no cause to complain.
I confess some Counties in our ensuing Discourse, will appear Lord-Maior-less, as Cumberland, Dorset-shire, Hant-Shire, &c. However though, hitherto, they have not had, hereafter they may have Natives advanced to that Honour, and it may put a lawful Ambition into them, to contend who shall be their Leader, and who should first of those Shires attain to that Dignity. As lately Sir Richard Cheverton Skinner descended (I assure you) of a right antient and worshipful Family, was the first in Cornwall, who opened the Dore for others (no doubt) to follow after him.
Nor must it be forgotten that many have been Lord-Maiors Mates, though never rémembred in their Catalogues, viz. Such, who by Fine declined that Dignity, and as I am glad that some will Fine, that so the Stock of the Chamber of London may be increased, so am I glad that some will not fine, that so the State of the City of London may be maintained.
I begin the observing of their Nativities, from Sir William Sevenoke, Grocer, Lord Maior 1418. For though there were Lord Maiors 200. years before, yet their Birthplaces generally are unknown. It was, I confess, well for me in this particular, that Mr. Stow was born before me, being herein the Heir of Endevours, without any pain of my own. For knowing that Cuilibet Artifici in sua Arte est credendum, I have followed him and who him continued, till the year 1633. at what time their Labours do determine. Since which Term, to the present year, I have made the Catalogue out by my own Inquiry, and friends Intelligence. To speak truth to their due praise, one may be generally directed to their Cradles, though by no other Candle, then the Light of their good works, and Benefactions to such places.