The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 14 · Section 12 – Section 13

The History of the Worthies of England · Part 2 · County 14 · Section 12 – Section 13

p. 327States-men.

Sir THOMAL AUDLEY Knight, where born, my best Industry and Inquiry cannotS N. attain. He was bred in the Studie of the Laws, till he became Atturney of the Dutchie of Lancaster, and Sergeant at Law, (as most affirme) then Speaker of the Parliament, Knighted, and made Keeper of the great Seal, June 4. 1532. being the twenty fourth of King Henry the eight, and not long after was made Lord Chancellor of England, and Baron Audley of Audley End in this County.

In the feast of Abby Lands, King Henry the eight carved unto him the first cut (and that I assure you was a dainty morsell,) viz. the **Sto…s survey of London, p. 146.Priory of the Trinity in Eald-gate Ward London, dissolved 1531. which as a Van Currier foreran other Abbeys by two years, and foretold their dissolution. This I may call (afterwards called Dukes-Place) the Covent Garden within London, as the greatest empty space within the Walls, though since filled, not to say pestered, with houses. He had afterwards a large Partage in the Abby Lands in severall Counties.

He continued in his Office of Chancellour thirteen years, and had one onelyonly daughter Margaret, who no doubt answered the Pearl in her name, as well in her precious qualities, as rich Inheritance, which she brought to her husband Thomas last Duke of Norfolk. This Lord Audley died April 30. 1544. and is buried in the fair Church of Saffron-walden with this lamentable Epitaph,

The stroak of deaths Inevitable Dart,

Hath now, alas! of Life beref…t the Heart,

Of Sir Thomas Audley, of the garter Knight,

Late Chancellor of England under our Prince of might

Henry the eight, worthy of high renown,

And made him Lord Audley of this Town.

This worthy Lord took care, that better Poets should be after then were in his age, and founded Magdalen-colledge in Cambridge giving good lands thereunto, if they might have enjoyed them according to his Donation.

Sir RICNARD MORISIN Knight, was born in this County, as J. Bale his FellowexileA M P. doth **Bale (cript. B…t. Cent. oct. Num. 9Num 9acquaint us: yet so, as that he qualifieth his intelligence with Ut fert…r, which I have commuted into our marginall note of **Sir R. Baker in his Chronicl…, pag. 469. saith he was born …n Oxford-shire.dubitation. Our foresaid Author addeth that, per celebriora Anglorum gymnasia artes excoluit: bred probably first in Eton or Winchester, then in Cambridge or Oxford, and at last in the Inns of Court. In those he attained to great skill in Latine and Greek, in the Common and Civil Law, insomuch, that he was often imployed Ambassadour by King Henry the eight, and Edward the sixth, unto Charles the fifth Emperor, and others Princes of Germany, acquitting himself both honest and able in those negotiations.

He began a beautifull house at Cashobery in Hertford-shire, and had prepared materialls for the finishing thereof; but alas, this house proved like the life of his Master who began it, I mean King Edward the sixth, broken off, not ended, and that before it came to the middle thereof. Yea, he was forced to fly beyond the Seas, and returning out of Italy died at **Id… ibidem.Strasburgh on the 17. of March, Anno Domini 1556. to the grief of all good men. Yet his son Sir Charles finished his fathers house in more peaceable times, whose great-grand daughter (augmented by matches with much honour and wealth) a right worthy and vertuous Lady lately deceased, was wife to the first Lord Capel, and Mother to the present Earl of Essex.

Sir ANTHONY COOK Knight, great-grant child to Sir Thomas Cook Lord Mayor of London, was born at Giddy hall in this County, where he finished a fair house, begun by his great-grand-father, as appeareth by this inscription on the frontispiece thereof,

Aedibus his frontem Proavus Thomas dedit olim, Addidit Antoni caetera sera manus.

He was one of the Governours to King Edward the sixth when Prince, and is charactered by Master **Camdens Eliz. Anno 1576.Camden, vir antiquâ severitate. He observeth him also to be happy in his daughters, learned above their sex in Greek and Latine, namely

Indeed they were all most eminent Scholars, (the honour of their own, and the shame of our sex) both in prose and poetry, and we will give an instance of the later.

Sir Henry Killigrew was designed by the Queen, Embassadour for France, in troublesome times, when the imployment always difficult, was then apparently dangerous. Now Katherine his Lady, wrot these following verses to her sister Mildred Cecil, to improve her power with the Lord Treasurer her husband, that Sir Henry might be excused from that service,

Si mihi quem cupio cures Mildreda remitti,

Tu bona, tu melior, tu mihi sola Soror.

Sin malè cunctando retines, vel trans mare mittes,

Tu mala, tu pejor, tu mihi nulla Soror,

It si Cornubiam, tibi pax six, & omnia l…ta,

Sin mare Cecili, nuntio bella, vale.

We will endeavour to translate them, though I am afraid falling much short of their native elegancy,

If, Mildred, by thy care he be sent back, whom I request,

A Sister good thou art to me, yea better, yea the best.

But if with stays thou keepst him still, or sendst where seas may part,

Then unto me a Sister ill, yea worse, yea none thou art,

If go to Cornwall he shall please, I peace to thee foretell,

But Cecil if he set to Seas, I war denounce, farewell.

This Sir Anthony Cook died in the year of our Lord 1576. leaving a fair estate unto his son, in whose name it continued untill our time.

Sir THOMAS SMITH Kt. was born at **Camdens Eliz. Anno 1577.Saffron Walden in this County, and bred in Queens-colledge in Cambridge, where such his proficiency in learning, that he was chosen out by Henry the eight, to be sent over, and brought up beyond the Seas. It was fashionable in that age, that pregnant Students were maintained on the cost of the State, to be Merchants for experience in forraign parts, whence returning home with their gainfull adventures, they were preferred (according to the improvement of their time) to offices in their own Country. Well it were if this good old custome were resumed; for if where God hath given Talents, men would give but Pounds, I mean encourage hopefull Abilities with helpfull Maintenance, able persons would never be wanting, and poor men with great parts would not be excluded the Line of preferment.

This Sir Thomas was afterwards Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth, and a grand benefactor to both Universities, as I have formerly declared **In my history of Cambridge.at large. He died Anno Domini 1577.

THOMAS HOWARD, wherever born, is justly reputed of this County, whereinS N. he had his first honour, and last habitation. He was second son to Thomas last Duke p. 329of Norfolk, but eldest by his wife Margaret, sole heir to Thomas Lord Audley.

Queen Elizabeth made him Baron of Audley, and Knight of the Garter; and King James (who beheld his father a State-Martyr for the Queen of …ots,) in the first of his raign, advanced him Lord Chamberlain, and Earl of Suffolk, and in the twelfth of his raign July 12. Lord Treasurer of England.

He was also Chancellour of Cambridge, loving and beloved of the University. When at his first coming to Cambridge, Master Francis Nethersole Orator of the University, made a Latine Speech unto him, this Lord returned, though I understand not Latine, I know the Sence of your Oration is to tell me that I am wellcome to you, which I believe verily, thank you for it heartily, and will serve you faithfully in any thing within my power.

Doctor Hasnet the Vice-chancellour laying hold on the Handle of so fair a Proffer, requested him to be pleased to Entertain the King at Cambridge, a Favour which the University could never compass from their former great and wealthy Chancellours, I will do it (saith the Lord) in the best manner I may, with the speediest conveniency. Nor was he worse then his word, giving his Majesty not long after so Magnificent a Treatment in the University, as cost him five thousands pounds and upwards.

Hence it was, that after his death, Thomas his second son, Earl of Bark-shire, not suing for it (not knowing of it) was chosen to succeed him, losing the place (as some suspected) not for lack of voices, but fair counting them. He died at Audley end, Anno Domini 1626. being Grand-father to the right Honourable James Earl of Suffolk.

RICHARD WESTON. I behold him son to Sir Jerome Weston, Sheriff of thisA M P. County in the one and fourtieth of Queen Elizabeth, and cannot meet with any of his relations, to rectifie me if erronious. In his youth he impaired his estate, to improve himself with publique accomplishment, but came off both a saver and a gainer at the last, when made Chancellor of the Exchequer, and afterwards (upon the remove of the Earl of Marlburrough) July 15. in the fourth of King Charles Lord Treasurer of England.

But I hear the Cocks crow proclaiming the dawning day, being now come within the ken of many alive; and when mens memories do arise, it is time for History to haste to bed. Let me onelyonly be a Datary, to tell the Reader, that this Lord was Created Earl of Portland, February 17. in the eight of King Charles, and died Anno Domini 163.. being father to the right Honorable Jerome now Earl of Portland.

Capitall Judges.

Sir JOHN BRAMSTONE Knight, was born at Maldon in this County, bred up in the Middle-Temple in the study of the Common-law, wherein he attained to such eminency, that he was by King Charles made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench.

One of deep learning, solid judgement, integrity of life, gravity of behaviour; in a word, accomplished with all qualities requisite for a Person of his place and profession.

One instance of his integrity I must not forget, effectually relating to the Foundation wherein I was bred: Serjeant Bruerton (of whom **Benefactors to the Publick in Cheshlre.formerly) bequeathed by Will to Sidney-colledge well nigh three thousand pounds, but (for haste or some other accident) so imperfectly done, that (as Doctor Samuel Ward informed me) the gife was invalid in the Rigour of the Law. Now Judge Bramstone, who married the Serjeants Widdow, gave himself much trouble (gave himself indeed, doing all things gratis,) for the speedy payment of the money to a Farthing, and the legal setling thereof on the Colledge, according to the true intention of the dead. He deserved to live in better times; the delivering his judgement on the Kings side in the case of Ship …oney cost him much trouble. The posting Press would not be perswaded to stay till I had received farther instructions from the most Hopefull sons of this worthy Judge, who died about the year 1646.