The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 14 · Section 14 – Section 15
Souldiers.
ROBERT FITZ-WALTER. It is observable what I read in my *Stows Annals in the raign of K. John.Author, that in the raign of King John, there were three most eminent Knights in the land, … for their prowess, viz. Robert Fitz-Roger, Richard *Of StandedMont-Fitchet in this County.Mont-F…chet and this Robert Fitz-Walter. Two of which three (a fair proportion) fall to be natives of this County.
This Robert was born at Woodham-walters, and behaved himself right … on all occasions, highly beloved by King Richard the first, and King John, untill the later banished him the land, because he would not prostitute his daughter to his pleasure. But worth will not long want a Master, the French-King joyfully entertained him, till King John recalled him back again on this occasion: five-years truce being concluded betwixt the two Crowns of England and France, an English-man challenged any of the French, to just a course or two on horse-back with him, whom Fitz-Walter (then o… the French party) undertook, and at the first *Stow ut prius.course, with his great spear, fell'd horse and man to the ground. Thus then and ever since English-men generally can be worsted by none but English-men. Hereupon the King, next day sent for him, restored his lands with license for him to repair his Castles, (and particularly Bainards-castle in London,) which he did accordingly. He was styled of the common-people, The Marshall of Gods Army and Holy-Church. He died Anno Domini 1234. and lieth buried in the Priory of Little-Dunmow.
Sir JOHN HAWKEWOOD Knight, Son to Gilbert Hawkewood *Stow ut pr…us.Tanner, was born in †Camd. Brit. in Essex.Sible heningham. This John was first bound an apprentice to a *Stow ut prius.Taylor in the City of London, but soon turned his needle into a sword, and thimble into a shield, being pressed in the service of King Edward the third for his French Wars, who rewarded his valour with Knighthood. Now that mean men bred in manuall and mechanick trades, may arrive at great skill in Martiall performances, this Hawkewood, though an eminent, is not the onelyonly instance of our English nation.
The heat of the French Wars being much remitted, he went into Italy and served the City of Florence, which as yet was a Free State. Such Republiques preferred forrainers rather then natives for their Generalls, because, when the service was ended, it was but disbursing their pay, and then disbanding their power, by cashering their Commission; such Forraigners having no advantage to continue their command, and render themselves absolute, because wanting an interest in alliances and relations. Thus a single Stake if occasion serves, is sooner plucked up then a tree fastned to the earth, with the many fibrae appendant to the root thereof.
Great the gratitude of the State of Florence to this their Generall Hawkewood, who in testimony of his surpassing valour and singular faithfull service to their State, adorned him with the Statue of a man of armes, and sumptuous Monument, wherein his ashes remain honoured at this present day. Well it is that Monument doth remain seeing his Coenotaph or honorary tombe, which sometimes stood in the Parish Church of Sible-heningham (arched over, and in allusion to his name berebussed with *Weavers Fun. Mon. p. 623.Hawkes flying into a Wood,) is now quite flown away and abolished.
This Sir John Hawkewood married Domnia daughter of Barnaby the warlike brother of Galeasius Lord of Millain, (father to John the first Duke of Mallain,) by whom he had a son named John born in Italy, made Knight and naturalized in the seventh year of King Henry the fourth, as appeareth by the *In Bib. Cot. & in Arch Tarris Lond. 1 Pars Pat. An. 8. H. 4. m. 20.Record, Johannes, filius Johannis Haukewood, Miles, natus in partibus Italiae factus indigena Ann. 8. Hen. 4. mater ejus nata in partibus transmarinis.
This valiant Knight dyed very aged Anno 1394. in the eighteenth of King Richard the second, his friends founding two Chantreys to pray for his and the souls of John Oliver and Thomas Newenton Esquires, his military companions, and, which probably may be presumed, born in the same County.
THOMAS RATCLIFF Lord Fitz-walter second Earl of Sussex of that Surname, twice Lord Deputy of Ireland, was a most valiant Gentleman. By his prudence he caused that Actuall Rebellion brake not out in Ireland, and no wonder if in his time it Rained not war there, seeing his diligence dispersed the clouds before they could gather together. Thus he who cures a disease may be the skilfubest, but he that prevents it is the safest Physician.
Queen Eliz…beth called him home to be her Lord Chamberlain, and a constant Court faction was maintained betwixt him and Robert Earl of Leicester, so that the … and the Leicesterians divided the Court, whilst the … as neuters did look upon them. Sussex had a great Estate left him by his Ancestors, Leicester as great given or restor'd … by the Queen: … was the hones… man and greater Souldier, … the more faceit … and deep Politician; not for the generall good, but his particular profit. Great the … betwixt them, and what in vain the Queen endeavoured, death performed, taking this Earl away, and so the competition was …. NewHall in this County was the place if not (as I believe) of his Birth, of his principall Habitation. He dyed Anno Domini.... And lyeth buried in the Church of Saint Olives Hartstreet London.
Sir FRANCIS and Sir HORACE VERE sons of Geffrey Vere. Esquire, who was son of John Vere the … Earl of Oxford, were both born in this County, though severall places (He…ngham Castle, Colchester, Tilbury juxta clare,) be by sundry men assigned for their Nativity. We will first consider them severally, and then compare them together.
Sir FRANCIS was of a fiery spirit and rigid nature, undaunted in all dangers, not over valuing the price of mens lives, to purchase a victory therewith. He served on the Scaene of all Christendome where war was acted. One masterpiece of his valour was at the Battle of Newport, when his Ragged Regiment (so were the English then called from their ragged Cloths,) help'd to make all whole, or else all had been lost. Another was, when for three years he defended Ostend against a strong and numerous Army, surrendering it at last a bare skeliton to the King of Spain, who paid more years purchase for it, then probably the world will endure. He dyed in the beginning of the raign of King James, about the year of our Lord 16...
Sir HORACE had more meekness, and as much valour as his Brother, so pious, that he first made his peace with God, before he went out to war with man. One of an excellent temper, it being true of him what is said of the Caspian Sea, that it doth never … nor Flow; observing a constant Tenor, neither … nor depressed with success. Had one seen him r… turning from a victory, he would by his silence have suspected that he had lost the day; and had he beheld him in a retreat, he would have collected him a Conqueror, by the chearfulness of his spirit. He was the first Baron of King Charles his Creation. Some years after coming to Court he fell suddenly sick and speechless, so that he dyed before night Anno Domini 163.. No doubt he was well prepared for death, seeing such his vigilancy, that never any Enemy surprised him in his quarters.
Now to compare them together, (such their Eminency, that they would hardly be parallell'd by any but themselves:) Sir Francis was the elder Brother, Sir Horace lived to be the older man, Sir Francis was more feared, Sir Horace more loved, by the Souldiery: The former in Martiall discipline was oftimes Rigidus ad ruina…; The later seldome exceeded Adterrorem. Sir Francis left none, Sir Horace no Male issue, whose four Co-heirs are since matched into Honorable families. Both lived in War, much Honored; dyed in Peace, much Lamented.
HENRY VERE was son of Edward Vere the seventeenth Earl of Oxford, and Anne Trentham his Lady, whose principall habitation (the rest of his patrimony being then wasted) was at Heningham Castle in this County. A vigorous Gentleman, full of courage and resolution, and the last Lord Chamberlain of England of this Family. His sturdy nature would not bow to Court-Compliants who would maintain what he spake, spake what he thought, think what he apprehended true and just, though sometimes dangerous and distastefull.
Once he came into Court with a great Milk-white Feather about his hat, which then was somewhat unusuall, save that a person of his merit might make a fashion. The Reader may guess the Lord, who said unto him in some jeer, My … you weare a very fair feather; it is true (said the Earl,) and if you mark it there's …e'r a T…int in it. Indeed his family was ever Loyall to the Crown, deserving their Motto,
VERO NIL VERIUS.
Going over one of the four Engish Colonells into the Low Countries, and endeavouring to raise the Siedge of Bxeda, he so over-heat himself with Marching, Fighting and Vexing, (the design not succeeding) that he dyed few days after Anno Domini 16... He married Diana one of the Co-heirs of William Earl of Exeter, (afterwards married to Edward Ea…l of Elgin,) by whom he left no issue.
Physicians.
WILLIAM GIL…T was born in *I received the ensuing intelligence from his near Kinsman Mr. William Gilbert of Brental-Ely▪ in Suffolk.Trinity Parish in Colchester, his Father being a Counsellour of great Esteem in his Profession, who first removed his family thither from Clare in Suffolk, where they had resided in a Gentile Equipage some Centuries of Years.
He had (saith my informer) the Clearness of Venice Glass without the Brittleness thereof, soon Ripe and long Lasting in his Perfections. He Commenced Doctor in Physick, and was Physician to Queen Elizabeth, who Stamped on him many Marks of her Favour, besides an Annuall Pension to encourage his Studies. He addicted himself to Chemistry, attaining to great exactness therein. One saith of him that he was Stoicall, but not Cynicall, which I understand Reserv'd, but not Morose, never married, purposely to be more beneficiall to his Brethren. Such his Loyalty to the Queen, that, as if unwilling to survive, he dyed in the same year with her 1603. His Stature was Tall, C…plexion Cheerfull, an Happiness not ordinary in so hard a Student and retired a Person. He lyeth buried in Trinity Church in Colchester, under a plain Monument.
Mahomets Tombe at Mecha is said strangely to hang up, attracted by some invisible Load-stone, but the Memory of this Doctor will never fall to the ground, which his incomparable Book De Magnete will support to Eternity.