The History of the Worthies of England, Part 1 · Chapter 20

The History of the Worthies of England · Part 1 · Chapter 20

p. 54CHAP. XX. That Clergy-men formerly carried the Register of their Birthplace in their Sirnames, and why; As also that (Since the Reformation) the Sons of the married Clergy have been as successeful as others.

IT was fashionable for the Clergy (especially if Regulars, Monks, and Friers) to have their Surnames (for Syr-names they were not) or upper-names, because superadded to those given at the Font, from the places of their Nativity, and therefore they are as good evidence to prove where they were born, as if we had the deposition p. 55of the Midwife, and all the Gossips present at their Mothers labours. Hence it is that in such cases we seldome charge our Margin with other Authors, their Sirname being Author enough, to avow their births therein.

Some impute this custome to the pride of the Clergy, whose extraction generally was so obscure, that they did foreign, were ashamed of their Parentage. An uncharitable opinion, to fixe so foul a fault on so holy a function; and most false, many in Orders appearing of most honourable Descent. Yet Richard Bishop of London, quitted Angervill, though his Father Sir**Burton in his Description of Leicester-sh. Richard Angervil, was a Knight of worth and worship, to be called of Bury; where he was born, and William Bishop of Winchester waved Pattin to wear Waynfleet, though he was eldest Son to**Godwins in his C…tal. of the Bishops in Winchester. Richard Pattin an Esquire of great ancientry.

Others say, that the Clergy herein affected to be Levi-like, **Deut. 33. 9.Deut 33:9who said to his Father and to his Mother I have not seen him, practising to be Mimicks of**Heb. 7. 3.Heb 7:3 Melchisedech, foreign, without Father, without Mother, without Descent, so to render themselves independent in the World, without any coherence to carnal relations. Surely some were well minded herein, that as they might have no children, they would have no Fathers, beholding the place of their Birth, as co-heir at least to their estates, to which many did foreign, plenti…ully pay for their nursing therein.

Question. But oftentimes it comes to passe, That there be many Towns in England, the same to a Title both in spelling and calling. So that on such uncertain Evidence, no true Verdict can be found for their Nativity. One instance of many, William of Wickham was the famous Founder of New Colledge in Oxford. But how can his Cradle be certainly fixed in any place, when it is equally Rockt betwixt twenty Villages of the same Denomination.

See here a Lottery, and who dare assure himself of the prize, having Nineteen Blanks against him. Indeed if Election should be made by the Eminency of the place, High VVickham in Buckingham-shire would clearly carry it, as an ancient Borough Town, sending Burgesses to Parliament. But all these being VVickhams alike, bring in their Claims to the aforesaid VVilliam, and how shall the right be decided? The same Question may be demanded of several other persons on the same occasion.

Answer. I confess the case often occurs, though seldome so many places be Competitors; wherefore herein we have our Recourse to the Circumstances in the History of such a controverted Person, and Consult the most important of them with our greatest Diligence and Discretion.

Noscitur è Socio qui non Noscetur ab ipso.

We by their Company do own.

Men by themselves to us unknown.

p. 56Such Circumstances may be called the Associats of a mans Life, as where they most conversed, had their Kindred; got their Preferment, &c. And these though not severally, joyntly se…ve as so many Lights to expound the place of his Birth, and clearing the Homonymi… of many places, state that Town justly wherein he was born.

Thus are we not only in Bivio or Trivio, but as I may say in Vigentivio being to find Wickhams Birth amongst twenty of his Namesake Villages. But discovering John Perrot his father, richly landed about Winchester, and the principal Actions of his Life presented thereabouts, with some other Remarks, all meeting on the same Scene, one may safely conclude, that Wickham in Hamp-shire, the Eight in the aforesaid Catalogue) is that individual Wi…kham wherein this Prelate took his first degree, I mean proceeded into the Light of this World. The like Evidence (though not always so clear) hath upon diligent search directed us in Differences of the same Nature.

An EXPEDIENT when several Places claim the Birth of the same Person.

It often cometh to passe that two or more places intitle themselves to the Nativity of the same Man; Here my Endevour is to keep the Peace (as well as I may) betwixt them, as in the Instance here inserted,

See here four places challenge one man, and I am as unwilling to accuse any of falshood, as I am unable to maintain all in the Truth.

However the difference may thus be accomodated, Bradwardins Ancestors fetch'd their Name from that place in Herefordshire, according to Camden; though he himself was born (as Bale saith) at Hartfeld in Sussex; within the City (saith Pits) of Chichester, interpret him ex…ensively not to the Walls, but Diocesse and Jurisdiction thereof. As for Suffolk in Bishop Godwin, I understand it an Erratum in the Printer for Sussex.

Our usual expedient in the like cases is this, to insert the Character at large of the controverted person in that County, which (according to our apprehension) produceth the best Evidence for him; yet so, that we also enter his name with a reference in the other respective places, which with probability pretend unto him.

If equal likelyhood appear unto us on all sides, that County clearly carries away his character, which first presenteth it self to our Pen, in the Alphabetical Order.

Thus lately, when the same Living was in the gift of the Lord Chancellour, Lord Treasurer, and Master of the Wards, that Clerk commonly carried it, who was first presented to the Bishop. However, though in the disputable Nativities of worthy men, first come, first serv'd, a Caveat is also entred in other Counties, to preserve their Titles unprejudiced.

It must not be forgotten, that many, without just cause, by mistake, multiply differences in the places of mens Births. The Papists please themselves with reporting a Tale of their own inventing, how the men of two Towns in Germany fell out, and fought together, whilst one of them was for Martin, the other for Luther, being but the several names of the same person. If one Author affirms Bishop Jewel born at Buden, another at Berinerber, let none make strife betwixt these two Writers, the former naming the House and Village, the later the Parish wherein he was born, a case which often occurs in the Notation of Nativities.

p. 57That the Children of Clergymen have been as successeful as the Sons of Men of other Professions.

There goeth a common Report, no less uncharitable than untrue, yet meeting with many Beleivers thereof, as if Clergy mens Sons were generally signally unfortunate, like the Sons of Ely, **1 Sam. 2. 12.1 Sam 2:12Hophnies, and Phineaz's, dissolute in their Lives, and **1 Sam. 4. 11.1 Sam 4:11doleful in their Deaths; This I may call a Libell indeed, according to Sir Francis Bacon his Description thereof; for first, it is a Lye, a notorious untruth; and then a Bell, some lowd and lewd Tongue hath told, yea Rung it out, and perchance was welcome Musick to some hearers thereof.

It is first confest, that the best Saints and Servants of God, have had bad as well as good children extracted from them. It is the Note of Illiricus on those words of Saint John to the Elect Lady: **2 Joh. 4.2 John 1:4I rejoiced greatly, when I found of thy Children walking in the Truth. He saith not all thy but of thy children, intimating that she had mingled Ware, Corn and Tares in those who were descended from her. Thus Aaron (for I desire to restrain my self in instances of the Priests) had Nadab and Abihu, two **Levit. 10. 2.Lev 10:2strange Fire Offerers, as well as his Godly Sons Eliazar and Ithamar. Yea, I find one of the best Fathers, having two (and those I beleive all he had) of the worst **1 Sam. 8. 3.1 Sam 8:3Sons, even Samuel himself.

Nor do we deny, but that our English Clergy have been unhappy in their off-spring, (though not above the proportion of other Professions) whereof some have not unprobably assigned these causes. First, If Fellows of Colledges, they are ancient be…ore they marry. Secondly, their children then are all Benjamins, I mean the children of their Old age, and thereupon by their Fathers (to take off as much as we may the weight of the fault from the weaker Sex) cockered and indulged, which I neither defend or excuse, but bemone and condemn. Thirdly, Such Children after their Fathers Death are left in their Minority, to the careless Care of Friends and Executors, who too often discharge not their due trust in their Education, whence it is such Orphans too osten embrace wild courses to their own destructions.

But all this being granted, we maintain that Clergy-mens Children have not been more unfortunate, but more observed than the Children of the Parents of other Professions. There is but one Minister at one time in a whole Parish, and therefore the fewer they are, the easier they are observed both in their Persons and Posterities. Secondly, the Eminency of their place, maketh them exposed and obvious to all discoveries. Thirdly, possibly Malice may be the Eye-salve to quicken mens Sight, in prying after them. Lastly, one ill Success in their Sons, maketh (for the reasons aforesaid) more impression in the Ears and Eyes of people, then many miscarriages of those Children whose Fathers were of another Function. (I speak not this out of Intent to excuse or extenuate the Badnesse of the one, by the Badnesse of the other, but that both may be mutually provoked to Amendment.) In a word, other mens Children; would have as many Eyesores, if they had as many Eyes seeing them.

Indeed, if happinesse be confin'd unto outward Pomp and Plenty, and if those must be accounted unfortunate (which I in the true meaning of the word must interpret unprovidenced) who swim not in equal Plenty with others, then that Epithet may be fixed on the Children of the Clergy. Whose Fathers coming late to their Livings, and surprised by Death, not staying long on them (which at the best afforded them but narrow maintenance) leave them oft-times so ill provided, that they are forced without blame or shame to them (as I conceive) to take sometimes poor and painful Employments for their Livelyhood.

But by our following Endevours it will plainly appear, that the Sons of Ministers have by Gods blessing proved as Eminent as any who have raised themselves by their own Endevours. For Statesmen George Carew, Privy Councellor of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and as able a man [absit Invidia] as the age he lived in produced, was Earl of Totnes, the same place whereof his Father was Arch-deacon. Sir Edwin Sandys, Son to Arch-bishop Sandys, will be acknowledged even by his Enemies, a man of such merit, that England could not afford an Office which he could not manage. p. 58For Lawyers, Sir Thomas Richardson, lately, and the never sufficiently to be commended Sir Orlando Bridgeman, now Lord Chief Justice, with many others. For Seamen▪ Sir Francis Drake, that great Scourge and Terror to the Spanish Pride.

If any say, these are but thin Instances out of so thick a number, de tot modo milibus unus, few of so many Hundreds, know we have only taken some Eminent persons, leaving the rest, for fear to be counted Forestallers to the Collection of the Reader in our ensuing Book.

But the Sons of Ministers have never been more successeful, then when bred in the Professions of their Fathers, as if some Peculiar Blessing attended them, whilst they continue therein. Thus of the Prelatical Clergy, we have Francis Godwin a Bishop, the Son of a bishop, and Doctor John King Son to his Reverend Father the Bishop of London. And of other Clergy men we have three Generations of the wards in Suffolk. As many of the Shutes in York shire, no lesse painful then pious and able in their Professions.

Let me add, that there were at one time 3 Fellows of Kings Colledge, Sons of eminent Divines, and afterwards Doctors of Divinity.

1 Samuel Collings.

2 Thomas Goad.

3 William Sclater.

And I believe there were not severally in their Generations, men more signal in their different Eminencies.

It is easie for any to guess out of what Quiver this Envenomed Arrow was first shot against the Children of Clergy men; namely, from the Church of Rome. Who in their Jurisdiction forbid the Banes of all Clergymen, against the Law of Nature, Scripture, and the practice of the Primitive Church. And in other places unsubjected to their power, bespatter the posterity of the Clergy with their scandalous Tongues. Yet be it known unto them, the Sons of English Priests or Presbyters may be as good as the Nephews of Roman Cardinals. However, because Antidotes may be made of poysons, it is possible that Good may be extracted out of this false Report; Namely, if it maketh Clergy-men more careful to go before their Children with good Examples, to lead them with good Instructions; to drive and draw them (if need so requireth) with Moderate Correction seasonably used, putting up both Drye and Wet Prayers to God for his Blessing on their children. As also, if it maketh the children of Clergy-men to be more careful, by their circumspect lives, to be no shame to the Memory and Profession of their Fathers.