The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 14 · Section 16
Writers.
GERVASE of TILBURY born at that Village in this County, (since famous for a C…mpe, against the Spaniards in 88.) is *Bale de script. Brit. Cent. 3. pag. 250. & Pitz. de Ill…str. Ang. Aetat. 13. pag. 274.reported Nephew to King Henry the second. But though Nepos be taken in the Latitude thereof (to signify Son, to Brother, Sister, or Child,) I cannot make it out by the Door, and am loth to suspect his coming in by the Window. This Gervase may be said by his Nativity, to stand but on one foot (and that on tip toes) in England, being born on the Sea side, at the mouth of Thames, and therefore no wonder if he quickly convayed himself over into Forraign Parts. He became Courtier and favorite to his Kinsman Otho the fourth Emperour, who conferred on him the Marshal-ship of the Arch-bishoprick of Arles, (which proveth the Imperiall Power in this Age, over some parts of Province,) an office which he excellently discharged. Though his person was wholly conversant in Forraign Aire, his Pen was chiefly resident on English Earth, writing a Chronicle of our Land, and also adding illustrations to G…ffrey Monmouth. He flourished Anno 1210. under King John.
ADAM of BARKING (no mean market in this County) was so termed from the Town of his Nativity. Wonder not, that, being born in the East of England, he went West-ward as far as Sherborn (where he was a Benedictine) for his education; it being as usuall in that age for Monkes, as in ours for Husbandmen, to change their soil for the seed, that their grain may give the greater encrease. He was a good Preacher and learned Writer, and surely would have soared higher, if not weighed down with the ignorance of the age he lived in, whose death happened Anno 1216.
RALPH of COGSHALL in this County, was first Canon of Barnewell nigh Cambridge, and afterwards turn'd a Cistertian Monke. He was a man *Pitz. de script. Angl. Anno 1218.Incredibilis frugalitatis & parsimoniae, but withall of great learning and abilities. These qualities commended▪ him to be Abbot of Cogshall (the sixth in order after the first foundation thereof,) where he spent all his spare hours in writing of Chronicles, and especially of additions to Radulphus Niger. Afflicted in health he resigned his place, and died a private person about the year 1230.
ROGER of WALTHAM was so called from the place of his Nativity. I confess there be many Walthams in England and three in Essex: but as in Herauldry the plain Coat speaks the bearer thereof to be the best of the house, whiles the younger Brethren give their Armes with differences; so I presume that Waltham here without any other addition, (of Much▪Waltham, Wood-Waltham, &c.) is the Chief in that kind, viz. Waltham in this County within twelve Miles of London, eminent in that Age for a wealthy Abby. The merit of this Roger, being (saith *De script. Brit. Cent. 4. p. 302.Bale) tersè, nitidè & eleganter eruditus, endeared him to Fulke Basset Bishop of London, who preferred him Canon of Saint Pauls. He wrot many worthy works, flourishing under King Henry the third, Anno Domini 1250.
JOHN GODARD (wherever born) had his best being at *Bale de script. Brit. Cent. 4. Num. 11. compared with Pitts in Anno 1250.Cogshall in this County,S. N. where he became a Cistercian Monke. Great was his skill in Arithmetick, and Mathematicks, a Science which had lain long asleep in the World, and now first began to open it's eyes again. He wrot many certain Treatises thereof, and dedicated them unto Ralph Abbot of Cogshall. He flourished Anno Dom. 1250.
AUBREY de VERE extracted from the right Honorable Earls of Oxford, was born (saith my *Bale Num. 13. & Pitz. 1259.Authors) in Bonaclea Villa Trenovantum, Three miles srom Saint Osith, by which direction we find it to be Great Bentley in this County. Now although *Sir John Sucling his verses on the right honorable and learned Earl of Monmouth.a witty Gentleman saith, that Noble-men have seldome any thing in Print save their Cloths, yet this Aubrey so applyed his studies, that he wrote a Learned Book of the Eucharist. In his old age he became an Augustinian of Saint Osiths, preferring that before other places, both because of the pleasant retireness thereof, and because his kindred were great Benefactors to that Covent, witness their Donation de septem *Mills his Cat. of honour p. 677.Libratis terrae thereunto. This Aubrey, the most learned of all Honorable Persons in that Age, Flourished Anno Domini 1250.
THOMAS MALDON was born at *J. Bale J. Pitz.Maldon, no mean Market Town in this County, anciently a City of the Romans called Camulodunum. He was afterwards bred in the University of Cambridge, where he Commenced Doctor of Divinity, and got great reputation for his Learning, being a Quick Disputant, Eloquent Preacher, Solid in Defining, Subtle in Distinguishing, Clear in Expressing. Hence he was chosen Prior of his own Monastery in Maldon, where he commendably discharged his place till the day of his death, which happened 1404.
THOMAS WALDENSIS was son to John and Maud Netter, who declining the Surname of his Parents, took it from *Bale de script: Brit. Cent. 7. Num. 84.Walden the noted place in this County of his Nativity; so much are they mistaken, that maintain, that this Waldensis his name was Vuedale, and that he was born in Hant-shire.
In some sort he may be termed Anti-Waldensis, being the most professed Enemy to the Wicklevites, who for the main revived and maintained the Doctrine of the Waldenses. Being bred a Carmelite in London, and Doctor of Divinity in Oxford, he became a great Champion of, yet Vassall to, the Pope; witness his sordid Complement, consisting of a conjunction, or rather confusion and misapplication of the words of Ruth to Naomi, and David to Goliah.
Perge Domine *In lib… de sacramentis, cap. 17.Papa, perge quò cupis: & ego tecum ubicunque volueris, nec deseram, in Authoritate Dominorum meorum incedam, & in armis eorum pugnabo.
He was in high esteem with three succeeding Kings of England, and might have changed his Coul, into what English Miter he pleased, but refused it. Under King Henry the fourth, he was sent a solemn Embassadour 1410. about taking away the Schism…, and advancing an Union in the Church, and pleaded most eloquently before the Pope, and Segismund the Emperour. He was Conf…ssor and Privy▪Councellour to King Henry the fifth, (who died in his Bosome) and whom he taxed for too much lenity to the Wicklevites, so that we behold the Breath of Waldensis, as the Bellows which Blew up the Coals, for the burning of those Poor Christians in England, under King Henry the sixth, he was employed to provide at Paris all necessaries for his solemn Coronation, and dying in his journey thether Anno 1430. was buried at Roan. He was 16 years Provinciall of his Order, throughout all England, and wrot many books against the Wicklevites.
Bale citeth four (all sorraign) Authors, which make him solemnly Sainted, whilst *De Ang. script. in Anno 1430▪Pitzeus more truly and modestly onelyonly affirmeth, that he died, non sine sanctitatis opinione. Indeed, as the Pagans had their Lares and Penates, Dii Minorum Gentium, so possibly this Thomas, (though not publickly Canonized) might pass for a Saint of the lesser Size, in some particular places.
Since the Reformation.
THOMAS TUSS…R was born at Riven-hall in this County, of an ancient family (since extinct) if his own *In his hist. at the end of his Boo… of Husbandry.pen may be believed. Wh…lst as yet a Boy he lived in many Schools, Wallingford, S…int Pauls, Eaton, (whence he went to T…inity hall in Cambridge,) when a Man, in Stafford-shire, Suffolk, Northfolk, Cambridge-shire, London, and where not? so that this Stone of Sisiphus could gather no Moss. He was successively a Musitian, School master, Servingman, Husbandman, Grasier Poet, more skilfull in all, then thriving in any V…cation. He traded at large in Oxen, Sheep, Dairies, Grain of all kinds, to no profit. Whether he bought or sold, he lost, and when a Renter impoverished himself, and never inriched his Landlord. Yet hath he laid down excellent Rules in his Book of Husbandry and Houswifery, (so that the Observer thereof must be rich▪) in his own d…fence. He spread his Bread with all sorts of Butter, yet none would stick thereon. Yet I hear no man to charge him with any vicious extravagancy, or visible carel…ssness, imputing his ill success to some occult cause in Gods counsel. Thus our English …, might say with the Poet,
——Monitis sum minor ipse meis,
None being better at the Theory, or worse at the Practise of Husbandry. I match him with Thomas …-yard, they being mark'd alike in their Poeticall parts, living in the same time, and … alike in their Estates, both low enough I assure you. I cannot find the certain date of his death▪ but collect it to be about 1580.
FRANCIS QUARLES Esquire, son to James Quarles Esquire, was born at S…wards, in the Parish of Ru…ford in this County, where his son (as I am inform'd) hath an Estate in expectancy. He was bred in Cambridge, and going over into Ireland, became Secretary to the Reverend James Usher Arch-bishop of Armagh. He was a most excellent Poet, and had a mind by assed to devotion. Had he been contemporary with Plato, (that great back-friend to Poets,) he would not onelyonly have allowed him to live, but advanced him to an office in his Common wealth.
Some Poets, if debarr'd pro…ess, want oness, and Satyricalness, (that they may neither abuse God, themselves, nor their neighbours,) have their tongues cut out in effect. Others onelyonly trade in wit at the second hand, being all for translations, nothing for invention. Our Q…arles was free from the f…ts of the first, as if he had drank of Jordan in stead o… Helicon, and slept on mount Olivet for his Pernassus, and was happy in his own invention. His visible Poetry (I mean his Emblems) is excellent, ca…ching therein the eye and fancy at one draught, so that he hath out Aleiated therein, in some mens judgement. His Verses on Job are done to the life, so that the Reader may see his sores, and through the… the anguish of his soul.
The troubles of Ireland, where his loss…s were great, forced his return hither, bearing his crosses with great patience; so tha… (according to the advice of Saint Hierome,) Verba vertebat in opera, and practiced the Job he had described, dying about the year 1643.
JOSEPH MEDE was born in this County, a little east of Bishop-Startford. Men in …cripture generally are notified by their Fathers, as Johnadab the Son of Rechab, Simon the Son of Jona. Some few are described by their Sons, as Simon of Cyren, the Father of *Mark 15. 2.Alexander and Rufus, wherein it is presumed that their Sons were most eminent, and their Branches not known by the Root, but the Root by the Branches. Such the case here, where the Parents obscure in themselves, may hereafter be known for having Joseph Mede to their Son.
He was bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge, where he attained to great Learning by his own industry. R. was Shiboleth unto him, which he could not easily pronounce, so that a set-speech cost him the double pains to another man, being to fit words as well to his Mouth as his Matter. Yet by his Industry and Observation, He so conquered his Imperfection, that though in private discourse, he often smiled out his stammering into silence, yet chusing his words, he made many an excellent Sermon, without any considerable Hesitation.
The first fruits of his Eminent Studies, was a written Treatise, de sanctitate Relativa, which he presented to Bishop Andrews, who besteded him with the Kings favour, when his election into his Fellow-ship met with some opposition. He afterwards became an Excellent Linguist, Curious Mathematician, Exact Text-man; happy in makeing Scripture to expound it self by Parallel places. He was charitable to poor people with his Almes, and to all people with his candid censure.
Of one who constantly kept his Cell, (so he called his Chamber) none Travailed oftener and farther over all Christendome. For things past he was a Perfect Historian; for things present, a Judicious Novilant; and for things to come, a Prudentiall (not to say Propheticall) Conjecturer.
To his private friends he would often insist on the place of Scripture, Judges 3. 30. and the land had a rest Four score years, which was the longest term of Peace which he ever observed the Church of God to enjoy, after which many troubles did ensue. And seeing the same lease of Halcion days was expired in England since the first of Queen Elizabeth, he grievously suspected some strange Concussion in Church and State, which came to pass accordingly. I confess his Memory hath suffered much in many mens Judgements, for being so great a Fauter of the fancifull opinion of the Millenaries. Yet none can deny but that much is found in the Ancient fathers tending that way. Besides, I dare boldy say, that the furious Factors for the fift Monarchy hath driven that Nail which Master Mede did first enter, farther then he ever intended it, and doing it with such violence, that they split the truths round about it. Thus when ignorance begins to build on that Foundation, which learning hath laid, no wonder if there be no Uniformity in such a Mungrell Fabrick. He died in the fifty third year of his age Anno Domini 1638. leaving the Main of his Estate to the Colledge, about the value of 300l. a large sum to Issue out of the purse of a Scholar.