The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 20 · Section 21
Benefactors to the Publick.
Sir JOHN PHILPOT was born in this County, where his Family hath long resided at Upton-Court, in the Parish of Sibbertswood. He was bred a Citizen and Grocer in London, whereof he became Mayor, 1378.
In the second of King Richard the second our English Seas wanted scouring, overrun with the rust of Piracies, but chiefly with a Canker fretting into them, one John Mercer a Scot, with his fifteen Spanish Ships. To represse whose insolence, our Philpot on his own cost set forth a Fleet, a project more proportionable to the Treasury of a Prince, than the purse of a private subject. His successe was as happy as his undertaking honourable, and Mercer brought his Wares to a bad Market, being taken *Stows Chro. pag. 281.with all his Ships and rich plunder therein.
Two years after he conveyed an English Army into Britaine, in ships of his own hiring, and with his own money released more than 1000. Arms there, which the Souldiers formerly engaged for their victuals. But this industry of Philpot interpretatively taxed the lazinesse of others, the Nobility accusing him (Drones account all Bees pragmatical) to the King, for acting without a Commission. Yea, in that ungrateful age, under a Child-King, Pro tantorum sumptuum praemio, veniam vix obtinuit. However, he, who whilest living, was the scourge of the Scots, the fright of the French, the delight of the Commons, the darling of the Merchants, and the hatred of some envious Lords, was at his death lamented, and afterwards beloved of all, when his memory was restored to its due esteem.
WILLIAM SEVENOCK was born at Sevenock in this County. In allusion whereunto he gave *Stows Survey of London.Seven Acorns for his Arms, which if they grow as fast in the field of Heraldry, as in the Common field, may be presumed to be Oaks at this day. For it is more than 200. years since this William (bred a Grocer at London) became Anno 1419. Lord Mayor thereof. He founded at Sevenock a fair Free Schoole for poor peoples Children, and an Alms House for *Idem pag. 88.twenty men and women, which at this day is well maintained.
Since the Reformation.
Sir ANDREW JUD, Son of John Jud was born at Tunbridge in this County, bred a Skinner in London, whereof he became Lord Mayor Anno 1551. He built Alms Houses nigh Saint Ellens in London, and a stately Free Schoole at Tunbridge in …, submitting it to the care of the Company of Skinners. This fair Schoole hath been twice founded in effect, seeing the defence and maintenance whereof hath cost the Company of Skinners in suits of Law, and otherwise, *Dr. willet in his Catalogue of good wor…s since the Reformation.four thousand pounds, So careful have they been (though to their own great charge) to see the Will of the Dead performed.
WILLIAM LAMB, Esquire, sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth, and in great favour with him, was born at *… Survey of London, pag. 93.Sutton-Valens in this County, where he erected an Alms-House, and a well endowed Schoole. He was a person wholly composed of goodnesse and bounty, and was as general and discreet a Benefactor as any that age produced. Anno 1557. he began, and within five months finished the fair Conduit at Holborn-Bridge, and carried the water in pipes of Lead more than two thousand yards at his own cost, amounting to Fifteen hundred pound. The total summe of his several gifts moderately estimated exceeded six thousand pounds. He lies buried with his good works in Saint Faiths Church under Saint Pauls; where this Inscription, set up (it seems by himself in his life time) is fixed on a Brasse plate to a Pillar.
O Lamb of God which sin didst take away
And (as a Lamb) wast offered up for sin.
Where I (poor Lamb) went from thy flock astray,
Yet thou (good Lord) vouchsafe thy Lamb to win
Home to thy Fold, and hold thy Lamb therein,
That at the day, when Goats and Lambs shall sever,
Of thy choice Lambs, Lamb may be one for ever.
The exact time of his death, I cannot meet with, but by proportion I conjecture it to be about 1580.
FRANCES SIDNEY, Daughter of Sir William, Sister to Sir Henry (Lord Deputy of Ireland, and President of Wales) Aunt to the renowned Sir Philip Sidney, was born (and probably at Pensherst the ancient seat of the Sidneys) in this County. A Lady endowed with many Virtues, signally charitable, expending much in large Benefactions to the Publick. She bestowed on the Abby Church of Westminster a salary of twenty pounds per annum for a Divinity Lecture; and founded Sidney Sussex Colledge in Cambridge, of which largely in my Church-History. She was Relict of Thomas Ratcliff, the third Earl of Sussex. This worthy Lady died Childless (unlesse such Learned Persons who received their Breeding in her Foundation may be termed her Issue) on the ninth day of May, Anno 1588. as appeareth by her*On her Monument in Westminster Abb…. Epitaph.
Sir FRANCIS NETHERSOLE, Knight, born at Nethersole in this County, was bred Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, and afterwards became Orator of the University. Hence he was preferred to be Embassador to the Princes of the Union, and Secretary to the Lady Elizabeth, Queen of …; it is hard to say whether he was more remarkable for his doings or sufferings in her behalf. He married Lucy eldest Daughter of Sir Henry Goodyear of Polesworth in Warwick-…, by whose encouragement (being free of himself to any good design) he hath founded and endowed a very fair School at Polesworth aforesaid, and is still living.