The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 37

The History of the Worthies of England · Part 2 · County 37

p. 33BRISTOL, more truly Bright-Stow, that is Illustrious or Bright dwelling, answers its Name in many respects. Bright in the situation thereof, conspicuous on the rising of a Hill; Bright in the Buildings, fair and firm; Bright in the Streets, so cleanly kept, as if scoured (where no Carts, but sledges are used) but chiefly Bright, for the Inhabitants thereof, having bred so many eminent Persons.

It standeth both in Somerset and Glocest…-shires (and yet in neither, it being a Liberty of it self) divided into two parts, by the River Avon, conjoyned with a Bridge, which being built on both sides, counterfeiteth a continued street, for which strangers at the first sight do mistake it. The houses of the Merchants herein are generally very fair, and their Entries, though little and narrow, l…ad into high and spatious Halls which Form may mind the Inhabitants thereof of their passage to a better place.

Naturall Commodities.

Diamonds.

These are the Stars of the Earth, though such but dimme ones, which St. Vincents Rock near to this City doth produce. Their Price is abated by their paleness and softnesse, to which we may add their Number and Nearness; For, were they but few and far fetched, their value would be advanced; They are not those Unions, Pearles so called, because thrifty Nature only affordeth them by **Uniones quia nu…i duo simul reperientur. Plin. Nat. hist. lib. 9. cap. 35.one and one; seeing that not only Twins but Bunches and Clusters of these are found together.

Were this Rock of raw Diamonds removed into the East-Indies, and placed where the Beams of the Sun might sufficiently concoct them, probably in some hundreds of years they would be ripened into an Orient perfection. All I will add is this; a Lady in the reign of Queen Elizabeth would have as patiently digested the Lye, as the wearing of False Stones or Pendants of counterfeit Pearl, so common in our Age; and I could wish it were the worst piece of hypocrisy in Fashion.

Manufactures.

Gray-Sope.

I behold Bristol as the staple-place thereof, where alone it was anciently made. For though there be a place in London nigh Cheapside called Sopers-lane, it was never so named from that Commodity made therein (as some have supposed) but from Alen le Soper, the long since owner thereof. Yea, it is not above an hundred and fifty years, by the confession of the **Stows Survey pag. 265.Chronicler of that City, since the first Sope was boyled in London. Before which time the Land was generally supplyed with Castile from Spain, and Graysope from Bristol. Yea, after that London medled with the making thereof, Bristol-sope (notwithstanding the portage) was found much the **Idem in his first table, verbo Sope.cheaper.

Great is the necessity thereof, seeing without Sope, our bodies would be no better than dirt, before they are turned into dust, men whilst living, becoming noisome to themselves and others. Nor lesse its antiquity; For although our modern Sope made of Pot-ashes and other ingredients, was unknown to the Ancient, yet had they foreign, something which effectually supplied the place thereof, making their Woollen clear, their Linnen-Cloth cleanly. Christ is compared by the **Mal. 3. 2.Mal 3:2Prophet to Fullers sope, in Hebrew Borith, which word Arias Montanus in his Interlineary Bible reteineth untranslated, but in his Comment (following the example of St. Hierom) on the place, rendreth it Herba fullonum, expounding it to be Saponaria, in English Sopeworth. Indeed, both Dodoneus and Gerardus writeth thereof, This plant hath no use in Physick. Yet, seeing nature made nothing in vain, Sopeworth cannot justly be charged as useless, because purging (though not the body) the Clothes of a man, and conducing much to the neatnesse thereof.

The Buildings.

Ratcliffe Church in this City clearly carrieth away the credit from all Parish-Churches in England. It was founded by Cannings (first a Merchant who afterwards b…ame a Priest, p. 34and most stately the ascent thereunto by many stairs, which at last plentifully recompenceth their pains who climb them up with the magnificent structure both without and within.

If any demand the cause why this Church was not rather made the See of a Bishop then St. Augustins in this City much inferiour thereunto, such may receive this reason thereof; That this (though an intire stately structure) was not conveniently accomodated like St. Augustins (formerly a great Monastery) with publick Buildings about it for the Palace of a Bishop, and the Reception of the Dean and Chapter. However as the Town of Hague in Holland would never be Walled about as accounting it more credit to be the Biggest of Villages in Europe, than but a Lesser City, so Ratcliffe-Church esteemeth it a greater grace to lead the Van of all **Yet some have informed me that it only is a chappel of Ease to the Mother Church of Bedmister.Parochial, than to follow in the Rear after many Cathedral Churches in England.

Medicinal Waters.

St. Vincents Well lying West of the City, under St. Vincents Rock, and hard by the River, is sovereign, for Sores and Sicknesses, to be washt in, or drunk of, to be either outwardly or inwardly applyed. Undoubtedly the Water thereof runneth through some Mineral of Iron…, as appeareth by the rusty ferruginous taste thereof, which it retaineth, though boiled never so much. Experience proveth that Beer brewed thereof is wholesome against the Spleen; and D^r. Samuel VVard afflicted with that malady, and living in Sidney-Colledge was prescribed the constant drinking thereof, though it was costly to bring it thorough the Severn, and narrow seas to Lin, and thence by the River to Cambridge. But men in pain must not grudge to send far to purchase their ease, and thank God if they can so procure it.

Proverbs.

Bristol Milk.] Though as many Elephants are fed as Cows grased within the Walls of this City, yet great plenty of this Metaphorical Milk, whereby Xeres or Sherry-Sack is intended. Some will have it called Milk, because (whereas Nurses give new-born Babes in some places Pap, in other water and sugar) such Wine is the first moisture, given Infants in this City. It is also the entertainment of course, which the courteous Bristolians present to all Strangers, when first visiting their City.

Martyrs.

The moderation of John Holyman, Bipshop of this City is much to be commended who in the reign of Queen Mary, did not persecute any in his Diocess. And yet we find Rich. Sharpe, Tho. Benion, and Tho. Hale, martyred in this City, whose Bloud, the Inquisitor thereof will visit on the account of ††F…x. Martirolog. pag. 2052.Dalbye the cruel Chancellour of this Dio cess.

Prelates.

RALPH of BRISTOL born in this City, was bred (as I have cause to conceive) in the Neighbouring Covent of Glassenbury. Going over into Ireland, first he became Treasurer of St. Patricks in Dublin, then Episcopus Darensis, Bishop of Kildare. He wrote the life of Lawrence Arch-Bishop of Dublin, and granted (saith my **Sir I. ware, in Episcopis Darensibus.Author) certain Indulgences to the Abbey of Glassenbury in England, probably in testimony of his Gratitude for his Education therein. He died, Anno Dom. 1232.

Since the Reformation.

TOBIAS MATTHEW, D. D. was born in this **Sir Iohn Harrington in his continuation of Bishop Godwi….City, bred first in St. Johns, then in Christ-Church in Oxford, and by many mediate Preferments became Bishop of Durham, and at last York. But it will be safest for my Pen now to fast (for fear for a Surfeit) which formerly ††In my Church Hist. Book 11. pag. 133.feasted so freely on the Character of this Worthy Prelate, who died 1628.

Sea-men.

No City in England (London alone excepted) hath, in so short a Time bred more Brave and Bold Sea-men, advantaged for Western Voyages by its situation. They have not only been Merchants, but Adventurers, possessed with a Publick Spirit, for the General Good. p. 35Aiming not so much to return wealthier, as wiser, not alwayes to en-rich themselves, as inform Posterity by their Discoveries. Of these, some have been but meerly casual, when going to fish for Cod, they have found a Country, or some eminent Bay, River, or Hauen of importance unknown before. Others were intentional, wherein they have sown experiments, with great pains, cost, and danger, that ensuing Ages may freely reap benefit thereof. Amongst these Sea-men we must not forget

HUGH **Hacluit's Engl. Voyages the 3d. volum. pag. 10▪ELIOT a Merchant of this City, who was in his Age the prime Pilot of our Nation. He first (with the assistance of M^r. Thorn his fellow-Citizen) found out Newfound-land, Anno 1527. This may be called Old-found-land, as senior in the cognizance of the English, to Virginia and all our other Plantations.

Had this Discovery been as fortunate in publick Encouragement, as private Industry, probably before this time, we had enjoyed the Kernel of those Countries whose Shell only we now possess. It's to me unknown when Eliot deceased.

Writers.

THOMAS NORTON was born in this City, and if any doubt thereof, let them but consult the Initial syllables in the six first, and the first line in the seventh chapter of his Ordinal, which put together compose,

Thomas Norton of Briseto

A parfet Master you may him trow.

Thus his modesty embraced a middle way betwixt concealing and revealing his name, proper for so great a Professor in Chymistry as he was, that his very name must from his Book be mysteriously extracted.

He was scarce twenty eight **In his Ordinal pag. 88.years of Age, when in fourty dayes (believe him for he saith so **Ibid. pag. 33.of himself) he learn'd the perfection of Chymistry, taught, as it seems, by M^r. George Ripley. But, what saith the Poet?

Non minor est virtus, quàm quaerere, parta tueri.

The spight is, he complaineth, that a Merchants wife of Bristol stole from him the Elixir **Ibid. pag. 34. linea 33.of life. Some suspect her to have been the wife of William Cannings (of whom before) contemporary with Norton, who started up to so great and sudden Wealth, the clearest evidence of their **Theatrum Chimicum made by Elias Ashmole, Esq. pag. 441.conjecture.

The admirers of this Art are justly impatient, to hear this their great Patron traduced by the Pen of ††De Angl. scrip. pag. 666.J. Pits and others, by whom he is termed Nugarum opifex in frivola scientia, and that he undid himself, and all his friends who trusted him with their money, living and dying very poor about the year 1477.

JOHN SPINE. I had concluded him born at Spine in Bark-shire nigh Newbury but for these diswasives. 1. He lived lately under Richard the Third, when the Clergy began to leave off their Local Surnames, and in conformity to the Laity, to be called from their Fathers. 2 My **J. Pits. de scrip. Ang. pag. 673.Author, peremptorily saith he was born in this City. I suspect the name to be Latinized Spineus by Pits, and that in plain English he was called Thorn, an ancient Name I assure you in this City. However he was a Carmelite, and a Doctor of Divinity in Oxford, leaving some Books of his making to posterity. He died and was buried in Oxford, Anno Dom. 1484.

JOHN of MILVERTON. Having lost the Fore, I must play an After-game rather than wholely omit such a Man of Remark. The matter is not much, if he, be who was lost in Somerset-shire, (where indeed he was born at Milverton) be found in **Pits. …. 14. Num. 889.Bristol, where he first fixed himself a Frier Carmelite. Hence he went to Oxford, Paris, and at last had his abode in London.

He was Provincial General of his Order thorough England, Scotland and Ireland, so that his Jurisdiction was larger than King Edward the Fourth's, under whom he flourished. He was a great Anti-Wi…liffist, and Champion of his Order both by his writing, and preaching. He laboured to make all believe, that Christ himself was a Carmelite (Professor of wilful Poverty) and his high commending of the Poverty of Friers, tacitly condemned the Pomp of the Prelates. Hereupon the Bishop of London, (being his Diocesan) ca…t him p. 36into the Jaile from whom he appealed to Paul the II. and coming to Rome, he was for three years …ept close in the Prison of St. Angelo. It made his durance the more easie, having the**Bale cent. 8. num. 44. company of Platina the famous Papal Biographist, the Neb of whose Pen, had been too long in writing dangerous Truth. At last he procured his Cause to be referred to Seven Cardinals, who ordered his enlargement.

Returning home into England, he lived in London in good repute. I find him nominated Bishop of**Bale & Pits ut prius. St. Davids, but how he came to miss it, is to me unknown. Perchance he would not bite at the bait, but whether because, too fat to cloy the stomack of his mortified Soul, or too lean to please the appetite of his concealed covetousness, no man can decide. He died and was buried in London 1486.

WILLIAM GROCINE was born in this City††New Col. Register, anno 1467. and bred in Winchester-School, Where he, when a Youth, became a most excellent Poet. Take one instance of many. A pleasant Maid (probably his Mistris, however she must be so understood) in a LoveFrolick pelted him with a Snow-ball, whereon he extempore **Bale de scrip. Brit. cent. 9. num. 5. & Pits in anno 1520.made this Latin Tetrastick, Me ††These Ve…ses are printed among Petronius his Fragments, b…g a Farrago of many Verses later, than that ancient Author.nive candenti petiit mea Julia: rebar Igne carere nivem, nix tamen ignis erat. Sola potes nostras extinguere Julia flammas, Non nive, non glacie, sed potes ignes pari.

A snow-ball white at me did Julia throw, Who would suppose it? Fire was in that snow Julia alone can quench my hot desire, But not with snow, or Ice but equal fire.

He afterwards went over into Italy, where he had Demetrius Calchondiles and Politian for his Masters. And returning into England was Publick Professor of the Greek Tongue in Oxford. There needs no more to be added to his Honour, save that Erasmus in his Epistles often owns him pro Patrono suo, & praeceptore. He died Anno 1520.

Romish Exile Writers.

JOHN FOWLER was born in Bristol **Pits de Ang. scrip. anno 15…9.bred a Printer by his occupation, but so Learned a Man, that (if the Character given him by one of his own**Idem ibid. perswasion be true) he may pass for our English Robert, or Henry Stephens, being skilful in Latin and Greek, and a good Poet, Oratour, and Divine. He wrote an abridgment of Thomas his Summes, the Translation of Osorius into English, &c. Being a zealous Papist he could not comport with the Reformation, but conveyed himself and his Presse over to Antwerp, where he was signally serviceable to the Catholick Cause, in printing their Pamphlets, which were sent over, and sold in England. He died at Namurch 1579. and lies there buried in the Church of St. John the Evangelist.

Benefactors to the Publick.

ROBERT THORN was born in this City, as his ensuing Epitaph doth evidence. I see it matters not what the Name be, so the Nature be good. I confesse Thorns came in by††Gen. 3. …8.Gen 3:8 mans curse, and our Saviour saith,**Matt. 7. 27Matt 7:27 Do men gather Grapes of Thorns. But this our Thorn, (God send us many Copices of them) was a Blessing to our Nation, and Wine and Oil may be said freely to flow from Him, being bred a Merchant-Tailor in London, he gave more than**Stows Survey of Lond. pag. 90. Four thousand four hundred fourty five pounds to pious uses. A Sum sufficient, therewith to build and endow a Colledge, the time being well considered, being towards the beginning of the reign of King Henry the Eighth.

I have observed some at the Church-dore cast in six pence with such ostentation, that it rebounded from the Bottom, and rung against both the sides of the Bason (so that the same piece of Silver was the Alms and the Givers Trumpet,) whilst others have dropt down silent 5 shillings without any noise. Our Thorn was of the second sort, doing his Charity effectually, but with a possible privacy. Nor was this good Christian abroad, worse (in the Apostle-phrase) than an I…del at home in not providing for his Family, who gave to his poor Kindred, (besides Debt forgiven unto them) the sum of five thousand one hundred **Idem ibid.fourty two pounds.

Grudge not Reader to peruse his Epitaph, which though not so good as he deserved, is better than most in that Age.

Robertus**Idem pag. 193 cubat hic Thornus, Mercator Honestus,

Qui sibi legitimas Arte paravit opes.

Huic vitam dederat parvo Bristolia quondam,

Londinum hoc tumulo clauserat ante diem.

p. 37Ornavit studiis patriam, virtutibus auxit,

Gymnasium erexit sumptibus ipse suis.

Lector, quisquis ades, requiem cineri, precor, ora

Supplex, & precibus numina flecte tuis.

He died a Batchelour, in the fourtieth year of his Age, Anno Domini 1532, and lieth buried in Saint Christophers, London.

Since the Reformation.

MARY DALE, better known by the name of Mary Ramsey, daughter of William Dale Merchant, was born in this City.**Stows Survey of London pag. 124. She became afterward second Wife to Sir Thomas Ramsey Grocer and Lord Major of London, Anno 1577, and surviving him was thereby possessed of a great Estate, and made good use thereof. She founded two Fellowships and Scholarships in Peter-House in Cambridge, and profered much more, if on her terms it might have been accepted. For most certain it is that she would have setled on that House Lands to the value of five hundred pounds per annum and upwards, on condition that it should be called the Colledge of Peter and Mary. This Doctor**So was I informed by Dr. Seaman, lat… Master of that Colledge. Soams, then Master of the House, refused, affirming that Peter, who so long lived single, was now too old to have a Feminine Partner. A dear jest to loose so good a Benefactres.

This not succeeding the stream of her Charity was not peevishly dried up (with those who in matters of this nature will do nothing, when they cannot do what they would do) But found other**Idem in his description o… Christ Church channels there in to derive it self. She died Anno Dom. 1596, and lieth buried in Christs-Church in London.

THOMAS WHITE D. D. was born in this City and bred in Oxford. He was afterwards related to Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland, whose Funeral Sermon he made, being accounted a good Preacher in the reign of Queen Elizabeth

Indeed he was accused for being a great Pluralist, though I cannot learn, that at once he had more than one Cure of Soules, the rest being Dignities. As false is the Aspersion of his being a great Vsurer; but one Bond being found by his Executors amongst his Writings of one thousand pounds, which he lent gratis for many years to the Company of Merchant-Tailors, whereof he was Free, the rest of his Estate being in Land and ready money. Besides other Benefactions to Christ-Church, and a Lecture in St. Pauls, London, he left three thousand pounds for the Building of Sion Colledge to be a Ramah for the Sons of the Prophets in London. He built there also a fair Alms-house for Twenty poor Folk, allowing them yearly six pounds a piece. And another at Bristol, which as I am informed, is better endowed.

Now as Camillus was counted a second Romulus, for enlarging and beautifying the City of Rome, So M^r. John Simpson Minister of St. Olaves, Hart-street London, may be said a second White, for perfecting the aforesaid Colledge of Sion, building the Gate-house with a fair Case for the Library, and endowing it with Threescore pounds per annum. D^r. Thomas White died Anno Dom. 1623.

Lord Majors.

The Farewel.

I am credibly informed that one M^r. Richard Grigson Cittizen hath expendeth a great Sum of money in new casting of the Bells of Christ-Church, adding tunable Chymes unto them. Surely he is the same person, whom I find in the printed List of Compounders to have paid One hundred and sive pounds for his repuetd Delinquency in our Civil Wars, and am glad to see one of his perswasion (so lately purified in Goldsmiths-Hall) able to go to the Cost of so chargeable a Work.

I wish Bristol may have many more to follow his Example, though perchance in this our suspicious Age it will be conceived a more discreet and seasonable desire not to wish the increase, but the continuance of our Bells, and that (though not taught the descant of Chymes) they may retein their plain song for that publick use to which they were piously intended.