The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 46 · Section 17 – Section 18
Romish Exile Writers.
JOHN YOUNG was born in this County. His life appeareth to me, patched up of unsuiting peices, as delivered by severall Authors. A Judicious *Par. Her. Skelet. Cap. 2. lib. M &c.Antiquary, seldome mistaken, will have him a Monke of Ramsey, therein confounding him with his Namesake many years more antient. *J. Pi… de Ang. Script. pag. 770.An other will have him bred Doctor of Divinity in Trinity-colledge in Cambridge, though that Foundation (suppose him admitted the first day thereof,) affordeth not Seniority enough to write Doctor, before the raign of Queen Mary, except we understand him bred in some of the Hostles, afterwards united thereunto. So that I rather concurre herein with the forenamed Antiquary, that he was Fellow of Saint Johns-colledge in that University.
It is agreed, that at the first, he was at the least a Parcell-Protestant, translating into English the Book of Arch bishop Cranmer, of the Sacrament. But afterwards, he came off with a witness, being a Zealous Papist, and great Antagonist of Mart. Bucer, and indeed as able a Disputant as any of his Party.
He was Vice-Chancellour of Cambridge, Anno 1554. Master of Pembroke hall, KingsProfessor of Divinity, and Rector of Land-beach nigh Cambridge, but lost all his preferment in the first of Queen Elizabeth. Surely more then Ordinary Obstinacy appeared in him, because not onelyonly deprived but imprisoned. And in my judgment, more probably surprised before he went, then after his return from forraign parts. He died under restraint in England, 1579.
JOHN MUSH was born in this *Ut prius pag. 810.County, bred first in the English-colledge at Doway, and then ran his course of Philosophy in their Colledge at Rome. Afterwards being made Priest, he was sent over into England, to gaine People to his own perswasion, which he did without and within the Prison for 20. years together, but at last he got his liberty.
In his time the Romish Ship in England did spring a dangerous Leak, almost to the sinking thereof, in the Schisme betwixt the Priests and the Jesuits. Mush appeared very active and happy in the stopping thereof, and was by the English Popish Clergy sent to Rome to compose the controversie, behaving himself very wisely in that service. Returning into his own Country he was for fourteen years together assistant to the English Arch▪ Priest, demeaning himself commendably therein; he wrote many books, and one whose title made me the more to mind it,
Vitam & Martyrium D. Margaretae Clithoroae.
Now whether this D. be for Domina or Diva, for Lady or Saint, or both, I know not. I take her for some Gentlewoman in the North, which for some practises in the maintenance of her own Religion, was obnoxious to, and felt the severity of our Laws. This Mush was living in these parts, Anno 1612.
Benefactors to the Publick.
THOMAS SCOT was born at Ro…heram, no obscure market in this County; waving his paternall name, he took that of Ro…heram, from the place of his Nativity. This I observe the rather, because he was (according to my exactest enquiry) the last Clergyman of note with such an assumed Surname, which Custome began now to grow out of fashion, and Clergy-men (like other men) to be called by the name of their fathers.
He was first Fellow of Kings-colledge, afterwards Master of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge, and Chancellour of that University; here he built on his proper cost (saving something help'd by the Scholars) the fair gate of the School, with fair walks on each side, and a Library on the East thereof. Many have mistaken this, for the performance of King Richard the third, meerly, because his Crest the Boar is set up therein. Whereas the truth is that Rotheram having felt the sharp Tuskes of that Boar, (when imprisoned by the aforesaid King, for resigning the Great Seal of England to Queen Elizabeth, the relict of King Edward the fourth,) advanced his Armes thereon, meerly to engratiate himself. He went thorough many Church preferments, being successively Provost of Beverly, Bishop of Rochester, Lincoln, and lastly Arch-bishop of York; nor less was was his share in Civil honour, first, Keeper of the Privy Seal, and last, Lord Chancellour of England. Many were his Benefactions to the Publique, of which none more remarkable then his founding five Fellowships in Lincoln colledge in Oxford. He deceased in the 76. year of his age at Cawood of the plague Anno Domini 1500.
JOHN ALCOCKE was born at Beverly in this County, where he built a Chappell, and founded a Chantry for his parents. He was bred a Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge, and at last became Bishop of Ely, his prudence appeared in that he was preferred Lord Chancellour of England by King Henry the seventh, a Prince of an excellent palate to tast mens Abilities, and a Dunce was no dish for his diet. His piety is praised by the pen of J. Bale, which (though generally bitter) drops nothing but honey on Alcocks Memory, commending him for a most mortified man; Given to Learning and Piety from his Child-hood, growing from grace to grace, so that in his age none in England was higher for holiness. He turned the old Nunnery of Saint Radigund, into a new Colledge called Jesus in Cambridge: surely had Malcolm King of Scots, first founder of that Nunnery, survived to see this alteration, it would have rejoyced his heart to behold Leudness and Laziness turned out, for Industry and Piety to be put in their place. This Alcock died October 1. 1500. And had Saintship gone as much by merit as favour, he deserved one as well as his name-sake Saint John his predecessor in that See.
Since the Reformation.
The extent of this large Province and the distance of my Habitation from it have disabled me to express my desires suitable to the merit thereof in this Topick of Modern Benefactors, which I must leave to the Topographers thereof hereafter to uspply my defaults with their diligence. But let me forget my self when I doe not remember the worthy & charitable Master....... Harrison inhabitant of the Populous Town of Leeds, so famous for the Cloath made therein. Methinks, I hear that great Town accosting him in the Language of the Children of the Prophets to *2 King. 6. 1▪Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. The Church could scarce hold half the inhabitants, till this worthy gentleman provided them another. So that now the men of Leeds may say with *Gen. 26. 22.Isaack, Rehoboth, God hath made room for us. He accepted of no assistance in the building of that fair Fabrick, but what he fully paid for, so that he may be owned the sole Founder thereof. But all his Charity could not secure him from sequestration in our Troublesome Times. All I will adde is this, as he hath built a House for God, may (God in Scripture *Exod. 1. 21.Phrase) build a House for him, I mean, make him fruitfull and fortunate in his posterity.