The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 6

The History of the Worthies of England · Part 2 · County 6

CHESTER is a fair City on the North-east side of the River Dee, so ancient that the first founder thereof is forgotten, much beholding to the Earls of Chester and others for Increase and Ornaments. The Walls thereof were lately in good repair, especially betwixt the New-tower and the Water-gate. For I find how Anno 1569. there was a personal fight in this City betwixt the two**The ValeRoyal of England, pag. 86. Idem pag. 199. Sheriffs thereof, viz. Richard Massey and Peter Lycherband, (who shall keep peace if aged Officers break it?) who deservedly were fined for the forfeiting of their gravity, to repair that part of the Wall. It seems it is more honour to be keeper of a gate in Chester, then a whole City elsewhere, seeing Eastgate therein was committed to the c…ody formerly of the Earl of Oxford, Bridgegate to the Earl of Shrewsbury, Watergate to the Earl of Da…by, and Northgate to the Mayor of the City.

It is built in the form of a Quadrant, and is almost a just Square, the four Cardinal Streets thereof (as I may call them) meeting in the middle of the City, at a place called the Pentise, which affordeth a Pleasant Prospect at once into all Four. Here is a property of building peculiar to the City called the Rows, being Galleries, wherein Passengers go dry without coming into the Streets, having Shops on both sides and underneath. The fashion whereof is somewhat hard to conceive, it is therefore worth their pains, who have Money and Leasure to make their own Eyes the Expounders of the manner thereof. The like being said not to be seen in all England, no nor in all Europe again.

The Buildings.

Saint Werburges Church is a fair structure, and had been more beautifull if the tower thereof (intended some say for a steeple, the first stone whereof was laid 1508.) had been finished. It was built long before the Conquest, and being much ruined was afterward repaired by Hugh Lupus first Earl of Chester. It was afterward made by King Henry the eighth, one of his five Royal Bishopricks, Oxford, Gloucester, Bristol and Peterborough, being the other four. I say Royal Bishopricks, as whose Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions were never confirmed by the Pope, nor Baronies by the Parliament.

The first is plain, King Henry the eighth erecting them after he had disclaimed the Popes Supremacy, and in the days of Queen Mary, when England was in some sort reconciled to Rome, the Pope thought not fit to contest with the Queen about that Criticismē, because these five Bishopricks were erected without his consent, but suffer'd them to be even as he found them. Their Baronries also were not (though their Bishopricks were,) ever confirmed by Act of Parliament, so that they owed their beings solely to the Kings Prerogative, who might as well Create Spiritual as Temporal Peers, by his own Authority. And therefore when some Anti-praelatists in the late Long Parliament, 1641. endeavoured to overthrow their Baronries, (as an Ess…y and Preludium to the rest of the Bishopricks,) for want of Parliamentary Confirmation, they desisted from that design as fond and unfeisable, on better consideration.

Proverbs.

When the**Vale- royal of England, written by Witt. Webb, p. 22. daughter is stoln, shut Pepper-gate.]

Pepper-gate was a postern of this City, on the East-side (as I take it) thereof; but in times past closed up and shut upon this occasion. The Mayor of the City had his daughter (as she was playing at ball with other Maidens in Pepper-street,) stoln away by a Young-man, through the same gate; whereupon in revenge he caused it to be shut up, though I see not why the City should suffer in her conveniences, for the Mayor his want of Care, or his Daughter her lack of Obedience. But what shall we say Love will make the whole Walla Gate to procure its own Escape. Parallel to this Proverb is the Latine, Serò sapiunt Phryges, when men instead of preventing, postvide against dangers.

Martyrs.

GEORGE MARSH was condemned by Bishop Coats, and cruelly burnt without this City, near unto Spittle Boughton; but because he was born elsewhere, see his character in Lancashire.

p. 289Prelates.

GEORGE DOUNHAM D. D. son to John Dounham Bishop of Chester, was born in this City, as by proportion of time may most probably be collected. He was bred in Christs-colledge in Cambridge, elected Fellow thereof 1585. **Christs-coll. Register.and chosen Logick-professor in the University. No man was then and there better skill'd in Aristotle, or a greater Follower of Ramus, so that he may be termed the Top-twig of that Branch.

It is seldome seen, that the Clunch-fist of Logick (good to knock a man down at a blow) can so open it self as to smooth and stroak one with the Palme thereof. Our Dounham could doe both, witness the Oration made by him at Cambridge, (preposed to his book of Logick) full of Flowers of the choicest eloquence. He preached the Sermon April 17. 160…. at the Consecration of James Mountague Bishop of Bath and Wells, irrefragably proving therein Episcopacy jure Divino.

He that receiveth a Bishop in the Name of a Bishop, shall receive a Bishops reward. It was not long before Doctor Dounham was made Bishop of Derry in Ireland, then newly augmented with the addition of London-Derry, because so planted with English, it was easy to find London in Derry, but not Derry in Derry, so much disguised from itself with new buildings. But this Learned Bishop was the greatest beauty thereof, indeavouring by gentleness to Cicurate and Civillize the wild-Irish, and proved very successfull therein. The certain date of his death I cannot attain.

Sea men.

DAVID MIDDLETON was born in this City, as his Kinsman and my**Master John Spencer Library Keeper of Zion-colledge. Friend hath informed me. He was one of those who effectually contributed his assistance to the making of Through lights in the World, I mean New Discoveries in the East and WestIndies, as we may read at large in his own**Pu…chas his Pi…grims, 1. part, pag. 226. & s…q. Printed relation.

The tender-hearted Reader whose affections go along with his eye, will sadly sympathize with his sufferings, so many and great his dangers, with Caniballs and Portugals, Crocodiles and Hollanders, till at last he accomplished his intentions, and setled the English trade at Bantam, I meet with no mention of him after 1610.

Sir HENRY MIDDLETON Knight, was younger brother (as I take it) to the former, deservedly knighted for his great pains and perills in advancing the English trade. Amongst many most remarkable is his Voyage into the Red-sea, which had like to have proved the Dead sea unto him, I mean cost him his life. Here he was tolled to land at Moha, by the treacherous Aga, and then had eight of his men barbarously sl…in, himself and seven more chained up by the Necks. The pretence was because that Port was the Door of the**Mat. 4. ….Matt 4 Holy City, which (though it be Jerusalem in the language of the Scripture) is Mecca in the Phrase of the Alcaron, and it is Capitoll for any Christian to come so near thereunto. Then was he sent eightscore miles and upwards to the Bashaw at Zenan in Arabia, in the Month of January 1611. This City of Zenan lyeth but sixteen degrees and fifteen minutes of Northern latitude from the Equator, and yet was so cold, that there was Ice of a Fingers thickness in one night, as the said Sir Henry did **Purchas his Pilgrims lib. 3. pag. 255.relate; This confuteth the Character of these Countries misapprehended by Antiquity not to be habitable, for the excess of heat therein.

At last the Turkish Bashaw gave him leave to depart, and sailing Eastwards, he repaired himself by a gainfull composition with the Indians, for the losses he had sustained by the Turkes. His ship called the Trades increase, well answered the name thereof, untill it pleased God to visit his men therein with a strange disease, whereof one hundred English deceased, the grief whereat was conceived the cause of this worthy Knights death, May 24. 1613. whose name will ever survive whilst Middletons Bay (from him so called) appeareth in the Dutch Cards.

Writers.

ROGER of CHESTER was born and bred therein, a Benedictine Monke in Saint Werburges. In obedience to the Bishop of Chester, he wrot a Brittish Chronicle from the beginning of the World. This was the fashion of all Historians of that age, running p. 290to take a long rise, [from the Creation it self] that so (it seems) they might leap the further with the greater force. Our Rogers Chronicle was like a ship with double decks, first onelyonly continuing it to the year 1314. and then resuming his subject, he superadded five and twenty year more thereunto, entitling it

Polycratica Temporum.

Both Bale and Pitz praise him for pure latine (a rarity in that age) and assign 1339. the time of his death, Chester the place of his buriall.

RANDAL or RANULPH HYGDEN, (commonly called Ranulph of Chester) was bred a Benedictine in Saint Werburge. He not onelyonly Vamped the history of Roger aforesaid, but made a large one of his own from the beginning of the World, commendable for his Method and Modesty therein.

Method, assigning in the Margent, the date of each action. We read Genesis 1. that Light was made on the First, and the Sun on the Fourth day of the C…eation, when the Light (formerly diffused and dispersed in the Heavens, was Contracted, United,) and Fixed in one full Body thereof. Thus the Notation of Times confusedly scattered in many antient Authors, (as to our English Actions) are by our Ranulphus reduced into an Intire bulk of Cronology.

Modesty. Who to his great commendation, **Bale de script. Brit. Gent. 6. Nu…. 1….Unicuique suorum Authorum, honorem integrum servans, confeseth himself (to use his own expression,) with Ruth the Moabite, to have gleaned after other Reapers. He calleth his book

Poly-Cronicon.

He continued sixty four years a Monke, and dying very aged, 1363. was buried in Chester.

HENRY BRADSHAW was born in this City, and lived a Benedictine therein. A diligent Historian, having written no bad Chronicle, and another Book of the Life of Saint Werburg in verse. Take a tast at once, both of his Poetry, and the Originall Building of the City, both for Beauty alike.

The Founder of this City, as saith Polychronicon,

Was Leon Gawer, a mighty strong Giant.

Which builded Caves and Dungeons many a one,

No goodly Building, ne proper, ne pleasant.

These his verses might have passed with praise, had he lived, (as Arnoldus Vion doth erroniously insinuate **Pits de Ang. Script. pag. 690.Anno 1346. But flourishing more then a Century, since [viz. 1513.] they are hardly to be excused. However **Script. Brit. Ceut. 9. Num. 17.Num 17Bale informeth us that he was (the Diamond in the Ring) pro ea ipsa aetate, admodum pius, and so we dismiss his Memory with Commendation.

Since the Reformation.

EDWARD BRIERWOOD was as I am informed born in this City, bred in Brasennose-colledge in Oxford. Being Candidate for a Fellowship, he lost it without loss of credit. For where preferment goes more by favour then merit, the Rejected have more honour then the Elected.

This ill success did him no more hurt then a Rub doth to an over-thrown Bowl, bringing it the nearer to the mark. He was not the more sullen, but the more serious in his studies, (retiring himself to Saint Mary-hall) till he became a most accomplished Scholar in Logick, witness his worthy work thereof, Mathematicks, being afterwards a Lecturer thereof in Gresham-colledge, All learned and many modern languages, hereof he wrot a Learned book, called his Enquiries. No Sacrilegious Enquiries, whereof our age dothsurfet. (It is a Snare after vows to make **Pro. 20. 25.Prov 20:25Enquiries,) but judicious disquisitions of the Originall and Extent of Languages.

A little before his death Pens were brandish'd betwixt Master Byfield and him, about p. 291the keeping of the Sabbath, Master Brierwood learnedly maintaining that th▪other exacted more strictness therein then God enjoyned. Let me contribute my symbole on this Subject. Our Saviour is said to be made **Gal. 4. 4.Gal 4:4under the Law, and yet he saith of himself, The Son **Mat. 12. 8.Matt 12:8of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Indeed he was made under the fourth Commandement, as under the rest of the Law, to observe the dominion, not tyranny thereof, (usurped, partly, by the misinterpretation of the Priests partly, by the misapprehension of the People,) and therefore both by his Life and Doctrine did manumisse men from that vassallage, that the day instituted for rest and repose should not be abused for self-affliction and torment.

To return to our Brierwood, I have heard a great Scholar in England say, That he was the fittest Man whom he knew in England, to sit at the Elbo of a Professor to prompt him. But in my opinion he was a very proper person to discharge the place himself. I conjecture his death about 1633.

JOHN DOWNHAM younger Son of William Downham Bishop of Chester, was (as far as my best enquiry can recover) born in this City, bred in Cambridge B. D. and afterwards became a painfull and profitable Preacher in London. He was the first who commendably discharged that eminent **In the Church behind the Exchange.Lecture, plentifully indowed by Master Jones of Munmouth, and is memorable to posterity for his worthy work of the Christian Warfare. Well had it been for England, had no other war been used therein, for this last twenty years, all pious Persons being comfortably concerned in the prosecution thereof. Seriously considering that their Armour is of proof, their Quarrel is lawfull, their Fight is long, their Foes are fierce, their Company are Saints, their Captain is Christ, their Conquest is certain, their Crown is Heaven. This grave Divine died very aged about the year 1644.

Benefactors to the Publique.

WILLIAM ALDERSEA a pious and godly man, was Mayor of the City 1560. demeaning himself in his place with much Gravity and Discretion. He caused with much Cost and Industry the Catalogue of the Mayors of Chester to be compleated, and that on this occasion. He found by Authentick Evidences, that one Alano de Whetly …ad been four times Mayor of Chester, and yet his name was never mentioned in the ordidinary Book of Mayors. This put this good Magistrate on the employment, (Detection of faults informes little without Correction of them,) to amend and compleat that lame list out of their Records. Thus Imperfections may occasion Perfection, which makes me to hope, that hereafter the Defects of this my Book (without prejudice to my Profit or Credit,) will be judiciously discovered, and industriously amended by others. This William died the twelfth of October Anno 1577. and lyeth buried in the Chancell of Saint Osswalls under a fair stone of Alabaster.

Sir THOMAS OFFLEY Son to William Offley was **Stows Su…vey of London pag. 585.born in the City of Chester, and bred a Merchant-taylor in London, whereof he became Lord Mayor Anno 1556. The usefull custome of the night Bellman (preventing many Fiers and more Felonies,) began in his Mayoralty. He was the Zachaeus of London, not for his low Stature, but his high Charity, bequeathing the half of his Estate (computed by a Reverend **D…. Willet in his Catalogue of good works since the Reformation pag. 1226.Divine, to amount to five thousand pounds) unto the Poor, although he had children of his own. Yea, he appointed that two hundred pound should be taken out of the other half (left to his son Henry) and employed to charitable uses. He died 1560. and was buried in the Church of Saint Andrews Undershaft. I am heartily sory to meet with this passage in my **Stows Survey of London pag. 1226.Author.

Sir Thomas Offley bequeatheth one half of all his goods to charitable actions. But the Parish [meaning Saint Andrews Undershaft] received little benefit thereby.

If the Testators Will were not justly performed, it soundeth to the shame and blame of his Executors. But if the charity of Sir Thomas acted Eminus not Comminus, I mean at some distance, and not at his own habitation, it was no injury for any to dispose of his own at his own pleasure. I find also two other of the same Sur-name, not mutually more allyed in bloud, then in charitable dispositions.

It is hard to instance in a Lease of kinsmen born so far from, bred in London, meeting together in such bountifull performances.

I believe it was the First of these three Offleys on whom the Rhythme was made,

Offley three dishes had of daily Roast,

An Egge, an Apple, and (the third) a Toast.

This I behold neither sin nor shame in him, feeding himself on plain and wholesome repast, that he might feast others by his bounty, and thereby deserving rather praise then a jear from posterity.

JOHN TERER Gentleman, and a Member of this City. He erected a seemly waterwork built Steeplewise at the Bridgegate, by his own ingenious industry and charge. This since hath served for the conveying of River-water from the Cisterne, in the top of that Work, through Pipes of Lead and Wood, to the Citizens houses, to their great conveniences. I could wish all designes in the like nature hopefully begun, may as h…ppily be compleated. My industry cannot attain the exact time of his death, only I find that his son of the same name, indeavoured the like to bring water from a fine spring, to the midst of this City, which I believe was effected.

The Farewell.

And now being to take our leave of this Antient and Honorable City, the worst that I wish it is, that the distance betwixt Dee and the New-tower may be made up, all Obstructions being removed, which cause or occasion the same. That the Rings on the New-tower (now only for sight) may be restored to the Service for which they were first intended, to fasten Vessels thereunto. That the Vessells on that River (lately degenerated from Ships into Barks) may grow up again to their former Strength and Stature.