The Holy State, Book 2 · Chapter 23
WILLIAM CAMBDEN Clarenciaux king of Armes. He dyed at Westminster Anno Dni 1623 Aged 74 yeares. W Marshall sculp:
CHAP. 23. The life of Mr W. CAMBDEN.
WIlliam Cambden was born Anno 1550 in old Baily, in the City of London. His Father, Sampson Cambden, was descended of honest parentage in Staffordshire; but by his Mothers side he was extracted from the worshipfull family of the *A quibus nobis (absit invidia) genus maternum, Cambd. Brit. in Cumber.Curwens in Cumberland.
He was brought up first in Christ-Church, then in Pauls School in London, and at fifteen years of age went to Magdalen Colledge in Oxford, and thence to *Ex Parentatione Degorii Wheat.Broadgates Hall, where he first made those short Latine Graces, which the Servitours still use. From hence he was removed, and made student of Christ Church, where he profited to such eminency, that he was preferred to be Master of Westminster School, a most famous seminarie of learning.
For whereas before, of the two grand Schools of England, one sent all her Foundation-scholars to Cambridge, the other all to Oxford, the good Queen (as the Head equally favouring both Breasts of Learning and Religion) divided her Scholars here betwixt both Universities, which were enriched with many hopefull plants sent from hence, through Cambdens learning, diligence, and clemency. Sure none need pity the beating of that Scholar, who would not learn without it under so meek a Master.
His deserts call'd him hence to higher employments. The Queen first made him Richmond Herald, and then Clarenceaux King of Arms. We reade how Dionysius first King of Sicily turn'd afterwards a Schoolmaster in his old age. Behold here Dionysius inverted, one that was a Schoolmaster in his youth become a King (of Arms) in his riper years, which place none ever did or shall discharge with more integrity. He was a most exact Antiquary, witnesse his worthy work, which is a comment on three kingdomes; and never was so large a text more briefly, so dark a text more plainly expounded. Yea what a fair garment hath been made out of the very shreds and Remains of that greater Work?
It is most worthy observation with what diligence he inquired after ancient places, making Hue and Crie after many a City which was run away, and by certain marks and tokens pursuing to find it; as by the situation on the *Watlin Ermin streetRomane high-wayes, by just distance from other ancient cities, by some affinity of name, by tradition of the inhabitants, by Romane coyns digged up, and by some appearance of ruines. A broken urn is a whole evidence, or an old gate still surviving, out of which the city is run out. Besides, commonly some new spruce town, not farre off, is grown out of the ashes thereof, which yet hath so much naturall affection, as dutifully to own those reverend ruines for her Mother.
By these and other means he arrived at admirable knowledge, and restored Britain to her self. And let none tax him for presumption in conjectures where the matter was doubtfull; for many probable conjectures have stricken the fire, out of which Truths candle hath been lighted afterwards. Besides, conjectures, like parcells of unknown ore, are sold but at low rates: If they prove some rich metall, the buyer is a great gainer; i… base, no looser, for he payes for it accordingly.
His candour and sweet temper was highly to be commended, gratefully acknowledging those by whom he was assisted in the work (in such a case confession puts the difference betwixt stealing and borrowing) and surely so heavy a log needed more levers then one. He honourably mentioneth such as differ from him in opinion; not like those Antiquaries, who are so snarling one had as good dissent a mile as an hairs breadth from them.
Most of the English ancient Nobility and Gentry he hath unpartially observed. Some indeed object that he *Hugh Holland in the life of the Earl of Leicester.claws and flatters the Grandees of his own age, extolling some families rather great then ancient, making them to flow from a farre fountain because they had a great channell, especially if his private friends. But this cavil hath more of malice then truth: indeed 'tis pitty he should have a tongue, that hath not a word for a friend on just occasion; and justly might the stream of his commendations run broader, where meeting with a confluence of desert and friendship in the same party. For the main, his pen is sincere and unpartiall, and they who complain that Grantham steeple stands awry will not set a straiter by it.
Some say that in silencing many gentile families, he makes baulks of as good ground as any he ploweth up. But these again acquit him, when they consider that it is not onelyonly difficult but impossible to anatomize the English Gentry so exactly, as to shew where every smallest vein thereof runs. Besides, many Houses, conceived to be by him omitted, are rather rightly placed by him, not where they live, but whence they came. Lastly, we may perceive that he prepared another work on purpose for the English Gentry.
I say nothing of his learned Annalls of Queen Elizabeth, industriously performed. His very enemies (if any) cannot but commend him. Sure he was as farre from loving *These words he wrote in the beginning of his Testament, Christi solius meritis & satisfactione spem omnem salutis meae semper ni…i profiteor.Popery, as from hating Learning, though that aspersion be generall on Antiquaries; as if they could not honour hoary hairs, but presently themselves must doat.
His liberality to Learning is sufficiently witnessed in his Founding of an History-Professour in Oxford, to which he gave the mannour of Bexley in Kent, worth in present a hundred and fourty pounds, but (some years expired) foure hundred pounds per Annum, so that he merited that distich,
Est tibi pro Tumulo, Cambdene, Britannia tota,
Oxonium vivens est Epigramma tibi.
The Military part of his office he had no need to imploy, passing it most under a peaceable Prince. But now having lived many years in honour and esteem, death at last, even contrarie to Ius Gentium, kill'd this worthy Herald, so that it seems, Mortality, the Law of Nature, is above the Law of Arms. He died Anno 1623. the ninth of November, in the seventie fourth yeare of his age.