122 WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER. George BULL, Bishop of St. David's, learned author; born at Wells 1634; died 1709. Dr. Henry BYAM, loyalist and learned preacher, author of "Sermons ;" born at Luccombe 1580; died 1669. Walter CHARLETON, physician, and voluminous writer on the sciences; born at Shepton Mallet 1619; died 1707. Robert CROSSE, divine, philosopher, and controversialist; born at Dunster about 1605; died 1683. Ralph CUDWORTH, learned divine and philosophical writer; born at Aller 1617; died 1688. Richard EDGEWORTH, Scientific and miscellaneous writer; born at Bath 1744; died 1817. Tho. FALCONER, divine, writer, and classical scholar; born at Bath 1772; died 1839. Henry FIELDING, novelist and dramatist; born at Sharpham Park 1707; died 1754. Dr. John GARDINER, divine; born at Wellington 1757. Dr. Henry HARRINGTON, musical poet and physician; born at Kelston 1727. Henry HELLIET, learned divine; born at Dundry; flourished 1687. Prince HOARE, dramatic and miscellaneous writer; born at Bath 1755; died 1835. Humphrey HODY, divine and author; born at Odcombe 1659; died 1706. Lord Viscount HOOD, distinguished admiral; born 1724; died in 1816. James HURLY, divine and eccentric philosopher; born at Crowcombe: died 1783. James JENNINGS, poetical writer; born at Huntspill 1772. Richard LAURENCE, divine, and primate of Ireland, theological antiquary and writer; born at Bath 1758; died 1839. John LOCKE, moral philosopher, author of "Essay on the Human Understanding," &c.; born at Wrington 1632; died 1704. William PRYNNE, lawyer and antiquary, author of "Histrio Mastix," and star-chamber victim; born at Swanswick 1600; died 1669. Lord RODNEY, successful naval commander; born about 1718; died 1792. Elizabeth Rowe, poetess and accomplished lady, and author of "Letters from the Dead to the Living," &c.; born at Ilchester 1674; died 1737. Gilbert SHELDON, archbishop of Canterbury; born at Stanton Prior 1598; died 1677. Daniel TERRY, comedian, and adapter of pieces; born at Bath; died 1829. Sir Edward WALTER, historian and herald; died 1676. John WICKE, pious divine and friend of Dr. Lardner; born at Taunton 1718. Various topographical works relative to Somersetshire have been produced since the time of Fuller. Of these the most important are, the Histories of the County, 1st, by the Rev. J. Collinson (1791); and 2nd, by the Rev. Mr. Phelps; the latter of which was commenced in 1836, and several parts have been already issued, which display considerable judgment and research. Of the works connected with the local topography of the county, the most prominent are the Description of Bath, by J. Wood (1749); the History of Bath, by the Rev. R. Warner (1801); the History of Bath Abbey Church, by J. Britton (1825), and Anstey's New Bath Guide, edited by the same (1830); Delineations of the North-western division of the County, by J. Rutter (1829); History of Taunton, by J. Toulmin (1791), and re-edited, in 1822, by J. Savage; Customs of the Manor of Taunton and Taunton Dean, by R. Locke (1816); Histories of Wells Cathedral, by J. Davis (1814), and by J. Britton (1824); History of Glastonbury, by the Rev. R. Warner (1826), and of the Hundred of Carhampton, by J. Savage (1830).—ED. STAFFORDSHIRE. STAFFORDSHIRE hath Cheshire on the north-west; Derbyshire on the east and north-east; Warwick and Worcester-shires on the south; and Shropshire in the west. It lieth from north to south in form of a lozenge, bearing forty in the length from the points thereof, whilst the breadth in the middle exceeds not twenty-six miles. A most pleasant county: for, though there be a place therein still called Sinai park (about a mile from Burton), at first so named by the abbot of Burton, because a vast, rough, hilly ground, like the wilderness of Sinai in Arabia ;* yet this, as a small mole, serves for a foil to set off the fair face of the county the better. Yea, this county hath much beauty in the very solitude thereof; witness Beau-Desert, or the Fair Wilderness, being the beautiful barony of the lord Paget: "And if their deserts have so rare devices : Pray then, how pleasant are their paradises." Indeed most fruitful are the parts of this shire above the banks of Dove; butchers being necessitated presently to kill the cattle fatted thereupon, as certainly knowing that they will fall in their flesh, if removed to any other pasture, because they cannot but change to their loss. NATURAL COMMODITIES. The best ALABASTER in England (know, reader, I have consulted with curious artists in this kind) is found about CastleHay in this county. It is but one degree beneath white marble, only more soft and brittle. However, if it lie dry fenced from weather, and may be let alone, long the during thereof. Witness the late statue of John of Gaunt in Paul's, and many monuments made thereof in Westminster, remaining without break or blemish to this day. I confess Italy affords finer alabaster (whereof those imagilets wrought at Leghorn are made), which indeed apes ivory in the whiteness and smoothness thereof. But such alabaster is found in small bunches and little propor * Burton's Description of Leicestershire, p. 119. tions: it riseth not (to use the language of workmen) in great blocks, as our English doth. What use there is of alabaster calcined in physic, belongs not to me to dispute. Only I will observe, that it is very cool, the main reason why "Mary put her ointment so precious into an alabaster box;* because it preserved the same from being dried up, to which such liquors in hot countries were very subject. THE MANUFACTURES. NAILS. These are the accommodators generally to unite solid bodies, and to make them to be continuous: yea, coin of gold and silver may be better spared in a commonwealth than nails; for commerce may be managed without money by exchange of commodities, whereas hard bodies cannot be joined together so fast, and fast so soon and soundly, without the mediation of nails. Such their service for firmness and expedition, that iron nails will fasten more in an hour than wooden pins in a day, because the latter must have their way made, whilst the former make way for themselves. Indeed there is a fair house on London bridge, commonly called None-such, which is reported to be made without either nails or pins, with crooked tenons fastened with wedges and other (as I may term them) circumferential devices. This, though it was no labour in vain, because at last attaining the intended end, yet was it no better than a vain labour according to the rule in logic, "Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora." But seeing the owner of that house had his harmless humour therein, and paid dear, no doubt, to his workmen for the same; there is no cause that I or any other should find fault there with. BUILDINGS. I have presented the portraiture of the church of Lichfield in my "Church History," with the due praise of the neatness thereof. But now, alas! the body thereof is become a very carcase, ruined in our late civil wars. The like fate is likely to fall on the rest of our cathedrals, if care be not taken for their reparations. I have read of duke d'Alva, that he promised life to some prisoners; but, when they petitioned him for food, he returned, "he would grant them life, but no meat;" by which criticism of courteous cruelty the poor people were starved. If our cathedrals have only a bare being, and be not supplied with seasonable repairs (the daily food of a fabric) soon will they be famished to nothing.t 'Matthew xxvi. 7. Mark xiv. 3. Luke vii. 37. †This note, written in bad times, seven years since, I thought not fit to put out.-F. As for the Close at Lichfield, I have been credibly informed that the plague (which long had raged therein), at first shooting of the cannon at the siege thereof, did abate, imputed by naturalists to the violent purging of the air by the bullets; but by divines to God's goodness, who graciously would not have two miseries of war and plague afflict one small place at the same time. Pass we now to Civil buildings in this shire. TUTBURY CASTLE is a stately place; and I dare take it on the credit of an excellent witness, that it hath a brave and large prospect (to it, in it, and from it); northward it looks on pleasant pastures; eastward on sweet rivers and rich meadows; southward on a goodly forest, and many parks (lately no fewer than twelve) belonging thereto or holden thereof. It was formerly the seat of the Lord Ferrars earl of Derby; and how it was forfeited to the crown is worth our observing. Robert de Ferrars earl of Derby, siding with Simon Montford against king Henry the Third, was fined at fifty thousand pounds, to be paid pridie Johannis Baptistæ† next following. I know not whether more to admire at the suddenness of payment, or vastness of the sum: seeing an hundred thousand pounds was the ransom set by the Emperor on our king Richard the First; and it shaked all the coffers of England in that age (without the help of church plate to make it up). Well, these lords following were the security bound for the earl's true payment at the time appointed: 1. Henry, son to Richard king of the Romans; 2. William Valence earl of Pembroke; 3. John de Warren earl of Surrey; 4. William Beauchamp earl of Warwick; 5. Sir Roger de Somery; 6. Sir Thomas de Clare; 7. Sir Robert Walrond; 8. Sir Roger Clifford; 9. Sir Hamond le Strange; 10. Sir Bartholomew de Sudeley; 11. Sir Robert Bruse; all being then barons of the land. But earl Robert, unable to advance the money at the time appointed, and unwilling to leave the lords, his bail, under the king's lash, surrendered his lands (and Tutbury castle amongst the rest) to the clear yearly value of three thousand pounds into the king's hands; redeemable, when he or his heirs should pay down on one day fifty thousand pounds; which was never performed. The English clergy much pitied John the son of this earl Robert, who presented a petition to the Pope, informing his Holiness, that the English clergy were willing to give him money by way of contribution to redeem his estate, but durst not, because commanded to the contrary under the pain of the Pope's curse; and therefore he craved his apostolical indulgence therein. Something I find was restored unto him; but Tutbury was Sampson Erdeswicke, in his manuscript survey of this shire. † Idem, ibidem. |