coronet which was their own, much degraded in degree, and more in estate. I would give in an inventory of the vast wealth they then possessed, but am loath to grieve her surviving relations with a list of the lands lost by her father's attainture. She suffered on Tower-hill, 1554-5, on the twelfth of February.

KATHARINE GREY was second daughter to Henry duke of Suffolk. "Tis pity to part the sisters, that their memories may mutually condole and comfort one another. She was born in the same place, and (when her father was in heighth) married to Henry Lord Herbert, son and heir to the earl of Pembroke; but the politic old earl, perceiving the case altered, and what was the highway to honour, turned into the ready road to ruin, got pardon from queen Mary, and brake the marriage quite off. This Heraclita, Lady of Lamentation, thus repudiated, was seldom seen with dry eyes for some years together, sighing out her sorrowful condition; so that though the roses in her cheeks looked very wan and pale, it was not for want of watering. Afterward Edward Seymour earl of Hertford married her privately without the queen's licence; and concealed, till her pregnancy discovered it.

Indeed our English proverb, "It is good to be near a-kin to land," holdeth in private patrimonies, not titles to crowns, where such alliances have created to many much molestation. Queen Elizabeth beheld her with a jealous eye, unwilling she should match either foreign prince or English peer, but follow the pattern she set her of constant virginity.

For their presumption, this earl was fined fifteen thousand pounds, imprisoned with his lady in the Tower, and severely forbidden her company. But love and money will find or force a passage. By bribing the keeper, he bought (what was his own) his wife's embraces; and had by her a surviving son, Edward, ancestor to the right honourable the duke of Somerset. She died January 26th, a prisoner in the Tower, 1567, after nine years' durance therein.

MARY GREY, the youngest daughter, frighted with the infelicity of her two elder sisters, Jane and this Katharine, forgot her honour, to remember her safety; and married one whom she could love, and none need fear, Martin Kayes, of Kent, Esq. who was a judge at court (but only of doubtful casts at dice, being serjeant-porter); and died without issue, the 20th of April 1578.

MARTYRS.

HUGH LATIMER was born at Thurcaston in this county.* What his father was, and how qualified for his state, take from

his own mouth, in his first sermon before king Edward, being confident the reader will not repent his pains in perusing it.

"My father was a yeoman, and had no lands of his own; only he had a farm of three or four pounds a-year at the uttermost; and hereupon he tilled so much as kept half a dozen men. He had walk for an hundred sheep; and my mother milked thirty kine. He was able, and did find the king an harness, with himself and his horse, whilst he came unto the place that he should receive the king's wages. I can remember I buckled his harness when he went to Blackheath-field. He kept me to school; or else I had not been able to have preached before the king's majesty now. He married my sisters with five pounds, or twenty nobles, a-piece; so that he brought them up in godliness and fear of God. He kept hospitality for his poor neighbours, and some alms he gave to the poor. And all this did he of the same farm where he that now hath it payeth sixteen pounds by the year and more, and is not able to do anything for his prince, for himself, nor for his children; or give a cup of drink to the poor."

He was bred in Christ's College in Cambridge; and converted, under God, by Mr. Bilney, from a violent Papist to a zealous Protestant. He was afterwards made bishop of Worcester; and four years after ousted, for refusing to subscribe the Six Articles. How he was martyred at Oxford, 1555, is notoriously known.

Let me add this appendix to his memory. When the contest was in the House of Lords, in the reign of king Henry the Eighth, about the giving all abbey lands to the king, there was a division betwixt the bishops of the Old and New learning, for by those names they were distinguishing. Those of the Old learning, unwillingly willing, were contented that the king should make a resumption of all those abbeys which his ancestors had founded, leaving the rest to continue according to the intention of their founders. The bishops of the New learning were more pliable to the king's desires. Only Latimer was dissenting; earnestly urging, that two abbeys at the least in every diocese, of considerable revenues, might be preserved for the maintenance of learned men therein. Thus swimming a good while against the stream, he was at last carried away with the current.

EMINENT PRELATES BEFORE THE REFORMATION.

GILBERT SEGRAVE, born at Segrave in this county, was bred in Oxford, where he attained to great learning, as the books written by him do declare. The first preferment I find conferred on him was, the provost's place of St. Sepulchre's in York; and the occasion how he obtained it is remarkable.

The Pope had formerly bestowed it on his near kinsman, which argueth the good value thereof; seeing neither eagles nor eagles'-birds do feed on flies. This kinsman of the Pope's, lying on his death-bed, was troubled in conscience (which speaketh

loudest when men begin to be speechless, and all sores pain most when near night) that he had undertaken such a cure of souls upon him, who never was in England nor understood English; and therefore requested the Pope his kinsman, that after his death the place might be bestowed on some learned Englishman, that so his own absence and negligence might in some sort be repaired by the residence and diligence of his successor :* and this Segrave, to his great credit, was found the fittest person for that performance. He was afterwards preferred bishop of London, sitting in that see not full four years, dying anno Domini 1317.

WALTER de LANGTON was born at West Langton in this county. He was highly in favour with king Edward the First, under whom he was bishop of Coventry and Lichfieid, and treasurer of England. He granted him also liberty of free-warren in West and Thorpe Langton in this county, the patrimonial inheritance of this prelate.†

With his own innocence and friends' assistance, at long sailing he weathered out the tempest of the Pope's displeasure.

Longer did he groan under the undeserved anger of king Edward the Second: chiefly because this bishop sharply reproved him, when as yet but prince, for his debauchery.‡

See here the great difference betwixt youth: some hopefully, some desperately riotous. Of the former was Henry the Fifth, who, when king, is said to have rewarded and advanced such who had reproved and punished him when prince. Of the latter was king Edward, not only wild, but mad in his viciousness. But our Langton at length was brought, saith my author,§ "in regis semi-gratiam," (into the king's half favour); let me add, "et in populi sesque-gratiam," (and into the people's favour and half) who highly loved and honoured him.

His tragi-comical life had a peaceable end in plenty and prosperity. He found his cathedral of Lichfield mean, and left it magnificent; and it will appear by the instance of our Langton, Josceline of Wells, and others, that bishops continuing unremoved in their see have achieved greater matters than those who have been often translated, though to richer bishoprics. Indeed prodigious was his bounty in building and endowing his cathedral, wherein he continued almost twenty-five years; and, dying 1321, was buried in the chapel of St. Mary, of hi

own erection.

ROGER de MARTIVAL,|| son and heir to Sir Aukitell de Martivall, Knight (who gave for his arms Argent a cinquefoil Sable),

Bishop Godwin, in vità T. Corbridge,

† Burton's Description of this County, p. 257. Godwin, in the Bishops of Bath and Wells. Bishop Godwin writeth him "Mortivall."

§ T. Walsingham.

was born at Nowsley in this county. He was first archdeacon of Leicester, then dean of Lincoln, and at last consecrated bishop Salisbury, in the reign of king Edward the Second, 1315. Now seeing Bishop Godwin hath nothing more of him save his name and date, it is charity further to inform posterity that he was the last heir male of his house, and founded a college at Nowsley, temp. Edw. I. for a warden and certain brethren, which in the 24th of Henry VI. was valued to dispend yearly (besides all charges) 61. 138. 4d. His estate descended to Joyce de Martivall, his sister, married unto Sir Ralph Hastings, lineal ancestor to the now Earl of Huntingdon. As for the manor of Nowsley, as it came with the mother, so it went away with her daughter, into the family of the Herons; and by her daughter into the family of the Hazelriggs, who at this day are possessors thereof.* This bishop died in the midst of Lent, 1329.

ROBERT WIVILL was born of worthy and wealthy parentage at Stanton Wivill in this county.† At the instance of Philippa, queen to king Edward the Third, the Pope, anno 1329, preferred him bishop of Salisbury. It is hard to say whether he were more dunce or dwarf, more unlearned or unhandsome, insomuch that T. Walsingham tells us, that had the Pope ever seen him (as no doubt he felt him in his large fees) he would never have conferred the place upon him.

He sate bishop more than forty-five years, and impleaded William Mountague earl of Salisbury in a writ of right for the castle of Salisbury. The earl chose the trial by battle; which the bishop accepted of, and both produced their champions into the place. The combatant for the bishop coming forth all clad in white, with the bishop's own arms, viz. Gules fretty Vaire, a chief Or, impaled no doubt with them of his see, on his sur

coat.

Some highly commended the zeal of the bishop, asserting the rights of his church; whilst others condemn this in him, as an unprelatical act, God allowing duels no competent deciders of such differences. And moderate men, to find out an expedient, said, he did this, not as a bishop, but baron. The best was, the matter was taken up by the king's interposing; and the bishop, with 2500 marks, bought of the earl the quiet possession of the castle; and died anno Domini 1375, being buried under a marble stone about the middle of the choir.

SINCE THE REFORMATION.

JOSEPH HALL was born at Ashby de la Zouch in this county, where his father, under the earl of Huntingdon, was governor or bailiff of the town. So soon almost as Emanuel College was

• Burton, in his Description of Leicestershire, page 211. Idem, page 269.

Godwin, in the Bishops of Salisbury. Burton, ut prius.

admitted into Cambridge, he was admitted into that college, within few years after the first foundation thereof. He passed all his degrees with great applause. First, noted in the university for his ingenuous maintaining (be it truth or paradox) that "Mundus senescit," (the world groweth old). Yet, in some sort, his position confuteth his position, the wit and quickness whereof did argue an increase rather than a decay of parts in this latter age.

He was first beneficed by Sir Robert Drury at Halstead in Suffolk; and thence removed by Edward Lord Denny (afterward Earl of Norwich) to Waltham Abbey in Essex. Here I must pay the tribute of my gratitude to his memory, as building upon his foundation, beholding myself as his great-grandchild in that place, three degrees from him in succession: but oh! how many from him in ability. His little catechism hath done great good in that populous parish; and I could wish that ordinance more generally used all over England.

Being doctor of divinity, he was sent over by king James to the Synod of Dort, whence only indisposition of body forced him to return before the rest of his colleagues. He was preferred first dean of Worcester, then bishop of Exeter, then bishop of Norwich, then bishop of no place: surviving to see his sacred function buried before his eyes. He may be said to have died with his pen in his hand, whose writing and living expired together. He was commonly called our English Seneca,* for the pureness, plainness, and fulness of his style. Not unhappy at controversies, more happy at comments, very good in his characters, better in his sermons, best of all in his meditations. Nor will it be amiss to transcribe the following passage out of his will:

"In the name of God, Amen. I Joseph Hall, D.D., not worthy to be called bishop of Norwich, &c. First, I bequeath my soul, &c. My body I leave to be interred, without any funeral pomp, at the discretion of my executors; with this only monition, that I do not hold God's house a meet repository for the dead bodies of the greatest saints."+

He died September the 8th, anno Domini 1656; and was buried at Higham near Norwich.

STATESMEN.

GEORGE VILLIERS was born at Brokesby in this county, fourth son to his father Sir George Villiers, and second son to his mother Mary Beaumont. Being debarred (by his late nativity) from his father's lands, he was happy in his mother's love, maintaining him in France, till he returned one of the completest courtiers in Christendom, his body and behaviour mututually gracing one another.

Sir H. Wotton, in his Letter to Dr. Collins.-F. † Examinat. R. Richard.