leaving to each of them a considerable revenue in a worshipful condition. He gave five hundred pounds for the building of an alms-house in the city of Wells; and, dying February 26, 1607, lies buried in his own cathedral, under a neat tomb of alabaster. MARTIN FOTHERBY, D.D. was born at Great Grimsby in this county, of a good family, as appeareth by his epitaph on his monument in the church of All-hallows, Lombard street, London. He was bred fellow of Trinity College in Cambridge, and became afterwards one and twenty years prebendary of Canterbury; then he was preferred by king James bishop of Salisbury; he died in his calling, having begun to put in print an excellent book against Atheists, most useful for our age, wherein their sin so aboundeth. His death happened March 11, 1619, not two full years after his consecration. STATESMEN. EDWARD FINES, lord Clinton, knight of the Garter, was lord admiral of England for more than thirty years: a wise, valiant, and fortunate gentleman. The master-piece of his service was in Musselborough field, in the reign of king Edward the Sixth, and the battle against the Scots.* Some will wonder, what a fish should do on dry land, what use of an admiral in a land fight. But know, the English kept themselves close to the shore, under the shelter of their ships; and whilst their arrows could do little, their spears less, their swords nothing, against the Scots (who appeared like a hedge of steel, so well armed and closed together): the great ordnance from their ships. at first did all, making such destruction in the Scottish army, that though some may call it a land fight, it was first a victory from the sea, and then but an execution on the land.† By queen Elizabeth (who honoured her honours by bestowing them sparingly) he was created earl of Lincoln, May 4th, 1574; and indeed he had breadth to his height, a proportionable estate, chiefly in this county, to support his dignity, being one of those who, besides his paternal inheritance, had much increased his estate. He died January the sixteenth, 1585; and lieth buried at Windsor, in a private chapel, under a stately monument, which Elizabeth his third wife, daughter to the earl of Kildare, erected in his remembrance. THOMAS WILSON, doctor of laws, was born in this county ;‡ bred fellow of King's Collège in Cambridge; and afterwards was tutor in the same university to Henry and Charles Brandons, successively dukes of Suffolk. Hard shift he made to Sir John Hayward, in the reign of king Edward the Sixth, page 15. Sir John Hayward, ubi supra, page 31. Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent, ix. conceal himself in the reign of queen Mary. Under queen Elizabeth he was made Master of the hospital of St. Katherine's nigh the Tower of London, upon the same token that he took down the choir, which, my author saith, (allow him a little hyperbole) was as great as the choir at St. Paul's.* I am loath to believe it done out of covetousness, to gain by the materials thereof, but would rather conceive it so run to ruin, that it was past repairing. He at last became secretary of state to queen Elizabeth for four years together. It argues his ability for the place, because he was put into it; seeing in those active times, under so judicious a queen, weakness might despair to be employed in such an office. He died anno Domini 15 ..† THOMAS Lord BURGE, or BOROUGH, Son to William Lord Burge, grandson to Thomas Lord Burge (created baron by king Henry the Eighth) was born in his father's fair house at Gainsborough in this county.‡ His first public appearing was, when he was sent ambassador into Scotland, anno 1593, to excuse Bothwell's lurking in England, to advise the speedy suppressing of the Spanish faction, and to advance an effectual association of the Protestants in that kingdom for their king's defence; which was done accordingly. Now when Sir William Russel, lord deputy of Ireland, was recalled, this lord Thomas Burge was substituted in his room, anno 1597. Mr. Camden doth thus character him, "vir acer, et animi plenus, sed nullis ferè castrorum rudimentis."§ But where there is the stock of valour with an able brain, experience will soon be graffed upon it. It was first thought fit to make a month's truce with Tyrone; which cessation, like a damn, made their mutual animosities for the present swell higher, and, when removed for the future, run the fiercer. The lord deputy (the truce expired) straitly besieged the fort of Blackwater, the only receptacle of the rebels in those parts (I mean, besides their woods and bogs), and the key of the county of Tyrone. This fort he took by force; and presently followed a bloody battle, wherein the English paid dear for their victory, losing many worthy men, and amongst them two that were foster-brothers (fratres collactanei) to the earl of Kildare, who so laid this loss to his heart (amongst the Irish, foster-brethren are loved above the sons of their fathers), that he died soon after. Tyrone's credit now lay a bleeding; when, to staunch it, he rebesieged Blackwater; and the lord deputy, whilst endeavouring to relieve it, was struck with untimely death, before he had continued a whole year in his place. All I will add is this, that it brake the heart of valiant Sir John Norris (who had promised the deputy's place unto himself, as due to his deserts) when this • Stow's Survey of London, in Tower-street Ward. lord Burge was superinduced into that office. His relict lady (famous for her charity, and skill in chirurgery) lived long in Westminster, and died very aged some twenty years since. WILLIAM CECIL.-Know, reader, before I go farther, something must be premised concerning his position in this topic. Virgil was profane in his flattery to Augustus Cæsar; proffering him his free choice after his death, to be ranked amongst what heathen gods he pleased; so that he might take his place either amongst those of the land, which had the oversight of men and cities; or the sea-gods, commanding in the ocean; or the sky-gods, and become a new constellation therein.* But, without the least adulation, we are bound to proffer this worthy peer his own election; whether he will be pleased to repose himself under BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC, all England in that age being beholden to his bounty (as well as the poor in Stamford, for whom he erected a fair bead-house) acknowledging, under God and the queen, their prosperity the fruit of his prudence. Or else he may rest himself under the title of LAWYERS, being long bred in the Inns of Court, and more learned in our municipal law than many who made it their sole profession. However, for the present, we lodge this English Nestor (for wisdom and vivacity) under the notion of STATESMEN, being secretary and lord treasurer for above thirty years together. Having formerly written his life at large, it will be enough here to observe, that he was born at Bourne in this county, being son to Richard Cecil (esquire of the robes to king Henry the Eighth, and a legatee in his will) and Jane his wife, of whom hereafter. He was in his age moderator aulæ, steering the court at his pleasure; and whilst the earl of Leicester would endure no equal, and Sussex no superior therein, he, by siding with neither, served himself with both. Incredible was the kindness which queen Elizabeth had for him, or rather for herself in him, being sensible that he was so able a minister of state. Coming once to visit him, being sick of the gout at Burleigh-house in the Strand, and being much heightened with her head attire (then in fashion); the lord's servant who conducted her through the door, "May your highness," said he, "be pleased to stoop." The queen returned, "For your master's sake I will stoop, but not for the king of Spain's. This worthy patriot departed this life, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, August the 4th, 1598. CAPITAL JUDGES. [REM.] Sir WILLIAM de SKIPWITH was bred in the study of the laws, profiting so well therein, that he was made, in Trinity term, lord chief baron of the Exchequer, in the thirtyfifth, continuing therein until the fortieth, of the reign of king Edward the Third.* I meet not with any thing memorable of him in our English histories; except this may pass for a thing remarkable, that, at the importunity of John of Gaunt duke of Lancaster, this Sir William condemned William Wickham, bishop of Winchester, of crimes rather powerfully objected than plainly proved against him; whereupon the bishop's temporals were taken from him, and he denied access within twenty miles of the king's court.† I confess there is a village in the East-riding of Yorkshire, called Skipwith; but I have no assurance of this judge's nativity therein; though ready to remove him thither upon clearer information. [AMP.] Sir WILLIAM SKIPWITH, junior.-He was inferior to the former in place (whom I behold as a puisne judge); but herein remarkable to all posterity, that he would not comply, neither for the importunity of king Richard the Second, nor the example of his fellow judges,‡ (in the 10th year of that king's reign) to allow that the king by his own power might rescind an Act of Parliament. "Solus inter impios mansit integer Gulielmus Skipwith, miles; clarus ideò apud posteros;" and shined the brighter for living in the midst of a crooked generation,§ bowed with fear and favour into corruption. I know well, that the collar of SSS (or Esses) worn about the necks of judges (and other persons of honour) is wreathed into that form, whence it receiveth its name; chiefly from Sanctus Simon Simplicius, an uncorrupted judge in the primitive times. May I move that every fourth link thereof, when worn, may mind them of this Skipwith, so upright in his judgment in a matter of the highest importance. Having no certainty of his nativity, I place him in this county, where his name at Ormesby hath flourished ever since his time in a very worshipful equipage. [AMP.] Sir WILLIAM HUSEE, Knight, was born, as I have cause to believe, in this county, where his name and family flourish in a right worshipful equipage. He was bred in the study of our municipal law, and attained to such eminency therein, that by king Edward the Fourth, in the one and twentieth of his reign, he was made lord chief justice of the King's Bench.|| Sir Henry Spelman's Glossary, tit. Justitiarius. † Bishop Godwin, in the Bishops of Winchester. See Sir Robert Belknap, title LAWYERS, in Leicestershire. | Spelman's Glossary, p. 417. King Henry the Seventh (who in point of policy was only directed by himself) in point of law was chiefly ruled by this judge, especially in this question of importance.* It happened that in his first parliament many members thereof were returned, who (being formerly of this king's party) were attainted, and thereby not legal to sit in parliament, being disabled in the highest degree, it being incongruous that they should make laws for others, who themselves were not inlawed. The king, not a little troubled therewith, remitted it as a case in law to the judges. The judges, assembled in the Exchequer Chamber, agreed all with Sir William Husee (their speaker to the king) upon this grave and safe opinion, mixed with law and convenience," that the knights and burgesses attainted by the course of law should forbear to come into the House, till a law were passed for the reversal of their attainders;" which was done accordingly. When at the same time it was incidently moved, in their consultation, what should be done for the king himself, who likewise was attainted, the rest unanimously agreed with Sir William Husee, "that the crown takes away all defects and stops in blood; and that, by the assumption thereof, the fountain was cleared from all attainders and corruptions." He died in Trinity term, in the tenth year of king Henry the Seventh.† Sir EDMUND ANDERSON, Knight, was born a younger brother of a gentle extract at Flixborough in this county, and bred in the Inner Temple. I have been informed that his father left him 10007. for his portion, which this our Sir Edmund multiplied into many, by his great proficiency in the common law, being made in the twenty-fourth of queen Elizabeth chief justice of the Common Pleas. When secretary Davison was sentenced in the Star Chamber for the business of the queen of Scots, judge Anderson said of him," that therein he had done justum non justė ;" and so, acquitting him of all malice, censured him, with the rest, for his indiscretion.‡ When Henry Cuff was arraigned about the rising of the earl of Essex, and when Sir Edward Coke the queen's solicitor opposed him, and the other answered syllogistically, our Anderson (sitting there as judge of law not logic) checked both pleader and prisoner, "ob stolidos syllogismos," (for their foolish syllogisms§), appointing the former to press the statute of king Edward the Third. His stern countenance well became his place, being a great promoter of the established church discipline, and very severe against all Brownists when he met them in his circuit. He died in the third of king James, leaving great estates to several sons; of whom I behold Sir Francis Anderson * Lord Verulam, in the Life of king Henry the Seventh, p. 242. + Spelman's Glossary, ut prius. § Idem, anno 1600. Camden's Elizabeth, anno 1587. |