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said "Parentes et ampli patrimonii spem reliquisse," (to have left his parents, and the hope of a fair inheritance.)

Reader, a word by the way of the word Nobilis, which soundeth high in English ears, where barons' youngest children are the lowest step of nobility; whilst Nobilis from the pen of a foreigner generally importeth no more than an ordinary gentleman.*

It was not long since my weakness was employed to draw up, in Latin, a testimonial for a high German, who indeed was of honourable extraction; and, according to direction, I was advised to style him Generosissimum ac Nobilissimum. For Generosus (which runneth so low in England) in Saxony doth carry it clear as the more honourable epithet. Thus words, like counters, stand for more or less according to custom. Yea, Latin words are bowed in their modern senses, according to the acception of several places.

This bishop, leaving the land, went first to Rheims, then to Rome, where he was made priest; and, being sent back into England, met with variety of success: 1. Being seized on, he was brought before the secretary Walsingham, and by him committed to the Marshalsey: 2. After three years, being banished the realm, he became a doctor of Sorbonne : 3. He returned into England, and for nine years laboured in the Popish harvest 4. By their clergy he was employed a messenger to Rome, about some affairs of importance: 5. His business dispatched, he returned the third time into England; and, after eight years' industry therein, to advance his own cause, was caught and cast into prison at London, where he remained about the year 1612 6. Soon after he procured his enlargement; and, anno 1615, lived at Paris, in Collegio Atrebatensi.

Men of his persuasion cry him up for a most glorious confessor of their Popish faith, who (if any goodness in him) should also be a thankful confessor of the Protestant charity, permitting him twice to depart prison (on hope of his amendment) though so active an instrument against our religion. No such courtesy of Papists to Protestants; vestigia nulla restrorsum; no return (especially the second time) out of durance; the first disease being dangerous, but deadly their relapse into a prison. But perchance this William Bishop found the more favour, because our churchmen accounting it too much severity to take away both his credit and his life, both to conquer and kill him, seeing this priest, whilst in prison, was often worsted (though his party bragged of victory) both by tongues and pens, in disputings and writings, of several Protestants, amongst whom Robert Abbot (afterwards bishop of Salisbury) gave him the most fatal defeat. The certain date of his death is to me unknown.

* Our countryman, Pits, did foreignize with long living beyond the seas. – F.

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BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC.

HUGH CLOPTON was born at Stratford, a fair market town in this county, bred a Mercer in London, and at last lord mayor thereof anno 1491. Remembering that his native town stood on Avon (a river in summer, and little sea in winter), troublesome for travellers to pass over; he, in lieu of the former inconvenient conveyance, built a stately and long stone bridge, of many arches, over the channel and overflowings thereof.

I behold this bridge more useful, though less costly, than what Caligula made, termed by Suetonius* "novum et inauditum spectaculi genus," reaching from Putzel to Bauly, three miles and a quarter. This was only a pageant bridge for pomp, set up to be soon taken down, whereof Lipsius said well," Laudem immenso operi vanitas detrahit." But our Clopton's bridge remaineth at this day, even when the college in the same town, built by archbishop Stratford, is (as to the intended use thereof) quite vanished away. Indeed bridges are the most lasting benefactions, all men being concerned in their continuance, lest, by destroying them, they destroy themselves, not knowing how soon, for their own safety, they may have need to make use thereof. Many other charities he bestowed; and deceased anno 1496.

SINCE THE REFORMATION.

JOHN HALES, Esq.-He purchased a prime part of the priory of Coventry. Now, either out of his own inclination, or as a condition of his composition with king Henry the Eighth, or a mixture of both, he founded and endowed a fair grammarschool in Coventry. Herein I have seen more (abate the three English schools of the first magnitude†) and as well-learned scholars (be it spoken that the master, usher, and scholars may, according to their proportions, divide the praise betwixt them) as in any school in England. Here is also an infant, which may be an adult library, when it meeteth with more benefactors.

JOHN Lord HARRINGTON, Son to James Lord Harrington, was born at Combe Abbey in this county (accruing unto him by his mother, heiress of Kelway), as by a property of that family, lately (or still) surviving, I have, on very strict inquiry, been certainly informed.

He did not count himself privileged from being good, by being great; and his timely piety rising early, did not soon after go to bed (as some young saints, beheld under another notion,) but continued watchful during his life.

He was one of the first who began the pious fashion (since followed by few of his quality) of a diary, wherein he regis* In Vitâ Caligulæ, cap. xix.

† Eton, Westminster, and the Charter-house.-Ed.

BENEFACTORS- -MEMORABLE PERSONS.

291

tered, not the injuries of others done unto him (a work of revenge not devotion), but of his failings and infirmities toward his Master. Thus making even with the God of Heaven, by repentance in Christ at the end of every day," he had," to use the expression and counsel of the reverend archbishop of Armagh," but one day to repent of before his death.”

He lived out all his days in the appointment of Divine Providence, not half of them according to the course and possibility of Nature, not half a quarter of them according to the hopes and desires of the lovers and honourers of virtue in this nation, especially of the society in Sidney College in Cambridge, whereto he was a most bountiful benefactor. He was the last male of that honourable family, as one justly complains: "JOHANNES DOMINUS HARRINGTONIUS: Anagramma,* INSIGNIS ERAT (AH) UNUS HONOR DOMI."

The reader is referred for the rest unto his funeral sermon preached by master Stock of London, who, though he would not (to use his own phrase) "gild a potsherd;" understand him, "flatter unworthiness;" yet giveth him his large and due commendation. He died unmarried, anno 1614, leaving his two sisters his heirs: Lucy, married to Edward earl of Bedford; and Anne, who by Sir Robert Chichester had a daughter, Anne, married to Thomas earl of Elgin, and mother to Robert lord Bruce,† who is at this day heir apparent to no small part of the lands, but actually possessed of a larger of the virtues of his honourable great-uncle.

MEMORABLE PERSONS.

THOMAS UNDERHILL, Esq. was born at Nether-Eatendon in this county. It is pity to part him from Elizabeth his wife, seeing the poetical fiction of Philemon and Baucis found in them an historical performance with improvement:

Sed pia Baucis anus parilique ætate Philemon
Illa sunt annis juncti juvenilibus, illå
Consenuere casa: paupertatemque fatendo
Effecêre levem, nec iniquâ mente ferendam.
"But good old Baucis with Philemon, match'd

In youthful years, now struck with equal age,
Made poorness pleasant in their cottage thatch'd,
And weight of want with patience did assuage."

Whereas this our Warwickshire pair, living in a worshipful equipage, and exemplary for their hospitality, did teach others, not how poverty might be borne, but wealth well used (by their example) for the owners' and others' good.

The Ovidian couple appear issueless; whereas twenty chil

H. Holland, Heroologia, p. 139.

† Robert Lord Bruce was created Earl of Aylesbury, March 18, 1664; Lord Chamberlain of the King's Household, July 30, 1685; and died on the 20th of October following.-ED.

dren, viz. thirteen sons and seven daughters, were begotten and born by this Thomas and Elizabeth, living sixty-five years together in marriage.

Indeed, the poetical pair somewhat outstripped them in the happiness of their death, their request being granted them : Et quoniam concordes egimus annos,

Auferat hora duos eadem: nec conjugis unquam

Busta mea videam: nec sim tumulandus ab illâ.
"Because we liv'd and lov'd so long together,
Let's not behold the funerals of either;
May one hour end us both! may I not see
This my wife buried, nor wife bury me!"

However, these Underhills deceased in one year; she in July, he in October following, 1603.*

LORD MAYORS.

1. John Coventry,† son of William Coventry, of Coventry, Mercer, 1425.

2. John Olney, son of John Olney, of Coventry, Mercer, 1446. 3. Robert Tate, son of Thomas Tate, of Coventry, Mercer, 1488. 4. Hugh Clopton, son of John Clopton, of Stratford-uponAvon, Mercer, 1491.

5. John Tate, son of Thomas Tate, of Coventry, ——, 1496. 6. William Cockain, son of William Cockain, of Baddesley, Skinner, 1619.

7. John Warner, son of John Warner, of Rowington, Grocer.

THE NAMES OF THE GENTRY OF THIS COUNTY, RETURNED BY THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF HENRY THE SIXTH, A.D. 1433.

William bishop of Lincoln, and Richard earl of Warwick;John Cotes, and Nicholas Metley, (knights for the shire) ;— Commissioners to take the oaths.

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Rob. Arden de Bromwich, arm.
Will. Puefrey de Shiford, arm.

Edw. Bronflete de Farnburgh, Rog. Harewell de Morehall,

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See their monument in the church of Nether-Eatendon.

I suspect this Catalogue (though taken out of Mr. Stow) imperfect, and that Sir William Hollis, lord-mayor (and builder of Coventry-cross) was this country. man, F.

GENTRY-SHERIFFS.

Rich. Hyband de Ippesley,

arm.

Will. Botoner de Wythybroke. Joh. Midlemore de Eggebaston, arm.

Thome Porter de Escote, arm. Tho. Sydenhall de Tonworth,

arm.

Tho. Waryng de eadem, arm. Rich. Verney, arm. de Wolver

ton.

Tho. Grene de Solyhull, arm. Joh. Chetwyn de Alspath,

arm.

Joh. Waldiene de eadem, arm. Nich. Ruggeley de Donton,

arm.

Will. Holt de Aston, arm.
Rich. Merbroke de Codbarow,

arm.

Galf. Allefley de Parva Lalleford.

Tho. Greswold de Solyhull.
Tho. Haynton de Napton.
Will. Parker de Tonworth.
Edm. Starkey de Stretton.
Ranul. Starky de eadem.
Will. Derset de Thurlaston.
Rich. Hall de Stretford.
Joh. Mayell de eadem.
Simon. Forster de Altherston.
Clemen. Draper de eadem.
Johan. Darant de Berston.
Rog. Mullward de Nuneton.
Johan. Omfrey de eadem.
Johan. Waryn de eadem.
Hum. Jacob de Tamworth.
Tho. Neuton de eadem.
Math. Smalwode de Sutton.

293

Rich. Dalby de Brokhampton.
Rich. Eton de Warwick.
Hum. Corbet.

Johan. Aleyn de Berford.
Tho. Jakes de Woner.
Rog. Clerk de Tatchbrook.
Rich. Briches de Longedon.
Will. Reynold de Attilburgh.
Joh. Michell, Majoris civitatis
Coventriæ.

Will. Donington, unius Ballivorum civitatis predictæ. Rob. Southam, alterius Balli

vorum civitatis predictæ. Egidii Allesley, Magistri Gildæ Sanctæ Trinitatis de Coventria.

Lauren. Cook de Coventria, merchant.

Rich. Sharp de eadem, Merchant.

Richardi Boton de eadem, fishmonger.

Joh. Lychefeld de eadem, grasier.

Joh. Walle de eadem, fishmonger.

Joh. Leder de Coventria, merchant.

Tho. Estop, Magistri Gildæ
Sanctæ Trinitatis Warwick.
Nich. Rody de eadem.
Joh. Mayell de eadem, sen.
Will. Hopkyns de eadem.
Joh. Broune de eadem, jun.
Johan. Stokes de Henlen in
Ardeon Gildæ Villæ Magis-
tri prædicte.
Johan. Thorp de Kolle.

SHERIFFS.

This shire was in conjunction, under the same sheriffs, with Leicestershire, until the 8th year of queen Elizabeth. Since which time Warwickshire hath these appropriate to itself.

Anno

ELIZ. REG.

Name and Arms.

9 Rob. Midlemore

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Place.

Edgbaston.

Per chevron Arg. and S.; in chief two martlets of the-second,

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