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WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER.

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And then would our little [divided] world be better described, than the great world by all the geographers who have written thereof.

WORTHIES OF WARWICKSHIRE WHO HAVE FLOURISHED SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER.

Matthew BOULTON, engineer, improver of steam engines, &c.; born at Birmingham 1728; died 1809.

Samuel CARTE, divine and antiquary; born at Coventry 1652, or 1653; died 1740.

Thomas CARTE, son of Samuel, divine, eminent historian; born at Clifton or Dunsmore 1686.

Edward CAVE, printer, projector of the Gentleman's Magazine; born at Newton 1691; died 1754.

Samuel CLARKE, writer and compiler, one of the 2,000 ejected ministers; born at Woolstan 1599; died 1682.

Henry COMPTON, bishop of London, friend of Protestantism, suspended by James II.; born at Compton Wynyate 1632; died 1713.

William CROFT, eminent musician; born at Nether-Eatington 1657; died 1727.

Sir William DUGDALE, herald, historian, and antiquary; born at Shustoke 1605; died 1686.

Valentine GREEN, mezzotinto engraver, topographer, and antiquary; born 1739; died 1813.

Dr. Thomas HOLYOAKE, divine, and author of a Latin dictionary; born at Southam 1616; died 1675.

Richard JAGO, divine and poet, vicar of Snitterfield; born at Beaudesert 1715; died 1781.

Richard SMALLBROKE, learned and zealous bishop of Lichfield and Coventry; born at Birmingham 1672; died 1749. William SOMERVILE, author of "The Chace," a poem ; born at Edston 1692; died 1742.

Thomas SOUTHERN, dramatic writer; born at Stratford-uponAvon about 1660; died 1746.

John TIPPER, author of the "Lady's Diary," an almanac ; born at Coventry; died 1713.

Thomas WAGSTAFFE, bishop among the Nonjurors, author of "Vindication of Charles I. and his right to the Eikon Basilike;" born 1645; died 1712.

Humphrey WANLEY, antiquary; born at Coventry 1671-2; died 1726.

Peter WHALLEY, divine, critic, and historian of Northamptonshire; born at Rugby 1722; died 1791.

Francis WILLUGHBY, naturalist, and intimate friend of Ray; born 1635; died 1672.

This county can boast of one of the earliest topographical works of the seventeenth century. It was published in 1656 by Sir Wm. Dugdale, who was contemporary with Dr. Fuller. In 1730 a new and enlarged edition of this work was brought out by the Rev. Dr. Thomas, in 2 vols. fol. Since that period, two epitomized county histories have made their appearance-the one by Wm. Smith, in 1830, and the other by Tho. Sharp, in 1835. Histories of the towns of War. wick, and of Coventry, have also been published anonymously, the one in 1815, and the latter in 1810; and also the History of Manceter, by B. Bartlett (1791); of Stratford-on-Avon, by R. B. Wheler (1806); and of Birmingham, by W. Hutton (1809).-ED.

WESTMORELAND.

WESTMORELAND hath Cumberland on the west and north, Lancashire on the south, Bishopric and Yorkshire on the east thereof. From north to south it extendeth thirty miles in length, but is contented in the breadth with twenty-four.

As for the soil thereof, to prevent exceptions, take its description from the pen of a credible author:*

"It is not commended either for plenty of corn or cattle, being neither stored with arable grounds to bring forth the one, nor pasturage to breed up the other; the principal profit that the people of this province raise unto themselves, is by clothing."

Here is cold comfort from nature, but somewhat of warmth from industry. That the land is barren, is God's pleasure; the people painful, their praise. That thereby they grow wealthy, shews God's goodness, and calls for their gratefulness.

However, though this county be sterile by general rule, it is fruitful by some few exceptions, having some pleasant vales, though such ware be too fine to have much measure thereof; insomuch that some back friends to this county will say, that though Westmoreland hath much of Eden (running clean through it), yet hath little of delight therein.

I behold the barrenness of this county as the cause why so few friaries and convents therein; Master Speed (so curious in his catalogue in this kind) mentioning but one religious house therein. Such lazy-folk did hate labour, as a house of correction; and knew there was nothing to be had here but what art with industry wrested from nature.

The reader, perchance, will smile at my curiosity, in observing, that this small county, having but four market towns, three of them are, Kirkby-Stephens, Kirkby-Lonsdale, Kirkby-Kendale; so that so much of Kirk or Church argueth not a little devotion of the ancestors in these parts, judiciously expressing itself, not in building convents for the ease of monks, but churches for the worship of God.

* J. Speed, in the Description of this County.

THE MANUFACTURES.

Kendal cottons are famous all over England; and Master Camden termeth that town "Lanificii gloria, et industriâ præcellens." I hope the towns-men thereof (a word is enough to the wise) will make their commodities so substantial, that no southern town shall take an advantage, to gain that trading away from them. I speak not this out of the least distrust of their honesty, but the great desire of their happiness, who, being a Cambridge man, out of sympathy wish well to the clothiers of Kendal, as the first founder of our Sturbridge fair.

PROVERBS.

"Let Uter-Pendragon do what he can,
The River Eden will run as it ran."]

Tradition reporteth, that this Uter- Pendragon had a design to fortify the castle of Pendragon in this county. In order whereunto, with much art and industry, he invited and tempted the river of Eden to forsake his old channel, and all to no purpose. The proverb is appliable to such who offer a rape to nature, endeavouring what is cross and contrary thereunto

Naturam expellas furcâ licet, usque recurret.

"Beat Nature back, 'tis all in vain,

With tines of fork 'twill come again."

However, Christians have not only some hope, but comfortable assurance, that they may conquer the corruptions of their If furca (in no unusual sense) be taken for the cross, by the virtue of Christ's sufferings thereon, a man may so repel nature, that it shall not recoil to his destruction.

nature.

PRINCES.

KATHARINE PARR, daughter of Sir Thomas Parr, was born at Kendal castle in this county, then the prime seat of that (though no parliamentary) barony, devolved to her father by inheritance from the Bruses and Rosses of Werk. She was first married unto John Nevile lord Latimer, and afterwards to king Henry the Eighth.

This king first married half a maid (no less can be allowed to the lady Katharine, the relict of prince Arthur); and then he married four maids successively. Of the two last he complained, charging the one with impotency, the other with inconstancy; and, being a free man again, resolved to wed a widow who had given testimony of her fidelity to a former husband.

This lady was a great favourer of the Gospel, and would earnestly argue for it, sometimes speaking more than her husband would willingly hear of. Once politic Gardiner (who sparing all the weeds spoiled the good flowers and herbs) had almost got her into his clutches, had not Divine Providence delivered her. Yet a Jesuit tells us that the king intended, if longer surviving,

PRINCES CARDINALS-PRELATES.

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to behead her for an heretic; to whom all that I will return is this, "that he was neither confessor nor privy councillor to king Henry the Eighth."

This queen was afterwards married to Thomas Seymer, baron of Sudeley and lord admiral; and died in child-bed of a daughter, anno Domini 1548; her second husband surviving her. This makes me the more admire at the great mistake of Thomas Mills† (otherwise most industrious and judicious in genealogies), making this lady married the third time unto Edward Burgh, eldest son unto Thomas lord Burgh, without any shew of probability.

CARDINALS.

CHRISTOPHER BAMBRIDGE, born near Appleby in this county, was bred doctor of law in Queen's College in Oxford, He was afterwards dean of York, bishop of Durham, and at last archbishop of York. Being employed an ambassador to Rome, he was an active instrument to procure our king Henry the Eighth to take part with the Pope against Lewis king of France, for which good service he was created Cardinal of Saint Praxis; a title some say he long desired; let me add, and little enjoyed; for, falling out with his steward Rivaldus de Modena, an Italian, and fustigating him for his faults, the angry Italian poisoned him.§

Herein something may be pleaded for this cardinal out of the Old (sure I am more must be pleaded against him out of the New) Testament, if the places be paralleled :

"A servant will not be corrected by words," &c.||
"A bishop must be no striker," &c.¶

But grant him greatly faulty, it were uncharitable in us to beat his memory with more stripes, who did then suffer so much for his own indiscretion. His death happened July 14, 1511; and was buried at Rome (not in the church of Saint Praxis, which entitled him, but) in the hospital of the English.

PRELATES.

THOMAS VIPONT was descended of those ancient barons who were hereditary lords of this county. Surely either his merit was very great, or might very prevalent (advantaged by his near and potent relations); that the canons of Carlisle stuck so stiffly to their electing their bishop, when king Henry the Third with so much importunity commended John prior of Newbury unto them. This Thomas enjoyed his place but one year; the only reason, as I conceive, that no more is reported of him. He died anno Domini 1256.

Godwin's Annal of King Edward the Sixth, in hoc anno.
In his Catalogue of Honour, p. 229.

Godwin, in his Archbishops of York.

$ Idem.

Proverbs xxix. 19.

¶ 1 Timothy iii. 3.

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