The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

Writers.

JOHN of DUNSTABLE, so called from a Market-town in this County wherein he was born. If hitherto the Reader hath not, it is high time for him now, to take no∣tice of a person of such perfection. Indeed at first my Pen feared famishing, finding so little; since surfetting, meeting so much of this man. For this John of Dunstable was John of all Arts, as appeareth by his double Epitaph, one inscribed on his Monu∣ment, the other written on his memory. But be it premised of both, that we will not avouch the truth of the Latine, or quantity in these verses; but present them here as we find them, with all their faults, and his vertues on whom they were made.

On his tombe in Saint Stephen's Wall∣brook, London.
Clauditur hoc tumulo qui 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pectore clausit,
Dunstable I, Juris Astrorum conscius ille,
......... novit..... 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pondere 〈◊〉〈◊〉;
Hic vir erat tua Laus, tua Lux, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Musica Princeps
Qui{que} tuas fulces per 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sparserat Artes,
..........................................................
Suscipiant proprium 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sibi Cives

The second made by * 1.1 John Wheatham∣sted, Abbot of Saint Albans.
Musicus hic Michalus alter, novus & Ptolo∣maeus.
Junior ac Atlas supportans robore 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Pausat sub cinere; melior vir de muliere
Nunquam natus erat, vitii quia labe carebat.
Et virtutis opes possedit unicus omnes.
Perpetuis annis celebretur fama Johannis
Dunstable; in pace requiescat & hic sine fine.

Page 117

What is true of the bills of some unconscionable Trades-men, if ever paid, over paid; may be said of this hyperbolical Epitaphs, if ever believed, over believed. Yea, one may safely cut off a Third in any part of it, and the remainder will amount to make him a most admirable person. Let none say that these might be two distinct persons, seeing (besides the concurrence of time and place,) it would bank-rupt the Exchequer of Nature to afford two such persons, one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at once being as much as any will be∣lieve. This Dunstable died an. 1455.

Sinee the Reformation.

GEORGE JOY was born in this * 1.2 County, though the exact place be not expressed. He was a great friend to Master * 1.3 Tindall, and therefore perfectly hated by Woolsey, Fisher, and Sir Thomas Moor, the perticulars of his sufferings if known would justly advance him into the reputation of a Confessor.▪ He translated some parts of the Bible into English, and wrote many books reckned up by Bale; notwithstanding many ma∣chinations against his life, he found his Coffin where he fecht'd his Cradle, in sua patria sepultus, being peaceably buried in his native Country 1553. the last year of King Edward the sixth.

FRANCIS DILLINGHAM was born at Dean in this County, and bred Fellow in Christ-Colledge in Cambridge. He was an excellent Linguist, and subtile Disputant. My Father was present in the Bachillors-Scholes, when a Greek Act was kept, between him and William Alabaster of Trinity-Colledge, to their mutuall commendation. A dis∣putation so famous that it served for an Aera or Epoche, for the Scholars in that age, thence to date their seniority.

He was afterwards chosen Anno 1607. to be one of the Translators of the Bible, and being richly beneficed at Wilden in this County, died a single man, leaving a fair estate to his brother Master Thomas Dillingham, who was chosen one of the late As∣sembly, (though for age, indisposition, and other reasons not appearing therein,) and for many years was the humble, painfull, and faithfull Pastor of Deane, the place of his Nativity.

WILLIAM SCLATER was born at * 1.4 Layton-buzard in this County, son to An∣thony Sclater the Minister thereof for fifty years together, who died well nigh an hun∣dred years of age. This William his son was bred in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, then in Kings Colledge in Cambridge, where he commenced Bachillor, and (after many years discountinance) Doctor of Divinity. Hence he was invited to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at Walsal in Stafford-shire, where he began his sermons (afterwards printed) on the three first Chapters of the Romans. Afterwards John Coles Esquire of Sommerset-shire over-intreated him into the Western parts, where he presented him Vicar of Pitmister. Here he met with mani∣fold and expensive vexations, even to the Jeopardy of his life, but by the goodness of God his own innocency and courage, with the favour of his Diocesan, he came off with no lesse honour to himself, then confusion to his adversaries.

He was at first not well affected to the Ceremonies of the Church, but afterwards on his profound studying of the point, he was reconciled to them, as for order, and decen∣cy, and by his example others were perswaded to conforme.

Constancy of studying contracted the stone upon him, which he used to call flagellum studiosorum. Nor was his health improved by being removed to a wealthier Living, when John Lord Pawlet of Hinton (at the instance of Elizabeth his Lady, in whose in∣heritance it was, a worthy favourer of piety and pious men,) preferred him to the rich Parsonage of Limpsam in Somerset-shire, where indeed there was scarce any element good save the earth therein. Whereupon for his own preservation he was re-perswaded to return to Pitmister, there continuing till the day of his death, which happened in the year of our Lord 1627. in the fifty one year of his age, leaving many learned works behind him, as his Comment on the Romans, and on the Thessalonians, Sermons at Pauls cross, and the treatise of Tithes, styled the Ministers portion, with other posthume works, some since set forth by, more remaining in the hand of his son William Scalter Doctor of Divinity, and Minister at London, lately deceased.