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.

〈◊〉〈◊〉.

WILLIAM BOOTH was first bred in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Inn in London, in the studie of our Municipall Laws, till he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that profession on the proffer of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Place in Saint Pauls, and took Orders upon him. It was not long before he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bishop of Letchfield, and six years after translated to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He expended much money 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 died and was buried in Saint Maries Chappell in Southwell 1464.

LAURENCE BOOTH Brother (but by another Mother) to William aforesaid, was bred and became Master of 〈◊〉〈◊〉-hall in 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and was Chancellour of that University. He made the Composition 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 colledge to their mutuall advantage, and was an eminent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to his own Colledge, bestowing thereon all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church, a∣mongst which was St. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Colledge of a Pension of five pounds which he redeemed, and and Conferred there on the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Patronage of Overton-Waterfield in Huntingtanshire.

As it is Gods, so it is all! 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 method, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Servants▪ Be faith∣full in a little, and thou shalt rule over much. Doctor Booth well performing his Chan∣cellors Place, in Cambridge, was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the fixth. Well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ of King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the fourth made Lord High Chancellor, (〈◊〉〈◊〉 seems his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Bishop of York, and deserving well of both Sees. For he built in the first the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 colledge, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

It must not be forgotten than this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ till the day of his death, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Bishop 〈◊〉〈◊〉, not that they were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉,) of the place, but the place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉

with them, as it is this day by the Right Reverend Father in God Benjamin Lany Lord Bishop of Peturborough. This Arch-bishop died Anno Dom. 1480.

JOHN BOOTH Brother to Laurence, aforesaid, Bachellor of Laws, was consecrated Bishop of Exceter in the sixth of King Edward the fourth, 1466. He built the Bishops Chair or Seat in his Cathedral, which in the judicious Eye of Bishop * 1.1 Godwin hath not his Equall in England. Let me adde, that though this be the fairest Chair, the soft Cushi∣on thereof was taken away, when Bishop Vescy alienated the Lands thereof. The worst was, when Bishop Booth had finished this Chair, he could not quietly sit down therein, so troublesome the times of the civil wars betwixt York and Lancaster. So that prefer∣ring his privacy, he retired to a little place of his own purchasing at Horsley in Hamp∣shire, where he dyed April the first 1478. and was buried in Saint Clements Danes, London.

We must remember that these three Prelates had a fourth and eldest Brother Sir Roger Booth Knight, of Barton in Lancashire, Father of Margaret, Wife of Ralph Ne∣vill third Earl of Westmerland. And may the Reader take notice, that though we have entred these Bishops (according to our best information) in Cheshire, yet is it done with due reservation of the right of Lancashire, in case that County shall produce bet∣ter Evidence for their Nativities.

THOMNS SAVAGE was born at * 1.2 Maklefield in this County, his Father being a Knight, bred him a Doctor of Law in the University of Cambridge. Hence was he pre∣ferred Bishop of Rochester, and at last Arch-bishop of York. He was a greater Courtier then Clerke, and most Dextrous in managing Secular Matters, a mighty Nimrod, and more given to Hunting, then did † 1.3 consist with the Gravity of his Profession.

No doubt there wanted not those, which taxed him, with that Passage in * 1.4 Saint Jerome, Penitus non invenimus in scripturis sanctis, sanctum aliquem Venatorem, Pisca∣tores invenimus sanctos. But all would not wean him from that sport, to which he was* 1.5 so much addicted.

His provident Precedent spared his Successors in that See many pounds of needless ex∣pences, by declining a costly instaulation, being the first who privately was instauled by his Vicar. Yet was he not Covetous in the least degree, maintaining a most numerous Family, and building much, both at Scroby and Cawood. Having sate seven years in his See, he died, 1508. his Body being buried at York, his Heart at Maklefield, where he was born, in a Chapel of his own Erection, intending to have added a Colledge thereunto, had not death prevented him.

Since the Reformation.

WILLIAM CHADERTON D. D. Here I solemnly tender deserved thanks to my Manuscript * 1.6 Author, charitably guiding me in the Dark, assuring, that this Doctor was ex praeclaro Chadertonorum Cestrensis comitatus stemmate prognatus. And although this doubtfull Direction doth not cleave the Pin, it doth hit the White, so that his Nativi∣ty may with most Probability (not prejudicing the right to Lancashire when produced) here be fixed. He was bred first Fellow, then Master of Queens, and never of Magdalen∣colledge in Cambridge, (as Reverend Bishop * 1.7 Godwin mistaketh) and chosen first the La∣dy Margarets then Kings Professor in Divinity, and Doctor Whitacre succeeded him im∣mediately in the Chair. He was Anno 1579. made Bishop of Chester, then of Lincoln. 1594. demeaning himself in both to his great commendation. He departed this life in April 1608.

His Grand-child a virtuous Gentlewoman of rare accomplishments, married to Mr. Joceline Esquire, being big with child, wrot a Book of advise, (since Printed and In∣titled) the Mothers Legacie to her unborn Infant, of whom she died in travail.

WILLIAM JAMES D. D. was born in this * 1.8 County, bred a Scholar in Christs∣church in Oxford, and afterwards President of the University Colledge. He succeeded Bishop Mathews in the Deanary and Bishoprick of Durham.

He had been Chaplain to Robert Dudly Earl of Lecester, and (I hope) I may lawfully transcribe what I read,

Sir J. Harrington view of the Church of England, pag. 204. This hope of Comfort came to his Lord-ship thereby, that if it pleased God to impart any mercy to him, (as his mercy endureth for ever,) it was by the especial Ministry of this Man, who was the last of his Coat, that was with him in his sickness.

He was a principal means of recovering Durham house unto his See. This house was granted by King Edward the sixth, to the Lady (afterwards Queen) Elizabeth, (only for term of life,) and lay long neglected during her Raign, till Bishop James about the sixth of King James regained it, and repaired the Chappel, (which he found not only Profaned, but even defaced) to his great cost, and furnished it very de∣cently.

He once made so * 1.9 compleat an Entertainment for Queen Elizabeth, that Her Ma∣jesty commended the order and manner thereof for many years after. This maketh me the more to admire at what I have heard reported, that when King James in his progress to Scotland Anno 1617. passed through the Bishoprick of Durham, some neg∣lect was committed by this Bishops Officers, for which the King secretly and sharply check'd this Bishop, who layed it so to heart, that he survived the same Reproof not a full twelvemonth.

JOHN RICHARDSON was (as he told me) born in this County, of a Family of good worship and great antiquity therein. After his hopeful education in Country Schools, he was bred in the University of Dublin, where he was Graduated Doctor in Di∣vinity, and afterwards was made Bishop of Ardagh in Ireland. In the late Rebellion he came over into England, continuing for many years therein. Episcopal Gravity was written in his Countenance, and he was a good Divine according to the Rule, Bonus Tex∣tuarius, bonus Theologus, no man being more exact in Knowledge of Scripture, carry∣ing a Concordance in his Memory. Great was his paines in the Larger Annotations, espe∣cially on Ezechiel. For let not the Cloaks carry away the credit from the Gowns and Rochet in that Work, seeing this Bishop might say, Pars Ego magna fui, and Doctor Featly, with others of the Episcopal Party, bare a great share therein. Our Saviour we know, lived on the Charity * 1.10 of such good People, as ministred unto him; and yet it may be collected that it was his constant custome, (especially about the feast of the * 1.11 Pass∣over) to give some Almes to the poor. So our Bishop who was relieved by some, had his Bounty to bestow on others, and by his Will (as I am Informed) he bequeathed no inconsiderable Legacy to the Colledge in Dublin. He died Anno 1653. in the 74. year of his Age.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In his Cata- of Bishops of Exeter.
• * 1.2

  Bishop God∣•…•… in the Arch bishop 〈◊〉〈◊〉 York.
• † 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  Idem 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  † In his com∣ment on the 90. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  R. Parker in Scel. Cant, in the Masters of Queens-col∣ledge.
• * 1.7

  In his Cata. of the Bishops of Lincola Prin∣ted 1616.
• * 1.8

  In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cestriensi natus Bishop God∣win in the Bi∣shops of Dur∣ham.
• * 1.9

  Sir J. Har∣rington pag. 206.
• * 1.10

  Luk. 8. 3.
• * 1.11

  Joh. 13. 29.