Civilians.
RICHARD COSIN Doctor of Law was born at Hartly Poole (a well known har∣bour for the safety) and some observe a providence that he who afterwards was to prove the grand Champion of Episcopacy, should (amongst all the counties of England) be born in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ishoprick. His Father was a person of quality, a Captain of a Compa∣ny in Must•…•…borough field, whence his valour returned with victory and wealth; when crossing the River Tweed [O the uncertainty of all earthly happiness!] was drowned therein, to the great losse of his Son Richard: and greater, because he was not sensible thereof, as left an infant in the cradle.
His Mother afterwards married one Mr. Meddow, a York-shire Gen•…•…leman, who bred this his Son-in-law at a Schoole at Scypton in the Craven; wherein, such his profici∣ency, that before he was twelue years old, [little less than a wonder to me in that age from so far a Country] he was admitted in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge: Some of his Friends in Queens Colledge in that University had a design to fetch him thence, had not Doctor Beamont prevented the Plot, in making him Scholar and Fellow as soon as by his Age, Degree, and the Stat•…•…tes he was capable thereof.
He was a general Scholar, Geometrician, Musician, Physician, Divine, but chiefly Civil and Canon Lawyer. By Arch-Bishop Whitgift, he was preferred to b•…•… first Chancel∣lor of Worcester [in that age a place non tam gratiosus, quam negotiosus] and afterwards Dean of the Arches, wherein he carried himself without giving (though many took) of∣fence at him.
Of these one wrote a Book against him called the Abstract [abstracted saith my Au∣thor from all Wit, Learning, and Charity] to whom he returned such an answer in the defence of the High Commission, and Oath ex officio, that he he put his Adversary to silence.
Others lay to his charge, that he gave many Blank Licences, the common occasions of unlawful marriages, and the procurer herein is as bad as the thief, robbing many a pa∣rent of his dear child thereby. But always malice looks through a multiplying glasse. Euclio complained, Intromisisti sexcentos Coquos, Thou hast let in six hundred Cooks,* 1.1 when there was but two truely told [Anthrax and Congrio] so here was there but one which a fugitive servant stole from the Register to make his private profit thereby.
God in his sickness granted him his desire which he made in his health, that he might be freed from torture, which his corpulency did much suspect, bestowing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 upon him, a sweet and qutet departure, pious his dying expressions; I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ▪ Phil. 1. The wages of sin is death, Rom. 6. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Revel. 12. and his last words was these, Farewell my surviving friends, remember your mortality and eternal life.
He gave forty pound to the building of a Chamber in Trinity Colledge, and fifteen pound per▪ annum for the maintenance of two Scholar-ships therein: a good gift out of his E∣state, who left not above fifty pound a year clear to his Heir; a great argument of his integrity, that he got no more in so gainful a place. Dying at Doctors Commons, he was buried by his own appointment in Lambeth Church, and Doctor Andrews preached his Funeral Sermon. Amongst the many verses made by the University of Cambridge, this (with the allowance of poetical Licence) came from no bad Fancy.