had not been) printed. Partly out of Small Treatises, printed, and since irrecove∣rably lost, had not his providence preserved them. For some Pamphlets are produ∣ced, which for their Cheapnesse and Smalnesse men for the present neglect to buy, pre∣suming they may procure them at their pleasure, which small Books, their first and last Edition being past, (like some Spirits that appear but once) cannot afterwards with any price or pains be recovered. In a word many of such useful Tracts of Sea Adventures, which before were scattered as several Ships, Mr. Hackluit hath imbo∣died into a Fleet, divided into three Squadrons, so many several Volumes. A Work of great honour to England, it being possible that many Ports and Islands in America which being base and barren, bear only a bare name for the present, may prove rich places for the future. And then these Voyages will be produced and pleaded, as, good Evidence of their belonging to England, as first discovered and denominated by English-men. Mr. Hackluit dyed in the beginning of King Iames his Reign, leaving a fair estate to an unthrift Son, who embezill'd it, on this token, that he vanted, that he cheated the covetous Usurer, who had given him Spick and Span new money, for the Old Land of his Great Great Grandfather.
JOHN GVVILLIM was of VVelch extraction, but born in this County, and became a Pursuivant of Arms, by the name first of Portsmouth, then Rougecroixe, but most eminent for his methodical Display of Herauldry, (confusion being former∣ly the greatest difficulty therein) shewing himself a good Logician in his exact Divi∣sions, and no bad Philosopher, noting the natures of all Creatures given in Armes, joyning fansie and reason therein. Besides his Travelling all over the earth in beasts, his Industry diggeth into the ground in pursuit of the properties of precious stones, di∣veth into the Water in Inquest of the qualities of Fishes, flyeth into the Air after the Nature of Birds, yea mounteth to the very Skies about stars (but here we must call them Estoiles) and Planets their use and influence. In a word he hath unmyste∣ried the mysterie of Heraldry, inso much, that one of his own faculty, thus des∣canteth (in the Twilight of jest and earnest) on his performance.
But let me tell you, this will be the harm
In Arming others, you Your self disarm;
Our Art is now Anatomized so,
As who knows not, what we our selves do know?
Our Corn in others Mill is ill apaid.
Sic vos non vobis, may to us be said.
I suspect that his endevours met not with proportionable reward. He dyed about the latter end of the Reign of King Iames.
JOHN DAVIES of Hereford (for so he constantly styled himself) was the greatest Master of the Pen that England in his age beheld, for
- 1 Fast-writing, so incredible his expedition.
- 2 Fair-writing, some minutes Consultation being required to decide, whe∣ther his Lines were written or printed.
- 3 Close-writing, A Mysterie indeed, and too Dark for my Dimme Eyes to discover.
- 4 Various-writing, Secretary, Roman, Court, and Text.
The Poetical fiction of Briareus the Gyant, who had an hundred hands, found a Mo∣ral in him, who could so cunningly and copiously disguise his aforesaid Elemental hands, that by mixing he could make them appear an hundred, and if not so many sorts, so many Degrees of Writing. Yet had he lived longer he would modestly have acknowledged Mr. Githings (who was his Schollar and also born in this County) to excel him in that faculty, whilst the other would own, no such odious Eminencie, but rather gratefully return the credit to his Master again. Sure I am, when two such Transcendent Pen-masters shall again come to be born in the same shire, they may even serve fairly to engross the will & testament of the expiring Universe. Our Davies had also some pretty excursions into Poetry and could flourish matter as well as Letters, with his Fancy as well as with his Pen. He dyed at London in the midst of the Reign of King James, and lyeth buryed in St. Giles in the fields.