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.

The Candid Reader is here requested to forgive and amend what in them is of ca∣sual transposition.

HENRY SALTRY was born in this * 1.1 County, and became a Cistertian Monk in the Monastery of Saltry, then newly founded by Simon Saint Liz, Earl of Hunting∣ton. He was also instructed by one Florentian an Irish Bishop. He wrote a profitable book for his own Religion in the maintenance of Purgatory, which made him esteemed in that superstitious age. He flourished Anno Dom. 1140.

GREGORY of HUNTINGTON, so called from the place of his Nativity, was bred a Benedictine Monke in Ramsey, Where he became * 1.2 Prior or Vice-Abbot, a place which he deserved, being one of the most Learned men of that age for his great skill in Languages.

For he was through-paced in three Tongues, Latine, Greek (as appears by his many Comments on those Grammarians) and Hebrew, which last he learned by his constant conversing with the Jewes in England.

But now the fatal time did approach, wherein the Iewes (full loth I assure you) must leave the Land, and many precious books behind them. Our Gregory partly by love, partly by the Kings power (both together will go far in driving a bargain) purchased many of those rarities to dispose them in his Convent of Ramsey; which as it exceeded other English Monasteries for a Library, so for * 1.3 Hebrew books that Monastery exceeded it self. After this Gregory had been Prior of Ramsey no fewer then 38 † 1.4 years, flourishing under King Henry the Third. He died in the Reign of K. Edward the First about 1280.

HUGH of Saint N•…•…OTS was born in that well known Market-Town, bred a Carmelite in Hitching in Hartfordshire. Hence he went to study in Cambridge, where for his worth, the Degree of Doctorship was by the University * 1.5 gratis, (quare whither without paying of Fees, or keeping of Acts) conferred upon him. To him Bale, (though that be the best Bale which hath the least of Bale, and most of Leland therein) giveth this Testimony, that living in the Egyptian Darkness, he sought after the light of Truth, ad∣ding that he was Piscis in Palude nihil trahens de Sapore Palustri, a Fish in the •…•…enns, drawing nothing of the mud thereof, which is a rarity indeed. Many his Sermons; and he wrotea Comment on Saint Luke. He died 1340. and was buried at Hitching.

WILLIAM RAMSEY was born in this County famous for the richest Benedictines Abbey in England, yet here he would not stay but went to Crowland, where he prospered so well that he became Abbot thereof. He was a * 1.6 Natural Poet, and therefore no wonder, if faults be found in the feet of his verses. For it is given to thorough-paced∣Naggs, that amble naturally, to trip much whilest artificial pacers goe surest on foot. He wrote the life of St. Guthlake, St. Neots. St. Edmond. the King, &c. all in verse.

But that which may seem a wonder indeed is this, that being a Poet, he paid the vast debts of others, even fourty thousand * 1.7 Mark for the ingagement of his Co∣vent, and all within the compasse of eighteen Moneths, wherein he was Abbot of Crowland. But it rendreth it the more credible, because it was done by the assistance of King Henry the Second, who to expiate the blood of Becket was contented to be melted into Coine, and was prodigiously bountiful to some Churches. Our William died 1180.

HENRY of HUNTINGTON * 1.8 Son to one Nicholas, where born, unknown, was first a Canon of the Church of Lincolne, where he became acquainted with one Albine of Angiers born in France, but Fellow-Canon with him of the same Church. This Albine he afterwards in his writings modestly owned for his Master, having gained much learn∣ing from him.

He was afterwards Chaplain to Alexander that Great Bishop of Lincoln, (Magnificent unto Madnesse) who made him Arch-Deacon of Huntington, whence he took his D•…•…nomi∣nation. A Town which hath received more Honour from him than ever it can return to him, seeing Huntington had never been mentioned in the mouths, nor passed under the Pens of so many foreigners, but for the worthy History of the Saxon Kings, written by this Henry. Let me add, that considering the sottishness of Superstition in the age, he lived in, he is less smoohted therewith, than any of his contemporaries, and being a secular Priest doth now and then abate the pride of Monastical pretended perfection. He flou∣rished under King Stephen in the year of our Lord, 1248. and is probably conjectured to die about the year 1260.

ROGER of St. IVES was born at that noted Town of this County, being omitted by Bale but remembred by * 1.9 Pits (though seldome sounding when the other is silent) for his activity against the Lollards, and Sir John Old-Castle, against whom he wrote a book, flourishing in the year 1420.

Since the Reformation.

IOHN YONG was a Monk in Ramsey Abbey at the dissolution thereof. Now by the* 1.10 same proportion that a penny saved is a penny gained, the preserver of books is a Mate for the Compiler of them. Learned Leland looks on this •…•…ong, as a Benefactor to poste∣rity in that he saved many Hebrew books of the Noble Library of Ramsey.

Say not such preserving was purloyning, because those books belonged to the King seeing no conscience need to scruple such a nicety: Books (though so precious that no∣thing was worth them) being in that juncture of time counted worth nothing. Never such a Massacre of good Authours, some few only escaping to bring tidings of the Destructi∣on of the rest.

Seeing this Yong is inserted by * 1.11 Bale, and omitted by Pits, I collect him to savour of the Reformation. As for such who confound him with Iohn Yong, many years after Master of Pembrook-Hall, they are confuted by the different dates assigned unto them, this being his Senior 30 years, as flourishing, Anno Dom. 1520.

JOHN WHITE, brother to Francis White Bishop of Ely, was born at Saint Neots in this County, bred in Caius Colledge in Cambridge, wherein he commenced Ma∣ster of Arts. He did not continue long in the University, but the University continued long in him; so that he may be said to have carried Cambridge with him into Lancashire, (so hard and constant in his study) when he was presented Vicar of Eccles therein. Afterwards Sir Iohn Crofts a Suffolk Knight, being informed of his abilities and pittying his remote living on no plentiful Benefice, called him into the South, and was the oc∣casion that King Iames took cognizance of his worth, making him his Chaplain in Ordinary. It was now but the third moneth of his attendance at Court, when he sick∣ned at London in Lumbard-street, dyed and was buried in the Church of S. Mary * 1.12 Woolnoth 1615. without any other Monuments, save what his learned works have left to posterity, which all whohave either learning, piety, or Ingenuity, do, yea must most highly cōmend.

Sir ROBERT COTTON Knight and Baronet son to Iohn Cotton Esquire was born at Cunnington in this County discended by the Bruces from the bloud Royall of Scotland. He was bred in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge where when a youth; He discovered his inclination to the studie of Antiquity (they must Spring early who would sprout high in that knowledge) and afterwards attained to such eminency, that sure I am he had no Superiour if any his equal in the skill thereof.

But that which rendred him deservedly to the praise of present and future times, yea the wonder of our own and forreign Nations, was his collection of his Library in West∣minster, equally famous for

• 1. Rarity, having so many Manuscript Originals, or else copies so exactly Transcribed, th•…•…t, Reader, I must confesse he must have more skill then I have to distinguish them.
• 2. Variety, He that beholdeth their number, would admire they should be rare, and he that considereth their rarity will more admire at their number.
• 3. Method, Some Libraries are labyrinths, not for the multitude, but confusion of Volumes, where a stranger seeking for a book may quickly loose him∣self, whereas these are so exactly methodized (under the heads of the twelve Roman Emperours) that it is harder for one to misse then to hit any Author he desireth.

But what addeth a luster to all the rest is the favourable accesse thereunto, for such as bring any competency of skill with them, and leave thankfulness behind them. Some Antiquaries are so jealous of their books, as if every hand which toucheth wo•…•…ld ravish them, whereas here no such suspition of ingenious persons. And here give me leave to re∣gister my self amongst the meanest of those who through the favour of Sir Thomas Cotton (inheriting as well the courtesie as estate of his Father Sir Robert) have had admit∣tance into that worthy treasury.

Yea, most true it is what one saith, That the grandest Antiquaries have here fetcht their materials.

—* 1.13 Omnis ab illo Et Camdene tua, & Seldeni gloria crevit, Camden to him, to him doth Selden owe, Their Glory, what they got from him did grow.

I have heard that there was a design driven on in the Popes Conclave after the death of Sir Robert, to compasse this Library to be added to that in Rome, which if so, what a Vatican had there been within the Vatican, by the accession thereof. But blessed be God the Project did miscarry to the honour of our Nation, and advantage of the Protestant Religion.

For therein are contained many privaties of Princes, and transactions of State, inso∣much that I have been informed, that the Fountains have been fain to fetch water from the stream; and the Secretaries of State, and Clerks of the Council, glad from hence to borrow back again many Originals, which being lost by casualty or negligence of Officers, have here been recovered and preserved He was a man of a publick spirit, it being his principal endevour in all Parliaments (wherein he served so often) That the prerogative and priviledge might run in their due channel, and in truth he did cleave the pin betwixt the Soveraign and the Subject. He was wont to say, That he himself had the least share in himself, whilest his Country and Friends had the greatest interest in him. He died at his house in Westminster, May the 6. Anno Domini, 1631. in the 61. year of his Age, though one may truely say, his age was adequate to the conti∣nuance of the •…•…reation, such was his exact skill in all antiquity. By Elizabeth daughter and co-heire of William Brocas Esquire, he had onely one son, Sir Thomas now living, who by Margaret daughter to the Lord William Howard (Grandchild to Thomas Duke of Norfolke hath one son Iohn Cotton Esquire, and two daughters Lucie and Francis. The Opera posthuma of this worthy Knight, are lately set forth in one Volume to the great profit of posterity.

STEPHEN MARSHALL was born at God-Manchester in this County, and bred a Batchellour of Arts in Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge. Thence he went very ear∣ly a Reaper in Gods Harvest, yet not before he had well sharpned his Sickle for that service.

He became Minister at Finchfield in Essex, and after many years discontinuance, came up to Cambridge to take the degree of Batchelour of Divinity, where he performed his exercise with general applause.

In the late long lasting Parliament, no man was more gracious with the principal Members thereof. He was their Trumpet, by whom they sounded their solemn Fasts, preaching more publick Sermons on that occasion, then any foure of his Function. In their Sickness he was their Confessor in their Assembly their Councellour, in their Treaties their Chaplain, in their Disputations their Champion.

He was of so supple a soul that he brake not a joynt, yea, sprained not a Sinew in all the alteration of times; and his friends put all on the account, not of his unconstancy, but prudence, who in his own practice (as they conceive) Reconciled the various Lections of Saint Pauls * 1.14 precept, serving the Lord, and the Times.* 1.15

And although some severely censure him for deserting his Principles, yet he is said on his death-bed to have given full •…•…tisfaction to such who formerly suspe∣cted his sincerity to the Presbyterian Discipline, dying Anno Dom. 1655. He was solemn∣ly buried in the •…•…bbey at Westminster.

Notes

• * 1.1

  J. Bale and J. Pitz. De script. Brit.
• * 1.2

  Pitz. De script. Brit. Cent. 4 Num. 22.
• * 1.3

  Vide infra Jo. Yong in the Writers since the Re∣formation.
• † 1.4

  Pitz. de Ang. scrip. in Anno 1255.
• * 1.5

  Bale de script. Brit. Cent 5. Num. 28.
• * 1.6

  Bale Cent. 3. Numb. 9.
• * 1.7

  Pittz. de script. Britt. Anno 1180.
• * 1.8

  I. Bale de scrip. Britt. Cent. 2. Num. 92. & Pitz. in Anno, 1148
• * 1.9

  Anno 1420.
• * 1.10

  AMP.
• * 1.11

  De script. Britt, Cent. 9. Num. 9.
• * 1.12

  So I am in∣formed by his son Mr. White a Druggist, li∣ving in •…•…∣bard-street.
• * 1.13

  Weavers fu∣neral Monu∣ments in the Preface.
• * 1.14

  Rom. 12. 11
• * 1.15

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