Confessors.
SIMON FISH Esquire, was born in this* 1.1 County, bred a Lawyer in Graies-Inn Lon∣don. Here he acted that part in a Tragedy, wherein the pride of Cardinal Wolsey was per∣sonated, and wherewith that Prelate was so offended, that Fish was fain to fly, and live two years beyond the Seas. There he made, and thence sent over into England, a small but sharp Treatise, called The Supplication of Beggars, termed by* 1.2 Master Fox a Li∣bel, understand him a little Book; Otherwise prizing and praising it for a Master-piece of Wit-learning and Religion, discovering the Superstition of that age. This by Queen Anna Bollen was presented to King Henry the Eighth, who therewith was so highly affe∣cted, that he sent for the Author home, and favoured him in great proportion.
However, many nets were laid by the Popish party against him, especially by Sir Thomas More his implacable Enemy, yet Fish had the happinesse to escape the hands of Men, and to fall into the hand of God more immediately, Dying of the Plague, 1531. and lieth buried at St. Dunstan in London.
Sir JAM. HALES was born, did live & was richly landed in this county, one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas, a man of most signal Integrity. When the rest of the Judges (fright∣ed at the frowns of the Duke of Northumberland) subscribed the disinheriting of the La∣dy Mary, and Lady Elizabeth, he onely refused, as against both Law and Conscience.
Yet afterwards in the first of Queen Mary he fell into the displeasure of Bishop Gar∣diner, (which like Juniper coals once kindled hardly quenched) for urging the obser∣vation of some Lawes of King Edward the Sixth. For this he was imprisoned, hardly used, and so threatned by his Keeper, that he endeavoured to have killed himself, which being after let at liberty he afterwards effected, drowning himself in a small wa∣ter near his house, fear and melancholly so much prevailing upon him; Mr. Fox con∣cludeth the sad Poem of his final estate with this Distich.
We must look on his foul Deed with anger, and yet with pity on the doer thereof, Frown on the one, and weep for the other. For seeing he had led a right godly life, and had suffered so much on the account of his Conscience, I hope that his station in this place, will not be cavilled at by any charitable persons. He died Anno Dom. 1555.