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.

Benefactors to the publick.

WILLIAM SMITH was born at * Farmeworth in this County, bred Fellow in* 1.1 Pembroke hall in Cambridge, and at last by King Henry the Eighth, preferred Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. That Politick Prince to ease and honour his Native Country of Wales, erected a Court of Presidency, conformable to the Parliaments of France, in the Marshes thereof, and made this Bishop first President, those Parts lying partly in his Diocesse. He discharged the place with singular Integrity, and general contentment, retaining that Office till the day of his Death, when he was removed to be Bishop of Lincoln.

A good name is an Ointment poured out, saith Solomon, and this man wheresoever he went, may be followed by the perfume of charity he left behind him.

• 1. At Lichfield he founded an Hospital for a Master, two preists, and ten poor peo∣ple.
• 2. In the same place he founded a School, procuring from King Henry the seventh, that the Hospital of Downholl in Cheshire, with the Lands there unto belonging, should be bestowed upon it. Say not this was Robbing the Spittle, or at the best Robbing Pe∣ter to pay Paul, seeing we may presume so charitable a Prelate, would do nothing un∣just, though at this distance of time we cannot clear the particulars of his proceed∣ings.

At Farmeworth where he was born, he founded a school, allowing ten pounds annu∣ally (in that age no mean salary) for the Master thereof.

The University of Oxford discreetly chose him (Oxford being in his Diocesse of Lin∣coln) their Chancellour, and lost nothing thereby, for he proved a more loving Ne∣phew than Son, so bountiful to his Aunt Oxford, that therein he founded Brazen Nose∣colledge but dyed 1513, before his Foundation was finished.

* 1.2 Molineux a famous preacher about Henry the Eigths time, descended of the house of Sefton in the County of Lancaster, builded the Church at Sefton anew, and houses for Schools about the Church-yard; and made the great Wall about Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

EDVVARD HALSALL in the County of Lancaster Esquire, sometimes Chamberlain of the Exchequer at Chester, founded a Free-school in Halstall, and en∣dowed it with competent Revenue, for the maintenance of a Schoolmaster there for ever. When this party lived, I cannot as yet recover.

THOMAS WEST was younger Brother to the Lord De la Ware, and Parson of Manchester; On whom the Barony was devolved, his Brother dying Issuelesse; The Pope allowed him to marry for the Continuance of so honourable a Family, upon condition that he would build a Colledge for such a number of preists (fellows under a Warden) as the Bishops of Durham and Lichfield should think fit, which he did ac∣cordingly in Manchester. The Endowment of this collegiate and parochiall church, were the Gleabe and Tithes of the parsonage of that parish, and besides them, scarce any other considerable Revenue.

I say the Gleab, esteemed about 800. Acres of that County (half as much more as the statute) Measure; Besides a considerable part of the Town commonly called the Deans Gate, corruptly for St Dionise Gate, (to whom with the Virgin Mary, and St. George, Manchester Church was dedicated) built upon the Gleab-Land belonging to the Church. As for the Tythes of the Parish, they lye in two and thirty Hamblets, wherewith the Collegiats were to be maintained, which were, one Warden and four Fellows; The integrated and incorporate Rector unto whom the parsonage was ap∣propriated. There were also two Chaplains, Singing-men, Queristers, and Organists.

This Colledge hath passed many Dissolutions and refoundations. But was lately dissolved, and the Lands thereof sold by the late Act for Sale of Dean and Chap∣ters Lands: Some skilful in the Gospel much bemoaning it, and some learned in the Law, conceiving, That being but the Gleab of that Rectory, it came not within the compasse of that Act: but blessed be God it since hath reverted to its former Condition.

Since the Reformation.

JOHN SMITH was born at. . . . . . . . . in this County, bred in Magdalen C•…•…ll. in Cambridge. Whereof he became Fellow and Proctor of the University, when past Sixty years of age, when the Prevaricators gave him this Homonyous Salute Ave Pater.

This man could not fidle, could not Tune himself to be pleasant and plausible to all Companies: but He could, and did make that little Coll. great; wherein he had his Education.

The Poets fain how Bachus, by reason of his Mother Semyles her untimely death, was taken out of his Mothers Womb, and sewed into the thigh of Jupiter his Father, where he was bred untill the full time of his Nativity. A Fiction which finds a Morall in this Magdalen Coll. Whose Mother may be said to decease before the Infant was fit to be borne, and that Mr. Smith performed the rest of the Parents part there∣unto.

Indeed Ed. Stafford Duke of Buckingham, the first founder thereof, gave it little more than a Name. The Lord Audley bestowed on it a new name, with little buildings and lesse Indowment, Magnificent Dr. Nevil for a Time was Mr. thereof, but (ac∣cording to the fashion of the World the rich shall still have more) his affections were all for Trinity Coll. to which he was after removed.

Onely Mr. Smith by his long life and thrifty living, by what he gave to, and what he saved for the Colledge, so Improved the Condition thereof, that though he left it Lateritium as he found it, yet what he found poor and empty he left rich and full of Scholars.

Nor must we forget his painfulnesse, when with Dr. Gouge he sollicited the Suit called Magdalen Colledge Case, Nor yet his Patience, when he lay so long in the Fleet, for refusing to submit to an Order of Chancery (fearing their cause would be prejudi∣ced thereby) so that he may be called the Confessor of the Colledge, from inconside∣rable

Income. He raised by his carefulnesse considerable profit to the Fellows of that house, and by observing the Statutes, brought the Colledge into such Reputation for Learning, That yearly it afforded one or more Eminent scholars. In a word, he was a true servant to the Colledge all his life and at his Death, to which he bequeathed all he had, six hundred pounds at least, and dyed Anno. Dom. 163. . .

GEORGE CLARKE Haberdasher, a plain honest man, just, temperate and •…•…ugal: And according to his understanding, (which in the Worlds esteem was not great) devout, a daily frequenter of the Prayers in the Colledge Church, and the Hearer of Sermons there. Not long before the breaking forth of our civil dissentions; dying without issue, he made the Poor his Heir; and did give them one hundred pounds per annum, in good lands lying in a place called Crompsall, within a Mile from Man∣chester; I have not yet attained the certain Date of his Death.

HUMPHREY CHETHAM, third Son of Henry Chetham of Crompsall Gentleman, is thought (on just ground) to descend from Sir Jeffrey Chetham of Chet∣ham, (a man of much Remark in former dayes) and some old Writings in the hands of Worshipful persons, not far remote from the place, do evidence as much, but the said Sir Geffrey falling in troublesome times into the Kings Displeasure; his Fami∣ly (in effect) was long since ruinated.

But it seems his Posterity was unwilling to fly far from their old (though destroy∣ed) Nest, and got themselves a handsome habitation at Crompsall hard by, where James, elder Brother of this Humphrey Chetham, did reside. The younger Brethren George, Humphrey, and Ralph, betook themselves to the Trading of this County, dealing in Manchester commodities, sent up to London; And Humphrey signally im∣proved himself in piety and outward prosperity. He was a diligent Reader of the Scriptures and of the Works of sound Divines, a Respecter of such Ministers, which he accounted truely godly, upright, sober, discreet and sincere. He was High∣Sheriffe of this County, 1635. discharging the place with great Honour. Insomuch that very good Gentlemen of Birth and Estate did wear his Cloth at the Assize, to testifie their unfeigned affection to him, and two * 1.3 of them of the same profession with him•…•…elf, have since been Sheriffs of the County.

Grudge not Reader, to go through so long a Porch, for I assure thee it leads unto a fair Pallace; to as great a Masterpiece of Bounty, as our age hath afforded. This Mr. Chetham by his Will bearing Date the 16. of January 1651. gave 7000. l. to buy a Fee-simple estate of 420. l. for ever, for the Education of forty poor Children in Manchester at School, from about 6. till 14. years of age, when they are to be bound out Apprentizes. They must be the Children of poor but honest Parents, no bastards, nor diseased at the time wherein they are chosen, not lame or blind, in regard the Town of Manchester hath ample means already (if so employed) for the maintenance of such Impotents. Indeed, he intended it for a Seminary of Religion and Ingenuity, where the aforesaid Boyes were to have Diet, Lodging, Apparel and Instruction. He gave a 1000. l. for Books to a Library, and a 100. l. to prepare a place for them. He bequeathed 200. l. to buy Books, (such as he himself delighted in) for the Churches of Manchester, Bolton, and other Chapels thereabouts; He gave the Remainder of his Estate (Debts and Legacies first paid) to the Encrease of the books in the Library.

Now as the Loaves in the Gospel, multiplyed in the breaking, So Mr. Chethams Estate did not shrink but swell in the calling of it in; Insomuch, That the aforesaid Surplusage, is known to be the better part of Two thousand pounds. Dying a Ba∣chelour, he appointed George Chetham Esquire, Citizen and Grocer of London (where∣of he was chosen Alderman 1656. and fined for the same) and Edward Chetham Gent. Executors of his Will and Testament: God send us more such men, That we may dazle the Eyes of the Papists, with the light of Protestant good works. And know Reader I am beholding for my exact Information herein, to my worthy friend Mr. Johnson, late Preacher of the Temple, and one of the Feoffees appointed by Mr Chetham for the uses aforesaid.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bish. Godwin in the Bishops of Lincoln.
• * 1.2

  Both these Notes were taken out of a Manuscript of Mr. Roger D•…•…worth.
• * 1.3

  John Huntley & H. Wrigley Esquires.