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 since the Reformation.

EDMUND SHEFFEILD (descended from Robert Sheffeild, Recorder of Lon∣don, * 1.1 Knighted by King Henry the Seventh. 1496 for his good Service against the

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Rebells at Black-Heath) was born at Butterwick in the Isle of Axholm in this Country, and was by King Edward the sixth Created Baron thereof. Great his Skill in Musick who wrote a Book of Sonnets according to the Italian fashion. He may seem Swan like to have sung his own Funeral, being soon after Slaine (or Murthered rather) in a skirmish against the Rebells in Norwich; first unhorsed and cast into a ditch, and then Slaughtered by a Butcher, who denyed him Quarter, 1449. He was direct Anchester, to the hopeful Earl of Moulgrave.

PETER MORVVING was born in this * 1.2 County, and bred fellow of Magdalen Colledg in Oxford. Here I cannot but smile at the great Praise which * 1.3 I Pitz bestoweth upon him.

Vir omni Latini sermonis elegantia bellè instructus, & qui scripta quaedam, tum versu, tum Prosa tersè, nitidèque composuisse perhibetur.

It plainly appeareth he mistook him for one of his own perswasion, and would have retracted this Caracter, and beshrewed his own fingers for writing it, had he known him to have been a most * 1.4 Cordial Protestant. Nor would he have afforded him the Phrase of Claruit sub Philippo et Mariâ; who under their Reigns, was forced for his Con∣science, to fly into Germany, where he supported himself by Preaching to the English Exiles. I find not what became of him after his return into England in the Reigne of Queen Elizabeth.

ANTHONY GILBY was born in this County, * 1.5 and bred in Christs Colledge in Cambridge, where he attained to great skill in the three learned languages. But which gave him the greatest Reputation with Protestants, was, that in the Reign of Queen Mary he had been an Exile at Geneva, for his Conscience. Returning into England, he became a feirce, fiery and furious opposer of the Church Discipline established in England, as in our Ecclesiasticall History may appear. The certaine date of his death is to me unknown.

JOHN FOX was born at Boston in this County, and bred Fellow in Magdalen Col∣ledg in Oxford. He fled beyond the Seas in the Reign of Queen Mary, where he set forth the first and least edition of the Book of Martyrs, in Latine, and afterwards return∣ing into England, inlarged and twice revised the same in our own language.

The story is sufficiently known of the two * 1.6 Servants, whereof the one told his Master, he would do every thing, the other (which was even Esop himself,) said he could do nothing, rendering this reason, because his former fellow servant would leave him no∣thing to do. But in good earnest, as to the particular subject of our English Martyrs, Mr. Fox hath done every thing, (leaving posterity nothing to work upon) and to those who say, he hath overdone somthing, we have returned our answer * 1.7 before.

He was one of Prodigious Charity to the poor, seeing nothing could bound his boun∣ty but want of mony to give away: but I have largely written of his life and death in my Church History.

THOMAS SPARKS D. D. was born at South * 1.8 Sommercot in this County, bred in Oxford, and afterwards became Minister of Bleachley in Buckingham-shire. An Im∣propriation which the Lord Gray of Wilton (whose dwelling was at Whaddon hard-by) Restored to the Church. He was a solid Divine and Learned man, as by his Works still extant doth appear. At first he was a Non-conformist, and therefore was chosen by that party as one of their Champions in the Conference of Hampton Court. Yet was he wholy silent in that Disputation, not for any want of Ability, but because (as after∣wards it did appear) he was Convinced in his Conscience at that Conference of the lawfullness of Ceremonies, so that some accounted him King James's Convert herein. He afterwards set forth a book of Unity and Uniformity, and died about the year of our Lord, 1610.

Doctor TIGHE was born at Deeping in this County, bred (as I take it) in the Uni∣versity of Oxford. He afterwards became Arch Deacon of Middlesex, and Minister of Alhallowes Barking London. He was an excellent Textuary and profound Linguist, the reason why he was imployed by King James in translating of the Bible. He dyed (as I am informed by his Nephew) * 1.9 about the year of our Lord, 1620. leaving to John Tighe his Son, of Carby in this County, Esquire, an Estate of one thousand pounds a year, and none I hope have cause to envy or repine thereat.

FINES MORISON Brother to Sir Richard Morison, Lord President of Mun∣ster, was born in this County of worshipfull extraction, and bred a fellow in Peter-house

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in Cambridge. He began his Travels May the first, 1591 over a great part of Christen∣dome and no small share of Turky, even to Jerusalem, and afterwards Printed his Ob∣servations in a large book, which for the truth thereof is in good Reputation, For of so great a Traveller, he had nothing of a Traveller in him, as to stretch in his reports. At last he was Secretary to Charles Blunt Deputy of Ireland, saw and wrote the Conflicts with, and Conquest of Tyrone, a discourse which deserveth credit, because the Wri∣ters cye guide his pen, and the privacy of his place acquainted him with many secret passages of Importance. He dyed about the year of our Lord, 1614.