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.

Souldiers.

No City in Europe hath bred more (if not too many of late) and indeed we had had better T•…•…adesmen if worse Souldiets. I dare not adventure into so large a Subject, and will instance but in one (to keep possession for the rest) submitting my self to the Readers censure, whether the Parties merit, or my private Relation puts me on his Memorial.

Sir THOMAS ROPER Son of Thomas Roper Servant to Queen Elizabeth, was born in Friday Street in London, whose Grandfather was a younger Son of the House of Heanour in Derby shire. Indeed Furneaux was the ancient name of that Fa∣mily, until Richard Furneaux marryed Isald the Daughter of..... Roper of Beighton in the County of Derby Esquire, and on that Consideration was bound to assume the name of * 1.1 Roper by Indenture, Dated the S•…•…venth of Henry the Sixth. This Sir Thomas Going over into the Lowe Countries became Page to Sir John Norrice, and was Cap∣tain of a Foot Company at sixteen years of age: what afterwards his Martial perfor∣mances were, to avoid all suspicion of Flattery (to which my Relation may incline me) I have transcribed the rest out of the Original of his Patent.

Cum Thomas Roper Eques auratus, è Secretioribus Concilliariis nostris in regno nostro Hyberniae, jampridem nobis Bellicae virtutis Splendore clarus innotuerit; Utpote qui quam plurimis rebus per eum in nuper∣rimo bello hujus Regni fortiter gestis, prae∣clarum Nomen & Strenui Militis, & pru∣dentis Ducis reportavit: Cujus virtus prae∣cipuè in recessu in Provinciâ nostrâ Conaciae prope Le Boyle emicuit, ubi paucissimis admodum equestribus ingentes equitum turmas per Regni Meditullia hostiliter grassantes fortiter aggressus: Ita prudentiâ suâ singulari receptui cecinit, ut non modo, & se, & suos, sed etiam totum exercitum ab ingenti periculo Liberavit, hostesque quam plurimos ruinae tradidit.

Qui etiam, cum Provincia nostra Ultoniae bello deflagaverat, ob exploratam animi fortitudin•…•…m ab honoratissimo Comite Essexiae exercitus tunc imperatore, unius ex omnibus designatus fuit ad Duellum eum Makal, uno ex fortissimis Tyronen∣tium agminum ducibus suscipiendum, nisi praedictus Makal duello praedicto se expo∣nere remisset.

Cumque etiam praedictus Thomas Ro∣per, in nuperrimo Bello apud Brest in Regno Gallie se maximis periculis objici∣endo & sanguinem suum effundendo Forti∣tudinem suam invictam demonstravit: Qui etiam in expeditione Portugalenci se for∣titer

ac honorifice 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ac etiam apud Bergen in Belgio cum per Hispanos obsi∣deretur invictissimae fortitudinis juve∣nem in defensione ejusdem se praebuit.

Qui etiam in expugnationis Kinsalen∣sis die primus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 juxta 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pro∣pissime constitutus fuerat, Hispanesque ex eo oppido sepius eodem die 〈◊〉〈◊〉, fortissime felicissimeque, & ad maximam totius exercitus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & profligavit.

Sciatis igitur quod nos intuitu praemis∣sorum Dominum Thomam Roper milli∣tem, &c.

Whereas Thomas Roper Knight, one of our Privy Councellors of our King∣dome of Ireland, long since hath been known unto us famous, with the Splen∣dor of his Warlike vertue; As who by the many Atchievements valiantly per∣formed by him in the late War of this Kingdome, hath gained the eminent Repute both of a stout Souldier, and a disc•…•…eet Commander; whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Retreat near Le Boyle in •…•…ur Province of Conaught, where with very few horse he undanted∣ly charged great Troops of the Horse of the Enemy, who in a Hostile manner forraged the very Bowels of the King∣dome, and by his Wisdome made such a singular retreat, that he not only saved himself and his men, but also delivered the whole Army from great danger, and slew very many of his Enemies.

Who also when our Province of Ulster was all on Fire with war, being one out of many, was for the tryed resolution of his mind, chosen by the Right Honora∣ble the E. of Essex, then General of the Army, to undertake a Duel with Makal, one or the stoutest Captains in the Ar∣my of Tyrone, had not the said Makal declined to expose himself to the ap∣pointed Duel.

And also when the aforesaid Thomas Raper, in the late war in the Kingdome of France at Brest, by exposing himself to the greatest perils, and sheding of his own bloud, demonstrated his cour∣age to be unconquerable. Who also i•…•… the voyage to Portugal, behaved him∣self valiantly and honorably; as also at Bergen in the Nether-lands, when it was besiedged by the Spaniards, approved himself a young man of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 va∣lour in the defence thereof. Who also in the day wherin Kinsale was assaulted, was placed in the first ranck, nearest of all unto the Town, and with no less success then valour, to the great safety of the whole army beat back and put to flight the Spaniards, who in the same day made several sallies out of the Tow•…•….

Know therefore, that We in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the premises have appointed the aforesaid Thomas Roper Knight, &c.

Then followeth his Patent, wherein King Charles in the third of his raign created him Baron of Bauntree, and Viscount 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Ireland.

I will only adde from exact intelligence, that he was a principal means to break the hearts of Irish Rebels; for whereas formerly the English were loaded with their own cloths, so that their slipping into Bogs did make them, and the slopping of their breeches did keep them prisoners therein; he first being then a Commander put himself into Irish Trouzes, and was imitated first by all his Officers, then Souldiers, so that thus habited they made the more effectual execution on their enemies. He died at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rest, Anno Dom. 164.. and was buried with Anne his wife (daughter to Sir Henry 〈◊〉〈◊〉,) in Saint Johns Church in Dublin.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dugdale in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Warwick∣shire illust a∣ted, p. 212.