MARY DALE, better known by the name of Mary Ramsey, daughter of William Dale Merchant, was born in this City.* 1.1 She became afterward second Wife to Sir Thomas Ramsey Grocer and Lord Major of London, Anno 1577, and surviving him was thereby possessed of a great Estate, and made good use thereof. She founded two Fellowships and Scholarships in Peter-House in Cambridge, and profered much more, if on her terms it might have been accepted. For most certain it is that she would have setled on that House Lands to the value of five hundred pounds per annum and up∣wards, on condition that it should be called the Colledge of Peter and Mary. This Doctor* 1.2 Soams, then Master of the House, refused, affirming that Peter, who so long lived single, was now too old to have a Feminine Partner. A dear jest to loose so good a Benefactres.
This not succeeding the stream of her Charity was not peevishly dried up (with those who in matters of this nature will do nothing, when they cannot do what they would do) But found other* 1.3 channels there in to derive it self. She died Anno Dom. 1596, and lieth buried in Christs-Church in London.
THOMAS WHITE D. D. was born in this City and bred in Oxford. He was afterwards related to Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland, whose Funeral Sermon he made, being accounted a good Preacher in the reign of Queen Elizabeth
Indeed he was accused for being a great Pluralist, though I cannot learn, that at once he had more than one Cure of Soules, the rest being Dignities. As false is the Aspersion of his being a great Vsurer; but one Bond being found by his Executors amongst his Writings of one thousand pounds, which he lent gratis for many years to the Company of Merchant-Tailors, whereof he was Free, the rest of his Estate being in Land and ready money. Besides other Benefactions to Christ-Church, and a Lecture in St. Pauls, London, he left three thousand pounds for the Building of Sion Colledge to be a Ramah for the Sons of the Prophets in London. He built there also a fair Alms-house for Twenty poor Folk, allowing them yearly six pounds a piece. And another at Bristol, which as I am informed, is better endowed.
Now as Camillus was counted a second Romulus, for enlarging and beautifying the City of Rome, So Mr. John Simpson Minister of St. Olaves, Hart-street London, may be said a second White, for perfecting the aforesaid Colledge of Sion, building the Gate-house with a fair Case for the Library, and endowing it with Threescore pounds per annum. Dr. Thomas White died Anno Dom. 1623.