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.

The Buildings.

I have presented the Portraicture of the Church of Lichfield in my Church-History, with the due praise of the neatness thereof. But now, alas! the Body thereof is become

a very carcase ruined in our late Civil Wars. The like Fate is likely to fall on the rest of our Cathedrals, if care be not taken for their reparations.

I have read of Duke d'Alva, that he promised Life to some Prisoners, but when they petitioned Him for food, he returned he would grant them life but no meat, by which Criticism of courteous cruelty the poor people were starved. If our * 1.1 Cathedrals have only a Bare Being, and be not supplied with seasonable repairs, (the daily •…•…ood of a Fabrick) soon will they be famished to nothing.

As for the Close at Lichfield, I have been credibly informed, that the Plague (which long had raged therein) at the first shooting of Canon at the Siege thereof did abate, im∣puted by Naturalists to the violent purging of the Air by the Bullets, but by Divines to Gods goodness, who graciously would not have two Miseries of War and Plague afflict one small Place at the same Time. Pass we now to Civil Buildings in this Shire.

TUTBURY CASTLE is a stately place, and I dare take it on the credit of an excellent * 1.2 Witness, that it hath a brave and large Prospect (to it, in it, and from it) Northward it looks on pleasant Pastures; Eastward on sweet Rivers and rich Meadowes; Southward on a goodly▪ Forest, and many Parks (lately no fewer than twelve) belonging thereto or holden thereof. It was formerly the Seat of the Lord Ferrars Earl of Derby, and how it was forfeited to the Crown is worth our observing.

Robert de * 1.3 Ferrars Earl of Derby siding with Simon Mumford against King Henry the Third, was fined at fifty thousand pounds to be paid, Pridie Johan. Baptist. next following. I know not whether more to admire at the suddeness of payment, or vastness of the Sum: seeing an hundred thousand pounds was the Randsom set by the Emperour on our King Richard the First, and it shaked all the Co•…•…ers of England in that Age, (without the help of Church-plate to make it up.) Well, these Lords following were the security bound for the Earls true payment at the time appointed.

• 1 Henry son to Rich. King of the Romans
• 2 Will. Valence Earl of Pembroke.
• 3 John de Warren Earl of Surrey▪
• 4 Will. Beauchampe Earl of Warwick.
• 5 Sir Roger de Summary.
• 6 Sir Thomas de Clare.
• 7 Sir Robert Wa•…•…ond.
• 8 Sir Roger Clifford.
• 9 Sir Hamond le Strange.
• 10 Sir Bartholomew de Sudeley.
• 11 Sir Robert Bruse, all being then Ba∣rons of the Land.

But Earl Robert unable to advance the money at the time appointed, and unwilling to leave the Lords, his Bail, under the Kings lash, surrendred his Lands (and Tutbury Castle amongst the rest) to the clear yearly value of three thousand pounds into the Kings hands; redeemable, when he or his Heirs should pay down on one day fifty thousand pounds, which was never performed.

The English Clergie much pittied John the son of this Earl Robert, who presented a pe∣tition to the Pope, informing his Holiness, that the English Clergie were willing to give him money by way of Contribution to redeem his Estate, but durst not, because com∣manded to the contrary under the pain of the Popes curse. And therefore he craved his Apostolical Indulgence therein.

Something I find was restored unto him, but Tutbury was too sweet a morsel to return, being annexed to the Dutchy of Lancaster. John of Gaunt built a fair Castle there, walled on three sides by Art, and the fourth by its natural steepness.

DUDLEY CASTLE must not be forgotten, highly and pleasantly seated, and in the reign of King Edward the Sixth well built, and adorned by John Dudley Duke of Northumberland, whereon a story worth the reporting doth depend.

The afore-said Duke * 1.4 deriving himself (who truly not yet decided) from a younger Branch of the Lord Dudley thirsted after this Castle in regard of the name and the honourableness of the House, some having avouched that the Barony is annexed to the lawful possession thereof, whether by purchase or descent. Now finding John Sutton the Lord Dudley (Grand-father to the last Baron) a weak man exposed to some wants and intangled with many debts, he by the help of those Money-Merchants wrought him out of his Castle. So that the Poor Lord turned out of doores and left to the charity of his Friends for subsistance was commonly called the Lord Quondam. But after the execution

of that Duke Queen Mary sympathizing with Edward the son of this poor Lord (which Edward had married Katharine Bruges her maid of Honour and sister to the Lord Shandois) restored him to the Lands and Honour which justly belonged to his Father.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This Note written in Bad Times seven years since, I thought not sit to put out.
• * 1.2

  Samps. Er∣derswick in his Manuscript Survey of this Shire.
• * 1.3

  Idem Ibid.
• * 1.4

  Mr. Dugdale in his Illustra∣tion of War∣wick-shire in the Catalogue of the Earls of Warwick.