Since the Reformation.
THOMAS GODWIN was born at*Oakingham in this County, and first bred in the Free School therein. Hence was he sent to Magdalen Colledge in Oxford, maintained there for a time by the bounty of Doctor Layton Dean of York, till at last he was cho∣sen Fellow of the Colledge. This he exchanged on some terms for the School-Masters place of Barkley in Gloucester-shire, where he also Studied Physick, which afterwards pro∣ved beneficial unto him; when forbidden to teach School in the Reign of Queen Mary.Page 93 Yea Bonner threatned him with fire and faggot, which caused him often to Obscure him∣self and Remove his Habitation. He was an Eloquent Preacher, Tall and Comely in Per∣son; qualities which much Indeared him to Q. Elizabeth, who loved good parts well, but better, when in a goodly Person. For 18. years together he never failed to be one of the Select Chaplains, which Preached in the Lent before her Majesty. He was first Dean of Christ-church in Oxford, then Dean of Canterbury, and at last Bishop of Bath and Wells.
Being infirm with Age, and deseased with the Gout, he was necessitated for a Nurse to marry a second wife, a Matron of years proportionable to himself. But this was by his Court-Enemies (which no Bishop wanted in that Age) represented to the Queen to his great Disgrace. Yea they traduced him to have married a Girl of twenty years of age, until the good Earl of Bedford* casually present at such discourse; Madam, (said he to her Majesty) I know not how much the Woman is above twenty, but I know a Son of hers is but little under forty.
Being afflicted with a Quartern feaver, he was advised by his Physicians to retire into this County, to Oakingham the place of his Birth, seeing in such Cases Native Ayr may prove Cordial to Patients, as Mothers milk to (and old men are twice) children. Here he dyed (breathing his first and last in the same Place,) November the 19. 1590. And lyeth buried under a Monument in the South-side of the Chan∣cell.
THOMAS RAMME was born at*Windsor in this County, and admitted in Kings Colledge in Cambridge Anno Dom. 1588. whence he was made Chaplain first to Robert Earl of Essex, then to Charles Lord Mountjoy, both Lord Lieutenants in Ireland, After many mediate Preferments, he was made Bishop of Fernos and Laghlin in that King∣dom, both which he Peaceably injoyed, Anno 1628.
WILLIAM LAWD was born at Reading in this County, of honest Parentage, bred in Saint Johns Colledge in Oxford, whereof he became P•…esident; Successively Bi∣shop of Saint Davids, Bath and Wells, London, and at last Arch-Bishop of Canter∣bury. One of low Stature, but high Parts; Piercing eyes, Chearfull countenance, wherein Gravity and Pleasantness, were well compounded: Admirable in his Na∣turalls, Unblameable in his Morals, being very strict in his Conversation. Of him I have written in my Ecclesiastical History, though I confess it was some∣what too soon for one with safety and truth, to treat of such a Subject. In∣deed I could instance in some kind of course Venison, not fit for food when first killed, and therefore cunning Cooks bury it for some hours in the Earth, till the rankness thereof being mortified thereby, it makes most palatable meat. So the me∣mory of some Persons newly deceased are neither fit for a Writers or Readers repast, un∣till some competent time after their Interment. However I am Confident that unpartial Posterity, on a serious review of all Passages, will allow his Name to be reposed amongst the HEROES of our Nation, seeing such as behold his expence on St. Pauls as but a Cy∣pher, will assign his other Benefactions a very valuable Signification, viz. his erecting and endowing an Almes-house in Reading, his increasing of Oxford Library with Books, and St. Johns Colledg with beautifull buildings. He was beheaded Jan. 10. 1644.
