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SIr Edward Waterhous•• was born at Helmstod∣bury Hartfordshire: of an ancient and wor∣shipful Family, deriving their descent lineally from Sir Gilbert Waterhouse of Kyrton in Low-Lind∣sey in the County o•• Lincol•••• in the time of King Hen∣ry
the third. As for our Sir Edward, his Parents were,
Iohn Waterhouse Esquire, a man of much fidelity and sageness, Au∣ditor many years to King Henry the eighth; of whom he obtained (after a great Entertainment for him in his house) the grant of a weekly Market for the Town of Helmsted.
Margaret Turner of the ancient House of Blunts-Hall in Suffolk, and Cannons in Hertfordshire.
The King at his departure honoured the children of the said Iohn Waterhouse,* 1.1 being brought before him, with his praise and encouragement, gave a Ben∣jamins portion of Dignation to this Edward; fore∣telling by his Royal Augury, that he would be the Crown of them all, and a man of great honour and wisdome, fit for the service of Princes. It pleased God afterwards to second the word of the King, so that the sprouts of his hopeful youth on••ly pointed at the growth and greatness of his honourable Age. For, being but twelve years old, he went to Oxford; where for some years he glistered in the Oratorick and Poetick sphere, until he addicted himself to con∣versation, and observance of State-••ffairs, wherein his great proficiency commended him to the favour of three principal Patrons. One was Walter De∣vereux E••rl of Essex, who made him his bosome-friend; and the said Earl lying on his death-bed took his leave of him with many kisses: Oh my Ned, Oh my Ned, (said he) Farewel: thou art the faithfullest and friendliest Gentleman that ever I k••ow, In testimony of his true affection to the dead
Father in his living Son, this Gentleman is thought to have penned that most judicious and elegant Epi∣stle, (recorded in Holinshed's History, pag. 1266.) and presented it to the young Earl, conjuring him by the Cogent Arguments of Example and Rule to pa∣trizare.
His other Patron was ••ir Henry Sidney, (so of∣ten Lord Deputy of Ireland) whereby he became in∣corporated into the familiarity of his Son Sir Phi∣lip Sidney; between whom and Sir Edward there was so great friendliness, that they were never bet∣ter pleased than when in one anothers companies, or when they corresponded each with other. And we finde after the death of that worthy Knight, that he was a close-concerned Mourner at his Obsequies, as appeareth at large in the printed representation of his funeral Solemnity.
His third Patron was ••••r Iohn Perrot, Deputy ••lso of Ireland; who so valued his council, that in State affairs he would do nothing without him. So great his Employment betwixt State and State, that he crossed the Seas thirty seven times, until deser∣vedly at last he came into a port of honour, wherein he sundry years anchored and found safe Harbour. For he receiving the honour of Knighthood, was sworn of her Majesties Privy-Council for Ireland, and Chancellour of the Exchequer therein. Now his grateful soul coursing about how to answer the Queens favour, laid it self wholly out in her ser∣vice: wherein two of his Actions were most remark∣able. First, he was highly instrumental in model∣ling the Kingdome of Ireland into shires, as now they are; shewing himself so great a lover of the po∣lity under which he was born, that he advanced the
Compliance therewith (as commendable and neces∣sary) in the Dominions annexed thereunto. His second service was, when many in that Kingdome shrowded themselves from the Laws, under the Tar∣get of power, making Force their Tutelary Saint, he set himself vigorously to suppress them. And when many of the Privy-Council, terrified with the greatness of the Earl of Desmond, durst not sub∣scribe the Instrument wherein he was proclaimed Traytor, Sir Edward amongst some others boldly signed the same, (disavowing his, and all Treasons against his Fri••nds and Country) and the Council did the like, commanding the publication thereof. As to his private sphear, God blessed him, being but a third Brother, above his other Brethren. Now, though he had three Wives, the first a Villiers, the se∣cond a Spilman, the third the Widow of Herlakenden of Wood-church in Kent, Esquire; and though he had so strong a brain and body, yet he lived and died childless, intercommoning therein with many Worthies, who are, according to AElius Spartianu••, either improl••fick, or have children in Genitorum Vituperium & famarum Laesuram. God thus de∣nying him the pleasure of posterity, he craved leave of the Queen to retire himself, and fixed the resi∣due of his life at Wood-church in Kent, living there in great Honour and Repute, as one who had no designe to be popular, and not prudent; rich, and not honest; great, and not good. He died in th•• 56 year of his Age, the 13 of October 1591. and is buried at Wood-church under a Table-marble mo∣nument, erected to his memory by his sorrowful Lady surviving him.
••ythe learned, industrious and ingeni∣ous Edward Waterhouse Esquire, of Sion-Col∣ledge.