To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
SIr George Crook, son of Sir Iohn Crook, and Elizabeth Unton his Wife, was born at Chilton in Buckingham-shire, in the second year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; bred first in Oxford, then a double Reader in the Inner Temple, Sergeant at Law, and the King's Serge∣ant; Justice first of the Common Bench, 22. Iac. and then of the Upper Bench, 4 Caroli. His ability
in his Profession is sufficiently attested by his own printed Reports; Eight eminent Judges of the Law out of their knowledge of his great Wisdom, Learn∣ing, and Integrity, approving and allowing them to be published for the common benefit. His only de∣fect was, that he was against the ancient Naval-aid called Ship-money, both publickly in Westminster-Hall, and privately in his judgement demanded by the King, even at that time when our Neigh∣bours not only incroached upon our Trade, but disputed our right in the Narrow-seas, though concluded to subscribe (according to the course of the Court) by plurality of Voices. The Country∣mans wit (levelled to his brain) will not for many years be forgotten; That Ship-money may be got∣ten by Hook, and not by Crook; though since they have paid Taxes (Loyns to the little finger, and Scorpions to the rod of Ship-money) but whether by Hook or Crook, let others enquire: Hampden's share for which he went to Law, being but eighteen shillings, though it cost the Nation since eighteen millions.
Considering his declining and decaying age, and desiring to examine his life, and prepare an account to the supream Judge, he petitioned King Charl••s for a Writ of E••se; which though in some sort denyed, (what wise Master would willingly part with a good Servant?) was in effect granted unto him. For the good King (exacting from his Sub∣jects no services beyond their years and abilities; and taking it better at his hands, that he confessed his infirmities, than if he had concealed them) discharged him for the pains, though he allowed him the fees and honour of Chief-Justice while he
lived.—Wherefore in gratitude as well as consci∣ence, however he was misled in ••he foresaid matter of Syhip money, he abhor••ed the Faction heartily; for he would say of Hampden, He is a dangerous person, take heed of him.—and loved the Church as heartily; for we are told by a person of great worth and credit, Th••t having read over the Book of Canons 1640 when it first came out, and was so much spoken against, he lifted up his hands, and gave hearty thanks to Almighty God, that he had lived to see s••ch good effects of a Convocation. In a word, he was no less in his Life, than he is in his Epitaph now dead, which runs thus;
Georgius Crook Eques Auratus, unus justiciario∣rum de Banco Regis, Iudicio Linceato, & animo presenti insignis, v••ritatis haeres, quem nec mina nec bonos allexit: Regis au horitatem & populi li∣bertatem aequâ lance Libravit; Religione cordatus, vitâ innocuus, manu expans••, Corde humili pauperes irrogavit: mundum vicit & deseruit, Anno AErat. Lxxxii, Annoque R. C. I. xvii. Anno Domini MDCXLI.