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IT was fashionable for the Clergy, (especially Regular) to have their Surnames, from the places of their Nativity; As Richard Bishop of London, quitted Angervill, tho his Father Sir Richard Angervill was a Knight of Worth and Worship, to be called
of Bury, where he was born, and William Bishop of Winchester waved Pattin, to wear Waynfleet, tho he was eldest Son to Richard Pattin, an Esquire of great Ancientry.
Sometimes the place of one's birth is rendred uncertain, when several places have the same name. One instance of many, William of Wickham was the famous Founder of New Colledge in Oxford: But how can his Cradle be certainly fixed in any place, when it is equally rock't betwixt twenty Villages of the same Denomination? In inquiries of this Nature and Difficulty, 'tis best to have recourse to the Cir∣cumstances in the History of such a controverted Person. Where two or more places claim the birth of the same Person, my usual expedient is to insert the Character at large, of the controverted Person in that County, which produceth the best Evidence for him, yet so, that I also enter his name with a reference in the other respective places, which with probability pretend unto him. But many multiply differences in the places of Mens birth by mistake. The Papists can tell you a Tale how the Men of two Towns in Germany fell out and fought together, whilst one of them was for Martin, the other for Luther, being but the several Names of the same Person. If one Author affirms Bishop Jewel born at Buden, another at Berinerber, let none make strife betwixt these two Writers, the former naming the House and Village, the later the Parish wherein he was born.
As for the Sons of Ministers, tho some unchari∣tably think them generally unfortunate, by the sequel of this Treatise it will plainly appear that they have by Gods Blessing, proved as eminent as any who have raised themselves by their own endeavours. For Statesmen, George Carew, Privy Councellor of
England, Scotland, and Ireland, and as able a Man, as the Age he lived in, produced, was Earl of Totnes, the same place whereof his Father was Arch-Deacon. Sir Edwin Sandys, Son to Arch-Bshiop Sandys, was a Man of such Merit, that England could not afford an Office which he could not manage. For Lawyers, Sir Th. Richardson, lately, and the never sufficiently to be commended Sir Orlando Bridgeman, now Lord Chief Justice, with many others. For Seamen, Sir Francis Drake, that great Scourge and Terrour to the Spanish Pride. But the Sons of Ministers have never been more Successfull, then when bred in the Pro∣fessions of their Fathers. Thus of the Prelatical Clergy we have Francis Godwin a Bishop, the Son of a Bishop, and Dr. John King, Son to the Reverend Bishop of London. And of others, we have three Generations of the Wards, in Suffolk. As many of the Shutes, in York-shire, no less painfull then Pious and able in their Professions. Let me add, that there were at one time three Fellows of Kings Colledge, Sons of eminent Divines, and afterwards Doctors of Divinity, viz. Sam. Collins, Th. Goad, and Will. Sclater. And I believe there were not severally in their Generations, Men more Signal, in their diffe∣rent Eminencies.