Anglorum speculum, or The worthies of England, in church and state Alphabetically digested into the several shires and counties therein contained; wherein are illustrated the lives and characters of the most eminent persons since the conquest to this present age. Also an account of the commodities and trade of each respective county, and the most flourishing cities and towns therein.

Noted Sheriffs.

[monarch R. I.] Will. Briewere of mean Extraction, yet he was such a Minion to King Rich. I. that he created him Baron of Odcomb in Somersetshire. One Fulk-paynel gave this William the Town of Bridg∣water, that he might procure for him the King's fa∣vour which he had lost. Seeing he left no Son, partition

was made of his Inheritance amongst his Daughters, married into the Honourable Families of Breos, Wake, Mohun, La-fert and Percy.

Phillip Son of Rob. and Alan de Marton, joynt She∣riffs in this County.

Rog. Bishop of Covent. & Lich. Sher. in this County. He was Surnamed de Molend, [monarch H. 3:] aliàs Longespee, and was Nephew to King Hen. III.

Phil. de la Beach. The Seat of this Fa∣mily was at Aldworth, [monarch E. 2.] where their Sta∣tues on their Tombs are yet extant. They were most Valiant Men, & their Male issue was extinct in the next Kings Reign, whose Heir General was marryed to the Ancient Family of Whitlock.

Th. Chaucer sole Son to Geffery Chaucer the Famous Poet, [monarch H. 4.] from whom he inherited fair Lands at Dunning-Castle in this County, and at Ewelme in Oxf. He married Maud Daughter and Coheir of Sir. Jo. Burwash, by whom he had Alice married to Will. de la Pole D. of Suffolk. He lyeth buried under a fair Tomb in Ewelme Church with this Inscription. Hic jacet Th. Chaucer, Armiger, quondam Dominus istius villae, & patronus istius Ecclesiae, qui ob. 13. Nov. An. Dom. 1434. & Matilda uxor ejus, quae ob. 28. Apr. 1436.

Th. Wickham, Kinsman and next heir to Will. VVickham that famous Bishop of VVinchester, [monarch H. 5.] who (notwithstand∣ing above 6000 pounds bequeath'd in Legacies) left to Thomas 600 pound Lands a year. As for his Arms, viz. Arg. 2 Cheverons, S. between 3 Ros∣es G. The most ingenious Sir Isaac VVake concei∣veth those Cheverons (or Couples in Architecture) given him in Relation to the two Colledges he built in Oxford and VVinchester.

Jo. Gowfere, or Golofre, [monarch H. 6.] the first who is Styled Esquire as he was She∣riff.

This Addition grew afterwards more fashion∣able, for after that Jack Straw (one of the Grand∣founders of the Levellers) was defeated, the Eng∣lish Gentry, to appear above the Mobile, did in all publick Instruments insert their Native or acquired Qualifications.

Sir. Jo. Howard, Knight, Son to Sir Rob. Howard, [monarch E. 4.] soon after was Created a Baron by Edw. IV. and Duke of Norfolk by King Rich. III. as Kinsman and one of the Heirs of Anne Dutchess of York and Norfolk, whose Mother was one of the Daughters of Th. Mowbray Duke of Norfolk. Soon after he lost his Life in Bosworth-field, in the Quarrel of him who had given him his Honour. From him descended the Noble and Nu∣merous Family of the Howards, of whom four Earls, viz. Arundel, Notingham, Suffolk and Barkshire, and two Barons, viz. Mowbray and Estrick sat in the last Parliament of King Ch. I. Verstegan the great An∣tiquary will have their Name to be Holdward, that is, Keeper of a Castle (or Trust) and they have well answered unto their Name. Did not Th. Howard Earl of Surrey well Hold his ward by Land, when in the Reign of King H. 8. he Conquered the Scots in Floddon-field, and took James IV, their King, Prison∣er? And did not Charles Howard (afterward Earl of Nottingham) hold his ward by Sea in 88. when the Armado was defeated?

Humph. Foster. Ar. Afterward Knighted, lies Bu∣ried in St. Martins in the Fields, Lond. with this In∣scription.

Of your Charity pray for the Soul of Sir Humphrey Foster Knight, whose body lies buried here in Earth, under this Marble Stone, who deceased 18 Sept. 1500.

On whose Soul Jesu have mercy, Amen.

Robert Harecourt, Knight, right An∣cient is this Family in France, [monarch H. 7.] which is said to have flourished there 800 years. Of this Family (whose Arms is G. two Bars, O.) a younger Branch coming over at the Conquest, fixed it self at Staunton Harecourt in Oxford-shire: In the Reign of King Jo. Richard Harecourt of Staunton, marrying Orabella, Daughter of Saer de Quincy Earl of Winchester, had the Mannor of Bosworth in Leice∣ster-shire, for his Wives Portion. Robert Harecourt was made Knight of the Garter by E. 4. From him Lineally descended the Valiant Sir Simon Harecourt, lately slain in the Wars against the Rebels in Ireland, whose Son a hopeful Gentleman enjoys the Mannor of Staunton to this day.

Jo. Basket, an Esquire of Remark and Martial Acti∣vity in his younger days, and after, removed to Devnish in Dorsetshire, to whom he going into France, committed the Care of that Country.

Will. Essex, Ar. a worthy Man, of great Command in this County, [monarch H. 6.] (whereof he was four times Sheriff) and the first of his Family who fixed in Lambourn therein; for he married Elizabeth, Daughter and sole Heir of Tho. Rogers of Benham, whose Grand-father Jo. Rogers had married Elizabeth, Daughter and Heir of Jo. Shotesbroke of Bercole in this County (whose Ancestors had been Sheriffs in Bark-shire, An. 4.5. and 6. E. 3.) by whom he received a large Inheritance. This Will. (afterwards Sir Will.) was Son to Th. Essex, Esquire, Remembrancer and Vice-Treasurer to E. 4. who died Nov. 1. 1500, and lyeth buried in the Church of Kensington, Middlesex: He derived himself from Henry de Essex, Bar. of Rawley, and Standard-bearer of England, and his Posterity have lately assumed his Coat, viz. Arg. an Orle G. There

was lately a Baron of this Family, with Revenues of a Baron.

Humph. Foster, Knight, a Lover of Protestants in the most dangerous times, and spake to the Quest, in the behalf of Mr. Marbeck, that good Confessor. Yea, he Confessed to Henry 8. that never any thing went so much against his Conscience, as his attend∣ing (by Command) the Execution of three poor Men Martyred at Windsor.

Francis Inglefield Knight, afterwards Privy-Councellour to Queen Mary, [monarch E. 6.] and so zealous a Romanist, that after her Death he left the Land with a most large Inheri∣tance, and lived for the most part in Spain. He was a most industrious Agent to solicite the Cause of the Queen of Scots: He was a great Promoter of, and Be∣nefactor to the English Colledge at Valladolid in Spain, where he lyeth interred. A Family of his Alliance is still Worshipful, extant in this County.

Jo. Williams, Knight, was before the Expiration of the year of his Sherival∣ty made by Queen Mary, [monarch Queen Mary.] Lord Wil∣liams of Tame in Oxford: In which Town he built a small Hospital, and a very fair School. He with Sir Henry Bennyfield were Joynt-keepers of the Lady E∣lizabeth, whilst under Restraint, being as Civil as the other was cruel to her. Bishop Ridley when Martyr∣ed, requested this Lord to stand his Friend to the Queen, that those Leases might be confirmed, which he had made to poor Tenants; which he promised and performed accordingly.

Henry Norrice, Son-in-Law to the Lord Williams aforesaid, [monarch Queen Elizab.] was by Queen Elizabeth created Bar. of Norrice in Ricot, in Oxford. He was Son to Sir Henry Norrice, who suffered in the Cause of Queen Anne Bullen,

Grand-Child to Sir Edward Norrice; who married Friswide Sister and co-heir to the last Lord Lovell. He was Father to the Martial Blood of the Norrices, Elizabeth his Grand-Child, sole Daughter and Heir unto Francis Norrice Earl of Bark-shire, and Baroness Norrice, was married to Edward Wray Esquire, whose only Daughter Elizabeth Wray, Baroness Norrice late∣ly deceased, was married unto Montague Bartue Earl of Lindsey, whose Son a Minor is Lord Norrice, at this day.

Edward Ʋmpton Knight, this ancient Name was extinct in the days of our Fathers, for want of issue Male, and a great part of their Lands devolved by an Heir general to G. Puffen of Wadley Esquire, whose Care is commendable in preserving the Monuments of the Ʋmptons in Farrington Church, and restoring such as were defaced in the Civil War.

Besilius Fetiplace: The Seat of the Family was at Lee, thence called Besiles Lee in this County, until Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Will. Bes. last of the Name was married to Richard Fetiplace, whose Great-grand-Child was named Besile, to continue the Remembrance of their Ancestors.

Richard Lovelace Knight, a brisk Gen∣tleman in the Reign of Queen Eliza∣beth, making use of Letters of Mart, [monarch King James.] had the Success to seize on a large Remnant of the King of Spains Fleet charged with Silver. King Charles created him Lord Lovelace of Hurley.

Sir Jo. Darell, Baronet: Of which Order, Note the Qualifications, [monarch King Charles.] Service and Dignity: For the first. 1. They were to be Men of honest Reputation. 2. Descended at least of a Grand-father that bare Arms. 3. Having Estate of 1000 pounds a year, two Thirds thereof at least in Possession, the rest in Reversion expectant, on

one Life only, holding in Dower or Joynture. As to the Second, 1. Each of them was to advance to∣wards the planting of the Province of Ʋlster in Ire∣land, with Money enough to maintain 30 Foot for three years, after the Rate of eight pence a day for each Man. 2. The first years Wages was to be paid down on the passing of their Patent, the Remainder as they contracted with the Kings Commissioners, Authorized to treat of, and conclude the same. For the last, viz. their Dignity. 1. They were to take place, with their Wives and Children respectively, immediately after the Sons of Barons, and before all Knights-Batchelors of the Bath and Banneret; save such Solemn ones as afterwards should be created in the Field, by the King there Present, under the Standard Royal displayed. 2. The Addition of Sir was to be prefixed before their Names. 3. The Honour was to be Hereditary, and Knight-hood not to be denied to their eldest Sons, of full Age, if desiring it. 4. There was added to their Arms a Bloody hand in a Canton, or Escutcheon at their Pleasure. The King did undertake, that they should never exceed 200, and none were to be substituted upon a Vacan∣cy. And that no other new Order should be super∣induced.