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.

Middlesex.

IT is in Effect but the Suburbs at large of London, replenished with the retiring Houses of the Gentry and Citizens thereof, Palaces of Noblemen and 3 (lately) Royal Mansions. It is about 18 miles in length and 12 in breadth. It hath Hartford on the N. Buck on the W. Ess. on the E. Kent and Surrey on the S. The Air generally is most healthful, especially about High-Gate. The Na∣tural Commodities are Wheat, the best in Engl. growing in the Vale lying South of Harrow-the-hill nigh Hessen. Q. Eliz. received no Composition-Money from the Villages thereabouts, but took her Wheat in kind; one of those Villages being called Peri∣vale (or Purevale) from the cleerness of the Corn therein. Tamarisk, first brought over by B. Grindal out of Switz, and planted in his Garden and Ful∣ham. The Manufactures are Leather, in the true Tanning of which the Lord Burleigh was indoctri∣nated by a Cobler, exemplifying the same in toast∣ed Bread (called by him a tanned Toast) which if artificially done, will last (said the Cobler) many Mornings Draughts. Of Buildings, HAMPTON-COURT, built by Card. Woolsey who bestowed it on H. 8. by him erected into an Honour, & mightily •…•…ncreased, and now continues, tho the other Royal

Palaces, (Holdenby, Oatlands, Richmond, Theobalds) have found their fatal Period. H. 8. enforrested the Grounds hereabouts. OSTERLY-HOUSE (now Sir Will. Waller's) was built in a Park, by Sir Th. Gresham, who here magnificently enter∣tained and lodged Q. Eliz. who found fault with the Court of this House as too great, affirming, that it would appear more handsome, if divided with a Wall in the middle. Sir Thomas being ve∣ry observant, had the Court made double against the next Morning, of which a Courtier then said. It was no wonder he could so soon change a Buil∣ding, who could build a Change. Another (reflecting on some known differences in this Knights Family) affirmed, That any House is easier divided than united.

Proverbs.

1. A Middlesex Clown. Clown, i. e. Colonus one that Plougheth the Ground, of which Middlesex hath many of great Estates; and there are some of the Yeomantry in this County, as compleatly civil as any in England. 2. He that is a low Ebbe at Newgate, may soon be a float at Tiburn. This is too Satyri∣cal. Some will have Tiburn, so called from Tie and Burn, the poor Lollards having been the first who were tied up and burnt in that place. 3. When Tottenham-Wood is all on fire, Then Totten∣ham-street is nought but mire. That is, when that Wood of many 100 Acres on the top of a Hill hath a Mist like Smoak over it, generally foul weather followeth. 4. Tottenham is turned French. About the beginning of H. 8. French Mechanicks swarm'd in England to the great prejudice of English Artisans, which caused the Insurrection in London on ill-May-day

1517. The City and Country Villages were filled with French Fashions and Infections. The Proverb is applied to such who contemning the Custom of their Country, make themselves more ridiculous by affecting forreign Humours and Habits.

Princes.

Edward, Sole surviving Son of H. 8. and Jan•…•… his Wife, was born at Hampton-Court, An. 1537. He succeeded his Father in the Kingdom and was most Eminent in his Generation, Whose Virtues were so resplendent, no faults (humane frailties ex∣cepted) appeared in him. He died July 5th. 1553. and pity it is that deserved the best, should have no Monument, indeed a brass Altar of excellent Workmanship under which he was buried (I will not say sacrificed with an untimely Death by trea∣chery of others) did formerly supply the place of his Tombe, which since is abolished under the no∣tion of Superstition. Being a Child he had more of Man in him than any of his Age; And his Good∣ness was no less conspicuous. In a Letter he wrote to Mr. Barnaby Fitz-Patrick, Gentleman of his Bed-Chamber, he charges him to regard the Scripture or some good Book, and to give no reverence to the Mass. (at which that Gentleman should chance to be pre∣sent in his Attendance on the French K.) To avoid the Company of Women as far forth as he might: Besides other Advertisments relating to the Publick, which are very judiciously penned. In another Letter to him, he congratulates his Constancy—and sends him an Account of the Great Tide which drowned the Isle of Doggs, Plumsted Marsh, Shippey and Foulness in Ess. as also Towns and Cities in Zealand, &c.

Martyrs.

At Barnet, Islington and Stratford Bow there were more than 20 persons Martyred. Mr. Jo. Dendley burnt at Uxbridge began to sing a Psalm at the Stake, and Dr. Story (there present) caused a prick∣ley Faggot to be hurled in his Face. Now the sing∣ing Nightingale needed no Thorn, but only the sleeping one to awake it. We may believe that this Martyrs Prick-song indeed made good Melody in the Ears of the God of Heaven. Smithfield near London being Bonners Shambles, and the Bone-fire General of England, no wonder if some sparks thereof were driven thence into the vicinage.

Prelates.

Richard Northall, a Carmelite and Chaplain to R. 2. was made B. of Ossory and Chancellour of Ireland, and at last Arch-Bishop of Dublin. He wrote a Set of Sermons for the whole year he died, 1397.

Since the Reformation.

William Wickham, (junior) born at Enfield, bred in K. Coll. Bishop first of Lincoln, then of Winchester, died of the Strangury 1596. having not made wa∣ter for 14 days together. 'Tis no ill Custom among the Modern Jews that they Praise God solemnly for their vents of ejection, as well as Mouths for the ad∣mission of nourishment.

Souldiers.

Falcatius, or Fulke de Brent, was Minion to King Jo. who gave him in marriage Marg. the Daughter of Warrin Fitz-Gerald his Chamberlain. He was

highly in favour with King Henry 3. who by the Valour of this General obtained the great Victory at Lincoln. Being afterwards slighted in time of Peace he embroyled the Nation, committing many Outrages and Felonies, for which he was condemned to perpetual Banishment. He went to Rome, where he lived obscurely, died miserably 1226.

Sir Ralph Sadlier, born at Hackney, (where he was heir to a fair Inheritance) being servant to the Lord Cromwell was by him advanced into the service of H. 8. who made him Secretary of State, and employed him in the Scotch Affairs. The Pen and Sword met eminently in him: For in the Battle of Mussleborough, he ordered and brought up our scattered Troops, inviting them to fight by his own Example, and so for his Valour was made a Knight Banneret. Queen Eliz. made him Chancellour of the Dutchy. During his last Embassy into Scot∣land, his house at Standon in Hartfordshire was built by his Steward in his absence, far greater than him∣self desired, so that he never joyed therein and died soon after 1587. When this Knight attended the Lord Cromwell (before the Reformation) a Par∣don was granted for the Sins of that Family, for 3 immediate Generations expiring in R. Sadlier lately dead.

Capital Judges and Writers on the Law.

Sir Th. Frowick, Knight, born at Elinge, was made Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 18 H. 7. and was accounted the Oracle of Law in his Age, tho one of the youngest Men that ever enjoyed that Of∣fice. He died 1506 and lyeth buried in Finchlty Church. Elah his eldest Daughter was married to Sir Jo. Spelman (one of the Justices of the Kings

Bench) Grand-father to Sir Henry that Renowned Knight.

Sir William Stamford, Knight, (born at Hadley) Son to Will. Merchant in London, was one of the Judges of the Com. Pleas; Famous for his Book of Pleas of the Crown. He died An. ult. Ma. 1558.

Writers.

Jo. Acton, D. L. in Oxford, became Canon of Lin∣coln. He wrote a Commentary on the Ecclesiastical Constitutions of Otho, &c. and flourished under E 1. 1290.

Ralph Acton, D. D. in Oxford, Preached the Gos∣pel of the Kingdom of God in the midst of the darkness of Roman Superstitions. He flourished under E. 2. An. 1320.

Roger Twiford, D. D. an Itinerant Prea∣cher through the Diocess of Norwich, was * 1.1 commonly called GOOD LUCK. He flourished 1390.

Rob. Hownslow, a Frier, then Provincial of the Or∣der of the H. Trinity, instituted for the Redempti∣on of Captives. By this Robert's diligence many were set free. He wrote many Synodal Sermons and Epistles to excite the Charity of Persons of Quali∣ty and others. He flourished 1430.

Since the Reformation.

William Gouge, born at Stratford Bow, and bred in Cambridge, read 15 Chapters of the Bible every day, and was afterwards Minister of Black-friers London. He died 1653 leaving the Examples of Humility, Faith and Patience to Posterity.

Benefactors to the Publick.

A Hermite near the Hermitage, on his own cost, caused Gravel to be digged in the top of Highgate∣hill (whence there is now a fair Pond of Water in that place) and therewith made a Causway from High-gate to Islington.

Since the Reformation.

Alice Daughter of Rob. Wilkes, was a poor Maid in Islington, where her Cap was casually shot through with an arrow without any hurt to her head. She was married to J. Owen (her 3d. wealthy Husband) and built at Islington near to the place of her delive∣rance an Alms-house by her well endowed. She expended to charitable uses 2300 l. and lyeth buried at Islington.

Sir Jul. Cesar Knight, descended from the Dal∣marii in Italy, bred in Oxf. was Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster and sworn Privy Councellour July, 6th. 1607. then preferred Master of the Rolls. A person of such prodigious Bounty that he might seem to be Almoner General of the Na∣tion. A Gentleman having borrowed his Coach, was so Rendevouzed about with Beggars in London, that it cost him all the Money in his Purse to satis∣fie their Importunity. 'Twas not without a good Omen that his chief House in Hartford was called Benington, the Bountiful Village. His Arms (G, 3 Roses Ar. on a Chief of the first, so many Roses of the Second) do Emblem the Fragrancy of the Memory he hath left behind him. He died 1636 and was buried in St. Helens London.

Memorable Persons.

Pet. Fabel, a conceited person is said to have de∣ceived the Devil (at the Funeral of K. James) with his merry devises. But as a Bishop in his Ser∣mon speaking of Brute his coming into this Land, said, it was but a Bruit; in like manner the best Comment upon this Peter is his own Surname.

—Trestram, a Gardener at Branford, aged about 76 years, being seised with an extreme Fever and violent Inflammation of the Lungs, recovered after the loss of above 6•…•… ounces of Blood in 9 days, let by Dr. Theod. Deodato, Physician to •…•…. Hen∣ry, and Lady Eliz.

Antient Gentry since the time of H. 6.

Will. Wroth, was Ancestor to Sir Hen. still living at Durance. His Grandfather Sir Th. fled for his Religion into Germany in the Reign of Q. Mary, and hath alone his Name remaining in this Coun∣ty.

Jo. Shordyche, so called from Shorditch in London, whereof he was owner. His Progeny hath a con∣siderable Estate at Ick•…•…am, in this County. Note The Gentry in Middlesex have a Priviledge above any County in England, that they are not Eligible (except also they be Freemen in London) to be Sheriffs of this Shire.

The Battels.

Branford-Fight, 1642. Nov. 12 began on the South-West-side of the Town, near Zion-house; some Execution being done by great Guns, and a Boat

on the Thames with many therein sunk, and Captain Quarles (an active Citizen on the Parliament side) drowned. Then the Scene being shifted to the North-side of the Town, near Acton, the Kings For∣ces fell fiercely on the Regiment of Col. Denzil Hollis, then present in Parliament, and put them to the worst. Here the Welsh under—Salisbury their Leader, made true the Gr. Proverb. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he that flyeth will fight again. These who shewed swift heels at Edge-hill, used as stout Arms (as any) in this Fight; For formerly they were little better than Naked, whereas since they have recovered Armour to fence their Bodies, and Resolution to arm their Minds. Next day (being Sunday,) marched out the Militin of London. It is incredible how many Cart-loads of Victuals were carried out from London. In the Evening the Kings Forces drew off towards Kingston. The Number of the Slain on both sides amounted not to 1000, and the Reputation of the Victory on the Kings side was more than the Effect thereof, for then the Royalists did Nose and Beard the Populous City of London. Indeed the Accession of Citizens to the King answered not rational expectation, Many scores of Prisoners taken by the K. were by him freely dismissed without other Ransom, than a strict Oath to serve no more against him. Now what Oath-Office is kept in London I know not, nor what Pope therein had power to dispense with so sacred an Obligation. But these some Weeks af∣ter, appeared on the same side as fierce as before.

This County is infested with Mildew when Corn is almost ripe for the Sicle, which a good Rain or strong Wind doth remove.

Notes

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  AMP.