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.

Benefactors to the Publick.

Th. Pope, Knight, Architect (under God) of his own Fortune, employed (under the Lord Cromwell) an Instrument of the second magnitude, got his share at the dissolution of the Abbeys, and refunded a con∣siderable proportion for what he received for the Building & endowing of Trin. Coll. in Oxf. He died about the beginning of the Reign of Q. Eliz. There are in Oxford-shire, many descendants from him con∣tinuing in aworshipful Estate (the Chief of the Fami∣ly being the E. of Down in Ireland,) on the same token that K. James came in Progress to the House of Sir—Pope, Knight, when his Lady was lately delivered of a Daughter, who was presented to K. James with this Paper of Verses.

See this little Mistress here, Did never sit in Peter's Chair; Or a Tripple Crown did wear, And yet she is a Pope.

No Benefice she ever sold Nor did dispence with Sins for Gold, She hardly is a Sevenight Old And yet she is a Pope.

No King her Feet did ever kiss Or had from her worse Look then this, Nor did she ever hope To Saint one with a Rope And yet she is a Pope.

A Female Pope you'l say, A Second JOAN No sure she is Pope Innocent or none.

Th. Curson, Armorour, being much afflicted with a sad Accident (one having shot another in his Shop, tho during his absence) resolved to give all his Estate to pious uses, and accordingly disposed of some hundreds of pounds for the use of the poor in Alhallows Lumbard-Street (where he was born) and other Parishes. He died, 16—

Edw. Allin, a Stage-Player and Roscius of our Age, built a fair Colledge at Dulwich in Kent, for the relief of poor people. The Poor of his native Pa∣rish of St. Botolph-Bishopsgate have a priviledge to be provided for therein before others. Thus he who out-acted others in his Life, out-did himself be∣fore his death, which hapned An. 16—

Will. Plat, Son to Sir Hugh, Grandson to Sir Rich. Alderman of London, was bred in St. Jo. Coll. in Camb. He bequeathed thereunto Lands to main∣tain Fellows at 30 l. and Scholars at 10 l. per An. so many as the Estate would extend to. Between the said Collonel and Jo. Plat, Clerk (Heir to Will.) there was a Composition made of 4 Scholars at 10 l. and 2 Fellows at 50 l. per An. William also gave 30 l. yearly to the Poor of Hornsey and High-gate, with a Lecture founded therein. He died 1637.

Alex. Strange, B. D. of Pet. House in Camb. was Preb. of St. Pauls, and 46 years Vicar of Lay∣ston, the Church whereof stood alone in the Fields,

For remedy of which he built at Buttingford (a thorough road Market, mostly in his Parish) a strong and neat Chappel from the Bounty others gave and he gather'd. And having laid the Foundation, he gave for his Motto Beg hard or Beggar'd. He also purchased Land out of his own Purse to pay for the reparation thereof: and promoted the building of a Free-School in the said Place, founded by some Sisters worshipfully born. Having lived a Peace-maker, he died 1650.