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.

WESTMORLAND.

VVEstmorland hath Cumberland on the West and North, Lancashire on the South, Durham and York-shire on the East thereof. It is in length from North to South 30 Miles, and in breadth 24. The County is neither stored with Arable Grounds, nor Pa∣sturage, the principal profit that the people of this County raise unto themselves is by Cloathing. Speed mentions but one Religious House in this County, though it has several Kirks. As for Manufactures, Ken∣dal Cottons are famous all over England. Note, the Clothiers of Kendal, were the first Founders of Stur∣bridge Fair.

Proverbs.

I. Let Uter-Pendragon do what he can, the River Eden will run as it ran. Tradition reporteth, that Uter-Pendragon designing to Fortifie the Castle of Pen∣dragon in this County, invited (in vain) the River Eden to forsake her old Channel. The Proverb is ap∣plyable to such who offer a Rape to Nature, by endea∣vouring to abrogate any of her Established Lawes, to divert her course, or invert her method.

Princes.

Katharine, Daughter of Sir Thomas Par, was born at Kendal-Castle, which descended to her Father from the Brusses and Rosses of Work. She was first Married to John Nevil, Lord Latimer, and afterward to King

Henry 8. She was a great Favourer of the Gospel, and would earnestly argue for it. Once politick Gar∣diner had almost got her into his Clutches, had not Divine Providence delivered her. Yet a Jes•…•…it (who was neither Confessor nor Privy-Councellour to the King) tells us, that the King intended, if longer sur∣viving, to behead her for an Heretick. She was after∣wards Married to Sir Thomas Seymour Baron of Sude∣ley, and Lord Admiral, and dyed in Child-bed of a Daughter 1548.

Cardinals.

Cristopher Bambridge, born near Appleby, was bred Doctor of Law in Queens Colledge in Oxford. He was afterwards Dean of York, Bishop of Durham, and at last Arch-Bishop of York. Being employed an Am∣bassadour to Rome, he was an active instrument to pro∣cure King Henry 8. to take-part with the Pope a∣gainst Lewis King of France, for which good service he was created Cardinal of St. Praxis. A little after falling out with his Steward Rivaldus de Medena, an Italian, and caneing him for his faults, the Italian (in short) poysoned him, July 14. 1511. He was buried in the Hospital of the English at Rome.

Prelates.

Thomas Vipont, descended of those ancient Barons who were Hereditary Lords of this County, was by the Canons of Carlile elected their Bishop, though King Henry 3. with great importunity (why not Authori∣ty?) commended John Prior of Newbury to them. He enjoyed his place but one year, and dyed 1256.

John de Kirby, born at Kirkby Lansdale (or Stephens) was first Canon, afterwards Bishop of Carlile, 1332.

He, with the Assistance of Thomas Lucy and Robert Ogle, (persons of prime power in those parts) fight∣ing in an advantagious place, utterly routed and ruined the Scot•…•… who invaded England, with an Army of 30000 Men, under the Conduct of William Dougl••••, and had taken, and burnt Carlile. He dyed 1353.

Thomas de Appleby was legally chosen Bishop of Car∣lile, yet he durst not own the choice, till he had ob∣tained his Confirmation from the Court of Rome. He was consecrated 1363, and deceased 1395.

Robert de Appleby went over into Ireland, and there became Prior of St. Peter near Trimme, hence he was by the Pope preferred Bishop of Ossory in that Kingdom. He dyed 1404.

W. of Strickland, descended of a right Worshipful Family, was elected Bishop of Carlile, yet Robert Read was by King Richard 2. and the Pope preferred to the place, which affront Strickland bore with much moderation. He was afterwards (during a vacancy) chosen again, and Consecrated Bishop of Carlile 1400. For the Town of Perith in Cumberland, he cut a pas∣sage from the Town into the River Petteril, for the conveyance of Boatage into the Irish Sea. He dyed 1419.

Nich. Close, born at Bibreke, was one of the six O∣riginal Fellows, whom King Henry 6. placed in his new Colledge (Kings Colledge) in Cambridge, having committed the building of that house to his fidelity. He was first Bishop of Carlile, then of Lichfield, where he dyed within a year after his Consecration, viz. an. 1453.

Since the Reformation.

Hugh Coren, was made by Queen Mary, Arch-Bi∣shop of Dublin in Ireland, his Predecessor having been

deprived for being married. 'Tis very observable, that no person in that Kingdom suffered death for their Religion in Queen Maries dayes. Indeed an. 3. Mary a Pursevant was sent with a Commission into Ireland, to impower some eminent persons, to proceed with Fire and Faggot against poor Protestants; On he went to Chester, where his Hoste, (a Protestant) having an ink∣ling of the matter, stole the Commission, putting the Knave of Clubs in the room thereof. Some weeks af∣ter, he appeared before the Lords of the Privy Coun∣cil at Dublin, (of whom Bishop Coren a Principal) produced a Card for his Commission, and was impri∣soned for the affront. After his enlargement, he was very willing to make a reparation, by getting the Com∣mission renewed in England, but was prevented by the Queens death. Bishop Coren conformed with the first, to the Reformation of Queen Elizabeth, being ever sound in his heart. He was for some time Chief Ju∣stice, and Chancellour of Ireland, till he quitted all his Dignities in Exchange for the Bishoprick of Oxford, which being attended with more quiet, was more wel∣come to him in his old Age. He dyed 1567.

Barnaby Potter, was born within the Barony of Ken∣dal, 1578. and bred in Queens Colledge in Oxford, whereof he became Provost. He was Chaplain in Or∣dinary to Prince Charles, being accounted at Court, the Penitential Preacher, and by King Charles I. was preferred Bishop of Carlile. He was commonly cal∣led the Puritanical Bishop, and they said of him in the time of King James, that Organs would blow him out of the Church, which I do not believe, the rather, because he loved Vocal Musick, and could bear his own part therein. He was a constant Preacher, and per∣former of Family duties, of a weak Constitution, Me∣lancholly, lean, and a hard Student. He dyed in Ho∣nour, being the last Bishop that dyed a Member of Parliament, 1642.

Statesmen.

Sir Edward Bellingham Knight, of an Ancient and Warlike Family, was Servant of the Privy Chamber to King Edward 6. who sent him over Deputy of Ire∣land. He first extended the English pale, proceeding against the Irishry in a Martial course, by breaking the Moors and Connors, two Rebellious Sexts; He built the Forts of Leix and Offaly, to secure his new Ac∣quisition, and had setled the English Plantations there∣in, had he not been suddenly revoked before two years were expired. His Souldiers never knew whither they went, till they were come whither they should go; Thus he surprized the rude Earl of Desmond, brought him to Dublin, reformed him in Civility, sometimes making him to kneel an hour together, before he knew his Duty, till he became a new man in his behaviour. This Earl all his Life after, highly honoured him, and at every Meal, would pray to God for good Sir Ed∣ward Bellingham. When the Deputy returned into England, he cleared himself of many faults laid to his charge, recovering the King's favour, and had been sent over Deputy again, save that he excused himself by indisposition of Body, and dyed not long after.

Writers.

Richard Kendal, an excellent Grammarian and Schoolmaster, extracted a Quintessence from a vast num∣ber of Latine Grammars, and boasted (like a conceit∣ed Pedant) that Latine only to be elegant, which was made according to his Rules. He flourished under Henry 6.

Since the Reformation.

Bernard Son of Edward Gilpin, Esquire, was born at Kentmire, 1517. and bred in Queens Colledge in Oxford. He disputed against Mr. Hooper, (who was afterwards Martyred) when indeed he did follow his Argument with his Affections. He afterwards became a zealous Protestant. He was Rector of Houghton in the North, and boarded in his house 24 Scholars, the greater number poor mens Sons, upon whom he be∣stowed Meat, Drink, Cloth and Education. He kept a Table for his Parishioners, every Sunday from Mi∣chaelmas to Easter. He commended a Marryed life in Clergy-men, himself living and dying a Batchelour. He bestowed 500 pounds, in the building and endow∣ing of his School. He was accounted a Saint, in the Judgments of his very Enemies, if he had any such. Being full of Faith and good works, he was put in his Grave, as a heap of Wheat in due time, swept into the Garner; dying March 4. 1583. Aet. 66.

Richard Mulcaster, of ancient Extraction, was born in this County (or Cumberland) and bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge, afterwards in Oxford. He was chosen the first Master of Merchant Taylors School in London, where his Scholars profited so well, that the Merchant Tay∣lors intended to fix him, as his Desk, to their School, till death should remove him. This he perceived, and therefore gave for his Motto, Fidelis servus perpetuus Asinus, but after 25 years, he was made Master of Pauls School; Such his Discipline, that the Indulgence of Parents rather encreased then mitigated his severity on their offending Children. He was Plagosus Orbili∣us, and (which quallifled the matter) unpartial. A∣mongst the many excellent Scholars which he bred, Bi∣shop

Andrews was most remarkable. At last, quit∣ting the place, he became Parson of Stanford Rivers, and dyed about the middle of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

Christopher Potter, D. D. Kinsman to Bishop Potter was bred in, and Provost of Queens Colledge in Oxford. He was Chaplain in Ordinary to King Charles I. and Dean of Worcester; one of a sweet nature, comely Presence, courteous Carriage, devout Life, and deep Learning. He wrote an excellent Book, Entituled Charity mistaken, answered by a Jesuit, against whom, Mr. Chillingworth took up the Cudgels. He dyed in the beginning of the Civil War.

Benefactors to the Publick.

Robert Langton and Miles Spencer, Doctors of Law, joyntly built a fair School at Appleby; Robert was bred in, and a Benefactor to Queens Colledge in Oxford, owing the Glasing of many Windows therein, to his Beneficence, on which Windows he caused his Sirname to be made in this manner,

[illustration]

viz. Long (or Lang) ton.

Anne Clyfford, sole Daughter and Heir to George Earl of Northumberland, Wife to Richard Earl of Dor∣set, then to Philip Earl of Pembrook and Montgomery, had her greatest Estate in the North, She built and endowed a most beautiful Hospital at Appleby in this County, and is still living.

Memorable Persons.

Richard Gilpin, who was enfeoffed in the Lordship of Kent-mire-hall, by the Baron of Kendal, for his singular deserts; killed the wild Bore, that raging in the Mountains adjoyning, much endammaged the Coun∣try people, whence it is that the Gilpins give the Bore in their Arms.

Note that in the Reign of King Edward 1. the He∣reditary Sherivalty of this County was conferred on the Lord Clifford, who married Sibel, eldest Daugh∣ter to Robert de Vipont. Henry Lord Clifford was by Henry 8. an. 1525. Created Earl of Cumberland, and when Henry the 5th. Earl of that Family, dyed lately without issue male, the Honour of the Hereditary She∣rivalty reverted unto Anne, the third Daughter of George Clifford, the third Earl of Cumberland, the Relict of Richard Earl of Dorset, (and since of Philip Earl of Pembrook and Montgomery) by whom she had two Daughters, the elder Married to the Earl of Tha∣net, and the younger Married to James Earl of North∣ampton.

Notes

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