French, are not to be recovered in the Lifts of fuch as came over with the Conqueror, and therefore we fuppofe them to have remained of those Gentlemen which from Hanault attended Queen Ifabel, Wife to King Edward II. Of this fort was Deureux, Molineux, Darcy, Coniers, Longchamp, Henage, Savage, Danvers, &c. Of the British or Welsh, after their Expulfion hence by the Saxons, fome fignal perfons have returned again, and by the Kings Grant, Matches, Purchases, &c. have fixed themfelves in fair Poffeffions in England, especially fince the beginning of the Reign of their Countrey-man King Henry 7th. rewarding the Valour of many Contributing to his Victory at the Battle of Bofworth. Of the Welsh now re-eftated in England and often Sheriff's therein, fome retain their old Surnames, as the Griffins in Northamptonfhire, the Griffiths and Vaughans in York fhire; fome have affumed New ones, as the Caradocks, now known by the Name of Newtons in Somer fetfhire. Many Scotch, long before the Union of the Two Kingdoms under King James, feated themselves in this Land, reforting hither for Succour from their Civil Wars. Diftrefs at Sea hath driven others in, as the Stewards, High-Sheriffs in Cambridgeshire. As other Accidents have occafioned the coming in of the Scrimpfhires, an hundred years fince High Sheriffs in Staffordshire, more lately the Napers in Bedfordshire, and before both the Scots-Hall in Kent." As for the Irish of any Eminency, their Religion and Inclination have drawn them to other Countries rather then England. Of the Italian Nation, very few have founded Families in England, yet have we a Sprinkling of Italian Proteftants, Caftilian, a Valiant Gentleman of Barkfire, the Baffanoes, Excellent Painters and Mu ficians ficians in Effex, which came into England under King Henry 8; and fince, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Horatio Palavicine (Receiver of the Popes Revenues) Landed in Cambridgeshire. And the Cafars, (al.Dalmarii) ftill flourishing in Hartfordshire in Worfhipful Estates. The High dutch of the Hans Towns,anciently much converfed in our Land, known by the Name of EaSterlings, invited hither by the large Priviledges our Kings conferred upon them, fo that the Steel-Yard was the Gold-yard unto them; But these Merchants moved round in their own Sphere,matching amongthemselves, without mingling with our Nation. Only we may prefume that the Eafterlings, commonly called the Stradlings, formerly Sheriffs in Wiltshire, and still famous in Glamorganshire, with the Neftphalings, lately Sheriffs of Oxfordshire, were originally of German Extraction. The Low Countrey-men frighted by Duke of Alva's long-Nofe and longer Sword, flocked hither, under King Edward the VI. fixing themselves in London Norwich, Canterbury and Sandwich. But thefe confined themselves to their own Church-discipline, and advanced not forward by Eminent Matches into our Nation. Yet I behold the worthy Family of de la Fountain in Leicestershire, as of Belgian original, and have read how the Ancestors of Sir Simond D'is in Suffolk, came hither under King Henry VIII. from the Dunafti or Dus in Gelderland. As for the Spaniards, tho their King Philip matched with our Queen Mary, yet few of any Eminence now extant (if I well remember) derive their Pedigrees from them; by reafon of their fhort Reign and the enfuing Change of Religions. Probable it is we might have had more Natives of that Kingdom to have fetled and flourished in our Nation, had he obtained obtained a Marriage with Queen Elizabeth, as he defired. Of the Portuguese, few have fixed their Habitations here, yet is the want of the Number of these abundantly fupplyed with the Tranfcendent Quality and moft Noble Vertues of our gracious Queen, who as Cynthia, difpenfes her Royal Influence to the leffer Stars, and Strikes with Love and Veneration the Heart? of all. The May's (who have been Sheriffs in Suf-* fex,) are of the Portugal Race. Come we now to the fecond Divifion of our Gentry, according to the Profeffions whereby they have been advanced. And, Note, fuch Profeflions found moft of them Gentlemen, being the (younger) Sons of Wealthy Fathers, able to give them liberal Education. Their Blood lighted them, and their Profeffion fet them up in a higher Candlestick, making a Confpicuous Acceffion of Wealth and Dignity. Thus all behold Ifis encreafed in Name and Water, after it's Conjunction with Thame at Dorcefter, whilft few take notice of the firft Fountain thereof many Miles more Weftward in Gloucefterfhire. The Study of the Common-Law hath advanced very Ancient Families in England. It feems they purchafed good Titles, made fure Settlements, and entail'd Thrift with their Lands, on their Pofterity. Sir Edward Coke hath prevented my Pains, and given in a Lift of fuch Principal Families. 'Tis admirable, that there is not a great and Numerous Houfe in England, wherein there is not one, Anciently or at this day Living, thriving and flourishing, by the Study of the Law. Efpecially if to them be added thofe who have raiféd themfelves in Courts of Judicature. The City hath produced more then the Law in Number, and fome as broad in Wealth, but not fo high in Honour nor long lafting in time, who like Landfloods, Landfloods, foon come, and foon gone, have been dryed up before this Generatiou. Yet many of these have continued in a certain Channel, and carried a conftant Stream. The Church before the Reformation, advanced many Families. For tho Bifhops might not marry, they preferred their Brothers Sons to great Estates, as the Kemps in Kent, Peckhams in Suffex, Wickhams in Hampshire, Meltons in Yorkshire. Since the Reformation, fome have raised their Families to a Knightly and Worshipful Eftate, as Hutton, Bilfon, Dove, Neil, &c. For Sheriffs, Sandys in Worcester & Cambridgeshire,Westphaling in Herefordshire, Elmar in Suffolk, Rud in Carmarthenshire. Of the inferiour Clergy, Robert Johnfon attain'd fuch an Estate, that his Grandfon was Pricked Sheriff of a County, but declined the place as being a Deacon. The Civil Law hath preferred few. The most Eminent in that Faculty before the Reformation being Perfons in Orders abftained from Marriage;fince the Reformation, there are Worshipful Families raised thereby. The profeffors of Civil Law were equally Conteinned with Gods Minifters, during the Civil Wars, the Promoters whereof having a constant Pique at all Civility and Order. But by the Return of our Brittish Sun, thofe Clouds of Barbarity are difpelled, and Regularity of Motion and good Order is introduced into the vaft Sphere of his Dominion, and the joyful Seafons of Peace and Plenty are by his kindly Influences restored. Phyfick hath promoted more, and that fince the Reign of King Henry 8. Before whofe time, there was one a Doctor of Phyfick, Father to Reginald, first and laft Lord Bray. This Faculty hath much flourished the three laft fifty years, Sir William Buts, Doctor Doctor Wendy,and Doctor Hatcher have raised Worfhipful Families thereby. Some have rais'd themfelves by Sea-fervice and Letters of Mart. Amongst thofe, most remarkable the Baronets Family of Drakes in Devonshire, fometimes Sheriffs there. Some have raised themselves by their Attendance at Court, here younger Brothers have found their Birth-right. Many have advanced themselves by their Valour in Forraign Wars, especially in France, as the Knolls, a Noble Family, and the Caveleys often Sheriffs in Cheshire. Clothing as it affords Coats to moft People, fo it has given Arms and Gentility to many Families in this Land. As on the Springs of High-Sheriffs in Suffolk, The Countrey with her two full Breasts of Grafing and Tillage, hath raised many Families. Some have had two Strings to their Bow. As the Chichlies in Cambridgeshire,are Defcendants from a Lord Major; allied alfo Collaterally to an Arch-bishop of Canterbury. We may obferve how happy a Liberal Vocation has proved to Younger Brethren; with which agree the School-Boys Exposition of these Verses. Dat Galenus opes, dat Fuftinianus Honores, The Study of Phyfick giveth Wealth, Bark fhirë |