Part 2
It is really too bad to be charged with ignorance _unjustly_. I have on my shelves the works of glorious Ben, three times over: in folio 1616-31; in folio, 1692; and in nine volumes octave (Gifford's edition), 1816; all of which I will freely give to the "reviewer," if he can prove that _one line_ of "Shakspeare's Rime at the Mytre" is taken from the aforesaid epigram. I heartily agree with him in admiration of Jonson's spirited imitation of Martial, which I have transcribed as a pleasant relish towards digesting these rambling remarks:
"INVITING A FRIEND TO SUPPER.
"To-night, grave Sir, both my poor house and I Do equally desire your company: Not that we think us worthy such a guest, But that your worth will dignify our feast, With those that come; whose grace may make that seem Something, which else could hope for no esteem. It is the fair acceptance, Sir, creates The entertainment perfect, not the cates. Yet shall you have, to rectify your palate, An olive, capers, or some better salad, Ushering the mutton; with a short-legg'd hen, If we can get her, full of eggs, and then, Limons, and wine for sauce: to these, a coney Is not to be despair'd of for our money; And though fowl now be scarce, yet there are clerks, The sky not falling, think we may have larks. I'll tell you of more, and lie, so you will come: Of partridge, pheasant, woodcock, of which some May yet be there; and godwit if we can; Knat, rail, and ruff too. Howsoe'er my man Shall read a piece of Virgil, Tacitus, Livy, or of some better book to us, Of which we'll speak our minds, amidst our meat; And I'll profess no verses to repeat; To this if aught appear, which I not know of, That will the pastry, not my paper, show of. Digestive cheese, and fruit there sure will be; But that which most doth take my muse and me, Is a pure cup of rich Canary wine, Which is the Mermaid's now, but shall be mine; Of which had Horace or Anacreon tasted, Their lives, as do their lines, till now had lasted. Tobacco, nectar, or the Thespian spring, Are all but Luther's beer, to this I sing, Of this we will sup free, but moderately, And we will have no Pooly', or Parrot by; Nor shall our cups make any guilty men: But at our parting, we will be, as when We innocently met. No simple word, That shall be utter'd at our mirthful board, Shall make us sad next morning; or affright The liberty, that we'll enjoy to-night."
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
* * * * *
ROUS, THE SCOTTISH PSALMIST, PROVOST OF ETON COLLEGE: AND HIS WILL.
Looking over some back Numbers of "N. & Q.," I see an inquiry (Vol. v., p. 81.) after Francis Rous. G. N. will find an account of him in Chalmers's _Biographical Dictionary_, gathered out of Wood's _Athenæ_; Noble's _Memoir of Cromwell_, vol. i. {441} p. 409; Lysons' _Environs of London_, vol. ii.; _Granger_, vol. iii.
In his will, a copy of which lies before me, proved Feb. 10, 1658, he speaks of "a youth in Scotland, his grandson," and "as the heir of idleness abhorring to give him an estate, but wishing he might be a useful member of Christ and the Commonwealth, he desires his executors to give him 50l. a year so long as he shall be in preparation towards a profession, and as many of his books as may be fit for him."
I shall be much obliged if any correspondent can find out anything farther about the said "youth in Scotland?"
H. T. ELLACOMBE.
Clyst St. George.
P.S.--Why should not "N. & Q." be the publisher of any curious old wills, which might interest the general reader? Allow me to suggest a corner for _Testamenta Vestusta_. I will begin by sending a copy of the will of Francis Rous.
This my last Will and Testament, I, Francis Rous, Provost of Eaton College, wrote and made March 18th, 1657.
Forasmuch as to put houses in order before our departure is pleasing to the God of order, I do dispose of my affairs and estates in manner following:
There is a youth in Scotland concerning whom (because they call him my grandson) it is perchance expected that I should do some great matters for him; but his father marrying against my will and prohibition, and giving me an absolute discharge before the marriage under his hand, not to expect anything from me if he did marry contrary to my prohibition, I hold myself discharged from the father, and consequently from the son of that father, the son having no interest in me but by the father. And I hold it a good example, for the benefitt of the Commonwealth, that matters of discouragement should be put upon such marriages, being assured that their parents will not disinheritt or lessen them, especially if they have but one son, and that which Solomon saith is to be considered--an understanding servant shall have rule over a son that maketh ashamed, and both that[1], and his son, and his son in Scotland have both made ashamed, the one in his match, the other by a sad mischief of dangerous consequence and fatal; and though his mother is bound to maintain him, yet because I wish he might be a useful member of Christ and the Commonwealth, towards which I think she is not well able to give him an answerable education, I have in this my will taken course for a competent maintenance for him towards a profession, and in it utterly abhorring to give him an estate, as the heir of idleness. Wherefore to the fore-mentioned purpose, I desire my executor to give him 50l. a year, so long as he shall be in preparation towards a profession, or shall really and seriously be in the practice of it; and as many of my books as may be fitt for him in the profession he shall undertake, and shall not be given to Pembroke College, I desire my executor to give unto him: but if he, or a guardian, or any other, shall sue or implead, or call my executor into question to his trouble or cost, I leave it to my executor's choice whether he will pay his maintenance of 50l. per annum, or any part of it.
I give to Mr. Ellford, my pastor at Acton, 20l. I give 5l. per annum for ever to be disposed of in buying Bibles, catechisms, or for encouraging poor children to learn to read and answer in catechising in the parish of Dittisham, in the county of Devon, the place of my nativity and baptism, which sum shall be bestowed according to the direction of the minister there for the time being; and to the present minister I give 20l. I give to the poor of Acton each five shillings; I give to the poor of Westminster, Kensington, Knightsbridge, half a year's rent of that which they used to receive. I give Mr. Bartlett of Windsor 20l. I appoint 100l. to be lent to my nephew William Rous, which he must pay by 10l. a year to my nephew Richard Rous, his son. I give Thomas Rous, of King's College, 6l. for two years. I give Eliz. Rous, of Penrose in Cornwall, 20l. I give Anthony Rous at Eaton School, 5l. a year for seven years. I give to my niece Rudyard, and her sisters Skelton and Dorothy, each 20l. I give to Margaret Baker 10l. I give to a poor Xtian woman in Dartmouth, Mrs. Adams, 10l. To Robert Needler I give a black suit and cloak; the like to William Grantham and 10l. To my niece Portman, now in my house, I give 50l. To my other friends of more ability, I leave it to my executor to give such memorials as he shall think fitt. To the poor of Eaton I give 20l. To each of my servants that are with me at any decease I give black suits and 5l.; and to Peter Fluellen, who is now endeavouring to get a place of removal, 10l. I give to Thomas Rolle of Eaton, and Robert Yard, each 10l. I give to Christian, now the wife of Mr. Johnson, 20l. I give to the young Winnington of Eaton, 10l. I give 40l. per annum out of the Parsonage or Tythe of Great Brookeham in Surrey, to maintain two schollars in Pembroke College in Oxford. I also give 20l. per annum unto one schollar more in the same college, out of a tenement in the Manor of Wootton in Cornwall, during two lives of two Bigfords, and after their decease out of a tenement of mine in Cowkberry, in Devon, for ever. The scholars to be chosen are to be poor, {442} not having 10l. a year, apt to learning, and to be of the posterity of myself or my brother Robert, Richard, or Arthur Rous, or of my sister Nicholl, or my sister Upton; and if no such shall be tendered, then they are to be chosen out of the two highest forms in Eaton College. I give power to my executor to choose them during his life, and desire him, with the advice of my dear kinsman, Mr. Ambrose Upton, Prebend of Xt Church in Oxford, to settle and order all things for the sure and usefull continuance of their allowances to schollars so qualified as before and of good conversation, and that they study divinity, and some time before they be Batchelors of Arts, they make good proof of their studying divinity, and that they continued in their several places but _seven years_, and then others to be chosen in their rooms. What shall be above 40l. per annum arising out of the tythe of Brookham declaro, and above all rates and taxes, I give unto the minister of that parish; and I give the parsonage to my respected kinsman Samuel Rous, Esq., of that parish, yet so, that if he die before my executor, my executor shall present during his life, and after it shall go to the heirs of the said Samuel Rous, it being to be hoped that their dwelling be there they will be carefull for their own souls. I do make and constitute my dear kinsman Anthony Rous, Esq., of Wootton, in the county of Cornwall, commonly called or known by the name of Colonel Rous, to be my whole and sole executor. And I give and bequeath to him all my lands, tenements, my interest in the parsonage of Great Brookham in Surrey, all my leases, chattels, plate, money, and other goodly whatsoever, as also my copyholds, which shall, according to custom, be made over to him in Acton or Branford, hoping that he will faithfully dispose them according to my will and intention made known to him; and I give him 100l., and lend him 200l. more for seven years, which he may bestow in defence of himself as to law suits, if any be brought as concerning my estate, or if there shall be none to bestow, in some charitable use as he shall think fitt. I desire my body may be interred and put to rest in the chapple of Eaton College, a place that hath my dear affections and prayers that it may be a flouring nursery of piety and learning to the end of the world. And for a profession of any faith, I refer myself to the works which I not long since published in one volume, wherein I have professed a right and saving faith, and hope to continue therein until faith shall be swallowed up of sight, laying hold of the free grace of God in his beloved Son as my only title to eternity, being confident that his free grace, which took me up lying in the blood of irregeneration, will wash away the guilt of that estate, and all the cursed fruits of it by the pretious blood of his Son, and will wash away the filth of it by the spirit of his Son, and so present me faultless before the presence of God's glory with joy.
(Signed) FRANCIS ROUS.
The Right Honorable Francis Rous, Esq., acknowledged this to be his last will and testament, the 12th day of April, 1658[2], in the presence of me, Abel Borsett, endorsed, upon a paper wherein the original will was folded and sealed up, thus, viz., "My last will, attested by Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Borsett."
This will was proved at London the 10th day of February, in the year of our Lord God 1658, before the judges for probate of wills and granting administrations lawfully authorised, by the oath of Collonell Anthony Rouse, Esq., the sole and only executor named in the said will, to whom administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, and debts of the said deceased was granted and committed.
[Footnote 1: This appears to be an error.]
[Footnote 2: It should doubtless be 1657.]
* * * * *
ORIGINAL ENGLISH ROYAL LETTERS TO THE GRAND MASTERS OF MALTA.
(_Concluded from_ Vol. ix., p. 419.)
No. XI.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most illustrious and most high Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
It having appeared to us a matter of interest, not only to ourselves, but likewise to the whole Christian world, that we also should keep in the Mediterranean sea a certain number of galleys ready to afford prompt aid to our neighbours and allies against the frequent insults of the barbarians and Turks, we lately caused to be constructed two galleys, one in Genoa, and the other in the port of Leghorn; in order to man these, we directed a person well acquainted with such affairs to be sent, as to other parts, so also to the island of Malta, subject to the rule of your highness, in order to _buy slaves and procure other necessaries_. He having purchased some slaves, it has been reported to us that your highness' collector of customs demanded five pieces of gold of Malta money per head before they could be permitted to embark, under the title of toll; at which proceeding we were certainly not a little astonished, it appearing to us a new proceeding, and one contrary to custom, especially it being well known to us that our neighbours and allies, the Kings of France and Spain, are never accustomed to pay anything under the title of toll {443} for the slaves which they cause yearly to be transported from your island.
We therefore beg your highness, by the good and long friendship existing between us, to grant to us the same privilege in _regard to this kind of commerce_ within the territories of your highness, as is enjoyed by both our said neighbours and allies, which although it ought to be conceded to us simply on account of our mutual friendship and our affection towards your highness and the illustrious Order of Malta, still we shall receive so gratefully, that if at any time we can do anything to please your highness, we shall be always ready to do it, with all attention, and most willingly.
In the meantime we heartily recommend your highness and all the members of the illustrious Order of Malta, as well as all your affairs, to the Divine keeping.
Given from our palace of Westminster on the 12th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1673, and of our reign the 25th.
Your Highness' good Cousin and Friend, CHARLES REX.
No. XII.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
Most eminent Prince, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
The military order over which your eminence most worthily presides, having always used its power to render the navigation of the sea safe and peaceable for Christians, we in no way doubt that our ships of war, armed for the same purpose, will receive from your eminence every office of friendship. We therefore are desirous of signifying to your eminence by these our letters that we have sent a squadron of our royal fleet to the Mediterranean sea under the command of Sir John Narbrough, knight, to look after the safety of navigation and commerce, and to oppose the enemies of public tranquillity. We therefore amicably beseech your eminence that if ever the above-named Admiral Narbrough, or any of our ships cruising under his flag, should arrive at any of your eminence's ports or stations, or in any place subject to the Order of Malta, that they may be considered and treated as friends and allies, and that they may be permitted to purchase with their money, and at just prices, and to export provisions and munitions of war, and whatever they may require, which, on similar occasions, we will abundantly reciprocate to your eminence and to your most noble Order.
In the mean time we heartily recommend your eminence to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our palace of Whitehall the last day of November, 1674.
Your Highness' Cousin and Friend, CHARLES REX.
No. XIII.
Charles the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
Most eminent Prince, our cousin and well-beloved friend--Greeting:
Although we in no way doubt of the sincere readiness of your eminence and of your holy Order of Malta to do everything which might be known to be expedient for our interests, still we could not read your eminence's letters under date of 24th March last, in which such readiness is fully set forth, without the greatest pleasure. Our affection is sharpened and excited by the mention of the good will of our predecessors, the Kings of Great Britain, evinced in every age towards your most illustrious Order, which, as your eminence in your said letters so honourably commemorates, so will we studiously endeavour to imitate, and even to surpass. From our admiral, Sir John Narbrough, knight, and also from other parties, we have heard with how much benignity your eminence lately received him, and caused him and the other officers of our fleet to be supplied with what was requisite for our ships of war, which we consider not less worthy of the piety and valour of your Order than of our friendship; and we on our part, on opportunity presenting itself, will be careful to abundantly reciprocate by every kind of good offices.
It remains to recommend your eminence and the whole of your holy Order militant to the safeguard of the God of Hosts.
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 19th day of May, 1675.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend, CHARLES REX.
No. XIV.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
Most eminent Prince, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
We know not how it came to pass that our admiral in the Mediterranean sea, Sir John Narbrough, knight, should have given such cause of complaint as mentioned in your eminence's letters addressed to us under date of the 5th of April, as to have refused to give the usual salute to the city {444} of Malta, unless, perhaps, he had thought something had been omitted on the part of the Maltese which he considered due to our dignity, and to the flag of our royal fleet. Be it, however, as it may, your eminence may be persuaded that it is our fixed and established intention to do and perform everything both ourselves and by our officers amply to show how much we esteem the sacred person of your eminence and the Order of Malta.
In order, therefore, that it should already appear that we do not wish greater honour to be paid to any prince than to your eminence and to your celebrate Order, we have directed our above-mentioned admiral to accord all the same signs of friendship and good will towards your eminence's ports and citadels as towards those of the most Christian and catholic kings; and we no way doubt your Order will equally show that benevolence towards us which it is customary to show to the above-mentioned kings, or to either of them.
It only remains to us to heartily recommend your eminence and all your military Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our palace of Whitehall on the 21st day of June, 1675.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend, CHARLES REX.
No. XV.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting:
Most eminent Prince, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
Not only by the letters of Sir John Narbrough, knight, whom we appointed in right and power to be the admiral of our fleet in the Mediterranean sea, but also from other sources, we have heard how benignantly your eminence, both by command and example, and all the sacred Order of Malta, have treated him and the other commanders of our ships, so much so that they could not have been better at home, and in our dockyards, than in your port of Malta. This is, indeed, a sign of great friendship, and the more so that our kingdoms and seas are so far distant from the usual navigation of the sacred Order of Malta, that few occasions could be expected to offer themselves to us of reciprocating the friendship of your eminence. Some other mode, therefore, must be sought by which we may testify our gratitude and affection towards your eminence and the other members of your most sacred Order, to do which we shall willingly embrace and studiously search after every opportunity which may offer.
In the mean time we heartily recommend your eminence and all your military Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 26th day of January, 1675-6.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend, CHARLES REX.
No. XVI.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Greet Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend.
Most eminent Prince, our most dear cousin and friend.
Our well-beloved and faithful Sir John Narbrough, knight, latterly admiral of our fleet in the Mediterranean sea, conveyed to us your eminence's letters written under date of the 7th of April last, which being most full indeed of affection and gratitude on your part, we received and perused with equal feelings and satisfaction. The acknowledgments of benefits conferred by us, which your eminence so frequently expresses, causes us also to return similar thanks to your eminence and to the whole of your sacred Order, for all those offices of humanity and courtesy with which you assisted our above-mentioned admiral and other our ships stationed in that sea, of which we shall always preserve the memory indelibly engraved in our hearts. It is equally a source of pleasure to us that our arms have been of help to your eminence and to your Order; and if the expedition had been of no other benefit, we consider it ample compensation in having restored to their homes so many persons celebrated through the whole Christian and Infidel world who were recovered from the power and chains of the barbarians.
May your eminence continue to desire that we should freely divide the glory of rendering peaceful the Mediterranean sea with the illustrious Order of Malta!
May the Most Good and Great God sustain and preserve your eminence with all your religious Order!
Given from our palace of Whitehall the 28th day of October, 1676.
Your Eminence's good Cousin and Friend, CHARLES REX.
No. XVII.
Charles the Second by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend--Greeting: