and made this Question to be put up for him to answer; Whether
_Averia capta in Withernamia sunt irreplegibilia_? Adding, That there
was an _Englishman_ that would dispute thereof with him. This bragging
_Thraso_, not so much as understanding the Terms of our Common Law,
knew not what to answer to it, and so became ridiculous to the whole
City for his presumptuous bragging.
Many were the Books which he wrote; amongst whom his _Utopia_ beareth
the Bell; which though not written in Verse, yet in regard of the great
Fancy and Invention thereof, may well pass for a Poem, it being the
_Idea_ of a compleat Commonwealth in an Imaginary Island (but pretended
to be lately discovered in _America_) and that so lively counterfeited,
that many at the reading thereof, mistook it for a real Truth: insomuch
that many great Learned men, as _Budeus_, and _Johannes Paludanus_ upon
a fervent zeal, wished that some excellent Divines might be sent
thither to preach Christ's Gospel: yea, there were here amongst us at
home, sundry good Men, and learned Divines, very desirous to undertake
the Voyage, to bring the People to the Faith of Christ, whose Manners
they did so well like.
Mr. Owen, the _Brittish_ Epigrammatist, on this Book of _Utopia_,
writeth thus;
More's _Utopia_ and _Mercurius Britanicus_.
_More_ shew'd the best, the worst World's shew'd by the:
Thou shew'st what is, and he shews what should be.
But at last he fell into the King's displeasure, touching the Divorce
of Queen _Katherine_, and for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy;
for which he was committed to the Tower, and afterwards beheaded on
_Tower-Hill_, July 6, 1635, and buried at _Chelsey_ under a plain
Monument.
Those who desire to be further informed of this Learned Knight, let
them read my Book of _England's Worthies_, where his Life is set forth
more at large.
* * * * *
_HENRY HOWARD_ Earl of _Surrey_.
This Honourable Earl was Son to _Thomas Howard_ Duke of _Norfolk_, and
_Frances_ his Wife, the Daughter of _John Vere_ Earl of _Oxford_. He
was (saith _Cambden_) the first of our _English_ Nobility that did
illustrate his high Birth with the Beauty of Learning, and his Learning
with the knowledge of divers Languages, which he attained unto by his
Travels into foreign Nations; so that he deservedly had the particular
Fame of Learning, Wit and Poetical Fancy.
Our famous Poet _Drayton_, in his _England's He
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