Extracts from: Wood A., Athenae Oxoniensis. new ed. 4v.
1813-20.
Edward Stradling, son of Sir Thomas Stradling Knight1, by
Catherine his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Gamage of Coyty,
Knight, was born of, and lineally descended from an antient
and knightly family of his name, living at St Donat's castle
in Glamorganshire, educated in several sorts of learning in
this university, but before he took a degree, he left it,
travelled into various countries, spent some time at Rome,
returned an accomplished gentleman, and retiring to his
patrimony, which was large, did build a firm structure upon
that foundation of literature that he had laid here and
elsewhere. In 1575, or the year after, he received the
honour of knighthood, was made a justice of peace, became a
very useful man in his country, and was at the charge of such
Herculean2 works for the public good, that no man in his time
went beyond him. But above all he is to be remembered for
his singular knowledge in the British language and
antiquities, for his eminent encouragement of learning and
learned men, and for his great expence and infatigable
industry in collecting together several monuments and ancient
manuscripts of learning and antiquity. All which, with other
books, were reduced into a well ordered library at St Donat's,
to the great credit and renown of that place and his family.
He hath written,
A Welsh Grammar. When or where printed I know not. Of
which book, written mostly in Latin, one of his3 countrymen
gives this character;
- 'Hae institiones grammaticae adeo concinne sunt compositae, &
omnibus suis numeris absolutae, ut nec eis addi quicquam, nec
ab eis demi (meo judicio) quicquam poterit; nisi secundamhujus
operis author in posternam editionem maturet.' "Quaere,
whether this passage is not spoken of John David Rhese's
grammar, not of sir Edward Stradling's?".
- He hath also
written,
- The winning of the Lordship of Glamorgan or Morgannwe out
of the Welsh-men's hands, &c.--- Of which book you may see
more in The History of Cambria, now called Wales,&c. Printed
1584, p.122, and 141, "to which sir Edward Stradling gave his
assisting hand, especially in the "matter of pedigree." This
learned and worthy person hath written other things, but such
I have not yet seen, nor can I say more of him, only that he
paid his last debt to nature in the summer time, in sixteen
hundred and nine, aged 30, or more, and was buried in a
chappel built by his father, (dedicated to the Virgin Mary,)
joining to the parish church of St Donate, between the bodies
of his great-grandfather and grandmother on the north-side,
and the body of his father on the south-side. He died
without male issue, whereupon the estate went to his next
kinsman sir John Stradling knight, who was soon after made a
baronet: From whom was descended sir Edward Stradling
baronet, (a colonel in the army of King Charles I.) buried in
Jesus college chappel, 21 June, 1644.
- Of St Donat's castle in Glamorganshire. He was knighted
Feb 17, 3rd of Edw.VI. When queen Mary succeeded to the
crown, 1553, he was appointed, with others, a muster-master to
the queen's army, and a commissioner for the marches of Wales.
In the same year he was representative in parliament for East
Grinstead in Sussex; and, the following year, for Arundel in
the same county. In 1558, he was joined with sir Thomas
Pope, and others, in a commission for the suppression of
heretics. When he died seems uncertain, but he was buried in
the chappel added by himself to the parish church of St
Donats. Warton, Life of Sir Thomas Pope, London 1780,
p219.
- See in John Stradling's Epigrams, Lib. 4 p151, 161, &c.
- Humphrey Prichard in his preface to Dr David Rhese, his book
entitled Cambrobritannica Cymeraecaeve Linguae Institutiones,
&c. London 1592.
Extract from Allibone, S.A., A Critical dictionary of English
Literature. 3v. 1859-71.
Stradling, Sir Edward, Sheriff of Glamorganshire, 1573, '81,
93; died 1603.
- A Welsh Grammar.
- The winning of the
Lordship of Glamorgan &c.
- See Bliss's Wood's Athen. Oxon, ii. 50:
- Stradling
Correspondence. ed by Rev J.M.Traherne, London 1840, 8vo:
- Noticed in Lon.Athen, 1840, 957.
Extracts from: Wood A., Athenae Oxoniensis. new ed. 4v.
1813-20.
George Stradling, fourth son of sir John Stradling of St
Donat's castle in Glamorganshire knight was born there, became
a companion of Jesus College in Lent term 1636, aged 15 years,
took one degree in arts, was elected junior collector of the
batchelors in Lent 164?, chosen fellow of All Souls College
two years after. Proceeded in arts, and kept his fellowship
during the times of trouble and usurpation, being then
accounted a rare lutenist, and much valued by Dr Wilson the
music professor. After the king's restoration he was made
chaplain to Dr Sheldon, Bishop of London and was actually
created D.of D. in 1661. On the 30th of July 1663 he was
installed a prebendary of Westminster. On the 22nd of July
1671 he was installed chantor of the cathedral church of
Chichester, and on the 21st of December 1672 he was installed
Dean thereof, in the place of Dr Nath Crew promoted to the see
of Oxon. He hath written,
- Sermons and Discourses upon several Occasions. London
1692 oct (Bodl 8vo E 15 Linc)
- Sermon on John 19:15. London 1675. qu (Bodl 4to D 16
Th)
He died on the 19th April, in 1688 and was buried near the
choire of St Peter's, commonly called the Abbey Church, within
the city of Westminster. In his deanery succeeded one Dr F
Hawkins minister in the Tower of London.
{1660.19 Dec. Georgius Stradling A.M. admiss ad preb. de
Wenlocksburn per promot. Brian Walton ad episc Cestr. ad
pres.regis Reg. London.
1660.11 Jan. Geo. Stradling A.M. coll. ad rect. de Fulham:
succ. Tho. Turner S.T.P. 7 Maii 1688 per mort. Geor.
Stradling.
Geor. Stradling S.T.P. admiss. ad rect. de Hanwell cum Capella
de Brentford annexa 25 Feb. 1661, quam resignavit ante 11 Mar.
1663. Reg. London.
Admiss. ad vic. S. Bridgetae Lond. 23 Apr. 1672. quam resign.
ante 12 Jan. 1673. Fra. Hawkins S.T.P. coll ad preb. de
Wenloksburn 3 Dec. 1688 per mort. Geor. Stradling. KENNET}
Extract from Allibone, S.A., A Critical dictionary of English
Literature. 3v. 1859-71.
Stradling, George, Dean of Chichester, 1672, d. 1688.
1.Sermon - John 19 v15, London 1675 4to. 2. XIV Sermons
and Discourses with his lute(?) 1692, 8vo. See
Bliss'sWood's Athen. Oxon. iv p237.
Extract from Allibone, S.A., A Critical dictionary of English
Literature. 4v. 1859-71.
John Stradling, son of Francis Stradling by Elizabeth his
wife, was born near Bristol in Somerset, but descended from an
antient and knightly family of his name, living at St.Donat's
in Glamorganshire, was educated in puerile learning ander a
learned and pious man named Edward Green, prebendary of the
Cathedral church at Bristol, became a commoner of Brasen-nose
college in 1579, aged 16 years or thereabouts, and in 1583 he
took a degree in arts as a member of Magdalen hall, being then
accounted a miracle for his forwardness in learning and
pregnancy of parts. Soon after his great worth being
discovered in the metropolis, while he continued in one of the
inns of court (but especially after he had returned from his
travels beyond the seas) was courted and admired by the
learned Cambden, sir John Harrington the poet, Thomas Leyson
mention'd before, under the year 1607, (see col 27) and above
all by that most noted critic and physician Dr John David
Rhese. He hath written and published;
- De Vita & Morte contemnenda, Lib.3. Francof. 1597 in Oct.
(Bodl. 8vo. P.227. Th.) written to his uncle Sir Edward
Stradling fo St Donats whom I have mentioned under the year
1609 (see coll. 50.)
- Epigrammatum Libri quatuor. London 1607. in Oct. Two years
after he became heir to his uncle before-mentioned, setled at
St.Donat's Castle, and was made a Baronet in 1611, at which
time he was esteemed a wise and most learned gentleman.
Afterwards, being involved in secular affairs, and the
services of his country, was taken off from writing till the
latter end of the reign of King James I, at which time he
published a book entitled;
- Beati Pacifici: A divine Poem, written to the king's most
excellent Majesty. London 1623, in about eleven sheets in qu.
It was perused by his majesty King James I before it went to
the press, and 'twas printed by authority. Afterwards he
published,
- Divine Poems in seven severall Classes, written to King
Charles I. London 1625. qu. At the end of which is an
epitaph made by him on King James I I have sent several
times, to several persons in Wales, to have some account of
this person, his last --d, and his epitaph, but no returns are
yet made. "Instead of which, the reader may peruse the
character of this gentleman, out of Mr Harrington's preface to
Dr George Stradling's Sermons. 'Sir John Stradling, bart. the
fifth of those 200 original baronets created by King James I,
his propensity to learning, and his progress in it, is easily
discernable from those his works that are yet extant, and
whether it proceeded from the greatness of his parts, the
agreeableness of his temper, or the generality of his studies;
we shall hardly find any gentleman whatsoever, that, (among
all the eminent scholars of that age, men of different
professions, and very disagreeable studies) appears by his
writings to have gained so universal respect and esteem."
(Stradling's Divine Poemes are very scarce: a copy however is
preserved in Jesus college Library, from which I have made the
following extracts.
It commences with a political dedication to Charles I: then
follows;
- "To the reverend father in God, Theophilus, lord-Bishop
of Llandaffe, my worthy Diocesan. Sent with a copy to be
perused.
Loe, here a childe of mine in sacred font
Alreadie dipt, repayres for confirmation
To you (my Lord); reflect your eye upon 't;
I'm suertie for his Christian education.
Then on his head impose your hand, and blesse,
If you approve, the faith he doth confesse.
Your Lordships very loving friend,
John Stradling
- The Lord Bishop's answere.
I view'd your childe, and I dare swear 'tis yours,
So plaine, so pithy, and so like the sire;
The theame divine, commends your well spent how'rs
The poets furie, and the father's fire.
I poz'd him in our vulgar catechism,
And thus confirme him - he is void of schisme.
Your true loving friend,
Theo. Landavensis.
- Another of the same Lord Bishop.
This booke's a sustaeme theologicall,
A paraphrase upon the Holy Bible:
I wish, who stand upon their gentrie, all
Such poets were; instructed thus to scribble.
No man could write the theory so well,
Who did not in the practick part excell.
Theo. Landaven.
- The Divine Poems commence,
A mayden-mother, and a king her sonne,
Excite my muse a taske to under-take;
The like hath not beene since the world begunnne.
My spirits faile, my feeble hand doth shake,
My heart, with highnesse of the theame doth tremble:
The true heart-searcher knowes I nought disemble.
O thou the source, and subject of my song,
That canst make babes thy prayses to rehearse:
Illuminate my minde, untie my tongue
That I may see aright, and sing in verse,
Thy high discent, thy birth, thy generation,
Life, doctrine, deeds, death, strange
resussitation.
There is nothing poetical in Stradling's muse; the following
are , perhaps, among his best lines.
Oft have I travail'd in a winter's night,
Wherein dame Phoebe never shew'd her face,
The lesser sparkling fiers gave some light,
By which (with heed) my journey I might trace.
I still expected when the day would peere,
And faire Aurora shew her count'nance cleare.
As shee began to rayse her selfe from bed,
The ushers making way for her approach:
Bright Phoebus hastning to thrust out his head,
And day all prest, in sisters roome t' encroach:
A sodaine shade, worse then all night before
Beset me round, and dim'd mine eyes much more.
Till Titan rowsed with that bold affront,
His princely palace gates thrust ope in hast,
Calls for his charret, swiftly mounts upon 't,
His sight these gloomie shades full quickly chast;
By helpe of whose resplendent glorious rayes,
All travailers might well discerne their wayes.
So, neere before this sunne of righteousnesse,
Bright morning-starre, rose up, the world's true
light,
Egyptian darknesse did mens hearts possessse,
The prophecies lay hid, as with the dark night.
An argument, Messias birth drew neere,
Whose comming should all doubtfull scruple
cleere.)
Extract from Allibone, S.A., A Critical dictionary of English
Literature. 3v. 1859-71.
Stradling, Sir John, educated at Oxford, was there "accounted
a miracle for his forewardness in learning and pregnancy of
parts".
- De Vita et Morte contemnenda, Lib 3, Francop., 1597, 8vo.
- Epigrammata, Lib 4, London 1607, 16mo.
- Beatifici Pacifici: A Divine Poem, 1623, 4to.
- Divine poems in several Classes, 1625, 4to.
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