Burroughs, Sir John

, knt. garter king at arms, is said to have been the son of a gardener or a brewer at Sandwich, who appears, however, to have been a person of considerable opulence, as he married into the family of the Dennes of Dennehili, and gave his son a very liberal education. He studied law in Gray’s-inn, and in 1623, was appointed keeper of the records in the Tower, and about the same time became secretary to the Earl Marshal. In the former reign (Elizabeth) he had been created Mowbray herald extraordinary, to enable him to become a king at arms, upon, a vacancy, and was knighted by king James I. | July 17, 1624. He attended Charles I. when he wetit to Scotland to be crowned. In 1633 he was made garter king at arms. In 1636, he obtained a grant to entitle him to the fees and perc “e. of his office, because he had been abroad upon the L^siness of the crown, which enabled him to take his share of the dues of his office, the same as if he had been personally present in the college. In 1640, he attended the treaty held by the sovereign with his subjects in Scotland, and upon the civil war breaking out, withdrew from the college, to attend his duty upon his royal master. Whilst in this service, a grace passed in convocation at Oxford for the degree of LL. D. but Wood says it does not appear by the register whether he was admitted, which, however, is highly probable. He died at Oxford, Oct. 21, 1643, and was buried in Christ church cathedral. He wrote, 1.” Impetus juveniles, et quaedam sedatioris aliquantulum animi epistolae,“Oxon. 1643, 8vo, in which his name is Latinized into Burrhus. Most of the epistles are written to Philip Bacon, sir Francis Bacon (lord Verulam), Thomas Famabie, Thomas Coppin, sir Henry Spelman, &c. 2.” The Sovereignty of the British Seas, proved by records, &c.“written in 1633, but not published until 1651, 12mo. Wood says he also made” A Collection of Records in the Tower of London." There are many ms pedigrees remaining of his drawing up. In the Inner Temple library is a commentary in ms. from his pen, on the formulary for combats before the constable and marshal. His abilities and erudition were universally acknowledged during his life. ¹