, knt. garter king at arms, is said to have been the son of a gardener
, 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.