Richard Atkyns

, whose birth was neither glorious nor contemtible, as having been descended from Gentry on his fathers side and Nobility on that of his mother. His father was son and heir of Rich. Atkyns of Tuffleigh in Glocestershire Esq (at which place, this our author, as I conceive, was born) chief Justice of West Wales and of Qu. Elizabeths Council of the Marches of Wales, and brother to Sir Edward. Atkyns of Lincolns Inn, one of the Barons of the Exchecquer. His mother was second daughter of Sir Edwyn Sandys of Latimer in Bucks, Baronet, by his wife the Lady Elizab. Sandys dau. and heir of Will. Lord Sandys of the Vine near Basingstoke in Hampshire, descended from the Bray’s, Barons. After he had been partly educated in English and Grammar learning under two bad Masters, he was sent to the College School at Glocester, where being compleated for the University, he was at 14 years of age sent to Balliol Coll, an. 1629 and continued there at least two years in the quality of a Gent. Commoner, studying the Zegardines Philosophy more than that of Aristotle or Ramus. Thence he went to Lincolns Inn, and soon after travelled into France with the son of the Lord Arundel of Wardour by a second venture, but that son dying there before they went farther, he returned, improv’d himself with the accomplishments of a Courtier, and then married, which towards his latte [•] end proved his ruin. Afterwards, upon the breaking out of the Civil Wars in England, he raised a Troop of Horse at his own charge for the King, and did him good service; for which afterwards he suffered much in his estate. After his Majesties restauration, he was made (being then a Colonel) one of the Deputy-Lieutenants of Glocestershire, where, and in that capacity, he expressed himself not only loyal upon all occasions, but an affectionate son of the Church of England. He was an ingenious and observing man, and saw the vanity of this world sooner than others, tho of elder years; which fitted him the better for another. He hath written and published

The original and growth of Printing, &c. Lond. 1664· in 4. sh. in qu.

His Vindication. Lond. 1669. qu.

Relation of several passages in the western War of England, wherein he was concerned.

Sighs and Ejaculations.—These two last were printed with the Vindication. At length being committed prisoner to the Marshalsea in Southwark for debt, died there on the 14. of Sept. in sixteen hundred seventy and seven,1677. and two days after was buried without any publick solemnity in the Parish Church of S. George the Martyr, within the said Borough of Southwark, by the care and appointment of Sir Rob. Atkyns one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, and Edw. Atkyns Esq. afterwards one of the Barons of the Exchecquer, both nearly related to the defunct.