Henry Beesley

son of Rob. Beesl. Chaplain of Merton Coll, was born in the Parish of S. Peter in the East in the City of Oxon, 22 Jul. 1605, and in Mich. term 1621 was made either Clerk or Portionist of the said College, where continuing till he was Bach. of Arts, retired to S. Albans Hall, took the degree of Master as a member thereof, and was for his ingenuity made one of the Terrae filii in the Act following. Soon after he became Tutor in the Country to Tho. Pope the young Earl of Downe, whose Guardian Joh. Dutton of Sherbourne in Glocestershire, Esq. did, for the great care he took on his Pupil, bestow on him the Rectory of Swerford near to Ch [•] pping-Norton in Oxfordshire; which was all the preferment, I think, that he enjoyed to his dying day. Afterwards he became a sufferer in the time of the Rebellion, lived poorly, and therefore for that his Loyalty, he was not only restored to what he had lost upon the King’s restauration, but also was actually created Doct. of Div. He was accounted a witty man and a good Poet in his younger years, and in his elder a good Preacher and sober Divine. He hath published,

The souls conflict, &c. portrayed in eight several sermons, six whereof were preached before the King at Oxon. Lond. 1657. &c. oct. and other sermons which I have not yet seen. He died 29 May in sixteen hundred seventy and five,1675. and was buried under the Communion-table at the east end of the Chancel of the Church of Swerford before mention’d. Tho. Pope E. of Downe who was his Patron, died in S. Maries Parish in Oxon 28 Dec. 1660, aged 38 years, leaving behind him one only daughter named Elizab. begotten on the body of Elizab. his wife, dau. and one of the heirs of Will. Dutton of Sherbourne in Glocestershire Esq. Which said Elizab. his daughter was first married to Henry Francis Lea of Dichley in Oxfordshire, and afterwards to Robert Earl of Lindsey. The Earldom of Downe went, after the death of the said Thomas, to Thom. Pope Esq. his Uncle, whose male issue also dying, the Estate went away among three daughters, the eldest of which was married to Sir Francis North afterwards L. North of Guilford. Both the said Earls were buried at Wroxton near Banbury in Oxfordsh. among the graves of their Ancestors.