Andrew Borde

, who writes himself Andreas Perforatus, was born, as it seems, at Pevensey commonly called Pensey in Sussex, and not unlikely educated in Wykehams School near to Winchester, brought up at Oxford, (as (c)(c) In his Introduction to knowledge, cap. 35. he saith) but in what house, unless in Hart. Hall I know not. Before he had taken a Degree, he entred himself a Brother of the Carthusian Order at, or near to, London; where continuing till he was wearied out with the seventy of that Order, he left it, and for a time applyed his Muse to the Study of Physick in this University. Soon after, having a rambling head, and an unconstant mind, he travelled through most parts of Eurepe (thorough and round about Christendom, and out of Christendom, as he (d)(d) Ibid. cap. 7. saith) and into some parts of Africa. At length upon his return, he settled at Winchester, where he practised his faculty, and was much celebrated for his good success therein. In 1541. and 42, I find him living at Mountpelier in France, at which time, I persume, he took the Degree of Doctor of Physick, and soon after being incorporated in the same Degree at Oxon, lived for a time at Pevensey in Sussex, and afterwards at his beloved City of Winchester; where, as at other places, it was his custom to drink water three days in a week, to wear constantly a shirt of hair, and every night to hang his shroud and socking or burial-sheet at his beds feet, according as he had done, as I conceive, while he was a Carthusian. He always professed Celibacy, and did zealously write against such Monks, Priests, and Friers, that violated their Vow by Marriage, as many did when their respective Houses were dissolv’d by King Hen. 8. But that matter being irksom to many in those days, was the reason, I think, why a Calvinstical (e)(e) Joh. Ponet B. of Winchester. Bishop, (who was then, as it seems, married,) fell foul upon him by reporting (f)(f) In his Apology fully answering, &c. Tho. Martins Book, &c. Printed 1555. p 32. See more in T [••] . Martin. openly that under colour of virginity and strictness of life, he kept three Whores at once in his Chamber at Winchester, to serve not only himself, but also to help the Virgin Priests, &c. about 1547. How true this is I cannot say, (though the matter as the Bishop reports, was examined before several Justices of Peace) because the Book here quoted, contains a great deal of passion, and but little better language, than that of Foul-mouth’d Bale, not only against him (And. Borde) but also against Dr. Joh. Storie, Dr. Th. Martin, &c. The first of whom, he saith, kept a Wench called Magd. Bowyer living in Grandpoole in the Suburbs of Oxon, and the other, another call’d Alice Lambe, living at the Christopher Inn in the said City. But letting these matters pass, (notwithstanding I have read elsewhere, that the said three Whores, as the Bishop calls them, were only Patients, that occasionally recurred to his house) I cannot otherwise but say, that our Author Borde, was esteemed a noted Poet, a witty and ingenious Person, and an excellent Physician of his time; and that he is reported by some to have been, not only Physician to K. Hen. 8. but also a Member of the College of Physicians at London, to whom he dedicated his Breviarie of Health. He hath written,

A Boke of the introduction of knowledge, the whych doth teach a Man to speak part of all manner of Languages, and to know the usage and fashion of all manner of Counties, and for to know the most part of all manner of coins of money. Lond. 1542. qu. Dedicated to the Lady Mary Daughter of K. Hen. 8. by an Epist. dat. at Mountpelyer 3. May 1542. This Book is partly written in Verse, and partly in Prose, contain’d in 39 Chapters; every one of which hath in its beginning the Picture of a Man, sometimes two or three, Printed from a wooden cut. Before the first Chapter, which treateth of the natural disposition of an English man, is the picture of a naked Man with a piece of cloath lying on his right arm, and a pair of Scissers in his left hand, with a Copy of Verses Printed under him, the two first of which are these,

I am an English Man, and naked I stand here, Musing in my mind, what rayment I shall were.

Before the seventh Chapter is the picture of our Author Borde standing in a Pew, with a Canopy over it, having a Gown on, with sleeves a little wider than an ordinary coat, a Laurel on his Head, and a Book before him on a desk, with this title of the said Chapter under him. The VII. Chapyter sheweth how the auctor of this Boke had dwelt in Scotland, and other Ilands, and did go thorow and round about Christendom and out of Christendom, declaring the properties of all the Regions, Countries, and Provinces the which he did travel thorow. He hath also written,

The Breviary of health, wherein are remedies for all manner of sicknesses and diseases, which may be in Man or Woman, expressing the obscure terms of Greek, Lat. Barbary and English, concerning Physick and Chirurgery. Lond. 1547. 48. 57. 87, &c. in qu. in four Books.

Dietary of health. Lond. 1576. oct. Sec. Edition.

The merry tales of the mad Men of Gotham—Printed at London in the time of K. Hen. 8. in whose Reign and after, it was accounted a Book full of wit and mirth by Scholars; and Gentlemen. Afterwards, being often printed, is now sold only on the stalls of Ballad-singers.

A right pleasant and merry history of the Mylner of Abington, with his Wife and his fair Daughter, and of two poor Scholars of Cambridge—Pr. at Lond. by Rich. Jones in qu. Andr. Bords name is not to it, but the Copy of the Book which I saw, did belong to Th. Newton of Cheshire, whom I shall hereafter mention, and by him ’tis written in the title that Dr. Borde was the Author. He hath also written a Book of Prognosticks, another of Urines, and a third of Every Region, Country, and Province, which shews the Miles, Leeges, distance from City to City, and from Town to Town, with the noted things in the said Cities and Towns. This last, the Author lent to Thom. Cromwell of Bishops-Waltham near to Winchester, written fairly with his own hand, but he afterwards being taken up with State-affairs, and matters of high concern, lost the Book to the great grief of the Author, otherwise he would have published it. At length after many rambles to and fro in this World, he was made (g)(g) In Reg. Populwell in offic. Praerog. Cant. Qu. 29. Prisoner in the close wards of the Fleet in London, (the reason why, I cannot justly say) where dying in the Month of Apr. in Fifteen hundred forty and nine, 1549 was buried, as I conceive, in the Church or Yard of St. Bride, otherwise St. Bridget, for in that Parish is the Prison called the Fleet situated. In his Will (b)(b) Ibid. dated the eleventh of Apr. an. 1549. and proved the 25. of the same Month and in the same Year, he did constitute one Ric. Mathew, (without the addition of Nephew, Kinsman, or natural Son) his Heir, left him his two tenements in the Sooke in the Town of Lynne in Norfolk, his tenements with appurtenances which he had by the death of his Brother, in Pevens [•] y, and his House and Chattels in and near Winchester. Joh. Bale in the very ill Language that he gives of Dr. Borde, saith (*)(*) In lib. De script. maj. Britan. p. 105. post cent. 12. that the Brothelhouse which he kept for his Brother-Virgins being discovered, took physical poyson to hasten his death, which was, as he saith, (but false) in 1548. This is the language of one who had been a Bishop in Ireland.