David Clapham

the eldest Son and Heir of Job. Claph. and he the fourth Son of Tho. Claph. of Beamesley in Yorkshire Esq; was born, as I conceive, in that County, and after he had spent some time in Trivials, did solely addict his mind to the study of the Civil Law, but whether he took a Degree in that faculty in doth not appear. Afterwards he retired to Doctors Commons, became a noted Proctor in the Arches, and for his ingenuity and good natural parts was beloved of Sir Will. Cecill Secretary of State to K. Ed. 6. and other noted Men of that time—praeter Legis peritiam, in qua plurimum excellebat (as one (o)(o) Joh. Bale in cent. 9. nu. 44. who knew him well tell us) in diversis scientiis eruditus fuit. He hath translated from Latin into English. (1) A Treatise of Nobility. (2) The excellency of Women [•] kind. Both Printed at Lond. 1542. in oct. and written originally by Corn. Agrippa. (3) The praise of Matrimony. Lond. in oct. written by the said Agrippa and Erasmus. What other things he hath translated, or what he hath written I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that, after by his endeavors he had obtained a considerable Estate, he concluded his last day in his House near to Doct. Com. 1551 on the 14 of July in Fifteen hundred fifty and one. Whereupon his body was buried in the then now Church of St. Faith under part of the Cath. Church of St. Paul within the City of London, leaving behind him several Children which he had by Joan his Wife; the eldest of which was Thomas, whose posterity did lately remain at Helpeston in Northamptonshire.