Arthur Duck

was born of a wealthy family living at Heavytre in Devonshire, (the place where afterwards his Father built an Hospital) became a Student in Exeter Coll. in the year 1595 and that of his age 15, took one degree in Arts in June 1599, and then was made Commoner of the said Coll. Afterwards he translated himself to Hart Hall, and as a member thereof proceeded in the said faculty, an. 1602, and two years after was elected Fellow of Alls. Coll. But his genie leading him to the study of the Civil Law, he took the degrees in that faculty, and much about the same time travelling into France, Italy and Germany, was after his return made Chancellour of the dioc. of Bathe and Wells. In which office behaving himself with great integrity, prudence and discretion, was honoured by, and beloved of, Lake Bishop of that place, and the more for this reason, because he was beholden to him for the right ordering of his jurisdiction. Afterwards he was made Chancellour of London, and at length Master of the Requests, and was in all likelyhood in a certain possibility of rising higher, if the times had not interrupted him. In the beginning of 1640 he was elected Burgess for Q. Mynhead in Somersetshire to sit in that Parliament which began at Westminster 13 Apr. the same year, and soon after siding with his Maj. in the rebellious times suffer’d much in his estate, having 300 l. at one time given thence to one Serle a widdow. In the month of Sept. in 1648, he and Dr. Ryves were sent for to Newport in the Isle of Wight by his Majesty, to be assisting to him in his Treaty with the Commissioners sent from Parliament. But that Treaty taking no effect, he retired to his habitation at Chiswick near London, where, living to see his Master murdered before his own door, he soon after ended his life. He was a person of smooth Language, was an excellent Civilian, and a tolerable Poet, especially in his younger days, and well vers’d in Histories whether ecclesiastical or civil. He hath extant,

Vita Henrici Chichele Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis, sub Regibus Henric. V. & VI. Oxon. 1617. qu. remitted into the Collection of Lives published by Dr. Bates, an. 1681.

De usu & authoritate Juris civilis Romanorum in Dominiis Principum Christianorum. lib. 2. Lond. 1 [•] 53. and 79. oct. Leyd [••] 1654. Lips. 1668. in tw. &c. In which book Dr. Gerard Langbaines labours were so much, that he deserved the name of Co-author. Dr. Duck paid his last debt to nature in the month of May in sixteen hundred forty and nine,1649. and was buried in the Church at Chiswick in Middlesex; to the poor of which place he gave 10 l. He left considerable legacies to Exeter and Alls. Colleges, and 10 l. to the poor of North Cadbury in Somersetshire, besides other gifts of charity elsewhere, which for brevity sake I now pass by.