James Dyer

second Son of Rich. Dyer of Wymaulton in Somersetshire Esq. by his Wife the Dau. of one Waiton of the said County, was born, as I conceive, at Wymaulton, but in what house he was educated in Oxon (for he was a Commoner for some time there) it appears not, notwithstanding tradition tells us in Broadgates hall. From thence, without the honor of a Degree, he went to the Middle Temple, where making great proficiency in the municipal Laws, was, after he had continued for some time in the Degree of Barrester, elected Autumn, or Summer, Reader of that house 6. Ed. 6. and about the same time was by writ called to the Degree of Serjeant at Law. In the Reign of Qu. Marie he was made a Justice of the Common pleas, (being about that time a Knight and Recorder of Cambridge) and in the beginning of Qu. Elizabeth Lord Chief Justice of that Court, in the place of Sir Anth, Browne, and not Lord Ch. Justice of the Kingsbench as one (m)(m) Sir Will. Dugdale in his Chron. series at the end of Orig. Jurid sub an. 1559. doth falsly report. As for his writings which shew him a great and eminent Sage of the Law, and a Person of great abilities are these.

Reports: or, a collection of Cases, with divers resolutions and judgments given upon solemne arguments, &c. and the reasons and causes of the said resolutions and judgments, in the Reigns of K. Hen. 8. Ed. 6. Phil. and Mary and Qu. Eliz. Lond. 1601. 1621. &c. fol. Abridged by Sir Tho. Ireland of Greys-Inn, (the same Person who abridged the Eleven Books of Reports of Sir Edw. Coke) and by another, with a table made to them: printed by Rich. Tothill.

Learned reading upon the useful statute of 32. Hen. 8. chap. 1. of Wills, and of 34 and 35. Hen. 8. chap. 5. for the explanation of that statute. Lond. 1648. qu. At length this great Lawyer having arrived to a good old age, paid his last debt to nature at Stowton in Hunting donshire (where he had purchased an estate) on the 24. March in Fifteen hundred eighty and one,158. whereupon his body was buried in the Parish Church of Much Stowton in the said County, near to that of his Wife, on the 9 day of Apr. 1582. His said Wife was named Margaret Dau. of Sir Maurice Abarrow of Hampshire Knight, Widow of Sir Tho. Eliot of Carleton in Cambridgeshire, (by whom she had 3 Sons but all died without issue) which Margaret (n)(n) Lib. Certis. in Coll. Arm. Lond. J. 5. fol. 14. died 25. Aug. 1569, but having had no Children by Sir James went after his death to Richard, Son of his Brother Laurence Dyer, whose posterity are at this time Baronets in Somersetshire.