Sampson Erdeswicke

, Son of Hugh Erdeswicke Esq was born at Sandon in Staffordshire, studied in the condition of a Gent. Com. in Brasnose coll. (h)(h) Reg. 1. coll. Ænean. fol. 91. a. in 1553, and 54. (1. and 2. of Q. Mary,) where he laid the foundation of some learning that advanced him to greater in future times. Afterwards he retired to his Patrimony at Sandon, where applying his Muse to that kind of learning which his genie led him to, became at length a Gentleman well accomplished with many vertuous qualities. He was very well vers’d in Histories, but more in Antiquities, especially in those of his own County; and therefore stiled by the learned Camden, (i)(i) In Britannia, in com. Staff. A very great Lover and diligent Searcher of venerable Antiquity, adding, that in this regard he is no less worthy of remembrance, than for that he is directly in the Male-line descended from Sir Hugh Vernon, Baron of Shipbrook, the name being changed, by the use of that age, according to sundry habitations, first into Holgrave, and afterwards into Erdeswicke. At length for the tender respect he had to his Native Country, and desiring much the honour of it, wrote,

A short view of Staffordshire, containing the Antiquities of the same County.—MS. The beginning of which is, Sir, having disposed with my self to take a farther view of the Shires of Staffordshire and Chester, &c. It was began about the year 1593. and continued by him to his death, from ancient Evidences and Records, with brevity, clearness, and truth. The original of this, or at least a copy, is in the hands of Walt. Chetwind of Ingestre in Staffordshire Esq who is, and hath been several years, in the collecting of the Antiquities of that County.

Collections of Genealogies, Monuments, Arms, &c.—MSS. Some of which are in the hands of the said W. Chetwind, and elsewhere and have been used by divers Antiquaries. It is said also that ’our author Erdeswicke wrote a book intit. The true use of Armory, published under the name of Will. Wyrley, an. 1592. (as I shall more at large tell you hereafter,) but let that report remain with its author, while I tell you that Erdeswicke submitted to the stroke of death on the eleventh of Apr. 1603 in sixteen hundred and three, and was buried under a goodly Monument of Free-stone, with his proportion thereon, erected by himself in his life-time, in the Church of Sandon before-mentioned. Which Church was, a little before, new glazed and repaired by him. See more of him in William Wyrley among these Writers, under the year 1617.