William Fleetwood

was born of, (being a natural Son) and descended from, the Fleet woods of Penwortham, and they from those of Heskyn, in Lancashire; educated for a time in this University, (either in Brasnose. Coll. or Broadgates Hall) left it without a degree, and retired to the Middle Temple, where by continual industry, advanced by good natural parts, he attained to the name of an eminent Lawyer. In 5 of Eliz. he was elected Autumn or Summer-Reader of that house, and in the year following Autumn-Reader again; but he omitting one of those times to read, he was in the 11th year of the said Queen, elected Double Reader thereof in Lent. About that time being made Recorder of London, he was afterwards by Writ, called to the degree of Serjeant at Law, An. 1580. and in 1592. he was made the Queen’s Serjeant. He was a learned Man and a good Antiquary; but a marvelous, merry, and pleasant conceit: And as touching his Learning, Justice, and Elocution, I cannot better describe them, than a Poet (e)(e) Tho. Newton in Illustrum aliquot Anglorum Encomiis. Lond. 1589. p. 121. of those days hath done in certain Verses, beginning thus,

Ipse forem brevibus gyaris & carrere dignus,

Culleolo insutus, si te mea musa sileret, &c.

As for his Writings they were many, but none of them (only one) were published till after his Death, some of which are these.

Elenchus Annalium Regum Edwardi 5. Rich. 3. Hen. 7. & 8. Lond. 1579. and 1597. in tw. Dedicated to Sir Tho. Bronley Lord Chancelor of England. This is called among the Lawyers, Table to the Annals, (or Year-Book) of Edw. 5. Rich. 3. &c.

The office of a Justice of Peace: Together with instructions how, and in what manner, Statutes shall be expounded Lond. 1658. Oct.

Observations upon the Eyte of Pickering, Lambert’s Areheion, &c. MS. Fol. sometimes in the Library of Rich. Smith Secondary of the Poultrey-Compter, with other things which I have not yet seen. This eminent Lawyer did mostly dwell in London, in a street called Noble-street, within Aldersgate-ward, in an house which himself newly built, wherein he dyed, but was buried, as I suppose, in the Church at Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, (where he had purchased an estate) in the latter end of fifteen hundred nienty and three,159 3 [•] 4 for on the 7th of March that year, was a commission (f)(f) In a Book of Administrations in the Will-Office, near Paul’s in Lond. beginning in Jan. 1591. fol. 90. granted from the Prorogative Court of Canterbury, to Mariana his Widdow (daughter of Joh. Barley of Kingsey in the said county) to administer the goods, debts, and chattels of her Husband Will. Fleetwood, lately deceased. He left behind him two Sons, whereof Sir Will. Fleetwood, Knight, was one, who succeeded him in the Estate at Missenden, and the other was Sir Thomas of the Middle-Temple, afterwards Attorney to Prince Henry. He had also divers Daughters, one whereof was married to Sir David Foulis Knight and Baronet, and another to Sir Tho. Chaloner. Tutor to the said Prince, Son of the learned Sir Tho. Chaloner Knight.