Francis Hastings

, fifth Son of Francis Earl of Huntingdon, was born, as it seems, in Leicestershire, where his Father mostly lived, educated in Madg. coll. under the tuition of Dr. Laur. Humphrey, in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth’s Reign, from whom sucking in many Calvinistical Opinions, proved, when he was ripe in years, a severe Puritan and Predestinatian, (as his elder Brother George was, who was trained up at Geneva under Theod. Beza,) and a most zealous Man for the reformed Religion. Two other Brothers also were as zealous for the Church of Rome, yet all for a time lived friendly together. Afterwards our author Francis was Knighted by Q. Elizabeth, and being several times chosen a Parliament-man in her Reign, became a frequent Speaker in them, and at first a violent Man against the Papists, tho afterwards a favourer, especially at that time when he and Sir Rich. Knightly of Northamptonshire presented a Petition to the Parliament for favour, or a toleration to be given to them. Whereby it appeared then to the observer, that the Putitan could joyn with the Papist against the Church of England. He was a learned Gentleman, well read in authors, especially in those relating to the controversies between the Protestants and Papists, as it appears by his works, the titles of which follow.

The Watchword to all true-hearted English-men. Lond. 1598. oct. Which title did imitate that belonging to a book printed at Lond. in qu. an. 1584. running thus, A Watchword to England to beware of Traytors, and treacherous practices, &c. But the Watchword of Sir F. Hastings being answered by Nic. Doleman alias Rob. Persons in his Temperate Wardword, our author came out with.

An a [••] logy or defence of the Watchword, against the virulent and seditious Wardword, published by an English Spaniard under the title of N. D. Lond. 1600 qu. In which year came out also another book in defence of Hastings, intit. A brief reply to a certain odious and scandalous Libel, lately published by a seditious Jesuit calling himself, N. D. &c. entit. A temperate Wardword.—Printed at Lond. in qu. but who the author of it was, I know not. Another also who writes himself O. E. published a second reply the same year against the said Temperate Wardword. Against which, or another book relating to the said controversie, came out, A confutation of a vaunting challenge made by O. E. unto N. D. Pr. 1603. in oct. written by W. R. a Rom. Catholick. Our author Sir Francis also wrote,

The Wastword, &c.—Pr. at Lond. 1601. oct. Answer’d by Persons’s book called The Warnword, an. 1602.

Meditations.—Printed several times in 16o.

Several Speeches in Parliament.—Some of which are printed in H. Townshends Collections.

Remonstrance to his Majesty and Privy Council on the behalf of persecuted Protestants, setting forth his Maj. interest, laying safely in protecting them, and incouraging the preaching of the Gospel, and in being more watchful against the Papists.—MS. in qu.

Discourse of Predestination.—MS. in the hands of the present Earl of Huntingdon, with other things. All or most of which books were written at North-Cadbury in Somersetshire, where he mostly lived after he was married, being also a Justice of Peace for that County. He died in the month of Sept. in sixteen hundred and ten, 1610 and was buried on the 22. of the said month in the Chancel of N. Cadbury Church, near to the body of his Lady, who died 14. June 1596. To the memory of whom, Sir Francis put up a Monument in the wall over her grave, with an inscription thereon, engraven on a Brass plate, leaving then a blank for his own Name to be put after his death, but was never performed.