Martin Heton

Son of George Heton Esq by Joane his Wife, daughter of Sir Martin Bowes Knight, was born in London, but descended from an ancient family of his name living in Lancashire. His father was master of the Inn or House belonging to the English Merchants at Antwerp; and being a person of great Hospitality, caused his house there to be free and open for such that fled from England for religion sake in the time of Q. Mary. At his return into England, he became Chamberlain of London, sent this his Son to Westminster school, where profiting exceedingly in good letters, was thence sent to Oxon, and in 1571. was, with Rich. Eedes, made Student of Ch. Ch. where in short time he became a most acute disputant. In 1578. he proceeded in Arts, and in 1582. he was made one of the Canons of his house. In 1588. he was nominated and installed Vicechancellour of the University of Oxon, and in the latter end of 1589. he succeeded Dr. Laur. Humphrie in the Deanery of Winchester, being then but 36. years of age. At length after the See of Ely had laid void 20. years, and a large portion of it taken thence by the Queen, as it was generally spoken, he was in a sort compelled to take it. Whereupon being consecrated at Lambeth, on the third (a)(a) Fr. Godwin in Com. de praesul. Angl. int. episc. Elien. of Feb. 1599. sate there ten years, and as Cambridge men (who had no great affection for him, because not bred among them) report, did impoverish (b)(b) See the Brief view of the state of the Ch. of Engl. &c. (quoted before, in Tho. Godwin) p. 80. the said See by sealing many good deeds of it, and till they were cancelled, it would never be so good as it should be. He was a noted Preacher while he continued in the University, and a subtile Disputant in Theology, in his elder, as he was in his younger, years in Philosophy: And while B. he was esteemed inferior to few of his rank for learning and other good parts belonging to a Prelate. He took his last farewel of this world on the 14. of July in sixteen hundred and nine, 1609 aged 57 years, and was buried in the choire or presbytery of the Cath. Ch. of Ely. Soon after was a fair and large monument built over his grave, joyning to the south wall of the said Presbytery, with his Sta [••] a thereon lying on the back, with the hands erected in a praying posture. On the said monument was engraven an inscription in prose, to shew his descent, preferments, and time of his death; also a copy of long and short verses, in number 12. composed by Dr. Will. Gager his Chancellour, and another of 14. composed by his Nephew George Heton Bach. of div. of Cambridge. All which being too long and large to be here inserted, I shall therefore for brevity sake pass them by.