Edward Hoby

, a person much noted in his time to all learned Men, for his eminent endowments of mind and body, was the eldest Son of Sir Tho. Hoby Knight (mention’d under the year 1566.) by Elizab. his Wife, Daughter of Sir A. Coke Kt. was born in Berks particularly, us I conceive, at Bysham near to Maydenhead, became a Gentleman-Commoner of Trinity coll. in the beginning of 1574. aged 14. years, where, after he had spent 8 Terms in the study of Logick under a noted tutor, he became so great a proficient, that he was admitted in the latter end of the year 1575. Bach. of Arts of the University. The next year he proceeded in that faculty and was the Senior Master in the Comitia (whom we usually call The Senior of the Act) celebrated the same year. Afterwards spending some time in France, and in other Countries, as I suppose, was, some time after his return, honoured with the degree of Knighthood, an. 1582. made Constable of the Castle at Queenburg in the Isle of Shepy, was an Officer at the taking of Cadiz, a Parliament man several times in the latter end of Qu. Elizabeth, and upon K. James his coming to the Crown (if not happily before) was made one of the Gent. of the Privy-Chamber. He was a person of great reading and judgment, especially in the controversies between Protestants and Papists, a singular lover of Arts, substantial Learning, Antiquities, and the Professors thereof, particularly the Learned Camden, who had sufficiently received of his bounty, as he himself (a)(a) In his Britannia, in Berks. acknowledgeth, having dedicated his Hibernia (b)(b) Edit. Lond. 1587. oct. to him, and publickly told (c)(c) In Britan, in Kent. in Queenborough. the world that he had polished his excellent wit with learned Studies. He hath written,

A letter to Mr. Theoph. Hyggons late Minister, now a Fugitive, in answer to his First motive, Lond. 1609. qu.

A counter-snarl for Ishmael Rabshacheh a Cecropedian Lycaonite, being an answer to a R. Catholick, who writes himself J. R. Lond. 1613. qu. In which book, or in another, which I have not seen, our author treating of Purgatory, was answered by Joh. Floyd commonly called Father Fludd a Jesuit, in a book which he published under the name of Daniel à Jesu, printed at S. Omer in 1613. quarto.

Curry-comb for a Coxcombe: Or Purgatories Knell. In answer to a Libel by Jebal Rachel against Sir Edw. Hobies Counter-snarle, intituled Purgatories Triumph over hell. Lond. 1615. qu.

Several motions, speeches and arguments in the four last Parliaments in Queen Elizabeth—Published in the Historical collections of Hayw. Townsend Esq He translated from French into English, Politique discourses upon truth and lying: An instruction to Princes to keep their faith and promises. Lond. 1586. qu. Composed by Sir Mart. Cognet Knight, one of the Privy-Councel to the most Christian King, master of the Requests to his Houshold, and lately Embassador to the Cantons of Zwitzers and Grisons. And also from Spanish into English, The Origine and practice of War. Lond. 1597. oct. Written by Don Bernard de Mendoza. At length he giving way to fate in Queenburgh Castle on the first day of March (St. David’s day) in sixteen hundred and sixteen, his body was conveyed to Bysham before mentioned,1616-7. and buried there in a Chappel called Hoby’s Chappel on the south side of the Chancel of the Church there, near to the body of his Father Sir Thomas, The said Sir Edward left behind him a natural Son named Peregrin Hoby, born of the body of one Katherin Pinkney, an. 1602. From which Peregrin are the Hobyes now of Bysham descended.