Samuel Keme

or Kem was born according to the ((a))((a)) Lib. vel reg. Matric. PP. fol. 295. a. Matricula, in the City of London, became a Batler or Com. of Magd. Hall in the beginning of Act term 1621 aged 16 years, but how long he continued there I know not. Sure I am that a certain ((b))((b)) Merc. Aul. in the 33 week, an. 1644. p. 1123. author tells us, that for those few weeks he wore a gown in Magd. Hall he obtained the title of a most notorious lyer that ever wore long ears. In 1624 he was elected Demie of Magd. Coll, at which time he said that he was born in Surrey, and that he was in the nineteenth year of his age. In that House he continued till after he was Bach. of Arts, and then taking holy Orders he had a cure bestowed on him. In 1636, the King being then in Oxon, he was actually created Bach. of Divinity; about which time he became Rector of the Church at Oldbury commonly called Albury near Ricot in Oxfordshire, and a retainer, if I mistake not, to the family of Edward Wray of Ricot Esq, Patron of the said Church, by virtue of his marriage with Elizabeth the dau. and heir of Francis L. Norris Earl of Berks. At the turn of the times in 1641, he put a Curate into his Living, sided with the Rebels, took the Covenant, was made Chaplain to, and Captain of a Troop of Horse in, the Regiment of Basil Earl of Denbigh, prayed and preached often to encourage the Soldiers to fight, laid open to them the righteousness of their cause, preached against the K. and his followers, and endeavoured to make them believe, that all that were about him, were Papists or at least popishly affected. When any Officer of the Regiment was kill’d he was ready to preach his funeral Sermon, particularly that of Major Pinkney slain in the beginning of July 1644, and was ready at all hours to do the like, provided the party died not a natural death. When he was with the said Earl at Wolverhampton, he preached twice there before his Lordship as Quarter-master General ((c))((c)) The same author in the thirtieth week, ending July 27. an. 1644. p. 1095. to Sir Tho. Middleton, and within two hours after his last Sermon, he fell to practice on one of his brethren, and plundered a Townsman to the value of 500 l, tho the man was as notorious as any in Coventry, Banbury, or Colchester. &c. This Keme was asked at Namptwich by a Brick-layer, why the Earl of Denbigh gave offence by wearing long hair? To which he made answer (being then the chief leader in cases of conscience) That to wear long hair was not against the rule, but to have it was the thing forbidden by the Apostle, for truly (said he) if my Lord should have long hair of his own, I hold my self bound to tell him of it, but that which his Lordship wears, is not his own hair, and if S. Paul were in England he would not mislike it, tho it reached down as low as his knees. Such Levites as this Keme were Sprat and Lorkin the two twins of Greenwich, where they libell’d and blasphemed every Sunday, according to their talents. In Nov. the same year (1644) he went with his Colonel, Basil Earl of Denbigh and the other Commissioners, constituted by Parliament, to treat with his Majesty at Oxon for peace, where he, with great confidence, preached before them, and about that time was made a Major, and became very active in several places within this Kingdom to carry on the cause as well by fighting as preaching. Afterwards he took all oathes to keep what he had and to gain more, took all advantages to rake and scrape what he could together, meerly to satisfie his unsatiable desire. The truth is he was a man of a very servile spirit, a flatterer, a time-server, an Epicure, a Lecher, &c. and yet always a pretender to Saintship. After the restauration of K. Ch. 2. he turned about, endeavoured to express his Loyalty, took the oathes again, as he had done when he took the Academical degrees, and when he entred on the Minister, and all to keep his living of Albury and the trade of eating and drinking. He hath published,

Several Sermons as (1) The Martialists dignity, on Deut. 23.14.—Printed 1640. qu. (2) The messengers preparation for an address to the King for a well grounded peace, preached at Oxon. 24. Nov. 1644 before the Commissioners of both Kingdoms, the morning before their presenting the propositions to his Majesty, on Esther 4.16. Lond. 1644. qu. Dedic. to the said Commissioners. (3) The King of Kings his privy marks for the Kingdoms choice of new members, &c. preached at Bristol at the choice of new Burgesses of that City 28. Feb. 1645, on Prov. 10. ver: 10.11. Lond. 1646. qu. The said City was then under the command of the Parliament. (4) The Olive-branch, &c. on 2. Thes. 3.16. Lond. 1647. qu. (5) Serm. on 1. Cor. 13. ver. 14. Lond. 1647. qu. This last, with others which he hath published, I have not yet seen. He died at Albury before mention’d on the 22 of Octob. in sixteen hundred and seventy,1670. and was two days after buried in the Chancel of the Church there, near to an inscription, which he before had caused to be painted on the wall to the memory of Anne Ball only daughter of John Ball Citizen and Skinner of London, Jemimah Pelham eldest dau. of Herbert Pelham of Lincolnsh. and of Feriars Court in Essex Esq. and of Mary Bridger second daughter of Samuel Bridger of Dursley in the County of Glocester. Which three Women had been the wives of him the said Samuel Keme, who at his death left behind him a young buxom Widow, with whom he had a good portion, but left her nothing, as having spent all that he could get to satisfie his Epicurisme.