William Lacey

was born in a Market Town in Yorkshire called Scarborough, became a Student in this University (in Magd. Hall as he used to say) in 1600 aged 16 years or thereabouts, but whether in the condition of a Batler or Servitor, I know not, nor what continuance he made there. After he had left the University, without the taking of any degree, he retired for a time to his native Country, and thence, by the perswasion of a certain person, to the English Coll. at Rome; where, a little after his arrival, Father Persons the Rector thereof gave up the Ghost. Thence he went to Nancy in Loraine, where he entred himself into the Society of Jesus, an. 1611, at which time he bound himself by oath to observe the four vows. Afterwards he taught Humanity for some years at S. Omers, or was, as a certain ((a))((a)) James Wadsworth in his book called The English Spanish Pilgr [•] m: printed at Lond. the sec. time, 1630, qu. p. 13. author tells us, Reader of Poetry and Master of the Syntax, (an. 1622.) About that time being sent on the mission into England, he setled in the City of Oxon. where, and in the Neighbourhood, he administred to the R. C. till towards the latter end of his life. He lived many years in a poor cottage without the east gate of that City, standing on the site of the habitation sometimes belonging to the brethren of the Holy Trinity. In the said cottage did then live two Ro. Cath. Virgins of mean condition, named Mary and Joan Meakyns, who from their Childhood had dedicated themselves to piety and good works, always lived singly and arrived both of them beyond the age of man. These two antiquated Virgins were owners of the cottage and did very carefully attend this Father, and took as much care of him, as if he had been their own Father or Brother. His fare was course, his drink of a penny a gawn or gallon, his bed was under thatching, and the way to it was up a ladder. With these two, I say, he lived in a most retir’d and devout condition, till God was pleased to translate them to a better place, and then the Father was removed to the Dolphin Inn in Magd. Parish in the suburb of Oxon, the Hostes of which was one of his perswasion, where he ended his days. He was esteemed by all, especially by those of his opinion, a learned Man, well vers’d in the Poets, of a quiet disposition and gentile behaviour: which made him therefore respected, and his company to be desired, by certain Scholars of the University, especially by Tho. Masters and other ingenious men of New Coll. But this their civility to, and esteem of, him was not while the Presbyterians governed, who made it a most dreadful and damnable thing to be seen in the company of Papists, especially of Romish Priests, but before the rebellion broke forth upon their account, when then the Men of the Church of England had a respect for Papists, as they now have for Presbyterians. The things that this Father hath written are,

The judgment of an University man concerning Mr. Will. Chillingworth his late Pamphlet in answer to charity maintained—Printed 1639. qu. Reprinted at Camb. in 1653 in oct. in a preface to a book then and there published. The character that Edw. Knot the Jesuit gives ((b))((b)) In his Pref. to Infidelity unmask’d. of this book is that it is a witty, erudite and solid work.

Heantomachia: Mr. Chillingworth against himself.

The total sum.—These two are printed at the end of The Judgment, &c. At length this Father Lacey, who had lived to be twice a child, died in the Dolphin Inn before mention’d, on the seventeenth day of July, in sixteen hundred seventy and three, aged 89 years,1673. and two days after his body being carried to Somerton near Dedington in Oxfordshire, (to which place he usually retired) was buried in the Church there, noted for the splendid monuments of the Fermours, Lords of that Town and Roman Catholicks From the same family of this Will. Lacey was descended John Lacey the Comedian, born near Doncaster in Yorks, originally an apprentice to John Ogilby a Dancing master, afterwards one of the best and most applauded of our English actors belonging to the Kings Play-house, and from an Actor to be Author of these Comedies (1) The Old Troop: or Monsieur Raggou. Lond. 1672. qu. (2) The dumb Lady: or the Farrier made Physitian. Lond. 1672. qu. (3) Sir Hercules Buffoon, or the poetical Squire. Lond. 1684. qu. This Person who was of a rare shape of body and good complexion, and had served his Majesty in the time of the rebellion in the quality of a Lieutenant and Quarter-master under Coll. Charles Gerard (afterwards Earl of Macclesfield) died on the 17. of Sept. 1681 and was two days after buried in the farther Church-yard of S. Martin in the Fields, I mean in that yard on the other side of S. Martins-lane, within the liberty of Westminster. His Maj. Ch. 2. who had a great respect for, caused several pictures of, him to be drawn according to several postures which he acted in several parts, and do now, or else did lately, remain at Windsore and Hampton Court.