William Martyn

, Son of Nich. Martyn of the City of Exeter, (by his first Wife Mary Daughter of Leonard Yeo of Hatherley in Devon) Son of Rich. Martyn of the said City, and he the second Son of William Martyn of Athelhampton in Dorsetshire Knight, was born, and educated in Grammar learning, within the said City of Exeter: where making early advances towards Academical learning, was sent to Broadgates hall (now Pomb. coll.) an. 1579. aged 17. In which place falling under the tuition of a noted Master, laid an excellent foundation in Logick and Philosophy. Afterwards going to the Inns of Court, he became a Barester, and in 1605. was elected Recorder of Exeter in the place of John Hele Serjeant at Law. But his delight being much conversant in the reading of English Histories, he composed a book of the Kings of England, as I shall tell you anon. Upon the publication of which K. James (as ’tis said) taking some exceptions at a passage therein, either to the derogation of his family, or of the Realm of Scotland, he was thereupon brought into some trouble, which shortned his days. He hath written,

Youths instruction. Lond. 1612. qu. dedicated to his Son Nich. Martyn then a Student in Oxon. In the said book is shewed a great deal of reading, and consequently that the author was no loser of his time.

The History and Lives of the Kings of England, from William the Conquerour to K. Hen. 8. Lond. 1616. and 28. fol. usher’d into the world with the copies of Verses of Nicholas, William and Edw. Martyn the Sons of the author, and by Pet. Bevis his Son-in-Law. To this History was afterwards added the History of K. Edw. 6. Qu. Mary and Qu. Elizabeth, by B. R. Master of Arts—Lond. 1638. fol. At the end of all the impressions was Printed,

The succession of the Dukes and Earls of this Kingdom of England, from the Conquerour, to the 12. of James 1. with the then Viscounts, Barons, Baronets, &c.—which was drawn up by the author, and continued after his death by R. B. before-mention’d. What other books the said Will. Martyn hath either written or published I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he was buried in the Church of S. Petrock in the City of Exeter 12. 1617 Apr. in sixteen hundred and seventeen. The inscription which was on the Stone, supposed to be laid for him, is worn out, and a new inscription cut thereon for one of the same family buried there. The next who must follow according to time was a severe Puritan, as Martyn was.