William Monson

, a Lincolnshire Man born, a Knight’s Son, and of the same Family with those of South Carleton in that County, was a Gent. Com. or at least a Commoner of Balliol coll. where he continued for at least two years. But his mind being more Martial than Mercurial, he applied himself to Sea-service, wherein he attained to great perfection, was a Captain (i)(i) Camd. in Annal. Reg. Eliz. an. 1597. 1602. &c. in several Expeditions against the Spaniard, Vice-Admiral and Admiral. In 1594. he was actually created Master of Arts, and in 1596. he received the Honour of Knighthood from Robert Earl of Essex at the Sacking of Cadiz. In 1602. when Ireland was cleared of the Spanish Forces, he was appointed Vice-Admiral under Sir Rich. Levison Admiral to carry on the War by Sea against the Spaniard, lest they should invade England, wherein he performed most admirable Service, especially in the taking of a great Carack of 1600 Tun from them at Cezimbria against Barbarum, the Promontory of Portugal. This heroical person left behind him at his death, written with his own hand,

A true and exact account of the Wars with Spain, in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth, being the particulars of what hapned between the English and Spanish Fleets, from the year 1585. to 1602. shewing the expeditions, attempts, &c. Lond. 1682. fol. dedicated to his Son John Monson. In some copies of this book the Title runs thus, A particular and exact account of the last xvii. years of Qu. Elizabeth’s Reign, both Military and Civil. Lond. 1682. fol. The first written by Sir Will. Monson, the other by Heywood Townshend. This worthy Knight was in great renown in the beginning of the Reign of K.Clar. 1606. James 1. and the last time I find him mentioned in his Sea-service, is in 1605. in which year he conveyed over Sea Edward the old Earl of Hertford, when he was sent Embassador to the Archduke for the confirming of a Peace: In which Voyage, it is observed by a certain (k)(k) Sir Ant. Welden in The court and character of K. James. Lond. 1650. oct. p. 48, 49. person that the Royal Ships of England did then (being the first time as he saith) suffer an indignity and affront from a Dutch Man of War, as he passed by them without vailing. Of the same Family was Will. Monson a Knight or Esq; (Father to Will. Monson Visc. Castlemaine) who died in the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields near London, in January, or thereabouts, 1642.