William Noy

, Son of Will. Noy of S. Burian in Cornwall Gent. by Philippa his Wife, was born there, became a sojournour of Exeter coll. in 1593. aged 16. where continuing a severe Student about 3 years, left the University without a degree, went to Linc. Inn, studied the Common Law, and by his unwearied industry and moyling day and night he became eminent in his profession. In the latter end of the raign of K. Jam. 1. he was chose a Burgess for Helston in his own Country to sit in that Parliament that began at Westminster 30. Jan. 1620. and for that which began there 19. Feb. 1623. In both which he shewed himself a profess’d enemy to the Kings prerogative. In 1625. he was elected a Burgess for S. Ives to sit in that Parliament, which began at Westminster 6. Feb. wherein, as in another following, shewing himself an enemy as before, he was at length diverted from his proceedings by being made Attorney General, an. 1631. He was as famous a Lawyer as ever this Kingdom bred, as a certain author (g)(g) Sir Ant. Weldon in his book intit. The Court of K. Charles continued unto the beginning of these unhappy times, &c. Printed at the end of The Court and Character of K. James. Lond. 1651. sec. edit. p. 194. 195. informs us, who adds that “formerly he was a great Patriot, and the only searcher of Presidents for the Parliaments: By which he grew so cunning, as he understood all the shifts which former kings had used to get moneys with. This man the K. sent for, told him, he would make him his Attorney. Noy, like a true cynick as he was, did, for that time go away, not returning to the King so much as the civility of thanks, nor indeed, was it worth his thanks, I am sure he was not worthy of ours. For, after the Court solicitings had bewitched him, to become the Kings, he grew the most hateful man that ever lived, &c. he having been as great a deluge to this Realm, as the flood was to the whole world: For he swept away all our priviledges, and in truth hath been the cause of all these miseries this Kingdom hath since been ingulphed; whether you consider our Religion (he being a great Papist, if not an Atheist, and the protecter of all Papists, and the raiser of them up unto that boldness they were now grown unto) or if you consider our Estates and Liberties, which were impoverished and enthralled by multitudes of Papists and illegal ways, which this Monster was the sole author of, &c.” He was a man passing (a)(a) Ham. L’estrange in his Hist. of the raign of K. Ch. 1. under the year 1634. humorous, of cynical rusticity, a most indesatigable plodder, and searcher of ancient Records, whereby he became an eminent instrument of good and ill to the Kings Prerogative. His apprehension (as ’tis said) was quick and clear, his judgment methodical and solid, his memory strong, his curiosity deep and searching, his temper patient and cautious, all tempered with an honest bluntishness, far from Court insinuation. He left behind him several things fit for the Press, and under his name were these books afterwards published.

A Treatise of the principal grounds and maxims of the Laws of England, Lond. 1641. qu. Afterwards printed in oct. and tw.

Perfect conveyancer: or several select and choice Precedents. Lond. 1655. qu. 2d edit. collected partly by Will. Noy, and partly by Sir Rob. Hendon Knight, sometimes one of the Barons of the Exchequer, Rob. Mason sometimes Recorder of London, and Henry Fleetweod, formerly Reader of Greys Inn.

Reports and cases in the time of Qu. Elizabeth, K. James and King Charles 1. containing the most excellent exceptions for all manner of Declarations, Pleadings, and Demurs, exactly examined and laid down. London 1656. fol.

The compleat Lawyer: or a Treatise concerning Tenures and Estates in Lands of inheritance for life and other hereditaments, and chattels real and personal, &c. Lond. 1661. and 74. in oct. with his picture before it.

Arguments of Law and Speeches—He also left behind him several choice collections that he had made from the Records in the Tower of London, reduced into two large paper books of his own hand-writing. One contained collections concerning the Kings maintaining his Naval power according to the practice of his Ancestors; and the other about the privileges and jurisdiction of ecclesiastical Courts. Dr. Tho. James of Oxon. when he compiled his Mannduction or Introduction unto Divinity, printed 1625. he afterwards acknowledged himself (b)(b) See in the Table of MSS. by Dr. James, quoted at the dne of the said Manuduction beholding to the Extracts out of the Tower, fairly and largly transcribed (as he saith) by the said Mr. Noy a great Antiquary of Law. Which extracts, I presume, are the same with those before mention’d. At length his body being much out of Order by continual toyling and drudging, he retired to Tunbridge-wells to gain health in the month of July, but the waters effecting nothing; he died there, on Saturday the 9. of Aug. following, in sixteen hundred thirty and four, 1634 whereupon his body being conveyed to New Brentford in Middlesex, was privately buried on the Munday following under the communion table of the Chancel of the Church there. Over his grave was a stone soon after laid, with a brass plate fastned thereunto, and an inscription thereon, but soon after defaced. The next day after his departure, the news of it came to Dr. Laud Archb. of Canterbury then at Croydon, who thereupon made (c)(c) In the Breviat of his life, p. 19. this observation of him in his Diary. I have lost a dear friend of him, and the Church the greatest she had of his condition since she needed any such. His body being opened after his decease, his heart was found shrivel’d like a leather penny Purse, nor were his Lungs right, which caused several conjectures by the Puritans. But that which was most observable after his death, was his Will, (d)(d) In the Will-Office near to S. Pauls Cath. in reg. Seager, Qu. 84. dated 3 June 1634. at which all the world wondred, because the maker thereof was accounted a great Clerk in the Law; for therein, after he had bequeathed to his Son Hamphrey an hundred marks per an. to be paid out of his tenements in the hundred of Pydar in Cornwall, he concludes, & reliqua omnia, &c. and the rest of all my Lands, Goods, &c. I leave to my Son Edward Noy, whom I make my Executor, to be consumed and scattered about, nec de so mellus speravi, &c. But Edward lived not long to enjoy the estate, for within two years after, he was slain in a Duel in France, by one Captain Byron, who escaped scot-free and had his pardon, as Will. Prynn an inveterate enemy to Will. Noy his Father (e)(e) See at the end, in an append. to a book intit. A Divine Tragedy lately octed, or a collection of sundry memorable examples, &c. Printed beyond Sea, an. 1636. qu. reports. As his Majesty was somewhat troubled at his loss, and the Clergy more, so the generality of the Commons rejoyced. The Vintners drank carouses, in hopes to dress meat again and fell Tobaco, Beer, &c. which by a fullen capricio, Noy restrained them from. The Players also for whom he had done no kindness, did, the next Term after his decease, make him the subject of a merry Comedy, stiled A projector lately dead, &c. He had his humours as well as other men, but certainly he was a solid rational man, and tho no great Orator, yet he was a profound Lawyer, and none more better vers’d in Records than he. In his place of Attorney General succeeded Sir Joh. Banks, and the next year Sir Rob. Heath being removed from the Ch. Justiceship of the Kings Bench for bribery, Sir John Finch came into play, whereupon these verses were made.

Noyes Flood is gone

The Banks appear,

Heath is shorn down

And Finch sings there.