Thomas Paynell

, or Paganell, descended from an ancient Family of his name living in Lincolnshire, was from his youth always exercised in virtue and good letters. While he was in his juvenile years he was made a Canon Regular of Merton Priory in Surrey, the Monasticks of which place having had interest in the College of St. Mary the Virgin situated in the Parish of St. Michael and St. Peter in the Baylie, (built purposely for the training up of young Can. Reg. in Philosophical, or Theological learning, or both) he was sent thither, where improving himself much in Divine learning, returned to his Monastery, and a little before the dissolution of that and others, became Prior of a certain Monastery of Canon Regulars near to London as Baleus (b)(b) In lib. de Script. cent. 9. nu. 71. saith, tho the name of the place he tells us not. But being soon after ejected, when his Monastery was to be imployed for a laical use, had a pension allowed him during his life: Whereupon retiring to London, and sometimes to Oxon, had the more leisure to write and translate Books; the titles of which follow.

Pandicts of the Evangelical Law. Lond. 1553. oct.

The pithy and most notable sayings of all the Scripture, after the manner of common places, &c. newly augmented and corrected. Lond. 1560. oct.

A Table of many matters contained in the english works of Sir Tho. More.—This is set before the said works that were published by Will. Rastell, an. 1557.

A fruitful Book of the common places of all St. Pauls Epistles, right necessary for all sorts of People, &c. Lond. 1562. oct.

Preface to the Book of measuring of Land, as well of Woodland as Plowland—Printed at Lond. in the time of Hen. 8. in oct. The Book it self was written by Sir Rich. de Benese sometimes Canon of Merton Priory, but corrected and made fit for the press by Paynell. In the Year 1519. one Rich. de Benese a secular Chaplain supplicated the Ven. congregation for the Degree of Bach. of Arts, but whether the same with the writer, I cannot justly say, because he is written secular Chaplain. Neither can I say that Rich. Benese Clerk, Parson of Long Ditton in Surrey in the time of H. 8. be the same also; who in his last (i)(i) In Offic. praerog. Cant. in reg. Alen, Qu. 47. Will and Test. dated 3. Nov. 1546. and proved 20. Oct. 1547. doth bequeath his body to be buried in the yard belonging to the Church there. Our Author Thom. Paynell did also translate from Lat. into English (1) Of the contempt of the world. Lond. 1533. oct. written by Erasmus. (2) Of the Medicine Guacum and of the French disease, &c. Lond. 1536. and 1539. oct. written by Ulrich Hutten a Knight of Almaine. It treateth of the wood called Guacum which healeth the French Pox, the Gout, Stone, Palsey, &c. (3) Of the comparison of a Virgin and a Martyr. Lond. 1537. oct. written by Erasmus. This translation is dedicated to John Ramsey Lord Prior of Merton. (4) Sermon on the Lords Prayer. Lond. 1539. oct. written by St. Cyprian, (5) A faithful and true story of the destruction of Troy. Lond. 1553. oct. written by Danus Phrigius. (6) A devout prayer, expedient for those that prepare themselves to say Mass, &c. Lond. 1555. oct. written by St. Ambrose. (7) Brief Chronycle of all the Earls of Holland. Lond. 1557. oct. written by Hadrianus Barlandus. (8.) Salerni sanit, regim. The Regiment of health, teaching all People how to govern them in health. Lond. 1558 oct. (9) Of the examples of virtue and vice. Lond. 1561. oct. written by Nich. Hannape. (10) Fruitful treatise of well living, containing the whole summ and effect of all virtue. Printed at Lond in oct. written by St. Bernard. (11) The Precepts teaching a Prince or a noble estate his duty. print. in oct. written originally in Greek by Agapetus. He also translated from French into English (1) The civility of Chidhood, with the discipline and institution of Children. Lond. 1560. oct (2) The assault of Heaven. Lond. in qu. besides other translations which you may see (*)(*) In Bal. ut sup. elsewhere. In my searches I once saw a Will (k)(k) Ib. in Off. praerog. in reg. Stevenson Qu. 7. without date, made for Thom. Paynell Priest, born at, or near to Bothby-Paynell in Lincolnshire, afterwards-Parson (as it seems) of Cotyngam lying between Hull and Beverley in Yorkshire, to which place he was a Benefactor, and left considerable Legacies to 20 poor Maidens born, and dwelling, there. He gave to St. Johns Coll. in Oxon (wherein, as it seems, he had studied in his elderly years in the latter end of H. 8. and in the time of Ed. 6. at which time it was called St. Bernards Coll.) all his Books in his Chamber at London, and desired that at his Funeral, a Sermon be Preached by a Catholick Doctor, or a Bach. of Divinity, &c. This will, which seems to have been made at London, was proved in the Praerogative Court of Conterbury, on the 22 of March (according to the English accompt) in Fifteen hundred sixty and three. 1563 I do, and always did, take it to be made for Thom. Paynell the writer, and conclude thence that he died in the Winter time 1563. but where buried I cannot tell.