Thomas Randolphe

Son of Averey Randolphe of Badlesmere in Kent, was born in that County, made Student of Ch. Ch. when K. Hen. 8. turn’d it into a Cathedral, admitted Bach. of the Civil Law 1547 and about that time was made a publick notary. In 1549. Nov. 20. he succeeded Rob. Weston in the principality of Broadgates hall, which he kept till 1553, and then Tho. Stempe LL. D. was admitted into his place. In the Reign of Qu. Elizab. he being then Doctor of his faculty, he was (c)(c) Camd. in [〈◊〉] Elizab. an. 1590. employed in several Embassies, as thrice to the Peers in Scotland, thrice to Q. Mary of Scotland, after her return from France; seven times to K. James the 6. of Scotland, thrice to John Basilides Emperor of Russia, once to Charles the 9. of France and again to Hen. 3. The Queen of England, who knighted him, rewarded these his services with the Chamberlaines office in the Exchecquer, heretofore a place of great honour and worth, the Mastership or office of Comptroller general of the Post horses, and with some small Land. He hath written,

An account of his Embassage to the Emperor of Russia, an. 1568.—Remitted into the first vol. of Rich. Hakeluyts voyages. Lond. 1598. He then (in 1568) procured privileges from the Emperor of Russia for the English Merchants trafficking there.

Instructions given to, and notes to be observed by, James Bassendine, Jam. Woodcock and Rich. Browne for the searching of the Sea, and border of the coast, from the river Pechora, to the Eastwards, an. 1588.—There was then a commission granted to Sir Thom. Randolphe for the searching of those parts, but he entrusted the matter with the 3 Persons before-mention’d. See more in the said vol. of voyages by R. Hakeluyt. At length after Sir Thomas had painfully spent his time in sundry and frequent Embassies, and in continual services of his Prince and Country, at home and abroad, he quietly surrendred up his last breath in his house at St. Peters hill near to Pauls Wharf in London, 1590 on the 8. of June in Fifteen hundred and ninety, aged 67, (leaving then behind him several Children that he had by two Wives) whereupon his body, accompanied by one or two Heralds of armes, was buried 6. July following in the Church of St. Peter near to the said Wharf. Besides this Tho. Randolphe a Statesman, hath been another of both his names of a later date, and a most celebrated Poet of his time; of whom, by the way, I desire the reader to know these matters following, viz. that he was born at Newnham near to Daintry in Northamptonshire, 15 June 1605, Son of Will. Rondolphe of Hams near to Lewis in Sussex (Steward to Edw. Lord Zouch) by Elizabeth his Wife, Dau. of Tho. Smith of Newnham before mentioned, educated in Westminster School, and went thence (being one of the Kings Scholars) to Trinity Coll. in Cambridge 1623. of which he became Fellow. Afterwards he commenced Master of Arts, in which Degree he was incorporated at Oxon, became famous for his ingenuity, an adopted Son of Benj. Johnson, and accounted one of the most pregnant wits of his age; the quickness of which was first discovered when he was about 9 or 10 years old, when then he wrot the History of the incarnation of our Saviour, in verse, which is at this day preserved in MS. under his own hand writing. When he arrived to Mans Estate, and perhaps before, he wrot (1) Poems. (2) The Muses Looking-glass, a Comedy. (3) Amyntas or the impossible dowry, a Pastoral. (4) Aristippus, or the jovial Philosopher, &c. Trag. presented in a private shew. (5) The conceited Pedler; presented in a strange shew.—Lond. 1630. qu. (6) Jealous Lovers, Tr. Com. (7) Hey for honesty, down with knavery. Com. Translated out of Aristophanes his Plutus: Augmented and published by F. J. Lond. 1651. qu. All which, except the last, were gathered together, and printed in one vol. by the care of his Brother Rob. Randolphe Student of Ch. Ch. in Oxon. being then commended to the world by divers Poets of the said University. Several other things of the like nature, were expected from the said young Poet Th. Randolphe, but by indulging himself too much with the liberal conversation of his admirers (a thing incident to Poets) brought him untimely to his end, in the House of Will. Stafford of Blatherwyke in Northamptonshire Esq; (having spent some time in that of his Father at Little Houghton in the said County in his delightful studies) Whereupon his body being buried in an Isle, joyning to the Church at that place (among those of the Staffords) on the 17 day of March, an. 1634, had soon after a Monument of white Marble, wreathed about with laurel, erected over his grave, at the charge of Sir Christopher (afterwards Lord) Hatton of Kirby. The inscription on which, in Lat. and Engl. ver. was made by the Poets Friend Pet. Hausted of Cambridge.