Henry Savile

, Sometimes of Shawhill in Yorkshire, commonly called Long Harry Savile, was born of an antient family of his name, living at Banke near Halyfax in that County, entred a Student in Merton coll. (of which his kinsman Mr. Hen. Savile was Warden) in 1587. and was soon after made one of the Portionists, commonly called Postmasters. After he had taken the degree of Bach. of Arts, he left it, and retired to S. Albans hall, and as a member thereof, he took the degree of M. of Arts, in 1595. All which time being under the inspection of his kinsman, he became an eminent Scholar, especially in the Mathematicks, Physick, (in which faculty he was admitted to practice by the University) Chemistry, Painting, Heraldry and Antiquities. Afterwards, for the compleating and advance of his knowledge, he travelled into Italy, France, and Germany, where spending his time very profitable, returned the most accomplished person of his time, and therefore his company was desired, and sought after by all learned and vertuous Men. He had written several things fit for the Press, but whether ever published, I find not as yet. It must be now known that this Henr. Savile being an intimate friend with the learned Camden, he (f)(f) Vide Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Ox. lib. 1. p. 9. 10. communicated to him the antient exemplar of Asser Menevensis, which contains the story of the discord between the new Scholars that Grimbald brought with him to Oxon, at the restauration of the University by K. Alfred, with the old Clerks that the said Grimbald found when he came to that place. Which exemplar being discovered to be genuine, by the said Camden (who afterwards (g)(g) In Britannia, in Dobunts. stil’d it Optimum exemplar Asserii) he did therefore make it publick, an. 1602. But so it was, that as soon as it peep’d forth, certain envious Cantabrigians did not stick to report that the said story concerning the dissention between the old, and new Scholars, was foisted into Asser by the said Long Harry Savile, and which is more, that passage also, was put by him into the printed History of Ingulphus, which maketh much for the Antiquity of the University of Oxon. Ego Ingulphus, &c. pro literis addiscendis in teneriore aetate constitutus, primum Westmonasterio, postremo Oxoniensi studio traditus sum, &c. But for the clearing of the said vain reports, much hath been (h)(h) In Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxon. ut supr. said already: and therefore I shall trouble the reader no more, but only tell him, that after the said Long Harry had lived for some years after his return from forreign Countries, within the Parish of S. Martin in the Fields near London, died there, to be the great reluctancy of all learned men, on 29. Apr. in sixteen hundred and seventeen, 1617 aged 49. Whereupon his body being buried in the Chancel of the Church of that Parish, had soon after a Monument set over his Grave, on the north Wall, with his bust to the middle, carved out from stone and painted. The reader is now to know that there was one Hen. Savile Esq who was employed as a Captain in one of her Majesties Ships, called the Adventure, under the conduct of Sir Franc. Drake and Sir John Hawkyns against the Spaniard in the West Indies. Which Henry wrote a book intit. A Libel of Spanish lyes found at the Sack of Cales, discoursing the fight in the West Indies between the English and the Spaniard, and of the death of Sir Franc. Drake, with an answer confuting the said Spanish lies, &c. Lond. 1596. qu. But this Capt. Henry Savile must not be understood to be the same with Long Harry, or with Sir Hen. Savile Warden of Merton college, but another of the same House, as I conceive, for three Hen. Saviles of Yorkshire, were atriculated as members of that coll. in the time of Qu. Elizabeath, viz. one, who is written the Son of a Plebeian, 1588. a second, the Son of an Esq in 1593. and a third an Esq Son also, in 1595. The said Capt. Savile, or else Long Harry, was engaged in the Earl of Essex his treasons; for which, he was forced to abscond and withdrew for a time.