John Savile

, (elder Brother to Sir Henry) Son of Henry Savile of Over-Bradley in Staneland near to Eland (not far from Halifax) in Yorkshire, Esq; was born in that County, particularly, as it seems, at Over-Bradley, became a Commoner of Brasnose coll. in 1561. or thereabouts; where laying a considerable foundation of Acad. learning, was taken thence before he could attain to a degree in the University, and sent to the Middle-Temple, where making great proficiencie in the Municipal Laws, was called to the Bar, fell into considerable Practice, became Autumn-reader of that house, 28 Elizab. dom. 1586. Steward of the Seigniory or Lordship of Wakefield in his own Country, called to the degree and honour of the Coif in 1594 made one of the Barons of the Exchequer, 98. and about that time one of the Justices of Assize. When K. James came to the Crown, he not only continued him in his Barons place 4. Apr. but also conferred on him, just before his Coronation, the honour of Knighthood, 23. July following, an. 1603. being then one of the Judges that was to attend that Solemnity. He left behind him, at his death, certain things fit for the Press, of which only this following is as yet made publick.

Reports of divers special Cases, as well in the Court of Common P [•] eas, as of the Exchequer, in the time of Q. Elizabeth. Lond. 1675. in a thin fol. Printed in old French in a black character, and published by John Richardson of the Inner-Temple. Sir Jo. Savile paid his last debt to nature at London on the 2.1606-7. of Feb. in sixteen hundred and six, aged 61. whereupon his body was buried in the Church of St. Dunstans in the West in Fleetstreet, London, and his heart carried to Medley in Yorkshire, where it was buried in an Isle joyning on the South side of the Church belonging to that place. Soon after was a very fair Monument erected over it, with the Effigics thereon of the Defunct in his Judges Robes, (cut out from stone,) laying thereon. The Reader is to know, that there was one John Savile a great pretender to Poetry, in the beginning of the Reign of K. James 1. patronized in his studies by his kinsman, (a young Spark,) called George Savile, Son of Sir George Savile Knight: which John wrote among several things, K. James his entertainment at Theobalds, with his welcome to London, and a salutory Poem. Lond. 1603. qu. This I thought fit to let the Reader know, lest Posterity may take him to be the same with Sir Jo. Savile before-mentioned. The Name and Family of the Saviles are numerous in Yorkshire, and pretend to be descended from the Savelli in Italy, a Family accounted by some to be the ancientest in the World; having been in Italy about 3000 years; some of which have been Consuls before, and after, the time of our Saviour. But how any of our Saviles in England can make it out, that they are descended from the said Family of the Savelli, I cannot in the least conjecture, (being the name of a Town,) nor can I believe it, no more, than that the Corbets of Shropsphire are descended from the Corvini, another ancient Family in Italy.