Christopher Seintgerman

called by some Senyarmayn or Seyngerman, Son of Sir Hen. Seintgerman Knight, by Anne his Wife, Daughter of Tho. Tindale Esq was born, as I conceive, in Warwickshire, particularly at Shilton near to the City of Coventry, in the Chappel or Church of which place, his Father and Mother (*)(*) In Offic. Praerog cant. in reg. Alinger Qu. 29. received Sepulture. In his juvenile Years he was educated in Grammatical and Philosophical Learning among the Oxonians, from whom, by the advice of his Parents, he was taken away and sent to the Inner Temple, where, by the benefit of his Academical Learning, certain instructors in the municipal Laws, and by his forward Genie, and industry, he became a Barrester and a Counsellor of note, being then esteemed eminent not only in the Common, but also in the Civil, Law; by which afterwards, he obtained immortal fame among the Citizens of London. Besides this his profound knowledge, he was admirably well read in Philosophy, and the liberal Sciences, which made his company desired by Scholars and Clergy. He lived always a single Man, was an adorer of Chastity and chast Men, and shew’d himself generous in his profession to those that stood in need of it, for very seldom or never did he take a fee. What he got, and what he could spare out of his paternal estate, he expended in purchasing Books. So that several Years before he died, his Library exceeded any one or two, that belonged to a Person or Persons of his profession. Every night after his business was past, he read a Chapter in the Bible to those that belonged to him, and the Substance thereof he expounded to them. By the doing of which, and his interposing himself in matters relating to Religion and the Clergy, some R. Catholicks have thought that he halted in his Opinion, that is, that he was inclined to the way of Hereticks. His Writings are many, partly written in Latin and partly in English, the titles of some of which are these.

Dialogus de fundamentis Legum Angliae & de conscientia. Lond. 1528. 1598. 1604. 1613, &c. oct. This is the Book which is commonly called Doctor and Student, being a Dialogue between a Doctor of Div. and a Student in the common Laws of England. With the edition of the said Book 1528. I have seen this Book following bound with several Copies of it. Principia five maximae Legum Angliae, à Gallico illo (ut fertur) sermone collecta, & sic in Latinum translata, non solum generosis studentibus, verum etiam terrarum dominis & possessoribus summè necessaria.—Printted by Rich Lant 24. Dec. 38. Hen. 8. Dom. 1546. in oct. Whether this Book, which is printed in an English Character as the Dialogue is, was compiled by Seintgerman I know not: certain I am, that the English Copy of Dialogus, &c. called, Doctor and Student, &c. Printed at Lond. in oct. an. 1604. contains two Books of Dialogues, the first of which hath 32 Chapters (whereas the Latin impression of 1528, and 1604. contains but 24, and the second 55 Chapters. Among other things that the said Seintgerman hath written are,

Of the power of the Clergy according to the Law.

Treatise shewing that the Clergy cannot make Laws.

Treatise of the Church and the meaning thereof.

Treatise of the Sacraments thereof.

Apologie written to Sir Tho. More.

Dialogue concerning the power which belongs to the Clergy, and the power which belongs to the People—With several other things which are (†)(†) In cent. 8. Joh. Balei De scriptorib. Maj. Britan num. 75. mention’d in another place. At length this worthy Person dying in Sept. (the 28 day saith Baleus (‡)(‡) Ibidem. who falsely adds 1539.) in Fifteen hundred and forty, 1540 was buried, not far from the Grave of Tho. Lupset, in the Church of St. Alphage within Cripplegate, in the City of London. Which Church was afterwards translated to that Church now called St. Alphage near Sion College. In the last will (*)(*) Ibid. in reg. Alinger, ut supra. and Testament of the said Seintgerman, dated 10. July, 32. Hen. 8. Dom. 1540, and proved 30. May 1541. it appears that he was not only a Benefactor to the Church of Shilton beforemention’d, but also to that at Laleford (Lawford) in Warwickshire, and to the Church at Cathorp in Leicestershire, at which Towns, ’tis probable, he had Lands and Inheritances.