John Smythe

, or Smith, Son of Sir Clem. Smythe of Little Badew in Essex, by Dorothy his Wife, Sister to Edw. Seymour Duke of Somerset, (whose Sister Jane Seymour was the third Wife of K. Hen. 8.) was born as it seems, in Essex, and laid the foundation of Literature in Oxon, but in what house, ’tis difficult to find, because both his Names are very common. Afterwards being martially inclined, he travelled into various countries, exercised himself in feats of arms, and became as well a compleat Souldier, as Gentleman. At length he was made a Knight by Qu. Elizabeth, and by her sent Embassador into Spain, in 1576, as being a person of a Spanish port and demeanour, and well known to the Spaniard, who held him, as their King did, in high value, and especially for this reason, that he was first cousin to K. Ed. 6. His works are,

Discourse concerning the forms and effect of divers Weapons, and other very important Matters Military; greatly mistaken by divers of our men of War in their days, and chiefly of the Musquet, Calyver and Longbow, &c. Lond. 1589. and 1590. qu.

Certaine Instructions, Observations, and Orders Military, requisite for all Chieftains, Captains, higher and lower Officers. Composed 1591. Lond. 1594. 95. qu.

Instructions for Enrolling and Mustering—Printed with Certain Instructions, &c. What other books of his are published, I cannot yet find, nor exactly when he died, only that he was living and in great esteem among Souldiers and learned men in fifteen hundred ninety and five.Clar. 1595. Besides this, was another Sir Joh. Smyth equal in time with him, eldest Son of Tho. Smyth of Ostinhanger in Kent Esq. and brother to Sir Thomas of Bidborough in the same County, whom I shall mention elsewhere. Which Sir John dying in the beginning of 1609. was buried in Ashford Church in the said County, leaving Issue, as it seems, Tho. Smyth of Ostenhanger, afterwards Knight of the Bath and Viscount Stranford in Ireland; who dying 30. June 1635. was buried in his Chappel joyning to the said Church of Ashford. But this Sir John was no writer, nor of the same Family, because he was descended from the Smyths of Corshan in Wiltshire; whereas Sir John who was the Writer and Souldier, was Grandson to Tho. Smyth of Ravinhall in Essex, and he a Discendant from John Carrington, who fled for a time from England, and changed his Name to Smyth, for adhering to the deposed King Rich. 2. Further also I find another John Smyth commonly called Captain Smyth, who wrote (1.) A Map of Virginia, with a Description of the Country, the Commodities, People, Government, and Religion. Oxon. 1612. qu. (2.) New Englands Trials, &c. Lond. 1620. qu. (3.) General History of Virginia, &c. Lond. 1624. qu. (4.) Travels in Europe, &c. Lond. 1630. with other things, but this Captain Smyth was a Cheshire man, and whether he had received any Education in this University of Oxon, I cannot say to the contrary.