Francis Tate

, Son of Barthelm. Tate of Delapre in Northamptonshire Esq was born there, or at least in that County, became a Commoner of Magd. coll. in 1577. aged 17. where laying a foundation of le [•] rning, for a greater structure to be erected thereon, departed without a degree to the Middle Temple [〈…〉] became a noted Counsellour, a person of great [〈…〉] in the Law, and eminent for his knowledge in [〈◊〉] , and in the Saxon Language. In the latter [•] nd of Q. Elizabeth he was a Parliament Man, and in the 5. Jac. 1. he was Lent-Reader of the Middle Temple, and about that time one of the Justices Itinerant for S. Wales. He hath written several matters relating to Antiquity, which being crept into private hands, the publick is thereby rob’d of the benefit of them. However some of them I have seen, which bear these titles.

Nomina Hydarum in com. Northampton.—MS. much used by Augustine Vincent Son of Will. Vincent of Wellingborough and Thingdon in Northamptonshire, in his intended Survey or Antiquities of Northamptonshire. I have a copy of this lying by me.

Explanation of the abbreviated words in Domsday book.—Used also the by said Vincent, who after he had been Rouge Croix and Windsore Herald, as also had published, A discovery of Errors in two Editions of the Catalogue of Nobility, written by Raphe Brook, did yield to nature on the 11. Jan. in 1625. and was buried in the Church of St. Bennet near to Pauls Wharf in London. The said two MSS. of Franc. Tate were reserved as rarities in the Library of Christop. Lord Hatton of Kirkly in Northamptonshire, but where they are now, I know not.

His opinion touching the antiquity, power, order, state, manner, persons, and proceedings of the High Court of Parliament in England.—See more in Joh. Doderidge, under the year 1628.

Learned Speeches in Parliaments, held in the latter end of Q. Elizab. and in the Reign of K. Jam. 1.—with other things which I have not yet seen. He lived a single Man, and dying so on the (f)(f) Camden in Annal. Reg. Jac. 1. MS. sub. an. 1616. 16. Nov. in sixteen hundred and sixteen, 1616 was buried, I suppose, in the Church belonging to the Temples. He had a Nephew, Son of his elder Brother Sir William Tate of Delapre, called Zouch Tate, who became a Gentleman Com. of Trinity coll. in 1621. aged 15. but took no degree. In 1640. he was chosen a Burgess for Northampton to serve in that unhappy Parliament, which began at Westminster 3. Nov. the same year, where siding with the Factious Crew, took the Covenant, and became a zealous Enemy to the King and his Cause. Two or more Speeches of his are printed, one of which was spoken in a Common Hall at London 3. Jul. 1645. containing Observations on the King and Queens Cabinet of Letters.—Lond. 1645. qu. Which Speech, with that of John L’isle and Rich. Browne, were animadverted upon by Tho. Browne of Ch. Ch. as hereafter it shall be told you. There were also Annotations printed at the end of the said Cabinet of Letters taken at Naseby Battle, where the King was worsted.—Printed at Lond. 1645. qu. but who the author of them was I cannot tell.