John Twyne

Son of William, Son of John, Son of Nicholas, Son of Sir Brian Twyne of Long Parish in Hampshire Knight, was born at Bolingdon in the same County, educated, as it seems, in New Inn, where applying his studies to the Civil Law, was admitted to the reading of any of the Books of Institutions, an. 1524. at which time the said Inn was replenished, and did excellently flourish with Civilians. After he had left the University he became supreme Moderator of the Free-school within the cemitery gate at Canterbury, and in 1553 Mayor of that City. At length growing rich (for his School was very much frequented by the youth of the neighbourhood, many of which went afterwards to the Universities) he purchased Lands at Preston and Hardacre in Kent, which he left to his posterity. He was a Person well read in Greek and Lat. Authors, in the histories and antiquities of our Nation, and much valued for his abilities in other matters by the learned Men of his age, particularly by his acquaintance (p)(p) In Principum ac illustrium, &c. in Auglia virorum eucomus, trophaeis, &c. Lond. 1589. p. 83. Joh. Leland, who numbers him among the illustrious worthies of his time. He hath written,

De rebus Albionicis, Britannicis atꝫ Anglicis commentariorum libri duo. Lond. 1590. in oct. written to his Son Thomas; who afterwards, with an Epistle, made it publick. Our Author John Twyne hath also written and collected divers things of antiquities, which are dispersed in several hands, and some of them descending to his Grandson Brian Twyne, he gave them at his death to the Library of C. C. Coll. At length our Author arriving to a good old age, 1581 gave way to fate 24. Novemb. in Fifteen hundred eighty and one, and received sepulture in the Chancel of the Church of St. Paul withing the City of Canterbury. Over his grave is an inscription, wherein he is stiled Armiger, and said to have been Mayor of Canterbury in the time of Wyatts rebellion, in the beginning of Qu. Mary. This Epitaph being written in verse, I shall now omit, and commend you to that just Encomium of him given by Leland before mentioned. By Alice his Wife (who died 20. Oct. 1567. aged 60 and in the 43 year of her Wedlock) Daughter of Will. Piper of Canterbury he had issue divers Sons. The first was Laurence Twyne who was Fellow of Allsouls Coll. and Bach. of the Civil Law, an ingenious Poet of his time, as several copies of verses, set before books, written in commendation of their respective Anthors, do sufficiently attest. He was a married Man, lived at Hardacre in Kent, and left issue behind him at his death several Children. The second was Tho. Twyne before-mention’d, whom I shall mention under the Year 1613. The third was John Twyne whose ingenuity also is scatter’d in several copies of verses before books in the time of Qu. Elizabeth; and the fourth was Nicholas, of whom I know nothing.