William Waller

son of Tho. Waller Knight, Lieutenant or Constable of Dover Castle and chief Butler of England, as he is sometimes stiled, by Margaret his Wife, Daughter of Sampson Lennard Lord Dacre, was born at Knolle in Kent, matriculated at his first coming to the University as a member of Magd. Hall in Mich. term an. 1612, aged 15 years, but making no long stay there, was translated to Hart Hall, where he spent most of his time during his abode in Oxon. Afterwards he went to Paris, and in an Academy there he learn’d to fence and manage the great Horse. Thence he went to the German Wars, where he served in the Army of the confederate Princes against the Emperour. After his return he was knighted at Wansted 20. June 1622, and took to Wife Jane Daughter and Heir of Rich. Reynell of Fourd in Devonshire Knight, who dying at Bathe in the Month of May 1633 was buried in the south trancept of the Church of S. Pet. and S. Paul there; over whose grave is a very fair monument erected, and thereon the statua’s of her and her husband lying at length. Afterwards taking to him a second Wife, he was elected a Burgess for An [•] over in Hampshire to serve in that most unhappy Parliament, that began at Westm. 3. Nov. 1640, wherein he shew’d himself an active person against the prerogative and every thing that looked that way. Soon after when the rebellion broke out, he was for his great knowledge in martial affairs, constituted (tho little in person) by the said Parliament one of their Generals to fight against their King, an. 1642, in which year, and after, he performed, in the opinion of those of his perswasion, many notable exploits, yet not without great violation and injury to the Church, and its orthodox members, and therefore flatter’d and cajoul’d by the Parliament with several sums of money; part of which, was given, as a largess, to his soldiers, the more to encourage them in their service. About that time, that he might shew his zeal for the beloved cause, he took the Covenant twice in the H. of Commons, meerly to put forward some that had not taken it before, and was not wanting on all occasions to promote and carry on the War. But being soon after very unfortunate by loosing two Armies in the service of the said Parliament, caused a diminution of his former fame, which was raised up near to a competition or emulation with Robert Earl of Essex the Captain General. In Jan. 1646 when Winchester Castle was disgarrison’d, it was given to him as part of a reward for his former service, but the next year shewing himself active among the Presbyterians in the H. of Commons against the designs of the Independents, was one of the eleven members impeached by the Army of high treason. Whereupon absconding for a time, returned and took his place, but in the very next year (1648) he was with forty more members turned out of the House by the Army on the 6. of December, and on the 11. of Jan. following, he was committed Prisoner to S. James’s house, and afterwards to Windsore and Denbigh Castles, and to the Tower of London during the raign of Oliver, as many of his brethren the Presbyterians were, least he, and they should carry on plots for the bringing in of the King, or at least cross the designs of the said Oliver. So that all that time being esteemed by the generality of Royalists an honest man, and a Patriot of his Country, was committed to custody upon suspicion of being engaged in Sir George Booth’s Insurrection, in Aug. 1659, where continuing till the beginning of Nov. following, gave then Bail for his farther appearance. What he got by his sufferings at the Kings restauration, an. 1660, I know not; sure I am he was no looser. Under this Persons name were printed these things following.

Letter to Robert Earl of Essex General of the Parliament forces concerning a great victory obtained by him at Malmsbury in Wilts. dated 23. March 1642. Lond. 1643. Mar. 28. in one sh. in qu. Tho this victory was very inconsiderable, scarce worthy to be taken notice of, yet to encourage the party, it was made a very bloody matter.

Full relation of the late proceedings, victory and good success obtained by the Parl. Forces under his conduct at the taking of the Town and Castle of Arundell in Sussex, Dec. 20. and Jan. 6. an. 1643—Sent to Will. Lenthall Speaker of the H. of Com. and printed in one sh. in qu.

Narration of a great victory obtained by the Parl. forces under his conduct at Alton in Surrey 13. Dec. 1643. Lond. 1643. in 1. sh. in qu.

Letter of a great victory obtained against Col. Sir James Long High Sherriff of Wilts. at the Devises, Lond. 1644. in 1. sh. in qu. or more. It is dated 13. Mar. 1644. concerning these his victories, tho little, or inconsiderable, yet they were highly cried up by the Godly Brethren. See more in a book very partially written by a grand Presbyterian named Josiah Ricraft a Merchant of London, entit. A survey of Englands Champions, and truths faithful Patriots. Or a Chronological recitement of the principal proceedings of the most prosperous Armies raised for the preservation of Religion, the Kings Majesties Person, the priviledges of Parliament, and the liberty of the Subject, &c. with a most exact narration of the several victories, &c. with the lively portraitures of the several commanders. Lond. 1647. oct with the authors picture before it.

Divine meditations upon several occasions; with a dayly directory. Lond. 1680. oct. They were written in his retirement from business and publick employ, and hath set before them his picture engraven to the life. He hath also written,

Vindication for his taking up Arms against the King—This he left behind him in MS, but whether publish’d I cannot tell. In 1680. was published in one sh. in folio, Sir Will. Waller his vindication by a friend that understood his life and conversation.

Military discourse of the ordering of Soldiers—This he also left behind him in MS. but whether printed I know not. He departed this mortal life in his house at Osterley Park in Middlesex on the ninth day of Sept. in sixteen hundred sixty and eight,1668. and was buried in the new Chappel near the Chancel, in the Abbey Church of S. Peter in Westminster: Whose funeral, as to honour, being then falsly managed by an Herald Painter, without the advice of any of the Officers of the Coll. of Arms, his atchievment, helmet with a false crest, banners, &c. which were hung over his grave by the said Painter, were soon after plucked down by the aforemention’d Officers, and thrown aside as false things. He left behind him a Son of both his names, sometimes a Gent. Com. of Wadh. Coll, afterwards a Knight, and Justice of Peace for the County of Middlesex, &c.