James Whitlock

, was born in London 28. Nov. 1570. descended from those of his name living near to Olyngham in Berkshire, educated in Merchant Taylors School, elected Scholar of S. Johns coll. in 1588. took one degree in the Civil Law, setled in the Middle Temple, became summer Reader of that House, 17 Jac. 1. a Knight, chief Justice of Chester and at length one of the Justices of the Common Picas, as in his Epitaph ’tis said, tho in his his last Will, of the Kings Bench. He had the Latin tongue so perfect, that sitting Judge of Assize at Oxon, when some Foreigners (persons of quality) purposely came into the Court to see the manner of proceedings in matters of Justice, he briefly repeated the heads of his charge to the Grand Jury in good and elegant Latin, and thereby informed the Strangers and Scholars there present, of the ability of the Judges, and the course of proceeding in matter of Law and Justice. He understood the Greek very well and the Hebrew, was vers’d in the Jewish Histories, and excellently knowing in the Histories of his own Country, and in the Pedigrees of most persons of honour and quality in England, and much conversant also in the study of Antiquity and Heraldry. He was not by any exceeded in the knowledge of his own profession of the Common Law of England, wherein, his knowledge of the Civil Law was a help to him, as his learned arguments both at the Bar and Bench have confirm’d it for a truth. His works are these.

Reading in the Middle Temple hall.—In which was so much solid Law and excellent learning express’d, that copies were desired, and taken of it, but whether printed I cannot tell.

Several Speeches in Parliament.—One of which is extant in a book intit. The Soveraign’s Prerogative and the Subjects Privileges discussed, &c. in the 3. and 4. of K. Ch. 1. Lond. 1657. fol.

Of the antiquity, use, and ceremony of lawful Combats in England.—MS. The beginning of which is, Combats are distinguished to be lawful and unlawful, &c. This MS. which I saw and perused in the choice Library of MSS. of Ralph Sheldon of Beoly Esq had the name of James Whitlock set and subscrib’d to it, and so consequently I took him to be the author; who dying on the 22. of June in sixteen hundred thirty and two,1632. the King did lose as good a Subject, his Country as good a Patriot, the People as just a Judge, as ever lived, &c. as his Son Bulstrode Whitlock tells (*)(*) In his Memorials of Engl. affairs, under the year 1632. p. 17. us, His body was afterward buried at Falley or Fawley not far from Great Wycomb in Bucks; over which, his Son before-mentioned, not only erected a stately monument, but also a Chappel, which serves for a burial place for those descended from him.