Roger Williams

Son of Tho. Williams of Penrose in Monmouthshire, by Elianour his Wife, daughter of Sir Will. Vaughan Knight, was born in that County, of a Family rather ancient than wealthy, and being from his childhood more given to Military, than Scholastical, matters; yet for form sake he was sent to the University; but to what house therein, unless to Brasenose, whereof one of both his Names, and a Welsh-man, was a Student in 1554. (2. of Q. Mary) I know not. Soon after he left Oxon, became a Souldier of Fortune under the Duke of Alva, ran through all the degrees of Military Offices, was a Colonel in the French and Belgick Wars, and might have been sided with the best of those times, if his discretion could have but well tempered his hot furious valour, which was the reason that Q. Elizabeth would not commit any place, or Employment, of great trust to his care. In 1586. he had the Honour of Knighthood conferr’d upon him, was then beloved of all Souldiers, and so much noted for his martial prowess, that he went beyond the commendation of Panegyrick, which was specified in the said year, when at midnight he assaulted the Camp of the Prince of Parma near Venlow, slew some of the Enemies, and pierced the Tent of the General, as a noted (t)(t) Camden in Annal. Reg. Eliz. sub an. 1586. vide etiam sub an. 1581. author tells us. He hath written,

The Actions of the Low Countries.—Printed at Lond. in time of Q. Eliz. as it seems, and 1618. qu. The author being unlearned, and only tutored by experience, hath penn’d the said History with very exquisite judgment, he being an actor in the said Actions or Wars.

A brief discourse of War, with his opinion concerning some part of martial discipline. Lond. 1590. qu. In this excellent book the author defends the military art of his, against that of former, days; but to the great envy then, and discontent of some old-beaten Souldiers, and the Lovers of Archery. He paid his last debt to Nature in his House in the Parish of St. Benedict, near to Pauls Wharf in London, in the month of Decemb. in fifteen hundred ninety and five, 1595 and was buried on the 23. of the same month, by the care of Tho. Powell of Vsk in Monmouthshire, and Gellie Merick of the Parish of St. Clements without Temple-Bar, Gent. (his Kinsmen) within the Cath. Ch. of St. Paul; at whose Funeral Rob. Earl of Essex, and all the warlike men of the City of London mourned. Whether any Epitaph was ever set over his grave, I know not: Sure it is that one (u)(u) [•] o. Stradlingus in lib. 1. Epigram. p. 31. who knew him, hath commended to Posterity a learned Epigram on him, the beginning of which is,

Quid tumulum lachrymis violas, & murmure vexas

Fortissimi manes Ducis? &c.

You may be pleased to satisfie your self concerning this valiant Colonel, in a Book intit. A true discourse historical of the succeeding Governors of the Netherlands, and the Civil Ware there began in the year 1565. &c. Translated and collected by Tho. Churchyard Esq; and Rich. Ro. out of the reverend E. M. of Antwerp his 15 books of his Historia Belgica, &c. Lond. 1602. I find another Rog. Williams later in time than the former, an inhabitant of Providence in New England, and author of (1) A Key to the Language of New England. Lond. 1643. oct. (2) The hireling Ministry none of Christ: or, a discourse of the propagation of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Lond. 1652. qu. &c. But of what University the said Williams was, if of any, I know not; or whether a real Phanatick or Jesuit.