Not many moneths before his death (being at the assises or sessions at Hereford) a massive countrey fellowe trod on his toe, which caused a gangrene which was the cause of his death. One Mr. Dighton[CXXXIV.] of Glocester (an experienced chirurgian who had formerly been chirurgian in the warres in Ireland) was sent for to cure him; but his skill and care could not save him. His toes were first cutt-off. The minister of his parish had a clubbe-foote or feete (I think his name was Hugh). Said he, 'Sir Hugh'—after his toes were cutt off—'I must be acquainted with your shoemaker.'
[CXXXIV.] Mr. Dighton would oftentimes say that he generally observ'd in the Irish warres that those men that went to their wenches the day before the battayle either did dye upon the spott or came under his handes. Digitus Dei!
Sir Robert Pye, attorney of the court of wardes, was his neighbour, but there was no great goodwill between them—Sir Robert was haughty. He happened to dye on Christmas day: the newes being brought to the serjeant, said he 'The devill haz a Christmas pye.'
He was a very strong man, and valiant, and an early riser in the morning (scil., at four in the morning). He was black-eyed and had black hayre.
He lies buried under an altar monument on the north side of the choire of Dowr abbey in Herefordshire.
(In this abbey church of Dowre are two frustum's or remaynders of mayled and crosse-legged monuments, one sayd to be of a lord Chandois, th' other, the lord of Ewyas-lacy. A little before I sawe them a mower had taken one of the armes to whett his syth.)
On his monument is this inscription:—
Hoc tegitur tumulo totus quem non tegit orbis,
Hoskinus, humani prodigium ingenii,
Usque adeo excoluit duo pugnacissima rerum
Et quae non subeunt numina[1748] pectus idem,
Pieridum Legumque potens, jucundus honesto
Mixtus, Liticulans Musa, forense melos,
Orando causas pariter pariterque canendo,
Captavit merito clarus utrumque sophos.
Sic dum jura tenens Solymorum et gentis Idumae,
Narratur cytharâ percrepuisse David;
[1749]Talem Thebanas[1750] struxisse Amphiona turres,
Sic indefessa personuisse chely,
Sic populos traxisse truces et agrestibus antris
Exutos homines consociasse lyrâ;
Sic magni pectus divinum arsisse Platonis,
Tum, cum deplorans Astera, jura daret;
Talem credibile est vixisse Solona poëtam
Et queiscunque datum est et sapere et furere[1751].
Sed tu, magne, peris, dum lis certatur utrinque,
Te Astraea suum vultque Thalia suum.
Haec habitat coelis, sed et haec terrestribus oris,
Ipse tui judex poneris ante Deos;
Scilicet in partes se dividit Hoskinus ambo,
Haec coelo potitur particula, illa solo.
{ Canoro cineri jurisprudentissimi
{ Parentis pii, memoriae ergo,
Obiit Aug. 27 { hunc posuit cippum conscriptum marmoreum
1638 { flens Benettus, sequiturque Patrem
{ non passibus aequis.