Sir William Platers.
[694]Sir William Plater[695], knight, was a Cambridgeshire gentleman at.... He had a good estate (about 3000 li. per annum). He was a very well bred gentleman, as most was of those times; had travelled France, Italie, etc., and understood well those languages. He was one of the Long Parliament in the time of the late warres.
He was a great admirer and lover of handsome woemen, and kept severall. Henry Martyn and he were great cronies, but one time (about 1644) there was some difference between them—Sir William had gott away one of Henry's girles, and Sir John Berkinhead inserted in his Mercurius Aulicus how the saintes fell out. He was temperate and thriftie as to all other things.
He had onely one sonne, who was handsome and ingeniose, and whome he cultivated with all imaginable care and education[696].... He allowed his son liberally but enjoyned him still temperance, and to sett downe his expences[697]....
The father was a good linguist and a good antiquary. This beloved sonne of his dyeing ..., shortned his father's dayes. He built the triumphall-like arch wheron the king's armes is in the partition between church and chancell at St. Margaret's Westminster, under which he lies buried. The following inscription is on the arch[AS], viz....
[698]Sir William Platers[AT], knight and baronet; about 5000 li. per annum. His sonne very ingeniose, and made a very good returne of his education. He was a colonel in the king's army and was killed in his service, which his father tooke so to heart that he enjoyed not himselfe afterwards.
Henry Martyn, his crony, invited him to a treat, where Sir William fell in love with one of his misses and slockst her away—which Sir J<ohn> B<irkenhead> putt in the Mercurius Aulicus.
In St. Margaret's Westminster he erected a monument against the south wall for Mr. James Palmer[AU], B.D., sequestred minister of St. Bride's London. He (Mr Palmer) was a very pious good man, and a benefactor to his native parish here, where he built an almes-howse; obiit 1659; and this monument was erected at the sole chardge of Sir William Platers, knight and baronet—sett downe so there.
Notes.
[AS] Aubrey notes the inscription in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 29:—'St. Margaret's Westminster.