[BI] This Collection was incorporated with the Bodleian in 1884: Macray's Annals of the Bodleian, p. 329. Stephen Peter Rigaud (Savilian Professor of Geometry 1810-1827, and of Astronomy 1827-1839) had, in his time, thoroughly examined it, and found many books missing.
Sylvanus Scory (15— -1617).
[936]Sylvanus Scory (quaere if he was not knighted?) was the son and heire of <John> Scory, bishop of Hereford.
His father, John Skory, in the raigne of King Edward the Sixt, was bishop of Rochester, and translated from thence to Chichester, and afterwards to Hereford; 'who departed this life, at his house, at Whitburn, in com. Hereff., 26 Junii, Anno Domini 1585'—this out of an epitaph on his wife Elizabeth, who hath an inscription in St. Leonard's Shoreditch church.
He was a very handsome gentleman, and had an excellent witt, and his father gave him the best education, both at home and beyond the seas, that that age would afford, and loved him so dearly that he fleeced the church of Hereford to leave him a good estate, and he did let such long, and so many, leases, that, as Mris Masters (daughter of Herbert Westphaling, esq., eldest son and heir to bishop Westphaling, of Hereford) told me, they were not out till about these 60 yeares. To my best remembrance, she told me the estate left him was 1500 li. per annum, which he reduced to nothing (alloweing himselfe the libertie to enjoy all the pleasures of this world), and left his sonne so poor, that when he came among gentlemen, they would fancy a crowne or ten shillings[937] for him.
I have heard Sir John Denham say (at Chalke, 1652), that he haz been well enformed that he was the most accomplished gentleman of his time. 'Tis a good testimoniall of his worth, that Mr. Benjamin Johnson (who ever scorned an unworthy patrone) dedicated his ... to him. I have heard Sir John Denham also say that he was the greatest confident and intimate favorite of Monsieur of France (brother to the French king), who was a suitor to queen Elizabeth, and whom her majestie entirely loved (and as a signall of it one time at St. Paule's church, London, openly kissed him in time of divine service) and would have had him for her husband, but only for reasons of state. When her majestie dismissed him, 'twas donne with all passion and respecte imaginable. She gave him royall presents; he was attended to Dover by the flower of the court; among others, by this sparke of whom I now write. When Monsieur tooke his leave of him he told him that though 'twas so that her majestie could not marie him (as aforesayd), yet he knew that she so much loved him that she would not deny him any request, wherby he might honour and benefit a friend; and accordingly writes his love-letter to his mistresse, the queen of England, and in it only begges that single bôn[938], to looke upon Mr. Scorie (the bearer) with a particular and extraordinary grace, for his sake; delivered[939] him the letter (and as I take it, gave him a jewell). As Sylvanus returned to London, through Canterbury, the mayer there (a shoemaker), a pragmaticall fellow, examined him, who and whence, etc. and what his business was, and if he had a passe? 'Yes,' quod he, 'I have a passe,' and produces Monsieur's letter, superscribed to her majestie, which, one would have thought, had been enough to have shewen. The mayor presently[940] breakes open the love-letter, and reades it. I know not how, this action happened to take wind, and 'twas brought to court, and became so ridicule that Sylvanus Scory was so laughed at and jeer'd that he never delivered the letter to the queen, which had been the easiest and most honourable step to preferment that mortall man could have desired.
John Securis.
[941]I have heard my old great-uncle, Mr. Thomas Browne, say that when he was a school boy there was one Dr. Securis a noted physitian at Salisbury (who was contemporary with this Dr. Mouffett[942]). He writt Almanacks—I have only seen two, which Henry Coley haz, which were for the yeares of our Lord 15[81[943]].