Sir Henry Spelman (1562-1641).
[983]Sir Henry Spelman, knight, borne at ... (quaere Henry Spelman, his grandson).
From Mr. Justice Ball[984] at Windsore:—when he was about 10 or 12 he went to schoole to a curs't schoolmaster, to whom he had an antipathie. His master would discountenance him, and was very severe to him, and to a dull boy he would say as very a dunce as H. Spelman. He was a boy of great spirit, and would not learne there. He was (upon his importunity) sent <to> another schoolmaster, and profited very well. I have heard his grandson say, that the Spelmans' witts open late.
He was much perplexed with lawe-suites and worldly troubles, so that he was about 40 before he could settle himselfe to make any great progresse in learning, which when he did, we find what great monuments of antiquarian knowledge he has left to the world. W. Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, had a great esteeme for him, and made him one of the ... of the High Commission Court; yet (he being one that was extreme rigid as to the licensing of bookes, and against any nouvelle) hindred the printing of the 2d part of his Glossary, which began at M, where there were three M's that scandalized the Archbishop, viz.—Magna Charta; Magnum Consilium Regis; and....
From George Lee:—he was a handsome gentleman (as appeares by his picture in Bibliotheca Cottoniana), strong and valiant, and wore allwayes his sword, till he was about 70 or +, when, finding his legges to faulter through feeblenes as he was walking, 'Now,' said he, ''tis time to leave off my sword.'
When his daughter-in-lawe (Sir John's wife) returned home from visitting her neighbours, he would alwaies aske her what of antiquity she had heard or observed, and if she brought home no such account, he would chide her (jestingly).
He lies buried in the south crosse-aisle of Westminster abbey, at the foot of the pillar opposite to Mr. Camden's monument, but without any word of inscription or monument hitherto (1680).[985]I very well remember his penon that hung-up there, but it was either taken downe or fell downe when the scaffolds were putt up at the coronation of his majestie king Charles II.
Sir William Dugdale knew Sir Henry Spelman, and sayes he was as tall as his grandson, Harry Spelman. He haz been told that Sir Henry did not understand Latin perfectly till he was fourty years old. He said to Sir William, 'We are beholding to Mr. Speed and Stowe for stitching up for us our English History.' It seemes they were both taylers—quod N.B.