Sir William Neale (1610-1690/1).
[392]Sir William Neale, knight, skowt-master generall to king Charles the first, died on the 24th of March last 1690/1, in Grayes Inne lane, being 81 yeares old. He was buried, according to his desire, in Convent-garden church, and lies at the west dore, first by the christning pew. When he died, he was the oldest field-officer of king Charles the first.
He was not lesse than 6 foot high: very beautifull in youth—I remember him: and of great courage, but a great plunderer and cruell.
He lived in towne ever since the Plott, and that worthy generous gentleman Edmund Wyld, esq., was much supporting to him. His mother and Sir William were cosens german. But for these 5 yeares last past his gowtes etc. emaciated him extremely; so that he did often put me in mind of that of Ovid. Metamorph. <XV. 229>,
Fletque Milo senior cum spectat inanes
Illos, qui fuerant solidorum more tororum
Herculeis similes, fluidos pendere lacertos.
He died poenitent.
He was the grandsonne of ... Neale, esq., of Wollaston near Northampton, who maried one of Sir Edmund Conquest's sisters, of Houghton-Conquest, Bedfordshire. Sir Francis Clarke of Houghton-Conquest aforesaid (father of Mr. Edmund Wyld's mother, a daughter and heir) maried another sister of Sir Edmund Conquest.
Sir William maried major-generall Egerton's sister, by whom he had issue William, a lusty stout fellow, of the guards, who died about the abdication, and two daughters.