THE city of Litchfield has given in this I6th[sic S. U.] century two Heralds to the College of
Arms, viz. Elias Ashmole, Windsor Herald, born the 23d of May, I617, and
Gregory King, Lancaster Herald, born the I5th of Dec, I648; not to mention that
the father of Mr. Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms, was also born in this citty.

  Mr. King was the eldest son of his father Gregory King, by Elizabeth his first wife,
daughter of Mr. J. Andrews of Sandwich, whom he married in Kent 20 Jan. preceding
the birth of their first born. The father was born at Leicester, where his ancestors
had lived for some generations, and where some of the family yet remain. He was the
son of J. King, who having only two sons, Gregory and Thomas, dyed when Gregory
the eldest was only seven years of age. However, he left him a fair house, garden, and
orchard, without the Northgate of that ancient borough, which he sould anno I648,
a little before the birth of this Gregory the Herald.--

  Gregory the father being a good grammer scholar had applyed himself much to the
mathematicks, particularly navigation, gunnery, surveying of land and dyalling, which
two last parts he exercised chiefly for a livelyhood, at other times teaching to write and
cast accounts, and being sometimes employed in designing of the more curious gardens.
By these and other such like mathematical and ingenuous employments he maintained
his family, though not in that post as qualifications would have easily enabled him to
have done, had he not been addicted to company-keeping and to that vice which to
make it a vertue they call good fellowship. So that the care of the family lay wholly
upon

[end of page xxv and start of page xxvi]

upon his wife, whose character would have equalled that of the best matrons, if her con-
dition had been less obscure.

  The inclinations of the father to learning led him to the care of breeding up is sons,
but particularly this his eldes son the Herald, to some tolerable degree of literature, in
order whereunto he was packt away to school at two years of age; at three years old he
read the Psalter, and at four the Bible very distinctly; though not being very forward
of his tongue, he could not then pronounce plain many words. In this year a palsey or
parylitique distemper seized him, which held him half a year so violently, that by the
forcible shaking of his head and hands he was not able to see to read; it drew his neck
awry, and diminished his height full half an inch, and was so severe upon him that his
father often prayed that God would take him out of this life, fearing a perpetual de-
formity. But he recovered it, and at five years and a half old was sent to the Free-
School to learn his Accidence. He had not been above half a year with the usher or
undermaster, before he was removed by the head-master (at that time, and indeed all
the time of Mr. King's going to school) Mr. T. Bevans, who afterwards went to Kid-
derminster in Worcestershire. He it was, that removed him unto the head-schoole,
and took a particular care to shew him more than ordinarily, and shewed him some dis-
tinguishing kindnesses--this he seemed to be induced to, not only brecause he found him
very forward in respect to his age and very inclineable to his booke, (he never playing
the truant all the time of his schooling) but being very little of stature for his age,
partly by reason of his fore mentioned sickness, and partly from the stature of his mo-
ther, (for his father was of a just stature) his schoolmaster respected him a little won-
der, and endevaoured to render him yet more agreeable by pushing him on faster than
those of the same class.

  The Grammar and Sententiæ Pueriles were the entertainment of his sixth year, and
being arrived at his seventh year his father taught him to write, keeping him at home
a month or six weeks, least he might carry to school the infection of the small-pox,
which his younger brother Thomas then five years old laboured under. His own dan-
ger of that distemper was over, he having had them at three quarters of a year old, at
such time as his mother was severely visited by them, she being blind nine days with
them, before which time she passed for a very prettie if not a beautiful a woman--but his
father never had them to his dying day.
Cordery

[end of page xxvi and start of page xxvii]

  Cordery, and Erasmus, Cato, and Ovid de Tristibus, spent the seventh and eighth
years of his age, accompanied still with some portions of the Latin Grammar. Ovid's
Metam. Virgil, and some other books he learnt in his ninth year, in which his school-
master out of a particular fancy taught him to read Hebrew, and he being still very
small for his age, his master would appoint now and then some gentlemen of the town
to come to school in the evening after five of the clock when the other scholars were
gone home, to hear our little spark read in a great Hebrew Bible almost as big as him-
self. And the next year those of his form being among their exercises to bring out of
the Nomenclature a certain number of English, Latin, and Greek words, his master
obliged him to repeat also the Hebrew words ex abundanii, furnishing him with them
in a paper book expressly for that purpose.

  In his tenth year he entered into the Greek Grammar, and learnt books of themes
and declamations, and the schoolmaster obliging his scholars to take notes of the ser-
mons in Church on Sunday, and to repeat them on Monday evenings, and turn them
into Latin against Tuesday morning, this our Herald (being put upon it by his father)
took those sermon notes originally in Latin from the Minister's English, which he the
schoolmaster understanding, commended him for it, and obliged all the rest of that
form or class, which was then the uppermost but one, to do the like.

  About this time also it was, that he obtained leave that those declamations, which
the head forms had made at their breaking up school at Christmas before the magistrates
of the city, might be writ[sic S. U.] in a long roll handsomely paynted and adorned, and hung
up behind them during the repeating thereof, and afterward presented to the magistrates,
which from that time became a custome, and was a prettie advantage to our Herald,
partly by the gratuity received for his own, which used to be the finest of all the rest,
and partly by what he got for writing and embellishing those of the other scholars.

  In his eleventh and twelfth year he learnt Rhetoricke and Isocrates, accompanied
still with his Grammar, and themes, and some other Greek books, and had the faovour
of his master to be dispatched sooner than ordinary, that he might have the liberty of
attending some scholars of his own, which he then taught to write and cast accounts,
the benefit whereof served to buy him books and other conveniencies.
Being

[end of page xxvii and start of page xxviii]

  Being in his thirteenth year he read Hesiod and Homer--he made Greek verses with
great readiness; he undertook to survey land by himself, when his father was otherwise
engaged; and he acted the fool's part by the name of Ropeny in the pastoral comedie
of Amyntas, at the Free-School; which being publickly repeated two days, before the
magistrates and gentry of the town and others, he gained very much applause thereby,
and had money given him by divers of his friends.

  He continued the fore mentioned books in his I4th year current, and learnt the He-
brew Grammar: in which year Mr. Dugdale, then Norroy King of Arms, desiring his
good friend Dr. Hunter of Litchfield to enquire him out a clerk, the Doctor having
taken particular notice of our Herald's acting in the play, recommended him to Mr.
Dugdale as a clerk, which his parents readily enough consented to having at that time
five more children to provide for, though in truth our Herald for the last two years had
been very little charge to them, and the Rev. Bishop of Litchfield, Dr. Hacket, had
designed in four or five months more to have sent him to the University. But this hap-
pening in the interim, he was sent over to Mr. Dugdale the latter end of December,
I662, being then only I4 years complete and fortnight over, and this was the first
step to his future advancement in the College of Arms.

  But it is to be remembered, that as our herald was wonderfully forwarded by his fa-
ther in learning, who taught him near as much at home as he learned at school till he
was I0 or II[11 S. U.] years of age, so on the other side his being frequently abroad with his fa-
ther in measuring land from twelve to I4 years old, he did not make that progress in
school learning in those two years, as he might otherwise have done. However, the
knowledge he had gained in the mathematics did very well recompense it, and hath
been of good advantage to him in the further course of his affairs. With these qualifi-
catoins, and an inclination to drawing, (for he drew the King's Arms in one of his
school books at eight years old) he went out into the world under the tutelage of that
great antiquary and indefatigable writer W. Dugdale, Esq. at first Blanc-Lion, after-
ward Rouge-Croix Pursuivant, and Chester Herald before the civil war, and de-
servedly made Norroy King of Arms upon the restoration of King Charles II. Mr.
Dugdale had the summer before begun the visitation of his province with the counties
of Notts and Derby, and in the summer I663 made a review thereof and visited Staf-
fordshire, taking with him this little clerk, for he was not able of two or three years
after

[end of page xxviii and start of page xxix]

after to mount a horse from the ground. As the inclinations of his clerk led him to
drawing, so that he made that proficiency therein, that Mr. Dugdale contented him-
self with his tricking the arms into his visitation of Staffordshire that now remains in
the office. 'Tis true it is but too meanly done for the publick office, being very short
of the tricking which this clerk performed in the subsequent visitations.

  He also applied himself to the French tongue, and to pedigree paynting, and within
a year or two writ[sic S. U.] and paynted several for Mr. Dugdale, particularly a large one of
Claverin of Northumberland, and after a while paynted and engrossed the several
grants of arms that were passed by the said Norroy.

  The transcribing the pedigrees, and tricking of the arms of the counties visited by
Mr. Dugdale, was the greatest part of this his clerk's employment, saving that after-
wards Mr. Norroy gave him leave to take with him into the northern counties blank
scutcheons[sic S. U.] on vellome[sic S. U], wherein to depict the arms of such as desired an attestation of
them under the King of Arms' hand--for which end he had all along before taken a
paynter with him, the charge whereof this his clkerk saved him.

  Mr. Dugdale visited his whole province between ther years I662 and I666, viz. Notts,
Derby, Stafford, Chester, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Yorkshire, Dur-
ham, and Northumberland, in many of which this his clerk took the prospects of towns,
castles, and other remarquables; his first attempt being a prospect of Lancaster in I665.
Besides these Mr. Dugdale visited also Shropshire for Sir Edward Bysshe, Clarenceux,
anno I664, and in all these counties our Herald had the advantage to accompany him,
which rendered him so much the fitter for an Officer of Arms.

  But in the beginning of the year I667 Mr. Dugdale having finished his vistation,
had not occation to keep two clerks, as he generally had done from the year I663--
and having then for his under clerk one Henry Johnstone, since a Benedictine monk,
brother to Dr. Johnstone of Yorkshire, the learned physician and good historian and
antiquary--at the instant request of the said Doctor, that his brother might be conti-
nued with him, whether he was allowed any thing or no, Mr. Dugdale was obliged to
consent thereto, and therefore recommended our Herald to the service of Lord Hatton,
who being a great lover of antiquities, and a great patron of Mr. Dugdale during the
civil

[end of page xxix and start of page xxx]

civil war, was at this time designing a collection of grants, and the arms, quarterings,
and supporters of the Nobility, in which this our Herald was employed, and in some
other collections, for the space of a year and a half, viz. from summer I667 to spring
I668-9. But the materials for those collections not being so easie to be procured as
was expected, the design fell, and our Herald was dismissed, with great promises of
what kindness lay in his Lordship's power to do him.

  Hereupon he went to Litchfield to visit his father in spring I689, whom he expected
to have found a widower, having buried his wife, the mother of our Herald, in April
the year before; but he found him re-married to Margaret Place, of Yorkshire, ever
since 2 Feb. I668-9. Here he continued 'till the spring following, teaching to write
and cast accounts, and employing himself in paynting coaches, signes, and other sorts
of oyl payntings, as hatchments, &c. and in instructing the registrar to the Dean and
Chapter, and some other inquisitous persons, to read records, &c.

  Hence he was invited by Mr. Chetwynd, of Injestry, that great ornament of his
country for all sorts of curious learning, to peruse and transcribe the deeds of his fa-
mily relating to his genealogy, which he did in a fair velome[sic S. U.] book, tricking also therein
the most considerable seals, being now 2I years of age.

  From hence, about the latter end of the year, he was desired by the Lady Dowager
Gerard, of Gerard's Bromley, relict of Charles and motehr of Digby Lord Gerard, to
be her steward, auditor, and secretary, in the room of one Mr. Chaunce, an ingenious
gentleman, deceased, who having kept his accounts, and other matters of moment, in
characters, gave our Herald the trouble of decyphering them, which in a short time he
did with great dexterity. Here he continued, viz. at Sandon, in the county of Stafford,
the seat of George Digby, Esq. then living, father to the aforesaid Lady Gerard, till
August I672, having in the interim done many things for that Lady in paynting,
drawing &c.

  From hence he removed to London, where he renewed his acquaintance with Mr.
Lee, Chester Herald, Mr. Sandford, Rouge Dragon, and others of his office, after
having first wayted upon his old master, Mr. Dugdale, and having amongst others vi-
sited Mr. Hollar, the eminent gentleman, in his way, for etching, who recommended
him

[end of page xxx and start of page xxxi]

him to Mr. Ogilvy to manage his undertakings. Mr. Ogilby[sic S. U.] having the King's licence
to print all things of his own composing or translating, kept a presse in his house, and
under the name of Leybourne, or some other master-printer, did also print any other
works, and was at that time printing Sir Peter Leicester's Antiquities of Chester,
wherein some old seals being to be engraved, Mr. King made his first attempt in etch-
ing upon them, and performed them to satisfaction.--After which Mr. Dugdale re-
printing his folio Esop in 8vo. and reducing at the sculpts to that volume, Mr. King
etched several of them, as he did some of the sculpts in the History of Asia, V. I.
which was then printing at Mr. Ogilvy's, being a translation from De Meurs's impres-
sion at Amsterdam; Africa, America, the two Chinas, and Japan, being printed
before.

  Mr. Ogilvy having projected a new Brittannia, designed the same in three volumes,
whereof one to treat of the roads of England, another of the rivers and the most re-
marquable things near them, and the third of towns. He had made some beginning in
the measuring of the roads, and was just engraving the counties of Middlesex and Kent;
he had engaged a gentleman, one Mr. Falgate, of Essex, to survey his native county.
Mr. King travailed along with him, assisted him therein, and collected divers notes out
of Churches and other matters of record, in order to the historical account; and in the
middle of the winter I672, in very severe cold weather, they took the inchnography of
Ipswich in Suffolk, and Malden in Essex, which were afterward very curiously fi-
nished, and sent to those two places.

  At Mr. King's coming to Mr. Ogilvy's he found Mr. Leybourne just newly engaged
in making a map of London, and viewing the first essay of that survey he found it was
projected at a scale of 50 feet to an inch, and yet particularised nothing but only the
streets, lanes, &c. Whereupon Mr. King formed a new project of that survey at I00
feet per inch, and expressed the groundplot of every individual house and garden, fi-
nished two plates of 20 himself, and ordered the carrying on of the rest of the work,
which was finished accordingly, and etched in copper by Mr. Hollar.

  To carry on these designs of Mr. Ogilvy great sums of money were requisite, where-
upon Mr. Ogilvy projected a lottery of books, principally those of his own printing and
publishing, which Mr. King contrived, and assisted at the management thereof. He
also

[end of page xxxi and start of page xxxii]

also framed for Mr. Ogilvy a lesser lottery of books for Bristol fair at St. James's tide,
I673, which turned to a good advantage, Mr. King managing it there.

  All this while many surveyors were employed by Mr. Ogilvy, by King's direc-
tion, to measure the principal roads of the kingdome, and they being directed to col-
lect principal notes as they passed along, Mr. King alone digested the notes, and directed
the engraving of the plates, and engraved three or four of them with his own hand, be-
ing his first attempt at handling the graver. Mr. Ogilvy was very sensible of Mr.
King's great assistance to him, and was very kind to him on all occasions, allowing him
a musicke master ro[sic, to. S. U.] teach him to play on the violin, and offering to renew the patent
of his place of cosmographer to the King, and to put Mr. King in jointly or in rever-
sion; but Mr. King declined that proposition.

  Whereupon Mr. Ogilvy proposed to Mr. King to undertake wholly, on his account,
the survey of Westminster, &c. on the same scale as London, viz. I00 feet to an inch,
which Mr. King accepted, and taking to his assistance the aforementioned Mr. Falgate,
compleated the same in about a twelvemonth's[sic S. U.] time; this being undertaken in spring
I674, occasioned Mr. King to take a lodging in or near middle of the said work,
and having seen several he at last fixed on one in James-street, Covent-Garden, at one
Mrs. Anne Powel's, a maiden gentlewoman, whom after three months he married,
scilicet 20 July I674, in the 26th year of his age, a person of a gentleman's family in
Gloucestershire, being the daughter of Mr. J. Powel of Tirley, in the parish of Forth-
ampton, on the further side of the Severn, descended from the Powels of Denbigshire.

  The survey of Westminster being finished, Mr. King betook himself to engraving
principally the letter-work in maps, and performed many things of that kind, as Mr.
Holam's great 20 sheet map of England, his little and sheet map of England, and a
single sheet map of Barbadoes, with divers other single sheet maps, besides Mr. Mor-
gan's map of London, and many other things of other natures, as the geographical
cards published by Mr. Broome the bookseller, but composed by Sir Peter Wyche,
which was the parent of all the cards of that kind.

  He also now and then was employed in surveying, particularly Soho Fields, whose
streets and square all projected by him, and most of the first articles for building
thereof,

[end of page xxxii and start of page xxxiii]

thereof, drawn up by him also.--But though he principally employed his time in en-
graving from I675 to I680, yet it must be remembered, that Mr. Sandford, Rouge-
Dragon Pursuivant, and afterward Lancaster Herald, being at the time of his being
made Lancaster (scilicet I685) engaged in the printing of his genealogical history, and
shortly after being visited with sickness, desired Mr. King to proceed in the compiling of
the said historical part, and to prepare copy for the press, it being then about the fourth
book, which Mr. King did accordingly 'till such time as Mr. Sandford's health per-
mitted him to go on with it himself.

  Mr. Sandford was then at his lodgings in the Herald's Office, which being upon the
same floor with those of Mr. Lee, Chester Herald, was the occasion of Mr. King's re-
newing his acquaintance with Mr. Lee, who also employed him in many little things,
and recommended him to Mr. Andrew Hay, secretary to Henry Earl of Norwich, then
Earl Marshal (Thomas Duke of Norfolk, the lunatic, being then living) Mr. King
was often made use of by Mr. Hay in many things relating to the affairs of the Earl
Marshal's office, all which Mr. Lee designed expressly as a step to introduce Mr. King
into the Herald's Office.

  Mr. Lee also put Mr. King upon paynting of funeral scutcheons, and to that end put
into his hands the funeral work for Sir Edward Sawyer, father to Mr. Robert Sawyer,
which was in the year I676, which Mr. King, being then removed from his house in
the middle of James-street, Covent-Garden to the corner house of the long piazza,
next the said street, performed accordingly at home, with his own hands, being his first
undertaking of that kind.

  Mr. Lee had at this time a great animosity to Sir Edward Walker, Garter, by rea-
son he opposed or disputed in many things the authority of the Earl Marshal, which Mr.
Lee studied earnestly to improve and maintain. This occasioned Mr. Lee to make
use of Mr. King more intimately in relation to those disputes, and many times brought
him into the Earl Marshal's presence; but these disputes ended shortly after with Sir
Edward Walker's death, who deceased at Whitehall I6 February I676-7.

  This begat[sic S. U.] a great dispute with the King and Earl Marshal, touching the disposition
of the office of Garter, the Marshal clayming the nomination thereof as of all officers
of

[end of page xxxiii and start of page xxxiv]

of arms, while Sir William Hayward, one of the Gentlemen of the King's Privy
Chamber, and Mr. Ashmole, late Windsor Herald, (before his resignation thereof
to Mr. J. Dugdale, son to Mr. Dugdale, Norroy) sett up the King's title, each of them
for themselves--Mr. Lee defended the Earl Marshal's title by arguments in writing,
in which he all along made use of Mr. King, who attended the cabinet council there-
upon more than once. The King at last giving up the point to the Earl Marshal, his
Lordship made offer of the place to Mr. Lee, but he refused it, being very ill in health.
Whereupon the Earl Marshal asked him, how he should otherwise recompense him for
the service he had done him--he answered, if your Lordship will take care of my son,
Mr. May, (who was then Rouge Dragon Pursuivant) and of this gentlemen, mean-
ing Mr. King, (who was then in Mr. Lee's chamber with the Earl Marshal) I shall
think myself sufficiently remompensed.

  This piece of justice must be done Mr. Lee, because there were several afterwards
who presented to particularly instrumental to Mr. King's coming into the Office of
Armes, whose concurrent favour Mr. King does nevertheless very gratefully resent, but
must always own his promotion purely to Mr. Lee's friendship and favour.

  The vacancy of Garter was supplied by Mr. Dugdale, Norroy, Henry Dethick,
Rouge Croix, wad made Richmond, and Henry Ball, Rouge Rose extraordinary, was
made Rouge Croix. But before these gentlemen had passed their patents Mr. Lee de-
parted this life also, viz. on 23 April I677, whereupon the Earl Marshal gave his war-
rant the very next day to Mr. May to succeed his father in law in the place of Chester,
and the like to Mr. King to succeed Mr. May in the office of Rouge Dragon. How-
ever, if this last vacancy had not happened, Mr. Lee had taken care that Mr. King
should have been Blanch Lion Extraordinary, and a warrant was prepared for that pur-
pose. Mr. May's patent was passed the 6th of May, and Mr. King's the 7th of May,
and these officers, together with Francis Burghill, Mowbray Herald extraordinary,
were all created together at the College of Arms by the Earl of Peterborough, Deputy
Earl Marshal, the 24th of June I677.

  The fees and profits of the Officer of Arms were at this time so low, that in the first
two years after Mr. King's admittance his dividends in teh office came but to IIl.[11l. S. U.] and
the salaries not payd at all, (though a pursuivant's is but 20l.) This obliged Mr. King
still

[end of page xxxiv and start of page xxxv]

still to continue his employment of engraving and herald paynting, designing at that
time a map of Staffordshire. Not but that the business of the office did share a good
part of his time, which was generally brought to him by Sir Henry St. George, Norroy,
neither was Sir William Dugdale wanting to assist his old clerk in what lay in his power[. omitted S. U.]
To these two Mr. King was most particularly obliged, they having often occasion to
make use of him about the affairs of the office, pressed him very much to remove thi-
ther, which he did at Lady-Day I680, Sir William Dugdale accommodating him
with a chamber and some other conveniences, and Sir Henry St. George with a
kitchin.

  Sir Henry St. George was now Clarenceux, having succeeded Sir Edw. Bysshe in
that office, who died anno I678, and being under a kind of obligation to make a pro-
mise of his predecessors of giving the profits of the visitations of certain counties of his
province towards rebuilding that part of the College which was then unbuilt, Sir
Henry Sr. George accordingly assigned six counties of his province for that purpose,
viz. Northamptonshire, Rutlandshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire,
and Worcestershire. Mr. King being in a manner the only officer that understood the
method of visitations, was resolved on to be one (whoever was the other) to visit
those counties. Accordingly he and Mr. Burghill, Somerset, were deputed anno
I681, into Northamptonshire and Rutlandshire, but Mr. Somerset left him at the be-
gining of the journey, and Mr. King prosecuted it by himself. The times indeed
were not well settled, and Northamptonshire was much divided into factions, so that
the clear profit was not above 30l. and the charges about 80l.

  In the spring I682 Mr. King, with Mr. May, Chester, were deputed to vist Lei-
cestershire and Warwickshire, and to review Northamptonshire and Rutlandshire.
This brought in clear about I30l. and the latter end of the same year they were further
deputed to visit Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, and to reiew Leicestershire and
Warwickshire; which journey brought in clear 300l. But Mr. May falling ill of an
argue upon his return, which held him a long season, Mr. Dethick, Richmond, and
Mr. King, were deputed next summer to review those last four counties for the
Office, and to vist Herefordshire and Monmouthshire for Mr. Clarenceux upon his
own account, which they did, and brought clear into the office about 70l. beside what
Sir Henry St. George cleared. This, making 530l. built up the west side and south-
west

[end of page xxxv and start of page xxxvi]

west corner of the Herald's College, from Garter's staircase. 'Tis true Mr. King out
of his zeal for the publick pressed on these visitation somewhat earnestly, which Mr.
Clarenceux seemed to resent, for Mr. King easily perceived, that Mr. Clarenceux grew
cold to him from that time forward.

  About this time, scilicet upon the death of the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, who
succeeded his brother Thomas, that honor[sic S. U.] and office came to Henry Lord Mowbray,
his eldest son, commonly called Earl of Arundel in his father's time, who having taken
notice of Mr. King's qualifications constituted him registrar of the College of Arms,
in the room of Mr. Devenish, York Herald, who being nephew to Sir Thomas and
Sir Henry St. George, at that time Kings of Arms, obliged him to oppose it, alledg-
ing, that no Pursuivant was ever made registrar. But the Earl Marshal demanding,
whether he might not make a Pursuivant registrar if he pleased, and they answering yes,
Mr. King had quickly his Grace's warrant thereupon: indeed he was in fact registrar
before, being employed by his predecessor to enter most things that belong to the regis-
trars to enter. Now though Mr. Clarenceux's affection towards him seemed yet
colder and colder, yet it hindered not but that Mr. Clarenceux desired his company
along with him anno I684 into Cambridgeshire, upon his visitation of that county, and
Huntingdonshire, which Mr. King readily afforded him.

  Not long after which, scilicet the 6th of February, we were all surprized with the
sudden demise of that gracious Prince Charles II. Mr. King was found amongst those
Officers of Arms, who proclaimed his successor King James II. but it was observed,
that Mr. King's countenance was very sad, even during the solemnity, for the loss of so
good a King and master. Mr. King was likewise at the funeral of that good Prince,
and bore no small share in the management thereof, and particularly by Sir William
Dugdale's direction prepared the funeral escocheons[sic S. U.] for the same.

  That solemnity being over, King James presently entered upon the consideration of
his own and the Queen's coronation, and the Heralds being often ordered to attend the
commyttee of the councill for that affair, were directed to make ceremonials and
schemes for the proceeding thereto, which Mr. King certainly prepared, and upon King
James's declaring he would have the account of that coronation printed, Mr. Sandford
and Mr. King had the Earl Marshal's consent for the doing thereof, which they did ac-
cordingly,

[end of page xxxvi and start of page xxxvii]

cordingly, the greatest part passing through the hands of Mr. King, and indeed the
whole management and œconomy of it was purely owing to him; though he avoided
being mentioned in the title page, contenting himself with one third part of the pro-
priety therein, and leaving the honour and two thirds of the propriety to Mr. Sand-
ford--well foreseeing, that they would be maligned for it by others of their office, as
it fell out afterwards, for Mr. Sandford having opposed the Earl Marshal's appointing
Mr. Burghill to be the receiver of fees of honour for the heralds, and endeavoring to
vest it in the King, so as that the affair was brought to the councill table; the Earl Mar-
shal suspended him, at the insinuation of some of the heralds, for not having finished the
history of the coronation; but Mr. Sandford submitting himself to the Earl Marshal, the
suspension was soon taken off.

  This book answered not the advantage that Mr. Sandford and Mr. King proposed,
for the sculps[sic S. U.] being many and tedious, the book was not finished 'till Christmas, I687,
viz. the Christmas before the Revolution, so that there was not time enough after the
publishing for disposing thereof before it was too late, whereby the authors did but just
save themselves, for the charge amounted in all to near 600l.

  In the year I687 Mr. Clarenceux began his visitation of London, in which he again
desired the assistance of Mr. King, Rouge Dragon, as the entries in Mr. King's hand-
writing do plainly show, as well as in Cambridge and Huntingdon. In I685, upon
Sir William Dugdale's decease, Sir Thomas St. George came to be Garter; Mr. Dug-
dale, Windsor, was made Norroy, who was thereupon knighted. Mr. Dugdale had
all along a particular respect from Mr. King, which did in some measure recompence the
loss of so good a friend as Sir William had been always to him, and on the other side,
Mr. King's gratitude to Sir William Dugdale prompted him to do all good offices to
his son Sir John, who declared he would not have accepted a King of Arms' place,
but in confidence to Mr. King's friendship in the management thereof--he himself not
having addicted himself much to matters of heraldry.

  Mr. King had long struggled in the world to make himself master of some little for-
tune, but his kindness to his relations had carried away all that he could spare from time
to time before his marriage; and though by his marrying he layd a good foundation for
the time to come, yet the continual care of his relations, and Mr. Ogilby's[sic S. U.] dying above
I00l[. omitted S. U.]

[end of page xxxvii and start of page xxxviii]

I00l. in his debt, (whereof he never got one farthing) joyn'd to a generous way of liv-
ing, to which both his own and his wife's inclination led them, and the charge of near
60l. in passing his patent for Rouge Dragon, by reason he presented the Earl Marshal's
secretary with 20 guineas--these things, I say, kept him from laying up any thing con-
siderable, so that the first attempt to improve what money he could spare was the lend-
ing I00l. upon houses in Southwark, in the beginning of the year--the next was his pur-
chasing 2Il. I0s. per ann. in land, in the parish of Holy-Cross, Waltham, in Essex--
and the last was the purchasing a lease for 33 years of near 60 houses in St. Catherine's,
held of the hospital there, the value of which purchase was about I260l.--but to this he
was over persuaded by some of his friends, it being much above his then condition to
compasse, so that he was obliged to borrow more than half the purchase money at inte-
rest of five per cent.--for all the time of the purchase he did not reckon himself worth
in all above 80l. The purchase of the houses in St. Catherine's promised a good in-
come, the rental being 220l. per ann. and for I0 years before they yielded clear
I60l. per ann. it being just before the Revolution, and the taxes in William and Mary's
time running very high, and rents falling, it did not prove so well as otherwise it would.
It was in this year, 1688, that King James sent several Bishops to the Tower for re-
fusing to give order for reading his declaration for liberty of conscience, upon which
Mr. King, being at that instant in company, cryed out, "Then farewell to popery in
England," easily foreseeing that such bold steps as those would inflame the people of
England against Roman Catholics, to whose counsels all those violent proceedings
were attributed. The consideration whereof did shortly after ground Mr. King in his
opinion, which he declared publiquely upon his first reading of the Prince of Orange's
declaration, that the Prince came not without expectation of the Crown.

  Now though Mr. King had a great respect to the succession of the Crown by legal de-
scent, and therefore could not but have a due resentment for the misfortunes ofr King
James, yet it hindered not but that in obedience to the Earl Marshal's order, grounded
upon a particular order from the House of Lords, he assisted at the proclaiming of King
William and Queen Mary; and afterward in his own person proclaymed the order for
the court of clayms as previous to the coronation, and assisted several sittings of the
committee of Bishops for drawing up the coronation service, and prepared four books
for that ceremonie, viz. one for the King, another for the Queen, a third for the Princess
Anne, and a fourth for the Bishop of London, as he had done before the coronation of
King

[end of page xxxviii and start of page xxxix]

King James. He also gave more than ordinary assistance at the office in forming the ce-
remonial of that solemnity, and upon the Coronation Day undertook the fatigue of call-
ing into order the Peers and Peeresses in the House of Lords and Paynted Chamber,
their Majesties sitting by; and took upon him the principal care of managing that so-
lemnity, having the Earl Marshal's order to attend thereat[sic, there at, S. U.] as Lancaster Herald, which
place Mr. Sandford, Lancaster, had a little before resigned to him, though his patent
ws not passed till July after, so that for three or four months he was in effect both Lan-
caster and Rouge Dragon. This resignation cost Mr. King 220l. besides his patent,
which as about 40l. more, only he had an allowance from his successor, Mr. Mauduit,
of I00l.

  The Ist of January following, the Electorof[sic S. U.] Brandenburg was chosen into the order
of the Garter. Sir Thomas St. George, by reason of his age, being then 75, and by
reason of the sitting of the Parliament, desired to be excused from carrying the Garter
in his own person to that Elector, especially being so long a journey, and thereupon
proposed it to Mr. King, whose qualifications for that employment were without dis-
pute, having Latin and French sufficient, and having some years before addicted
himself very much to the study of this order; however, Mr. King desired Sir Thomas
St. George to think of some other of the Heralds that were his seniors, and particularly
to offer it to Sir Henry St. George, Clarenceux, but he replied to Mr. King that if he
would undertake it, he would trouble himself no further. Hereupon Mr. King ac-
cepted the employment; and Mr. Johnson, nephew to the Bishop of Salisbury, (and
afterward Secretary of State of Scotland) was joined with Mr. King in the commission
for that affair.

  Hereupon Mr. King accepted the employment, and Mr. Johnston[sic S. U.], nephew to the
Bishop of Salisbury, (and afterwards Secretary of State of Scotland) was joyned with
Mr. King in the commission for that affair [sic, this sentence is repeated; very slightly different, though. S.U.]. The commission itself, credential, letter,
and instructions, were all drawn up by Mr. King, and being approved by the Chan-
cellor, were also engrossed by Mr. King for the King's signing.

  Having received into his hands the whole habit and ensigns of the order, and prepared
his equipage, he kissed the King's hand upon his departure, on the 4th of February,
I689, and having received 250l. advance upon his allowance of 30s. per diem, he set
forward

[end of page xxxix and start of page xl]

forward with his colleague on the I2th of March following, and passing through Hol-
land, Westphalia, and the Lunenburgh territories, (Mr. King having all along the fa-
vour of Mr. Johnston's own coach) they arrivved at Berlin on the 20th of May, and af-
ter a private audience of the Elector and Electress and the severall[sic S. U.] Princes and
Princesses of the Electoral family, to which they were conducted with all the ceremonies
used to embassadors, (their character being oratores, legati, et deputati) they invested
his Electoral Highness with the order with all possible splendor and magnificience on
Friday the 6th of January[sic S. U.], and dined with the Elector; and within a few days Mr.
King was presented by the Elector with 500 gold ducats, and I50 more as a composi-
tion for his upper garment, &c. and with his Electoral Highness's sword, value about
I0l. His secretary, Mr. Samuel Stebbing, who had been his servant near seven years,
was also presented with 75 ducats, and each of his footmen with I5 ducats.

  Mr. King having his audience of leave returned by Hamburgh, (Mr. Johnston stay-
ing behind as Envoy) and having been very nobly entertained by Sir Paul Rycaut,
their Majesties' resident there, and by all the principall English marchants there, whilst
he wayted for a passage by sea to England, which at length met with; so that leav-
ing Hamburgh on the 22d of July, he arrived at Hull in August, from whence he
rode post to London, leaving his secretary, and servants and baggage to come round by
sea, who arriving at London in August, Mr. King kissed her Majesty's hand at White-
hall, (the King being then in Ireland) and having made the Elector's and Electrice's[sic S. U.]
compliments to the Queen, and those others he was charged with, he presented her
Majesty with the amber cabinet which the Electress sent by him; and so concluded his
negotiation.

  Shortly after which, he accounted with Sir Thomas St. George for the moiety of the
presents which the Elector made him on that occasion; and upon the King's return
from Ireland, was introduced by the Chancellor into his Majesty's presence, to whom
he delivered the Elector's letter, and made his Majesty the like compliments in behalf
of the Elector, Electress, and Electoral family, as he had done before the Queen.

  Shortly after which he delivered his bill of extraordinaries for that journey, which
amounting in all to 500l. whereof 250l. only had been advanced, he received the re-
mainder.
The

[end of page xl and start of page xli]

  The Duke of Zell was elected Knight of the Garter, and the King declaring he
would invest him at the Hague with his own hands, Sir Thomas St. George thought
he was obliged in honor[sic S. U.] to carry over the habit and ensigns of the order himself in per-
son, and being only commissionated himself for that service, desired Mr. King's com-
pany as his assistant; Sir Thomas St. George kissed the Queen's hand upon his depar-
ture, (the King being gone before into Holland) and in March I690-I set forwards
for Holland by the way of Harwich, accompanyed by Mr. King, and attended by his
secretary, one Mr. Chamberlain, and two servants in livery. They arrived at the
Hague just the day after King left it in order to attempt the raysing of the siege of
Mons, just newly invested by the French. This occasioned his staying at the Hague
till the King returned; shortly after which, viz. on the 8th of May, I69I, the King
invested the Duke of Zell in his bedchamber there with the Garter and George, the
Dukes of Norfolk and Ormond and the Earl of Devonshire assisting thereat[sic S. U.], with Sir
Thomas St. George, and Mr. King carried him the habit of the order, which he es-
sayed to put on, but without any ceremony[sic S. U.], and the Duke presented Sir Thomas with
I6 gold medals to the vaule of 380l. and 73 guineas as a composition for his habit.
Mr. King was presented with eight of the same gold medals, value about I48l. the se-
cretary had 50 guineas, and each of the footmen five guineas. They missed their op-
portunity of returning with the King, and so were forced to stay till the King came
back to Holland again, and then went over in one of the yachts, not caring to venture
over in the pacquet boat, having been frighted with a French privateer in their going
thither. They arrived at London in I691, and within two days Sir Thomas kissed the
Queen's hand, and concluded that embassy.

  In July and August this year, Mr. King having long before promised that he would
make a survery for Jesus College, in Cambridge, of certain lands in Oxfordshire, Glo-
cestershire, and Glamorganshire, (as he had done for them in Northamptonshire) took
with him one Mr. Fuller, a very good artist in that way, and dipatch't those in Ox-
fordshire and Glocestrshire, and being at Glocester engaged one Stephen Jeffreys, an
ingenious Quaker, to undertake that in Glamorganshire, computed at 800 acres, but
measuring I200 acres; Mr. King, at Mr. Fuller's request, agreed to Mr. Fuller's re-
return[sic S. U.] to London from Glocester, himself proceeding forwards to Glamorganshire, and
taking an exact account of the severall[sic S. U.] particulars saw the work begun by Jeffreys, and
so returned to London; but the wet he met with in this journey brought upon him, as
he guessed, the next spring a most violent sciatica.
This

[end of page xli and start of page xlii]

  This year the Parliament sitting, Mr. Felton, who married the younger of the two
daughters and co-heiresses of James Earl of Suffolk, petitioned the King for the barony
of Lord Audley of Waldon, being by writ descendible to the females; the
the[sic S. U.] Lady Essex Griffin thereupon, as being the elder daughter and co-heir[sic S. U.], counter-
claimed the said barony, and the Earl of Suffolk claimed it in the third place as heir
male. The Earl of Thanet (whose claim to the barony of Clifford I had managed and
got allowed the year before) recommended my Lady Essex Griffin to me. I drew up
their case, proposed arguments, got it printed, and seconded with another paper of ar-
guments, instructed their counsel with precedents, and attended the several[sic S. U.] hearings;
but the Parliarment braking up before it came to any conclusion, Mr. Felton thought it
not fit to renew it the next sessions.

  In I691 the Elector ofSaxony[sic S. U.], and the Earl of Dorset, Lord Chamberlain, were
elected Knights of the Garter. The Earl of Dorset hastened his instllation, and Mr.
King having prepared the atchievments[sic S. U.] and other things of that kind for his Lord-
ship, the instllation was performed at Windsor. But the King gave no directions for
carrying the order to his Electoral Highness of Saxony till the latter end of the
summer.

  Now whether any neglect of himself in the hurry of my Lord Dorset's instllation, or
the wet that he took in his journey to Wales the year before, might be the cause of that
violent illness which Mr. King fell into this spring, is hard to say, but he was seized
about Easter with a sciatica, which for seven or eight weeks together encreased to that
degree, that he was obliged to make use of crutches, and was proof against all the pre-
scriptions of physicians, apothecaries, and surgeons; finding no ease or relief by any
thing but liquid laudanum, though he underwent all degrees of pharmacy. However,
it pleased God to restore him to the use of his limbs again about the latter end of July.
Soon after which the King sent orders over for carrying the Garter to the Elector of
Saxony; but it being some months after before that affair was ready, Mr. King in the
mean time dispatched the pedigree of Sir Richard Newdigate, which had been long in
hand, but was now finished with great exactness, accompanied with extracts of many
deeds pertinent thitherto, and the draugths of severall monuments of the family.
But

[end of page xlii and start of page xliii]

  But to come to the affair of the Elector of Saxony's Garter. Sir Thomas St. George,
who had now been a year a widower, was engaged in a new amour, so that he could
have no thoughts of going to Saxony himself in person; besides he foresaw it would be
a winter journey, and he knew the length of the way, having had the honor, when he
was Somerset Herald, anno I669, to carry the order in the room of Sir Edward
Walker, the then Garter, to this Elector of Saxony's grandfather. There could be no
difficulty in the choice of the person to supply the place of Sir Thomas St. George on
this occasion, Mr. King having apporoved himself an absolute master of that affair by
his late conduct therein, so that Mr. King was presently addressed unto for the under-
taking thereof; but Mr. King's late violent illness, whereof some unhappy effects had
scarce yet left him, for it had interrupted his very speech and memory, made him not
easily resolve to accept it, least his distemper might return in the journey; but Sir
Thomas telling him, that he would not think of any body else, and therefore if Mr.
King declined it, he should be obliged to undertake himself, which at his age, being
then 77 or 78, would not be very agreeable to him; Mr. King adventured upon it.

  Hereupon Mr. King prepared, by the Chancellor of the Order's directions, the com-
mission, credential, letter, and instructions, which were signed by the Queen the 20th
of August, I692. By which commission Sir William Colt, Knt. their Majestie's En-
voy residing with the Princes of the house of Lunenburgh, and who principally had
promoted this affair, was joyend with Mr. King for the performing that ceremony.
This being a piece of justice claimed by Sir William Colt, by reason he was not in-
serted in the commission for carrying the Garter to the Duke of Zell, being the Prince
at whose court he most ordinarily resides.

  The passing a privy seal for Mr. King's allowance and advance on this occasion spent
a great deal of time, Mr. King expecting the same allowance as Sir Thomas St. George
had the year before, viz. 40s. per diem; but in that pressing circumstance of affairs,
occasioned by the excessive charge of the war, it could not be obtained, so that at Mr.
Garter's instance Mr. King accepted the old allowance of 30s. per diem, and his privy
seals was passed about Michaelmas accordingly.

  But the difficulty of getting the money still remained, and Mr. King was obliged to
stay till his Majesty's return from Flanders, so that he did not kiss his Majesty's hand
upon

[end of page xliii and start of page xliv]

upon his departure till the 27th of November, and though he received not his advance
money till the 2d of December, yet he departed on his journey the 3d of December
I692, and passing through Holland arrived at Osnaburg the I5th, at Hanover[sic S. U.] the I8th,
and at Cell the I9th of December, where Sir William Colt received him with extraor-
dinary kindness. But the King's affairs in relation to the ninth electorate, then newly
conferred on the Duke of Hanover, detained Sir William Colt till the 3Ist of Decem-
ber, when setting forwards for Saxony, they came to Leipsick January 6, and to
Dresden Jan. 9, Mr. King having the favour of Sir William Colt's own coach.

  The court of Saxony had long expected them, so that now no time was to be lost in
compleating the ceremonie; whereupon they had their first audience the I3th of Ja-
nuary, their second, at which the Elector received the Blue Ribband, Garter, and Les-
ser George, on the 20th of January, and the grand ceremony[sic S. U.] was performed the 26th
of January with all splendor and magnificence, the Elector resolving to outdo the Ex-
emplar of Brandenburg. The carousell, the fireworks, the glorious opera, the mas-
querade, and the other diversions which followed in honor of this solemnity were very
extraordinary, and the Elector did somewhat outdo the Elector of Brandenburgh[sic S. U.] even
in the presents; for Mr. King was presented, in right of Garter King of Arms, with 50
pieces of gold purposely coynd, each of the value of I0 ducats, in an imbroidered crim-
son velvet purse, and in another curious purse of nuns work 200 ducats as a composition
for his habit. His secretary was presented with six large silver beakers partie gilt, and
his footmen with I5 dollars apiece.

  The two commissioners only, as the custome is, dined with the Elector on the day
of the ceremony, and on Sunday the 5th of February they had their audience of leave,
and dined again with his Electoral Highness; Sir William Colt at the same time taking
his audience as Envoy, that he might immediately enter upon the treatie for the
Elector's forces to serve upon the Rhine against the French the ensuing campaigne,
which treaty[sic S. U.] was concluded accordingly.

  Mr. King being handsomely conducted out of Dresden, left that place the I3th of
February, arrived at Hamburgh the 26th of February, at Amsterdam the I5th of
March, and at the Hague, where staying till his Majesty's arrival from England,
he wayted on his Majesty, and having given his Majesty an account of his legation,
and

[end of page xliv and start of page xlv]

and made their Electoral Highnesses' complements, he delivered the Elector's letter to
his Majesty, and so took his leave, reteurning to England the I9th of April, and kissing
her Majesty's hand the 23d of April, whereby he concluded his embassy, but had not
his bill of extraordinaries of 344l. 9s. 5d. for that journey ordered him till the 26th of
July, 1694.

  Mr. King, while he was at the Hague, put into Mr. Blathwayt's hands a memorial
touching the installation of these three foreign Princes at Windsor by proxie; and visit-
ing the Ministers of those foreign Princes there, advised them to second the said memo-
rial; whereupon, in May following, his Majesty's pleasure was signified over to Eng-
land for their instalment; whereupon Mr. King, by the Chancellor's directions, com-
puted the charge at 552l. 10s. besides the dinner, which was imprest into the Chan-
cellor's hands for the use of the severall officers and persons concerned in the fees, and
for the atchievements, which atchievements Mr. King also prepared. But the fixing
of proper proxies, and the adjusting the dinner, gave some delay to the said instalment.
In the mean time Mr. King employed himself in finishing the draughts of the surverys
he made two years before for Jesus Collge; and in a large pedigree for the Earl of
Thanet, and other busines for the Office.

  The said installation being received, and a day nominated by the Chancellor for the
ceremony, Mr. King payd[sic S. U.] the fees to the Dean and College of Windsor, amounting to
200l.; but the Chancellor interesting himself in the plate money for the altar, which
then lay in the Dean's hands undisposed, would have stopt these fees upon the Dean, so
that the day being put off, Mr. King was obliged to take security of the Dean for the
said 200l. the Chancellor requiring Mr. King to make it good. The want of money
for a dinner delayed these instllations for some time, but I00l. being ordered by the
treasury in September, I693, the season of the year was then the pretence for delaying
them. And so it stood all winter; but in March the day was appointed for the 5th of
July, I694, and all the necessary instruments signed by the King. But in the mean
time the Elector of Saxony dyed. Upon which Mr. King represented to the Chancel-
lor, how reasonable it was that all the honor should be payed to the Elector that might be,
since his not being installed was not the Elector's fault; and this happening at that time
when a committee of the Garter was to meet upon the score of the Earls of Shrewsbury's
election into the order, (upon the death of the Duke of Hamilton) the said committee
agreed,

[end of page xlv and start of page xlvi]

agreed, that it was fitt the Elector of Saxony's atchievements should be hung up for
form sake, and directed Mr. King to draw up an act of dispensation thereupon: which
the Chancellor opposing, as willing to save their Majesties those instllation fees, amount-
ing to I26l. I3s. 4d. the matter was re-committed to the Knights committee of the
Garter, who on May 29 reported it to the Queen according to the order which Mr.
King had drawn up, whereupon the instllation of the Elector of Brandenburgh[sic S.U.] and the
Duke of Zell, and Earl (but then Duke of) Shrewsbury, was performed at Windsor
June 5, I694, and the atchivments[sic S. U.] of the Elector of Saxony having first been hung
up for form sake, were taken down, and offered, together with the Duke of Hamilton's,
immediately before the instllation. At which ceremonie Mr. King officiated asassistant[sic S. U.] to
Sir Thomas St. George, Garter, who was not yet perfectly recovered of his indisposi-
tion, the Queen having passed a warrant for Mr. King to have officiated absolutely for
Garter, and to have worne the mantle if the case had reqired it.
[no blank line here.]
  About Christmas, I693, Sir John Dugdale, Norroy, proposed to resign his place
to Mr. King on several considerations, and all things being adjusted between Sir John
and Mr. King, Sir John addressed himself by letter to the Earl Marshal for leave; but
could not obtain leave, notwithstanding divers applications were made to his Grace in
Sir John's behalf.

  The latter end of summer I694, Mr. King sollicited the King's coronation fees to
to[sic S. U.] the heralds; but while it was depending the Queen dyed, scilicet 28 of December,
I694, after an indisposition of eight days (of the small pox). Shortly after which Mr.
King was sent for by the officers of the wardrobe to undertake the scocheons and other
heraldry work for the funerall, and having given them a scheme of what was necessary
for Whitehall, received the several quantities of silk necessary for the same; but the
Earl Marshal having, by order of council of Jan. 9, the direction was to the number and
manner of the escocheons[sic S. U.] and other trophies for that occasion committed to him, and
being willing to gratify Mr. Pink, who was his Grace's coach-paynter (and one of the
arms-paynters who principally promoted the decree of I683) his Grace claymed the no-
mination of the paynter, which the Earl of Montagu claymed also as master of the
wardrobe. At last they each resolved to nominate one, Jan. I9, I694-5; but the
next day the E. M. prevayld upon the Master of the Wardrobe to let him have the
sole nomination, whereupon Mr. Pink was nominated entirely with a reservation that
what had been delivered to Mr. King should be made of. Whereupon (on con-
siderations

[end of page xlvi and start of page xlvii]

siderations valuable) it was agreed that Mr. King should perfect what he had begun,
which he ordered his paynter, Mr. Campion, to do accordingly, but it amounted onely[sic S. U.]
to the value of 200l. which was not above an 8th part of the whole heraldry work done
upon this occasion.

  Mr. King's employing Mr. Campion, who was no friend to the agreement between
the heralds and the painters[sic S. U.] as being a considerable looser thereby, gave occasion to in-
cense the Earl Marshal against Mr. King for undertaking this funeral work, insomuch
that he transferred the Register's place of the office from Mr. King to Dr. Plott, who
was then newly nominated Moubray[sic S.U.] Herald Extraordinary, but Mr. King's qualifica-
tions were so well known to the Earl Marshal, that his Grace through all this affair,
treated Mr. King with a handsome respect, as Mr. King on the other side expressed all
suitable deference to his Grace.

In

[end of page xlvii and start of page xlviii]

[end of page xlviii]

back