second, and died in 16704. Wood speaks of him as a principal Maecenas of learning in his day. From the kindness of Mr. Heber, of Brazen Nose college, Oxon, I learn that the obvious authority for ascribing to this lord an edition of the common Psalter, printed with prose titles and arguments, in 1644, is the following manuscript prefixed to the Bodleian copy: "For the use of the publique library of the famous university of Oxford, in testimony of the high esteem and affection towards her by Christopher Hatton." A copy of the same book occurs among the donations of his present majesty to the British Museum, and is dated 1646, but has no manuscript or printed denotation of its imputed publisher or compiler. A very long preface is likely however, from its tenor, to have proceeded from the pen of Jeremy Taylor. The title runs, "The Psalter of David: with Titles and Collects according to the Matter of each Psalme. Whereunto is added Devotions for the Help and Assistance of all Christian People, on all Occasions and Necessities."] + See Bolton's Extinct Peerage, p. 139. Ꭰ Ꭺ ANTHONY BROWNE, VISCOUNT MONTACUTE*. Ir is against my rule to reckon peers as authors, of whom nothing is extant but speeches or letters. Indeed, where there is a presumption that either were published by the persons themselves, it makes a difference. I should not record this lord at all, but from his being mentioned as a writer by bishop Tanner, for his "Speech in the House of Lords against the Alteration of Religion 3.' [This nobleman descended from sir Anthony Brown, who was made a knight of the bath at the coronation of Richard the second, and was himself one of the forty knights made at the coronation of Edward the sixth. He was sheriff for Surrey and Sussex in the last year of that king; and for the more honourable [A MS. in the editor's possession, containing a brief church history, &c. in Latin verse, is inscribed "Ornatissimo viro D. Anthonio Browneo, Vicecomiti Montis acuti," by Edmund Campion of Oxon, the learned Jesuit, who was executed at Tyburn, in Dec. 1581.] 3 Page 131. reception of the prince of Spain, then to be married to queen Mary, was, in 1554, appointed master of the horse. In the first of Philip and Mary he was created viscount Montacute or Montague, having chosen that title by reason that the lady Lucie, his grandmother, was one of the daughters and coheirs to John Nevil, marquis Montague. After receiving this honour, he was by order of parliament sent to the pope (together with Thirlby bishop of Ely) for reducing of this realm to an union with the church of Rome, and to the obedience of that see4. Being elected a knight of the garter, he was installed at Windsor, Oct. 22, 1555. In 1557 he was lieutenant general of the English forces in Picardy, and much in favour with queen Mary. At the accession of Elizabeth he was left out of her privy-council, and upon the grand dispute in parliament for abolishing the pope's supremacy, he was the only peer who with Francis earl of Salisbury voted against it, urging, that it would be a great dishonour for England, which was so lately and so well reconciled to the apostolic see, to make so sudden a revolt from it: and moreover, that the hazard would be as great as the scandal, should the pope thunder out his excommunication, and expose the nation by that means to the resentment of its neighbouring enemies, upon the score of this defection. That he for his part had, in the name of the whole body of England, tendered obedience to the pope, the performance of which he could by no means • See Dugdale, vol. iii. and Collins, vol. vi. dispense with 5. Being highly esteemed by Elizabeth for his prudence and wisdom, though earnestly devoted to the Romish religion, he was thought a most acceptable person to be employed as an embassador to Spain, to satisfy Philip the second what just cause the queen of England had to send an army into Scotland; and to represent that the practices of the Guises might be of dangerous consequence as well in Spain as to England. All that our genealogists found farther memorable of this lord is, that he was one of the peers who sat on the trial of the queen of Scots; and that a little before his death queen Elizabeth paid him a visit. He departed this life at Horsley in Surrey, October 19, 1592, and was buried at Cowdray, where was the ancient family mansion, till destroyed by fire in 1793. The following letter of lord Montague, addressed to the privy-council, in consequence of a thousand soldiers being levied out of Sussex, occurs in Harl. MS. 6990. "To the right honorable my verie good lords the lords and others of the queenes majesties most honorable privie councel, gyve thies with hast. "It may please your lordships to be advertised, that wheras by order from the quenes majestie and your lordships, this shier hathe presently put in order vi C. souldiours, and of that numbre sent forthe to Portchmowthe ii C. besydes one C. pioners. I have this instant receaved straight commandement from Mr. Vice • See Camden's Eliz. p. 19. This was the speech probably recorded by bishop Tanner. chamberlayn (as by the copy of his letter sent herin, it may appere) to send forthe vj C. moo than was before appoyntid, besides a number of pioners, which be daylye taken up here by his commission. I have immediatlye writen to all the justices to send forthe undelayedlye those iiij C. which remayne of the vj C. by the first order appoyntid; and also to muster and gather together other vi C. to folow the rest; if they have no other advertisement to the contrarye. "This I thought my dewtie, the waight of the service and the straight chardge gyven me considerid: and yet dowting whether Mr. Vice-chamberlayn hathe knowledge of suche numbers of men as have before within this yere bin sent to Newhaven, out of this shier, at sondry tymes; which moved your lordships to appoynt but vj C. at this tyme: I have bothe signifyed the same to hym, and according to my dutie thought mete to know your lordships pleasures herin. For that I assure your lordships this greate numbre being takin, this coste shalbe marveylously weakned and unfurnyshed, bothe of strengthe and also for helpe to take upp t'harvest now in hand. Neverthelesse, the greater matter is to be regardid: and upon your lordships pleasure knowin, the menn shalbe undelayedly sett forthe, and he not differid to be presently put in a readynes, howsoever it shall please your lordships to consider of the state and necessitie of this shier, as well knowin to dyvers of your lordships as to my self. "Besydes the numbre of souldiours and pioners bothe at Mychelmas last, sythense and now presently sett forthe the principall strengthe of this sheir, which |