In those dayes[387] merchants travelled much abroad into Italie, Spaine, etc. Quaere Mr. Abraham Hill of what company he was. Probably good memorialls may be there found of his generous and publique spirit. _Respondet_:--He was of the Goldsmiths' Company, where is a good picture of him.
R. B., i.e. Robert[388] Billingsley, teaches Arithmetique and Mathematiques at ... in.... He hath printed a very pretty little booke of arithmetique and algebra, London (scilicet, _<The> Idea of Arithmetic_): was Sir Henry's great grandson--from Mr. Abraham Hill, Regiae Societatis Socius.
[389]In the table of benefactors in the church of St. Catherine Colman, viz.--
'1603 { Dame Elizabeth} Billingsley did will to the poor 1_s._ per { Sir Henry }
weeke for ever and 200_li._ which their heires etc. have not payd'--
The minister here, Mr. Dodson, sayes that it was not payd because the parish did not find-out in due time land to make a purchase of.
Many yeares since Mr. Abraham Hill, Regiae Societatis Socius, citizen, told me that Sir Henry Billingsley was of the Goldsmiths' Company, and that his picture was in Goldsmiths' Hall, which I went lately to see. No picture of him, and besides the clarke of the Company told me that he is sure _he_ was never of that Company. But Mr. Hill tells me since that in Stowe's Survey you may see of what Company all the Lord Mayers were, which see[390] and tell me.
[391]Sir H. Billingsley--Mr. Leeke, mathematician, saith that he was of the company of goldsmiths, quaere. Quaere the clarke of the company: vide register booke. Vide Heralds' Office (Salop, and neer Bristowe). Vide Fuller's Worthyes where he mentions the Lord Mayers.
[392]_Ex registro_ <of St. Catherine Coleman>:--Sir Henry Billingsley, knight, buried in the vault under his pewe in the church of St. Catherine Coleman, London, December the 18th, 1606. I find by the register that he had two more wives besides Elizabeth mentioned in the inscription; his second was the lady Trapps; third,....
Memorandum his house (which is a very faire one), which is neer the church, is still remayning untoucht by the fire. In the parlour windowe are scutchions of his family, which gett. There now lives Mr. Lucy[393], a great merchant.