Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/281

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
Whitelock — Williams.
261
WHITELOCK or WHITLOCKE, Sir JAMES.
Judge.
1570—1632.

Admitted 2 March, 1592-3.

Fourth son of Richard Whitelock, of St. Dunstan's-in-the-East, He was born in London, 28 Nov. 1570. He was educated at Merchant Taylor's School and at Oxford, where he graduated B.A. 1 July, 1594. He was admitted to the Temple from New Inn, and called to the Bar 24 Oct. 1600. He was Autumn Reader in 1619. In 1620 he was elected to Parliament for "Woodstock, and in the same year became Serjeant-at-Law, a knight, and Chief Justice of Chester. Three years later he was promoted to a seat on the King's Bench, which position he held till his death, 22 June, 1632.

He was an excellent Latin scholar, historian, and genealogist, and was the author of the following treatises printed in Hearne's Collection of Curious Discourses (1771); Of the Antiquity and Office of Heralds; Of the Antiquity of Places for Students and Professors of the Common Laws of England; Of Lawful Combats; Of Topographic Dimensions in England compared with those of the Creeks and Latins. He also published several Speeches and Lectures or Headings in the Middle Temple Hall, and left behind him a sort of Diary or Autobiography entitled Liber Famelicus, which was published by the Camden Society in 1858, in which frequent reference is made to the Middle Temple and his connexion with it.


WILLIAMS, Sir DAVID.
Judge.
About 1536—1613.

Admitted 24 June, 1568.

Second son of William Williams in the parish of Stradbelye (Ystradfallte), Brecknockshire. He was called to the Bar 10 Feb. 1576, and elected Reader in 1591 and again in 1594. In 1593 he took the degree of the Coif, and in 1603-4, when it was determined to add a fifth Judge to each of the Superior Courts, Williams was selected for the King's Bench, and received his appointment, with the honour of knighthood, on 4 Feb. of that year. He died Jan. 1613.

His son Henry was admitted to the Inn 25 Jan. 1593-4 without fee, "because his father had been a Master of the Bench."


WILLIAMS, Sir ROGER.
Soldier.
About 1540—1595.

Admitted 19 February, 1593-4.

Son of Thomas Williams of Penrhos, Monmouthshire. He served as a page in the household of the first Earl of Pembroke, and was present at the storming of. St. Quentin in 1557, and most of his life was spent on the Continent in the character of a soldier of fortune. In 1577 he served under Sir John Norris in the Netherlands as his lieutenant, and in 1585 in the same country under Leicester. He took part in the battle of Zutphen where Sidney was killed. He was knighted by Leicester at that time. His last service was with Henry of Navarre, where he greatly distinguished himself by hid rash valour. He died in London 12 Dec. 1595, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. He was the author of a Brief Discourse of War, containing much interesting matter on warlike operations, and much personal reminiscence.