And here I must stop again, and take Notice of several Particulars, in this last descent, which ought not by any means to be pass'd by.

8 Another Son and 2 Daughters.

How the Elder Branch of our Family, still continuing at Blisworth, their ancient Seat in the County of Northampton, descended from John the Eldest of the four Brothers, I shall in a distinct Pursuit of this Line, to the time of Sr. William Wake now living, plainly shew, by and by.

From William the second Brother, thô I have not so good a proof of it, as to put it out of doubt, yet such I have, as makes me not at all question, but that we are descended from Him. Certain it is, that either from this William, or from his Uncle of the same Name, we are to derive our Pedegree. And how this descent also lies, shall be distinctly considered in what follows.

In the mean time, neither his own Worth nor the Fame and Dignity of his Son, Sr. Isaac, the great Ornament of our Family, in this last Age, will permit me to pass by Arthur, the fourth Brother of this descent, without taking some little Notice of Him.

Being design'd for a Scholar, and accordingly from the beginning, bred up to Learning: He was at a competent Age, sent to the University,

and entring into Holy Orders, became Canon of Christ Church, in Oxford A: 1567. He was at this time but very young, however promoted to so considerable a Dignity; and by that means was the more easily drawn away to follow Those, who from their pretences to a greater purity of Church Government, and Discipline, got to themselves the Characteristical Name of Puritans.

It was upon this account, and that he might the more freely enjoy his own Way, that in a short time after his promotion he retired from Oxford, into the Isle of Jersey, and there continued many Years.

However as he grew in Years and Judgement So he became better affected to the Establishment of the Church of England, and declared his Concern for having been so easily led away from the Comunion of it. For he was indeed a modest, and good Man. And being once return'd to the Communion of our Church, he never started any more from it, but continued on to the last in it. He dyed about the Year 1596: and was buryed at Christ Church in Oxon.

Sr.

Wake.

"What other Children he had I cannot tell,

but the Person whom I am chiefly concern'd to Isaac take notice of, is his Son Sr. Isaac Wake, the Ornament of our Name, our University, and even of our very Country its self. He was born in the Year 1575: At three and twenty Years of Age he became Probationer Fellow of Merton Colledge, and six years after was chosen publick Orator of the University of Oxford.

His natural Parts, which were very Great, He not only cultivated by those kind of Studies that were the most proper to fit him for Business, As History Oratory, and the like: but perfected by Travel, which he undertook at an Age in which he was best qualified to make a usefull Improvement of it; After he had been about six Years Master of Arts being return'd from his Travels, with all the Ornaments, and Advantages, that an excellent Temper, and a large Capacity, and a generous Education, could give him. He was entertained first by Sr. Dudley Carleton, one of his Majestys principal Secretarys of State: And so well acquitted himself under him, that, in a

9 Abraham and Sarah, Stemm: Chich: No. 499. E. B.

little time, he was preferred to the Kings Service, and employed, in the most weighty Affairs of State by him.

The first Post to which the King raised him, was not only very honourable in its self but was particularly agreeable to his Genius, being sent Ambassador extraordinary to Savoy, and in ordinary to Venice, and some other Parts thereabouts.

Having discharg'd this Trust to the Satisfaction of his Majesty: He was, upon his Return chosen one of the Burgesses to serve in Parliament for the University. A: 1623. And in that he was also much taken notice of, for his excellent Understanding, and an Elocution above the pitch of most other men.

He was after this again sent Abroad by the King into ffrance, And continuing in his Employs for several Years more, dyed at last, at Paris, about the Year 1632. His Body was brought from thence into England, and interr'd in the Chapple of Dover Castle, not long after.

And now having given this short Account of this great Man, I proceed according to my