[936]Mr. Thomas Flatman[EH] died at his house in Fleet street on Thursday December <6th>, buried the 9th of that moneth, at St. Bride's, neer the railes of the communion table, in the grave with his sonne, on whom he layd a fair marble gravestone with an inscription and verses. His father is living yet, at least 80, a clarke of the Chancery.
[937]Thomas Flatman, filius, natus 1673, Oct. 4, hora 18 P.M. This native dyed of the small pox about Christmas (December) 1682.
[EH] Anthony Wood detects an oversight:--'Why do you not set downe the yeare?' Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 386ᵛ, says, 'Thomas Flatman dyed in 1688, before Christmas.'
Thomas Flattman, of Red Cross street, Aldersgate, London, at Winchester school from Michaelmas 1648, was admitted probationer of New College (to an Arts fellowship) 11 Sept. 1654, and fellow in 1656; but resigned in 1657, betaking himself to the study of Law.
[938]Sir Miles[939] Fleetwood, Recorder of London, was of the Middle Temple; was Recorder of London, when King James came into England; made his harangue to the City of London (ἀντανάκλασις), 'When I consider your wealth I doe admire your wisdome, and when I consider your wisdome I doe admire your wealth.' It was a two-handed rhetorication, but the citizens tooke <it> in the best sense.
He was a very severe[940] hanger of highwaymen, so that the fraternity were resolved to make an example of him[941]: which they executed in this manner: They lay in wayte for him not far from Tyburne, as he was to come from his house at ... in Bucks; had a halter in readinesse; brought him under the gallowes, fastned the rope about his neck and on the tree, his hands tied behind him (and servants bound), and then left him to the mercy of his horse, which he called _Ball_. So he cryed 'Ho, Ball! Ho, Ball!' and it pleased God that his horse stood still, till somebody came along, which was halfe a quarter of an hour or +. He ordered that this horse should be kept as long as he would live, and it was so--he lived till 1646:--from Mr. Thomas Bigge, of Wicham[942].
One day goeing on foote to Yield-hall, with his clarke behind him, he was surprised in Cheapside with a sudden and violent looseness neer the Standard. He[943] ... bade his man hide his face[943]....