JOHN PRINCE. 363 
grounds) supposed to be in his own handwriting, now in the 
custody of a neighbouring gentleman (Walter Bogan, Esq., of 
Gatcombe, near Berry) nearly related to his family.” 
And some of his sketches are from life, as his reference to Dr. 
Bidgood, the Exeter physician, at his church at Berry, while 
attending Lady Portman, of whom he says, ‘‘I well remember 
when he was in attendance on a sick lady of an honourable family 
of this county, he was wont to joyn in the solemn church devotion 
there performed, with great seeming reverence and attention.” 
Referring to a hospital at Honiton for lepers, founded by Dr. 
Thos. Chard, he says that the account thereof was extracted from 
the original grants and papers; and the particulars respecting the 
Reynell family are from a manuscript lent him by a member of the 
family. A part of his account of Sir John Glanvill, one of the 
Justices of the Common Pleas, he says he received from an 
‘‘intelligent person, Mr. G. D., of Tavestock, in a letter dated 
29th July, 1695.” This must have been when he was hard at 
work on his book, and gathering all the information he could to 
make it more complete. Of Ezekiel Hopkins, Lord Bishop of 
Derry, he writes that he knew personally, and in addition to what 
he knew of him was furnished with particulars by Dr. Tenison, 
Bishop of Clogher, who preached his funeral sermon. 
Nor would he claim any great man as a Devonian, except on 
some good evidence; for, being doubtful whether Stephen Langton, 
Archbishop of Canterbury, could be honestly claimed as such, he 
applied to Richard Izacke, the Exeter historian, the author of the 
statement that Langton was born in Exeter, and gives in full the 
reply. It is dated February, 1693, and is as follows: 
“«S1r,—Im answer to yours just now received, thus: In an antient leger 
book, lodged in the council chamber of this city, I found that Stephen 
Langton, A.c., was a native hereof, which was the ground of my publishing 
hereof. 
‘‘Tn all things, I am, Sir, 
‘*' Your most humble servant, 
‘Rr. Izackg.”’ 
A model of a letter, short, and to the purpose. 
I have, I hope, produced enough evidence to show that faithfully 
and carefully he gathered all the information in his power about 
those of whom he wrote. He says, in his conclusion, “‘ Though 
others, I acknowledge, might have added more, yet I have faith- 
