and Oxford, where he took his first degree in 1717. Taking Holy Orders, he became Vicar of Lurgashall, Sussex, and subsequently of Harting in the same county. There he devoted himself to poetry, and in 1729 published an imitation of Horace's Ars Poetica, entitled The Art of Politicks, and in 1733 another poem, called The Man of Taste, productions of considerable merit He died 16 March, 1744, leaving behind him a great reputation as a humorist, satirist, and colloquial wit.
Admitted 26 October, 1597.
Eldest son of Roger Bramston, of Borham, Essex. He was born at Maldon in Essex 18 May, 1577, and educated there and at Cambridge. He was called to the Bar 7 June, 1605. In 1623 he was elected Lent Reader of the Inn. In the same year he took the degree of the Coif, and in 1635 became Chief Justice of the King's Bench. In this capacity it was his misfortune to have to give his opinion on the subject of ship-money, and, it being in favour of the King, this exposed him to the resentment of Parliament, and he was impeached, with Robert Berkeley (q.v.) and three other judges. He was not, however, proceeded against with so much rigour as Berkeley, and he shortly returned into favour with the Commons, who in 1646-7 named him one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal. He refused, however, this, and all other offers of office, and lived in privacy till the day of his death, 22 Sept. 1654. Lord Clarendon speaks of Bramston as "a man of great learning and integrity," and Fuller says he "was accomplished with all qualities requisite for a person of his place and profession, … deep learning, solid judgment, integrity of life and gravity of behaviour."
Admitted 24 February, 1626-7.
Eldest son of Sir John Bramston, Judge (q.v.), born at Whitechapel in 1611. He was a member of Wadham College, Oxford, and was called to the Bar 8 May, 1635. In the Temple he occupied chambers with Edward Hyde (q.v.), afterwards Earl of Clarendon. During the Civil War he removed to his father's house at Skreens, and after the dismissal of Richard Cromwell represented Essex in Parliament. At the coronation of Charles II. he was created a Knight of the Bath, and served as Chairman of Committees in the House. In the first Parliament of James II. he sat for Maldon.
Sir John left behind him. an Autobiography, which was printed for the Camden Society in 1845.
Admitted 15 May, 1656.
Son and heir of Rev. Thomas Brand, of Leaden Rooding (Roothing),Essex. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford. Becoming acquainted with Dr. Samuel Annesley, he abandoned the law and joined the Presbyterian ministry. He resided for some time at Staplehurst in Kent, but subsequently settled in London, where he devoted himself to preaching, the building of meetinghouses, and the distribution of religious literature, in which, and in works of charity, he expended all his income. He died 1 Dec 1691, and was buried in Bunhill Fields.
