curiosity in beholding those sacred places where on our Saviour trode
when he was upon the Earth; he returned homewards, making some stay at
_Rhodes_, to study _Greek_. Hence he went to _Rome_, where he heard
_John Sulpitius_ and _Pomponius Sabinus_, great Masters of _Latine_ in
those days. At his return home, Doctor _John Collet_ had new builded a
fair School at the East-end of St. _Paul_'s, for 153 poor mens
Children, to be taught free in the same School; for which he appointed
a Master, an Usher, and a Chaplain, with large Stipends for ever;
committing the oversight thereof to the Masters, Wardens and Assistants
of the _Mercers_ in _London_, because he was Son to _Henry Collet_
Mercer, sometime Major; leaving for the Maintenance thereof, Lands to
the yearly value of 120_l_. or better; making this _William Lilly_
first Master thereof; which Place he commendably discharg'd for 15
years. During which time he made his _Latine_ Grammar, the Oracle of
Free Schools of _England_, and other Grammatical Works. He is said also
by _Bale_, to have written Epigrams, and other Poetry of various
Subjects in various _Latine_ Verse, though scarce any of them (unless
it be his _Grammar_) now extant, only Mr. _Stow_ makes mention of an
Epitaph made by him, and graven on a fair Tomb, in the midst of the
Chancel of St. _Paul_'s in _London_ containing these Words;

_Inclyta_ Joannes Londini _Gloria gentis,
Is tibi qui quondam_ Paule _Decanus erat,
Qui toties magno resonabat pectore Christum,
Doctor & Interpres fidus Evangelij:
Qui mores hominum multum sermone disertæ
Formarat, vitæ sed probitate magis:
Quique Scholam struxit celebrem cognomine_ Jesu,
_Hac dormit tectus membra_ Coletus _humo_.