William Harcourt (1610-1679).
[1052]Father Harcourt—he told me that he was of the familie of Stanton Harcourt, A.D. 1650. He was confessor, and afterwards co-executor, to the lady Inglefield.
[1053]Petrification of a kidney. When father Harcourt suffered[1054] at Tyburne, and his bowells, etc. throwne into the fire, a butcher's boy standing by was resolved to have a piece of his kidney which was broyling in the fire. He burn't his fingers much, but he got it; and one ... Roydon, a brewer in Southwark, bought it, a kind of Presbyterian. The wonder is, 'tis now absolutely petrified: I have seen it. He much values it.
[1055]Mr. Roydon, brewer in Southwarke (opposite the Temple), haz the piece of Father Harcourt's kidney which was snatcht out of the fire, and now petrified and very hard. But 'twas not so hard when he first had it. It being alwayes carried in the pocket hardened by degrees better then by the fire—like an agate polished.