Thomas Sutton (1532-1611).
[1028]... Sutton, founder of the Hospitall[1029]—from old Thomas Tyndale, esq., the father—was first a garrison-soldier at Barwick[1030]. He was a lusty healthy handsome fellowe, and there was a very rich brewer who brewed to the navy, etc., who was ancient and he had maried a young buxome wife.... The old brewer doted on his desirable wife and dies and left her all his estate which was great[1031].
Sutton was a man of good understanding, and improved it[1032] admirably well, but the particular wayes by which he did it I have now forgot; but he was much upon mortgages, and fed severall with hopes of being his heire.
'Twas from him that B. Johnson tooke his hint of the fox, and by Seigneur Volpone is meant Sutton.
The later end of his dayes he lived in Fleetstreet at a wollendraper's shop opposite to Fetterlane, where he had so many great chests full of money that his chamber was ready to groane under it; and Mr. Tyndale, who knew him and I thinke had money of him on mortgage during his lawe-suite (vide the lord Stafford's case in Coke's Reports), was afrayd the roome would fall. He lived to establish his hospitall, and was governor there himselfe. Obiit....
The earle of Dorset (I thinke, Richard) mightily courted him and presented[1033] him, hoping to have been his heire; and so did severall other great persons.
Vide his life in 4to.