a little, pleasant, well-built town of Yorkshire, in that part called Holderness, seated on a river that falls into the Humber. It has now but one church, tho' there are the remains of two more; and had formerly a considerable trade, which is now lost, on account of its being so near Hull. The houses being rebuilt, adds to the beauty of the place. It is a corporation; and is governed by a mayor, a recorder, nine aldermen, and two bailiffs, who have the power of choosing sheriffs, and are justices of the peace. It sends two members to parliament. W. Long. o. 55. N. Lat. 53. 46.

Heydon (John), who sometimes assumed the name of Eugenius Theodidactus, was a great pretender to skill in the Rosicrucian philosophy and the celestial signs, in the reign of king Charles I.; and wrote a considerable number of chemical and astrological works, with very Heylin, Heywood.

This ridiculous author was much referred to by the duke of Buckingham, who was infatuated with judicial astrology. He employed him to calculate the king's and his own nativity, and was assured that his stars had promised him great things. The duke also employed Heydon in some treasonable and seditious practices, for which he was sent to the Tower. He lost much of his former reputation by telling Richard Cromwell and Thurloe, who went to him disguised like cavaliers, that Oliver would infallibly be hanged by a certain time; which he out-lived several years.