Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 23.djvu/243

Griffith of him, except that he took part during the reign of Mary in several consecrations of bishops, and notably in that of Cardinal Pole, 22 March 1556. His name does not appear in any of the state papers of the period. He signed the articles of 1536 as a member of convocation for the diocese of Rochester.

 GRIFFITH, MOSES (1724–1785), physician, son of Edward Griffith, was born at Lapidon, Shropshire, in 1724, and educated at Shrewsbury School. He entered at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1742, and afterwards studied medicine at Leyden, where he graduated M.D. in 1744. He practised for many years in London, but in 1768 retired to Colchester, where he died in March 1785. He wrote ‘Practical Observations on the Cure of the Hectic and Slow Fevers, and the Pulmonary Consumption,’ 1776. Griffith is credited with the invention of the useful compound iron mixture of the Pharmacopœia.

 GRIFFITH, MOSES (fl. 1769–1809), draughtsman and engraver, was born 6 April 1749 at Trygain House in the parish of Bryn Groer in Llein, Carnarvonshire. His parents were of humble station, and he received a very elementary education ; but, being clever with his pencil, he was taken into service by Thomas Pennant [q. v.] about 1769. Pennant helped him to study drawing and engraving, and Griffiths became his constant companion on his tours and excursions, making the drawings and engravings for Pennant's numerous works. Griffiths obtained some proficiency both as a draughtsman and engraver. On leaving Pennant's service he settled at Wibnant, near Holyhead, where he obtained plenty of employment as an engraver, He was alive in 1809, when he wrote a letter defending himself from an attack to the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ (Gent. Mag. 1809, pt. ii. 1112). Francis Grose [q. v.] employed him to engrave some of the plates in his ‘Antiquities.’

 GRIFFITH, PIERS (d. 1628), naval adventurer, son of Sir Rees Griffith of Penrhyn, sheriff of Carnarvonshire in 1567, by his second wife, Katharine, daughter of Piers Mostyn of Talacre in Flintshire, and grandson of Sir William Griffith, chamberlain of North Wales, is said by writers two hundred years later (, Tour in Wales, 1781, ii. 285;, in Observations on the Snowdon Mountains, 1802, p. 177), and apparently on no other grounds than local tradition, to have fitted out a ship against the Spanish Armada in 1588, to have sailed from Beaumaris on 20 April, to have arrived at Plymouth on 4 May, to have been honourably received by Sir Francis Drake, and to have shared in the honour of defeating the Armada. It is stated that he afterwards went with Drake and Ralegh to cruise upon the Spanish coast, and parted from Sir Francis Drake at the mouth of the Gulf of Magellan. In the reign of James I complaints are said to have been laid against him by Gondomar that he had continued his attacks on Spanish ships and possessions after the proclamation of peace, and he is said to have been obliged to sell or mortgage his estate in order to purchase his pardon or to defray the expense of his prosecution.

The story seems mainly fictitious, but portions may have a possible but unknown substratum of truth. His name has no place in the official or any other list of commanders of ships against the Spanish Armada (Western Antiquary, vii. 307), nor does he figure in any of the accounts of the fighting. Drake and Ralegh made no joint expedition either to the coast of Spain or to the West Indies, nor was Drake near the Straits of Magellan after 1588. Griffith does not seem to have been with Drake in the voyage round the world (Notes and Queries, 7th ser. iv. 186); but it is of course possible and not improbable that he may have served both against the Armada and in some other of Drake's expeditions before or after; in any case it was in some quite subordinate capacity, or as a volunteer whose name has not been distinguished. The only part of the story that receives any historical confirmation is the last. We read (Cal. State Papers, Domestic, 28 Feb. 1603) that ‘Griffith, a Welsh pirate, is taken at Cork, and his lands, worth 500l. a year, some say, are given to Lord Grey.’ As this is only a private newsletter, the details may very well be inaccurate; but if this Welsh pirate may be identified with Piers Griffith, the certain date puts an end to the story about Gondomar's complaints after the proclamation of peace. The story of his estate seems better authenticated. After being mortgaged Penrhyn was sold out-right in 1616. Griffith died on 18 Aug. 1628, and was buried in the broad aisle of Westminster Abbey. The name is variously written; but the Welsh form, Pyrs Gruffydd, is probably the most correct. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Mostyn of Mostyn (who in a second marriage had married Griffith's mother), and by her had issue three sons, who all died in their infancy, and four daughters. 