Smith, Richard
, one of the earliest book-collectors
upon record, and the Isaac Reed of his time, was the son
of Richard Smith, a clergyman, and was born at Lillingston
Dayrell, in Buckinghamshire, in 1590. He appears to
have studied for some time at Oxford, but was removed
thence by his parents, and placed as clferk with an attorney
in London, where he spent all the time he could spare from
business in reading. He became at length secondary of
the Poultry counter, a place worth 700l. a year, which he
enjoyed many years, and sold it in 1655, on the death of
his son, to whom he intended to resign it. He now retired to private life, two thirds of which, at least, Wood
says, he spent in his library. “He was a person,” adds
the same author, “infinitely curious and inquisitive after
books, and suffered nothing extraordinary to escape him
| that fell within the compass of his learning desiring to
be master of no more than he knew how to use.” If in
this last respect he differed from some modern collectors,
he was equally indefatigable in his inquiries after libraries
to be disposed of, and passed much of his time in Little
Britain and other repositories of stall-books, by which
means he accumulated a vast collection of curiosities relative to history, general and particular, politics, biography,
with many curious Mss. all which he carefully collated,
compared editions, wrote notes upon them, assigning the
authors to anonymous works, and, in short, performing all
the duties and all the drudgery of a genuine collector. He
also occasionally took up his pen, wrote a life of Hugh
Broughton, and had a short controversy with Dr. Hammond
on the sense of that article in the creed “He descended
into hell,” published in 1684. He also wrote some translations, but it does not very clearly appear from Wood,
whether these were printed. He died March 26, 1675, and
was buried in St. Giles’s Cripplegate, where a marble monument was soon afterwards erected to his memory. In
1682 his library was sold by Chiswell, the famous bookseller of St. Paul’s Church-yard, by a printed catalogue,
“to the great reluctance,” says Wood, “of public-spirited
men.” His “Obituary,” or “catalogue of all such persons as he knew in their life,” extending from 1606 to
1674, a very useful article, is printed by Peck in the second volume of his “Desiderata.” 1
This text has been generated using commercial OCR software,
and there are still many problems; it is slowly getting better
over time.
The text was scanned and OCRd several times, and
a majority version of each line of text was chosen.
Please don't reuse the content
(e.g. do not post to wikipedia)
without asking liam
at fromoldbooks dot org first (mention the colour of your socks in the subject line of the mail),
because I am still working on fixing errors.
Thanks!
Works found by this author (or others with similar names)in the Early English Books Online Collection:
An answer to Thomas Bels late challeng named by him The dovvnfal of popery wherin al his arguments are answered, his manifold vntruths, slaunders, ignorance, contradictions, and corruption of Scripture, & Fathers discouered and disproued: with one table of the articles and chapter, and an other of the more markable things conteyned in this booke. VVhat controuersies be here handled is declared in the next page. By S.R. (1605)
The prudentiall ballance of religion wherin the Catholike and protestant religion are weighed together with the weights of prudence, and right reason. The first part, in which the foresaide religions are weighed together with the weights of prudence and right reason accordinge to their first founders in our Englishe nation, S. Austin and Mar. Luther. And the Catholike religion euidently deduced through all our kings and archbishopps of Canterburie from S. Austin to our time, and the valour and vertue of our kings, and the great learninge and sanctitie of our archbishopps, together with diuers saints and miracles which in their times proued the Catholike faith; so sett downe as it may seeme also an abridgement of our ecclesiasticall histories. With a table of the bookes and chapters conteyned in this volume.Prudentiall ballance of religion. Part 1 (1609)
Of the author and substance of the protestant church and religion two bookes. Written first in Latin by R.S. Doctour of Diuinity, and now reuiewed by the author, and translated into English by VV. Bas.De auctore et essentia Protestanticae Ecclesiae et religionis libri duo. English (1621)
The life of the most honourable and vertuous lady the Lady Magdalen Viscountesse Montague written ... by Richard Smith. And now translated into English, by C. F[ursdon]..Vita illustrissimae Dominae Magdalenae Montis Acuti in Anglia vicecomitissae. English (1627)
A treatise of the sacrament of the confirmation wherein is shewed the necessary spirituall profit, and excellencie of this sacrament. Composed by W.R. (1629)
A conference of the Catholike and Protestante doctrine with the expresse words of Holie Scripture. Which is the second parte of the prudentiall balance of religion. : VVherein is clearely shewed, that in more than 260 points of controuersie, Catholicks agree with the Holie Scripture, both in words and sense: and Protestants disagree in both, and depraue both the sayings, words, and sense of Scripture. / Written first in Latin, but now augmented and translated into English.Collatio doctrinae Catholicorum ac Protestantium cum expressis S. Scripturae verbis. English. 1631 (1631)
Transubstantiation exploded: or An encounter vvith Richard the titularie Bishop of Chalcedon concerning Christ his presence at his holy table Faithfully related in a letter sent to D. Smith the Sorbonist, stiled by the Pope Ordinarie of England and Scotland. By Daniel Featley D.D. Whereunto is annexed a publique and solemne disputation held at Paris with Christopher Bagshaw D. in Theologie, and rector of Ave Marie Colledge. (1638)
Of the distinction of fvndamental and not fvndamental points of faith devided into two bookes, in the first is shewed the Protestants opinion touching that distinction, and their uncertaintie therin : in the second is shewed and proued the Catholick doctrin touching the same / by C.R. (1645)
A treatise of the best kinde of confessors by which preists [sic] in England may see how they may be, and lay Catholiks see how they may chuse the best kinde of confessors / composed by the most reverend father in God, Richard, bishop of Chalcedon, pastor of the Catholike in England. (1651)
An historical epistle of the great amitie and good offices betvvixt the popes of Rome, and kings of Great Britanie. Written to King Iames soone after his coming into England. / By Richard Smith ... (1652)
Of the al-svfficient external proposer of matters of faith. Devided into tvvo bookes In the first. Is proved, that the true church of God, is the al-sufficient external proposer of matters of faith. In the second. Is shewed the manifold uncertanities of Protestants concerning the scripture: and how scripture is, or is not, an entire rule of faith. By C. R. doctor of diuinitie. (1653)
A letter from Mr. Richard Smith to Dr. Henry Hammond, concerning the sence of that article in the creed, He descended into hell, together with Dr. Hammond's answer. (1684)
A defence of the blessed masse, and the sacrifice therof prouynge that it is auayleable both for the quycke and the dead and that by Christes owne and his apostles ordynaunce, made [and] set forth by Rycharde Smyth doctour in diuinitie, and reader of ye kynges highnes lesson of diuinitie, in his maiesties vniuersitie of Oxforde. Wherin are dyuers doubtes opened, as it were by the waye, ouer and aboue the principall, and cheyfe matter. (1546)
A playne declaration made at Oxforde the 24. daye of July, by mayster Richarde Smyth, Doctor of diuinite, vpon hys Retractation made [and] published at Paules crosse in London, in the yeare of our lorde God, D.D.xlvii. the xv. daye of May (1547)
A godly and faythfull retractation made and published at Paules crosse in London, the yeare of oure lorde God 1547. the 15. daye of May, by mayster Richard Smyth Doctor of diuinitye, and reader of the Kynges maiestyes lecture in Oxford. Reuokyng therin certeyn errors and faultes by hym committyd in some of hys bookes. (1547)
A brief treatyse settynge forth diuers truthes necessary both to be beleued of Chrysten people, & kepte also, whiche are not expressed in the Scripture but left to ye church by the apostles traditio[n] / made by Rychard Smyth ... (1547)
Of unwryten verytyes (1548)
A confutation of a certen booke, called a defence of the true, and Catholike doctrine of the sacrame[n]t, &c. sette fourth of late in the name of Thomas Archebysshoppe of Canterburye. By Rycharde Smyth, Docter of diuinite, and some tyme reader of the same in Oxforde (1550)
A bouclier of the catholike fayth of Christes church conteynyng diuers matters now of late called into controuersy, by the newe gospellers. Made by Richard Smith, doctour of diuinitee, [and] the Quenes hyghnes reader of the same I her graces vniuersite of oxford.Bouclier of the Catholike fayth. Part 1 (1554)
The seconde parte of the booke called a Bucklar of the Catholyke fayeth conteyninge seuen chapiters / made by Rychard Smyth doctoure of diuinitie of Oxforde, & reader of the same there. (1555)
![[the book]](../../g/51rFyHAIlKL._SL160_.jpg)
