, an eminent antiquary, was a native of Antwerp, and born in the end of the sixteenth
, an eminent antiquary, was a native of Antwerp, and born in the end of the sixteenth century. He studied at Louvain, where he took his master’s degree in 1596, and became professor of rhetoric and law in that university. He was afterwards historiographer to the Low Countries, and for three years employed himself in examining their records. He them travelled through the greater part of Germany and Italy, but, while proceeding from the latter country to Spain, he was unfortunately made captive by an Algerine corsair, and carried to Africa. How he obtained his release does not appear, but upon his return to his native land he was preferred by the archduke Albert to be dean of the collegiate church of Leusa, in Heinault, and afterwards by the same patronage was made president of the college at Louvain. Some years after he travelled into Moravia and Silesia, and
, a learned philologist, antiquary, and historian of Copenhagen, was born at Aalburg in Jutland,
, a learned philologist, antiquary, and
historian of Copenhagen, was born at Aalburg in Jutland,
Oct. 28, 1685. His father, who was a clergyman, carefully
superintended his education until he was fit to go to the
university. He went accordingly in 1703 to Copenhagen,
where he very soon distinguished himself as a classical
scholar and critic. In 1705 he took his bachelor’s degree
with great credit, and in 1707 published the first specimen of his learned researches, entitled “Archytce Tarentini fragmentum ntp vw pafapalucw, cum disquisitione chronologica de aetate Archytse.
” This was followed by other
dissertations, which raised his fame so highly that he was
made professor of Greek at Copenhagen, and was also
appointed counsellor of justice, archivist, historiographer,
and librarian, to the king, whom he had taught when a
youth. In 1745, he was made counsellor of state, and
died March 19, 1748, leaving an elaborate work, “Corpus
diplomatum ad res Danicas facientium.
” This work, which
he undertook by order of Christian VI. is still in ms. and
probably consists of several folio volumes. Gramm laid
the first foundation of the academy at Copenhagen, and
contributed very frequently to the literary journals of his
time. He was a man of very extensive learning, but particularly skilled in Greek and Latin, and in history, and
of such ready memory that he was never consulted on
books or matters of literature without giving immediate
information. He corresponded with many of the literati of
Germany, England, Italy, and France, but was most admired by those who were witnesses of his amiable private
character, his love of literature, and his generous patronage
of young students.
, a very eminent French antiquary and lawyer, was born at Nismes in the beginning of 1635, and
, a very eminent French antiquary and lawyer, was born at Nismes in the beginning of
1635, and being educated for the profession of the law,
became an advocate of the parliament of Toulouse, and of
the presidial court of Nismes, and director and secretary of
the academy of that place. During his researches into
matters of history and antiquities, he made a very fine collection of medals and manuscripts, among which were the
originals of the proceedings of the popish inquisitors
against the Albigenses. So highly was Graverol esteemed
for learning, that no strangers of distinction visited Nismes
without paying their respects to him, and such was his reputation in Italy that, in 1691, he was elected an associate
of the Ricovrati of Padua; and when the states of Languedoc formed the plan of collecting their records respecting
their fiefs and seignories, they considered Graverol as the
only person fit to execute the work, which he was earnestly
requested to undertake by the cardinal Bonzi. But his
adherence to the protestant religion impeded his advancement in life, and involved him in serious troubles. He
retired first to Orange in 1685, where he was very favourably received, but not thinking that a place of safety, left
it for Swisserland or Holland. During this journey he
was arrested and confined at Montpellier for about two
months. After this he must have been released, and permitted to go home, as we find he died at Nismes Sept. 10,
1694. Among the works which contributed most to his
reputation, are, 1. “Observations sur les arrets du parlement de Toulouse recueillespar la Rochefiavin,
” Toulouse,
Notice ou abrege historique des vingt-deux
villes chefs des dioceses de la province de Languecloc,
” 1
posthumous work published in 1696. 3. “Sorberiana,
sive excerpta ex ore Samuelis Sorbiere,
” Toulouse, Sorberiana.
” In the Journal des Savans
for March Bibliotheque du Languedoc,
” a kind of literary journal, in.
which he was to give the lives of the eminent men of that
province, and particulars of its history, &c.
raves, esq. of Mickleton, in Gloucestershire, where he was born in 1715. His father, who was an able antiquary, died in 1729. His son, Richard, was educated partly at home,
, an English divine and miscellaneous writer, was a younger son of Richard Graves, esq. of Mickleton, in Gloucestershire, where he was born in 1715. His father, who was an able antiquary, died in 1729. His son, Richard, was educated partly at home, under the rev. Mr.Smith, curate of the parish in which his father resided, and partly at a public school at Abingdon, in Berkshire, whence, at the age of sixteen, he was chosen a scholar of Pembroke college, Oxford. Soon after his arrival he joined a party of young men who met in the evening to read Epictetus, Theophrastus, and other Greek authors, seldom read at schools; and a short time after became the associate of his contemporaries, Shenstone the poet, and Anthony Whistler, who used to meet to read poetry, plays, and other light works. In 1736 he was elected a fellow of All Souls college, where he acquired the particular intimacy of sir William Blackstone; but instead of pursuing the study of divinity, according to his original intention, he now devoted his attention to physic, and attended in London two courses of anatomy. A severe illness, however, induced him to resume the study of divinity, and in 1740, after taking his master’s degree, he entered into holy orders. About the same time he removed with Mr. Fitzherbert, fatlier of lord St. Helen’s, to the estate of that gentleman at Tissington, in Derbyshire, where he remained three years enjoying in his house the highest pleasures of refined society. At the end of that period, he set off‘ to make the tour of the north, and while at Scarborough, accidentally met with a distant relation, Dr. Samuel Knight, archdeacon of Berkshire, and the author of the Lives of Colet and Erasmus, by whose recommendation he obtained a curacy near Oxford. This was particularly gratifying to Mr. Graves, who was then coming, by turn, into office in the college, and had been for some time desirous of procuring such a situation. He immediately took possession of his curacy, but as the parsonage-house was out of repair, he took a lodging with a gentleman -farmer in the neighbourhood. The attractions of the farmer’s youngest daughter made such a powerful impression on the heart of Mr. Graves that he resigned his fellowship and married her. After residing about two years on his curacy, he was presented by Mr. Skrine to the rectory of Claverton, where he went to reside in 1750, and till his death, was never absent from it a month at a time. As the narrowness of his circumstances obliged him to superintend in person the education of his children, he likewise -resolved to take other pupils under his tuition; and this practice he continued, with great credit to himself, upwards of thirty years. In 1763, through the interest of Ralph Allen, esq. of Prior-Park, he was presented to the living of Kilmersdon, in addition to tbat of Claverton, and that gentleman likewise procured him the appointment of chaplain to lady Chatham. His conversation was rendered highly agreeable by that epigrammatic turn which points his writings of the lighter kind. His constant good humour rendered him an acceptable companion in every society, his colloquial impromptus being frequently as happy as the jeux d’e^prit of his pen, while both were invariably the unmeditated effusions of a sportive fancy and guileless heart. He died at Claverton, Nov. 23, 1804, at the advanced age of ninety.
, an eminent mathematician and antiquary, was eldest son of John Greaves, rector of Colmore, near Alresford,
, an eminent mathematician and antiquary, was eldest son of John Greaves, rector of Colmore, near Alresford, in Hampshire, where, his son was born in 1602, and probably instructed in grammar learning by his father, who was the most celebrated school-master in that country. At fi/teen years of age he was sent to Baliol college, in Oxford, where he proceeded B. A. July 6, 1621. -Three years after, his superiority in classical learning procured him the first place of five in an election to a fellowship of Merton-college. On June 25, 1628, he commenced M. A. and, having completed his fellowship, was more at liberty to pursue the bent of his inclination, which leading him chiefly to oriental learning and the mathematics, he quickly distinguished himself in each of these studies; and his eminent skill in the latter procured him the professorship of geometry in Gresham college, which he obtained February 22^ 1630.
Desiderata,“and” Life of Cromwell," and collected some materials for a Life of Baker, the Cambridge antiquary, which were afterwards enlarged and published by the rev. Robert
, LL. D. an English divine, and miscellaneous writer, was of a Yorkshire family, originally
from France. He was born in 1687, and was admitted a
pensioner in Jesus college, Cambridge, April 18, 1704,
but afterwards removed to Trinity-ball, where he was admitted scholar of the house, Jan. 6, 1706-7; LL. B. 1709
LL. D. 1720; and though he was never fellow of that
college, he was elected one of the trustees for Mr. Ayloffe’s benefaction to it. He was rector of Houghton
Conquest in Bedfordshire: and vicar of St. Peter’s and St.
Giles’s parishes in Cambridge, where he usually passed
the winter, and the rest of his time at Ampthill, the neighbouring market-town to his living. He died Nov. 25, 1766,
at Ampthill, and was buried at Houghton Conquest. Very
little of his history has descended to us. How he spent
his life will appear by a list of his works. He is said to
have been of a most amiable, sweet, and communicative
disposition; most friendly to his acquaintance, and never
better pleased than when performing acts of friendship
and benevolence. Being in the commission of the peace,
and a man of reputable character, he was much courted
for his interest in elections. He was not, however, very
active on those occasions, preferring literary retirement.
His works were, 1. “A Vindication of the Church of England, in answer to Mr. Pearce’s Vindication of the Dis^
senters; by a Presbyter of the Church of England.
” Presbyterian Prejudice displayed,
” A pair of clean Shoes and Boots for a Dirty Baronet;
or an answer to Sir Richard Cox,
” The
Knight of Dumbleton foiled at his own weapons, &c. In a
Letter to Sir Richard Cocks, knt. By a Gentleman and
no Knight,
” A Century of eminent Presbyterians: or a Collection of Choice Sayings, from the public sermons before the two houses, from Nov. 1641 to Jan.
31, 1648, the day after the king was beheaded. By a
Lover of Episcopacy,
” A Letter of Thanks to
Mr. Benjamin Bennet,
” A memorial of the Reformation,
” full of gross prejudices
against the established church, and “A defence of it.
”
7. “A Caveat against Mr. Benj. Bennet, a mere pretender to history and criticism. By a lover of history,
” A Defence of our ancient and modern Historians against the frivolous cavils of a late pretender to.
Critical History, in which the false quotations smd unjust
inferences of the anonymous author are confuted and exposed in the manner they deserve, la two parts,
” A Review of Dr. Zachary Grey’s Defence
of our ancient and modern historians. Wherein, instead
of dwelling upon his frivolous cavils, false quotations, unjust inferences, &c it is proved (to his glory be it spoken)
that there is not a book in the English tongue, which contains so many falsehoods in so many pages. Nori vitiosus
homo es, Zachary, sed vitium. By the author,
” &c. y. “An
Appendix by way of Answer to the Critical Historian’s
Review,
” 1725. 11.
” The Ministry of the
Dissenters proved to be null and void from Scripture and
antiquity,“1725. 12. In 1732 he wrote a preface to his
relation dean Moss’s sermons,
” by a learned hand.“Mr.
Masters in his history of C. C. C. C. ascribes this to Dr.
Snape, who might perhaps have been editor of the sermons, but it was written by Dr. Grey. 13.
” The spirit
of Infidelity detected, in answer to Barbeyrac, with a defence of Dr. Waterland,“1735, 8vo. 14.
” English Presbyterian eloquence. By an admirer of monarchy and episcopacy,“1736, 8vo. 15.
” Examination of Dr. Chandler’s
History of Persecution,“1736, 8vo. 16.
” The true picture
of Quakerism,“1736. 17.
” Caveat against the Dissenters,“1736, 8vo. 18.
” An impartial Examination of the
second volume of Mr. Daniel Neal’s History of the Puritans,“1736, 8vo. The first volume of Neal had been examined by Dr. Madox, assisted in some degree by Dr.
Grey, who published his examination of the third volume
in 1737, and that of the fourth in 1739. J 9.
” An examination of the fourteenth chapter of Sir Isaac Newton’s
Observations upon the prophecies of Daniel,“1736, 8vo.
This is in answer to sir Isaac’s notion of the rise of Saintworship. 20.
” An attempt towards the character of the
Royal Martyr, king Charles I.; from authentic vouchers,“1738. 21.
” Schismatics delineated from authentic vouchers, in reply to Neal, with Dowsing' s Journal, &c. By
Philalethes Cantabrigiensis,“1739, 8vo. 22.
” The Quakers and Methodists compared,“&c. 1740. 23.
” A Review of Mr. Daniel Neil’s History of the Puritans, with a
Postscript. In a letter to Mr. David Jennings;“a pamphlet, Cambridge, 174-4. 24.
” Hudibras with large annotations, and a prelate,“&c. 1744, 2 vols. 8vo. 2b.
” A
serious address to Lay Methodists: by a sincere Protestant,“1745, 8vo. 27.
” Popery in its proper colours, with a list
of Saints invocated in England before the Reformation,“17, 8vo. 28,
” Remarks upon a late edition of Shakspeare, with a long string of emendations borrowed by the
celebrated editor from the Oxford edition without acknowledgement. To which is prefixed, a Defence of the late
sir Thomas Hanmer, bart. addressed to the rev. Mr. Warburton, preacher of Lincoln’s-Inn,“8vo, no date, but
about 1745. 29.
” A word or two of Advice to William
Warburton, a dealer in many words; by a friend. With
an Appendix, containing a taste of William’s Spirit of Railing,“1746, 8vo. 30.
” A free and familiar Letter to that
great refiner of Pope and Shakspeare, the rev. William
Warburton, preacher at Lincoln’s-Inn. With Remarks
upon the epistle of friend W. E. (query if not T. E. i. e. Thomas Edwards). In which his unhandsome treatment of
this celebrated writer is exposed in the manner it deserves.
By a Country Curate,“1750, 8vo, 31.
” A Supplement
to Hudibras,“1752, 8vo. 32.
” Critical, historical, and
explanatory notes on Shakspeare, with emendations on the
text and metre,“1755, 2 vols. 8vo. 33.
” Chronological
account of Earthquakes,“1757, 8vo. In 1756 he assisted
iVIr. Whalley in his edition of Shakspeare; he had also contributed to Mr. Peck’s
” Desiderata,“and
” Life of Cromwell," and collected some materials for a Life of Baker,
the Cambridge antiquary, which were afterwards enlarged
and published by the rev. Robert Masters. Dr. Grey left
some other Mss. and a collection of letters, now in Mr.
Nichols’s possession.
t of this example, therefore, is due to Grey, and is that on which his fame as a writer and literary antiquary will rest, long after his other publications, with the exception
The above attack by Warburton produced, from Dr. Grey,
the pamphlets mentioned above, No. 28, 29, and 30, in which
there is much of the grossness as well as the acuteness of
the controversial spirit. Warburton’s conduct, however,
appears wanton and unprovoked, for he not only was at
one time on good terms with Grey, and had himself some
thoughts of illustrating Hudibras, but had actually supplied
Grey with the result of his own inquiries, and was therefore a contributor to “so execrable an heap of nonsense;
”
for which Grey makes very grateful acknowledgment in his
preface. To account for Warburton’s contempt for a commentator whom he had thus assisted, and for a plan which
he meant to have executed (perhaps as he executed his plan on Shakspeare), we are inclined to prefer the
conjeeture of a gentleman whom extensive reading, reflection,
and taste have constituted an able umpire in literary quarrels. Mr. D'Israeli thinks that V/arburton’s motive was
jealousy, and that “though he had naif reluctantly yielded
the few notes he had prepared, his proud heart sickened
when he beheld the amazing subscription Grey obtained
for his first edition of Hudibras he received for that work
1500l. a proof that J;his publication was felt as a want by
the public.
” Grey, “however, may be entitled to a higher
merit than that of gratifying the public taste by his edition
of Hudibras. He was unquestionably the founder of that
species of commentary which has since been so successfully employed in illustrating Shakspeare, by bringing together all the information, the contemporary writing, and
the style, manners, prejudices, and peculiarities of the
age, however distant, in which the author to be explained
wrote. And although this example has been followed,
perhaps in some instances, to a degree of minuteness that
exposes the commentator to the ridicule of the wits, and
although it must be allowed that some of the Shakspeare
commentators have
” bestowed all their tediousness“upon
us with a too liberal hand, yet it cannot be controverted,
that they have pursued the only just and legitimate process
for elucidating the writings of distant ages. The merit of
this example, therefore, is due to Grey, and is that on
which his fame as a writer and literary antiquary will rest,
long after his other publications, with the exception perhaps of his Examinations of Neal, are forgotten. He had
also made some progress in an edition of Shakspeare upon
the plan of his Hudibras, which we presume his advanced
age prevented his completing. What he had collected,
however, appeared in his
” Critical, historical, and explanatory notes“above-mentioned. Of this work Dr.
Johnson says that
” what Dr. Grey undertook he has well
enough performed, but as he neither attempts judicial nor
emendatory criticism, he employs rather his memory than
his sagacity;“and he adds,
” It were to be wished that
all would endeavour to imitate his modesty, who have not
been able to surpass his knowledge?."
, an eminent English antiquary, was the son of Mr. Francis Grose, of Richmond, jeweller, who
, an eminent English antiquary, was the son of Mr. Francis Grose, of Richmond, jeweller, who died in 1769. He was born in 1731, and having a taste for heraldry and antiquities, his father procured him a place in the college of arms, which, however, he resigned in 1763. By his father he was left an independent fortune, which he was not of a disposition to add to, or even to -reserve. He early entered into the Surrey militia, of which he became adjutant and paymaster; but so much had dissipation taken possession of him, that in a situation which above all others required attention, he was so careless as to have for some time (as he used pleasantly to tell) only two books of accounts, viz. his right and left hand pockets. In the one he received, and from the other paid; and this too with a want of circumspection which may be readily supposed from such a mode of book keeping. His losses on this occasion roused his latent talents: with a good classical education he united a fine taste for drawing, which he now began again to cultivate; and encouraged by his friends, he undertook the work from which be derived both profit and reputation: his Views of Antiquities in England and Wales, which he first began to publish in numbers in 1773, and finished in 1776. The next year he added two more volumes to his English views, in which he included the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, which were completed in 1787. This work, which was executed with accuracy and elegance, soon became a favourite with the public at large, as well as with professed antiquaries, from the neatness of the embellishments, and the succinct manner in which he conveyed his information, and therefore answered his most sanguine expectations; and, from the time he began it to the end of his life, he continued without intermission to publish various works, generally to the advantage of his literary reputation, and almost always to the benefit of his finances. His wit and good-humour were the abundant source of satisfaction to himself and entertainment to his friends. He visited almost every part of the kingdom, and was a welcome guest wherever he went. In the summer of 1789 he set out on a tour in Scotland the result of which he began to communicate to the public in 1790, in numbers. Before he had concluded this work, he proceeded to Ireland, intending to furnish that kingdom with views and descriptions of her antiquities, in the same manner he had executed those of Great Britain; but soon after his arrival in Dublin, being at the house of Mr. Hone there, he suddenly was seized at table with an apoplecticfit, on the 6th May 1791, and died immediately. He was interred in Dublin.
, a French antiquary and polite writer, was born at Troyes Nov. 18, 1718, and was
, a French antiquary and polite writer, was born at Troyes Nov. 18, 1718, and was
educated in the profession of the law, but a decided turn
for literary pursuits interrupted his legal studies, and induced him, in search of knowledge, to travel twice into
Italy, twice into England, and once into Holland, besides
passing a considerable part of every year at Paris, where
he was received into the best company, but would never
settle. His disposition appears to have been amiable and
liberal, as when yet a youth he gave up a legacy of 40,000
livres in favour of his sister. At his own expence, too, he
undertook to embellish the saloon of the town house of his
native city, Troyes, with marble busts of the eminent
natives of that city, executed by Vasse, the king’s sculptor; and the first put up were those of Pithou, le Comte,
Passerat, Girardon, and Mignard. He died in that city,
Nov. 4, 1785, being then an associate of the academy of
inscriptions and belles lettres, and a member of our royal
society. His principal works are, 1. “Recherches pour
Fhistoire du Droit Francois,
” Paris, Vie de Pithou,
” ibid. Observations de deux gentil-hommes Stiedou
sur l'Italie,
” Londres,
” Essais historiques sur la
Champagne.
” 6. “Ephemerides Troyennes,
” continued
for several years, and containing papers relative to the
history of Troyes. He had also a part in the “Memoires
de Pacademie de Troyes,
” and in the last translation of
Davila; and was an useful contributor to the “Journal Encyclopedique,
” from Dictionnaire Historique.
” A Life, written by himself, and some
posthumous pieces, have been lately published,
bscription his” Posthumous Works,“1740, in 4 vols. 8vo. Gruchius, or Grouciii (Nicholas), an eminent antiquary in the sixteenth century, descended from a noble family of Rouen,
In 1725 he lost his partner in the academy, the rev.
Mr. James; and was now obliged to take the students in,
divinity under his direction. In the execution of this, task
he confined himself to no system in divinity, but directed
his pupils to the best writers on natural and revealed religion, and an impartial consideration of the chief controversies. He likewise succeeded Mr. James in his pastoral
charge at Fullwood^ near Taunton, in which he continued
till his death. In 1730 he published “The Evidence of
our Saviour’s Resurrection considered,
” and the same
year, “Some Thoughts concerning the Proof of a future
State from Reason,
” in answer to the rev. Mr. Hallet, junior, which drew him into a dispute on the point with
that divine. In this controversy he was thought to disparage the necessity of revelation in regard to that proof.
In 1732 he printed “A Discourse concerning the Nature
and Design of the Lord’s Supper,
” where he set that institution in the same light with bishop Hoadly. In 173-1he published, without his name, “Wisdom the first Spring
of Action in the Deity,
” which was animadverted on, as
to some particulars, by Mr. Balguy, who, however, allowed the discourse in general to abound in solid remarks
and sound reasonings. In 1736 he published “A Discourse on saving Faith.
” The same year he met with a heavy
affliction, in the death of his wife; and a little more than
a year after this, he died himself; for, having preached
on February 19, 1737-8, and with such an uncommon flow
of spirits as he said he could hardly govern, he was violentlyseized at night with a fever, which carried him off upon
the 27th. His friends erected a handsome monument over
his grave, on which is a Latin inscription composed by the
late Dr. Ward, rhetoric-professor at Gresham-college, who
has also obliged the world with an English version of it.
Besides the works already mentioned, he published many
sermons upon several occasions, and also a volume of
(i Miscellanies in prose and verse.“After his death came out by subscription his
” Posthumous Works,“1740, in 4 vols. 8vo. Gruchius, or Grouciii (Nicholas), an eminent
antiquary in the sixteenth century, descended from a noble
family of Rouen, was the first who explained Aristotle in
Greek. He taught with reputation at Paris, Bourdeaux,
and Coimbra, and, on his return to France, went to Rochelle, where a college was intended to be established, and
where he died in January 1572, leaving many works. The
most known are, a translation of F. L. de Castagneda’s
” History of the Indies,“Paris, 1554, 4to; a treatise
” De
Comitiis Romanorum," 1555, fol.; and some pieces against
Sigonius, fol. which Sigonius did not answer till he heard
of the author’s death.
, a French antiquary, and counsellor of the presidial court of Nismes, was born in
, a French antiquary, and counsellor of the presidial court of Nismes, was born in that
city in 1600, of protestant parents, and early acquired a
reputation for learning and probity. The court frequently
employed him in affairs of importance, in all which he acquitted himself with ability. Henry Frederic of Nassau,
prince of Orange, having appointed him counsellor of the
parliament of that city, Louis XIV. permitted him to retain with it his office in the presidial of Nismes, one of the
most considerable of the kind in that kingdom. He died
at Nismes, in 1680. His antiquarian pursuits produced a
dissertation entitled, 1. “Explicatio duorum vetustorum
numismatum Nemausensium ex sere,
” Thesaurus.
” 2.
“Recherches historiques et chronologiques, concernant
l'etablissement et la suite de seuechaux de Beaucaire et
de Nimes,
”
rst education at the king’s school in Canterbury, where he commenced an acquaintance with Somner the antiquary, his school -fellow. At fifteen he was removed to Clare-hall,
, bishop of Ely, was the son of Peter Gunning, vicar of Hoo, in Kent, and born there in 1613. He had his first education at the king’s school in Canterbury, where he commenced an acquaintance with Somner the antiquary, his school -fellow. At fifteen he was removed to Clare-hall, in Cambridge, was promoted to a fellowship in 1633, and became an eminent tutor in the college. Soon after he commenced M. A. and had taken orders, he had the cure of Little St. Mary’s from the master and fellows of Peter-house. He acquired much fame as a preacher, and was licensed as such by the university in 1641, when he distinguished himself by his zeal for the church and king, particularly by protesting publicly against the faction, when most formidable, and urging the university to publish a formal protestation against the rebellious league, in a sermon at St. Mary’s. About the same time, paying a visit to his mother at Tunbridge, he exhorted the people, in two sermons, to make a charitable contribution for the relief of the king’s forces there; which conduct rendered him obnoxious to the powers then in being, who imprisoned him for a short time, and, on his refusing to take the covenant, deprived him of his fellowship. This obliged him to leave the university, but not before he had drawn up a treatise against the covenant, with the assistance of some of his friends, who took care to publish it.
atomy formed his studies of relaxation while at Cambridge, his companion in which was the celebrated antiquary Dr. Stukeley. He was advanced successively to the perpetual
, an eminent natural philosopher, particularly distinguished by his experiments on the physiology of plants, was the sixth son of Thomas Hales, esq. of Beakeborn, or Beckesbourn, Kent, and grandson of sir Robert Hales, bart. of Beckesbourn, where he was born, Sept. 17, 1677, and was admitted a pensioner of Bene't college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Mr. Moss, June 19, 1696, where, after taking his first degree in arts, he was admitted a fellow, Fob. 25, 1702-3. He proceeded M. A. at the next commencement, and was admitted B. D. in 1711. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by the university of Oxford in 1733. Botany and anatomy formed his studies of relaxation while at Cambridge, his companion in which was the celebrated antiquary Dr. Stukeley. He was advanced successively to the perpetual curacy of Teddington, Middlesex, and to the livings of Portlock, Somersetshire, and Farringdon, Hampshire. He married Mary, the daughter and heiress of Dr. Henry Newce of Much-Hadham, in the county of Hertford, and rector of Halisham in Sussex. This lady died at the end of two years, leaving no issue, nor did he ever marry strain. He resided to the end of his life at Teddington, wliere he was visited by persons of rank and taste, amongst others by Frederick late prince of Wales, after whose death Dr. Hales was made clerk of the closet to the princess dowager, who always entertained a high respect for him, and after his decease erected a handsome monument to his memory in Westminster-abbey, near that of Handel. On this is liis bust in a large medallion, supported by a female figure representing Botany, accompanied by Religion. The epitaph is in Latin. He refused a canonry 01 Windsor, that he migbt continue to devote himself to his parochial duties, and his favourite scientific pursuits; and as piety, truth, and virtue were the principles of his character, he lived in universal esteem to the age of eighty-four, dying at Teddington, January 4, 1761, where he was buried, under the church tower, which he had rebuilt at his own expence.
is beneath criticism, but, as a record of facts, is highly interesting to the English historian and antiquary. It was first printed by Grafton in 1543, with a continuation
Actively as Harding was engaged in public life, he
found time to gather materials lor his “Chronicle,
”, and
appears to have finished the first composition of it toward
the latter en4 of the minority of king Henry VI. The
Lansdowne manuscript closes with the life of sir Robert
Umfravile, who died, according to Dugdale, Jan. 27, 1436,
and under whom Harding seems to have lived in his latter
years as constable of Kyme castle in Lincolnshire. Of
the rewards which he received for his services, we find only
a grant for life often pounds per annum out of the manor
or alien preceptory of Wyloughton in the county of Lincoln, in the eighteenth year of Henry VI.; and in 1457 he
had a pension of twenty pounds a year for life by letters
patent, charged upon the revenues of the county of Lin.,
coin. During his latter days he appears to have re-composed his “Chronicle
” for Richard duke of York, father
to king Edward IV. who was slain in the battle of Wakefield, Dec. 31, 1460. It was afterwards presented to king
Edward IV. himself. The history comes no lower than
the flight of Henry VI. to Scotland, but from “the excusacion
” touching his “defaultes,
” in which the q‘ueen’is
mentioned, it is evident that Harding could not have
finished his work before 1465. How long he survived its
completion is unknown, but he must then have been at
least eighty-seven years of age. His “Chronicle of England unto the reign of king Edward IV.
” is in verse, and as
a metrical composition is beneath criticism, but, as a record of facts, is highly interesting to the English historian
and antiquary. It was first printed by Grafton in 1543,
with a continuation by the same, to the thirty-fourth year
of Henry VIII. This has been long ranked among the most
rare and expensive of our Chronicles, but those who prefer use to mere antiquity, will set a higher value on the
edition printed in 1812 by the booksellers of London,
Henry Ellis, esq. the learned editor of this edition, has
prefixed a biographical and literary preface, to which the
preceding account is much indebted, and has carefully
collated Harding' s part of the “Chronicle
” with two manuscripts of the author’s own time, the Lansdowne and the
Harleian, both which are in the British Museum; and
Grafton’s addition has been collated with his duplicate
edition.^ It is noticed by Mr. Ellis as a very singular fact,
that there should be two editions of Harding, both printed
by Grafton in the month of January 1543, differing in
almost every page, and one, in Grafton’s own portion of
the work, containing (in the reign of Henry VIII.) no less
than twenty-nine pages more than the other.
this, although intended for publication, has not yet appeared. He was a very profound and judicious antiquary, particularly in what concerned English law and history. At
At Eton and Cambridge, he had the fame of the most
eminent scholar of his time, and wrote Latin verse with
great elegance. When at Cambridge he was at the head
of the whig party, which happened to prevail in a contest
respecting the expulsion of a student, who, in one of the
college exercises had offended the tories. In this contest
he made himself master of the law and custom of visitatorial power, which he discussed in a very masterly essay;
but this, although intended for publication, has not yet
appeared. He was a very profound and judicious antiquary, particularly in what concerned English law and history. At the request of William duke of Cumberland (to whom he had been appointed, in Dec. 1732, law-reader, and was afterwards his attorney-general), he wrote a very
learned memorial upon the regency (when that subject was agitated in the last reign), which lord Hardwicke called
“an invaluable work.
” It was by Mr. Hardinge' s advice
and encouragement that Mr. Stuart undertook his journey
to Athens, with a view of illustrating the history of that
city. His diligence, accuracy, knowledge, and skill, in the
office of clerk to the House of commons, were never exceeded. He put the “Journals
” into their present form;
and drew up a very able report of the condition in which
he found them. In his office of secretary he was laborious,
able, and zealous; and so honest, that he had many enemies. He was chosen representative for the borough of
Eye in parliament in 1748 and 1754, and was a very useful
member; but had no talents or courage for eloquence,
though his taste in estimating it was exquisite.
t. digested into four bookes,“8vo. The” NugEe Antique," a miscellaneous collection of his works, and antiquary collections and letters in prose and verse, was published some
Sir John died in 1612. His lady, Mary, daughter of
sir George Rogers, survived him till 1634. In his
epigrams are several to his mother-in-law lady Rogers. These
Epigrams“were the most popular of his works, although
they cannot now be allowed much poetical merit. They
were first published in 1618, and afterwards in 1625, under
the title of
” The most elegant and witty epigrams of sir
John Harrington, knt. digested into four bookes,“8vo.
The
” NugEe Antique," a miscellaneous collection of his
works, and antiquary collections and letters in prose and
verse, was published some years ago, by the rev. IJertry
Harrington of Bath, in whose family the papers were; of
these a’second edition was published in 1792, 3 vols. 12mo,
and a third with most valuable additions and improvements, in 1804, 2 vols. 8vo, by Thomas Park, F. S. A. with
illustrative notes and memoirs of the author.
and its being compiled “after the manner of Bayle.” Hatcher, however, he informs us, was a very able antiquary, and a learned and pious man. He published the epistles and
, the son of Dr. Hatcher, regius
professor of physic in Cambridge, and physician to queen
Mary, flourished in the sixteenth century, but of his birth,
or death we have no dates. He became a fellow of Eton
college in 1555. He is said to have left that fur Gray’s
inn, and to have afterwards studied physic. He compiled
some memoirs of the eminent persons educated in Eton
college, in two books, in a catalogue of all the provosts,
fellows, and scholars, to the year 1572. Mr. Harwood
acknowledges his obligations to this work, but leaves us at
a loss to understand its being compiled “after the manner
of Bayle.
” Hatcher, however, he informs us, was a very
able antiquary, and a learned and pious man. He published the epistles and orations of his fellow-collegian,
Walter Haddon, in a book entitled “Lucubrationes.
” He
died in Lincolnshire.
s erected over his grave, (destroyed in the fire of London) with an inscription to his memory, as an antiquary, a teacher, and a man of peace. He bequeathed his books to the
, a learned schoolmaster, the son of
Robert Hayne, of Thrussington, in Leicestershire, was
born probably in that parish, in 1581, and in 1599 was
entered of Lincoln-college, Oxford, where, being under
the care of an excellent tutor, he obtained great knowledge in philosophy, to which, and his other studies, he
was the more at leisure to give diligent application, as he
was, by a lameness almost from his birth, prevented from
enjoying the recreations of youth. In 1604 he took his
bachelor’s degree, and became one of the ushers of merchant taylors’ school, London: and after taking the degree
of master, was usher at Christ’s hospital. He was a noted
critic, an excellent linguist, and a solid divine, highly respected by men of learning, and particularly by Selden.
He died July 27, 1645, and was buried in Christ-church,
London, where a monument was erected over his grave,
(destroyed in the fire of London) with an inscription to his
memory, as an antiquary, a teacher, and a man of peace.
He bequeathed his books to the library at Leicester (which is commemorated in an inscription in that place), except a
few which he left to the library at Westminster. He gave
also 400l. to be bestowed in buying lands or houses, in or
near Leicester, of the yearly value of 24l. for ever, for the
maintenance of a schoolmaster in Thrussington, or some
town near thereto, to teach ten poor children, &c. Fifteen are now educated in this school. He founded also
two scholarships in Lincoln-college, the scholars to come
from the free-school at Leicester, or in defect of that, from
the school at Melton, &c. Several other acts of charity
are included in his will. His works are, I. “Grammatices
Latinae Compendium, 1637, reprinted in 1649, 8vo, with
two appendices. 2.
” Linguarum cognatio, seu de linguis
in genere,“&c. Lond. 1639, 8vo. 3.
” Pax in terra;
seu tractatus de pace ecclesiastica,“ibid. 1639, 8vo.
4.
” The equal ways of God, in rectifying the unequal
ways of man,“ibid. 1639, 8vo. 5.
” General View of
the Holy Scriptures or the times, places, and persons of
the Holy Scripture,“&c. ibid. 1640, fol. 6.
” Life and
Death of Dr. Martin Lutlier," ibid. 1641, 4to.
, an eminent English antiquary, and indefatigable collector and editor of books and manuscripts,
, an eminent English antiquary,
and indefatigable collector and editor of books and manuscripts, was the son of George Hearne, parish-clerk of
White Waltham, Berkshire, by Edith, daughter of Thomas
Wise. He was born at Littlefteld-green in the above
parish, in 1678, and baptised July 11th of that year. He
appears to have been born with a taste for those researches
which formed afterwards the business of his life; and even
when he had but attained a knowledge of the alphabet,
was seen continually poring over the old tomb-stones in
the church-yard. As to education, he had very little. His
father, who kept a writing-school, and who, as parishclerk, was also a kind of amanuensis to the illiterate part of
his neighbours, could teach him English and writing, in
both which he made considerable proficiency; but he had
other children, and, instead of being able to place Thomas
at any superior school, was obliged to let him earn his
subsistence as a day-labourer. His natural abilities, however,
appeared through this disadvantage, and his being a better
reader and writer than could have been expected from his
scanty opportunities, recommended him to the kind attention of an early patron, whom he calls “that pious and
learned gentleman Francis Cherry, esq.
” By this gentleman, in whose house he was for some time a menial servant, he was placed at the free-school of Bray in Berkshire,
in the beginning of 1693, and rewarded his care by such
diligent application, as to acquire an accurate knowledge
of Greek and Latin. He was on this account much respected both by the master and his fellow-scholars, who
were accustomed to consult him in their little difficulties,
and used to listen to his information respecting English
history, which his original taste had led him to study as
he found opportunity.
His patron, Mr. Cherry, pleased with the happy effects of his care, determined to take our young antiquary into his house, and maintain him as his son. In this it is said
His patron, Mr. Cherry, pleased with the happy effects of his care, determined to take our young antiquary into his house, and maintain him as his son. In this it is said he partly followed the advice of the learned Mr. Dodwell, who then lived in the neighbourhood, and had probably watched the progress of Hearne’s education. He was accordingly taken into Mr. Cherry’s house about Easter 1695, and his studies in classical learning promoted by this gentleman, or by Mr. Dodwell, both taking that trouble with him, which, from his diligence and apt memory, they foresaw would not be lost. With the same benevolent views, Mr. Cherry sent him to Oxford, where, in Michaelmas term of the above year, he was entered of Edmundhall, but returned immediately after his matriculation, and pursued his studies both at Mr. Cherry’s, and at the school of Bray.
ry; and accordingly we find Dr. Kennet endeavouring to render the office palatable, by informing our antiquary, that besides the stipend, &c. he was to have a library worth
Irr act term 1699, he took his bachelor’s degree, soon
after which a proposal was made to him by Dr. Kennet to
go to Maryland, as one of Dr. Bray’s missionaries. What
particular fitness Dr. Kennet discovered in Hearne for a
situation of this kind we know not. He says, indeed, that
he mentioned him as “a man of a pious, sober, and studious inclination,
” but we are much mistaken if Hearne’s
habits were not at this time irreconcileahle with the functions of a missionary; and accordingly we find Dr. Kennet endeavouring to render the office palatable, by informing our antiquary, that besides the stipend, &c. he was to
have a library worth 50l. was to be librarian to the whole
province, and visitor of all the public libraries.
Spelman, from the original ms. in the Bodleian library, 1710” 13. “The Itinerary of John Leland the antiquary, intermixed with divers curious discourses, written by the editor
His publications were, 1. “An Index to L'Estrange’s
translation of Josephus,
” Reliquiae Bodleianae, or some genuine remains of sir Thomas Bodley,
&c.
” Plinii Fpistolae et Paneg\ricus, &c.
”
Eutropius.' Messala Corvinus. Julius Obsequens, &c.
” Indices tres locupletissimi in Cyrilli opera,
” Ox. Ductor Historicus,
” 2 vols.
They did not come out together; a second edition of the
first was published in 1705, and the second volume was
published in 1704. Our author was not solely concerned
in this work, some parts of it being written by another
hand, as was the preface. He had made great collections
for a third volume, but laid aside this design upon the appearance of the English translation of Puffendorf’s introduction, which begins where the second volume of the
“Ductor Historicus
” ends, and continues the history to
the present times. 7. “Index to Dr. Edvards’s Preservative against Socinianism,
” Index to Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion,
” fol. little work,
” or opella, he informs us, he undertook at the
request of dean Aldrich. 9. An edition of “Justin,
” Eutropius.
” 10. “Livy,
” A Letter containing an account of
some Antiquities between Windsor and Oxford, with a
list of the several pictures in the school gallery adjoining
to the Bodleian library,
” printed in Monthly
Miscellany, or Memoirs for the Curious;
” and reprinted
at the end of the fifth volume of Leland’s “Itinerary,
” but
without the list of the pictures; for which, however, there
being a demand, he reprinted 100 copies of the whole in
1725. 12. “The Life of Alfred the Great, by sir John
Spelman, from the original ms. in the Bodleian library,
1710
” 13. “The Itinerary of John Leland the antiquary,
intermixed with divers curious discourses, written by the
editor and others, 1710,
” 9 vols. A new edition was
printed in 1744. 14. “Henrici Dodwell de Parma Equestri
Wood ward iana dissertatio,
” Lelandi de rebus Bntannicis
collectanea,
” 17 15, 6 vols. 16. “Acta Apostolorum, Grasco Latine, literis majusculis. E codice Laudiano, &c.
1715.
” 17. “Joannis Rossi antiquarii Warwicensis historia regum Anglue, 1716.
” It was printed again with the
second edition of Leland’s “Itinerary,
” and now goes
along with that work. 18. “Titi Livii Foro-Juliensis vita
Henrici V. regis Anglire. Accedit sylloge epistolarum a
variis Angliae principibus scriptarum, 1716.
” 19. “Aluredi
Beverlacensis annales; sive historia de gestis regum Brittannin, &c. 1716.
” 20. “Gulielmi Roperi vita D. Thomse Mori equitis aurati, lingua Anglicana coutexta,
” Gulielmi Camdeni Annales rerum Anglicarum et Hibernicarum, regnante Elizabetha,
” Gulielmi Neubrigensis historia sive chronica rerum Anglicarum,
” Thomas Sprotti Chronica, &c.
” A Collection of curious Discourses written by eminent antiquaries upon several heads in our English antiquities,
” Textus RorTensis,' &c.
” Roberti de Avesbury historia de mirabiliKus gestis Edwardi III. &c. Appendicem etiam subnexuit, in qua inter
alia continentur Letters of king Henry VIII. to Anne Boleyne,
” 1720. 27. “Johannis de Fordun Scotichronicon
genumum, una cum ejusdem supplemento ac continuatione,
” The History and Antiquities of Glastonbury, &c.
” Hemingi Chartularium
ecclesis; Wigorniensis, &c.
” 1723. 30. “Robert of Gloucester’s Chronicle,
” Peter Langtoft’s Chronicle, as illustrated and improved by Robert of
Brune, from the death of Cadwaladon to the end of king
Edward the Ist’s reign, c.
” 1726. 33.
” Adami
de Domerham. historic de rebus gestis Glastoniensibus,
&c.“1727, 2 vols. 34.
” Thomas de Elmham vita et gesta
Henrici V. Anglorum regis,“&c. 1727. 35.
” Liber niger
Scaccarii, &c.“1728, 2 vols. 36.
” Historia vitae et regni Richardi II. Anglioe regis, a monacho quodam de Evesham consignata,“1729. 37.
” Thomae Caii vindiciae antiquitatisacademiseOxoniensis, &c.“1730, 2 vols. 38.
” Walteri Hemingforde, canonici de Gisseburne, historia de rebus gestis Edvardi I. II. III. &c.“1731, 2 vols. 39.
” Duo
rerurn Anglicarum scriptores veteres, videlicet, Thomas
Otterbourne et Johannes Wethamstade, ab oriine gentis
Britannicae usque ad -Edvardum IV. &c.“1733, 2 vols.
40.
” Chronicon sive annaies prioratus du Dunstable, &c.“1733. 41.
” Benedictus, abbas Petroburgensis, de vita
et gestis Henrici II. Richardi I. &c." 1735, 2 vols.
monk of Westminster, borrowed from the “Flores Historiarum.” His friend Thomas Baker, the Cambridge antiquary, “often cautioned him against fatiguing himself too much, and
Such are the general titles of Hearne’s works, but it
must be understood that almost every one of these volumes
contains various articles relating to antiquities and biography, perfectly distinct, and indeed generally nowise connected with the principal subject; many of which have
been acknowledged the most useful of his productions. It
cannot be denied, however, th:it he would have been more
generally useful had he now and then questioned the importance of what he was about to publish; but with Hearne
an old ms. seemed to possess an infallible claim to public
attention merely because it was old and unknown. Nobody, says Mr. Gough, will condemn him for the pains he
took to preserve Leland’s pieces; but Ross’s compendium
contains very little that is interesting, and Alfred of Bevcrley, if genuine, is legendary. Hearne himself seems
almost ashamed of Sprott’s Chronicle, to which, however, he
has tacked a valuable anonymous fragment relating to the
first eight years of Edward IVth’s teign. Avesbury and
Elmham’s relations of Edward III. and Henry V. are accurately and methodically put too ether. Livius Koro-juliensis’s life of this last prince is an elegant abridgment of
Elmham’s too pompous work. Healing’s Chartulary and
the “Textus Roffensis
” are valuable collections of the
most ancient monuments of their respective churches.
Robert of Gloucester’s Chronicle takes precedence of all
English poets. The two monks of Glastonbury are historians of their own house, of which its English history by
an anonymous later hand gives a tolerable account. Death,
adds Mr. Gough, prevented Hearne from encumbering
our libraries with a meagre history of England, or additions,
to Martin Polanus’s Annals, ascribed to one John Murelynch, a monk of Glassenbury, and another from Brute or
Ina to Edward I. by John Bever, a monk of Westminster,
borrowed from the “Flores Historiarum.
” His friend
Thomas Baker, the Cambridge antiquary, “often cautioned him against fatiguing himself too much, and overloading his constitution; but he was not to be advised, and
so died a martyr to antiquities.
” It appears from some of
his correspondence, that even in his own time his works
rose very much in price, and it is well known that of late
years they have been among the most expensive articles
brought to market, the best of them being now beyond
the reach of common purchasers. A few years ago, Mr.
Bagster, of the Strand, with a spirit of liberality and enterprize, published one or two of them in an elegant and
accurate manner, as the prelude to a reprint of the whole
series; but it is to be regretted that this scheme was soon
obliged to be abandoned for want of encouragement.
of the world and as an author. He figured by turns as a grammarian, a classical scholar, a poet, an antiquary, a preacher, and a writer of romances; but he was most known
, at first an advocate, afterwards
an ecclesiastic, and abbé of Auhignac and Meimac, was
born at Paris in 1604. Cardinal Richelieu, whose nephew
he educated, bestowed on him his two abbeys, and the
protection of that minister gave him consequence both as
a man of the world and as an author. He figured by turns
as a grammarian, a classical scholar, a poet, an antiquary,
a preacher, and a writer of romances; but he was most
known by his book entitled “Pratique du Theatre,
” and
by the quarrels in which his haughty and presumptuous
temper engaged him, with some of the most eminent
authors of his time. The great Corneille was one of these,
whose disgust first arose from the entire omission of his
name in the celebrated book above mentioned. He was
also embroiled, on different accounts, with madame Scuderi, Menage, and Richelet. The warmth of his temper
exceeded rhat of his imagination, which was considerable;
and yet he lived at court a good deal in the style of a philosopher, rising early to his studies, soliciting no favours,
and associating chiefly with a few friends, as unambitious
as himself, he describes himself as of a slender constitution, not capable of taking much exercise, or even of applying very intensely to study, without suffering from it in
his health; yet not attached to any kind of play. “It is,
”
ays he, “too fatiguing for the feebleness of my body, or
too indolent for the activity of my mind.
” The abbé
d'Aubignac lived to the age of seventy-two, and died at
xnours in 1676. His works are, 1. “Pratique du Theatre,
”
Amsterdam, Zenobie,
” a
tragedy, in prose, composed according to the rules laid
down in his “Pratique,
” and a complete proof of the total
inefficacy of rules to produce an interesting drama, being
the most dull and fatiguing performance that was ever represented. The prince of Condé said, on the subject of
this tragedy, “We give great credit to the abbé d'Aubignac for having so exactly followed the rules of Aristotle,
but owe no thanks to the rules of Aristotle for having made
the abbé produce so vile a tragedy.
” He wrote a few other
other tragedies also, which are worse, if possible, than
Zenobia. 3. “Macaride; or the Queen of the Fortunate
Islands,
” a novel, Paris, Conseils
d'Ariste à Celimene, 12mo. 5.
” Histoire da terns, ou Relation du Royaume de Coqueterie,“12mo, 6.
” Terence
justifié,“inserted in some editions of his
” Pratique.“7.
” Apologie de Spectacles," a work of no value. A curious
book on satyrs, brutes, and monsters, has been attributed
to him; but, though the author’s name was Hedelin, he
does not appear to have been the same.
, an eminent typographical antiquary, was born Nov. 29, 1718, and educated at Hitchin in Hertfordshire.
, an eminent typographical antiquary, was born Nov. 29, 1718, and educated at Hitchin in Hertfordshire. He appears to have been originally destined for trade, as he was bound apprentice to a hosier in London, and carried on that business for some time on his own account. It is probable, however, that he did noj succeed, or became desirous of some other means of livelihood, and it is said that one time he studied the art of painting on glass. About his thirtieth year he accepted the situation of purser’s clerk to three East-India ships. He set sail in one of them which was to take in a lading of pepper at Tellicherry: but before she had completed that purpose, an alarm of six French men of war was given. The governor demanded thirty men out of each ship, as he had a power to do, for the defence of the place; and the ship sailed away without lights round the Lucadine islands, and by Mount Delhi, to Bombay. After the alarm was over they returned, and sent Mr. Herbert, in a miserable boat, without change of linen, to demand their men, whom the governor refused to give up, and he returned; but the ships having left their station, the boat could not find them, and the wind being against him, he was obliged to remain at Tellicherry. Being engaged to return to his ship by the middle of July, he was obliged to undertake a journey over land on the sixteenth of that month, with a Portuguese boy, (who understood a little English, Portuguesej and Parriar or Lingua Franca), twelve sepoys, eight porters, in all twenty, besides himself and boy; and went round by sea to Calicut, before he ascended the heights with two bramins, who were bound by their caste to conduct him safe. The anxiety at not meeting the ships at the appointed time, he did not recover for a twelvemonth: though he rejoined them August 8, at Fort St. David, Fort George being in the hands of the French.
, an English antiquary, born in 1662, at Skipton, in Craven, Yorkshire, became about
, an English antiquary, born in 1662,
at Skipton, in Craven, Yorkshire, became about 1695 clerk
to William Petyt, esq. keeper of the records at the Tower;
and continued near sixty years deputy to Mr. Petyt, Mr.
Topham, and Mr. Polhill. On the death of Mr. Petyt,
which happened Oct. 9, 1707, Mr. Holmes was, on account of his singular abilities and industry, appointed by
lord Halifax (then president of a committee of the House of lords) to methodize and digest the records deposited in
the Tower, at a yearly salary of 200l. which was continued
to his death, Feb. 16, 1748-9, in the 87th year of his age.
He was also barrack-master of the Tower. He married a
daughter of Mr. Marshall, an eminent sword-cutler in
Fleet-street, by whom he had an only son George, who
was bred at Eton, and was clerk under his father, but died,
aged 25, many years before him. Holmes re-published
the first 17 volumes of Rymer’s “Fœdera,
” in —In Strype’s London, 1754, vol. I. p 746,
is a fac-simile of an antique inscription over the little door
ftext to the cloister in the Temple church. It was in old
Saxon capital letters, engraved within an half-circle; denoting the year when the church was dedicated, and by
whom, namely, Heraclius the patriarch of the church of
the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem; and to whom, namely,
the Blessed Virgin; and the indulgence of forty days pardon to such who, according to the penance enjoined them,
resorted thither yearly. This inscription, which was scarcely
legible, and in 1695 was entirely broken by the workmen,
having been exactly transcribed by Mr. Holmes, was by
him communicated to Strype. Mrs. Holmes out-lived her
husband, and received of government 200l. for his Mss.
about the records, which were deposited and remain in his
office to this day. Few men, in a similar office, were ever
more able or willing to assist the researches of those who
applied to him, than Mr. Holmes; and he received many
handsome acknowledgements of his politeness and abilities,
in that respect, from Browne Willis, Dr. Tovey, principal
of New-Inn-hall, Oxford, Dr. Richardson, editor of
” Godwin de Presulibus," and others.
atin, French, and English:” and in 1651, “Cottoni Posthuma, or divers choice Pieces of that renowned antiquary sir Robert Cotton, knight and baronet,” in 8vo. The print of
Lastly, he published, in 1649, “The late King’s Declaration in Latin, French, and English:
” and in Cottoni Posthuma, or divers choice Pieces of that renowned
antiquary sir Robert Cotton, knight and baronet,
” in 8vo.
The print of him prefixed to some of his works was taken
from a painting which is now at Landeilo house, in Monmouthshire, the seat of Richard Lewis, esq.
was a work for which he was well qualified, as a judge of the beauties of writing, but he wanted an antiquary’s knowledge of the obsolete words. He did not much revive the
A man of his amiable character was undoubtedly regretted; and Steele devoted an essay in the paper called
“The Theatre,
” to the memory of his virtues. In Poems on several occasions,
with some select Kssays in prose.
” Hughes was also the
author of other works in prose. “The Advices from
Parnassus,
” and “The Political Touchstone of Boccalini,
”
translated by several hands, and printed in folio, 1706,
“were revised, corrected, and had a preface prefixed to
them, by him. He translated himself
” Fontenelle’s Dialogues of the Dead, and Discourse concerning the Ancients
and Moderns;“”the Abbé Vertot’s History of the Revolutions in Portugal;“and
” Letters of Abelard and Heloisa.“He wrote the preface to the collection of the
” History of England“by various hands, Called
” The
Complete History of England,“printed in 1706, in 3 vols.
folio; in which he gives a clear, satisfactory, and impartial
account of the historians there collected. Several papers
in the
” Tatlers,“” Spectators,“and
” Guardians,“were
written by him. He is supposed to have written the whole,
or at least a considerable part, of the
” Lay Monastery,“consisting of Essays, Discourses, &c. published singly under
the title of the
” Lay Monk,“being the sequel of the
” Spectators.“The second edition of this was printed in
1714, 12mo. Lastly, he published, in 1715, an accurate
edition of the works of Spenser, in 6 vols. 12mo; to which
are prefixed the
” Life of Spenser,“”An Essay on Allegorical Poetry,“” Remarks on the Fairy Queen, and other
writings of Spenser,“and a glossary, explaining old words;
all by Mr. Hughes. This was a work for which he was well
qualified, as a judge of the beauties of writing, but he wanted
an antiquary’s knowledge of the obsolete words. He did
not much revive the curiosity of the public, for near thirty
years elapsed before his edition was reprinted. The character of his genius is not unfairly given in the correspondence of Swift and Pope.
” A month ago,“says Swift,
” was sent me over, by a friend of mine, the works of John
Hughes, esq. They are in prose and verse. I never heard
of the man in my life, yet I find your name as a subscriber.
He is too grave a poet for me; and I think among the
mediocrists, in prose as well as verse.“To this Pope
returns:
” To answer your question as to Mr. Hughes;
what he wanted in genius, he made up as an honest man;
but he was of the class you think him."
his books and manuscripts, he bequeathed to the library of that cathedral. He was esteemed a learned antiquary. The time of his death is uncertain.
, of Canterbury, the son of Mr. Nicholas Hunt of that city (an intimate and worthy friend of Arch. Tillotson, and to whom, whilst labouring under a cancer, he addressed that most excellent letter of consolation, printed in his life by Birch, p. 135), was admitted a
scholar of C. C. C. Cambridge, Jan. 29, 1693. After taking the degree of M. B. in 1699, he practised physic at
Canterbury, and became a collector of Roman coins, vessels, and utensils, particularly of those about Reculver and
Richborough, after the manner of archdeacon Batteley, in
his “Antiquitates Rutupina?;
” all which, together with
his books and manuscripts, he bequeathed to the library of
that cathedral. He was esteemed a learned antiquary.
The time of his death is uncertain.
, an eminent physician and antiquary of Durham, was the son of Thomas Hunter, gent, of Medomsley,
, an eminent physician and
antiquary of Durham, was the son of Thomas Hunter,
gent, of Medomsley, in the county of Durham, where he
was born in 1675: he was educated at the free-school of
Houghton-le-Spring, founded by the celebrated Bernard
Gilpin, and was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge,
where he continued until he had taken his bachelor’s degree
in 1698. In 1701 he received a faculty or licence from
Dr. John Brookbank, spiritual chancellor at Durham, to
piactice physic through the whole diocese of Durham.
After some years he removed to the city of Durham; and
though he published little, was always ready to assist in any
literary undertaking. He is acknowledged by Mr. Horsley
and Mr. Gordon to be very exact and masterly in the knowledge of antiquities. Dr. Wilkins mentions him with respect in the preface to the first volume of his “Councils,
”
to which he furnished some materials; and Mr. Bourne was
much indebted to him in compiling his “History of Newcastle
” He published a new edition of “The Ancient
Rites and Monuments of the church of Durham,
” An Illustration of Mr. Daniel Neale’s
History of the Puritans, in the article of Peter Smart, M. A.
from original papers, with remarks.
” Antiquitates Parochiales Dioc. Dunelm.
hucusque ineditae,
” but no further progress appears to have
been made. Perhaps this might be owing to an
unfortunate accident he met with, in searching the archives of the
cathedral, where he spilt a bottle of ink on the celebrated
copy of Magna Charta, and was never afterwards permitted
to come there. In 1757 be retired from Durham, with
his family, to Unthank, an estate belonging to his wife, in
Shotley parish, Northumberland, where he died July 13
of that year, and was buried in Shotley church.
of learning, and was noted, among his acquaintance, as a good Grecian and poet, an excellent critic, antiquary, and divine; and was admirably skilled i'n the Saxon and Gothic
, nephew of the preceding, was born
at Newport, in the Isle of Wight, in 1592, and admitted a
scholar of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, Sept. 23, 1608.
In October 1611, he took the degree of B A. and in Jan.
1615, that of M. A. in which year also he became probationer fellow of his college. Having entered into holy
orders, he preached frequently, and arrived to the degree
of bachelor in divinity. Upon what occasion we know not,
he travelled abroad; and was in Russia, in 1619, a tour to
which country was very uncommon in those days. He was
esteemed to be well versed in most parts of learning, and
was noted, among his acquaintance, as a good Grecian and
poet, an excellent critic, antiquary, and divine; and was
admirably skilled i'n the Saxon and Gothic languages. As
for his preaching, it was not approved of by any of the
university, excepting by some of the graver sort. Of
three sermons, delivered by him before the academics, one
of them, concerning the observation of Lent, was without
a text, according to the most ancient manner; another
was against it, and a third beside it; “shewing himself
thereby,
” says Anthony Wood, “a humourous person.
”
Selden was much indebted to him for assistance in the
composition of his “Marmora Arundeliana,
” and acknowledges him, in the preface to that book, to be “Vir multijugae studiique indefatigabilis.
” Mr. James also exerted
the utmost labour and diligence in arranging and classifying sir Robert Cotton’s library; and it is somewhat singular that bishop Nicolson imputes the same kind of blame
to him, of which Osborn, the bookseller, more coarsely
accused Dr. Johnson, when compiling the Harieian Catalogue, viz. “that being greedy of making extracts out of
the books of our history for his own private use, he passed
carelessly over a great many very valuable volumes.
” Nothing
was wantnig to him, and to the encouragement of his studies, but a sinecure or a prebend; if he had obtained
either of which, Wood says, the labours of Hercules would
have seen/ted to be a trifle. Sir Symonds D'Ewes has described him as an atheistical profane scholar, but otherwise
witty and moderately learned. “He had so screwed himself,
” adds sir Symonds, “into the good opinion of sir Robert Cotton, that whereas at first he only permitted him
the use of some of his books; at last, some two or three
years before his death, he bestowed the custody of his
whole library on him. And he being a needy sharking
companion, and very expensive, like old sir Ralph Starkie
when he lived, let out, or lent out, sir Robert Cotton’s
most precious manuscripts for money, to any that would
be his customers; which,
” says sir Symonds, “1 once
made known to sir Robert Cotton, before the said James’s
face.
” The whole of these assertions may be justly suspected. His being an atheistical profane scholar does not
agree with Wood’s account of him, who expressly asserts
that he was a severe Calvinist; and as to the other part of
the accusation, it is undoubtedly a strong circumstance in
Mr. James’s favour, that he continued to be trusted, protected, and supported, by the Cotton family to the end of
his clays. (See our account of Sir Robert Cotton, vol. X. p. 326 et seqq.) This learned and laborious man fell
a victim to intense study, and too abstemious and mortified a course of living. His uncle, Dr. Thomas James, in
a letter to Usher, gives the following character of him:
“A kinsman of mine is at this present, by my direction,
writing Becket’s life, wherein it shall be plainly shewed,
both out of his own writings, and those of his time, that
he was not, as he is esteemed, an arch-saint, but an archrebel; and that the papists have been not a little deceived
by him. This kinsman of mine, as well as myself, should
be right glad to do any service to your lordship in this kind.
He is of strength, and well both able and learned to effectuate somewhat in this kind, critically seen both in Hebrew,
Greek, and Latin, knowing well the languages both
French, Spanish, and Italian, immense and beyond all
other men in reading of the Mss. of an extraordinary style
in penning; such a one as I dare balance with any priest
or Jesuit in the world of his age, and such a one as I
could wish your lordship had about you; but paupertas
inimica bonis est monbus, and both fatherless and motherless, and almost (but for myself) I may say (the: more is pity) friendless.
”
, an eminent antiquary, architect, and critic, was probably a native of Verona, and
, an eminent antiquary, architect, and critic, was probably a native of Verona, and flourished in the sixteenth century. He was of the order of the Dominicans, but in his travels, and during his scientific labours, wore the habit of a secular priest. When at Rome, where he was first known as an architect, he began to apply to the study of classical antiquities, and made a judicious collection of inscriptions, which he dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici. He was some time at the court of the emperor Maximilian I. and thence went to France about 1500, where Louis X. appointed him royal architect. He built at Paris two bridges over the Seine, that of Notre Dame, and the little bridge. In the mean time, while he had leisure, he employed it in examining ancient manuscripts, and had the felicity to recover all the letters of Pliny the younger, and the work of Julius Obsequens on prodigies. These he arranged for publication, and sent them to Aldus Manutius, by whom they were both printed in 1508, 8vo. He also collated several other classics, and illustrated Caesar’s Commentaries by useful notes and figures, and was the first to give a design of the famous bridge which Caesar built across the Rhine. On his return to Italy, he edited the fine edition of Vitruvius, printed by Aldus in 1511, and enriched it with designs. When the famous bridge the Rialto was burnt down in 1513, he gave a magnificent design for a new one; but that of an inferior architect being preferred, he quitted Venice, and went to Rome, where, after the death of Bramante, he was employed on St. Peter’s church. His last work was the bridge over the Adige, at Verona, which he built in 1520: He died about 1530, at a very advanced age.
, an excellent antiquary, and founder of the Gentleman’s Society at Spalding, was descended
, an excellent antiquary, and founder of the Gentleman’s Society at Spalding, was descended from a family much distinguished in the last century. At Berkhamstead, the seat of one of his relations, were half-length portraits of his grandfather, old Henry Johnson and his lady, and sir Charles and lady BickerstafF, and their daughter, who was mother to sir Henry Johnson, and to Benjamin Johnson, poet-laureat to James I. who, agreeably to the orthography of that age, spelt his name Jonson. Sir Henry was painted half-length, by Frederick Zucchero; and the picture was esteemed capital. The family of Johnson were ajso allied to many other families of consideration. Mr. Johnson, born at Spalding, a member of the Inner Temple, London, and steward of the soke or manor of Spalding, married early in life a daughter of Joshua Ambler, esq. of that place. She was the granddaughter of Sir Anthony Oldh'eld, and lineally descended from Sir Thomas Gresham, the founder of Gresham-coilege, and of the Royal Exchange, London. By this lady he had twenty-six children, of whom sixteen sat down together to his table.
improve and adorn society the active and humane physician, the sagacious physiologist, the recondite antiquary and few men have occupied a larger space of professional utility
Dr. Johnstone was the correspondent and friend of Haller, Whytt, Cullen, and Fothergill; the bosom-friend of the virtuous Lyttelton and the pious Orton, and of many other wise and learned men, who still improve and adorn society the active and humane physician, the sagacious physiologist, the recondite antiquary and few men have occupied a larger space of professional utility and private regard, than Dr. Johnstone. Firm and undeviating in his own moral carriage, his vigorous and manly mind was perhaps, on some occasions, too little accommodating to characters and circumstances. In his temper he was cheerful, though sometimes hasty in his conversation lively and instructive in his affections warm and attached in his domestic relations, he was the best of fathers, his whole life was a sacrifice to the advantage of his children in fine, although the memory of his personal services cannot be soon forgotten, yet has he erected a still more durable monument to his fame, in those various practical improvements of the medical art, which rank his name among the benefactors of mankind.
, in Latin Iselius, a learned antiquary, was born at Basil, in 1681. He was made professor of history
, in Latin Iselius, a
learned antiquary, was born at Basil, in 1681. He was
made professor of history and eloquence at Marpurg, in
1704; but was recalled to Basil, to teach history and
antiquity, in 1707, where he was also promoted to the
divinity-chair in 1711. He went to Paris in 1717, intending
to visit Holland and England but, being nominated rector
of the university of Basil, was obliged to return into his
own country. Shortly after, the academy of inscriptions
and belles lettres at Paris made him an honorary foreign
member, in the room of M. Cuper. Iselin was also librarian at Basil, where he died in 1737. He published a
great number of books, of which the principal are, 1. “De
Gailis Rhenum transeuntibus Carmen Heroicum/ 7 2.
” De
Historicis Latinis melioris aevi dissertatio." 3. Dissertations and orations upon various subjects.
e, where he did not long reside; but, returning to Yarmouth, became acquainted -with that celebrated antiquary Thomas Martin of Palgrave, and caught from him that taste for
, was the only son of one of the most eminent merchants at Yarmouth, where he was born in 1751.
He was entered of Caius college, Cambridge, where he
did not long reside; but, returning to Yarmouth, became
acquainted -with that celebrated antiquary Thomas Martin
of Palgrave, and caught from him that taste for antiquities
which he pursued during the short period of his life. He
was elected F. S. A. 1771, and F. R. S. 1772; and, by favour of the earl of Suffolk, in him the honour of Suffolk
herald extraordinary was revived; an office attended with
no profit, but valuable to him by the access it gave to the
Mss. muniments, &c. of the heralds college, of which he
thereby became an honorary member. His first attempt
at antiquarian publication was by proposals (without his name) in 1771, for printing an account of Lothingland
hundred in Suffolk; for which he had engraved several
small plates of arms and monuments in the churches of
Friston, Gorleston, Loud, Lowestoffe, and Somerliton, from
his own drawings. His next essay was the short preface
to Mr. Swinden’s “History and Antiquities of Great Yarmouth, in the county of Norfolk, 1772,
” 4to. Mr. Svvinden, who was a schoolmaster in Great Yarmouth, was a
most intimate friend of Mr. Ives, who not only assisted
him with his purse, and warmly patronized him while
living, but superintended the book for the emolument of
the author’s widow, and delivered it to the subscribers .
In 1772 he caused to be cut nine wooden plates of old Norfolk
seals, entitled “Sigilla antiqua Norfolciensia. Impressit
Johannes Ives, S. A. S.
” and a copper-plate portrait of Mr.
Martin holding an urn, since prefixed to Martin’s “History
of Thetford.
” On Aug. 16, 1773, by a special licence
from the archbishop of Canterbury, he was married at Lambeth church to Miss Kett (of an ancient family in Norfolk),
and afterwards resided at Yarmouth.
f a deep consumption, when he had just entered his twenty-fifth year, June 9, 1776. Considered as an antiquary, much merit is due to Mr. Ives, whose valuable collection was
In imitation of Mr. Walpole (to whom the first number was inscribed), Mr. Ives began in 1773 to publish “Select
Papers
” from his own collection; of which the second number was printed in 1774, and a third in 1775. Among
these are “Remarks upon our English Coins, from the
Norman invasion down to the end of the reign of queen
Elizabeth,
” by archbishop Sharp; sir W. Dugdale’s “Directions for the Search of Records, and making use of
them, in order to an historical Discourse of the Antiquities
of Staffordshire
” with “Annals of Gonvile and Caius college, Cambridge
” the “Coronation of Henry VII. and
of queen Elizabeth,
” &c. &c. In 1774 he published, in
12 mo, “Remarks upon the Garianonum of the Romans
the scite and remains fixed and described;
” with the ichnography of Garianonum, two plates, by B. T. Pouncey;
south view of it, Roman antiquities found there, map of
the river Yare, from the original in the corporation chest
at Yarmouth, and an inscription on the mantletree of a
farm-house. He died of a deep consumption, when he
had just entered his twenty-fifth year, June 9, 1776. Considered as an antiquary, much merit is due to Mr. Ives,
whose valuable collection was formed in less than five years.
His library was sold by auction, March 3 6, 1777, including some curious Mss. (chiefly relating to Suffolk and Norfolk) belonging to Peter Le Neve, T. Martin, and
Francis Blomefield. His coins, medals, ancient paintings,
and antiquities, were sold Feb. 13 and 14, 1777. Two
portraits of him have been engraven. 1
the time of his death, Mr. Keate was a bencher of the Temple, and a very old member of the royal and antiquary societies, of both which he had been frequently elected one
Mr. Keate’s life passed without any vicissitudes of fortune; he inherited an ample estate, which he did not attempt to increase otherwise than by those attentions which prudence dictated in the management of it. He was hospitable and beneficent, and possessed the good will of mank.nd in a very eminent degree. For the last year or two, his health visibly declined; but on the day he died, he appeared to be somewhat mended. His death was sudden, on June 27, 1797. He left one daughter, married in 17 y6 to John Henderson, esq. of the Adelphi. His widow died in 1800. At the time of his death, Mr. Keate was a bencher of the Temple, and a very old member of the royal and antiquary societies, of both which he had been frequently elected one of the council.
land, who resided some time in Smyrna, and died at an advanced age, Jan. 26, 1760, is recorded as an antiquary of some abilities, although we know very little of his history.
, a native of Scotland, who
resided some time in Smyrna, and died at an advanced age,
Jan. 26, 1760, is recorded as an antiquary of some abilities,
although we know very little of his history. He had a collection of about 200 pictures, amongst which were two
heads of himself by Keysing; he had also a very valuable
collection of Greek and Latin coins, which, with the pictures, were sold by auction in 1760. Amongst the Roman
coins were 256 of Carausius, 9 of them silver, and 89 of
Alectus; these coins of Carausius and Alectus were purchased by P. C. Webb, esq. the 256 for 70l. and thp 8$
for 16l. 10s. They were afterwards bought by Dr. Hunter,
who added to the number very considerably. Dr. Kennedy, in his “Dissertation on the Coins of Carausius,
” as-,
serted, that Oriuna was that emperor’s guardian goddess.
Dr. Stukeley, in his “Palæographia Britannica, No. III,
1752,
” 4to, affirmed she was his wife; to which Dr. Kennedy replied in “Farther Observations,
” &c. History of Carausius,
”
’s “Treatise of the Roman Ports and Forts in Kent,” containing an account of the life of that famous antiquary; which gave him an opportunity of displaying his knowledge in
In 1689, as he was exercising himself in shooting, he
had the misfortune to be dangerously wounded in the forehead by the bursting of the gun. Both the tables of his
skull were broken, which occasioned him constantly to
wear a black velvet patch on that part. He lay a considerable time under this accident; and it is said, that while he
was in great disorder both of body and brain, just after he
had undergone the severe operation of trepanning, he made
a copy of Latin verses, and dictated them to a friend at
his bed-side. The copy was transmitted to his patron, sir
William Glynne, in whose study it was found, after the
author had forgot every thing but the sad occasion: and
the writer of his life tells us, that “it was then in his possession, and thought, by good judges, to be no reproach
to the author.
” He was too young a divine to engage in
the famous popish controversy; but he distinguished himself by preaching against popery. He likewise refused to
read the declaration for liberty of conscience in 1688, and
went with the body of the clergy in the diocese of Oxford,
when they rejected an address to king James, recommended by bishop Parker in the same year. While he continued at Amersden, he contracted an acquaintance with Dr.
George Hickes, whom he entertained in his house, and
was instructed by him in the Saxon and Northern tongues;
though their different principles in church and state afterwards dissolved the friendship between them. In September 1691, he was chosen lecturer of St. Martin’s in Oxford,
having some time before been invited back to Edmund-hall,
to be tutor and vice-principal there; where he lived in
friendship with the learned Dr. Mill, the editor of the New
Testament, who was then principal of that house. In
February 1692, he addressed a letter from Edmund-hall to
Brome, the editor of Somner’s “Treatise of the Roman
Ports and Forts in Kent,
” containing an account of the
life of that famous antiquary; which gave him an opportunity of displaying his knowledge in the history of the
Saxon language in England. In February 1693, he was
presented to the rectory of Shottesbrook, in Berkshire, by
William Cherry, esq. the father of one of his fellow-students at college, but he still resided at Oxford, where he
diligently pursued and encouraged the study of antiquities.
We have a strong attestation to this part of his character
from Gibson, afterwards bishop of London, who publishing, in 1694, a translation of Somner’s treatise, written in
answer to Chifflet, concerning the situation of the Portus
Iccius on the coast of France, opposite to Kent, where
Caesar embarked for the invasion of this island, introduced
it to the world with a dedication to Mr. Kennet.
short of his contemporaries as an able divine and an honest politician. But it is as a historian and antiquary, that we feel most indebted to his labours, and could wish he
Bishop Kennet took such an active part in the ecclesiastical and political controversies of his time, that whoever examines into the state of these must expect to find his character very differently represented. Upon a fair examination of his conduct, however, as well as his writings, it will probably be found that he did not fall much short of his contemporaries as an able divine and an honest politician. But it is as a historian and antiquary, that we feel most indebted to his labours, and could wish he had been enabled to devote more of his time to the illustration of literary history, to which he was early attached, and had every requisite to become a useful collector and biographer. As to his character in other respects, if we can rely on the rev. William Newton, the writer of his life, there was much that was exemplary. He was always indefatigable in the duties of his sacred function, had a great sense of the worth of souls, and was very solicitous to serve in the most effectual manner those committed to his care.
, a learned antiquary of Germany, and fellow of the royal society in London, was born
, a learned antiquary of Germany, and fellow of the royal society in London, was born in 1689, at Thournau, a town belonging to the counts of Giech. His father, who was of the count’s council, took an extraordinary care of his education; and, after a suitable preparation, sent him to the university of Halle, where he applied himself chiefly to the civil law; not neglecting, in the mean time, the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, history, antiquity, and the sciences. Soon after he left Halle, he was invited to be preceptor to Charles Maximilian and Christian Charles, counts of Giech-Buchau, with whom, in 1713, he returned thither, and afterwards attended them in their travels. The first place of note they visited was Utrecht, where he became acquainted with the learned Reland, who, discerning his uncommon capacity and particular turn, advised him to undertake an accurate history of the antiquities of his country. Keysler visited the chief cities of Germany, France, and the Netherlands, with his two young counts; and gained great reputation among the learned, by illustrating, as he went along, several monuments of antiquity, particularly some fragments of Celtic idols, then lately discovered in the cathedral of Paris.
ever, in 1718, he obtained leave to go over to England, where he distinguished himself so much as an antiquary, that he was complimented with being fellow of the royal society.
Having returned safe with his pupils, and acquired great
honour by his care and management of them, he was afterwards fixed upon as a proper person to undertake the
education of two grandsons of baron Bernstorf, first minister
of state to his Britannic majesty, as elector; and accordingly he went to Hanover in 1716, and entered upon his
office. However, in 1718, he obtained leave to go over to
England, where he distinguished himself so much as an
antiquary, that he was complimented with being fellow of
the royal society. This honour he particularly owed to a
learned essay, “De Dea Nehalennia numine veterum
Walachiorum topico.
” He gave an explication also of the
Anglo-Saxon monument of antiquity on Salisbury Plain,
called Stonehenge; and likewise a “Dissertation on the
consecrated Misseltue of the Druids. 11 All these detached
essays, with other select discourses on the Celtic and
Northern antiquities, he published soon after his return to
Hanover, in Latin, under this title,
” Antiquitates selectae
Sepientrionales et CeUicae," &c. Hanov. 1720, 12mo.
, a learned and philosophical antiquary, was a native of Norfolk, where he was born in 1735, and having
, a learned and philosophical antiquary, was a native of Norfolk, where he was born in 1735, and having inherited from an uncle, Mr. Brown of Exeter, an ample fortune, was early enabled to pursue his inclinations, which led him chiefly to the study of antiquities. He was partly educated at Clare-hall, Cambridge, but afterwards entered of Lincoln’s-inn, and, we presume, studied the law, as he was afterwards chosen recorder of Lynn in Norfolk. He was elected F.R.S. in 1767, and F.S.A. in 1770; and to the Archecologia made various communications, which gave him such reputation with the society, that in 1784, on the demise of Dr. Milles, he was elected president, on which occasion he introduced a number of new regulations, and the appointment of two regular secretaries, and a draughtsman, to attend constantly. On St. George’s day following, however, he was obliged to resign the chair, in favour of George lord de Ferrars, afterwards earl of Leicester and marquis Townsend, a majority of nearly two to one having appeared against him. He afterwards printed a letter in vindication of himself, and reflecting upon the noble earl, and from that period ceased to make any communications to the society.
are not much approved, undoubtedly entitle him to the reputation of a learned, able, and industrious antiquary. It was his misfortune, however, to be perpetually deviating
His first separate publication appeared in 1767, under
the title of “An Essay on the English Government;
” and
his second, after a long interval, in Hymns to the Supreme Being, in imitation of the
Eastern Songs.
” Of this pleasing publication two editions
were printed. In 1784 he circulated, also without his name,
“Proposals for establishing, at sea, a Marine School, or
seminary for seamen, as a means of improving the plan
of the Marine Society,
” &c. His object was to fit up a
man of war as a marine school. In 1788 he published a
large 4to volume, entitled “Morsels of Criticism, tending
to illustrate some few passages in the Holy Scriptures upon
philosophical principles and an enlarged view of things.
”
The fate of this work was somewhat singular. The author
received sixty copies for presents; and the greater part of the
remaining impression, being little called for, was converted
into waste paper. Some time after, however, the notice
taken of it in that popular poem, “The Pursuits of Literature,
” brought it again into notice; a second edition
appeared in 8vo, and a second volume of the 4to in 1801.
This works abounds in singular opinions: among others,
the author attempts to prove that John the Baptist was an
angel from heaven, and the same who formerly appeared
in the person of Elijah: that there will be a second appearance of Christ upon earth (something like this, however, is held by other writers): that this globe is a kind of comet,
which is continually tending towards the sun, and will at
length approach so near as to be ignited by the solar rays
upon the elementary fluid of fire: and that the place of
punishment allotted for wicked men is the centre of the
earth, which is the bottomless pit, &c, &c. It is unnecessary
to add, that these reveries did not procure Mr. King much
reputation as a philosophical commentator on the Scriptures.
His next publications indicated the variety of his meditations and pursuits. In 1793 he produced “An Imitation
of the Prayer of Abel,
” and “Considerations on the Utility of the National Debt.
” In Remarks concerning Stones said to
have fallen from the Clouds, both in these days and in
ancient times;
” the foundation of which was the surprizing
shower of stones said, on the testimony of several persons,
to have fallen in Tuscany, June 16, 1796, and investigated
in an extraordinary and full detail by the abbate Soldani,
professor of mathematics in the university of Sienna. This
subject has since employed other pens, but no decisive
conclusions have been agreed upon. Mr. King’s next
publication, however, belonged to the province in which
he was best able to put forth his powers of research
“Vestiges of Oxford Castle or, a small fragment of a
work intended to be published speedily, on the history of
ancient castles, and on the progress of architecture,
” Munimenta Antiqua,
” of which 3 vols. folio have appeared,
and part of a fourth. These volumes, although he maintains some theories which are not much approved, undoubtedly entitle him to the reputation of a learned, able, and
industrious antiquary. It was his misfortune, however, to
be perpetually deviating into speculations which he was less
qualified to establish, yet adhered to them with a pertinacity which involved him in angry controversies. In 1798
he published a pamphlet called “Remarks on the Signs of
the Times;
” about which other ingenious men were at
that time inquiring, and very desirous to trace the history
and progress of the French Revolution and war to the
records of sacred antiquity; but Mr. King ventured here
to assert the genuineness of the second book of Esdras in
the Apocrypha. Mr. Gough criticised this work with much
freedom and justice in the Gentleman’s Magazine, and
Mr. King thought himself insulted. On his adding “A
Supplement to his Remarks
” in Critical Disquisitions on Isaiah xviii, in a Letter to
Mr. King.
” While preparing a fourth volume of his
“Mummenta,
” Mr. King died, April 16, 1807, and wa
buried in the church -yard at Beckenham, where his country-seat was. Mr. King was a man of extensive reading,
and considerable learning, and prided himself particularly
on intense thinking, which, however, was not always
under the regulation of judgment.
hat work. Giving satisfaction he was employed in etching lome sculpts in Mr. Dugdale’s Esop (not the antiquary), fvhich was reduced from the folio to 8vo size, and several
At the end of this year, 1669, he became the steward,
auditor, and secretary of the lady dowager Gerard, of Gerard’s Bromley, relict of Charles, and mother of Digby,
lord Gerard. He resided with her ladyship’s father George
Digby of Sandon, in Staffordshire, esq. until August,
1672. This task was somewhat arduous, for his predecessor, Mr. Chaunce, kept all his accounts, and other matters of moment, in characters which he had to decipher;
and besides he drew and painted many things for lady Gerard, whilst inher service. From Staffordshire he went
to London, where he renewed his acquaintance at the
Heralds’ -college, paying a suitable attention to his old
master, Dugdale. Here he became known to Hollar, the
celebrated engraver. He recommended him to Mr. Ogilvy, to manage his undertakings, who having his majesty’s
license to print whatever he composed or translated,
kept a press in his house, and at that time was printing
sir Peter Leicester’s “Antiquities of Chester.
” Mr. King
made his first attempt in etching some ancient seals in
that work. Giving satisfaction he was employed in etching
lome sculpts in Mr. Dugdale’s Esop (not the antiquary),
fvhich was reduced from the folio to 8vo size, and several of Ogilvy’s “History of Asia,
” vol. I. translated from
De Meurs’ impression at Amsterdam. He also assisted in
his new “Britannia,
” travelling into Essex with the surveyor,
Mr. Falgate, a native of that county. They in the middle
of the winter, 1672, a very inclement one, took the ichnography of Ipswich, in Suffolk, and Maiden, in Essex,
which were afterwards very curiously finished, and sent to
those two places. He assisted and superintended the map
of London, which Hollar engraved. He contrived and
managed a lottery of books, to repay Mr. Ogilvy’s great
expences in these concerns, and a lesser one of books for
Bristol fair, which turned to good advantage, Mr. King
attending there. He then engaged in Ogilvy’s “Book of
” Roads," superintending the whole, digesting the notes,
directing the engravings, three or four of which he
executed with his own hand, which was the first time he attempted handling the graver. Mr. Ogilvy was so sensible
of his merit and fidelity, that he treated him with peculiar;
attention on all occasions, and allowed him a music-master
to teach him to play upon the violin, and offered to renew
his place of cosmographer to the king, and put his name
in jointly, or in reversion; this he declined, but accepted
the offer to undertake, on his own account, the map of
Westminster, which he completed in 1675, on the scale
of 100 feet to an inch. He employed himself also in engraving the letter-work of various maps. He laid out
some of the principal streets of the metropolis, particularly
those of Soho; and most of the first building articles, or
leases, were drawn up by him. At length his connexions
with the heralds procured him to be created Rouge-dragon
in 1677, but the fees of this office being small, he found
it expedient to continue his employment of engraving and
herald-painting. He designed a map of Staffordshire; yet
through sir Henry St. George, Norroy, and his old master,
Dugdale, Garter, the duties of the office took a good part
of his time. Being very useful to these kings at arms,
they pressed him to remove to the college, which he did at
Lady-day, 1680, Diigdale accommodating him with a chamber, and some other conveniences, and St. George with a
kitchen. He assisted St. George in his visitations, as one of
his deputies, in 1681 and 1682 and, upon the death of the
duke of Norfolk, his successor nominated him registrar in
the room of Mr. Devenish, York; although opposed by
the college as without a precedent. He was also trusted
and consulted about the burial of Charles II. the proclaiming
and the coronation of his successor, and took a part in the
magnificent publication of the latter ceremony with Mr.
Sandford, Lancaster herald. The Revolution soon following,
he became extremely useful in the ceremonial of William
and Mary’s coronation. Mr. Sandford resigning his tajbard
to him^ he became, for three or four months, Lancaster
and Rouge-dragon, the patent not passing until-the following July.
, a learned English writer and antiquary, was born in the county of Norfolk in 1731. He was educated
, a learned English writer and antiquary, was born in the county of Norfolk in 1731. He
was educated at Caius college, Cambridge, where he took
his degrees of B. A. and M. A. in 1752 and 1763, and at
subsequent periods he was admitted to the degree of D. D.
and received a member of the royal society, and of the
society of antiquaries. lu 1764, he obtained the appointment of chaplain to the English factory at Petersburgh. In
this situation he was led to inquire into the ceremonies of
the Russian church, which he continually saw practised,
and determined to give a faithful description of the same
in his own language. He accordingly published, in 1772,
in a handsome quarto, illustrated with engravings, a work,
entitled “The Kites and Ceremonies of the Greek Church
in Russia; containing an account of its doctrine, worship,
and discipline.
” In Observations on the
Barberini Vase,
” which are printed in the eighth volume
of the Transactions of the Antiquarian Society.
reatise on perspective, with a dedication to the earl of Bute. He was a member both of the royal aud antiquary societies; and when the chartered society of artists was disturbed
Before the appearance of this work he wrote a pamphlet
in vindication of the fame of Dr. Brook Taylor, which was
indirectly struck at in the translation of a treatise on perspective by a foreigner. This pamphlet (which has no date) was entitled “Dr. Brook Taylor’s Method of Perspective, compared with the examples lately published on
the subject, as Sirigatti'i,
” 4to. In
, an English antiquary and biographer, was a native of London (where his father was
, an English antiquary and biographer, was a native of London (where his father was freje of the Mercers’ company), and received the early part of his education at St. Paul’s school. He was thence admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge, where, having: taken his degree of B. A. in 1702, and of M. A. in 1706 he became chaplain to Edward earl of Orford, who presented him to the vicarage of Chippenham, and also to the rectory of Borough- green in Cambridgeshire, to which last he was instituted Nov. 3, 1707. He afterwards was collated by bishop Moore to a prebendal stall in the church of Ely, June 8, 1714 and presented by him to the rectory of Bluntesham in Huntingdonshire, June 22, 1717. He was made chaplain to George II. in Feb. 1730-1, and promoted by bishop Sherlock to the archdeaconry of Berks, 1735. He died December 10, 1746, in the 72d year of his age, and was buried in the chancel of Bluntesham church, where a neat monument of white marble is erected to his memory, with an inscription written by his friend Mr. Castle, dean of Hereford. His only son, Samuel, was fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge, and rector of Fulham, in Middlesex. With the ample fortune which his father left him, he purchased the manor of Milton near Cambridge, and died Jan. 1790.
, an ecclesiastic and antiquary, was born in Worcestershire towards the latter end of the fifteenth
,
an ecclesiastic and antiquary, was born in Worcestershire
towards the latter end of the fifteenth century. When he
was about fifteen years of age, he was received into the
monastery of Benedictine monks at Winchcombe in Gloucestershire; whence, being professed one of that order, he
was sent to Gloucester-hall, Oxford, which was then a
school for young Benedictines. After studying there four
years, he was recalled to his monastery, and made principal
chapjain; and his good conduct procured him to be chosen
abbot in 1487. He had considerable reputation as a scholar and a promoter of learning; and was an exact observer
and reformer of the discipline of his house. In one of his
visits to Oxford, which were frequent, he took the degree
of D. D. in 1500. He also visited Rome on some affairs
belonging to his order, and on his return acquired much
reputation as a preacher in the beginning of the reign of
Henry VIII. In 1515, when there was a great debate
between the clergy and the laity concerning exceptions;
some asserting that what is called the “benefit of clergy,
”
should not be extended but to the higher orders, our abbot
contended that the minor or inferior orders should also be
included. He died in 1531, leaving “Tractatus contra
doctrinam Lutheri,
”
, a French historian and antiquary, was born in 1623, at Montmorency, near Paris, of which city
, a French historian and antiquary, was born in 1623, at Montmorency, near Paris,
of which city his father was bailiff. He had scarcely attained his 13th year, when he became known to the literary world by his “Recueil de Tombeaux,
” or a
collection of monuments of illustrious persons buried in the
church of the Celestines at Paris, together with their
eloges, genealogies, arms, and mottoes. This work appeared in 1642, 4to; and although disclaimed by the authoron account of its imperfection, yet was so well received
by the public, that a second edition came out the following
year. In 1644 he was at court in quality of a gentleman
in waiting, when he was chosen to attend the marshal de
Guebriant, charged with conducting the princess Mary de
Gonzaga into Poland, in order to her marriage with Ladislaus IV. Our author returned with the ambassadress
the following year, and printed in 1647, at his own expence, a relation of the journey, which was very entertaining.
, an eminent lawyer and antiquary, the eldest son of John Lambarde, alderman of London, by Juliana
, an eminent lawyer and antiquary, the eldest son of John Lambarde, alderman of London, by Juliana his wife, daughter of William Home or
Herne, of London, was born Oct. 18, 1536. Nothing is
recorded concerning the early part of his education, until
he entered upon the study of the law, and was admitted
into the society of Lincoln’s-inn, Aug. 15, 1556. Here
he studied under Laurence Nowell (brother to the celebrated dean of St. Paul’s), a man famous for his knowledge
of antiquities and of the Saxon tongue. Lambarde profited much by his instructions, considering an acquaintance
with the customs and jurisprudence of the Saxon times as
very useful in his profession. The first fruits of his studies
appeared in a collection and translation of the Saxon laws,
under the title of “A^awvo/iw, sive de priscis Anglorum
legibus, libri,
” Ecclesiastical History,
” in
e. He left many Mss. of which Mr. Nichols has given an account; and appears to have been an accurate antiquary, and in all respects a man of learning and distinction.
In 1579 Lambarde was appointed a justice of peace for
the county of Kent, an office which he not only performed
with great diligence and integrity, but endeavoured to explain and illustrate for the benefit of other magistrates, in his
“Eirenarcha, or the Office of the Justices of Peace, in
four books,
” The Duties of Constables,
” &c. Pandecta Rotulorum.
” In the mean time he had written,
though not published, another work, entitled “Archeion,
or a Discourse upon the high courts of justice in England.
”
It was not published until
r. Burne}', of great learning and research, and containing much precious information for a classical antiquary. Another of his works was an excellent compendium of church
Professor Lampe was a man of great learning in ecclesiastical history and antiquities, and published various
works which procured him a high reputation among his
contemporaries. Thirty-one articles are enumerated by
Burman, which were published some in Latin and some in
German. His first publication was “De Cymbalis veterum
libri tres,
” Utrecht, Synopsis historiae sacrx et ecclesiasticse, ab origine mundi ad prcesentia tempora, secundum seriem periodorum deductae,
” Utrecht, Commentarius Analytico-exegeticus
evangelii secundum Joannem,
” Amst. Bibliotheca eruditorum
praecocium.
”
, an English antiquary, and a native of London, was admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge,
, an English antiquary, and a
native of London, was admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge, Oct. 23, 1649, where he became scholar in 1652,
took the degree of B. A. in 1654, and that of M. A. in 1657.
He continued there probably till 1662, when he had a
licence from the bishop of Ely for officiating in Trinity
church in that city, and was elected fellow of Corpus
Chrjsti the year following. This occasioned him to proceed B. D. in 1664, when he was appointed one of the
university preachers; and continued his studies there until
his institution to the vicarage of Layston cum Capella de
Alsewych in Hertfordshire, Sept. 3, 1670, which vacated
his fellowship next year. He held this benefice to the
time of his death in 1681. He was the author of “E'tnchus Antiquitaturn Albionensium,
” Lond. Chronicon Regum Anglorum,
” Lond. Dan.
Langhornii Chronici Anglorum Continuatio, vel Pars Secunda, ab A. C. 800 ad 978.
”
, an able Italian antiquary, was born June 13, 1732, at Monte-del-Ceirao, near Macerata,
, an able Italian antiquary, was born
June 13, 1732, at Monte-del-Ceirao, near Macerata, and
was educated in the schools of the Jesuits, where he was
distinguished for the rapid progress he made in theology,
philosophy, rhetoric, and poetry. After being admitted
into the order of the Jesuits, he taught rhetoric in various
academies in Italy with great success. When the order of
the Jesuits was suppressed, he was appointed sub-director
of the gallery of Florence, by Peter Leopold, grand duke
of Tuscany; and that noble collection was considerably
improved and enriched by his care. His first work was a
“Guide
” to this gallery, which he printed in Essay on
the Tuscan Language,
” 3 vols. 8vo, which gave him a reputation over all Europe, and was followed by his elaborate “History of Painting m Italy,
” the best edition of
which is that printed at Bassano, in 1809, 6 vols. 8vo.
His next publication, much admired by foreign antiquaries,
was his “Dissertations on the Vases commonly called
Etruscan.
” In Hesiod,
”
4to, of which a very high character has been given. He
died March 31, 1810, at Florence, a period so recent as
to prevent our discovering any more particular memoirs of
him than the above.
, a herald and antiquary, son of captain Stephen Martin, mentioned in the preceding article,
, a herald and antiquary,
son of captain Stephen Martin, mentioned in the preceding
article, was born April 5, 1702. He was educated at the
school of Mr. Michael Maittaire, and was admitted of the
Middle-temple. In 1724 he was appointed a deputylieutenant of the Tower-hamlets; in which station he afterwards distinguished himself by his exertions during the
rebellion in 1745. On the revival of the order of the Bath
in 1725, he was one of the esquires of the earl of Sussex,
deputy earl-marshal. He was elected F. A. S. March 2,
1726-7. In the same year he was created Lancaster herald, in the room of Mr. Hesketh; in 1729 constituted
Norroy; in 1741 Clarenceux; and by patent dated December 19, 1754, appointed garter. In all his situations
in the college Mr. Leake was a constant advocate for the
rights and privileges of the office. He obtained, after
much solicitation, a letter in 1731, from the duke of Norfolk to the earl of Sussex, his deputy earl -marshal, requesting him to sign a warrant for Mr. Leake’s obtaining
a commission of visitation, which letter, however, was not
attended with success. In the same year he promoted a
prosecution against one Shiets, a painter, who pretended
to keep an om'ce of arms in Dean’s-court. The court of
chivalry was opened with great solemnity in the paintedchamber, on March 3, 1731-2, in relation to which he had
taken a principal part. In 1733, he appointed Francis
Bassano, of Chester, his deputy, as Norroy, for Chester and
North Wales; and about the same time asserted his right,
as Norroy, to grant arms in North Wales, which right was
claimed by Mr. Longville, who had been constituted
Gloucester King at Arms partium Walii<t, annexed to that
of Bath King at Arms, at the revival of that order. He
drew up a petition in January 1737-8, which was presented
to the king in council, for a new charter, with the sole
power of painting arms, &c. which petition was referred
to the attorney and solicitor general; but they making
their report favourable to the painters, it did not succeed.
He printed, in 1744, “Reasons for granting Commissions
to the Provincial Kings at Arms for visiting their Provinces.
” Dr. Cromwell Mortimer having, in
, a French historian and antiquary, was born at Auxerre in 1687, and became a member of the academy
, a French historian and antiquary, was
born at Auxerre in 1687, and became a member of the
academy of belles lettres and inscriptions of Paris in 1750.
He died in 1760, aged 73. Among his productions are,
1. “Recueil de divers Merits servant a Pe‘claircissement de
l’histoire fie France,
” Dissertations sur l'histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Paris;
” to
which are added several matters that elucidate the history
of France; 3 vols. 12mo. 3. “Traité historique et pratique sur le chant ecciesiastique,
” M6moires sur l‘Histoire d’Anxerre,
” Histoire de la ville et de tout le diocese
de Paris,
” 15 vols. 12mo. 6. Several dissertations dispersed in the journals, and in the memoirs of the academy
of which he was member. The learned are indebted to
him likewise for the discovery of a number of original
pieces, which he found in various libraries, where they
had long remained unknown. He was a man of extensive
learning and laborious research; and undertook several
journeys through the different provinces of France for the
purpose of investigating the remains of antiquity. In such
matters he was an enthusiast, and so engaged in them, as to
know very little of the world, being content with the very
small competency on which he lived.
; understood the learned languages well, and spoke Latin fluently and eloquently. He was also a good antiquary. He wrote “Chronicon Castrense,” a chronology of all the rulers
, an English nonconformist divine, was
the son of an eminent citizen of London, from whom he
inherited some property, and was born in 1625. He was
educated under Dr. Gale at St. Paul’s school, and afterwards entered a commoner of Magdalen-bail about the
year 1647. The following year he was created M. A.
by the parliamentary visitors, and was made fellow of
Wadham college. In the latter end of 1650 he was elected
by his society one of the proctors, although he was not
of sufficient standing as master; but this the visitors, with
whom he appears to have been a favourite, dispensed with.
About that time he became a frequent preacher in or near
Oxford, and was preferred by Cromwell to the living of St.
Botolph’s, Bishopsgate- street, but ejected by the rump parliament. Afterwards he was chosen lecturer of Great St.
Helen’s church in Bishopsgate-street According to Wood,
he was not in possession of either of these preferments at
the restoration, but Calamy says he was ejected from St.
Botolph’s. His friend Dr. Wilkins, of Wadham college,
afterwards bishop of Chester, urged him much to conform,
but he was inflexible. He then lived for some time on an
estate he had near Bisseter in Oxfordshire, and preached
occasionally. About 1678 be removed to Newingtoii
Green near London, where he was for many years minister of a congregation of independents. In 1686, being
dissatisfied with the times, he went over to New England,
and became pastor of a church at Bristol. The revolution
in 1688 affording brighter prospects, he determined to
revisit his own country, but in his passage home, with his
family, the ship was captured by a French privateer, and
carried into St. Malo, where he died a few weeks after, in
Nov. 1691. His death is said to have been hastened by
his losses in this capture, and especially by his being kept
in confinement while his wife and children were permitted
to go to England. He was at one time a great dabbler in
astrology, but, disapproving of this study afterwards, he is
said to have burnt many books and manuscripts which he
had collected on that subject. It was probably when addicted to astrology, that he informed his wife of his having
seen a star, which, according to all the rules of astrology,
predicted that he should be taken captive. Mr. Lee’s
other studies were more creditable. He was a very considerable scholar; understood the learned languages well,
and spoke Latin fluently and eloquently. He was also a
good antiquary. He wrote “Chronicon Castrense,
” a
chronology of all the rulers and governors of Cheshire and
Chester, which is added to King’s “Vale Royal.
” Wood
suspects that he was of the family of Lee in Cheshire. His
other works are: 1. “Orbis Miraculum; or the Temple of
Solomon portrayed by Scripture light,
” Lond.
, an eminent English antiquary, was born in London, in the beginning of the sixteenth century,
, an eminent English
antiquary, was born in London, in the beginning of the
sixteenth century, but in what parish or year is uncertain.
He was bred at St. Paul’s school, under the famous William
Lilly. Having lost both his parents in his infancy, he
found a foster-father in one Mr. Thomas Myles, who both
maintained him at school, and sent him thence to Christ’s
college, in Cambridge. Of this society, it is said, he became fellow; yet, it is certain that he afterwards removed
to Oxford, and spent several years in All Souls college,
where he prosecuted his studies with great assiduity, not
only in the Greek and Latin tongues, but in the Saxon
and Welch, the ancient languages of his country. For
farther improvement he travelled to Paris, where he had
the conversation and instruction of Budaeus, Faber, Paulus
yEmilius, Ruellius, and Francis Sylvius; by whose assistance he not only perfected himself in the Latin and Greek
tongues, but learned French, Italian, and Spanish. He
also improved hia natural diposition to poetry, On his
return home he entered into holy orders, and being esteemed
an accomplished scholar, king Henry VIII. made him one
of his chaplains, gave him the rectory of Popeling, Popering, or Pepling, in the marches of Calais, appointed
him his library- keeper, and by a commission dated 1533,
dignified him with the title of his antiquary. By this commission his majesty laid his commands on him to make
search after “England’s antiquities, and peruse the libraries of all cathedrals, abbies, priories, colleges, &c. and
places where records, writings, and secrets of antiquity
were reposited.
” For this purpose he had an honourable
stipend allotted him, and obtained, in 1536, a dispensation for non-residence upon his living at Popeling. Being
now at full liberty, he spent above six years in travelling
about England and Wales, and collecting materials for the
history and antiquities of the nation. He entered upon
his journey with the greatest eagerness; and, in the execution of his design was so inquisitive, that, not content
with what the libraries of the respective houses afforded,
nor with what was recorded in the windows and other monuments belonging to cathedrals and monasteries, &c. he
wandered from place to place where he thought there were
any footsteps of Roman, Saxon, or Danish buildings, and
took particular notice of all the tumuli, coins, inscriptions,
&c. In short, he travelled every where, both by the seacoasts and the midland parts, sparing neither pains nor
cost; insomuch that there was scarcely either cape or bay,
haven, creek, or pier, river, or confluence of rivers,
breaches, washes, lakes, meres, fenny waters, mountains,
valleys, moors, heaths, forests, chaces, woods, cities, boroughs, castles, principal manor- places, monasteries, and
colleges, which he had not seen, and noted, as he says, a
whole world of things very memorable.
ge, together with the havock made of them at the dissolution of the monasteries, was observed by our antiquary with great regret; and he wrote a letter to Cromwell, then secretary
Leland not only sought out and rescued antique monuments of literature from the destructive hands of time, by
a faithful copy and register of them, but likewise saved
many from being despoiled by the hands of men. In those
days the English were very indifferent and negligent in this
particular: they took little heed and less care about these
precious monuments of learning; which, being perceived
by foreigners, especially in Germany, young students were
frequently sent thence, who cut them out of the books in
the libraries; and, then, returning home, published therti
at the press of Frobenius, and other printers. This pilferage, together with the havock made of them at the dissolution of the monasteries, was observed by our antiquary
with great regret; and he wrote a letter to Cromwell, then
secretary of state, begging his assistance to bring to light
many ancient authors buried in dust, and sending them to
the king’s library. His majesty was truly sensible of the
indefatigable industry and labour of his antiquary, and on
his return from his travels in 1542, presented him to the
rich rectory of Basely, in Oxfordshire, and the year
following gave him, by the name of John Leland, scholar,
and king’s chaplain, a canonry of King’s college, now
Christ Church, in Oxford; and, about the same time, the
prebend of East and West Knowle, in the church of
Sarum. In 1545 he lost the canonry of Christ Church,
upon the surrendry of that college to the king, and had
no pension allowed him in the lieu of it, as other canons
had, yet as he is said to have been “otherwise prov ided
for,
” it was probably at this time that the prebend of East
and West Knowle was given him. In 1545, having digested
into four books that part of his collections which contains
an account of the illustrious writers in the realm, with their
lives and monuments of literature, he presented it to his
majesty, under the title of “A Newe Year’s Gifte;
” with
a scheme of what he intended to do farther *. For that
purpose he retired to a house of his own, in the parish of
St Michael le Querne, London; where he spent near six
years in digesting and bringing into form and order, the
immense collections he had with so great assiduity amassed
together. It appears by a letter of his published by
Hearne, that he was desirous of procuring an able assistant,
but we are not informed whether he succeeded. It is certain that some assistance was necessary; for though he was
a person of a clear judgment, and of great insight, to discern the difference “between substantial and superstitious
learning,
” notwithstanding these and other natural endowments of his mind, it is no wonder this double labour, this
augaean task, to realize these undigested heaps, should
overpower the strength of his constitution, and the spirits
submit to what nature could no longer support. This was
the fate of Leland; and by this unfortunate event an end
was put to his labours, “a fatal stop to the satisfaction he
was anxious to give to his king and country.
”
trated with notes, &c. by Mr. Scott, who has in this work shown that the most arduous labours of the antiquary are not incompatible with the genius and spirit of the poet.
, a poet of Scotland, who flourished in the thirteenth century, is familiarly known by
the name of Thomas the Rhymer. The history of his life
is involved in much obscurity. What has been unravelled
may be seen in our authority. He was a prophet as well
as a poet. His merit in the former character may be disputed, but of his poetical talents, Mr. Walter Scott has
enabled the public to judge, by giving an excellent edition
of his metrical romance of “Sir Tristrem,
” published in
, a learned English divine and antiquary, was the eldest son of John Lewis, wine-cooper, in the parish
, a learned English divine and antiquary, was the eldest son of John Lewis, wine-cooper, in the parish of St Nicholas, Bristol, where he was born, Aug. 29, 1675. His father dying while he was in his infancy, he was committed to the care of his maternal grandfather John Eyre, merchant of Poole in Dorsetshire, who instilled into his infant mind the first principles of religion. Losing this relation, however, before he was seven years old, he was taken into the house of the rev. Samuel Conant, rector of Liichet Matravers (an intimate acquaintance of his grandfather Eyre), and educated along with a nephew whom Mr. Conant was preparing for a public school. This was an assistance peculiarly acceptably to Mr. Lewis’s mother, who appears to have been left in circumstances which were not adequate to a liberal education. After remaining with Mr. Conant two years, he was placed under the instruction of the learned Mr. John Moyle, at the grammar-school of Winborne, in 1687, upon whose decease the year following, he was removed to Poole, but reaped little benefit there, until he was put under the care of Mr. John Russel, who was encouraged to establish a grammar-school there. Mr. Russel, finding him to be a youth of talents and industry, employed him as his assistant: and after his removal to Wapping in London, conr tinued his favours to him, placing him at the free-school of Ratcliffe-cross, belonging to the Coopers’ company.
, an eminent antiquary, born about 1670, was a native of South Wales, and the son of
, an eminent antiquary, born about
1670, was a native of South Wales, and the son of Charles
Lhuyd, esq. of Lhanvorde. In 1687 he commenced his
academical studies at Jesus college, Oxford, where he was
created M. A. July 21, 1701. He studied natural history
under Dr. Plot, whom he succeeded as keeper of the Ashmolean museum in 1690. He bad the use of all Vaughan’s
collections, and, with incessant labour and great exactness,
employed a considerable part of his life in searching into
the Welsh antiquities, had perused or collected a great
deal of ancient and valuable matter from their Mss. transcribed all the old charters of their monasteries that he
could meet with, travelled several times over Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland, Armoric Bretagne, countries inhabited by the same people, compared their antiquities,
and made observations on the whole. In March 1708-9,
he was elected, by the university of Oxford, esquire beadle
of divinity, a place of considerable profit, which, however,
he enjoyed but a few months. He died July 1709, an
event which prevented the completion of many admirable
designs. For want of proper encouragement, he did very
little towards understanding the British bards, having seert
but one of those of the sixth century, and not being able
to procure access to two of the principal libraries in the
country. He communicated, however, many observations
to bishop Gibson, whose edition of the Britannia he revised; and published “Archasologia Britannica, giving
some account additional to what has been hitherto published of the languages, histories, and customs, of the
original inhabitants of Great Britain, from collections and
observations in travels through Wales, Cornwall, Bas Bretagne, Ireland, and Scotland, Vol, I. Glossography *.
”
Oxford, Lithophylacii Britannici Iconographia,
” prselectio
” on the same subject.
To this account of so eminent an antiquary we shall subjoin some loose memoranda by the rev. Mr. Jones,
To this account of so eminent an antiquary we shall subjoin some loose memoranda by the rev. Mr. Jones, a curious collector of anecdotes, and curate to Dr. Young at Welwyn:
ame book lay mouldering in the aforesaid Museum at Oxford. I wish they were purchased by some worthy antiquary, and dispersed.”
“The remaining printed copies of the same book lay
mouldering in the aforesaid Museum at Oxford. I wish
they were purchased by some worthy antiquary, and dispersed.
”
, a learned English antiquary in the sixteenth century, was son and heir of Mr. Robert Lhwyd
, a learned
English antiquary in the sixteenth century, was son and
heir of Mr. Robert Lhwyd alias Rossenhall of Denbigh in
Denbighshire, by Joan his wife, daughter of Lewis Pigott.
He was born at Denbigh, and was educated in the university of Oxford; but in what college is not known. It is
certain, however, that after he had taken the degree of
bachelor of arts, which was in 1547, he was commoner of
Brasen-nose college; and in 1551 took the degree of
master of arts as a member of that college; at which time
he studied physic. Afterwards retiring to his own country,
he lived mostly within the walls of Denbigh castle, but,
Granger thinks, never practised as a physician, employing
his time chiefly in his antiquarian researches. He died
about 1570, and was interred near the church of Whitchurch near Denbigh; where a monument was erected to
him. He had married Barbara daughter of George Lmnley, and sister of John lord Lumley, by whom he had issue
Splendian and John, who both died without issue, Henry,
who lived at Cheam in Surrey, and Jane the wife of Rob.
Coytmore. Camden gives him a very great character, as
one of the best antiquaries of his time; and be is by
Daines Barrington esteemed very accurate in what relates
to the history of Wales. He had a taste for the arts, particularly music, and executed the map of England for the
“Theatrum Orbis.
” He collected a great number of curious and useful books for his brother-in-law lord Lumley,
which were purchased by James I. and became the foundation of the royal library. They are now a very valuable
part of the British Museum.
, an English antiquary, was educated at Eton school, and admitted to King’s -college,
, an English antiquary, was educated
at Eton school, and admitted to King’s -college, Cambridge, in 1584, where he took his degree of M. A. and
became fellow, but quitted his fellowship on succeeding to
an estate at Wilbraham, in Cambridgeshire. He was afterwards appointed one of the esquires extraordinary of
the king’s body, and died in 1637. No farther particulars
of his life are upon record. He published “A Saxon treatise concerning the Old and New Testament; written
about the time of king Edgar, (700 years ago) by >Elfricus Abbas, thought to be the same that was afterwards archbishop of Canterbury,
” Treatise,
”
but the volume is incomplete without “A Testimony of
Antiquity, shewing the ancient faith in the church of England, touching the sacrament of the body and blood of our
Lord
” the “Words of CEilfric abbot of St. Alban’s, &c.
taken out of his epistles written to Wulfsine, bishop of
Scyrburne;
” and “The Lord’s prayer, the creed, and
ten commandments, in the Saxon and English tongue.
”
The work is dedicated to prince Charles, afterwards
Charles I. in a long copy of verses, “by way of eclogue,
imitating the fourth of Virgile.
” To this is added a still
longer preface, or address to the reader, containing some
curious remarks on a variety of topics relating to Saxon
literature, the Bible, the English language, &c. Mr. Lisle
also published Du Bartas’s “Ark, Babylon, Colonies,
and Columns,
” in French and English, The Fair Æthiopian,
”
whom he had great friendship, and who had much assisted him: so that he was looked upon as the best antiquary of his profession, who gave himself up to practice; and, upon
In this station he preserved the esteem of both parties
for some time, and the two houses of parliament agreed to
return their thanks by him to the king, for passing the
triennial bill, and that of the subsidies; but, as he concurred in the votes for raising an army, and seizing the militia, in March 1641, measures very hostile to the royal
cause, the king sent an order from York to lord Falkland,
to demand the seal from him, and to consult about a successor with Hyde, afterwards earl of Clarendon; but this
last step prevented the former order from being put into
execution. Hyde, who always entertained a great regard
for the keeper, had, upon his late behaviour, paid him a
visit at Exeter-house, on which occasion the keeper freely
disclosed his mind, lamenting that he had been removed
from the common-pleas, of which court he was acquainted
with the business aud the persons with whom he had to
deal, to an higher office, which involved him with another
sort of men, and in affairs to which he was a stranger; and
this without his having one friend among them, to whom
he could confide any difficulty that occurred to him. Adverting likewise to the unhappy state of the king’s affairs,
he said that the party in hostility to the court “would
never have done what they had already, unless they had
been determined to do more: that he foresaw it would not
be long before a war would break out, and of what importance it was, in that season, that the great seal should be
with his majesty; that the prospect of this necessity had
made him comply to a certain degree with that party; that
there had lately been a consultation, whether, in case the
king might send for him, or the great seal be taken from
him, it were advisable to keep it in some secure place,
where the keeper should receive it upon occasion, they
having no mind to disoblige him: that the knowledge of
this had induced him to vote as he did in the late debates;
and by that compliance, which he knew would give the
king a bad impression of him, he had gained so much credit with them, that he should be able to preserve the
seal in his own hands till his majesty should demand it, and
then he would be ready to wait on the king with it, declaring that no man should be more willing to perish with
and for his majesty than himself.
” Mr. Hyde acquainted
lord Falkland with this conference; and, being confident
that the lord-keeper would keep his promise, recommended
to advise his majesty to write a kind invitation to the keeper
to come to York, and bring the seal with him, rather than,
think of giving it to any other person. The advice was
embraced by the king, who, though he still had his doubts
of Littleton’s sincerity, was influenced by the reasons assigned; and accordingly the seal was sent to York on the
f2d, and followed by the keeper on the 23d of May, 1642.
But, notwithstanding this piece of service and eminent
proof of his loyalty, at the risk of his life, he could never
totally regain the king’s confidence, or the esteem of the
court-party. He continued, however, to enjoy his post,
in which he attended his majesty to Oxford, was there
created doctor of laws, and made one of the king’s privycouncil, and colonel of a regiment of foot in the same
service, some time before his death, which happened Aug.
27, 1645, at Oxford. His body was interred in the cathedral of Christ church; uu which Qccasioa a funeral oration
was pronounced by the celebrated Dr. Hammond, then
orator to the university. In May 1683, a monument was
erected there to his memory, by his only daughter and
heiress, the lady Anne Lyttelton, widow of sir Thomas
Lyttelton; and the same year came out his “Reports,
” in
folio, which, however, Mr. Stevens, in his introduction
to lord Bacon’s Letters, edition 1702, p. 21, thinks were
not composed by him, many of the cases being the same
verbatim as in Hetley’s reports. Lord Clarendon says of
sir Edward Littleton, that “he was a man of great reputation in the profession of the law, for learning, and all other
advantages which attend the most eminent men. He was
of a very good extraction in Shropshire, and inherited a
fair fortune and inheritance from his father. He was a
handsome and a proper man, of a very graceful presence,
and notorious courage, which in his youth he had manifested with his sword. He had taken great pains in the
hardest and most knotty part of the law, as well as that
which was most customary; and was not only ready and
expert in the books, but exceedingly versed in records,
in studying and examining whereof he had kept Mr. Selden
company, with whom he had great friendship, and who had
much assisted him: so that he was looked upon as the best
antiquary of his profession, who gave himself up to practice; and, upon the mere strength of his abilities, he had
raised himself into the first of the practisers of the common
law courts, and was chosen recorder of London before he
was called to the bench, and grew presently into the
highest practice in all the other courts, as well as those of
the law.
” Whitelocke also observes, that he was a man of
courage, and of excellent parts and learning. But we fear
he cannot be altogether acquitted of unsteadiness in some
parts of his conduct, although it must at the same time be
owned that when he found he could no longer retain the
seal with credit, he delivered it, with his own hands, to
his unhappy sovereign, and died firmly attached to his
cause.
mentioned, with his zoological collections, came into the possession of Mr. George Paton, an eminent antiquary of Edinburgh, after whose decease they were purchased by different
In 1774- he was ordained minister of Birsay and Haray,
a parish in Pomona, or main-land of Orkney, and from
this time devoted himself to the duties of his charge, which
he continued to fulfil for the remainder of his lite. He
employed his leisure chiefly in the study of nature, and his
success was highly creditable, considering the many disadvantage-; of a remote situation. Sir Joseph Banks, with
his accrstouied zeal for the promotion of science, introduced him to Mr. Pennant, by whose advice he engaged
to un n nake a “Fauna Orcadensis,
” and a “Flora Orcadensi.s,
” ti.e Hrst of which was published in Flora
” iias not been discovered. A tour through the islands of Orkney and Shetland,
Containing hints relating to their ancient, modern, and
natural history, was also prepared by Mr. Low for the
press, and previous to his decease, he made a translation
of Torfeus’s “-History of Orkney.
” The Mss. of the
“Fauna,
” the tour and the translation just mentioned,
with his zoological collections, came into the possession of
Mr. George Paton, an eminent antiquary of Edinburgh,
after whose decease they were purchased by different persons. Mr. Low died in 1795. His “Fauna
” forms a very
interesting and valuable addition to the natural history of
the British islands.
brought home a great number of medals and other curiosities for the king’s cabinet, who made him his antiquary in 1714, and ordered him to write the history of his travels.
, a French traveller, was the son of a merchant at Rouen, and born there in 1664. From his youth he felt a strong inclination for travelling, which he gratified by several voyages to the Levant, Egypt, Turkey, and other countries. He brought home a great number of medals and other curiosities for the king’s cabinet, who made him his antiquary in 1714, and ordered him to write the history of his travels. Louis XV. sent him again to the Levant in 1723, whence he brought abundance of curiosities for the king’s library; particularly medals and manuscripts. His passion for travelling reviving again in 1736, he went to Madrid; and died there in 1737, after an illness of eight months. His travels, which were edited by Baudelot de Dairval, Fourmont, and Banier, are not ill written, and sufficiently amusing; yet not of the first authority, being supposed to contain some exaggerated, and some false representations. They consist of 7 vols. 12mo, published in 1699 1714.
, a learned linguist and antiquary, the author of an excellent dictionary of the Saxon and Gothic
, a learned linguist and antiquary, the author of an excellent dictionary of the Saxon and Gothic languages, was born at Totnes in Devonshire, in 1704. He was educated partly at home, under his father, who kept a school at Totnes, partly under other preceptors, but chiefly (being obliged to return home from consumptive complaints) by his own private care and application. At the age of nineteen, he was admitted at Hart hall (now Hertford college) in Oxford, took his bachelor’s degree in 1716, was ordained deacon in 1717, and priest in 1719, soon after which he was presented to the living of Houghton-parva in Northamptonshire. In this retreat he laid the foundation of his great proficiency in the Anglo-Saxon language. He became master of arts in 1722.
, the learned exchequer antiquary, and historiographer royal, of whose personal history we have
, the learned exchequer antiquary,
and historiographer royal, of whose personal history we
have no information, is well known among antiquaries and
lawyers for his valuable collection of records relating to the
ancient laws and constitution of this country; the knowledge of which tends greatly to the illustration of English
history. In 1702, under the patronage of the learned
lord Somers, he published the first fruits of his researches,
under the title of “A Collection of antique Charters and
Instruments of divers kinds taken from the originals, placed
under several heads, and deduced (in a series according to the order of time) from the Norman conquest, to the end
of the reign of king Henry VIII.
” This is known by the
name of the “Formulare AngJicanum.
” To it is prefixed
a dissertation concerning “Ancient Charters and Instruments,
” replete with useful learning upon that subject.
He was prompted to this work, by considering that there
was no methodical history or system of ancient charters
and instruments of this nation then extant; and that it
would be acceptable to curious persons, and useful to the
public, if something were done for supplying that defect.
Having entertained such a design, and being furnished
with proper materials from the archives of the late court of
augmentations, he was encouraged to proceed in it, especially by lord Somers and prosecuted it with so much application, that out of an immense heap of original charters
and writings, remaining in that repository, he selected
and digested the chief substance of this volume. In 1711,
he proceeded to a work of still greater importance than the
foregoing, “The History and Antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England, in two periods, viz. from
the Norman conquest, to the end of the reign of king
John; and from the end of the reign of king John, to
the end of the reign of king Edward II. Taken from
records. Together with a correct copy of the ancient
dialogue concerning the Exchequer, generally ascribed
to Gervasius Tilburiensis and a Dissertation concernlag the most ancient great roll of the exchequer, commonly styled the roll of Quinto Regis Stephani,
” folio;
reprinted in 1769, in 4to. This was dedicated to queen
Anne; but there is likewise prefixed to it a long prefatory
epistle to the lord Somers, in which he gives that illustrious
patron some account of this unprecedented undertaking.
He observes, that though some treatises had been written
concerning the exchequer, yet no history [of it had been
yet attempted by any man; that he had pursued his subject to those ancient times, to which, he thinks, the original of the exchequer in England may properly be assigned; and thence had drawn down an orderly account of
it through a long course of years; and, having consulted,
as well the books necessary to be perused upon this occasion, as a very great number of records and manuscripts,
he had endeavoured all along x to confirm what he offered
by proper vouchers, which are subjoined column-wise in
each page, except where their extraordinary length made
it impracticable. The records. which he here attests were,
as he adds, taken by his own pen from the authentic
parchments, unless where it appears by his references to
be otherwise. He has contrived throughout the whole (as far as the subject-matter would permit) to make use of
such memorials as serve either to make known or to explain the ancient laws and usages of this kingdom. For
which reason, as he notes“, this work may be deemed, not
merely a history of the exchequer, but likewise a promptuary towards a history of the ancient law of England. He
afterwards acquaints
” his lordship in what method he began
and proceeded in compiling this work. First, he made as
full a collection from records as he could, of materials relating to the subject. Those materials being regularly
arranged in several books of collectanea, he reviewed them,
and, weighing what they imported, and how they might
be applied, he drew from thence a general scheme of his
design. When he had pitched upon the heads of his discourse, he took materials for them out of the aforesaid
fund, and digested them into their proper rank and order.
In do ng this, it was his practice for the most part to write
down, in the draught of his book, the respective records
or testimonies first of all; i. e. before he wrote his own
text or composition; and from them formed his history or
accouit of things; connecting and applying them afterwards, as the case would admit. At the end of this history (as we have expressed it in the title) Mr. Maddox has
publisteti a copy of the treatise concerning the exchequer,
written in the way of dialogue, and generally ascribed to
Gervasius Tilburiensis. This treatise is certainly very
ancient, and intrinsically valuable. Our author introduces
it by an epistolary dissertation, in Latin, to the then lord
Halifax. The dialogue is followed by another epistolary
dissertation, in the same language, addressed to the lord
Somers, relating to the great roll of the exchequer, commonly styled the “Roll of Quinto Regis Stephani.
” No
historical account has been given, in this volume, of the
records reposited in the exchequer. Mr. Madox thought
that it might be more properly done if there was occasion
for it, hereafter, in a continuation of this work; which he
seems to have had some intention of performing himself
when he published this part; or hoped some other hand
would supply, if he did not. The concluding chapter
of the history is a list of the barons of this court from the
first year of William the Conqueror to the 20th of Edward
II. The last work this laborious historiographer published
himself, was the “Firma Burgi, or historical essay concerning the cities, towns, and boroughs of England. Taken
from records.
” This treatise was inscribed to king George
I. The author warns his readers against expecting to find
any curious or refined learning in it; in regard the matter
of it is low. It is only one part of a subject, which, however, is extensive and difficult, concerning which, be tells
us, much has been said by English writers to very little
purpose, serving rather to entangle than to clear it. When
he first entered upon the discussion of it, he found himself
encompassed with doubts, which it hath been his endeavour, as he says, to remove or lessen as he went along.
He has throughout mixed history and dissertation together,
making these two strengthen and diversify each other.
However modestly Mr. Madox might express himself concerning the learning of this work, it is in reality both curious and profound, and his inquiries very useful. The
civil antiquities of this country would, in all probability,
have been further obliged than they are to this industrious
person, if his life had been of a somewhat longer continuance; for it may be presumed, from two or three
passages in the prefaces of those books he published
himself, that he meditated and intended some others to follow
them, different from this posthumous History of Baronies,
which his advertisement of it apparently suggests to be
the only manuscript left finished by the author. This is
compiled much in the manner of his other writings. In
the first book he discourses largely of land baronies; in
the second book he treats briefly of titular baronies and
in the third of feudal tenure in capite.
, an antiquary of some note, was born, according to the best accounts we can
, an antiquary of some note,
was born, according to the best accounts we can obtain, at
Brechin in Forfarshire in Scotland, about 1693. What
education he had is uncertain, but his original employment
was that of a hair-merchant; in the prosecution of which
business he travelled into Sweden, and Denmark, to Hamburgh, and other places. At length he settled in London,
and applied himself to the study of English and Scottish
antiquities, and must have acquired some literary reputatation, as in 1733 he was elected a fellow of the royal society, and in 1735 a fellow of the society of antiquaries,
which he resigned in 1740, on going to reside in the coun'try. His first publication was his History of London, published in folio, in 1739; a work compiled from Stow, and
afterwards, in T765, enlarged by Entick to 2 vols. folio,
with a great many views, plans, &c. the plates of which
are now in Mr. Nichols’s possession. In 1740, as just
mentioned, he retired into his native country, and in 1753,
published a history of Edinburgh, comprised also in one
folio volume. In 1757, appeared his work on the history
and antiquities of Scotland, in 2 vols. folio; a performance
not in general so highly esteemed as the two former, although he appears to have taken considerable pains to
acquire information, by a set of printed queries which he
sent to every clergyman in Scotland, and himself travelled over it for the same purpose. On July the 16th of
the same year, he died, at Montrose, according to our
account at the age of 64; the papers of the time say, at
an advanced age, by which possibly it may be meant that
he was still older; but this is matter of doubt. He was
said, in the accounts of his death, to have died worth more
than 10,000l. Mr. Maitland was rather a compiler from
printed or written authorities, than an original collector of
antiquary knowledge. Mr. Gough, a very competent judge,
pronounces him, eren in this respect, “self-conceited
and credulous,
” and adds that he “knew little, and wrote
worse.
” The merit of his history of London was chiefly in
supplying the place of Stowe, which was become scarce,
and in modernizing the style. His “History of Edinburgh
” is the most useful of his works.
, a learned historian and antiquary, first professor of history in his native city, was born at
, a learned historian and antiquary, first professor of history in his native city, was born
at Geneva in 1730, became afterwards professor royal of
the belles lettres at Copenhagen, a member of the academies of Upsal, Lyons, Cassel, and of the Celtique academy of Paris. Of his life no account has yet appeared.
He joined an extensive acquaintance with history and general literature to great natural talents. The amenity of
his disposition caused his company to be much sought,
while his solid qualities procured him friends who deeply
regretted his loss. The troubles of Geneva during the first
revolutionary war deprived him of the greatest part of his
fortune; and he was indebted, for the moderate competence he retained, to pensions from the duke of Brunswick
and the landgrave of Hesse; but the events of the late war
deprived him of both those pensions. The French government is said to have designed him a recompense, but this
was prevented by his death, at Geneva, Feb. 8, 1807. His
works were: 1. “Histoire de Danernarck,
” to the eighteenth century, the best edition of which is that of 1787.
2. A translation of Coxe’s “Travels,
” with remarks and
additions, and a relation of his own Travels in Sweden, 2
vols. 4to. 3. Translation of the Acts and form of the
Swedish government, 12mo. 4. “Histoire de Hesse,
” to
the seventeenth century, 3 vols. 8vo. 5. “Histoire de la
rnaison de Brunswick,
” to its accession to the throne of
Great Britain, 3 vols. 8vo. 6. “Histoire des Suisses,
”
from the earliest times to the commencement of the late
revolution, Geneva, 1803, 4 vols. 8vo. 7. “Histoire de la
Ligne Anseatique,
” from its origin to its decline, Northern Antiquities; or a Description of the
manners, customs, religion, and laws, of the ancient
Danes, and other northern nations including those of our
own Saxon ancestors. With a translation of the Edda, or
system of Runic mythology, and other pieces from the
ancient Islandic Tongue. Translated from M. Mallet’s
Introduction a l'Histoire de Danemarck,
” &c. 1770, 2 vols,
8vo. To this Dr. Percy has added many valuable and curious notes, and Goranson’s Latin version of the “Edda.
”
It was very justly said, at the time, by the Monthly Reviewer, that Dr. Percy had, in this instance, given a translation more valuable than the original.
did considerable honour to his order by the extent of his learning, which obtained him the places of antiquary, librarian, and counsellor to Charles duke of Lorraine. He died
, called, like other Benedictines, Dom Thomas, did considerable honour to his order
by the extent of his learning, which obtained him the places
of antiquary, librarian, and counsellor to Charles duke of
Lorraine. He died in 1763, when he was preparing a
work, which was published in the course of the same year,
by the abbe Jacquin. The title is, “Introduction a la
science des Medailles pour servir a la connoissance des
Dieux, et de la Religion, des Sciences, des Arts, et de
tout ce qui appartient a l'Histoire ancienne, avec les
preuves tires des Medailles,
” folio. Mangeart is here said
to have comprised, in a single volume, the elementary
knowledge of medals which had before been treated but
too slightly; and the most valuable information which is
scattered through many prolix dissertations on particular
parts of the subject, Mr. Pinkerton, however, pronounces
it to be a dry compilation concerning antiquities found on
medals, in which the author shews no knowledge of the
medals themselves. It is a kind of supplement to Montfaucon’s antiquities. Mangeart published also, 2. Eight
sermons, with a treatise on Purgatory, at Nancy, 1739, in
2 vols. 12mo.
, an excellent antiquary and topographer, the son of Mr. Owen Manning, of Orlingbury,
, an excellent antiquary and topographer, the son of Mr. Owen Manning, of Orlingbury,
co. Northampton, was born there Aug. 11, 1721. He was
admitted of Queen’s-college, Cambridge, where he proceeded B. A. in 1740; and about this time met with two
extraordinary instances of preservation from untimely death.
Having been seized with the small pox, he was attended
by Dr. Heberden, who thinking he could not survive, desired that his father might be sent for. On his arrival he
found the young man to all appearance dying, and next
day he was supposed to have expired, and was laid out,
as a corpse, in the usual manner. An undertaker was sent
for, and every preparation made for his funeral. His
father, however, who had not left the house, could not
help frequently viewing the seemingly lifeless body; and
in one of his visits, without seeing any cause for hope,
said, “I will give my poor boy another chance,
” and at
the same time raised him up, which almost immediately
produced signs of life. Dr. Heberden was then sent for,
and by the use of proper means, the young man recovered.
As it was customary for the scholars of every college to
make verses on the death of any one of their own college,
which are pinned to the pall at the funeral, like so many
escutcheons, this tribute of respect was prepared for Mr.
Manning, who was much beloved by his fellow students; and it
is said that the verses were presented to him afterwards, and
that he kept them for many years as memoranda of his
youthful friendships. Scarcely had he met with this narrow escape, when, his disorder having made him for some
time subject to epileptic fits, he was seized with one of
these while walking by the river, into which he feJl, and
remained so long that he was thought to be drowned, and
laid out on the grass, until he could be conveyed to the
college, where Dr. Heberden being again called in, the
proper means of recovery were used with success.
at applause at the private house in Salisbury-court, by the Prince his servants,” 1633, 4to. 3. “The Antiquary, a comedy, acted by her Majesty’s servants at the Cockpit,”
, a dramatic writer, was born
of an ancient family at Aynhoe in Northamptonshire, about
the beginning of January, 1602. He went to school at
Thame in Oxfordshire, and was thence removed to
Wadham-college, Oxford, as a gentleman-commoner, and took
his master of arts’ degree in 1624. Wood says, that “he
was a goodly proper gentleman, and had once in his possession seven hundred pounds per annum at least.
” The
whole of this he dissipated, and afterwards went to serve
in the Low Countries. Not being promoted there, after
three campaigns, he returned to England, and was admitted in 1639, by sir John Suckling, into a troop raised for
Charles I. in his expedition against Scotland, but at York
he fell sick, and was obliged to return to London, where
he died the same year. Marmion, although not a voluminous writer, for he produced only four dramas, is considered by the author of the Biographia Dramatica as one
of the best among the dramatic writers of his time. “His
plots are ingenious,
” says that author, “his characters
well drawn, and his language not only easy and dramatic,
but full of lively wit and solid understanding.
” His plays
are, 1 “Holland’s Leaguer, an excellent comedy, as it
hath bin lately and often acted with great applause, by
the high and mighty prince Charles his servants, at the
private house in Salisbury court,
” Holland’s
Leaguer,
” in the same year, from which this drama might
possibly be taken 2. “A fine Companion, acted before
the King and Queen at Whitehall, and sundrie times with
great applause at the private house in Salisbury-court, by
the Prince his servants,
” The Antiquary,
a comedy, acted by her Majesty’s servants at the Cockpit,
”
The Crafty
Merchant, or the Souldier'd Citizen;
” which, as welt
as the rest, was a comedy; but they all state that it was
never printed, and neglect to tell where it is extant in
manuscript. He also published, 5. “Cupid and Psiche;
or an epic poem of Cupid and his Mistress, as it was lately
presented to the Prince Elector.
” Prefixed to this are
complimentary verses, by Richard Brome, Francis Tuckyr,
Thomas N abbes, and Thomas Hey wood. He wrote, be
sides these, several poems, which are scattered in different publications; and Wood says that he left some things
in ms. ready for the press, but what became of them is
not known.
, an English antiquary, was born at Thetford, in the school-house in St. Mary’s parish
, an English antiquary, was born at
Thetford, in the school-house in St. Mary’s parish (the only remaining parish of that town in Suffolk), March 8,
1697. His grandfather, William, was rector of Stantori
St. John, in Suffolk, where he was buried in 1677, His
father William was rector of Great Livermere, and of St.
Mary’s in Thetford, both in the same county. He married Elizabeth, only daughter of Mr. Thomas Eurrough,
of Bury St. Edmonds, and aunt to the late sir James Burrough, master of Caius college, Cambridge: he died in
1721, aged seventy-one, and was buried in Livermere
chancel, where his son Thomas, not long before his death,
placed a monument for him, and his mother, and their
children, who were then all dead except himself, “now
by God’s permission residing at Palgrave.
” Thomas was
the seventh of nine children. His school education was
probably at Thetford. In 1715 he had been some time
clerk to his brother Robert, who practised as an attorney
there; but it appears by some objections to that employment in his own hand-writing, in that year, that he was
very uneasy and dissatisfied with that way of life. As
these give us the state of his mind, and the bent of his
inclination at that early period, and may perhaps account
for his succeeding unsettled turn "and little application to
his business, they may be worth preserving in his own
words.
ive company, would have debarred him, as the father of a numerous, family, of that pretension. As an antiquary, he was most skilful and indefatigable; and when he was employed
Mr. Martin’s desire was not only to be esteemed, but to
be known and distinguished by the name of, “Honest Tom
Martin of Palgrave f,
” an ambition in which his acquaintance saw no reason not to gratify him; and we have observed, with pleasure, several strokes of moral sentiment
scattered about his rough church notes. These were the
genuine effusions of his heart, not designed for the public eye, and therefore mark his real character in that respect. Had he desired the appellation of wise and prudent,
his inattention to his business, his contempt and improper
use of money, and his fondness for mixed and festive company, would have debarred him, as the father of a numerous, family, of that pretension. As an antiquary, he was
most skilful and indefatigable; and when he was employed
as an attorney and genealogist, he was in his element. He
had the happiest use of his pen, copying, as well as tracing, with dispatch and exactness, the different writing of
every aera, and tricking arms, seals, &c. with great neatness. His taste for ancient lore seems to have possessed
him from his earliest to his latest days. He dated all the
scraps of paper on which he made his church-notes, &c.
Some of these begin as early as 1721, and end but the
autumn before his death, when he still wrote an excellent
hand; but he certainly began his collections even before
the first mentioned period; for he appears among the contributors to Mr. Le Neve’s “Monumenta Anglicana,
”
printed in
, a divine and antiquary, probably a relative of the preceding, was the great-grandson
, a divine and antiquary, probably a relative of the preceding, was the great-grandson of sir William Masters of Cirencester, in Gloucestershire. His father, William, was a clergyman, who among other livings, held that of St. Vedast, Foster-lane, London, where the subject of this article was born in 1713. He was admitted of Corpus-Christi college, Cambridge, in 1731, took his degree of B. A. in 1734, that of M. A. in 1738, and that of S. T. B. in 1746. He also obtained a fellowship of the college, and was tutor from 1747 to 1750. In 1752 he was chosen a fellow of the society of antiquaries, and was presented by Corpus college, in 1756, to the rectory of Landbeach in Cambridgeshire. He was also presented to the vicarage of Linton, which he resigned for that of Waterbeach in 1759; but this last he afterwards, by leave of the bishop of Ely, resigned tr his son. In 1797 he resigned, by consent of the respective colleges, the living of Landbeach to one of his sons-in-law, the rev. T. C. Burroughs, but continued to reside there. He was in the commission of the peace for the county of Cambridge. He died at Landbeach July 5, 1798, in his eightythird year.
iefs of faction and rebellion considered,” preached at Cambridge in 1745. He is chiefly known, as an antiquary, by his valuable “History of the College of Corpus-Christi,”
As a divine he published only one sermon, “The Mischiefs of faction and rebellion considered,
” preached at
Cambridge in History of the College of Corpus-Christi,
”
&.c. Remarks on Mr. Walpole’s Historic
Doubts,
” who answered them with no small display of
vanity and arrogance; “An account of stone coffins found
near Cambridge castle;
” and of “an ancient painting on
glass, representing the pedigree of the Stewart family.
”
In Memoirs of the Life and Writings
of the late rev. Thomas Baker, B. D. of St. John’s-college,
from the papers of Dr. Zachary Grey, with a Catalogue of
his ms Collections,
” Cambridge, 8vo; and in 1790 “A
Catalogue of the several pictures in the public library and
respective colleges of the university of Cambridge,
” 12mo.
His last work was, “A short account of the parish of
Waterbeach, in the diocese of Ely, by a late Vicar,
”
, an Italian philologer and antiquary, was born in 1684, at Santa Maria, a village near Capua. He
, an Italian philologer and antiquary, was born in 1684, at Santa Maria, a
village near Capua. He was ordained priest in 1709, and
became professor of the Greek and Hebrew languages in
the archiepiscopal seminary at Naples. In 1711 he was
made a canon of Capua: and successively theological professor at Naples, and royal interpreter of the Holy Scriptures. He is said through humility to have refused the
archbishopric of Rossano, which was offered to him by the
king. He died in 1771. Mazoclu wrote many works,
particularly on the subjects of ancient inscriptions, and of
medals. He published, 1. “Commentarium in mutilum
Campanioe Atnphitheatri titulum, aliasque nonnullas Inscriptiones,
” Neapoli, Ad Bernardum Tanuccium Epistola de
dedicatione sub ascia,
” Neap. Commentarium in vetus marmoreuin S. Neap. Eccles. Calendarium,
”
Neap. Notes on the New Testament.
”
5. “Dissertations on the Poetry of the Hebrews.
” 6.
“Antiquities of the Campagna of Rome.
” He left besides
in manuscript, a book on the origin of the city of Capua.
, a French magistrate and antiquary, was one of several authors of the name of Menard who obtained
, a French magistrate and antiquary, was one of several authors of the name of Menard
who obtained considerable reputation in France. Claude,
who was born in 1582, had a situation in the magistracy of
Angers (lieutenant de la prevote), and was distinguished
for his knowledge and virtue. Having had the misfortune
to lose his wife towards the latter end of his career, he
quitted the world, became an ecclesiastic, and led a very
austere life. He was passionately attached to the study of
antiquities, and rescued from oblivion several curious
pieces. He died Jan. 20, 1652, at the age of seventytwo. He published, 1. “Joinville’s History of St. Louis,
”
The two books of St. Austin against Julian,
” which he
discovered in the library at Angers. 3. “Researches concerning the body of St. James the greater,
” who, as is
pretended, was buried in the collegiate church of Angers.
The credulity of this casts some shade upon his other
works. It is also heavily written. 4. “History of Bertrand du Gueschiin,
”
to prevent his growing fat, travelled through France into Italy, along with lord Coleraine, an able antiquary, and arrived at Rome early in 1724. Here, though his character
7. “Bibliothecae Cantabrigiensis ordinandae methodus quaedam, quam domino procancellario senatuique acaclemico
considerandam & perficiendam, officii & pietatis ergo proponit.
” The plan is allowed to be judicious, and the
whole performance expressed in elegant Latin. In his dedication, however, to the vice-chancellor, in which he
alluded to the contest between the university and Dr.
Bentley, he made use of some incautious words against the
jurisdiction of the court of King’s-bench, for which he was
prosecuted, but dismissed with an easy fine.
Soon after this publication, having had the misfortune
to lose his wife, Dr. Midclleton, not then himself in a good
state of health, owing to some experiments he had been
making to prevent his growing fat, travelled through
France into Italy, along with lord Coleraine, an able antiquary, and arrived at Rome early in 1724. Here, though
his character and profession were well known, he was
treated with particular respect by persons of the first distinction both in church and state. The author of the account of his life in the “Biographia Britannica,
” relates,
that when Middleton first arrived at Rome, he met with an
accident, which provoked him not a little. “Dr. Middleton,
” says he, “made use of his character of principal
librarian, to get himself introduced to his brother librarian
at the Vatican; who received him with great politeness;
but, upon his mentioning Cambridge, said he did not knowbefore that there was any university in England of that
name, and at the same time took notice, that he was no
stranger to that of Oxford, for which he expressed a great
esteem. This touched the honour of our new librarian,
who took some pains to convince his brother not only of
the real existence, but of the real dignity of his university
of Cambridge. At last the keeper of the Vatican acknowledged, that, upon recollection, he had indeed heard of a
celebrated school in England of that name, which was a
kind of nursery, where youth were educated and prepared
for their admission at Oxford; and Dr. Middleton left him
at present in that sentiment. But this unexpected indignity put him upon his mettle, and made him resolve to
support his residence at Rome in such a manner, as should
be a credit to his station at Cambridge; and accordingly
he agreed to give 400l. per annum for a hotel, with all accommodations, fit for the reception of those of the first
rank in Rome: which, joined to his great fondness for
antiques, occasioned him to trespass a little upon his fortune.
” Part of this story seems not very probable.
cident happening to one of the blocks, when only twentythree pieces were struck off, he, like a true antiquary, declined having a fresh one made. This coin (which is very
, a very worthy and intelligent
bookseller, and well known to men of literary curiosity for
upwards of half a century, at his residence at Bungay in
Suffolk, was born at Norwich, Aug. 14, 1732. He was
apprenticed to a grocer, but his fondness for reading
induced him, on commencing business for himself, to apportion part of his shop for the bookselling business, which at
length engrossed the whole of his attention, time, and capital; and for many years he enlarged his stock so as to
make it an object of importance with collectors in all parts
of the kingdom, who were not more pleased with his judicious selection of copies, than the integrity with which he
transacted business. About 1782 he published a catalogue
of his collection of books, engraved portraits, and coins,
which for interest and value exceeded at that time any
other country collection? except, perhaps, that of the late
Mr. Edwards of Halifax. Mr. Miller was a great reader,
and possessing an excellent memory, he acquired that fund
of general knowledge, particularly of literary history,
which not only rendered him an instructive and entertaining companion, but gave a considerable value to his opinions of books, when consulted by his learned customers.
At a period of life, when unfortunately he was too far advanced for such an undertaking, he projected a history of
his native county, Suffolk, and circulated a well-written
prospectus of his plan. His habits of industrious research,
and natural fondness for investigating topographical antiquities, would have enabled him to render this a valuable
contribution to our stock of county histories; but, independent of his age, his eye-sight failed him soon after he
had made his design known, and he was obliged to relinquish it. In 1799 he became quite blind, but continued
in business until his death, July 25, 1804. There is a very
fine private portrait of Mr, Miller, engraved at the expence
of his affectionate son, the very eminent bookseller in Albemarle-street, who lately retired from business, carrying
with him the high esteem and respect of his numerous
friends and brethren. In 1795, when it became a fashion
among tradesmen in the country to circulate provincial
half-pennies, Mr. Miller sen. had a die cast; but an accident happening to one of the blocks, when only twentythree pieces were struck off, he, like a true antiquary, declined having a fresh one made. This coin (which is very finely engraved, and bears a strong profile likeness of himself) is known to collectors by the name of “The Miller
half-penny.
” He was extremely careful into whose hands
the impressions went; and they are now become so rare as
to produce at sales from three to five guineas.
t proportion of places of public worship. Dr. Miller also was somewhat of a poet, and somewhat of an antiquary. His first attempt in the former character was entitled “The
Dr. Miller’s professional knowledge was very extensive,
particularly in the theory of music; and his publications
have been much valued. Among these are “The Institutes of Music,
” intended to teach the ground-work of the
science; and “The Elements of Thorough Bass and Composition.
” But the most popular of his works was the
“Psalms of David,
” set to music and arranged for every
Sunday throughout the year. This, which was expressly
intended for the use of churches and chapels, met with very
great encouragement from all ranks of the clergy, and the
subscription, before publication, amounted to near five
thousand copies. It is now regularly used in a great proportion of places of public worship. Dr. Miller also was
somewhat of a poet, and somewhat of an antiquary. His
first attempt in the former character was entitled “The
Tears of Yorkshire, on the death of the most noble the
Marquis of Rockingham.
” He informs us himself, that so
much was the marquis beloved, “that 600 copies of this
literary trifle were sold in the course of a few hours, on the
day of his interment in York minster. As an antiquary he
published, two years before his death,
” The History and
Antiquities of Doncaster," 4to, in which he was assisted
by many learned friends in that neighbourhood; but even
with their help it bears many marks of advanced years and
infirmities.
, an English divine and antiquary, was the grandson of the rev. Isaac Milles, rector of High Clear
, an English divine and antiquary, was the grandson of the rev. Isaac Milles, rector of High Clear in Hampshire, probably by his second son Jeremiah. His eldest son was Dr. Thomas Milles, bishop of Waterford and Lismore, of whom it may be necessary to give some account, as Mr. Harris the editor and continuator of Ware has admitted a few mistakes, calling him Mills, and stating that he was the son of Joseph Mills. He was educated at Wadham college, Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A. in 1692, and that of M. A. in 1695. He was ordained by bishop Hough. In 1704 he took the degree of B. D. and in 1706 was appointed Greek professor of Oxford. In 1707 he attended the earl of Pembroke, lord lieutenant of Ireland, into that kingdom, and by him was promoted to the see of Waterford and Lismore. He died at Waterford May 13, 1740. He published a few controversial tracts, enumerated by Harris, but is best known by his valuable edition of the works of St. Cyril, published at Oxford in 1703, folio.
mte de Comminges. The pedigree of a man of learning is not of much importance, but Montfaucon was an antiquary, and has given us his genealogy in his “Bibl. Bibliothecarum
, a Benedictine of the
congregation of St. Maur, and one of the most learned antiquaries France has produced, was born Jan. 17, 1655, at
Soulage in Langnedoc, whither his parents had removed
on some business; and was educated at the castle of Roquetaillade in the diocese of Alet, where they ordinarily resided. His family was originally of Gascony, and of the
ancient lords of Montfaucon-le-Vieux, first barons of the
comte de Comminges. The pedigree of a man of learning
is not of much importance, but Montfaucon was an antiquary, and has given us his genealogy in his “Bibl. Bibliothecarum manuscriptorum,
” and it must not, therefore, be
forgotten, that besides his honourable ancestors of the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, he was the son of Timoleon de Montfaucon, lord of Roquetaillacle and Conillac
in the diocrse of Alet, by Flora de Maignan, daughter of
the baron d'Albieres. He was the second of four brothers.
From his early studies in his father’s house he was removed
to Limoux, where he continued them under the fathers of
the Christian doctrine, and it is said that the reading of
Plutarch’s Lives inspired him first with a love for history
and criticism. A literary profession, however, was not his
original destination, for we find that he set out with being
a cadet in the regiment of Perpignan, and served one or
two campaigns in Germany in the army of marshal Turenne.
He also gave a proof of his courage by accepting a challenge from a brother bfficer who wished to put it to the
tfcst. About two years after entering the army, the death
of his parents, and of an officer of distinction under whom
he served, with other circumstances that occurred about
the same time, appear to have given him a dislike to the
military life, and induced him to enter the congregation
of St. Maur in 1675 at the age of twenty. In this learned
society, for such it was for many years, he had every opportunity to improve his early education, and follow the
literary pursuits most agreeable to him. The first fruits of
his application appeared in a kind of supplement to Cottelerius, entitled “Analecta Graeca sive vuria opuscula,
Gr. & Lat.
” Paris, 4to, La verite de l'Histoire de Judith,
”
in which he attempts to vindicate the authenticity of that
apocryphal book, and throws considerable light on the
history of the Medes and Assyrians. His next publication
of much importance was a new edition in Gr. & Lat. of
the works of St. Athanasius, which came out in 1698, 3 vols.
fol. This, which is generally known by the name of the
Benedictine edition, gave the world the first favourable
impression of Montfaucon’s extensive learning and judgment. He had some assistance in it from father Lopin,
before-mentioned, who, however, died before the publication.
, M. A. and F. S. A. a learned and indefatigable antiquary and biographer, the son of Stephen Morant, was born at St. Saviour’s
, M. A. and F. S. A. a learned and
indefatigable antiquary and biographer, the son of Stephen Morant, was born at St. Saviour’s in the isle of Jersey, Oct. 6, 1700; and, after finishing his education at
Abingdon-school, was entered Dec. 16, 1717, of Pembrokecollege, Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A. June
10, 1721, and continued till Midsummer 1722; when he
was preferred to the office of preacher of the English
church at Amsterdam, but never went to take possession.
He took the degree of M. A. in 1724, and was presented
to the rectory of Shellow Bowells, April 20, 1733; to the
vicarage of Bromfield, Jan. 17, 1733-4; to the rectory of
Chicknal Smeley, Sept. 19, 1735; to that of St. Mary’s,
Colchester, March 9, 1737; to that of Wickham Bishops,
Jan. 21, 1742-3; and to that of Aldham, Sept. 14, 1745.
All these benefices are in the county of Essex. In 1748
he published his “History of Colchester,
” of which only
An Introduction to
the Reading of the New Testament, being a translation
of that of Mess, de Beausobre and Lenfant, prefixed to
their edition of the New Testament,
” The Translation of the Notes of Mess, de Beausobre
and Lenfant on St. Matthew’s Gospel,
” The
Cruelties and Persecutions of the Romish Church displayed, &c.
” 1 epitomised those Speeches, Declarations,
&c. which Rapin had contracted out of Rushworth in the
Life of King James I. King Charles I. &c.
” 1729, 1730.
5. “Remarks on the 19th Chapter of the Second Book of
Mr. Selden’s Mare Clausum.
” Printed at the end of Mr.
Fallens “Account of Jersey,
” 1 compared
Rapin’s History with the 20 volumes of Rymer’s Fcedera,
and Acta Publica, and all the ancient and modern Historians,
and added most of the notes that were in the folio edition,
”
1728, 1734. This is acknowledged at the end of the preface in the first volume of Rapin’s History. 7. “Translation of the Notes in the Second Part of the Othman History,
by Prince Cantemir,
” The History of England, by way of Question and
Answer,
” for Thomas Astley, Hearne’s Ductor Historicus,
” and made
large additions thereto, for J. Knapton. 10. “Account
of the Spanish Invasion in 1588, by way of illustration to
the Tapestry Hangings in the House of Lords and in the
King’s Wardrobe. Engraved and published by J. Pine,
”
1739, folio. 11. “Geographia Antiqua & Nova; taken
partly from Dufresnoy’s ‘ Methode pour etudier la Geographic;’ with Ceilarius’s Maps,
” A
Summary of the History of England,
” folio, and “Lists at
the end of Mr. TindaPs Continuation of Rapin’s History,
in vol. III. being 55 sheets. Reprinted in three volumes,
”
8vo. 13. “The History and Antiquities of Colchester,
”
All the Lives
in the Biographia Britannica marked C. 1739, 1760, 7 vols.
folio. I also composed Stiliingfleet, which hath no mark
at the end.
” 15. “The History of P:ssex,
” I prepared the Rolls of Parliament for
the Press
” (as far as the 16 Henry IV.) Other works in
ms.: 17. “An Answer to the first Part of the Discourse
of the Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion, in
a Letter to a Friend, 1724. Presented in ms. to Edmund
Gibson, bishop of London.
” Never printed. This was
the beginning of Mr. Morant’s acquaintance with the bishop, whom he acknowledged as his only patron, and who
gave him several livings in the county of Essex. 18. “The
Life of King Edward the Confessor.
” 19. About 150
Sermons.
, an eminent antiquary, was born at Bern in Switzerland, it does not appear in what
, an eminent antiquary, was born at
Bern in Switzerland, it does not appear in what year. He
had so strong a passion for the study of medals, that he
was firmly persuaded of its being natural to him. He travelled through several countries, and made large collections. In 1673 he became acquainted at Basil with Charles
Patin, who communicated to him many very curious and
rare medals, and also several other things which related to
the science. At Paris he had access to the king’s cabinet, and was permitted to design from it whatever he
pleased. He was exhorted by Ezekiel Spanheim, and
others of his learned acquaintance, to prepare his collections for the public; and, in 1683, he published at Paris,
in 8vo, “Specimen universae rei nummariae antiquae.
”
The great work, of which this was a specimen, was to be
a complete collection of all ancient medals, of which he
had at that time 20,000 exactly designed. At Leipsic,
1695, in 8vo, was published a second edition of this
“Specimen,
” corrected, altered, and augmented; to which
were added some letters of Spanheim, upon the subject of
medals.
in Germany, upon an invitation from the count of Schwartzburg, with whom he lived in quality of his antiquary. The count had a fine collection of medals, and furnished him
Soon after this Essay appeared, Louis XIV. gave him a place in his cabinet of antiques; which, though it brought him great honour, and some profit for the present, yet cost him very dear in the end: for, whether he spoke too freely of Mr. de Louvois, on account of his salary, which, it seems, was not very well paid, or for some private reason, of which we are ignorant, he was, by order of that minister, committed to the Bastile, where he lay for three years. He was released at the death of Louvois, which happened in 1691, but not till the canton of Bern solicited in his favour. He then returned to Switzerland, and resumed his grand design; and afterwards, in 1694, went to Arnstad in Germany, upon an invitation from the count of Schwartzburg, with whom he lived in quality of his antiquary. The count had a fine collection of medals, and furnished him with every thing necessary for carrying on his great work. Spanheim, who returned from France to Berlin in 1689, had a desire to see him again, and gave him also all the assistance and encouragement he could; yet some unforeseen accidents prevented him from completing it. He died of an apoplexy at Arnstad, April 10, 1703.
, an English antiquary descended from an ancient family, which had been seated from
, an English antiquary descended from an ancient family, which had been seated
from the beginning of the sixteenth century at Great
Coxwell, in the county of Berks, and allied by his grandmother to that of Rowe, which had been settled at Higham-Bensted in Waltbamstow, in the county of Essex, ever
since the middle of the same century), was born Jan. 13,
1730, at Tunstall in Kent, where his father was rector for
near 30 years. He was educated at Merchant Taylors’
school*; and admitted a commoner of Queen’s college,
Oxford, June 24, 1746. While he resided at Oxford, in
1746, he assisted in correcting an edition of “Calasio’s
Concordance,
” projected by Jacob Hive the printer, who
afterwards associated with the rev. William Romaine, and
published this “Concordance
” in Nomina & Insignia gentilitia Nobilium Equitumque sub Edvardo primo rege Militantium;
” the oldest
treasure, as he styles it, of our nobility after “Domesday
”
and the “Black Book of the Exchequer.
” He had also
printed, except notes and preface, a new edition in 8vo,
of Dionysius Halicarnassensis “De claris Rhetoribus,
”
with vignettes engraved by Green, the few copies of which
were sold after his death f. In 1752, he printed, in half a
quarto sheet, some corrections made by Junius in his own
copy of his edition of “Cadmon’s Saxon Paraphrase of
Genesis, and other parts of the Old Testament,
” Amst.
Figurae quaedam antiquse ex Caedmonis Monaclii Paraphraseos in Genesim exemplari pervetusto in
Bibliotheca Bodleiana adservato delineatae ad Anglo- Sax* Mr. Mores had made a few collec- tides there are several mutilations,
lions for a history of this school, and Mr. Mores, in the interval from the
lists of persons educated there. A first publication, had written to several
view of it was engraved by Mynde. in learned men in different parts of Eu1756, for IVlaitland’stdition of
” JStowe’s rope, in order to procure any informaSurvey,“1736, inscribed
” Sdiolae tiun, which might be of service to him
Mercatorum Scissorum Lond. facies in completing his edition, but met with
orientalis. Negatam a Patronis D. no success. It is said that he intended
Scholaris, Kdw. Rowe Mores, arm. to subjoin annotations, but nothing of
A.M. S. A. S." A history of this --chool that nature was found among his pahas just been ably executed by the pers, except some remaiks on the marRev. H. B. Wilson, B. I>. 1812 1815, gin of a copy of Hudson’s edition,
2 vols. 4to. which was sold at the sale of his books,
to the public as a specimen of parochial antiquities, which will shew the ideas of this industrious antiquary, and his endeavour to make even he minutest record subservient
Mr. Mores was a most indefatigable collector, and pos
sessed great application in the early part of his life, but,
in the latter part, gave himself up to habits of negligence
and dissipation, which brought him to his end by a mortification, in the forty-ninth year of his age, at his house at
Low Layton, Nov. 28, 1778. His large collection of curious Mss. and valuable library of books, were sold by
auction by Mr. Paterson, in August following. Of te
former, his “History and Antiquities of Tuiistall in Kent
”
the only papers that were completed for the press, and for
which he had engraved a set of plates out of the many
drawings taken at his expence, was purchased at the site
by Mr. Nichols, who gave it to the public as a specimen of
parochial antiquities, which will shew the ideas of this industrious antiquary, and his endeavour to make even he
minutest record subservient to the great plan of national
history.
, a Welsh antiquary and poet, was born in the isle of Anglesey in the year 1702,
, a Welsh antiquary and poet, was born in the isle of Anglesey in the year 1702, and died in 1765 at Penhryn, in Cardiganshire. He surveyed the coast of Wales in 1737, by order of the admiralty-board; and his work was published in 1748. Some of his poetical pieces in the Welsh language have been printed, and he left above eighty volumes of manuscripts of antiquity, now deposited in the Welsh charity-school, GraysInn lane, London. It was his intention to have compiled a Welsh dictionary, as appears by his correspondence in the Gentleman’s Magazine. His brother Richard was also a poet and critic in his native language. He was clerk in the navy pay-office, and superintended the printing of two valuable editions of the Welsh Bible. He died in 1779. William Morris, another brother, was a great collector of Welsh manuscripts, and died comptroller of the customs at Holyhead in 1764.
, a learned physician and antiquary, was a native of Westmoreland, where he was born in 1716, and
, a learned physician and antiquary, was a native of Westmoreland, where he was born in 1716, and practised physic with considerable reputation at Kendal about 1745. At what time he removed to London we have not been able to discover, as very few particulars of his life have been recorded, but it was probably about 1751, when he was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians. In 1752 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society; and on the first establishment of the British Museum, in 1756, he was appointed under-librarian of the manuscripts and medal department. In 1760 he was elected one of the secretaries to the Royal Society, which situation he held till 1774; and in 1776, on the death of Dr. Maty, he was appointed principal librarian of the British Museum. He was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and of the Imperial Academy of Petersburgh. He died Feb. 10, 1799, aged eighty-three, and was buried in the cemetery near the London road, Twickenham. In 1744 he married Miss Mary Berkeley, a niece of Lady Betty Germaine, by whom he had an only daughter, Elizabeth, married to James Dansie, esq. of Herefordshire. He married, secondly, in 1772, Lady Savile (mother of the amiable Sir George Savile), who died Feb. 10, 1791: in which year he married to his third wife Elizabeth Pratt, a near relation of Lady Savile. Dr. Morton was a man of great uprightness and integrity, and much admired as a scholar.
, Coleman-street, with a monument, on which he is styled citizen and draper of London, and a learned antiquary. It appears that he collected the arms of the county of Middlesex,
This author, of whom various particulars, with specimens of his works, may be seen in our authorities, died m
his eightieth year, Aug. 10, 1633, and was buried in the
parish church of St. Stephen, Coleman-street, with a monument, on which he is styled citizen and draper of London, and a learned antiquary. It appears that he collected
the arms of the county of Middlesex, lately transferred
from sir Simeon Stuart’s library to the British Museum
and was in 1618 the editor of a reprint of Stow’s “Survey
of London,
” with additions.
, a learned Italian antiquary, and one of the most voluminous writers of his age and country,
, a learned Italian antiquary, and one of the most voluminous writers of his age
and country, was born at Vignola in the duchy of Modena,
Oct. 21, 1672. He was educated at Modena, and his inclination leading him to the church, as a profession, he
went through the regular courses of philosophy and divinity, but without neglecting polite literature, to which he
was early attached. Bacchiiri recommended the ecclesiastical writers to his attention, and he at length became
so devoted to general reading, as to pay little attention to
his destined profession. In 1695, the knowledge of books
which he had accumulated, procured him the place of one
of the librarians of the celebrated Ambrosian collection at
Milan; and although he had by this time received his doctor’s degree and been admitted into orders, it was now
that he entered upon that course of study and research
which distinguished him in future life. His first publication was vols. I and II. of his “Anecdota Latina,
” printed
at Milan in Vita et Rime di Carlo M. Maggi,
” printed at Milan,
5 vols. and in 1703 published his “Primi disegni della
Republica Letteraria d'ltalia;
” this was followed by “Prolegomena, &c. in librum, cui titulus, Elucidatio Augustiniange de divina gratia doctrinae,
” Cologn, Lettere ai generosi e cortesi Letterati d'ltalia,
” Venice, Delia Perfetta Poesia Italiana, &c.
” 2 vols. a very ingenious dissertation on Italian poetry, which occasioned a
prolonged controversy, now no longer interesting. Two
editions, however, were afterwards published, with critical
notes by Salvini, the one in 1724, 2 vols. 4to. and the
other, which is esteemed the best, in 1748. He published
also at Bologna in 1707, “Lettera in disesa del March.
G. G. Orsi;
” and “Introduzione alle paci private,
” Modena, Riflessioni
SDpra il buon gusto, &c.
” of which a second part appeared
at Naples in Osservazioni sopra una lettera intitolata, II dominio temporale della sede Apostolica sopra la citta di
Comacchio,
” &c. Modena, 1708; and “Epistola ad Jo.
Albert. Fabricium,
” Anecdota Grseca,
” Gr. & Lat. 4to, which, as well as his
“Anecdota Latina,
” (completed in 4 vols. at Padua, 1713)
were taken from Mss. in the Ambrosian library. He
published also before 1715 some other works of lesser value,
which, however, showed how intense his labours were, for
he had accepted of some preferments in the church, the
duties of which he performed with great assiduity, and wai
particularly distinguished for his humane care of the poor,
who indeed shared the greater part of the profits of his
benefices, and the rest went to the repairs or furniture of
the churches under his care.
year. During the period of his authorship he enjoyed a most extensive reputation, principally as an antiquary, and carried on a correspondence with the most distinguished
Among the many subjects which engaged the pen of this laborious writer, was that of religion, in which he was so unfortunate as to excite suspicions of his orthodoxy; but although this involved him in temporary controversies, it does not appear that he was brought into very serious trouble. Having thought it necessary to vindicate himself to pope Benedict IV. he appears to have succeeded, and was much esteemed by that pontiff. He was enabled by a course of temperance to enjoy good health to a very advanced period of life, and felt little decay until a few months before his death, Jan. 21, 1750, in his seventyeighth year. During the period of his authorship he enjoyed a most extensive reputation, principally as an antiquary, and carried on a correspondence with the most distinguished men of learning in Europe. He was also a member of many learned societies, and was chosen into our royal society as early as 1717. He has been called the Montfaucon of Italy, and ranks with that eminent antiquary, as having performed the most important services to the history of his country.
, an English physician and antiquary, was descended from an ancient family in Westmorland, but born
, an English physician
and antiquary, was descended from an ancient family in
Westmorland, but born at Charlton-Musgrave in Somersetshire, in 1657. Being educated, as is supposed, at
Winchester-school, he became, in 1675, a probationerfellow of New college, in Oxford, where he took the degree of LL. B. in 1682; but afterwards studying physic,
distinguished himself greatly by his knowledge in that profession and in natural philosophy; and was elected fellow
of the royal society. He was made secretary to it in 1684,
in which quality he continued, and published the “Philosophical Transactions,
” from No.
s “Have with you to Saffron-Walden,” passed through six editions; and an eminent poetical critic and antiquary thinks that Malone must have formed his severe censure of Nash
As a satirist, his most virulent paper-war was carried on
with Gabriel Harvey, particularly in his tract, entitled
“Have with you to Saffron-Walden,
” which was Harvey’s
residence. His dramatic pieces were only three “Dido,
queen of Carthage,
” a tragedy, Summer’s Last Will and Testament,
” a comedy, The Isle of Dogs,
” above-mentioned, not published.
He engaged on the side of the church against Martin Marprelate; and the following are supposed to have formed
his share of this controversy: “A Countercuffe given to
Martin, junior,
” &c.; “Martin’s month’s minde
” “The
Returne of the renowned cavaliero Pasquill of England,
”
&c. all published in Bibliographer.
” Nash wrote
with considerable ease, harmony, and energy, yet Ma lone
says, that “of all the writers of the age of queen Elizabeth, Nash is the most licentious in his language; perpetually distorting words from their primitive signification,
in a manner often puerile and ridiculous, but more frequently incomprehensible and absurd.
” He pleased his
own age, however, for we find that his “Have with you
to Saffron-Walden,
” passed through six editions; and an
eminent poetical critic and antiquary thinks that Malone
must have formed his severe censure of Nash from this
piece, which was intended to ridicule the inflated and
turgid language of Harvey, in his astrological tracts. The
style of “Pierce Penniless,
” adds sir E. Brydges, is very
dissimilar, and his “Address to the two Universities,
” published in
, a learned divine and antiquary, was born in 1740, at Norwich, of reputable parents. His father,
, a learned divine and antiquary, was born in 1740, at Norwich, of reputable parents. His father, who was of a Scotch family, had his son’s grammatical education completed at Amsterdam. Thence he was removed to Bene't college, Cambridge, where his ingenuous and open temper gained him the love and esteem of the whole society, who elected him a fellow, after he had taken his degree of B. A. in 1764. In 1767 he took the degree of M. A. and was frequently honoured for his application and proficiency in every branch of academic studies. Having entered into holy orders, he served the sequestration of Hinxton in Cambridgeshire for some years, to which he was presented by bishop Mavvson, and was junior proctor of the university in 1771. He was afterwards elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and became one of his majesty’s justices of peace for the county of Cambridge. In this situation he was eminently conspicuous for his correct knowledge and mild administration of the laws; and he filled the office of chairman at the sessions of Cambridge and Ely with moderation, justice, and impartiality, at once distinguishing himself as the gentleman, the lawyer, and the divine.
, a celebrated French antiquary ia the seventeenth century, was descended of a good family at
, a celebrated French antiquary ia
the seventeenth century, was descended of a good family
at Dijon, where his brother was proctor-general of the
chamber of accounts, and born in 1623. Being inclined
to the church, he became an ecclesiastic, and was made a
canon in the holy chapel at Dijon but devoted himself
wholly to the study and knowledge of antique monuments.
Having laid a proper foundation of learning at home, he
resigned his canonry, and went to Rome, where he resided
many years; and, after his return to France, he held a
correspondence with almost all the learned men in Europe.
Perhaps there never was a man of letters, who had so frequent and extensive a commerce with the learned men of
his time as the abbe Nicaise, nor with men of high rank.
The cardinals Barbarigo and Noris, and pope Clement XL
were among his regular correspondents. This learned intercourse took up a great part of his time, and hindered
him from enriching the public with any large works; but
the letters which he wrote himself, and those which he received from others, would make a valuable “Commercium
Epistolicum.
” The few pieces which he published are, a
Latin dissertation “De Nummo Pantheo,
” dedicated to
Mr. Spanheim, and printed at Lyons in 1689. The same
year he published an explication of an antique monument
found at Guienne, in the diocese of Aach; but the piece
which made the greatest noise was “Les Sirenes, ou discours sur leur forme et figure,
” Paris, A discourse upon the form and figure of the Syrens,
” in which,
following the opinion of Huet, bishop of Auvranches, he
Undertook to prove, that they were, in reality, birds, and
not fishes, or sea-monsters. He translated into French,
from the Italian, a piece of Bellori, containing a description of the pictures in the Vatican, to which he added,
“A Dissertation upon the Schools of Athens and Parnassus,
” two of Raphael’s pictures. He wrote also a few letters in the literary journals, and a small tract upon the
Ancient music; and died while he was labouring to present
the public with the explanation of that antique inscription
which begins “Mercurio et Minervæ Arneliæ, &c.
” which
was found in the village of Villy, where he died in Oct.
1701, aged 78.
, a learned English prelate and antiquary, was both by the father and mother’s side of Cumberland extraction.
, a learned English prelate and antiquary, was both by the father and mother’s side of Cumberland extraction. His grandfather was Joseph Nicolson, of Averas Holme in that county, who married Radigunda- Scott, heiress to an estate at Park Broom, in the parish of Stanvvix which estate descended to Catherine eldest surviving daughter of our prelate. His father, who married Mary daughter of John Brisco of Grofton, esq. was a clergyman, of Queen’s college, Oxford; and rector of Orton near Carlisle. He was born at Orton in 1655, and in 1670 was entered of Queen’s college, under the tuition of Dr. Thos. Barlow, afterwards bishop of Lincoln, and took his degree of B. A. in 1676. While here he became known to sir Joseph Williamson, then secretary of state, the great benefactor to Queen’s college, and the patron of many of its scholars, who in 1678 sent him to Leipsic to learn the septentrional languages. While there he translated into Latin an essay of Mr. Hook’s, containing a proof of the motion of the earth from the sun’s parallax, which was printed at Leipsic by the professor who had recommended the task.
had a great portion of that enthusiasm, without which no man can form an accomplished or successful antiquary. In one place we find him, speaking of a journey to Scotland,
After a short tour into France, he returned to college,
and completed his degree of M. A. July 23, 1679, and in
the. same year was elected and admitted fellow of Queen’s
college. He received deacon’s orders in December. In
1680, he furnished an account of the kingdoms of Poland,
Denmark, Norway, and Iceland, for the first volume of
Pitt’s English Atlas, and he compiled also the principal
part, if 'not the whole, of the second and third volumes.
In February of the same year, he was sent by the vicechancellor to wait on George Lewis., prince of Brunswick,
afterwards George I. who was then at Tetsworth, in his way
to the university, where next day his highness was complimented with the degree of LL. D. In Sept. 1681, Mr.
Nicolson was ordained priest, and was in that year collated by bishop Rainbow to a vacant prebend in the cathedral church of Carlisle, and also to the vicarage of Torpenhow, and in the year following to the archdeaconry of Carlisle, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Thomas Musgrave.
His attachment to the study of antiquities began to appear early, and although we cannot minutely trace the
progress of his studies at Oxford, it is evident from his correspondence, that in addition to the ordinary pursuits of
classical, philosophical, and theological information, he
had accumulated a great stock of various learning. He
had, among other branches, studied botany with much attention, and had paid particular attention to the natural
history of the earth, the effects of the deluge, the authority of the scripture account of that event, and other subjects connected with it, which at that time were agitated
by Dr. Woodward and his contemporaries. He made also
great proficiency in ancient northern literature; and in
matters of antiquarian research, had a great portion of that
enthusiasm, without which no man can form an accomplished or successful antiquary. In one place we find him,
speaking of a journey to Scotland, where “he met with a
most ravishing Runic monument;
” and it indeed appears
that he spared neither labour or expence in investigating
the remains of antiquity wherever they could be found.
In 1685 he wrote a letter to Mr. Obadiah Walker, master
of University college, Oxford, concerning a Runic inscription at Bewcastle in Cumberland, which is printed in
the Philosophical Transactions, No. 178, and in Hutch inson’s Hist. of Cumberland, with the opinions of subsequent
antiquaries. He likewise sent a letter to sir William Dugdale, printed in the same number of the Transactions,
concerning a Runic inscription on the font in the church of
Bride-kirk. Dr. Hickes, in the preface to his “Thesaurus,
” acknowledges the able, polite, and prompt aid he
received from Mr. Nicolson in preparing that great work.
In 1696 he published the first part of his “English Historical Library,
” a work intended to point out the sources
whence all information respecting English history and aniiqu ties,- whether printed or in manuscript, was to be derived. The whole, in three parrs, was completed in 1699,
and was followed by a similar “Library
” for Scotland, in
, an English antiquary, was the son of George North, citizen of London, and was born
, an English antiquary, was the son
of George North, citizen of London, and was born in 1710.
He received his education at St. PauPs school, whence, in
1725, he went to Bene't college in Cambridge, where he
took his degrees of B. A. in 1728, and M. A. in 1744. In
1729 he was admitted into deacon’s orders, and went to
officiate as curate at Codicote, a small village near Welwyn,
in Herts. In 1741 he published, without his name, “An
Answer to a scandalous libel, entitled The Impertinence
and Imposture of Modern Antiquaries displayed.
” This
“scandalous libel,
” a quarto pamphlet, professed to be a
“refutation of the *ev. Mr. Wise’s Letter to Dr. Mead,
concerning the white horse, and other antiquities in Berkshire,
” and was written by the rev. Will. Asplin, vicar of
Banbury, and had a preface added to it by William Burnstead of Upton, co, Warwick, esq. formerly the supercargo
of the prince Frederic, East Indiaman. Mr. North’s refutation and censure of the pert arrogance of Messrs. Asplin
and Bumstead recommended him not only to the notice
and esteem of the gentleman whose cause he had so generously espoused (to whom he was at that time a perfect stranger), but also of several dignified members of the Society of Antiquaries, into which he was elected early in
1742, and soon distinguished himself as a very useful member, and drew up in that year, a catalogue of the earl of
Oxford’s coins, for the public sale of them.
xtant in manuscript, which he gave to his pupil Lambarde, from whom it passed to Somner, the learned antiquary of Canterbury, who made use of it in compiling his Saxon dictionary.
During the troubles in Mary’s days he was concealed
for some time in the house of sir John Perrot, at Carewcastle in Pembrokeshire; but before the queen died, he
went to his brother Alexander and the exiles in Germany.
On his return he was made archdeacon of Derby and dean
of Lichfield, in April 1559; had the prebend of Ferring in
the cathedral of Chichester in August 1563, and of Ampleford in York in 1566, and the rectory of Haughton and
Drayton Basset, in the county of Stafford. He died in
or about the month of October, 1576.
He was, as Wood justly observes, “a most diligent
searcher into venerable antiquity.
” He bad also this peculiar merit, that he revived and encouraged the neglected
study of the Saxon language, so essential to the accurate
knowledge of our legal antiquities, as well as to the elucidation of ecclesiastical and civil history. In these studies,
while he resided, as is said, in the chambers of his brother
Robert Nowell (the queen’s attorney- general of the court of wards), he had the celebrated William Lambarde for his
pupil, who availed himself of his notes and assistance in
composing his learned work on the ancient laws of England.
He wrote a Saxon vocabulary or dictionary, still extant in
manuscript, which he gave to his pupil Lambarde, from
whom it passed to Somner, the learned antiquary of Canterbury, who made use of it in compiling his Saxon dictionary. It then came into the hands of Mr. Selden, and
is now, with other books of that great man, printed and
manuscript, reposited in the Bodleian library at Oxford.
Mr. Thoresby, the historian of Leeds, had a quarto ms.
entitled “Polychronicon,
” a miscellaneous collection, as
it seems, containing perambulations of forests and other
matters, in the hand-writing of Lawrence Nowell, 1565.
There are also “Collectanea
” by him, relating chietiy to
ecclesiastical affairs, in the Cotton library. He appears to
have been in learning, piety, and meekness of spirit, the
worthy brother of the dean of St. Paul’s.
, an eminent classical scholar, editor, and antiquary, the son of a schoolmaster of Strasburgh, was born in that city
, an eminent classical
scholar, editor, and antiquary, the son of a schoolmaster
of Strasburgh, was born in that city Aug. 7, 1735. He
entered the university in 1750, and applied with great
assiduity to the usual studies, but his particular attention
was directed to the lectures of the celebrated Schcepflin,
who was so well pleased with his ardour for instruction,
that he permitted him the use of his excellent library, and
his cabinet of antiquities, and there he imbibed that taste
for investigating the monuments of ancient times, which,
became the ruling passion of his life. In 1757 he afforded
the first indication of this, by sustaining a thesis on the
ancient rites in burial, “Dissertatio philologica de veterum
ritu condiendi inortuos.
” During three subsequent years
he studied theology, but apparently rather as a philologer
than a divine; and when Dr. Kennicott was endeavouring
to procure the variations of the 'Hebrew text of the Old
Testament from all Europe, Oberlin collated for him four
manuscripts in the library of the university of Strasburgh,
of which he afterwards, in his “Miscellanea Literaria Argentoratensia,
” published a description with specimens.
In
y of the Stage.“9. He was concerned with Des Maizeaux in writing the” Life of Mr. Richard Carew,“the antiquary of Cornwall, in 1722. 10.” Observations, Historical and Critical,
Of the writings of Mr. Oldys, some of which were anonymous, the following account is probably very imperfect:
I. In the British Museum is Oidys’s copy of “Langbaine’s
_ Lives,
” &c. not interleaved, but filled with notes written
in the margin, and between the lines, in an extremely
small hand. It came to the Museum as a part of the library
of Dr. Birch, who bought it at an auction of Oidys’s books
and papers for one guinea. Transcripts of this have been
made by various literary gentlemen. 2. Mr. Gough, in
the first volume of his “British Topography,
” p. been favoured, by George Steevens, esq.
with the use of a thick folio of titles of books and pamphlets
relative to London, and occasionally to Westminster and
Middlesex, from 1521 to 1758, collected by the late Mr.
Oldys, with many others added, as it seems, in another
hand. Among them,
” he adds, “are many purely historical, and many of too low a kind to rank under the head
of topography or histpry. The rest, which are very numerous, I have inserted, marked O, with corrections, &c.
of those I had myself collected. Mr. Steevens purchased
this ms. of T. Davies, who bought Mr. Oidys’s library.
It had been in the hands of Dr. Berkenhout, who had a
design of publishing an English Topographer, and riiay
possibly have inserted the articles in a different hand. It
afterwards became the property of sir John Hawkins.
”
3. “The British Librarian, exhibiting a compendious Review of all unpublished and valuable books, in all sciences,
”
which was printed without his name, in Life of sir Waiter Raleigh,
” prefixed to
his “History of the World,
” in folio. 5. “Introduction
to Hay ward’s British Muse (1738);
” of which he says,
“that the penurious publishers, to contract it within a
sheet, left out a third part of the best matter in it, and
made more faults than were in the original.
” In this he
was assisted by Dr. Campbell. 6. “His Observations on
the Cure of William Taylor, the blind boy at Ightharn, in
Kent, by John Taylor, jun. oculist, 1753,
” 8vo. Thetide
of the pamphlet here alluded to was, “Observations on
the Cure of William Taylor, the blind Boy, of Ightham,
in Kent, who, being born with cataracts in both eyes, was
at eight years of age brought to sight on the 8th of October, 1751, by Mr. John Taylor, jun. oculist, in Hattongarden; containing his strange notions of objects upon the
first enjoyment of his new sense; also, some attestations
thereof; in a letter written by his father, Mr. William
Taylor, farmer, in the same parish: interspersed with several curious examples, and remarks, historical and philosophical, thereupon. Dedicated to Dr. Monsey, physician
to theRoyal hospital at Chelsea. Also, some address to
the public, for a contribution towards the foundation of an
hospital for the blind, already begun by some noble personages,
” 8vo. 7. Various lives in the “Biographia Britannica,
” with the signature G, the initial letter of Gray’sInn, where he formerly lived. He mentions, in his notes
on Langbaine, his life of sir George Etherege, of Caxton,
of Thomas May, and of Edward Alleyn, inserted in that
work. He composed the “Life of Atherton;
” which, if
it ever deserved to have had a place in that work, ought
not to have been removed from it any more than the “Life
of Eugene Aram,
” which is inserted in the second edition.
That the publishers of the second edition meant no indignity to Oldys, by their leaving out his “Life of Atherton,
”
appears fram their having transcribed into their work a
much superior quantity of his writings, consisting of notes
and extracts from printed books, styled “Oldys’s Mss.
”
Of these papers no other account is given than that “they
are a large and useful body of biographical materials;
”
but we may infer, from the known industry and narrow
circumstances of the writer, that, if they had been in any
degree prepared for public consideration, they would not
have so long lain dormant. 8. At the importunity of Curll,
he gave him a sketch of the life of Nell Gvvin, to help out
his V History of the Stage.“9. He was concerned with
Des Maizeaux in writing the
” Life of Mr. Richard Carew,“the antiquary of Cornwall, in 1722. 10.
” Observations,
Historical and Critical, on the Catalogue of English Lives.“Whether this was ever printed we know not. 11.
” Tables
of the eminent persons celebrated by English Poets.“This he seems to quote in a manuscript note on Langbaine,
but it does not appear to have been printed. 12. He mentions, ibidem, the first volume of his
” Poetical Characteristics,“on which we may make the same remark. If these
two works continued in ms. during his life-time, it is probable that they were not finished for publication, or that
no bookseller would buy them. 13. O,idys seems to have
been concerned likewise as a writer in the
” General Dictionary,“for he mentions his having been the author of
” The Life of sir-John Talbot,“in that work and in Birch’s
Mss. is a receipt from him for \.L 5s. for writing the article of Fas tolf 14. He mentions likewise, in his notes on
Langbaine, that he was the author of a pamphlet against
Toland, called
” No blind Guides.“15. He says, ibidem,
that he communicated many things to Mrs. Cooper, which
she published in her
” Muse’s Library.“16. In 1746 was
published, in 12mo,
” health’s Improvement; or, Rules
comprising the nature, method, and manner, of preparing
foods used in this nation. Written by that ever famous
Thomas Moffett, doctor in physic; corrected and enlarged
by Christopher Bennet, doctor in physic, and fellow of
the College of Physicians in London. To which is now
prefixed, a short View of the Author’s Life and Writings,
by Mr. Oldys; and an Introduction by R. James, M. D.“17. In the first volume of British Topography,
” page 31,
mention is made of a translation of “Gamden’s Britannia,
”
in 2 vols. 4to, “by W. O. esq.
” which Mr. Gough, with
great probability, ascribes to Mr. Oldys. 18. Among the
Mss. in the British Museum, described in Mr. Ayscough’s
Catalogue, we find p. 24, “Some Considerations upon the
publication of sir Thomas Roe’s Epistolary Collections,
supposed to be written by Mr. Oldys, and by him tendered
to Sam. Boroughs, esq. with proposals, and some notes of
Dr. Birch.
” 19. In p. 736, “Memoirs of the family of
Oldys.
” 20. In p. 741, “Two small pocket books of
short Biographical Anecdotes of many Persons,
” and “some
Fragments of Poetry,
” perhaps collected by Mr. Oldys?
21. In p. 750, and p. 780, are two ms letters “of Mr.
Oldys,
” 1735 and 1751. 22. It is said, in a ms paper,
by Dr. Dticarel, who knew him well, that Oldys had by
him, at the time of his death, some collections towards a
“Life of Shakspeare,
” but not digested into any order,
as he told the doctor a few days before he died. 23. On
the same authority he is said to be a writer in, or the
writer of, “The Scarborough Miscellany,
” The Universal Spectator,
” of which he was some
time the publisher, was a newspaper, a weekly journal,
said; on the top of the paper, which appeared originally in
single sheets, to be “by Henry Stonecastle, in Northumberland,
” 1730 1732. It was afterwards collected into
two volumes 8vo to which a third and fourth were added
in 1747. In one of his Mss. we find the following wellturned anagram
ed from it, and the duke having apologized to the Czar, attached him to himself as mathematician and antiquary. In 1643, the duke sent him on a commission to Moscow, where,
, a learned traveller, whose German name was Oelschlager, was born in 1599, or 1600,
at Aschersieben, a small town in the principality of Anhalt.
43is parents were very poor, and scarcely able to maintain
him, yet by some means he was enabled to enter as a student at Leipsic, where he took his degrees in arts and
philosophy, but never was a professor, as some biographers
have asserted. He quitted Leipsic for Holsteiu, where the
duke Frederic, hearing of his merit and capacity, wished to
employ him. This prince having a wish to extend the
commerce of his country to the East, determined to send
an embassy to the Czar Michael Federowitz, and the king of
Persia, and having chosen for this purpose two of his counsellors, Philip Crusius and Otto Bruggeman, he appointed
Olearius to accompany them as secretary. Their travels
lasted six years, during which Olearius collected a great
fund of information respecting the various countries they
visited. The Czar of Moscovy on his return wished to
have retained him in his service, with the appointment of
astronomer and mathematician; not, however, his biographers tell us, so much on account of his skill in these
sciences, as because the Czar knew that Olearius had very
exactly traced the course of the Volga, which the Russians
then wished to keep a secret from foreigners. Olearius
had an inclination, however, to have accepted this offer,
but after his return to the court of Holstein, he was dissuaded from it, and the duke having apologized to the
Czar, attached him to himself as mathematician and antiquary. In 1643, the duke sent him on a commission to
Moscow, where, as before, his ingenuity made him be
taken for a magician, especially as on this occasion he exhibited a camera obscura. In 1650 the duke appointed him
his librarian, and keeper of his curiosities. The library he
enriched with many Oriental Mss. which he had procured
in his travels, and made also considerable additions to the
duke’s museum, particularly of the collection of Paludanns,
a Dutch physician, which the duke sent him to Holland ta
purchase; and he drew up a description of the whole,
which was published at Sleswick in 1666, 4to. He also
constructed the famous globe of Gottorp, and an armillary
sphere of copper, which was not less admired, and proved
how much mathematics had been his study. He died Feb.
22, 1671. He published, in German, his travels, 1647,
1656, 1669, fol. Besides these three editions, they were
translated into English by Davies, and into Dutch and
Italian. The most complete translation is that, in French,
by Wicquefort, Amst. 1727, 2 vols. fol. who also translated
Olearius’s edition of Mandelso’s “Voyages to Persia,
” c.
fol. Among his other and less known works, are some
lives of eminent Germans “The Valley of Persian Roses,
”
from the Persian; “An abridged Chronicle of Holstein,
”
&c
, an Italian antiquary, was born July 11, 1689, at Rovigo, in the Venetian state. Having
, an Italian antiquary, was born July 11,
1689, at Rovigo, in the Venetian state. Having been ordained priest in 1711, he became professor of ethics at
Azzoio, which office he filled for eight years, and went to
Rome in 1715, where Clement XI. received him very kindly.
After this pontiff’s decease, Oliva being made secretary
to the conclave, obtained the notice of cardinal de Rohan,
who patronized him, and in 1722 appointed him his librarian, which he held till his death, March 19, 1757, at Paris.
He translated the abbe Fleury’s “Tr. des Etudes,
” into
Italian, and left a dissertation, in Latin, “On the necessity of joining the study of ancient medals to that of history;
” another, “On the progress and decay of learning
among the Romans;
” and a third, “On a monument of
the goddess Isis.
” These three, under the title of “CEuvres
diverses,
” were printed at Paris,
, a learned Italian antiquary, honorary chamberlain to Clement the XHIth, and perpetual secretary
, a learned Italian antiquary, honorary chamberlain to Clement the XHIth, and perpetual secretary of the academy of Pesaro, in the Marche of Ancona, was born in that city on the 17th of June, 1708, of an ancient and illustrious family. His lively and active disposition, and an uncommon thirst for information, gave an early promise of his subsequent progress in the career of literature. After receiving at home the rudiments of a learned education, he went through the usual studies of polite literature, at the college of noblemen at Bologna. He then applied himself to the study of the civil and canon law at the university of Pisa, under the tuition of the illustrious civilian and literator Averani, until 1727, when he went to Rome in order to practise at the bar.
, or Ursatus, a celebrated antiquary, historian, grammarian, and poet, was born February 1, 1617,
, or Ursatus, a celebrated antiquary, historian, grammarian, and poet, was born February 1, 1617, at Padua, of one of the most illustrious families in that city. He applied diligently to the study of
antiquities and ancient inscriptions, which occasioned his
taking several journies into different parts of Italy. When
advanced in life, he was appointed to teach natural philosophy in the university of Padua, and acquitted himself
with great success in that office. He died at Venice July
3, 1678. He was a member of the academy of the Ricovrati, and has left a great number of valuable works, some
in Latin, others in Italian: the principal among the former
are, “Sertum Philosophicum ex variis scientise naturaiis
floribus consertum,
” Padua, Monumenta
Patavina,
” Padua,“1652, folio. 3.
” Commentarius de
Dotis Romanorum,“Padua, 1672, folio, a useful work, and
much esteemed. It has been inserted in torn. XI. of the
” Thesaurus“of Groevius, and is printed separately, Paris,
1723, 12mo, and at the Hague, 1736. The following are
his principal Italian works 4.
” A Hist, of Padua, in two
parts,“1678, folio. 5.
” I Marmi eruditi,“1669, and 1719,
2 vols. 4to; a curious work, in two parts also. 6.
” Chronologia di Reggimenti di Padoua;“revised, with notes,
1666, 4to. 7. Several
” Lyric Poems,“1637, 12mo;
” Comedies," andother poetical pieces, &c.
of a right worthy man, and one that gave in council faithful advice: learned he was also, says that antiquary, “and endowed with many excellent parts and gifts of nature;
There is an elegant and just character of him by Leland,
written upon his return from Venice; and he certainly was
much esteemed by the learned men of his time, especially
by sir Thomas More and Erasmus. The latter admired
Pace for his candour and sweetness of temper; and was so
much afflicted at his misfortunes,that he could never forgive
the man that caused them. He styles him utriusque literature calentissimus; and wrote more letters to him than to
any one of his learned friends and correspondents. Stow
gives him the character of a right worthy man, and one that
gave in council faithful advice: learned he was also, says
that antiquary, “and endowed with many excellent parts
and gifts of nature; courteous, pleasant, and delighting ia
music; highly in the king’s favour, and well heard in matters of weight.
” There is extant a remarkable letter of
his to the king, written in 1527, in which he very honestly
gives his opinion concerning the divorce; and Fiddes observes, that he always used a faithful liberty to the cardinal, which brought him at last to confinement and distraction.
, antiquary and librarian to the duke of Parma, and historiographer of the
, antiquary and librarian to
the duke of Parma, and historiographer of the order of
Malta, was born at Turin, Nov. 13, 1710. After studying
in the university of Turin, he took the religious habit in
the order of the Theatins, at Venice, and then went to
Bologna to study mathematics and natural philosophy under
the celebrated Beccari. It appears that he began his subsequent literary career with the last-mentioned pursuit;
and that as soon as he had attained the higher orders, he
was appointed professor of philosophy in the college of
Genoa; and was one of those who first dared, to explode,
from the schools of Italy, the old rooted prejudices of fantastic systems, and to substitute for them the eternal truths
discovered by Newton. He did not, however, long remain in the professorship of philosophy, at Genoa, but
quitted philosophy for divinity, and devoted ten years to
preaching and the composition of sermons, by neither of
which he acquired much reputation; but within this period
he published some orations, his “Treatise on the Antiquities of Hipa Transone,
” the ancient Cupra; and three years
after, his “Explanation of an ancient engraved Stone.
”
received additional honours and commissions from the royal court of Parma. In 1763 he was appointed antiquary to his royal highness, and director of the excavations which,
Whilst he was thus active in the organization of the
library, he received additional honours and commissions
from the royal court of Parma. In 1763 he was appointed
antiquary to his royal highness, and director of the excavations which, under the authority of government, had
been undertaken in the ancient town of Velleja, situated
in the Parmesan dominions; and in 1767, on the expulsion of the Jesuits, he was declared “president of studies,
”
with the power of new modelling as he thought proper,
the whole system of public instruction throughout the state.
In this new organization of studies he displayed the same
spirit of order by which he had been already distinguished
in the formation of the library. He endeavoured to arrange
the different subjects in the minds of his pupils as he had
formerly classified the books upon the different shelves.
his life, and in this office was succeeded by archbishop Whitgift. He had the taste and spirit of an antiquary from his earliest years, and employed his interest, when he
To the university of Cambridge, and particularly to
his own college, he was a most munificent benefactor,
founding, at his own expence, many fellowships and scholarships. He was also the founder of the first Society of
Antiquaries, over which he presided during his life, and in
this office was succeeded by archbishop Whitgift. He
had the taste and spirit of an antiquary from his earliest
years, and employed his interest, when he rose in the
world, as well as his fortune, in accumulating collections,
or transcripts of manuscripts, from the dissolved monasteries. In his library is a letter from the privy-council,
dated July 1568, signifying the queen’s pleasure, that the
archbishop, or his deputies, should be permitted to peruse
all the records of the suppressed houses. The greatest
favour, therefore, which he conferred on literature, was
the invaluable collection of Mss. and printed books which
he gave to his college, and which is there still preserved.
Fuller styled this collection “the Sun of English Antiquity,
before it was eclipsed by that of sir Robert Cotton,
” and
justly, as it contained more materials, relating to the civil
and ecclesiastical history of this kingdom, than had ever
been collected. The manuscripts are of the eleventh,
twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth
centuries. Some are as old as the tenth, ninth, and
eighth. They relate to the writings of the fathers and
school-divinity, to civil and ecclesiastical matters, to the
concerns of various religious houses, of the university, &c.
Many of them are in the old Saxon character, and they
are all well described in Nasmith’s Catalogue. A copy of
his will is preserved in the College-library, as are two
pictures of him in oil, with a beautiful one in water-colours, taken in the seventieth year of his age, at the end
of the college-statutes. His only surviving son, John, was
knighted in 1603, and died in 1618, but there is nothing
remarkable in his history; and the family is now thought
to be extinct.
rvations on the analogy between the Propagation of Animals and that of Vegetables,” 1752, 8vo. As an antiquary, Dr. Parsons distinguished himself by an elaborate publication,
Dr. Parsons left the following works 1. “A mechanical
and critical Enquiry into the nature of Hermaphrodites,
”
A
description of the Urinary Human Bladder, and the parts
belonging to it, with figures,
” Philosophical Observations on the analogy between the Propagation of Animals and that of Vegetables,
” Remains of Japhet being historical inquiries into the
affinity and origin of the European languages,
” Croonian Lectures on Muscular Motion,
”
Huomu Physiognomy explained,
” in the Appendix to
the Philos. Trans, for
mpiler, is become scarce, owing to the fire in Mr. Nichols’s premises, but is highly valuable to the antiquary and lover of such researches. Mr. Parsons also established a
, an English divine, and miscellaneous writer, was born at Dedham, in Essex, in 1729. His family was ancient, and settled at Hadleigh, in Suffolk, as
early as the reign of HenryV1I. where some of their
descendants still reside. He lost his father when veryyoung, and owed the care of his education to his maternal
uncle, the rev. Thomas Smythies, master of the grammar
school at Lavenham, in Suffolk, with whom he continued
till he went to Cambridge, where he was entered of Sidney
Sussex college, and took his degrees there of B. A. in 1752,
and M. A. in 1776. After he had taken orders he was
appointed to the free school of Oakham in Rutlandshire,
and remained there till 1761, when he was presented to
the school and curacy of Wye by Daniel earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham. In the sedulous discharge of the
twofold duties of this preferment he was engaged upwards
of half a century, and was distinguished by his urbanity,
diligence, and classical talents, nor was he less esteemed
in his clerical character. He was also presented to the
rectory of Eastwell, in 1767, by the same patron, and to
the small rectory of Snave in 1776, by archbishop Cornwallis, who enhanced the value of this preferment by a
very kind letter, in which his grace testified his high respect
for the character and talents of the new incumbent.
Mr. Parsons was the author of several publications, among
which were, The nine first papers in the second volume of
the “Student,
” published in On advertising for
Curates;
” a paper in The World; “The inefficacy of
Satire, a poem,
” 176G, 4to; “Newmarket, or an Essay on
the Turf,
” Astronomic Doubts, a pamphlet,
”
A volume of Essays,
” Dialogues of the
Dead with the Living,
” Simplicity,
” a poem,
Monuments and Painted Glass in upwards of
100 churches, chiefly in the eastern part of Kent,
”
, a learned antiquary, was a noble of Palermo, and secretary to the senate of that
, a learned antiquary, was a noble of
Palermo, and secretary to the senate of that city, where
he died in 1629. He was author of several works, but is
principally known by his “Sicilia descrittacon Medaglie,
”
Palermo,
, a learned Italian antiquary and philologer, was born at Gubio in the duchy of Urbino, in
, a learned Italian antiquary
and philologer, was born at Gubio in the duchy of Urbino,
in Nov. 1694. His father, who was a physician at Todi,
designed him for the study of the law, which accordingly
he followed, but pursued with it that of antiquities, for
which he had a strong genius. After residing four years
at Rome he returned to Todi, and began to collect the
antiquities of that city and its environs. In 1726 he turned
his attention chiefly to the Etruscan antiquities, and collected a vast number of lamps, which he arranged in
classes. Having lost his wife in 1738, after twelve years
of happy union, he became an ecclesiastic, and was apostolic prothonotary, and vicar-general of Pesaro. In February 1780, he was overturned in his carriage, and died
in consequence of the fall. His works are, 1. “Lucernae
fictiles Musei Passerii,
” a splendid 4>ook in 3 vols. folio,
He had drawn up a fourth, on the lamps of the Christians,
but this has not been published. These came out in 1739,
1743, and 1751. 2. “Lettere Roncagliesi;
” Letters from
his villa at Roncaglia, on Etruscan antiquities, 1739. There
were seventeen letters, and a continuation was afterwards
published. 3. “In Thorns? Dempsteri Libros de Etruria
regali Paralipomena, quibus tabula? eidem operi additsG
illustrantur. Accedunt dissertatio de re numaria Etruscorum; de nominibus Etruscorum; et notoe in tabulas Eugabinas, auctore I. Baptista Passerio,
” Lucafc,
, son of the preceding, and an able physician and antiquary, was born at Paris, Feb. 2.i, 1633. He was educated with great
, son of the preceding, and an able physician and antiquary, was born at Paris, Feb. 2.i, 1633. He was educated with great care by his father, and made such surprizing progress in his studies, that at the age of fourteen he defended Greek and Latin theses in philosophy, with the greatest applause in an assembly composed of thirty-four prelates, the pope’s nuncio, and many other persons of distinction. Being intended for the bar, he completed his law studies, and became an advocate in the parliament of Paris, but he soon relinquished this career for the study of medicine, which in his opinion promised greater advantages. He became afterwards a considerable practitioner, and a teacher of reputation in the medical school of Paris, where he took his doctor’s degree in 1656; but was about this time obliged to leave France for fear of imprisonment. The cause of this is variously related, but the most probable account is, that he had been in some way accessary to the circulation of certain libels which drew upon him the resentment of the court.
, a learned antiquary, the younger son of Robert and Elizabeth Peck, was born in the
, a learned antiquary, the younger son of Robert and Elizabeth Peck, was born in the parish of St. John the Baptist, at Stamford, in Lincolnshire, May 4, and baptized May 12, 1692. His mother’s maiden name was Jephson. It does not appear at what seminary he received the early part of his education; but it was probably at the grammar-school of his native town. He completed his studies at Trinity-college, Cambridge, where he took the degree of B. A. 1715; and of M. A. 1727.
ssession of the same gentleman, who has obligingly favoured us with some particulars of the Stamford antiquary.
The greater part of Mr. Peck’s Mss. became the property of sir Thomas Cave, bart. Among others, he purchased 5 vols. in 4to, fairly transcribed for the press, in.
Mr. Peck’s own neat hand, under the title of “Monasticon
Anglicanum.
” These volumes were, on the 14th of May,
1779, presented to the British Museum, by the last sir
Thomas Cave, after the death of his father, who twenty
years before had it in contemplation to bestow them on that
excellent repository. They are a most valuable and almost
inestimable collection, and we hope will not be neglected
by the editors of the new edition of Dugdale. Mr. Peck’s
other literary projects announced in the preface to his
“Desiderata,
” and at the end his “Memoirs of Cromwell,
”
are, 1. “Desiderata Curiosa,
” vol. III. Of this Mr. Nichols has a few scattered fragments. 2. “The Annals of
Stanford continued.
” 3. “The History and Antiquities
of the Town and Soke of Grantham, in Lincolnshire.
”
4. “The Natural History and Antiquities of Rutland.
”
5. “The Natural History and Antiquities of Leicestershire.
” The whole of Mr. Peck’s Mss. relative to this
work, were purchased by sir Thomas Cave, in 1754, whose
grandson, with equal liberality and propriety, presented
them to Mr. Nichols for the use of his elaborate history of
that county. It appears from one of Mr. Peck’s Mss. on
Leicestershire, that he meditated a chapter on apparitions,
in which he cordially believed. 6. “r rhe Life of Mr. Nicholas Ferrar, of Little Gidding, in the county of Huntingdon, gent, commonly called the Protestant St. Nicholas, and the pious Mr. George Herbert’s Spiritual Brother,
done from original Mss.
” This ms. of Ferrar is now in the
possession of Mr. Gilchrist of Stamford, before mentioned,
who informs us that there is nothing in it beyond what may
be found in Peckard’s Life of Ferrar. 7. “The Lives of
William Burton, esq. author of the Antiquities of Leicestershire, and his brother Robert Burton, B. D. student of
Christ-church, and rector of Seagrave, in Leicestershire,
better known by the name of Democritus jun.
” Mr. Nichols had also the whole of this ms. or plan, which was
merely an outline. 8. “New Memoirs of the Restoration
of King Charles the Second (which may be considered also as an Appendix to secretary Thurloe’s Papers), containing
the copies of Two Hundred and Forty-six Original Letters
and Papers, all written annis 1658, 1659, and 1660 (none of them ever yet printed). The whole communicated by
William Cowper, esq, Clerk of the Parliament.
” In Account of the Asshebys and
De la Launds, owners of Bloxham, in the county of Lincoin,
” a ms. in the British Museum. Mr. Gilchrist has
a copy of Langbaine’s Lives, carefully interlined by him,
whence it should seem that he meditated an enlargement
of that very useful volume. Mr. Peck also left a great
many ms sermons, some of which are in the possession of
the same gentleman, who has obligingly favoured us with
some particulars of the Stamford antiquary.
, a learned antiquary, was born of a noble family at Mantua, in 1646. He entered himself
, a learned antiquary, was born of a noble family at Mantua, in 1646. He
entered himself among the Jesuits, and became distinguished for his deep knowledge of history and antiquities.
His private character too was such as made him beloved by
every person who knew him. He was chosen by Hannuncio,
duke of Parma, to arrange his rich and curious cabinet of
medals, of which, in 1694, he began to publish an account
under the title of “I Cassari in oro raccolti nel Farnese
Musaeo o publicati colle loro congrue interpretazioni;
” and
be continued his labours till his death, Jan. 20, 1721. This
work, in its complete form, consists of ten vols. folio, and
bears the title of “Museo Farnese
” but is not held in so
much estimation on the continent as to bear a high price.
, an eminent and laborious antiquary, descended from an ancient family in Derbyshire, was the $on
, an eminent and laborious antiquary, descended from an ancient family in Derbyshire, was the $on of Christopher Pegge, a woollen-draper, and was born at Chesterfield, Nov. 5, 1704. He was admitted a pensioner of St. John’s college, Cambridge, May 20, 1722, and in November was elected a scholar upon Lupton’s foundation. In Jan. 1725 he took his degree of B. A. and in March 1726 was elected to a fellowship, which he did not hold long, owing to a singular circumstance. His fellow competitor was Mr. Michael Burton, who had the superior right as being a-kin to the founder of the fellowship, but this claim was set aside, owing to his being deficient in literature. He now artfully applied to the college for a testimonial, that he might receive orders, and undertake some cure in the vicinity of Cambridge; and this being unadvisedly granted, he immediately appealed to the visitor (Dr. Thomas Greene, bishop of Ely), representing that, as the college had, by the testimonial, thought him qualified for ordination, it could not, injustice, deem him unworthy of becoming a fellow of the society. The consequence was, that the visitor found himself reluctantly obliged to eject Mr. Pegge, and Burton took possession of the fellowship. The visitor, however, recommended Mr. Pegge in such a manner to the master and seniors of the college, that he was from that time considered as an honorary member of the body of fellows (tanquam socins), and kept his seat at their table and in the chapel, being placed in the situation of a fellow-commoner. Feeling yet more the indignity of the trick played upon them by Burton, they chose Mr. Pegge to a Platt-fellowship in 1729.
As an antiquary, by which character chiefly he will hereafter be known, he was
As an antiquary, by which character chiefly he will
hereafter be known, he was one of ttie most laborious of
his time. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1751, the year in which the charter of incorporation was granted; and when their “Archaiologia
” began
to be published, he contributed upwards of fifty memoirs,
many of which are of considerable length, being by much
the greatest number hitherto contributed by any individual
member of that learned body. He also wrote seven curious memoirs for the “Bibliotheca Topographica Brit.
” and
many hundred articles in the Gentleman’s Magazine from
the year 1746 to 1795. His principal signatures were Paid
Gemsege, (Samuel Pegge), and T. Row, (the rector of Whittington), and sometimes L. E. the final letters of his
name. Numerous as these articles are, there is scarcely
one of them which does not convey some curious information, or illustrate some doubtful point in history, classical
criticism, or antiquities; and if collected together, with
some kind of arrangement, might form a very interesting
and amusing volume, or volumes.
ise upon Coins.” He also recommended a visit to Home, as affording more complete gratification to an antiquary than auy part of Europe. Accordingly, his uncle having procured
, a very learned
Frenchman, was descended from an ancient and noble
family, seated originally at Pisa in Italy, and born in 1580.
His father, lienaud Fabri, lord of Beaugensier, sent him
at ten years of age to Avignon, where he spent five years
on his classical studies in the Jesuits’ college, and was removed to Aix in 1595, for the study of philosophy. In the
mean time, he attended the proper masters for dancing,
riding, and handling arms,all which he learned to perform with
expertness, but rather as a task, than a pleasure, for even at
that early period, he esteemed all time lost, that was not
employed on literature. It was during this period, that his
father being presented with a medal of the emperor Arcadius, which was found at Beaugensier, Peiresc begged
to have it: and, charmed with deciphering the characters
in the exergue, and reading the emperor’s name, in that
transport of joy he carried the medal to his uncle; who for
his encouragement gave him two more, together with some
books upon that subject. This incident seems to have led
him first to the study of antiquities, for which he became
afterwards so famous. In 1596, he was sent to finish his
course of philosophy under the Jesuits at Tournon, where
he also studied mathematics and cosmography, as being
necessary in the study of history, yet all this without relaxing from his application to antiquity, in which he was
much assisted by one of the professors, a skilful medallist;
nor from the study of belles lettres in general. So much
labour and attention, often protracted till midnight, considerably impaired his constitution, which was not originally very strong. In 1597, his uncle, from whom he had
great expectations, sent him to Aix, where he entered
upon the law; and the following year he pursued the same
study at Avignon, under a private master, whose name was
Peter David who, being well skilled likewise in
antiquities, was not sorry to find his pupil of the same taste, and
encouraged him in this study as well as that of the law.
Ghibertus of Naples, also, who was auditor to cardinal
Aquaviva, much gratified his favourite propensity, by a
display of various rarities, and by lending him Goltzius’s
“Treatise upon Coins.
” He also recommended a visit to
Home, as affording more complete gratification to an antiquary than auy part of Europe. Accordingly, his uncle
having procured a proper governor, he and a younger brother set out upon that tour, in Sept. 1599; and passing
through Florence, Bologna, Ferrara, and Venice, he fixed
his residence at Padua, in order to complete his course of
law. He could not, however, resist the temptation of going frequently to Venice, where he formed an acquaintance with the most distinguished literati there, as Sarpi,
Molinus, &c. in order to obtain a sight of every thing curious in that famous city. Among others, he was particularly caressed by F. Contarini, procurator of St. Mark, who
possessed a curious cabinet of medals*, and other antiquities, and found Peiresc extremely useful and expert in
explaining the Greek inscriptions. After a year’s stay at
Padua, he set out for Rome, and arriving there in Oct.
1600, passed six months in viewing whatever was remarkable. After Easter he gratified the same curiosity at Naples, and then returned to Padua about June. He novr
resumed his study of the law; and at the same time acquired such a knowledge of Hebrew, Samaritan, Syriac,
and Arabic, as might enable him to interpret the inscriptions on the Jewish coins, &c. In these languages he
availed himself of the assistance of the rabbi Solomon, who
was then at Padua. His taste for the mathematics was
also revived in consequence of his acquaintance with Galileo, whom he first saw at the house of Pinelli at Rome;
and he began to add to his other acquisitions a knowledge
of astronomy and natural philosophy. From this time it
was said that “he had taken the helm of learning into his
hand, and begun to guide the commonwealth of letters.
”
, an Italian historian and antiquary, was born in 1598, at Capua, and educated at the Jesuits’ school
, an Italian historian and antiquary, was born in 1598, at Capua, and educated at the
Jesuits’ school at Naples. He entered into the clerical
order, but appears to have passed his whole time in the
researches of an historian and antiquary, which, produced,
I. “L'Apparato alle Antichita di Capua,
” printed in Historia Principurn Longobardorum,
” containing several historical pieces not yet published, illustrated with learned
annotations and dissertations. This was republished in the
collections of Burmann and Muratori, and with various
additions, at Naples, 1749, by Sig. Fr. Moria Pratilli. PeU
legrini died at Naples in 1660, at the age of sixty-five.
, an eminent traveller, naturalist, and antiquary, was born June 14, 1726, at Downing, in Flintshire, the seat
, an eminent traveller, naturalist, and antiquary, was born June 14, 1726, at Downing, in Flintshire, the seat of his family for several generations. He was the son of David Pennant, and his mother was the daughter of Richard Mytton of Halston. He was educated first at Wrexham, then at Mr. Croft’s school at Fulham, and last at Queen’s and Oriel colleges, Oxford, where, however, he took no degree, but was complimented with that of LL.D. in the year 1771, long after he had left the university.
, a learned Northern antiquary, was born Oct. 6, 1654, at Strengnes in Sudermania, and was
, a learned Northern antiquary, was born Oct. 6, 1654, at Strengnes in Sudermania,
and was the son of Lawrence Frederic Peringer, professor
of rhetoric and poetry. Having acquired great skill in
northern antiquities, he was in 1689 appointed professor
at Upsal; in 1693, secretary and antiquary to the king of
Sweden, and in 1719 counsellor to the chancery for antiquities. When appointed secretary to the king he changed
his name from Peringer to Peringskiold. He died March
24, 1720. His principal works, which are very much valued by Swedish historians and antiquaries, are, 1. “Snarronis Sturlonidac Hist, regum Septentrionalium,
” with
two translations, Historia Wilkinensium,
Theodorici Veronensis, ac Niflungorum,
” c. copied from
an ancient Scandinavian ms. with a translation, 1715, fol.
3. M Hist. Hialmari regis,“from a Runic ms. this is inserted in Hickes’s Thesaurus, 4.
” Monumenta SuecoGothica," 2 vols. fol. 1710—1719, &c. &c.
sande, Muschenbroeck, Fontenelle, and others. Nor was he more esteemed as a mathematician than as an antiquary, and the learned world is indebted to him for a valuable supplement
, an Italian marquis, and a learned mathematician, was born at Padua in 1683. He was appointed
professor of astronomy and mathematics in the university of
his native city, and filled that post with high reputation.
In three instances he gained prizes from the Royal Academy of Sciences, and in 1739 he was elected an associate
of that body. He was also a member of the academy of
Berlin, a fellow of the London Royal Society, and a member of the Institutes of Padua and Bologna, and contributed
many valuable mathematical and astronomical papers to the
Memoirs of these Societies. As he was celebrated for his
skill and deep knowledge of hydraulic architecture, he was
nominated by the Venetian government, superintendant of
the rivers and waters throughout the republic; other states
also applied to him for advice, in business belonging to
the same science. He was sent for by pope Benedict XIV.
to survey the state of St. Peter’s church at Rome, and drew
up a memoir on what he conceived necessary to be done.
He died at Padua in 1761, at the age of 7S. He appears
to have acquired very distinguished reputation in his day,
and was the correspondent of many learned contemporaries,
particularly sir Isaac Newton, Leibnitz, the Bernoulli’s,
Wolff, Cassini, Gravesande, Muschenbroeck, Fontenelle,
and others. Nor was he more esteemed as a mathematician than as an antiquary, and the learned world is indebted
to him for a valuable supplement to the collections of Graerius and Gronovius, Venice, 1737, 5 vols. fol. but these
volumes are rather scarce. Among his other most valued
publications are, “Exercitationes Vitruvianae, seu Commentarius Criticus de Vitruvii architectura,
” Venice, Dissertazione sopra al Tempio di Diana di
Efeso,
” Rome,
, an eminent Italian antiquary, all whose names were of his own choice, was the illegitimate
, an eminent Italian
antiquary, all whose names were of his own choice, was
the illegitimate offspring of the illustrious house of Sanseverino, in the kingdom of Naples; but this was a circumstance on which he preserved an inflexible silence, and admitted no conversation or questions on the subject. Even
when that family sent him an invitation to reside with them,
he rejected it by a laconic note which is preserved by Tiraboschi “Pomponius Laetus cognatis et propinquis suis
salutem. Quod petitis fieri non potest. Valete.
” “Pomponius Laetus to his kinsmen and relations what you ask
cannot be granted. Farewell.
” He went young to Home,
where he studied first under a very able grammarian of that
time, Pietro da Monopoli, and afterwards under Laurentius
Valia. On the death of this eminent scholar in 1457, he
was thought qualified to succeed him in his professorship.
He now began to found an academy, the members of which
were men of letters, fond of antiquary researches, like himself, but who sometimes entered upon philosophical discussions. They were mostly young men, and in their zeal
for past times, the glorious days of Rome, adopted Latinized names. Our author took that of Pomponius Lsetus,
and Buonaccorsi that of Callimachus Experiens, &c. In
their philosophical discussions, they went so far as to compare ancient with modern institutions, not much to the
credit of the latter and at length this was represented to
pope Paul II. (whom we have recently noticed as the persecutor of Platina) first as inferring a contempt for religion
secondly, as an attack on the church and lastly, as a conspiracy against the pope himself. The pope, either really
alarmed, or pretending to be so, ordered all the members
of the academy to be arrested, that could be found, and
imprisoned and put them to the torture, of which one very
promising young scholar died and although Pomponius
was at this time (1468) at Venice, and had been indeed
residing for three years with the Cornaro family, he was
dragged in chains to Rome, and shared the same horrible
fate as his fellow academicians; and although, after various
examinations, conducted by the pope himself, no proof of
guilt appeared, he and his companions remained in confinement a very considerable time. The death of their
persecutor, however, restored them to liberty, and it was
no inconsiderable testimony of their innocence that his successor Sixtus IV. equally strict in matters of heresy, made
Platina librarian of the Vatican, and restored Pomponius to
his professorship, in which office he continued to draw a
great concourse of scholars. He also endeavoured to revive
his academy, against which Paul It. had been so inveterate
that he forbid its name to be mentioned either in jest or
earnest, “vel serio vel joco,
” attd we find two grand commemorations held by the members, in 1482 and 1483; the
one on account of the death of Platina, the other to celebrate the foundation of Rome.
series of years, was furnished with an uncommon fund of various knowledge, both as a politician and antiquary but not, in both characters, without some singular opinions.
He had a vigorous and comprehensive mind which by a
liberal education, and constant cultivation during along
series of years, was furnished with an uncommon fund of
various knowledge, both as a politician and antiquary but
not, in both characters, without some singular opinions.
His works were very numerous. The first, and most popular, which went through several editions, was his “Ad
ministration of the Colonies.
” 2. Observations on a
Bread Bill, which he introduced in parliament and, 3<
“Of the Laws and Commissions of Sewers
” both printed,
but not published. 4. An ironical pamphlet, entitled
“Considerations on the indignity suffered by the Crown,
and dishonour brought upon the Nation, by the Marriage
of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland with an
English subject,
” The
high price of Bread,
” &c. A Topographical Description of such parts of North America as are
contained in the annexed map of the middle British Colonies, &c. in North America,
” A Letter
to Adam Smith, LL.D. F. R. S.
” respecting his “Wealth
of Nations,
” Drainage and Navigation,
but one united work,
” A Treatise on the
study of Antiquities,
” A Memorial addressed to the Sovereigns of America,
” Two
Memorials, with an explanatory Preface.
” 12. “Memorial addressed to the Sovereigns of Europe and the Atlantic,
” Proposal for founding University Professorships for Architecture, Painting, and Sculpture,
” Answer to a Letter on the Jutae or Viti.
” 15. “Notices and Descriptions of Antiquities of the Provincia Romana of Gaul, now Provence, Languedoc, and Dauphiny:
with Dissertations on the subjects of which those are exemplars and an Appendix, describing the Roman Baths and
Thermae, discovered in 1784, at Badenweiler,
” An Antiquarian Romance, endeavouring to mark a
line by which the most ancient people, and the processions
of the earliest inhabitancy of Europe, may be investigated, 11
1795, 8vo. 17.
” Descriptions and Explanations of the
Remains of some Roman Antiquities dug up in the city of
Bath in 1790, with an Engraving from Drawings made on
the spot,“1795, 4to. 18.
” Considerations on the Scarcity and high Prices of Bread Corn,“&c, 1796. He contributed also many papers to the Archaeologia of the Society
of Antiquaries, of which he was chosen a fellow in 1772,
He was elected F. R.S. in 1765. He is also said to have
been the author of
” The Right, Interest, and Duty, of
Governments, as concerned in the affair of the East Indies,“1781, 8vo.
” Intellectual Physics, an Essay concerning the
nature of Being,“4to, 1803 and a
” Treatise on Old Age."
His brother, John Pownall, was also an antiquary, and contributed a few articles to the Archaeologia. He died
His brother, John Pownall, was also an antiquary, and contributed a few articles to the Archaeologia. He died July 17, 1795.
Oxford, which were grown obsolete, and it is supposed he commented on Aristotle. Rouse, the Warwick antiquary, mentions his reading the Holy Scriptures, probably about 1134,
, an English cardinal
who flourished in the twelfth century, was distinguished as
a zealous friend to the interests of literature. He is placed
by Fuller as a native of Oxfordshire, perhaps from his ciditnectioa with the university. In his youth he studied at
1?aris, and about 1130 returned to England, where he
found the university of Oxford ravaged and nearly ruined
by the Danes, under the reign of Harold I. and by his
indefatigable exertions contributed to itsv restoration. The
Chronicle of Osny records him as having begun in the
reign of Henry I. to read the Scriptures at Oxford, which
were grown obsolete, and it is supposed he commented on
Aristotle. Rouse, the Warwick antiquary, mentions his
reading the Holy Scriptures, probably about 1134, about
which time he had a patron in Henry I. who had built his
palace near the university. For some years he taught daily
in the schools, and was rewarded with the archdeaconry
of Rochester. After this he returned to Paris, where he
filled the chair of professor of divinity. He was, however,
recalled by his metropolitan, and the revenues of his benefice sequestered till he obeyed the summons. The archdeacon appealed to the see of Rome, and sentence was
given in his favour. The fame of his learning induced
pope Innocent II. to invite him to Rome, where he was
received with great marks of honour; and in 1144 was
created cardinal by Celestine II. and afterwards chancellor
of the Roman church, by pope Lucius II. He died in
1150. He was author of several works; but the only one
of them now extant is his “Sententiarum Liber,
” which
was published at Paris in
, a Venetian cardinal, celebrated as an historian, a philologer, and an antiquary, was born in 1684, or, according to some authors, in 1680. He
, a Venetian cardinal, celebrated as an historian, a philologer, and an antiquary, was
born in 1684, or, according to some authors, in 1680. He
entered very early into an abbey of Benedictines at
Florence, and there studied with so much ardour as to lay in a
vast store of literature of every kind, under Salvini, Bellini,
and other eminent instructors. The famous Magliabecchi
introduced to him all foreigners illustrious for their talents,
and it was thus that he became acquainted with sir Isaac
Newton and Montfaucon. Not contented with this confined intercourse with the learned, he began to travel in
1710, and went through Germany to Holland, where he
conversed with Basnage, Le Clerc, Kuster, Gronovius,
and Perizonius. He then crossed into England, where he
was honourably received by Bentley, Newton, the two
Burnets, Cave, Potter, and others. Passing afterwards
into France, he formed an intimate friendship with the
amiable and illustrious Fenelon and became known to all
the principal literati of that country. - The exact account
of the travels of Quirini would contain, in fact, the literary history of Europe at that period. Being raised to the,
dignity of cardinal, he waited on Benedict XIII. to thank
him for that distinction. “It is not for you,
” said that
pope, “to thank me for raising you to this elevation, it is
rather my part to thank you, for having by your merit reduced me to the necessity of making you a cardinal.
” Quirini spread in every part the fame of his learning, and of
his liberality. He was admitted into almost all the learned
societies of Europe, and in various parts built churches,
and contributed largely to other public works. To the library of the Vatican he presented his own collection of.
books, which was so extensive as to require the addition of
a large room to contain it. What is most extraordinary is,
that though a Dominican and a cardinal, he was of a most
tolerant disposition, and was every where beloved by the
Protestants. He died in the 'beginning of January 1755.
rait of his brother Thomas in crayons, another of himself, and another of Nicolas Salmon, LL. D. the antiquary, to the Society of Antiquaries, all afterwards revoked. His
, knt eldest surviving son of
Daniel Rawlinson, citizen and wine-merchant of London, descended from the ancient family of that name at
Graisdale, in the county of Lancaster, was born in the
parish of St. Dionis Backchurch, in Fenchurch-street,
London, March 1647 appointed sheriffof London by James II.
1687, colonel of the white regiment of trainee! bands, and
govt rnor of Bridewell and Bethlem hospitals, 1705; and,
in 1706, lord mayor of London, when he beautified and
repaired Guildhall, as appears by an inscription in the
great porch. He married Mary, eldest daughter of Richard
Taylor, esq. of Turnham-green, with whom he lived 27
years, and by whom he had 15 children. She died at
Chelsea, Feb. 21, 1724-5, aged sixty-three. He died in
his own parish, November 2, 1705, and was buried with
his father, who died in 1679, aged sixty-six, Of his children, four daughters, Anne- Maria, Mary, Margaret, Susan;
and two sons, both named Daniel, died before him. William died in 1732, and was buried at Antwerp. John, of
Little Leigh in Cheshire, esq. died January 9, 1753.
Tempest, the youngest son, by profession a dry-salter, died
January 1, 1737. Sir Thomas Rawlinson, it maybe added,
had been foreman of the grand jury at the trial of alderman
Cornish; and was elected sheriff by royal mandate. His
eldest son, Thomas, for whom Mr. Addison is said to have
intended his character of Tom Folio, in the Taller, No. 158,
but with infinitely too satirical a vein, was a great collector
of books; and himself a man of learning, as well as patron
of learned men. Mattairehas dedicated to him his edition
of Juvenal; and Hearne’s publication, entitled “Aluredi
Beverlacensis Annales, &c.
” was printed from the original
ms. in this gentleman’s possession. Very numerous indeed
were the communications that editor received from Mr.
Thomas Rawlinson, for all which he takes every opportunity of expressing his gratitude. While Mr. Rawlinson
lived in Gray’s inn, he had four chambers so completely
filled with books, that his bed was removed out into the
passage. He afterwards removed to London-house, the
ancient palace of the bishops of London, in Aldersgate-street, where he died August 6, 1725, aged forty-four,
and was buried in the church of St. Botolph Aldersgate.
In London-house his library was sold after his decease;
and there also lived and died his brother Richard, who left
a portrait of his brother Thomas in crayons, another of
himself, and another of Nicolas Salmon, LL. D. the antiquary, to the Society of Antiquaries, all afterwards revoked.
His Mss. took sixteen days to sell, from March 4, 1733-4.
The catalogue of his library consists of nine parts. The
amount of the fiva first parts was 2409l. Mr. Charles
Marsh, late bookseller at Charing-cross, used to say,
that the sale of Mr. Thomas Rawlinson’s library was one of
the first events he remembered upon engaging in business;
and that it was the largest collection at that time known to
have been offered to the public.
, an eminent antiquary, and great benefactor to the university of Oxford, was the fourth
, an eminent antiquary, and
great benefactor to the university of Oxford, was the fourth
son of sir Thomas; and was educated at St. John’s college,
Oxford, where he was admitted gentleman commoner, and
proceeded M. A. and grand cornpounder in 1713, and was
admitted to the degree of doctor of civil law by diploma
in 1719. He was F. R. S. and became F. S. A. May 10,
1727. He was greatly accessary to the bringing to light
many descriptions of counties; and, intending one of Oxfordshire, had collected materials from Wood’s papers, &c.
had many plates engraved, and circulated printed queries,
but received accounts only of two parishes, which in some
degree answered the design, and encouraged him to pursue
it. In this work were to be included the antiquities of the
city of Oxford, which Wood promised when the English
copy of his “Historia & Antiquitates Oxon.
” was t.o be
published, and which have since been faithfully transcribed
from his papers, by Mr. Gutch, and much enlarged and
corrected from ancient original authorities. All Dr. Rawlinson’s collections for the county, chiefly culled from
Wood, or picked up from information, and disposed b,y
hundreds in separate books, in each of which several parishes are omitted, would make but one 8vo volume. But
he made large collections for the continuation of Wood’s
“Athena Oxonienses
” and “History of Oxfor.d,
” and for
an account of “Non-compilers
” at the Revolution which,
together with some collections of Hearne’s, and note-books
of his own travels, he bequeathed by his will to the university of Oxford. The Life of Mr. Anthony Wood, historiographer of the most famous university of Oxford, with
an account of his nativity, education, works, &c. collected
and composed from Mss. by Richard Rawlinson, gent,
commoner of St. John’s college, Oxon. was printed at London in 1711. A copy of this life, with ms additions by
the author, is in the Bodleian library. He published proposals for an “History of Eton College,
” Petri Abselardi Abbatis Ruyensis & Heloissae
Abbatissae Paracletensis Epistolae,
” 8vo, dedicated to Dr,
Mead. The books, the publication of which he promoted, are
supposed to be the “History and Antiquities of Winchester,
” History and Antiquities of Hereford,
”
History and Antiquities of Rochester,
” Inscriptions on tombs in Bunhill-fields,
”
History and Antiquities of the Churches of
Salisbury and Bath,
” Aubrey’s History
of Surrey,
” Norden’s Delineation of
Northamptonshire,
” History and Antiquities
of Glastonbury,
” Oxford, New Method of studying
History, with a Catalogue of the chief Historians,
” 2 vols.
8vo. But his principal work was “The English Topographer, or, an Historical Account of all the Pieces that
have been written relating to the antient Natural History
or Topographical Description of any Part of England,
” British Topography.
” In The Deed of Trust and Will of Richard Rawlinson, of
St. John the Baptist college, Oxford, doctor of laws concerning his endowment of an Anglo-Saxon lecture, and
other benefactions to the college and university.
” He
left to Hertford college the estate in F-ulham before mentioned, and to the college of St. John the Baptist the bulk
of his estate, amounting to near 700l. a year, a plate of
archbishop Laud, thirty-one volumes of parliamentary
journals and debates; a set of the “Fo?dera,
” all his
Greek, Roman, and English, coins not given to the BocU
leian library, all his plates engraved at the expence of the
Society of Antiquaries, with the annuity for the prizemedal, and another to the best orator. The produce of
certain rents bequeathed to St. John’s college was, after
40 years’ accumulation, to be laid out in purchase of an
estate, whose profits were to be a salary to a keeper of the
Ashmolean Museum, being a master of arts, or bachelor Ib
civil law; and all legacies refused by the university or
others, to center in this college. To the hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlehem, for the use of the incurables of the latter
he left 200l. and ten guineas as an equivalent for the
monthly coffee which he had received in Bethlehem common room: but, if they did not give up the picture of his
father hanging in their hall, in order to its being put up in
the Mansion-house, they were to forfeit the larger sum,
and receive only the smaller. This picture, after it had
hung up at the Mansion-house for some years, without any
companion, in a forlorn, neglected state, and received
considerable damage, the late sir Walter Rawlinson obtained leave of the court of aldermen (being then himself & member of that body, and president of those hospitals)
to restore to Bridewell. It is one of sir Godfrey Kneller’s
best performances, and well engraved by Vertue. Constanxine, another brother, is mentioned by Richard RawJinson’s will, as then residing at Venice, where he died in
1779. To him he gave the copper-plate of his father’s
portrait, and all family-pictures, except his father’s portrait by Kneller, which was given to the Vintners’ company, of which his father was a member. He left him also
his rents in Paul’s-head court, Fenchurch-street, jointly
with his sisters, Mary Rawlinson, and Anne Andrews, for
life. In the same will is mentioned another brother, John,
to whom he left estates in Devonshire-street, London; and
a nephew Thomas. To St. John’s college he bequeathed
also his diploma, and his heart, which is placed in a beaur
tiful marble urn against the chapel- wall, inscribed
ys among the inscriptions which are to be found at Rome, and acquired soon the reputation of a great antiquary. Having hence formed within himself the most exalted notions
, who, from a low and
despicable situation, raised himself to sovereign authority
in Rome, in the 14th century, assuming the title of tribune,
and proposing to restore the ancient free republic, was
born at Rome, and was the son of no greater a personage
than a mean vintner, or, as others say, a miller, named
Lawrence Gabrini, and Magdalen, a laundress. However,
Nicolas Rienzi, by which appellation he was commonly
distinguished, did not form his sentiments from the meanness of his birth. To a good natural understanding he
joined an uncommon assiduity, and made a great proficiency in ancient literature. Every thing he read he compared with similar passages that occurred within his own
observation; whence he made reflections, by which he regulated his conduct. To this he added a great knowledge
in the laws and customs of nations. He had a vast memory:
he retained much of Cicero, Valerius Maximus, Livy, the
two Senecas, and Cassar’s Commentaries especially, which
he read continually, and often quoted and applied to the
events of his own times. This fund of learning proved the
foundation of his rise: the desire he had to distinguish
himself in the knowledge of monumental history, drew him
to another sort of science, then little understood. He
passed whole days among the inscriptions which are to be
found at Rome, and acquired soon the reputation of a great
antiquary. Having hence formed within himself the most
exalted notions of the justice, liberty, and ancient grandeur
of the old Romans, words he was perpetually repeating to
the people, he at length persuaded not only himself, but
the giddy mob his followers, that he should one day become
the restorer of the Roman republic. His advantageous
stature, his countenance, and that air of importance which
he well knew how to assume, deeply imprinted all he said
in the minds of his audience: nor was it only by the populace that he was admired; he also found means to insinuate
himself into the favour of those who partook of the administration. Rienzi’s talents procured him to be nominated
one of the deputies, sent by the Romans to pope Clement
VI. who resided at Avignon. The intention of this deputation was to make his holiness sensible, how prejudicial
his absence was, as well to himself as to the interest of
Rome. At his first audience, our hero charmed the court
of Avignon by his eloquence, and the sprightliness of his
conversation. Encouraged by success, he one day took the
liberty to tell the pope, that the grandees of Rome were
avowed robbers, public thieves, infamous adulterers, and
illustrious profligates; who by their example authorized
the most horrid crimes. To them he attributed the desolation of Rome, of which he drew so lively a picture, that
the holy father was moved, and exceedingly incensed
against the Roman nobility. Cardinal Colonna, in other
respects a lover of real merit, could not help considering
these reproaches as reflecting upon some of his family; and
therefore found means of disgracing Rienzi, so that he fell
into extreme misery, vexation, and sickness, which, joined,
with indigence, brought him to an hospital. Nevertheless,
the same hand that threw him down, raised him up again.
The cardinal, who was all compassion, caused him to appear
before the pope, in assurance of his being a good man,
and a great partizan for justice and equity. The pope approved of him more than ever and, as proofs of his esteem
and confidence, made him apostolicnotary, and sent him
back loaded with favours. Yet his subsequent behaviour
shewed, that resentment had a greater ascendancy over him
than gratitude. Being returned to Rome, he began ta
execute the functions of his office, and by affability, candour,
assiduity, and impartiality, in the administration of justice,
he arrived at a superior degree of popularity; which he
still improved by continued invectives against the vices of
the great, whom he strove to render as odious as possible;
till at last, for some ill-timed freedoms of speech, he was
not only severely reprimanded, but displaced. His dismission did not make him desist from inveighing against the
debauched, though he conducted himself with more prudence. From this time it was his constant endeavour to
inspire the people with a fondness for their ancient liberties;
to which purpose, he caused to be hung up in the most
public places emblematic pictures, expressive of the former
splendour and present decline of Rome. To these he added
frequent harangues and predictions upon the same subject,
in this manner he proceeded till one party looked on him
only as a madman, while others caressed him as their protector. Thus he infatuated the minds of the people, and
many of the nobility began to come into his views, while
the senate in no wise mistrusted a man, whom they judged
to have neither interest nor ability. At length he ventured
to disclose his designs to such as he believed mal-contents,
first separately, but afterwards, when he thought he had
firmly attached a sufficient number to his interest, he assembled them together, and represented to them the deplorable state of the city, over-run with debaucheries, and
the incapacities of their governors to correct or amend
them. As a necessary foundation for the enterprize, he
gave them a statement of the immense revenues of the
apostolic chamber; demonstrating that the pope could,
only at the rate of four-pence, raise a hundred thousand
florins by firing, as much by salt, and as much more by the
customs and other duties. “As for the rest,
” said he, “I
would not have you imagine, that it is without the pope’s
consent I lay hands on the revenues. Alas! how many
others in this city plunder the effects of the church contrary to his will 1
”
, an antiquary, and a man of taste, was born Aug. 2, 1711, in Dean-street,
, an antiquary, and a man of taste, was born Aug. 2, 1711, in Dean-street, Soho, and received the first rudiments of education at a private school near the Mews, but he did not for some time after this devote himself seriously to literary pursuits. When he did, however, he exerted that innate industry and application, which constituted a striking part of his character; and, with no aid but his own abilities, overcame all other difficulties which stood in the way of an acquaintance with learning and science. In May 1731, he was placed in the Custom-house, where he executed the duties of the several places which he held, with strict attention and integrity, and at length arrived at the office of clerk of the certificates, in which he continued almost to the end of his life.
man, excellently well learned, a good Latin poet, and one that was especially beloved by the famous antiquary and historian William Camden, for whose sake he had laid the
Wood adds, that he was “a very good man, excellently
well learned, a good Latin poet, and one that was especially beloved by the famous antiquary and historian William Camden, for whose sake he had laid the foundation of
‘ A Discourse concerning the acts of the Britains, the form
of their Commonwealth, and the order and laws by which
they lived’.
” This was intended for Camden’s “Britannia,
” but he did not live to finish it. He wrote, 1. “Odae,
Epigrammata, Kpitaphia,
” &c. in laudem et mortem Johannis Juelli Episc. Sarisbur, at the end of Humphrey’s
Life of Jewell. 2. “A memorial or oration of Dr. Dan.
Rogers on the death of Frederic II. and the accession of
Christian IV.
” (probably addressed to the senate of Denmark, Copenhagen, July 19, 1588). 3. “Dr. Rogers
”
Search,“being a repertory of various transactions relating
to Commerce the two preceding are among the Cotton
Mss. 4.
” Dan, Rogersii Albimontii Angli, ad Stephani
Malescoti Catechesin ^oo-pawicnf, carmine Latino,“Basil,
1567, 8vo. 5.
” Elegia ad Gulielmum Cecilium baronem
Burleigh,“among the
” lllust. et clar. virorum Epist. select.“Leyden, 1617, 8vo. 6.
” Epistolae tres ad Buchananum,“among the
” Epist. Buchanani,“Lond. 1711,
8vo. 7.
” Epistola Adriano Vander Mylen,“among the
above Leydeu epistles. Among the Harleian Mss. is his
” Letter to Abraham Ortelius at Antwerp,“complimenting him on the glory he will reap from posterity by his
geographical works, and concluding with the mention of
his own commentary upon the laws and manners of the ancient Britons. Wood also mentions an epigram of his
printed with Ralph Aggas’s description of Oxford in 1578.
Wood notices another Daniel Rogers, and his works,
” David’s Cost“” A practical Catechism“” Lectures
upon the history of Naaman," &c. This, however, was
a puritan divine born in 1573, and educated at Cambridge.
He was son to Richard Rogers, and brother to Ezekiel
Rogers, both puritan divines, and men of note in their day,
but we do not find in their memoirs much to recommend a
distinct article on either. It remains to be noticed, that
Strype, in his Life of Whitgift, conjectures the above
Daniel Rogers, the ambassador, to be son to John Rogers
the proto-martyr; but this is inconsistent with the above
account, and seems founded on no authority, as the martyr
Rogers never left the kingdom on the accession of queen
Mary, but remained to be the first sacrifice to her infernal
bigotry.
, in German Roszfelit, an able antiquary, was born at Eisenac in Thuringia about 1550. He was educated
, in German Roszfelit, an able antiquary, was born at Eisenac in Thuringia about 1550. He
was educated in the university of Jena; in 1579, became
sub-rector of a school at Ratisbon; and, afterwards was
chosen minister of a Lutheran church at Wickerstadt, in
the duchy of Weimar. In 1592, he was invited to Naumburg in Saxony, to be preacher at the catli-edral church;
and there continued till 1626, when he died of the plague.
He was a very learned man, and the first who composed a
body of Roman antiquities, entitled “Antiquitatum Romanarum libri decem,
” printed at Basil in Bibliographia Antiqnaria.
” It went
through several editions; the latter of which have large
additions by Dempster. That of Amsterdam, 1635, in 4to,
is printed with an Elzevir letter, upon a good paper, and
has the following title: ' Joannis Rosini Antiquitatum Romanarum corpus absolutissimum. Cum notis doctissimis
ac locupletissimis Thomae Dempsteri J. C. Huic postremae
editioni accuratissimae accesserunt Pauli Manutii libri If.
de Legibus & de Senatu, cum Andreoe Schotti Klectis. I.
De Priscis Romanis Gentibus ac Familiis. 2. De Tribubus
Rom. xxxv. Rusticis atque Urbanis. 3. De ludis festisque
Romanis ex Kalendario Vetere. Cum Indrce locupletissimo, & anneis figuris accuratissimis.“His other works are,
” Exempla pietatis illustris, seu vitae trium Saxonirc Ducum electorum, Frederici II. Sapient 'is Joannis Constantly
et Joannis Frederici Magnanimi“Jena, 1602, 4to a continuation of
” Drechsleri Chronicon,“Leipsic, 1594, 8vo;
” Anti-Turcica Lutberi," in German, a collection of some
writings of Luther of the prophetic kind, against the TurksLeipsic, 1596, 8vo.
, a learned ecclesiastical antiquary, was born at Utrecht in 1569, and entered the society of the
, a learned ecclesiastical antiquary, was born at Utrecht in 1569, and entered the society of the Jesuits at Doway in Flanders, when he was
twenty years of age. His taste led him to examine the
libraries of the monasteries in that city, until he was called
to be professor of philosophy and divinity, first at Doway,
and afterwards at Antwerp, where he attained very considerable reputation. He died in 1629, at the age of sixty.
He published, in 1607, “Fasti Sanctorum quorum Vitae in
Belgicis Bibliothecis Man use rip tee asservantur,
” which he
intended as a specimen of a larger work, and which was
the prelude of the immense collection by Bollandus and
others, under the title of “Acjta Sanctorum.
” He was
author of many other works, among which is “An Account
of the Hermits of Egypt and Palestine,
” “An Ecclesiastical
History from the time of Christ to pope Urban VIII.
” 2
vols. folio; and “The History of the Belgic Church.
” In
none of these did he ever rise above the prejudices of his
order, but shewed himself the zealous advocate of superstition and credulity, while he treated those who differed
from him with very little respect.
, usually called the antiquary of Warwick, was born in that town, and educated there until
, usually called the antiquary of Warwick, was born in that town, and educated there until fit for the university. He then went to Oxford, and studied at Baliol college, where he took his master’s degree in arts, and became soon afterwards a canon of Osney. English antiquities became early his favourite pursuit, and he had all the zeal, if not all the judgment of a true antiquary. Besides examining closely into the written records in both universities, he travelled over the greater part of the kingdom to acquire information on the spot where memorable events occurred, or any memorials were preserved. He then took np his residence at Guy-ClifTe in Warwickshire, when* he had a possession granted him either by the earls of Warwick or by Edward IV, and died Jan. 14, 1491. He wrote much on the civil and ecclesiastical antiquities of Warwick, and a history of our kings, which is extant in the Cotton library, and that of Bene't college, Cambridge, and was published by Hearne in 1716. In this are many collections relative to the antiquities of our universities. There is a noble ms. of his history of the earls of Warwick in the Bodleian library, with drawings of the several earls, their coats of arms, &c.
, an architect and antiquary, was born at Paris in 1728, and was son of Julian le Roy, a
, an architect and antiquary,
was born at Paris in 1728, and was son of Julian le Roy, a
celebrated mechanist, who so excelled in the art of watchmaking, that his time-pieces acquired the same celebrity
in France as those of Graham in England. He died at Paris
in 1759, at the age of 74, leaving four sons; of whom
Julian became an eminent architect, and greatly improved
the French style of architecture. He wrote, 1. “Ruines
des plus beaux Monumens de la Grece,
” which obtained for
the author admission into the Academy of Inscriptions. This
first appeared in 1758, but many errors having been pointed
out by our Athenian Stuart, he published a more correct
edition in 1770. 2. “Histoire de la disposition et tiesformes differentes des Temples des Chretiens;
” 3. “Observations sur les Edifices des anciens Peuples. 4.
” De la
Marine des anciens Peuples.“5.
” Les Navires des Anciens,“1783, 8vo, and in 1785, another on the same subject; which was followed, in 1796, by a memoir on cutting
masts in the Pyrenees. This ingenious man died at Paris
in the year 1803, at the age of seventy-five. His brother
Peter was watch-maker to the king, and published memoirs for the clock-makers of Paris,
” Etrennes Chronometriques,“” Treatise on the Labours of Harrison and le
Roy for the Discovery of Longitude at Sea." He died in
1785. The English, on account of their numerous discoveries in this art, had enjoyed such a reputation for the excellence of their clocks and watches, that they found every
where a market, in preference to any others, and tbr
French themselves were obliged to come to England for
their time-pieces, until Julian le Roy, the father, had the
honour of removing, in part, this pre-eminence, and of
transferring it to the French. He made many discoveries
in the construction of repeating-clocks and watchc- in
second and horizontal watches he invented an universal
compass with a sight an extremely useful ar.d simple
contrivance for drawing a meridional line, and finding the
declination of the needle; and a new universal horizontal
dial. It is to him we are indebted for the method of compensating for the effects of heat and cold in the balances of
chronometers, by the unequal expansion of different metals, a discovery which has been brought by our English
artists to a state of great perfection, although it had been
thrown aside by the inventor’s son, Peter.
magistracy, “De magistratibus Romanis,” written by Ruccellai, and sent to the editor by the learned antiquary Gori, who discovered it at Florence. Ruccellai was also a poet,
Ruccellai’s principal work “De Urbe Roma,
” contains
an accurate account of what the ancient writers have handed
down respecting the magnificent edifices of that city, and
Was in all respects the best work of the kind that had then
appeared. It was first published in the collection entitled
“Rerum Ital. Scriptores Florentini.
” He left also a history of the war of Pisa, and another of the descent of
Charles VIII. into Italy, “De Bello Pisano,
” and “De
Jtello Jtajico;
” the latter of which is said to have been
first printed at London by Brindley in 1724, and both by
Bowyer in 1733; but this last edition we do not find mention.ed in Mr. Nichols’s very accurate and elaborate list of
the productions of Bowyer’s press. In 1752 was published
at JLeipsic a treatise on the Roman magistracy, “De magistratibus Romanis,
” written by Ruccellai, and sent to
the editor by the learned antiquary Gori, who discovered
it at Florence. Ruccellai was also a poet, and appears in
the “Canti Carnascialeschi
” as the author of the “Trionfo
della calunnia.
” In poetry, however, he was eclipsed by
his son, the subject of our next article.
his cause, he sent him a sum of money equivalent to that loss. He was a man of learning, and a good antiquary, and employed much of his time in collecting materials for his
, the historian of Marseilles, was
born there in 1607, and bred to the law. Being appointed
counsellor to the seneschalcy of his native place, he practised in that court for some years, and with a scrupulous
integrity rather uncommon; for we are told that on one
occasion when, by his own neglect, a client had lost his
cause, he sent him a sum of money equivalent to that loss.
He was a man of learning, and a good antiquary, and employed much of his time in collecting materials for his
“History of Marseilles,
” which he published in Dissertations Historiques et Critiques sur POrigine des Comtes des Provence,
de Venaissin, de Forcalquier, et des Vicomtes de Marseille
” and in Une Dissertation.
Historique, Chronologique, et Critique sur les Evéques de
Marseille.
” Both these were intended as preludes to more
elaborate works on the subject, which he was prevented
from completing by his death, March 26, 1724, in the
sixty-sixth year of his age.
, an antiquary and critic, was born in the North of England, and educated at
, an antiquary and critic, was born in
the North of England, and educated at the grammar-school of
Northallerton, whence he was admitted a scholar at Sidney
college, Cambridge. On quitting the university, he became
a member of Gray’s-inn; and in 1692 succeeded Mr. Shadwell as historiographer to king William III. He rendered
himself known first as a writer for the stage, by his production of “Edgar,
” a tragedy, in A
View of the Tragedies of the last age,
” which occasioned
those admirable remarks by Dryden, preserved in the preface to Mr. Colman’s edition of “Beaumont and Fletcher,
”
and since by Dr. Johnson in his “Life of Dryden.
” Rymer was a man of considerable learning, and a lover of
poetry; but had few requisites for the character of a critic;
and was indeed almost totally disqualified for it, by want of
candour and the liberties he took with Shakspeare, in his
“View of the Tragedies of the last age,
” drew upon him the
severity of every admirer of that poet. His own talents for
dramatic poetry were extremely inferior to those of the
persons whose writings he has with so much rigour
attacked, as appears very evidently by his tragedy of “Edgar.
” But, although we cannot subscribe either to his fame
or his judgment as a poet or critic, it cannot be denied that
he was a very useful compiler of records, and his “Fœdera
”
will ever entitle his memory to respect. While collecting
this great work, he employed himself, like a royal historiographer, as one of his biographers says, in detecting the
falsehood, and ascertaining the truth of history. In 1702,
he published his first letter to bishop Nicolson, in which
he endeavours to free king Robert III. of Scotland, beyond
all dispute, from the imputation of bastardy. He soon
after published his second letter to bishop Nicolson, “containing an historical deduction of the alliances between
France and Scotland; whereby the pretended old league
with Charlemagne is disproved, and the true old league is
ascertained.
”
book called “Analecta Sacra,” supposed to be written by David Roth, titular bishop of Ossory, a good antiquary, according to Usher, but a bigoted Roman catholic, if the author
, son of John Ryves of Damery
Court, or, as Fuller says, of Little Langton, in Dorsetshire, was born in the latter end of the XVIth century, '
and was educated at Winchester-school, whence he was
admitted of New college, Oxford, in 1596, became fellow
in 1598, and applying himself to the study of the civil law,
commenced doctor in that faculty in 1610. He was a celebrated, civilian in doctors’ commons and the court of admiralty, and when he had established his fame in England,
was, in 1618, preferred to be one of the masters in chancery, and judge of the faculties and prerogative court in
Ireland, where he was held in equal esteem for his
knowledge in the laws. Upon king Charles I. coming to the
crown, he was made his advocate, and knighted: and,
when the rebellion broke out, he was very firm to the royal
cause, and although advanced in life, engaged in several
battles, and received several wounds in his majesty’s service. He was one of the assistants to the king at the treaty
of peace in the Isle of Wight. Sir Thomas Ryves was not
only a very eminent civilian, and a good common lawyer,
but likewise very accomplished in polite learning; and,
particularly, wrote in Latin with unusual delicacy and correctness. He died in 1651, and was buried in St. Clement
Danes, near Temple Bar, London. His works are, 1.
“The Vicar’s Plea; or, a competency of Means due to
Vicars out of the several parishes, notwithstanding their
impropriations.
” This book is written with a great deal of
learning and strength of argument. 2. “iiegiminis Anglicani in Hibernia Defensio, adversus Analecien, lib. 3,
”
London, 1624, 4to. This was the answer to a book called
“Analecta Sacra,
” supposed to be written by David Roth,
titular bishop of Ossory, a good antiquary, according to
Usher, but a bigoted Roman catholic, if the author of this
work. Sir Thomas Ryves’s object is, to vindicate the conduct of the Irish government as far as respects the Roman
catholics, and his book includes much curious information
respecting the state of opinions at that time. 3. “Jmperatoris Justiniani defensio adversus Alemannum,
” Lond.
Historia
Navalis,
” Lond. Historiae Navalis antiquae libri quatuor,
”
ibid. Historian Navalis mediae libri tres,
”
ibid.
, a Welsh antiquary, was born of an ancient family in Denbighshire, and studied
, a Welsh
antiquary, was born of an ancient family in Denbighshire,
and studied for some time at Oxford, whence he removed
to Thaives-lnn, London. Here he applied to the law, but
does not appear to have risen to any eminence, as Wood
speaks of him as living, in his latter days in the house of
a bookseller in St. Paul’s church-yard. His principal object appears to have been the cultivation of the Welsh
Janguage, and the translation into it of the Bible, &c. It
would appear that queen Elizabeth gave him a patent, for
seven years, for printing in Welsh the Bible, CommonPrayer, and “Administration of tjie Sacraments.
” “He
compiled
” A Dictionary in English and Welsh,“Lond.
1547, 4to.
” A Little Treatise of the English pronunciation of the Letters.“” A plain and familiar introduction“to the same, Lond. 1550, 4to.
” 'Battery of the Pope’s
Bottereulx, commonly called the High-Altar,“ibid. 1550,
8vo.
” The Laws of Howell Dha.“” A Welsh Rhetorick," revised, enlarged, &c. by Henry Perry, B. D.
The period of his death is uncertain, but he was living in
1567.
, an English antiquary, was the son of the rev. Thomas Salmon, M. A. rector of Mepsall
, an English antiquary, was the
son of the rev. Thomas Salmon, M. A. rector of Mepsall in
Bedfordshire, by a daughter of the notorious Serjeant Bradshaw. He was admitted of Bene‘t college, Cambridge,
June 11, 1690, where his tutors were dean Moss and archdeacon Lunn, and took the degree of LL. B. in 1695. Soon
after he went into orders, and was for some time curate of
Westmill in Hertfordshire; but, although he had taken
the oaths to king William, he had so many scruples against
taking them to his successor, queen Anne, that he became
contented to resign the clerical profession, and with it a
living of 140l. per annum ’offered him in Suffolk. He then
applied himself to the study of physic, which he practised
first at St. Ives in Huntingdonshire, and afterwards at Bishops Stortford, in the county of Hertford. His leisure
time appears to have been employed in studying the history
and antiquities of his country, on which subjects he published, 1. “A Survey of the Roman Antiquities in the Midland Counties in England,
” A Survey of
the Roman Stations in Britain, according to the Roman
Itinerary,
” The History of Hertfordshire,
describing the county and its ancient monuments, particularly the Roman, with the characters of those that have
been the chief possessors of the lands, and an account of
the most memorable occurrences,
” The Lives of the
English Bishops from the Restoration to the Revolution, fit
to be opposed to the Aspersions of some late Writers of
Secret History,
” A Survey of
the Roman Stations in England,
” The Antiquities of Surrey, collected from
the most ancient records, and dedicated to Sir John Evelyn, bart. with some Account of the Present State and
Natural History of the County,
” 1736, 8vo. 7. “The History and Antiquities of Essex, from the Collections of Mr.
Strangeman,
” in folio, with some notes and additions of
his own; but death put a stop to this work, when he had
gone through about two thirds of the county, so that the
hundreds of Chelmsford, Hinkford, Lexden, Tendring,
and Thurstable, were left unfinished.
uistical and controversial divinity, he was exactly versed in ancient and modern history, was a good antiquary, and indefatigable searcher into records, and well acquainted
In Aug. 1660, upon the restoration, he was restored to
his professorship and canonry; and soon after, at the recommendation of Sheldon, raised to the bishopric of Lincoln, and consecrated Oct. 28. He enjoyed his new dignity but about two years and a quarter: during which time
he did all the good in his power, by repairing the palace at
Bugden, augmenting poor vicarages, &c. notwithstanding
he was old, and had a family; and when his friends suggested a little more attention to them, he replied, that he
left them to God, yet hoped he should be able at his death
to give them a competency. He died Jan. 29, 1662-3, in
his seventy-sixth year; and was buried in the chancel at
Bugden, in the plainest and least expensive manner, according to his own directions. Dr. Sanderson was in his
person moderately tall, of a healthy constitution, of a
mild, cheerful, and even temper, and very abstemious. In
his behaviour, he was affable, civil, and obliging, but not
ceremonious. He was a man of great piety, modesty, learning and abilities, but not of such universal reading as might
be supposed. Being asked by a friend, what books he studied most, when he laid the foundation of his great learning, he answered, that “he declined to read many books,
but what he did read were well chosen, and read often;
and added, that they were chiefly three, Aristotle’s ‘ Rhetoric,’ Aquinas’s ‘ Secunda Secunclse/ and Tully, but especially his ’ Offices,' which he had not read over less than
twenty times, and could even in his old age recite without
book.
” He told him also, the learned civilian Dr. Zoucb
had written “Elementa Jurisprudentioe,
” which he thought
he could also say without book, and that no wise man could
read it too often. Besides his great knowledge in the fathers, schoolmen, and casuistical and controversial divinity, he was exactly versed in ancient and modern history,
was a good antiquary, and indefatigable searcher into records, and well acquainted with heraldry and genealogies;
of which last subject he left 20 vols. in ms. now in the
library of sir Joseph Banks. The worthiest and most
learned of his contemporaries speak of him in the most respectful terms: “That staid and well-weighed man Dr.
Sanderson,
” says Hammond, “conceives all things deliberately, dwells upon them discretely, discerns things that
differ exactly, passeth his judgment rationally, and expresses it aptly, clearly, and honestly.
”
The moral character of this great and good man, Mr.
Granger observes, has lately been rashly and feebly attacked by the author of the “Confessional,
” and as ably
defended by the author of “A Dialogue between Isaac
Walton and Homologistes,
”
, an antiquary of considerable note, was a younger son of Christopher Sanderson,
, an antiquary of considerable note, was a younger son of Christopher Sanderson, a justice of the peace for the county palatine of Durham, who had suffered for his attachment to the Stuart family during the civil war. He was born July 27, 1660, at Egglestonhall, in that county, and entered a student of St. John’s college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Dr. Baker, April 7, 1683. He remained in the university several years, and was contemporary with the celebrated Matthew Prior. Removing to London, he afterwards turned his attention to the law, and was appointed clerk of the rolls, in the Rolls chapel. He contributed largely to the compilation of Rymer’s Fcedera, and was exclusively concerned in arranging the three concluding volumes, from 18 to 20, which he successively dedicated to kings George I. and II. (See Rymer.)
, an eminent topographer and antiquary, was born at Antwerp, in Sept. 1586. He was first taught Latin
, an eminent topographer and antiquary, was born at Antwerp, in Sept. 1586. He was first taught Latin at Oudenarde, and pursued his classical studies at the Jesuits’ college in Ghent. He then studied philosophy at Douay, and in 1609 obtained the degree of master of arts. After some stay in his native country, he entered on a course of theology at Louvain, which he completed at Douay, and in 1619, or 1621, took the degree of doctor in that faculty. Being ordained priest, he officiated for several years in various churches in the diocese of Ghent, was remarkably zealous in the conversion of heretics, i. e. protestants, and particularly contended much with the anabaptists, who were numerous in that quarter. Having, however, rendered himself obnoxious to the Hollanders, by some services in which he was employed by the king of Spain, their resentment made him glad to enter into the service of cardinal Aiphonso de la Cueva, who was then in the Netherlands, and made him his almoner and secretary. Some time after, by the cardinal’s interest, he was made canon of Ipres (not of Tournay, as father Labbe asserts) and finally theologal of Terouanne. He died in 1664, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, at Afflingham, an abbey of Brabant in the diocese of Mechlin, and was interred there, with a pious inscription over his grave, written by himself.
9, only twenty-seven years old. He had much of the genius and learning of his family, and was a good antiquary, medallist, and natural historian. He translated into English
, an eminent physician
and naturalist, was the son of a very learned physician of
the same mimes at Zurich, where he was born, August 2,
1672. His father dying in the prime of life, he appears
to have been left to the care of his mother, and his maternal grandfather. He was educated at Zurich under the
ablest professors, of whom he has left us a list, but Says
that he might with great propriety add his own name to
the on cber, as he went through the greater part of his
studies with no other guide than his own judgment. In
1692 he commenced his travels, and remained some time
at \ltdorf, attending the lectures of Wagenseil, Hoffman^
father and son, Sturm, &c. In 1693 he went to Utrecht,
where he took his degree of doctor of physic in Jan. 1694,
and Pi 1695 returned to Nuremberg and Altdorf to study
mathematics under Sturm and Eimmart. To Sturm he addressed a learned letter on the generation of fossil shells,
which iie attempted to explain on mathematical principles;
but, discovering the fallacy of this, he adopted the theory
of our Dr. Woodward, whose work on the subject of the
natural history of the earth he translated into Latin, and
published at Zurich in 1704.
Returning to Zurich, before this period, he was appoint-,
ed first physician of the city, with the reversion of the professorship of mathematics. He now began to write various
dissertations on subjects of natural history, particularly that
of Swisserland, and wrote a system of natural history in
German, which he published in parts in the years 1705, 6,
and 7, the whole forming three small 4to volumes. He
published afterwards three more in 1716, 1717, and 1718,
which complete the natural history of Swisserland, with
the exception of the plants, of which he had formed an
herbal of eighteen vast volumes in folio. His “Nova litteraria Helvetica
” began in Itinera Alpina,
” one volume of which
was published at London in Physica sacra,
” in
4 vols. folio, which was immediately republished in French
at Amsterdam, in both instances enriched with a profusion
of fine plates illustrative of the natural history of the Bible.
This had been preceded by some lesser works on the same
subject, which were now incorporated. He did not long
survive this learned publication, dying at Zurich about the
end of June 1733. He was a member of many learned societies, of our Royal Society, and of those of Berlin, Vienna,
&c. and carried on a most extensive correspondence with the
principal literati of Europe. He left a well-chosen and numerous library, a rich museum of natural history, and a collection of medals. Besides the works we have incidentally
noticed, he published, 1. “Herbarium Diluvianum,
” Zurich, Piscium querelse et vindicise,
” Zurich, Oratio cle Matheseos su in Theologia,
” ibid. Museum Diluvianum,
” ibid. Homo
diluvii testis,
” ibid. De Helvetii aeribus,
aquis, locis, specimen,
” ibid. .Sciagraphia lithologica curiosa, seu lapidum figuratorum nomenclator, olim a Jo. Jac. Scheuchzero conscriptus, auctus et
illustratus,
” 4to. Of his “Physica Sacra,
” we have noticed the first edition published at Augsburgh, 1731—1735,
four vols. folio, or rather eight volumes in four, the text
of which is in German; this edition is valued on account of
its having the first impressions of the plates. The Amsterdam edition, 1732 38, 8 vols. has, however, the advantage
of being in French, a language more generally understood,
and has the same plates. Scheuchzer had a brother, professor of natural philosophy at Zurich, who died in 1737,
and is known to all botanists by his laborious and learned
“Agrostographia,
” so valuable for its minute descriptions
of grasses. He had a son with whom we seem more interested, John Gaspak Scheuchzer, who was born at Zurich
in 1702, and after studying at home came over to England,
and received the degree of' M. D. at Cambridge, during the
royal visit of George I. in 1728, and died at London April
13, 1729, only twenty-seven years old. He had much of
the genius and learning of his family, and was a good antiquary, medallist, and natural historian. He translated into
English Koempfec’s history of Japan, 1727, 2 vols. folio, and
had begun a translation 1 of Koempfer’s travels in Muscovy,
Persia, &c. but did not live to complete it. He wrote also
a treatise on inoculation. Some part of the correspondence
of this learned family is in the British Museum.
, a learned historian and antiquary, was born September 6, 1694-, at Sulzbourg, a town in the margraviate
, a learned historian and
antiquary, was born September 6, 1694-, at Sulzbourg, a
town in the margraviate of Baden Dourlach; his father,
holding an honourable office in the margrave’s court, died
soon after in Alsace, leaving his son to the care of his mother. After tei: years studying at Dourlach and Basil, he
kept a public exercise on some contested points of ancient
history with applause, and finished his studies in eight
years more at Strasbourg. In 1717, he there spoke a
Latin panegyric on Ge^manicus, that favourite hero of
Germany, which was printed by order of the city. In
return for this favour he spoke a funeral oration on M.
Barth, under whom he had studied; and another on Kuhn,
the professor of eloquence and history there, whom he was
soon after elected to succeed in 1720, at the age of twenty ix. The resort of students to him from the Northern nations was very great, and the princes of Germany sent their
sons to study law under him. The professorship of history
at Francfort on the Oder was offered to him; the czarina
invited him to another at St. Petersburg, with the title of
historiographer royal; Sweden offered him the same professorship at Upsal, formerly held by Scheffer and Boeder,
his countrymen; and the university of Leyden named him
successor to the learned Vitriarius. He preferred Strasbourg to all. Amidst the succession of lectures public and
private, he found time to publish an innumerable quantity
of historical and critical dissertations, too many to be here
particularised. In 1725 he pronounced a congratulatory
oration before king Stanislaus, in the name of the university, on the marriage of his daughter to the king of France;
and, in 1726, another on the birth of the dauphin, besides
an anniversary one on the king of France’s birthday, and
others on his victories. In 1726 he quitted his professorship, and began his travels at the public expence. From
Paris he went to Italy, stayed at Rome six months, re*
ceived from the king of the Two Sicilies a copy of the
“Antiquities of Herculaneum,
” and from the duke of
Parma the “Museum Florentinum.
” He came to England at the beginning of the late king’s reign, and left it
the day that Pere Courayer, driven out of Paris by theological disputes, arrived in London. He was now honoured
with a canonry of St. Thomas, one of the most distinguished
Lutheran chapters, and visited Paris a third time in 1728.
Several dissertations by him are inserted in the “Memoirs
of the academy of inscriptions and belles lettres;
” one,
ascribing the invention of moveable types to Guttenberg of
Strasbourg, 1440, against Meerman,
possessed a very extensive library, in which the theologian, lawyer, classical scholar, politician, antiquary, and orientalist, might find almost every thing of which they
Mr. Sharp died July 6, 1813, and like Cato, though advanced to the age of 79, he pursued his studies with all the ardour of youth. He was an able linguist, deeply read in theology, and was well acquainted with the scriptures in the original tongues. He was pious and devout, without gloom, strictly moral and temperate, a great lover of music, and cheerful in conversation. His services to humanity were very distinguished, and few persons in private life have deserved a higher or more honourable commemoration. He possessed a very extensive library, in which the theologian, lawyer, classical scholar, politician, antiquary, and orientalist, might find almost every thing of which they could stand in need; and his collection of bibles was esteemed the best in the kingdom; some of these last he gave to the library of the British and Foreign Bible society, of which he was a zealous promoter. The rest, and remaining part of his library, were sold by auction by Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby.
, an eminent physician, naturalist, and antiquary, was a descendant of the Sibbalds of Balgonie, an ancient family
, an eminent physician, naturalist, and antiquary, was a descendant of the Sibbalds of
Balgonie, an ancient family in Fifeshire, Scotland. He
received his education in philosophy and the languages at
the university of Edinburgh, and afterwards studied medicine at Leyden, where, on taking his doctor’s degree in
1661, he published his inaugural dissertation “De variis
tabis speciebus.
” Soon after he returned home, and fixed
his residence at Edinburgh; but for the benefit of study,
often retired to a rural retreat in the neighbourhood, and
cultivated, with much attention, many rare and exotic
plants. His reputation obtained for him the appointment
of natural historian, geographer, and physician, to Charles
II. and he received the royal command to compose a general description of the whole kingdom, and a particular history of the different counties of Scotland. The “History
of Fife,
” however, is the only part of this plan which he
executed. This was at first sold separately, but became
very scarce; a new edition was published at Cupar-Fife in
1803, In 1681, when the royal college of physicians was
incorporated, he was one of the original fellows. In 1684
he published his principal work, “Scotia Illustrata, sive
Prodromus historian naturalis, &c.
” folio, reprinted in De legibus historian naturalis,
” Edit).
ns: and the Italians, though jealous of the honour of their nation, acknowledged his acuteness as an antiquary, and consulted him in many cases of difficulty. At Rome he formed
, a very learned French Jesuit, was
the son of a magistrate, and born at Riom, Oct. 12, 1559.
At ten years of age he was sent to the college of Billon,
in Lower Auvergne, the first seminary which the Jesuits had
in France. He entered into the society in 1576, and two
years after took the vows. His superiors, discovering his
uncommon talents, sent him to Paris; where he taught
classical literature two years, and rhetoric three. Two of
his pupils were Charles of Valois, duke D‘Angouleme, the
natural son of Charles IX., and Francis de Sales. During
this time, he acquired a perfect knowledge of the Greek
and Latin languages; and formed that style which has been
so much esteemed by the learned. It is said that he took
Muretus for his model, and never passed a day without
reading some pages in his writings; and it is certain that
by this, or his natural taste, he became one of the purest
Latin writers of his time. In 1586, he began his course
of divinity, which lasted four years. He undertook to
translate into Latin the works of the Greek fathers, and
began to write notes upon Sidonius Apollinaris. In 1590,
he was sent for to Rome by the general of the order,
Aquaviva, to take upon him the office of his secretary;
which he discharged for sixteen years with success, and
clothed the sentiments of his employer in very superior
language. The study of antiquity was at that time his
principal object: he visited libraries, and consulted manuscripts: he contemplated antiques, medals, and inscriptions: and the Italians, though jealous of the honour of
their nation, acknowledged his acuteness as an antiquary,
and consulted him in many cases of difficulty. At Rome
he formed a friendship with the most eminent men of the
time, particularly with Bellarmine and Tolet, who were of
his own society, and with the cardinal Baronius, D’Ossat,
and Du Perron. Baronius was much assisted by him in his
“Ecclesiastical Annals,
” especially in affairs relating to the
Greek history upon which he furnished him with a great
number of works, translated from Greek into Latin.
, an English antiquary, was born either in London, or in the county of Middlesex, about
, an English antiquary, was born
either in London, or in the county of Middlesex, about
1622. He was admitted on the royal foundation at Christ
church in Oxford, 1638; but, the rebellion breaking out
before he could take any degree, he travelled, and studied
in several universities abroad. About 1646, he returned
home; and going to Oxford, which at this time ceased to
be a garrison, he took both the degrees in arts the same
year. He then resumed his travels through France, Italy,
Germany, the Spanish Netherlands, and other countries;
visited the courts of several princes; frequented the principal universities; and established an acquaintance with the
learned in different parts of Europe. On the restoration of
the university of Heidelberg, by Charles Lewis, Elector
Palatine, he was honoured with a doctor of physic’s degree;
and, returning to England, was incorporated into the same
at Oxford in 1654. About this time he settled at Lincoln;
where, after practising physic with success, he died of a
malignant fever, Sept. 5, 1667. Wood says, “He was a
person well versed in most parts of learning, understood
all books whether old or new, was most skilful in the Oriental tongues, an excellent Grecian, and, in short, a living library.
”
e was unable to give his son a liberal education. For this our author was indebted to the celebrated antiquary Ashmole, also a native of Lichfield, who, discerning his capacity,
, a learned prelate, was born in 1663,at Lichfield in Staffordshire, where his father followed the business of a dyer, but appears not to have been in opulent circumstances, as he was unable to give his son a liberal education. For this our author was indebted to the celebrated antiquary Ashmole, also a native of Lichfield, who, discerning his capacity, sent him to Westminster-school in 1G78. Here he was soon distinguished as a young man of parts and application, and acquired particular notice by the classical turn of his exercises. Two years after, he wrote two elegies, one in Latin and the other in English, on the death of Lilly, the astrologer, out of gratitude, we are told, to his patron Ashmole, a great admirer of Lilly. Whatever the poetical merit of these elegies, we may say, in reference to the subject, that they would now be thought ironical.
marble monument was erected to him, with a Latin inscription by his learned friend Thomas Baker; the antiquary. His character seems in all respects to have been estimable.
Here he not only repaired the chancel in a handsome and substantial manner, but built a very spacious and ele*gain parsonage-house, entirely at his own expeuce, and laid out considerable sums on his prebendal house, and on other occasions shewed much of a liberal and charitable spirit. But his chief delight was in his studies, to which he applied with an industry which greatly impaired his health, so that he began to decline about two years before his death, which took place July 30, 1715, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. He died at Cambridge, where he had resided for some time in order to complete his edition of the works of the venerable Bede; and was interred in the chapel of St. John’s college, in which a handsome marble monument was erected to him, with a Latin inscription by his learned friend Thomas Baker; the antiquary. His character seems in all respects to have been estimable. He was learned, generous, and strict in the duties of his profession. He was one of ten brothers, five of whom survived him, and whom he remembered in his will. They were all men of note William, a physician, died at Leeds in 1729; Matthew, a Blackwell-hall factor, died at Newcastle in 1721; George, a clergyman and chaplain general to the army, died in 1725; Joseph, provost of Queen’s-college, Oxford, of whom hereafter; Benjamin, remembered also in his brother’s will, but died before him, a student of the Temple; and Posthumus Smith, an eminent civilian, who died 1725.
urnhall in the county of Durham. He is represented as an universal scholar, and particularly an able antiquary. He is said to have written, anonymously, some controversial
Dr. Smith married Mary eldest daughter of William
Cooper, of Scarborough, esq. by whom he had a considerable fortune, and five sons. Besides his edition of Bede’s
History, he published four occasional sermons, and had
made some progress in a History of Durham, for which
bishop Nicolson thought him well qualified. He likewise
furnished Gibson with the additions to the bishopric of
Durham, which he used in his edition of Camden’s “Britannia.
” He also assisted Mr. Anderson in his “Historical
Essay
” to prove that the crown and kingdom of Scotland
is imperial and independent. Dr. Smith’s eldest son,
George, was born at Durham May 7, 1693, and educated
at Westminster-school and at St. John’s-college, Cambridge, but in two years was removed to Queen’s-college,
Oxford, where his uncle was provost, and the learned Edward Thwaites his tutor. He afterwards studied law in the
Inner Temple, but being a nonjuror, quitted that profession, took orders among the nonjurors, and was made titular bishop of Durham. He died Nov. 4, 1756, at Burnhall in the county of Durham. He is represented as an
universal scholar, and particularly an able antiquary. He
is said to have written, anonymously, some controversial
pieces, one of which was entitled “Britons and Saxons not
converted to Popery, in answer to a popish book, bearing
the title of ‘ England’s Conversion and Reformation compared’.
” He also supplied Carte with some materials for
his history; but he is chiefly known for his splendid edition
of Bede’s works, which was prepared for the press by his
father, and published by this son at Cambridge in 1722,
folio, with a life, and some additions to what his father had
left.
p. 224.
gave the rectory of Newington, annexed to the prebend, to Dr. Ralph Thoresby, son to the celebrated antiquary. On the building of the new church of St. George’s, Hanover-square,
On the accession of George I. he was again introduced at court by the earl of Grantham, lord chamberlain to the prince of Wales (Afterward George II.) and was made chaplain to the princess, in which office he continued, until her highness came to the throne, to give attendance in his turn; but at that period, although he was still her majesty’s chaplain, he had no farther promotion at court. For this two reasons have been assigned, the one that he was negligent in making use of his interest, and offered no solicitation; the other, that his Tory principles were not at that time very acceptable. He used to be called the Hanover Tory; but he was in all respects a man of moderation, and sincerely attached to the present establishment. As some compensation for the loss of court-favour, his old fellowstudent, Dr. Gibson, when bishop of Lincoln, promoted him to the prebend of Dunholm in that church, and upon his translation to London gave him the donative of Paddington, near London. In this place, Dr. Smith built a house for himself, the parsonage-house having been lost by his predecessor’s neglect, and afterwards retired here with his family for the benefit of his health. He also established an afternoon lecture, at the request of the inhabitants, and procured two acts of parliament, to which he contributed a considerable part of the expence, for twice enlarging the church-yard. The same patron also promoted him to the prebend of St. Mary, Newington, in the cathedral of St. Paul’s, which proved very advantageous to him; but, as he $ow held two benefices with cure of souls, namely, St. Dionisand Paddington, he gave the rectory of Newington, annexed to the prebend, to Dr. Ralph Thoresby, son to the celebrated antiquary. On the building of the new church of St. George’s, Hanover-square, he was chosen lecturer in March 1725, and was there, as every where else, much admired for his talents in the pulpit. He had before resigned the lectureship of Trinity chapel in Conduit-street, and in 1731 resigned also that of St. George’s, in consequence of having been, on Oct. 20, 1730, elected provost of Queen’s college, which owes much of its present splendor and prosperity to his zeal and liberality. We have already noticed that he had persuaded sir Joseph Williamson to alter his will in its favour, which had before been drawn up in favour of endowing a college in Dublin; and it was now to his interference that the college owed the valuable foundation of John Michel, esq. for eight master fellows, four bachelor scholars, and four undergraduate scholars or exhibitioners, besides livings, &c. Dr. Smith was also instrumental in, procuring queen Caroline’s donation of 1000l. lady Elizabeth Hastings’s exhibitions, and those of sir Francis Bridgman, which, without his perseverance, would have been entirely lost; and besides what he bequeathed himself, he procured a charter of mortmain, in May 1732, to secure these several benefactions to the college.
, herald and antiquary, was born in Cheshire, and descended from the Smiths or Smyths
, herald and antiquary, was born in
Cheshire, and descended from the Smiths or Smyths of
Oldhough. He was educated at Oxford, but in what college Wood has not ascertained, there being several of
the same names about the latter part of the sixteenth century. When he left the university, we cannot trace his
progress, but on his application at the Heralds’ college for
the office of Rouge- Dragon, it was said that he had been a
merchant and traveller. He was recommended by sir
George Carey, knight marshal; and “The Society of Arms
finding, by many, that he was honest, and of a quiet conversation, and well languaged,
” joined in the supplication,
which gained him this office. Anstis says, that he had
long resided abroad, and had kept an inn, at Nuremburgh,
in Germany, the sign at the door of which was the Goose.
He wrote a description of Cheshire, which, with his historical collections made about 1590, or a copy of them, falling
into the hands of sir Randolph Crew, knt. lord chief justice
of the King’s bench, his grandson, sir Randolph Crew, gave
them to the public. These materials, and the labours of
William Webb, form the bulk of “King’s Vale-Royal,
” published in fol. The Image of Heraldrye, &c.
” a sort of introduction to
the science, which forrrierly belonged to Anstis the other,
“Genealogies of the different potentates of Europe, 1578,
”
formerly Peter Le Neve’s. A new edition, with additions,
of the “Vale-Royal,
” was published at Chester,
, an eminent English antiquary, was born at Canterbury, March 30, 1606, according to the account
, an eminent English antiquary, was born at Canterbury, March 30, 1606, according to the account given by his wife and son; but, according to the register of the parish of St. Margaret’s, much earlier, for it represents him to have been baptized Nov. 5, 1598. It was a proper birth-place for an antiquary, being one of the most ancient cities in England; and Somner was so well pleased with it, that, like Claudian’s good old citizen of Verona, within the walls, or in the sight of them, he grew up, lived, and died. He was of a reputable family; and his father was registrar of the court of Canterbury under sir Nathaniel Brent, commissary. At a proper age he was sent to the free-school of that city, where he seems to have acquired a competent knowledge of the Latin language at least. Thence he was removed, and placed as clerk to his father in the ecclesiastical courts of that diocese; and was afterwards preferred to a creditable office in those courts by archbishop Laud. His natural bent in the mean time lay to the study of antiquities; and he took all opportunities of indulging it. He was led early, in his walks through the suburbs and the fields of that city, to survey the British bricks, the Roman ways, the Danish hills and works, the Saxon monasteries, and the Norman churches. This was his amusement abroad; at home he delighted in old manuscripts, leger-books, rolls-and records; his knowledge of which was such, that upon questions concerning descent of families, tenure of estates, dedication of churches, right of tithes, and the history of use and custom, he was consulted by all his neighbours.
his work he shewed himself an absolute civilian, and a complete common lawyer, as well as a profound antiquary. This was his last publication: he left behind him many observations
Just before the Restoration, he was imprisoned in the
castle of Deal, for endeavouring to procure hands to petition for a free parliament. In 1660, he was made master
of St. John’s hospital, in the suburbs of Canterbury; and
about the same time auditor of Christ-church, in that city.
The same year he published, in quarto, “A treatise of
Gnvel-kind, both name and thing, shewing the true etymology and derivation of the one; the nature, antiquity,
and original, of the other; with sundry emergent observations, both pleasant and profitable to be known of Kentishtnen and others, especially such as are studious either
of the ancient custom, or the common law of this kingdom.
” In this work he shewed himself an absolute civilian,
and a complete common lawyer, as well as a profound antiquary. This was his last publication: he left behind him
many observations in manuscript, and some treatises, one
of which, “of the Roman ports and forts in Kent,
” was
published at Oxford, 1693, 8vo, by James Brome, M. A.
rector of Cheriton, and chaplain to the Cinque-ports and
“Julii Caesaris Portus Iccius illustratus a Somnero, Du
Fresne, et Gibson,
” was printed at the same place,
were the archbishops Laud and Usher, sir Robert Cotton, sir William Dugdale, sir Simonds D'Ewes, the antiquary Mr. William Burton, sir John Marsham, Elias Ashmole, esq. and
Among his friends and correspondents were the archbishops Laud and Usher, sir Robert Cotton, sir William
Dugdale, sir Simonds D'Ewes, the antiquary Mr. William
Burton, sir John Marsham, Elias Ashmole, esq. and others
of the same stamp and character. A print of him is placed
over-against the titlepage of his treatise “Of the Roman
ports and forts in Kent.
”
, a late worthy divine and antiquary, was born at Alwalton, in Huntingdonshire, March 16, 1729. He
, a late worthy divine and antiquary, was born at Alwalton, in Huntingdonshire, March 16, 1729. He was the son of William Southgate, a considerable farmer of that place, and of Hannah, the daughter of Robert Wright, of Castor, in Northamptonshire, a surveyor and civil engineer. He was the eldest of ten children, three of whom died in infancy, and all the rest survived him. He was educated for some time at a private school at Uppingham, but chiefly at the free grammar-school at Peterborough, under the rev. Thomas Marshall, an excellent scholar, who became afterwards his cordial friend. The rapidity of his acquisitions at this school gained him the esteem of many, particularly of Dr. John Thomas, bishop of Lincoln, an intimate friend of his father. Under the patronage of this prelate, and with an exhibition from Peterborough, he removed to Cambridge, where he was entered of St. John’s college in 1745, under Mr. (afterwards the learned Dr.) Rutherforth, to whom he was recommended with great warmth by his friend and late master, Mr. Marshall.
, an eminent English antiquary, was descended from an ancient family of his name, which flourished
, an eminent English antiquary, was descended from an ancient family of his name, which flourished in the time of Henry III. at Bekington in Hampshire, and in the fifteenth century was settled in Norfolk, where our author’s great-grandfather was possessed of a considerable estate. This great-grandfather married the heiress of the Narborough family, by whom he had a son who became sir John Spelman, knt. of Narborough, and our author’s father, Henry, was the fourth son of sir John, and lived at Conghata near Lynn-regis in Norfolk. He married Frances, daughter of William Sanders of Ewell in Surrey, by whom he had our author, his eldest son, who was born in 1562, and educated at the school of Walsinghatn in the neighbourhood. In his fourteenth year, when according to his own modest account he was scarcely ripe for academical studies, he was entered of Trinity-college, Cambridge. Here he applied with great diligence for two years ana a half, but upon the death of his father, he was obliged to return home, and assist his mother, in managing the affairs of the family.
the towns of England, collected by the appointment, at the charge, and for the use, of that learned antiquary sir Henry Spelman.” Bishop NicolsbH thinks this wasjointly composed
In 1656, a volume was published, entitled “Villare Anglicum; or a view of the towns of England, collected by
the appointment, at the charge, and for the use, of that
learned antiquary sir Henry Spelman.
” Bishop NicolsbH
thinks this wasjointly composed by sir Henry and Mr.
Dodsworth. In 1663, Mr. Stevens, before mentioned, who appears to have been particularly entrusted with such of sir
Henry’s Mss. as might be thought fit for the press, began
to print his “History of Sacrilege,
” a very singular attempt
under the existing government, for as sir Hemy makes the
alienation of church property by our former monarchs to
be sacrilege, his arguments must have had a very powerful
effect on those who had now overturned the whole property
and constitution of the church. Accordingly we are told that
the printing was interrupted until the fire of London, and
then the whole was destroyed in that calamity. Gibson,
however, published it afterwards from the manuscript copy
given by bishop Barlow to the Bodleian library.
skill in delineating the actual state of Ireland. “Civilization,” says Mr Ledwich, the learned Irish antiquary, “having almost obliterated every vestige of our ancient manners,
The same year, 1596, appears to have been the time
when Spenser presented his political, and only prose work,
“The View of the State of Ireland,
” to the queen. Mr.
Todd, having seen four copies of it in manuscript, concludes that he had presented it also to the great officers of
state, and perhaps to others. Why it was allowed to remain in manuscript so long as until 1633, when sir James
Ware published it from archbishop Usher’s copy, has not
been explained. If, as Mr. Todd conjectures, it was written at the command of the queen, and in order to reconcile
the Irish to her government, why did it not receive the
publicity which so important an object required? It appears more probable from a perusal of this work as we now
have it, that it was not considered by the court as of a
healing tendency; and the extracts from some of the manuscript copies which Mr. Todd had an opportunity of
procuring, seem to confirm th s conjecture. Viewed in
another light, it displays much political knowledge, and
traces the troubles of that country, in many instances, to
their proper causes. It is valuable also on account of the
Author’s skill in delineating the actual state of Ireland.
“Civilization,
” says Mr Ledwich, the learned Irish antiquary, “having almost obliterated every vestige of our ancient manners, the remembrance of them is only to be
found in Spenser, so that he may be considered, at this
day, as an Irish antiquary.
” It ought not to be omitted
that in a note on one of the manuscript copies of this
work, Spenser is styled, “Clerke of the Counsell of the
province of Mounster.
”
with times, characters, and manners, the illustration of which demands the skill and industry of the antiquary.
Hume was among the first who endeavoured to depreciate the value of the “Faerie Queene,
” by asserting that
the perusal of it was rather a task than a pleasure, and
challenging any individual to deny this. Pope and lord
Somers are two who might have accepted the challenge
with hope of success. But in fact Spenser will not lose
much if we admit the assertion. That the perusal of the
Faerie Queene must be at first a task, and a very irksome
one, will be confessed by all who are unacquainted with
any English words but what are current. If that difficulty
be surmounted, the reader of taste cannot fail to relish the
beauties so profusely scattered in this poem. With respect
to the objections that have been made to the allegorical
plan, it is sufficient to refer to its antiquity; it was one of
the earliest vehicles of pleasure blended with instruction,
and although modern critics object to a continued allegory,
which indeed it is extremely difficult to accomplish without falling into inconsistencies, yet specimens of it, detached personifications, aiming at the sublimity of Spenser,
still continue to be among the efforts by which our best
writers wish to establish their fame. Perhaps the same remark may be extended to the stanza of Spenser, which
critics have censured, and poets, praised by those critics,
have imitated. After all it is to the language of Spenser
that we must look for the reason why his popularity is less
than that of many inferior poets. Spenser, Chaucer, and
indeed all the early poets can be relished, not by common
readers, but by students, and not separately but as connected with times, characters, and manners, the illustration of which demands the skill and industry of the antiquary.
robably from that gentleman, a strong passion for antiquities. Some time after, Vaillant, the king’s antiquary, passing through Lyons to Italy in quest of medals and other
, son of the preceding, was born at Lyons in 1647. After an education of great care, he was admitted doctor of physic at Montpellier in 1667, and a member of the college of physicians at Lyons in 1669. These two years he spent at Strasburg with Boeder; and there becoming very intimate with Charles Patin, he contracted, probably from that gentleman, a strong passion for antiquities. Some time after, Vaillant, the king’s antiquary, passing through Lyons to Italy in quest of medals and other antiquities, Spon accompanied him. He afterwards, in 1675 amj 1676, made a voyage to Dalmatia, Greece, and the Levant, in company with Mr. (afterwards sir) George Wheler (see Wheler); of all which places he has given us an account, which was published in English. Whether he was weak by constitution, or injured his health in this voyage, does not appear; but he afterwards became a valetudinarian. Being of the reformed religion, he was obliged to emigrate in 1685, when the edict of Nantes was revoked. He intended to retire to Zurich, the freedom of which city had been bestowed in an honorary manner upon his father, and was upon the road thither; but wintering at Vevay, a town upon the lake Leman, he died there in 1686. He was a member of the academy of the Ricovrati at Padua; of that of the Beaux Esprits, esublishevi Nismes by letters patent in 1682 and he would have b; an ornament to any society, being a man of great learnir, and integrity.
and, friend, and master, no man was more beloved, or more lamented. He was a fellow of the royal and antiquary societies, and a constant attendant upon both. He married one
“Dr. Squirt, apothecary toAhni Ma- man of Angola.
”
1750 he was presented by archbishop Herring to the rectory of St. Anne, Westminster (then vacant by the death of Dr. Felling), being his grace’s option on the see of London, and for which he resigned his living of Topsfield in
favour of a relation of the archbishop. Soon after, Dr.
Squire was presented by the king to the vicarage of Greenwich in Kent; and, on the establishment of the household
of the prince of Wales (his present majesty), he was appointed his royal highness’s clerk of the closet. In 1760
he was presented to the deanry of Bristol; and on the fast
day of Feb. 13, 1761, preached a sermon before the House
of Commons; which appeared of course in print. In that
year (on the death of Dr. Ellis) he was advanced to the
bishopric of St. David’s, the revenues of which were considerably advanced by him. He died, after a short illness,
occasioned by his anxiety concerning the health of one of
his sons, May 6, 1766. As a parish minister, even after
his advancement to the mitre, he was most conscientiously
diligent in the duties of his function; and as a prelate, in
his frequent visits to his see (though he held it but five years), he sought out and promoted the friendless and deserving, in preference, frequently, to powerful recommendations, and exercised the hospitality of a Christian bishop.
In private life, as a parent, husband, friend, and master,
no man was more beloved, or more lamented. He was a
fellow of the royal and antiquary societies, and a constant
attendant upon both. He married one of the daughters of
Mrs. Ardesoif, a widow lady of fortune (his parishioner),
in Soho Square. Some verses to tier *' on making a pinbasket,“by Dr. (afterwards sir James) Marriott, are in the
fourth volume of Dodsley’s collection. By her the bishop
left two sons and a daughter, but she did not long survive
him. A sermon, entitled
” Mutual Knowledge in a future
State," &c. was dedicated to her, with a just eulogium on
his patron, by the unfortunate Dr. Dodd *, in 1766. Besides several single sermons on public occasions, bishop
f English history, acquired a melancholy habit, but was esteemed a diligent, judicious, and faithful antiquary. His “History of Churches in England: wherein is shown, the
a learned gentleman, of
Cussington, Leicestershire, after having completed his academical education at Peter- house, Cambridge, was admitted
of the Inner Temple, July 2, 1647, and called to the bar
June 12, 1654. In 1656, he married Mary the youngest
daughter of John Onebye, esq. of Hinckley, and steward
of the records at Leicester, and succeeded his father-in-law
in that office in 1672. In 1674, when the court espoused
the cause of popery, and the presumptive heir to the crown
openly professed himself a Catholic, Mr. Staveley displayed
the enormous exactions of the court of Rome, by publishing
in 1674, “The Romish Horseleech.
” This work was reprinted in History of Churches
in England: wherein is shown, the time, means, and manner of founding, building, and endowing of Churches, both,
cathedral and rural, with their furniture and appendages,
”
was first published in 1712, and reprinted 1773. It is a
work of considerable research and learning, the result of
having carefully examined many books and records; and
contains a complete account of the sacred furniture of
churches from the earliest origin. In one respect, however, he has too hastily adopted the notion that the Saxons
had no stone buildings among them, while he is forced to
acknowledge that Bede’s Candida casa was one of them.
Besides this work, Mr. Staveley left a curious historical pedigree of his own family, drawn up in 1682, the year before
he died, which is preserved at large in the work which
furnishes this article; and also some valuable collections
towards the “History and Antiquities of Leicester,
” to
which he had more particularly applied his researches.
These papers, which Dr. Farmer, the late learned master
of Emanuei-college, Cambridge, intended once to publish,
were, by that gentleman’s permission, put into the hands
of Mr. Nichols, who gave them to the world in the “Bibliotheca Topographia Britannica,
” and since in his more elaborate “History of Leicestershire.
” The younger Mr. S.
Carte (an able antiquary, and an eminent solicitor), who
had a copy of Mr. Staveley’s papers, says of them, in a ms
letter to Dr. Ducarel, March 7, 1751: “His account of
the earls of Leicester, and of the great abbey, appears to
have been taken from Dugdale’s
” Baronage,“and
” Monasticon;“but as to his sentiments in respect to the borough, I differ with him in some instances. By the charter
for erecting and establishing the court of records at Leicester, the election of the steward is granted to the mayor and
court of aldermen, who likewise have thereby a similar
power, in respect to a bailiff
” for executing their writs. But
afterwards, viz. Dec. 20, 7 Jac. I. the great earl of Huntingdon bavins: been a considerable benefactor to Leicester, the
corporation came to a resolution of granting to him and his
heirs a right of nominating alternately to the office of steward and bailiff, and executed a bond under their common
seal, in the penalty of one thousand pounds, for enforcing
the execution of their grant. And as John Major, esq. was
elected by the court of aldermen to succeed Mr. Staveley,
in December, 1684, I infer that Staveley was nominated
by the earl of Huntingdon, and confirmed by the aldermen,
in pursuance of the grant above-mentioned.
, an eminent antiquary, was the fourth sou of Richard Stephens, esq. of the elder house
, an eminent antiquary, was the fourth sou of Richard Stephens, esq. of the elder house of that name atEastington in Gloucestershire, by Anne the eldest daughter of sir Hugh Cholmeley, of Whitby, in Yorkshire, baronet. His first education was at Wotton school, whence he removed to Lincoln-college, Oxford, May 19, 681. He was entered very young in the Middle Temple, applied himself to the study of the common law, and was called to the bar. As he was master of a sufficient fortune, it may be presumed that the temper of his mind, which was naturally modest, detained him from the public exercise of his profession, and led him to the politer studies, and an acquaintance with the best authors, ancient and modern: yet he was thought by all who knew him to have made a great proficience in the law, though history and antiquities seem to have been his favourite study. When he was about twenty years old, being at a relation’s house, he accidentally met with some original letters of the lord chancellor Bacon; and finding that they would greatly contribute to our knowledge of matters relating to king James’s reign, he immediately set himself to search for whatever might elucidate the obscure passages, and published a complete edition of them in 1702, with useful notes, and an excellent historical introduction. He intended to have presented his work to king William but that monarch dying before it was published, the dedication was omitted. In the preface, he requested the communication of unpublished pieces of his noble author, to make his collection more complete; and obtained in consequence as many letters as formed the second collection, published in 1734, two years after his death. Being a relation of Robert Harley earl of Oxford (whose mother Abigail, was daughter of Nathaniel Stephens of Eastington), he was preferred by him to be chief solicitor of the customs, in which employment he continued with unblemished reputation till 172C, when he declined that troublesome office, and was appointed to succeed Mr. Madox in the place of historiographer royal. He then formed a design of writing a history of king James the first, a reign which he thought to be more misrepresented than almost any other since the conquest: and, if we may judge by the good impression which he seems to have had of these times, his exactness and care never to advance any thing but from unquestionable authorities, besides his great candour and integrity, it could not but have proved a judicious and valuable performance. He married Mary the daughter of sir Hugh Cholmeley, a lady of great worth, and died at Gravesend, near Thornbury, in Gloucestershire, Nov. 12, 1732; and was buried at Eastington, the seat of his ancestors, where is an inscription to his memory.
, a valuable historian and antiquary, was born in London, and as is usually supposed, in St. Michael’s
, a valuable historian and antiquary, was born in London, and as is usually supposed, in St. Michael’s Cornhill, where his father and grandfather lived, and were reputed men of good credit. The time of his birth was about 1525, but we know little of the circumstances of his youth, unless that he was bred up to his father’s business, that of a taylor. It has been often remarked as a singular, but after all a trifling circumstance, that two of the most celebrated antiquaries of the sixteenth century, Stow and Speed, were both bred to that occupation.
s circumstances, and at length reduced him to considerable difficulties. His first appearance, as an antiquary, was in the service of the ward of which he was now become an
He began early to apply himself to the study of the history and antiquities of England with so much enthusiasm, that he bestowed little attention on business, or the concerns of domestic life; and this improvidence greatly impaired his circumstances, and at length reduced him to considerable difficulties. His first appearance, as an antiquary, was in the service of the ward of which he was now become an inhabitant. That of Bishopsgate had encroached on the bounds of it, and had taken in three houses, and a piece of land near London-wall, which belonged to it. These Mr. Stow plainly proved to be the property of his ward, by certain old leases and grants, and other authentic registers; an 1 they were accordingly at that time yielded to it; though, afterwards, when sir Richard Pype, al-'erman of Bishopsgate ward, became lord mayor of London, and reclaimed them, it receded from its un.l >ubted right, and tamely surrendered them to his jurisdiction.
cripts was an additional motive to this resolution. Archbishop Parker, however, himself an excellent antiquary, and a bountiful patron of all who had the same turn, persuaded
Mr. Stow’s success, however, in the Affair probably ani* This curate, called Sir Stephen, one c<>mii>- n I e/\p bumr them. Mr.
became so contemptible by his furious Slow heat <J 'his sermon, an I saw the
zeal, that he was forced to leave the effec’s of it. Another rmrk of the
city, and retire tosome unknown place curate’s imprudent zeal w.< his takin the country. “Mr. Stow has re- ing; /ccasion from that church’s name
corded some things of him, which Un ^rshaft., as superstitions^ ^iv>n it,
though not attended with such fata! to i!<-r are his judgment that thr titles
consequences as that already men- of cnurches should be altered, and that
tioned, were evidences of his exclusive even the names of the days of the week
big‘ try. In a sermon, which he ought to be changed from those ht;apreached before a areat auditory at St. then ones which had been given them;
Paul’s Cross, he inveighed bitterly nud that Fridays and Saturdays should
against a long may-pole, called -haft, be no more fish-days, but others subin the next parish to his own, which stituted for such in thei>- place
from thence was named *r. Andrew that Lent should he kept ai>nv
Undershaft. This he insisted upon time than between Shrove-ti e and
being an idol; and so warmly did he Raster. Another t.’id ).ia<-tice of this
declare against it, that the zeal of many cut ate was, to go out of the pulpi> into
of his hearers being excited thereby, the church- yard, and II.Oum' nu h gh
they wt-nt in the afternoon of the same elm that grew there and p ea; h from
day, and pulled the may-pole do MI tbttnce to his audience, and then return
from the place where it hung upon to the church, and say or-ire the
hooks, and then sawed it ii to divers English service, not at th,- a^tar. as
pieces, each housekeeper taking as w. is usual, but upon a tomb, whit
much of it as hung over his door or placed northward of it.
” Strype’s Life
stall, and then casting the pieces into of Stow.
mated him in his antiquarian researches, as he had now
demonstrated the practical benefit arising from them. It
was about 1560, that he turned his thoughts to the compiling an English chronicle, and he spent the greater part
of his future life in collecting such materials relating to
the kingdom at large, as he esteemed worthy to be handed
down to posterity. But after he had been eagerly employed for a while in these studies, perceiving how little profit
he was likely to reap from them, he was on the point of
diverting his industry into the channel of the occupation he
had been bred to; and the expensiveness of purchasing
manuscripts was an additional motive to this resolution.
Archbishop Parker, however, himself an excellent antiquary, and a bountiful patron of all who had the same
turn, persuaded him to goon, and liberally contributed to
lessen his expences, while his grace lived.
He was a true antiquary, one who was not satisfied with reports, nor yet with the credit
He was a true antiquary, one who was not satisfied with reports, nor yet with the credit of what he found in print, but always had recourse to originals. He made use of his own Lgs (for he could never ride), travelling on foot to many cathedral churches, and other places, where ancient records and charters were, to read them, and made large transcripts into his collections. There is a volume of these notes, which first came into the possession of sir Simonds D'Ewes, and was afterward procured by the first earl of Oxford. Ii is now part of the Harleian collection.
Florence, and Montpelier, and the Leopolcline academy of the Curiosorum Naturae. He was a very able antiquary and naturalist, and contributed various papers both to the
Sir John Strange married Susan, eldest daughter, and coheir of Edward Sis oreemvich, in the county of Kent, esq. She died in 1747, and was buried in the same vault with her husband in Leyton church-yard. Two sons survived him, of whom Matthew, the eldest, died in 1759, and John, who died March 19, 1799, aged sixty-seven. He was educated at Clare hall, Cambridge, and was British resident at Venice for some years, and in his own country LL. D. F. R. S. and F. S. A. He was also a member of the academies of Bologna, Florence, and Montpelier, and the Leopolcline academy of the Curiosorum Naturae. He was a very able antiquary and naturalist, and contributed various papers both to the Archacologia, and to the Philosophical Transactions. He accumulated an xcellent library, a very extensive museum, and a fine collection of pictures, all which were sold after his death, as directed by his will.
his enthusiastic love for antique elegance made him also an adept in all the remote researches of an antiquary. But in this display of his talents, a just tribute to his memory
In whatever new project he engaged, he pursued it with such avidity, that he seldom quitted it while there was any thing further to be learned or understood from it. Thus he rendered himself skilful in the art of engraving, and of sculpture; and his enthusiastic love for antique elegance made him also an adept in all the remote researches of an antiquary. But in this display of his talents, a just tribute to his memory as a man must not be forgotten. Those who knew him intimately, and had opportunities of remarking the nobleness of his soul, will join in claiming for him the title of Citizen of the World; and, if he could be charged with possessing any partiality, it was to merit, in, whomsoever he found it.
, an antiquary of much celebrity, descended from an antient family in Lincolnshire,
, an antiquary of much celebrity,
descended from an antient family in Lincolnshire, was born
at Holbech in that county, November 7, 1687. After having had the first part of his education at the free-school of
that place, under the care of Mr. Edward Kelsal, he was
admitted into Bene't-college in Cambridge, Nov. 7, 1703,
under the tuition of Mr. Thomas Favvcett, and chosen a
scholar there in April following. While an under-graduate,
he often indulged a strong propensity for drawing and designing; and began to form a collection of antiquarian
books. He made physic, however, his principal study, and
with that view took frequent perambulations through the
neighbouring country, with the famous Dr. Hales, Dr. John
Gray of Canterbury, and others, in search of plants; and
made great additions to Ray’s “Catalogus Plantarum circa
Cantabrigiam;
” which, with a map of the county, he was
solicited to print; but his father’s death, and various domestic avocations, prevented it. He studied anatomy under
Mr. Rolfe the surgeon attended the chemical lectures of
signor Vigani and taking the degree of M. B. in 1709,
made himself acquainted with the practical part of medicine
under the great Dr. Mead at St. Thomas’s hospital. He
first began to practise at Boston in his native county, where
he strongly recommended the chalybeate waters of Stanfield
near Folkingham. In 1717 he removed to London, where,
on the recommendation of his friend Dr. Mead, he was soon
after elected F. R. S. and was one of the first who revived
that of the Antiquaries in 1718, to which last he was secretary for many years during his residence in town. He was
also one of the earliest members of the Spalding society.
He took the degree of M. D. at Cambridge in 1719, and
was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians in the
year following, about which time (1720) he published an
account of “Arthur’s Oon
” in Scotland, and of “Graham’s
dyke,
” with plates, 4to. In the year Itinerarium Curiosum; or, an Account of the Antiquities and Curiosities in his Travels
through Great Britain, Centuria I.
” adorned with one hundred copper-plates, and published in folio, London, 1724.
This was reprinted after his death, in 1776, with two additional plates; as was also published the second volume,
(consisting of his description of the Brill, or Caesar’s camp at Pancras,“IterBoreale,
” A Treatise on the Cause
and Cure of the Gout, from a new Rationale;
” which, with
an abstract of it, has passed through several editions. He
collected some remarkable particulars at Stamford in relation
to his predecessor bishop Cumberland; and, in 1736, printed
an explanation, with an engraving, of a curious silver plate
of Roman workmanship in basso relievo, found underground
at Risley Park in Derbyshire; wherein he traces its journey thither, from the church of Bourges, to which it had
been given by Exsuperius, called St. Swithin, bishop of
Toulouse, about the year 205. He published also the
same yea.- his “Palæographia Sacra, No. I. or, Discourses
on the Monuments of Antiquity that relate to Sacred History,
” in 4to, which he dedicated to sir Richard Kllys, bart.
“from whom he had received many favours.
” In this
work (uhich was to have been continued in succeeding numbers) he undertakes to shew, how Heathen Mythology
is derived from Sacred History, and that the Bacchus in the
Poets is no other than the Jehovah in the Scripture, the
conductor of the Israelites through the wilderness. In his
country retirement he disposed his collection of Greek and
Roman coins according to the order of the Scripture History; and cut out a machine in wood (on the plan of an Orrery), which shews the motion of the heavenly bodies,
the course of the tide, &c. In 1737 he lost his wife and
in 1738, married Elizabeth, the only daughter of Dr. Gale,
dean of York, and sister to his intimate friends Roger
and Samuel Gale, esquires; and from this time he often
spent his winters in London. In 1740, he published an
account of Stonehenge, dedicated to the duke of Ancaster,
who had made him one of his chaplains, and given him the
living of Somerby near Grantham the year before. In
1741, he preached the Thirtieth of January Sermon before
the House of Commons; and in that year became one of
the founders of the Egyptian society, composed of gentlemen who had visited Egypt. In 1743 he printed an account
of lady Roisia’s sepulchral cell, lately discovered at Royston, in a tract, entitled “Palseographia Britannica, No. I.
”
to which an answer was published by Mr. Charles Parkin,
in 1744. The doctor replied in “Palasographia Britannica,
No. II.
” 1746, giving an account of the origin of the universities of Cambridge and Stamford, both from Croylandabbey; of the Roman city Granta, on the north-side of
the river, of the beginning of Cardike near Waterbeach,
&c. To this Mr. Parkin again replied in 1748; but it
does not appear that the doctor took any further notice of
him. In 1747, the benevolent duke of Montagu (with whom he had become acquainted at the Egyptian society)
prevailed on him to vacate his preferments in the country,
by giving him the rectory of St. George, Queen-square,
whence he frequently retired to Kentish-town, where the
following inscription was placed over his door:
, a Flemish historian and antiquary, was born at Antwerp in 1567. We have no particulars of his
, a Flemish historian and antiquary, was born at Antwerp in 1567. We
have no particulars of his literary progress, but a general
character that he was a man of science and learning, of an
amiable disposition, and occasionally a wit, a poet, and a
man of business. He devoted much of his time to study,
and published a great many works which brought him considerable reputation. Saxius says he does not know whother he married or lived single, nor, he acids, “is it of
much importance. This, I know, that he does not speak
very respectfully of the ladies and their company. He
says of Janus Dousa, the father, that when he returned
home, he married that necessary evil, a icife
” Whatever
reason Swert had for using this expression, Saxius might
have known from Valerius Andreas, or from Foppen, that
he married Susanna Van Erp, and had a family of six
children. He died at Antwerp in 1629, aged sixty- two.
, a very celebrated English antiquary, was a native of the county of Chester, and the son of John
, a very celebrated English antiquary, was a native of the county of Chester, and the son of John Swinton, of Bexton in that county, gent. He was born in 1703. The circumstances of his parents were probably not affluent, as he was entered at Oxford in the rank of a servitor at Wadham college, in October 1719. It may be presumed that he recommended himself in that society by his talents and behaviour, for, on June 30, 1723, he was elected a scholar on a Cheshire foundation in the college. In the December following he took his first degree in arts. Before he became master of arts (which was on Dec. 1, 1726), he had chosen the church for his profession, and was ordained deacon by the bishop of Oxford, May 30, 1725; and was afterwards admitted to priest’s orders on May 28, 1727. He was not long without some preferment, being admitted to the rectory of St. Peter le Bailey in Oxford (a living in the gift of the crown), under a sequestration, and instituted to it in February 1728. In June the same year, he was elected a fellow of his college; but, desirous probably to take a wider view of the world, he accepted, not long after, the appointment of chaplain to the English factory at Leghorn, to which he had been chosen. In this situation he did not long enjoy his health, and, leaving it on that account, he was at Florence in April 1733, where he attended Mr. Coleman, the English envoy, in his last moments. Mr. Swinton returned through Venice and Vienna; and, in company with some English gentlemen of fortune, visited Presburg in Hungary, and was present at one of their assemblies.
, an excellent antiquary, was the son of a father of both his names, vicar of Market
, an excellent antiquary, was the
son of a father of both his names, vicar of Market Lavington in Wilts, and was born in 1674. He became a student in Queen’s-college, Oxford, in Michaelmas-term,
1689; admitted clerk in that house, 1690; B. A. 1693;
entered into holy orders at Christmas, 1694; and became
chaplain of All-souls-college in January following; chosen
fellow of the same, 1697; chancellor of Norfolk, and rector of Thorpe near Norwich in 1701. He was installed
prebendary of Ely, Sept. 10, 1713, (which he quitted in 1723); made archdeacon of Norfolk, Dec. 7, 1721 canon
of Christ-church, Feb. 3, 1723-4; and prolocutor of the
lower house of convocation, which was convened anno
1727. To this honour he was unanimously elected on account of his great abilities, however contrary to his own
inclinations; and was consecrated bishop of St. Asaph,
Jan. 23, 1732. Bishop Tanner died at Christ-church, Oxford, Dec. 14, 1735; and was buried in the nave of that
cathedral, near the pulpit; without any funeral pomp, according to his own direction. He ordered his body to be
wrapped up in the coarsest crape, and his coffin to be
covered with serge, not cloth: the pall-bearers to have
each of them one of Baskett’s folio bibles; the underbearers a Sherlock upon Death; to the dean of Christchurch, he left five pounds; to the eight canons five shillings each; eighty pounds to buy coats for eighty poor
men; and one hundred pounds to the college, towards
their library then building. A monument to his memory
is affixed to one of the pillars, with an inscription. Another
in>cription, and a translation of it, may be seen in the
“Anecdotes of Bowyer.
” He was thrice married, first, to
Rose, eldest daughter of Dr. Moore, bishop of Ely, and
by <her, who died March 15, 1706, aged twenty-five, he
had a daughter who died in her infancy; secondly, to
Frances, daughter of Mr. Jacob Preston, citizen of London. She died June 11, 1718, aged forty, and left two
daughters, who both died young, and his son and heir, the
rev. Thomas Tanner, who died in 1760, at that time precentor of St. Asaph, rector of Kessingland, and vicar of
Lowestoff. The bishop married, thirdly, in 1733, Miss
Elizabeth Scottow, of Thorpe, near Norwich, with a fortune of 15,000l. She survived him, and married Robert
Britiffe, esq. recorder of Norwich, and M. P. She died
in 1771.
y without any blemish. His virtues are acknowledged by his contemporaries, and of his learning as an antiquary, which was very extensive, he was most readily communicative
Bishop Tanner’s character seems to have descended to
posterity without any blemish. His virtues are acknowledged by his contemporaries, and of his learning as an
antiquary, which was very extensive, he was most readily
communicative to all who were engaged in publications of
that nature. He had a considerable hand in the second
edition of Wood’s “Athemr,
” but appears to have given
offence to some of Wood’s friends, by softening certain of
his prejudices as well as his coarse language. This produced something like a controversy, which the reader may
find detailed in the life of A. Wood, prefixed to his “Annals,
” or in the preface to the new edition of the “Athenac,
” by Mr. Bliss. Of the publications more particularly
belonging to himself, the first appeared before he was
twenty years old. It formed an excellent compendium of
our religious houses, setting forth, when and by whom
they were founded, their dedications, orders, and value;
and v\as entitled, “Notitia Monastica, or a short History
the Religious Houses in England and Wales,
” Notitia Monastica; or an Account of all the
Abbies, Priories, and House* of Friers, heretofore in England and Wales; and also of all the Colleges and Hospitals
founded before A. D. 1511. By the right rev. Dr. Thomas
Tanner, late lord bishop of St. Asaph. Published by John
Tanner, A. M. vicar of Lowestoft in Suffolk, and precentor
of the cathedral church of St. Asaph.
” Of this a much
improved edition was published in 1787, by Mr. Nasmith;
but the greater part of the impression having been consumed in Mr. Nichols’s fire, it now ranks among scarce
books. His “Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica,
” which
employed him forty years, was published in Notitia,
” is inscribed, “Reverendus admodum Thomas Tanner, Asaphensis Episcbpus, PilmaevEB Antiquitatis Cultor. G. Vertue sculp. 1743.
”
This print was a copy of that engraved by Vertue, with
some difference in the decoration, and this addition to the
inscription: “Hoc ectypum fratris sui dignissimi antiquis
moribus ornati posteris sacratum esse voluit Soc. Ant.
Lond. 1736.
”
, an English lawyer and antiquary, the son of Bartholomew Tate, of Delapre, in Northamptonshire,
, an English lawyer and antiquary, the
son of Bartholomew Tate, of Delapre, in Northamptonshire,
was born in that county in 1560, and entered of Magdalen
college, Oxford, in 1577. After some application to study
he left the university without taking a degree, went to the
Middle Temple, and after his admission to the bar, acquired great reputation as a counsellor, not only learned in
the law, but as a good antiquary, and Saxon scholar. He
had a seat in parliament about the end of queen Elizabeth’s
reign, and in the 5th James I. was Lent-reader of the Middle Temple, and about that time became one of the justices
itinerant for Wales. He died Nov. 16, 1616, leaving various manuscripts on legal antiquities, the fate of which
seems unknown, but the following have been printed in
Gutch’s “Collectanea Curiosa:
” 1. “The antiquity, use,
and privileges of Cities, Boroughs, and Towns.
” 2. “The
antiquity, use, and ceremonies of lawful Combats in England.
” And in Hearne’s “Curious Discourses
” are, 3. “Of
Knights made by Abbots. 4.
” Questions about the ancient Britons.“5.
” Of the antiquity of Arms in England.“6.
” Of the antiquity, variety and ceremonies of Funerals
in England“and 7.
” The antiquity, authority, and succession of the High Steward of England."
, an able English antiquary, who is introduced by Anthony Wood with an alias Domville or
, an able English antiquary, who is introduced by Anthony Wood with an alias Domville or
D'Omville, we know not why, was the son of Syivanus
Taylor, one of the commissioners for ejecting those of the
clergy, who were called “scandalous and insufficient ministers,
” and one of the pretended high court of justice
for the trial of Charles I. Silas was born at Harley near
Muchweniock in Shropshire, July 16, 1624, and after
some education at Shrewsbury and Westminster-schools,
became a commoner of New-Inn-hall, Oxford, in 1641.
He had given proof of talents fit to compose a distinguished
scholar, both in the classics and mathematics, when his
father took him from the university, and made him join
the parliamentary army, in which he bore a captain’s commission. When the war was over, his father procured him
to be made a sequestrator of the royalists in Herefordshire,
but although he enriched himself considerably in this
office, and had a moiety of the bishop’s palace at Hereford settled on him, he conducted himself with such kindness and moderation as to be beloved of the king’s party.
At the restoration, he of course lost all he had gained as
the agent of usurpation, but his mild behaviour in that
ungracious office was not forgot, and by the interest of
some whom he had obliged, he was appointed commissary
of ammunition, &c. at Dunkirk, and about 1665 was made
keeper of the king’s stores and storehouses for shipping,
&c. at Harwich. The profits of this situation were probably not great, for he was much in debt at the time of his
death, which occasioned his valuable collections and Mss.
to be seized by his creditors, and dispersed as of no value.
He died Nov. 4, 1678, and was buried in the chancel of
the church of Harwich.
Jonathan Andrews, of Barnes-hall near Worcester, and one by his son John, who was the Worcestershire antiquary, of whom we shall presently speak.
His whole estate amounted to but 800l. He left behind him two sons, John and William; and five grand-children, four by his daughter Elizabeth, who married Mr. Jonathan Andrews, of Barnes-hall near Worcester, and one by his son John, who was the Worcestershire antiquary, of whom we shall presently speak.
, an eminent antiquary, descended from a very ancient family, was born at Leeds in
, an eminent antiquary, descended from a very ancient family, was born at Leeds in Yorkshire, Aug. 16, 1658, and was the son of a reputable merchant, and after some education at the grammar-school of that place, was sent, in 1677, for further improvement, to London. The father possessed a good share of learning, and had a peculiar turn for the knowledge of antiquities; which being inherited by the son, he employed his leisure hours in visiting remarkable places, copying monumfntal inscriptions, studying their history, and particularly collecting accounts of protestant benefactions. His father, designing him for his own -business, sent him in 1678 to Rotterdam, in order to learn the Dutch and French languages, and to be perfected in mercantile accomplishments: but he was obliged to return the year following, on account of his health. On the death of his father, in 1680, he entered on his business: and, though merchandize was his profession, yet learning and antiquities took so firm a possession of his heart, that, contenting himself with a moderate patrimony, he made those researches the great employment of his life. There is a circumstance relating to him, in the unhappy times under James II. which we cannot pass over. He had been bred among the presbyterians; but, never imbibing any of their rigid principles, had always occasionally conformed to the established church: and now, when popery began to threaten the nation, he more frequently attended its worship, with a view of promoting an union among the protestaots for their mutual preservation. His presbyterian pastor was highly displeased with his compliance, and treated him with a very indiscreet zeal. This prompted Thoresby to examine more closely the arguments on both sides, and apply to his diocesan and friend archbishop Sharp (who, by the way, had a good taste for coins and medals, and collected a curious cabinet of them), who treated him very affectionately, and by letters and personal conversation settled him in full communion with the established church.
, a physician and antiquary, descended from an ancient Kentish family, was the eldest son
, a physician and antiquary, descended
from an ancient Kentish family, was the eldest son of John
Thorpe, esq. and born at Newhouse, in the parish of Penshurst, March 12, 1682. After school-education at Westerham in Kent, he was, in April 1698, matriculated as a
commoner of University-college, Oxford, where he was
under the tuition principally of Dr. Cockman, afterwards
master of that college. In 1701 he took his degree of B. A.
and in 1704-, that of M. A. Having given a preference to
the medical profession, he was admitted B. M. in 1707,
and took his doctor’s degree in 1710. In 1705 he was
elected a fellow of the Royal Society, to the transactions
of which he had in 1704 contributed a letter “concerning,
worms in the heads of sheep,
” &c. and afterwards “An.
account of a great quantity of Hydatides found in the abdomen.
” He was also assistant to Dr. (afterwards sir) Hans
Sloane, in the publication of the “Philosophical Transactions.
” He then resided in Ormond-street, London, near
his friend Dr. Mead, and contracted an intimate acquaintance with the most eminent physicians, naturalists, and antiquaries of that time; but at the earnest solicitations of
many of his relations and friends, be quitted London in
1715, and settled at Rochester, where he practised thirty-five years, with great success, and with equal humanity in
all cases where the poor were concerned. He died Nov.
1750 at Rochester, and was buried in a chapel on the
north-side of the church of Stockbury in Kent.
, son of the preceding, and also an antiquary, was born in 1714, and educated at Ludsdown in Kent, whence
, son of the preceding, and also an
antiquary, was born in 1714, and educated at Ludsdown in
Kent, whence he removed to University-college, Oxford,
where he took his masters degree iii 1738, and had an intention to have studied physic, but was diverted from the
pursuit, and seems to have devoted his Life to the study of
antiquities. He was elected F. S. A. in 1755, and published from his father’s Mss. and indeed what his father
had in a great measure prepared, the “Registrum Roffense,
or a collection of ancient records, &c. necessary for illustrating the ecclesiastical history and antiquities of the
diocese and cathedral church of Rochester, &c. by John
Thorpe, late of Rochester, M. D, F. R. S. and published
by his son John Thorpe, esq. A. M. F. S. A.
” Lond. Custumale Koffense, from
the original Mss. in the archives of the dean and chapter
of Rochester.
”
, an antiquary, and herald, of the sixteenth century, descended from an ancient
, an antiquary, and herald, of the
sixteenth century, descended from an ancient branch of
the noble family now having the title of marquis of Bath,
was the son of William Thynne, chief clerk of the kitchen,
and afterwards marquis of the household to Henry VIII.
He was born at Stretton, in Shropshire, and educated at
Tunbridge school, under Mr. Proctor, the learned master,
who is gratefully remembered by him as one of the English
historians. From thence he was sent to Magdalen college,
Oxford, where he was entered a commoner; and, as
himself informs us, was afterwards a member of Lincoln’s Inn f
Camden, in the preface to his Britannia, gives him the
ample character of having prosecuted the study of antiquities with great honour. In that of heraldic and genealogical pursuits, he was particularly an enthusiast, and presented a petition to lord Burleigh, then presiding at the
head of the commission for executing the office of earl
marshal, requesting to be admitted into the college of heralds, and offering himself to the strictest examination.
This was accordingly instituted, and his merit being acknowledged, he was preferred to be blanche lyon poursuivant, after which, when he was fifty- seven years of age,
he was, on April 22, 1602, with great ceremony, created
Lancaster herald at arms, having previously obtained a patent for that office, dated Oct. 23, 44 Eliz. Wood, in.
his “Athenae,
” and Hearne, after him, place the death of
Mr. Thynne in 1611, but it must have happened sooner,
since he never surrendered his patent, and that granted
to his successor in office bears date Nov. 1608, which was
more probably the year of his death.
, a learned antiquary, was a native of Malton, in Yorkshire and, in an humble situation
, a learned antiquary, was a native of
Malton, in Yorkshire and, in an humble situation under
the late Philip Carteret Webb, esq. solicitor to the treasury, acquired such a knowledge of ancient hands and muniments as raised him to a place in the state-paper office,
with his friends and patrons, the late sir Joseph AyiofFe,
bart. who died in his arms, and Thomas Astle, esq. He
was also one of the gentlemen engaged in preparing for
the press the six volumes of the Rolls of Parliament; an
office in which he succeeded his friend Richard Blyke, esq,
with whom, in 1775, he was joint editor of Gianville’s “Reports of cases of controverted Elections determined and
adjudged in parliament, 21 and 22 Jac. I.
” 8vo. To this
is prefixed an historical account of the ancient rights
of determining cases upon controverted elections. He
was also editor, if not translator, of an English edition of
sir John Fortescue’s “De laudibus Legum Anglise,
” A collection of Ordinances and Regulations for the government of the Royal
Household, in divers reigns, from Edward III. to William
and Mary,
” 1790, 4to. Mr. Topham was elected F. S. A.
in 1767, and treasurer (on the death of Mr. Bartlet) in
, a learned Danish historian and antiquary, was born in Iceland, and partly educated there, but completed
, a learned Danish historian
and antiquary, was born in Iceland, and partly educated
there, but completed his studies in Denmark. Here he
became so well known for his acquaintance with history,
that when Frederick III. king of Denmark, himself a very
learned prince, wanted some able scholar to translate certain Icelandic Mss. which were in his library, Torfa-us
was recommended to him, and executed his task so much
to the king’s satisfaction, that he retained him for several
years in his court, and employed him on other affairs that
had no connexion with his studies, and always admired
him as a man of talent and probity. As a reward he gave
him a valuable appointment in the customs, but Torfseus
found it not very agreeable to one of his disposition, and
was about soliciting an exchange when the king died. His
successor and son, Christian V. appointed him his historiographer for Norway, with a salary of 600 German crowns.
This enabled Torfaeus to reside either at Copenhagen, or
at an estate he had in Stongeland, pursuing his researches
into history and antiquities. He died in 1719, or 1720,
nearly eighty years old. As an historian, he occupies a
very high rank among his countrymen. His principal
works, or those best known, although all are scarce, are,
1. “Historia rerum Norvegicarum,
” Hafniae (Copenhagen)
Orcades, seu rerum Orcadensium historiae libri tres,
” ibid. Series
Dynastarum et Regum Daniae, a Skioldo Odini filio, ad
Gormum Grandaevum,
” ibid. Historia VinJandiae antiquae,
” Groenlandia antiqua,
seu veteris Groenlandiae descriptio,
”
, a learned antiquary, was born in 1657, of a noble family at Ciudad in the Frioul.
, a learned antiquary, was born
in 1657, of a noble family at Ciudad in the Frioul. His
connexions with Octavio Ferrari, one of the most learned
antiquaries of Italy, increased his natural taste for that
study. Haying settled at Rome, he gained the esteem and
friendship of the cardinals Imperial! and Noris, pope Innocent XII. and Clement XI. which latter gav<- him the
bishopric of Adria, in 1702, where he died in 1717. His
works are, “Monumenta veteris Antii,
” Taurobolium antiquum,
” Lugduni, Thesaurus Antiquitatum;
” “De
annis imperil M. Antonii Aurelii Heliogabali,
” &c.
integrity and skill of a man of business the accomplishments of a polite scholar and an intelligent antiquary. He was elected a member of the Society of Antiquaries June
, an eminent merchant in Pudding-lane, is said to have united to the integrity and skill of a man of business the accomplishments of a polite scholar and an intelligent antiquary. He was elected a member of the Society of Antiquaries June 26, 1755. In 1771 he married a cousin, but had not any issue. On the 5th of July, 1785, presently after supper, he received a sudden and unexpected paralytic strokej which in a few hours deprived him of speech and senses; in which state he lay till the 9th of July, being the day on which he had accomplished fifty-two years and eleven months. By his will he ordered his coins, medals, books, and prints, to be sold by auction (which was done from the llth of January to the 18th of February, 1786, inclusive) the produce to be added to the principal part of his estate, which his industry and extreme frugality had increased to a considerable fortune, the interest of which he bequeathed to his widow for her life; and after her to a female cousin of the same condition; the ultimate reversion equally amongst the children of his brother. Few of his survivors understood better the rare secret of collecting only what was truly valuable; a circumstance which invincible modesty alone prevented from being more generally known. To those who were favoured with his intimacy his treasures and his judicious communications were regularly open. His select and valuable library was remarkable for the neatness of the copies; and many of the books were improved by notes written in his own small but elegant hand-writing.