Thomas Allen

, or Alleyn, the Father of all learning and vertuous industry, an unfeigned lover and furtherer of all good Arts and Sciences, was born at Vttoxeter in Staffordshire on the day of S. Thomas the Apostle, in 1542. being a Descendant, thro six Generations, from Henry Allen, or Alan, Lord of the Mannor of Buckenhall in the said County, was admitted Scholar of Trinity coll. 4. June 1561. Fellow in 65. and two years after, Master of Arts. But being much inclined to live a retired life, and averse from taking holy Orders, he left the Coll. and his Fellowship, about 1570. and receeded to Gloucester hall, where he lived a close Student many years, and at length became an eminent Antiquary, Philosopher, and Mathematician, and not only the Prince or Coryphaeus, (as one (d)(d) Gul. Bur [•] onus in Orat [〈◊〉] Tho: Alleni. Lond. 1632. qu. p. 6. saith,) but the very Soul and Sun of all the Mathematicians of his time. Being thus accomplished with various sorts of learning, he was several times invited to the families of Princes and Nobles, not only of this Nation, but of others: And when Albertus L’askie Count or Prince of Sirade in Poland was in England, he did court him to go with him into his own Country, 1583. and to live there as he pleased, and accept of such Honours and Dignities which he could get for him; but he being delighted with retiredness and an Academical life, did evade his civility, and thereby, as a true Philosopher, contemn’d riches and greatness. He was also often courted to live in the family of that most noble and generous Count Henry Earl of Northumberland, a great Patron of Mathematicians: Whereupon spending some time with him, he was infinitely beloved and admired not only by that Count, but by such Artists who then lived with, or often retired to him, as Tho. Harriot, John Dee, Walt. Warner, Nath. Torporley, &c. the Atlantes of the Mathematick World. Robert Earl of Leicester, Chancellour of this University, and the grand favourite in Queen Elizabeth’s Reign, did also before that time entertain him, and would have confer’d upon him a Bishoprick; but for the sweetness of a retired life, he denied that also. The truth is, that Earl did highly value him, and no person was more familiar with him than Mr. Allen, and Dee before-mentioned. Whence ’twas that the author of the book, called, Leicester’s Commonwealth, reporteth, that they (whom he stiles Atheists) used the art of figuring and con [•] uring for procuring the said Earls unlawful designs, and that also by their Black Art, they endeavoured a match between Q. Elizabeth and him. How true these things are, let others, who know the author of that book that reports them, judge. Certain it is, that Allen was so great with that Count, that few matters of State passed, but he had knowledge of them, and nothing of moment was done in the University, but Allen gave him it in writing. He was also very great and highly respected by other famous men of his time of this Kingdom, as with Bodley, Savi [•] e, Camden, Cotton, Spelman, Selden, &c. the last of whom (e)(e) In Notis suis ad Eadmerum, edit. 1623. p. 200. saith, that Allen was omni eruditionis genere summoque judicio ornatissimus, celeberrimae Academiae Oxon. decus insignissimum: And (f)(f) In Britannia, in cap. De Saxonibus. Camden, that he was Plurimis & optimis artibus ornatiss. His sufficiencies in the Mathematick Science being generally noted, he was thereupon accounted another Rog. Bacon, which was the reason why he became terrible to the Vulgar, especially those of Oxon, who took him to be a perfect Conjurer. He was a great collector of scattered MSS. of whatsoever Faculty, especially those of History, Antiquity, Astronomy, Mathematicks, Philosophy, &c. sparing neither cost or labour to procure them: Some of which I have seen quoted in the works of learned authors, as being in Bibliotheca Alleniana. By his help, advice, and communication, several of the University became eminent in Mathematicks and Antiquities; of which number were Harriot, Twyne, Hegge, the two Jeames, Burton, Digby, &c. whom for their labours communicated to posterity, I have partly before touched, and shall hereafter mention, in their respective places. As for Allen’s collections, observations, and notes of Astronomy, Mathematicks, and N. Philosophy, they are got into obscure hands, and ’tis thought that Digby, whose name is famous among many, hath made use of those of Philosophy. All that I have seen written by Allen, are these following.

Claudii Ptolomei Pelusiensis, de Astrorum judiciis, aut ut vulgo vocant, quadripartitae constructionis; lib. secundus. cum expositione Thomae Alleyn Angli-Oxoniensis. The first chapter of which begins thus, Hactenus quidem pre ecurrimus ea quorum cognitione, &c.

Cl. Ptolomei de Astror. judiciis, lib. 3. cum expositione Tho. Alleyn, &c. These two MSS. coming into the hands of William Lilly the sometimes famous Figure-flinger, were by him bestowed on Elias Ashmole Esq in 1652. One of the said copies was transcribed from the original, which Sir Tho. Aylesbury had of the gift of Mr. Allen, the other copy John Huniades the great Chymist had in his possession, who gave it, as it seems, to Lilly. He, the said Allen, put notes also on many of his books, and some were by him put on Joh. Bales book De Scriptoribus Maj. Britanniae, which are entred by another hand in the margin of the said author, that is in the publick Library at Oxon. At length, he having lived to a great age, surrendred up his last breath in Gloucester hall, 1632 on the 30. Sept. in sixteen hundred thirty and two, and the next day an eloquent oration being delivered by Mr. Will. Burton of that house in the publick Refectory there, in praise of the Defunct, before the Vicechancellour, Heads of Colleges and Halls, and many of the University then present, the body was accompanied by them to the chappel of Trinity coll. where, after another Speech was spoken by Mr. George Bathurst, the body was solemnly inter’d. Soon after, the chief part of his Library of incomparable MSS. coming into the hands of Sir Kenelm Digby, as the owner before had appointed, they were the next year given by him to the Bodleian or publick Library, where they yet remain. Some of them had before, and about the time of Allen’s death, been got from him by Rich. James of C. C. coll. for the Cottonian Library, and others came into the hands of Sir Tho. Aylesbury Master of the Requests, but where those are now, in truth I cannot tell. Some years since I made a search in the said chappel of Trin. coll. for an Epitaph on Mr. Allens grave, but not so much as a letter appearing, you shall have part of his character instead of it, which I found written in a certain MS. in the Library of the said college, running thus, Vir fuit elegantium literarum studiosissimus, Academicae disciplinae tenacissimus, apud Exteros & Academicos semper in magno pretio, eorumque qui in Ecclesia Anglicana atque in Vniversitate Oxoniensi pro meritis suis ad Dignitates aut Praefecturas subinde provecti fuerunt. Fuit sagacissimus observator, familiariss. conviva, &c. His picture painted to the life, he gave to the President of Trinity coll. and his Successors, to be there remaining in the Dining-room of the said President for ever: Another copy he gave to the Cottonian Library, and a third to his old Friend Dr. Tho. Clayton Master of Pembroke college, whose Son Sir Thomas hath it at this day. I shall make mention of another Tho: Allen under the year 1636.