Henry Billingsley

, Son of (b)(b) See in Stew’s Survey of London, in the chap. or part of temporal Government. Roger Billingsley of the City of Canterbury, did spend some time among the Muses in this University, as others did who were afterwards Traders in London, particularly (*)(*) See Hist. & Antiq. univ. Ox. lib. 2. p. 343. b. Benedict Burnham of St. Albans hall, afterwards a rich Citizen, Sheriff, and Alderman of London. But before our author Billingsley had continued there three years, (in which time, as ’tis probable, he became known to an eminent Mathematician called Whytehead, then, or lately, a Fryer of the Order of St. Augustine in Oxon,) he was taken thence and bound an Apprentice to an Haberdasher, as it seems, in London. Afterwards setting up for himself, he became so rich, that he was made successively Sheriff, Alderman, one of the Queen’s Customers in the Port of London, and at length 1596. Lord Mayor thereof, and a Knight. But the chief matter which I am to let the Reader know concerning him, is, that when the said Whytehead was put to his shifts, after the demolition of his house in the latter end of Hen. 8. he was received by Billingsley into his Family, and by him maintained in his old age in his house in London. In which time he learned Mathematicks of him, and became so excellent in them, that he went beyond many of his time, whether Lay-men, or profess’d Scholars. When Whytchead died he gave his Scholar all his Mathematical observations that he had made and collected, together with his notes on Euclids Elements, which he had with great pains drawn up and digested. Afterwards our author Billingstey translated the said Elements into English, and added thereunto plain Declarations and Examples, manifold additions, Scholias, annotations, and inventions from the best Mathematicians, both in time past, and in the age he lived in. Which being done, he published them under this title.

The Elements of Geometry of the mos ancient Philosopher Euclide of Megara, faithfully translated into the English tongue: Whereunto are added certain Scholias, annotations, &c. Lond. 1570. fol. To which book Dr. Joh. Dce did put a large Mathematical Preface, containing a great deal of Learning pertaining to that Science. As for Billingsley he departed this mortal life in a good old age, 22. 1606 Nov. in sixteen hundred and six, and some weeks after his body was buried in a little Vault under his Pew in the Church of S. Catherine Colman in London. What, or where, was the end of Whytehead, I cannot tell, yet thus much I know, that what I have said relating to him and Billingsley concerning Mathematicks, I had from the Mathematical observations (c)(c) Ms. in Archiv. coll. c. c. of our Antiquary Brian Twyne, and he from the information of that noted Mathematician Mr. Th. Allen of Glouc. hall, and he from an eminent Physician called Reb. Barnes M. D. who was elected Fellow of Merton coll. 29. Hen. 8. dom. 1537. and remembred, and had some acquaintance with, Whytehead and Billingsley. I find also one Rob. Billingsley, who was not long since a teacher of Arithmetick and Mathematicks, and author of a little book of Arith. and Algebra, called An Idea of Arithmetick, &c. Whether he was descended from, or related to, Sir Henry, I know not.