William Burton

Son of Will. Burt. sometimes of Atcham in Shropshire, second Son of Tho. Burt. of Longnore near to Shrewsbury, Son and Heir of Edw. Burton of the same place, (who died in 1558) was born within the precincts of the Austin Friers in London, as his Daughter ((*))((*)) Appollonia the Wife of one Calverley of Pewter-street in Westminster. hath informed me, educated in Pauls School under Alex. Gill Senior, became a Student in Qu. Coll. in Easter term 1625, aged 16 years, being then accounted a good Grecian. But having not wherewithal to maintain him, the learned Mr. Allen, who found him to be an ingenious youth, took him to him to Gloc. Hall and confer’d on him the Greek Lecture there, which he kept during his continuance in the University. In 1630, he took the degree of Bach. of Civ. Law, but indigence, which commonly attends good wits, forcing him to leave the University, he became the Assistant or Usher of Mr. Tho. Farnabie the famous Schoolmaster of Kent: with whom remaining some years, was at length made Master of the Free-School at Kingston upon Thames in Surrey, where he continued till two years before his death; at which time being taken with the dead palsie, he retired to London, where he lived to see the most part of his last book, called A Com. on Antoninus his Itinerary, printed. He was an excellent Latinist, noted Philologist, was well skill’d in the tongues, was an excellent Critick and Antiquary, and therefore beloved of all learned men of his time, especially of the famous Usher Archb. of Armagh. He hath written and published these things following.

Laudatio funebris in obitum viri excellentiss. D. Thomae Alleni. Lond. 1632. Ox. 1633. qu. The said speech was spoken by the Author in the Refectory of Gloc. Hall before the body was carried thence. Afterwards another was spoken at the Grave in Trin. Coll. Chap. by George Bathurst, as I have elsewhere told you, which, with Burtons were both printed together.

Annotations on the first Epistle of Clement the Apostle to the Corinthians Lond. 1647. and 52 in qu. Wherein, as much reading is shew’d by the Author, so some things therein do rankly smell of Presbytery. The said first Epistle being set forth in Latine by Patrick Yong in 1633, was translated into English by our Author, who thereunto did add the said Annotations, as a very proper and sutable remedy, if rightly attended to, to cure the many distracting schismes of those loose and dissolute times, when published.

Graecae Linguae Historia. Lond. 1657. oct. ’Tis the sum of one or more speeches delivered in the refectory of Gloc. Hall 1631.

Veteris Linguae Persicae Historia. Lond. 1657. oct. This printed with the former book, and before them is an Epistle written by way of commendations, by the learned Langbaine, friend to our Author Burton.

A Commentary on Antoninus his Itinerary, or journeys of the Rom. Empire, so far as it concerneth Britain, &c. Lond. 1658. fol. with the Authors Picture before it. He also translated from Lat. into English a Book intit. The beloved City: or, the Saints Raign on Earth a thousand years, asserted and illustrated from 65 places of holy Scripture. Lond. 1643. qu. Written originally by Jo. Hen. Alstedius Professor of the University at Herborne. Our Author Will. Burton gave way to fate on the 28. of Decemb. in sixteen hundred fifty and seven,1657. and was buried the same day in a Vault, belonging to the Students of S. Clements Inn, under part of the Church of S. Clements Danes without Temple-bar near London, leaving then behind him several Papers and Collections of Antiquity, Manuscripts, and Coines, which came into the hands of Tho. Thynne Esq. sometimes his Scholar at Kingston, afterwards Gent. Com. of Ch. Church, then of the Bedchamber to the Duke of York, a Bt. after the death of his Father, (Sir Hen. Fred. Thynne of Kemsford in Glocestershire) possessor of the large estate belonging to Tho. Thynne of Longleet in Wilts, (murdered by certain Forreigners 12. Feb. 1681) and at length Viscount Weymouth. There have been several Writers of both our Authors names, as Will. Burton of Leicestershire, Will. Burton a Divine and Will. Burton a Pretender to Astronomy, a Specimen of which he gave us in an Ephemeris for 1655, which was printed at Oxon.