Edward Grant

or Graunt the most noted Latinist and Grecian of his time, was educated in Grammar learning in the coll. School at Westminster, spent several years in the study of Logick and Philosophy, either in Ch. Ch. or Broadgates hall, took the degrees in Arts, that of Master being compleated in 1572. and about that time became the learned Master of the said School; whence, by his sedulous endeavours, many persons went away well grounded in learning, who were afterwards eminent in Church and State. In 1577. he was made Canon or Prebendary of the twelfth and last Stall in the collegiate Ch. at Westminster, in the place of Tho. Wats D. D. (who had succeeded in that Stall Gabr. Goodman 1561. in which year the said Goodman was made Dean,) and about that time being admitted Bach. of Div. of Cambridge, was incorporated in that degree with us, in the year 1579. He was afterwards Doctor of that Faculty, but not of this University, was esteemed a most noted Latin Poet, as several of his copies of verses, printed in various books, shew, and was well skill’d in all kind of humane literature. He hath written,

Grecae linguae specilegium, &c. Lond. 1575. qu. Contracted by his learned Usher Will. Camden. He also collected, viewed, and received and corrected all Rog. Aschams Epistles and Poetry, and at the end added of his (Graunts) composition,

Oratio de vita & obitu Rogeri Aschami, ac dictionis Elegantio, cum adhortatione ad Adolescentulos. Lond. 1577. oct. What else he hath published I know not, nor any thing material of him besides, only (1) That he resigning his Mastership of Westm. School about the Month of Feb. 1592. was succeeded therein by Will. Camden. (2) That dying in Sept. 1601 or Octob. in sixteen hundred and one, was buried in St. Peters Church at Westminster; whereupon his Canonry was bestowed on Will. Barlow D. D. Now I am got into the Name of Graunt, I cannot without the guilt of concealment, but to let you know some things of the most ingenious person (considering his education and employment) that his time hath produced. His name is Joh. Graunt, born at the sign of the Seven Stars in Birchin-lane, within the Parish of St. Michael-Cornhil in London, between 7 and 8 of the clock in the morn. of the 24. of Apr. 1620. (Son of Hen. Graunt a Hampshire man,) educated while a boy in English learning, bound an Apprentice to a Haberdasher of small wares, which Trade he mostly followed, tho free of the Drapers company. Afterwards he went through all the Offices of the City, as far as a Common-Council-man, bearing that Office two years. He was also Captain of the Trained-band several years, and Major of it two or three, and then laid down his Trade, and all publick Employments upon account of Religion. For tho he was Puritannically bred, and had several years taken Sermon notes, by his most dextrous and incomparable faculty in short-writing, and afterwards did profess himself for some time a Socinian, yet in his latter days he turned Rom. Catholick; in which Persuasion he zealously lived, for some time, and died. He hath written, (1) Natural and Political Observations, made upon the Bills of Mortality, &c. Lond. 1661. and 62. in qu. afterwards in oct. with several additions; done upon certain hints and advice of Sir Will. Petty. (2) Observations on the advance of Excise. And (3) something about Religion, but these two are not yet printed. He died on the 18. of April (being Easter-Even) 1674. and was buried four days after in St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet, in the body thereof, under the Pews, towards the Gallery on the North side, London. At which time his body was attended with a great number of ingenious persons; and among others (with tears) was that great Vertuoso Sir Will. Pettie before-mentioned. The said Joh. Graunt was an ingenious and studious Person, generally beloved, was a faithful Friend, a great Peace-maker, and one that had often been chosen for his prudence and justness an Arbitrator: But above all his excellent working head was much commended, and the rather for this reason, that it was for the publick good of learning, which is very rare in a Trader or Mechanick.