Humphrey Lhuyd

or Lhoyd, Son and Heir of Rob. Lhoyd al [•] as Rossenhall of the ancient Borough of Denbigh in Denhighshire, by Joan his Wife, Daughter of Lewis Pigott, was born at Denhigh before-mention’d, but in what house of learning in Oxon, he first of all applied himself to Academical studies, I know not: Sure it is, that after he had taken the Degree of Bach. of Arts, which was in 1547, I find him by the name of Humphrey Lhoyd to be a Commoner in Brasnose Coll. and in the Year 1551 to proceed in Arts as a Member of that House; at which time, as it seems, he studied Physick, being then ripe in years. Afterwards retiring to his own Country, lived mostly within the walls of Denbigh Castle, practised his faculty, and sometimes that of Musick for diversion sake, being then esteemed a well bred Gentleman. He was a passing right Antiquary, and a Person of great skill and knowledge in British affairs. The learned Camden stiles (h)(h) In Britan. in cap. 1. De primis Inco [•] s, & in cap 4. De [〈◊〉] Britan. him a learned Britaine, and for knowledge in Antiquities reputed by our Countrymen, to carry, after a sort, with him, all the credit and honour, &c. He hath written,

An Almanack and Kalender, containing the day, hour, and minute of the change of the Moon for ever, and the sign that she is in for these three years, with the natures of the signes and planets, with dyvers other thyngs, as it doth plainly appeare in the Preface—This was the first thing that our Author published, as it appears in the said Preface, but when, or where, it was printed, the imperfect copy, (which is in oct.) from whence I had the title, shews not.

Commentarioli Britannicae descriptionis fragmentum. Col. Agrip. 1572. in tw. Dedicated to his dear and intimate friend Abr. Ortelius of Antwerp, in the Year 1568. Translated into English by Tho. Twyne, who entitles it The Breviary of Britaine. Lond. 1573. oct.

De Mona Druidum insula, antiquitati suae restituta. Written in an Epistle to the said Ortelius, dated 5. Apr. 1568.

De Armamentario Romano. These two last are printed at the end of Historiae Britannicae defensio, written by Sir Joh. Prise—Lond. 1573. qu.

Chronicon Walliae, à Rege Cadwalladero, usꝫ ad an. Dom. 1294. MS. in Cottons Library, under Caligula, A. 6. He also translated from Lat. into English. (1) The judgment of Urines. Lond. 1551. oct. (2) The Historie of Cambria now called Wales. Afterwards corrected, augmented, finished and continued by David Powell—Lond. 1584 qu. (3) The treasure of health containing many profitable Medicines. Lond. 1585. oct. written by Pet. Hispanus. To which translation our Author Lhuyd added the causes and signes of every disease, with the Aphorismes of Hypocrates. These are all, I think, that he hath written and translated, for among my searches I have seen no more, nor do I know any thing else of the Author, only that he paid his last debt to nature, 1570 about Fifteen hundred and seventy, and was buried in the Church of Whitchurch near Denbigh before-mention’d. Soon after was a Monument of Alabaster, set up in the wall, over his grave to his memory: On which was portraied his Effigies in a praying posture, with a desk, and a book laying thereon, before him, a sword by his side, but nothing else military in his habit. Under his said Effigies is a plain free stone in the said wall, whereon are engraven eight barbarous English verses: The two first of which run thus.

The corps and earthly shape doth rest. Here tomyd in your sight Of Humfrey Lloid Mr. of Art. A famus worthy Wight.

In the last verse is mention made of an Epitaph annex’d, but where that was written, unless on the stone lying on his grave, (wherein probably the day and year of his death were set down) I cannot tell. Many years before his death he took to Wife Barbara Daughter of George Lumley and Sister to John Lord Lumley; by whom he had issue Splendian and John, who both died without issue, Henry an inhabitant of Cheame in Surrey, and Jane the Wife of Rob. Coytmore.