Thomas Lynacre

born, as ’tis said, (p)(p) Job. Caius in Hist. Cantab. lib. 2. p. 126. at Canterbury, but descended from the Lynacre’s of Lynacre Hall in the Parish of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, (which may be the reason why Holinshed, and others that follow him, say, that he was born in the Town of Derby) was chosen Fellow of Allsouls Coll. in 1484 where by his close retirement, he improved himself very much in Literature, and in few Years after, much more by his Travels into Italy, where taking, I suppose, the Degree of Doctor of Physick, became intimate with Persons famous for learning there. The chief Cities of his residence were at Rome and Florence; at the last of which places, being countenane’d by Laurence Medices Duke thereof, had for his instructors Demetrius and Politian; and at Rome he became familiar with the learned Hermolaus Barbarus, who directed him very freely in his Studies. After his return into his own Country, he was incorporated Doctor of Physick in this University, read a shagling Lecture in that faculty, became Tutor to Prince Arthur, and to his Princess Catherine for the Italian Tongue, Physician to King Hen. 7. (as some say) afterwards to King Hen. 8, one of the chief Founders of the Coll. of Physicians in Knightridersstreet in London, (of which he was the first President) and at length in Holy Orders, and a Priest. In 1519. Apr. 29. he was admitted (q)(q) Reg. Vicecanc. Eccles. Eborac. incipiens 1504. Chauntor of the Church of York, in the place of Joh. Perot, who died in Febr. going before; but Lynacre resigning that place in Nov. following, was succeeded therein by Rich. Wyatt. D. D. who was admitted thereunto 13. of the same Month. At the same time our Author Lynacre had other Dignities in the Church, but at what place I cannot justly say. He was great with, and highly admired by, Sir Tho. More, (whom formerly he had taught Greek) Erasmus, Grocyn, Latimer, Tonstall, and who not. He was one of the first English Men that brought polite learning into our Nation, and it hath been justly question’d by some of the Goliahs of learning, whether he was a better Latinist or Grecian, or a better Grammarian or Physician. Sure it is that he being a general Scholar of his time, and esteemed the Honor of the Nation, was much reverenc’d by the Oxonians; especially upon reading his Medicinal Lectures among them gratus, and generally by all Persons of Honor, and others for his happy practice among them. He hath written,

The Rudiments of Grammar. Lond. in aedib. Pynsonianis. Turn’d into Latin by George Buchanan a Scot—Par. 1533. and 50. in oct. Which Book hath ever since been the Cynosura for many of our best Grammarians.

Compendious Regiment, or a Dietarie of health, used at Mountpillour. Lond. by Rob. Wyer, in 8vo.

De Emendatâ Structurâ Latini sermonis, libri sex. Several times Printed, as at Paris 1532. 43. 50, &c. Col. Agrip. 1555, &c. all in 8vo. recognised and amended by Joachim Camerarius—Lips. 1591. oct. The said 6 Books were originally made for the use of the Lady Mary the Kings Daughter, the same, I think, who was afterwards Queen, and are much commended by Jo. (*)(*) In Principum ac illustrium aliquot & eruditorum in Anglia virorum, enomi [•] s, Trophaeis, &c. Lond. 1589. p. 43. Leland. He also translated from Greek into Latin several of the works of Claud. Galen, among which were those De temperamentis & de inaequali temperie. lib. 3. Venet. 1498. Which Latin Translation, as ’tis said, speaks better than the Original. He also translated into the said Language Procli Diadochi Sphaera. Venet. 1500 fol. Dedicated to Prince Arthur by a large Epist. or Praef. dat. at Lond. 6. cal. Sept. with other things, which you may see in Baleus and Pitseus. This Dr. Lynacre died 20. Octob. 1524 in Fiveteen hundred twenty and four, and was buried in the Cathedral of St. Paul within the City of London, before the Rood of the North Door, between the long Form and the Wall, directly against the said Rood. Over his Grave was afterwards a comely Monument, erected at the charge of that eminent Physcian and Antiquary Dr. John Cay of Cambridge; out of the Epitaph of which I am instructed in these matters concerning Lynacre, viz. “That he was a most skilful Critick in the Greek and Latin, and an excellent Physician besides, (being Physician to King Hen. 8.) who in his Generation did many miraculous Cures, and restored several to life when help was past, and even at the very point of death He translated Galen’s works out of Greek into Latin with singular perspicuity and clearness. He also compil’d a most excellent piece for the rectifying of the frame, and module of the Latin Tongue. He gave two Lectures to the University of Oxon, and one to Cambridge.—He was a perfect hater of all indirect, or fraudulent dealings, being sincerely faithful to his Friends, and well belov’d of all ranks and degrees of Men, &c. ” As for the two Physick Lectures, which he gave to the University of Oxon, I have largely mentioned (r)(r) In Hist. & Antiq. Vniv. Oxon. lib. 2. p. 4 [•] elsewhere, and upon what account they came to be settled in Merton Coll. and how the Readers, whether Superior or Inferior, are to read in the common Hall there to any of the University that will bestow the pains to be Auditors. Those that have read the Superior Lecture, who are called the Superior Readers, and have received 12 l. per an. for their pains, have been these, (1) Rob. Barons or Barnes Fellow of Mert. Coll. and a Learned Physician, who was appointed (after several others had read it by the nomination of the Feoffees of Tho. Lynacre) by the Society of Merton Coll. with the consent of Cuhbert Tonstall the last surviving Feoffee, an. 1558. He the said Dr. Barnes died the 26. Oct. 1604. (2) Tho. Dotchen Med. D. of Magd. Coll. was elected by the Warden and Society of that of Merton Coll. 4. Nov. 1604. He died 29. Jan. following (3) Henry Bust M. D. of Magd. Coll. Elected 15. Feb. 1604. (4) Bartholomew Warner M. D. of St. Johns Coll. 12. Apr. 1617. Buried in Magd. Parish Church in the North Suburb of Oxon. 26. Jan. 1618. by the Body of Anne Dobson his sometimes Wife. (5) Edw. Lapworth M. D. of Magd. Coll. originally of St. Albans Hall, 9. Aug. 1619. He died at Bathe about the 23. May 1636. and was buried in the Church of St. Peter and Paul there, having before resign’d this Lecture. (6) John Bainbridge M. D. 25. May 1635. (7) Edw. Greaves M. D. of Allsouls Coll. 14. Nov. 1643. (8) Dan. Whistler M. D. of Merton Coll. 1. Aug. 1650. (9) Rich. Lydall M. A. of Mert. Coll. and Student in Phys. 1. Aug. 1653. (10) Edm. Dickinson Med. D. of Mert. Coll. succeeded Dr. Lydall, and after him hath been two or three, or more.