Henry Lyte

Esq; Son of John, Son of Tho. Lyte, was born of, and descended from, an ancient Family of his name living at Lytes-Carey in Somersetshire, became a Student of this University in the latter end of Hen. 8. about the year 1546. but in what coll. or hall, I know not as yet, or whether he took a degree, the Registers of that time, and in Ed. 6. being very imperfect. After he had spent some years in Logick and Philosophy, and in other good learning, he travelled into Foreign Countries, and at length retired to his Patrimony, where, by the advantage of a good foundation of literature made in the University and abroad, he became a most excellent Scholar in several sorts of learning, as by these books following it appears, most of which I have seen and perused.

Records of the true original of the noble Britains that sprang of the remains of the Trojans, taken out of Oblivions treasure—MS. The beginning of which is Isis the principal river of Britaine, &c. The copy of this that I saw, was written with the authors own hand very neatly, an. 1592, the character small, lines close, some words in red Ink, and others only scored with it.

The mystical Oxon. of Oxonford, alias a true and most antient record of the original of Oxford and all Britaine. Or rather thus. Certain brief conjectural notes touching the original of the University of Oxon, and also of all Britaine called Albania and Calydonia Sylva.—MS. The beginning of which is, The antient City and famous Vniversity of Oxford in Britayne, &c. The copy also of this that I saw was written with the authors own hand in 1592. like the former. The said two books being written in a small character and very close, are contain’d but in a little quantity of Paper. In the last of which, are many pretty fancies which may be of some use as occasion shall serve, by way of reply for Oxon, against the far fetch’d antiquities of Cambridge. They were both sometimes in the library of Miles Windsore formerly fellow of C. C. coll. after whose death they came into the hands of Br. Twyne, and after his, to the University of Oxon.

The light of Britaine, being a short summ of the old English History—Dedicated to Qu. Elizabeth. He also translated from French into English, The History of Plants, wherein is contained the whole discourse and perfect description of all sorts of Herbs and Plants, &c. Lond. 1578. fol. written by Rembert Dodonaeus. It was then printed with Sculptures from woodden cuts; and without Sculptures by Ninion Newton—Lond. 1589. qu. printed the third time in fol. at Lond. 1619. This book which hath been taken into the hands of curious Physicians, had an Epigram (*)(*) In illustrum aliquot Anglorum encomiis, p. 134 made on its first edition by that noted Poet Tho. Newton, friend to the Translator. What else our author Hen. Lyte hath written and translated I know not, nor any thing of him besides, only that paying his last debt to nature in sixteen hundred and seven,16 [•] 7. aged 78. was buried in the north Isle of the Church of Charlton-Makerel in Somerset-shire; which Isle belongs to the Lytes of Lytes Carey. He left behind him two Sons, (or more) one was named Thomas, of whom I shall speak elsewhere, and the other Henry Lyte Gent. a teacher sometimes of Arithmetick in London, who published a book entit. The art of Tens and Decimal Arithmetick. Lond. 1619. oct.