Robert Record

received his first breath among the Cambrians, but in what County I cannot in all my searches find, notwithstanding he was descended from a gentile Family. About 1525, he first saluted the Oxonian Muses, and in 1531, he was elected Fellow of Allsouls Col. being then Bach. of Arts, but whether he took the Magisterial Degree in that faculty, the publick Registers shew not. Sure I am that making Physick his Profession, he went to Cambridge, where he was honored with the Degree of Doctor in that faculty, an. 1545. and honored of all that knew him for his great knowledge in several Arts and Sciences. ’Tis said that while he was of Allsouls Coll. and afterwards when he retired from Cambr. to this University, he publickly taught Arithmetick, and the grounds of Mathematicks, with the art of true accompting. All which he rendred so clear and obvious to capacities, that none ever did the like before him in the memory of Man. The truth is, he was endowed with rare knowledge in Arithmetical and Geometrical proportions touching the statute of coynage, and the standard thereof; and for natural Philosophy, Astrology, Cosmography, &c. and other polite and unusual learning of that time, most Authors give him great commendations. He hath written,

The grounds of Arts, teaching the perfect work and practice in Arithmetick in whole numbers and in fractions.—When this was first published I know not: Sure it is, that this Book coming into the hands of the famous Mathematician Dr. John Dee, he did correct and augment it. Afterwards it was augmented (1) By John Mellis a School-master.—Lond. 1590. oct. (2) By Rob Norton. (3) By Rob. Hartwell practitioner in Mathematicks in London, and (4) by R. C. &c. All which augmentations or additions were printed together at Lond. in a thick oct. an. 1623. He also published the second part of Arithmetick intituled

The Whetstone of witte, containing the extraction of roots, the cossick practice, with the rules of equation and works of surde numbers. Lond. 1557. qu. &c.

The path way to knowledge, containing the first Principles of Geometry, as they may be most aptly applyed unto practice, both for the use of instruments Geometrical, and Astronomical, and also for projection of platts in every kind. Lond. 1551. qu.

The castle of knowledge, containing the explication of the Sphere, both celestial and material, and divers other things incident thereunto, &c. Lond. 1556. fol. and 1596. qu.

The urinall of physick, of the judiciall of Urines—Repr. at Lond. 1582. &c. oct. Many other things he hath written as Baleus and Pitseus will tell you, as (1) Of the Eucharist. (2) Of auricular confession. (3) The image of a true Common-wealth. (4) Of Anatomie; with several other, but such I have not yet seen, and therefore cannot give you the true titles, or time when they (if ever) were printed. All that I can say of him more, is, that he concluded his last day in the Prison called the Kings-bench (being there I presume, detained for debt) in the beginning 1558 of the Year Fifteen hundred fifty and eight, but where he was buried, unless in the Church or Yard of St. George in Southwark, (wherein, I conceive the said Prison then was situated) I know not.