Kf^cL::! i|( 1 g v^ ■«\/J!J>wl J^' ^^ ^FCAIIFOB'^ — nNlVEUS/^ ^ I 3^ O »i ^ilIBRARYd?yC. /«^ ^1 ii 4^ /, <; 2 •*- >tf-ONfVER% A\lOSANCnCr^ w,^lIBRARYQc^ i# '%«»soi^ ^iHAiNrnftV^ '%Aii¥ii9n# '>&A»viian# ^ so IS IftV -< ^lUBRARYOr^ A^l-UBRARYQc ^EONIVlWi^ %ojnY3Jo=^ '^ojnvDjo^ &Aavaan# The same . . . • . G 1681. The same, Sept. 1 . .. ^ -7 The same, Oct. 1 .... 9 The same, Nov. 24 . - . . 1 1 ?^ 1682. The same, March 21 . . - .13 Mr. Elkana Boyse . ^ , ^ 15 OQ Rev. Joseph Boyse, June 29 . . .16 '^ Rev. Richard Stretton, July IS . . 18 ^ 1683. Dr. Nathaniel Johnston, Jan. 19 . .20 vox. 1. fj iJ9953.'> VI CONTENTS. Page From Dr. Nathaniel Johnston, Feb. G . .21 Rev. Richard Stretton, March 31 . .22 The same, April 26 . . . .27 The same, July 7 . . . .28 The same, Sept. 1 . . . . 33 Rev. Joseph Boyse, Oct. 8 . . .36 Dr. Nathaniel Johnston, Oct. 28 . . 39 James lUingworth, B. D. . . .40 1684. Richard Idle, March 2 . . .41 Rev. Richard Stretton, March 8 . . .47 Rev. Joseph Boyse, May 10 . . . 51 Rev. Richard Stretton, Sept. 13 . . .56 The same, Oct. 8 . . . .58 The same to Richard Cholmley, Esq. Oct. 8 . 59 The same, Oct. 18 . . . . 61 Richard Cholmley, Esq. Oct. 25 . . .64 Dr. Nathaniel Johnston, Dec. 8 . .65 1685. Rev. Thomas Sharp, March 5. . .67 Rev. Joseph Boyse, Aug. 4 . . .68 Dr. Nathaniel Johnston, Aug. 24 . . 71 Rev. Richard Stretton, Sept. 3 . . .72 The same, Sept. 12 . . . . 74 Richard Franklandjun. Nov. 24 . . 76 James Illingworth, B.D. Dec. 26 . .78 1686. Rev. Richard Stretton, Jan. 2 • . 79 Dr. Nathaniel Johnston, Jan. 21 . .81 Tlie same, Feb. 12. . . . 82 James Illingworth, B.D. Oct. 19 . . .84 1687. Rev. Richard Stretton, June 25 . . . 87 Rev, Joseph Boyse . . . .92 CONTENTS. u Page From Rev. Joseph Boyse, Aug. 12 . . .97 Bryan Fairfax, Esq. Dec. 5 . . .99 Thoresby to Fairfax . . . .100 Rev. Joseph Boyse, Dec. 20 . . . 101 1688. Bryan Fairfax, Esq. Jan. 19 . ■ . .103 1689. Rev. John Milner, Oct. 29 . . .104 1690. Rev. Richard Stretton, Aug. 26 . . .106 1691. Philip Lord Wharton, March 3 . .107 Rev. Jo. Hepworth, April 27 . . . 109 Mr. Thomas Jackson, May 19 . . Ill Archdeacon Nicolson, Sept. 23 . . • 110 Philip Lord Wharton, Oct. 5 . • . 117 1692. Archdeacon Nicolson, March 6 . . . 120 The same, Oct. 6 . . . .123 1693. The same, Jan. 25 ... . 124 The same, Feb. 12 . . . .127 Rev- Christopher Nesse, March 10 . . 129 Dr. Nathaniel Johnston, June 20 . . 135 Archdeacon Nicolson, June 23 . .137 Dr. Obadiah Walker, Aug. 27 . . .139 Awnsham Churchill, Aug. 29 . .140 The same, Sept. 21 . . , .141 Dr. Nathaniel Johnston . . . 142 1694. The same, Jan. 30 . . . .146 Dr. Edmund Gibson, Jan. 30 . .149 Avpnsham Churchill, Feb. 6 . . .151 Rev. Richard Stretton, Feb. 10 . . 150 VUl COiN TENTS. From Dr. Nathaniel Jolinston, March 8 Awiisham Churchill, April 3 Dr. Edmund Gibson, April 13 Mr. Thomas Jackson, April 19 . Mr. Archdeacon Nicolson, May 7 Dr. Jabez Cay, June 27 Dr. Edmund Gibson, July IS Dr. Jabez Cay, July 18 . Archdeacon Nicolson, July 26 The same, Aug. 7 • Rev. Richard Frankland, Nov. 6 The same to Mr. Heywood, Aug. 9 Dr. Jabez Cay, Nov. 6 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Nov. 26 . Rev. Richard Stretton, Dec. 1 Archdeacon Nicolson, Dec. 8 "William Gilpin, Esq. Dec. 12 1695, Dr. Edmund Gibson, Jan. 14 Rev. Henry Newcome, Jan. 19 Dr. Edn)und Gibson, Feb. 5 Rev. Richard Stretton, Feb. 23 Rev. Joseph Hill, March 15 Archdeacon Nicolson, March 31 Rev. Oliver Heywood, April 22 . Rev. Richard Stretton, May 4 Archdeacon Nicolson, May 9 Dr. Edmund Gibson, May 9 Archdeacon Nicolson, June 15 Dr. Thomas Gale Dr. Edmund Gibson, June 30 Dr. Henry Sampson, July 23 Dr. Obadiah Walker, Aug. 15 . Rev. Oliver Heywood, Nov. 25 Page 154 . 156 156 . 158 101 . 163 164 . 165 167 . 170 171 . 175 17S . 179 181 . 184 186 . 190 li'2 . 194 195 . 198 200 . 201 202 . 203 205 . 206 208 . 211 212 . 215 210 CONTENTS. From Archdeacon Nicolson Archdeacon Nicolson, Nov. 25 Dr. Henry Sampson, Dec. 31 Rev. Joseph Boyse . 1696. Rev. Richard Stretton, Feb. 25 . Rev. Oliver Heywood, March 2 The same, March 16 Dr. Thomas Gale, March 25 . The same, April 6 Archdeacon Nicolson, June 4 . Dr. Edmund Gibson, June 7 Dr. Henry Sampson, June 25 Dr. Edmund Gibson, July 23 Archdeacon Nicolson, Aug. 1 Archdeacon Pearson, Aug. 6 Dr. Henry Sampson, Aug. 6 , Rev. Nathaniel Hough, Aug. 8 . Archdeacon Nicolson, Sept. 3 Rev. Joseph Hill, Sept. 30 Dr. Edmund Gibson, Oct. 17 Archdeacon Nicolson, Oct. 29 Richard Thornton, Esq. Nov. 23 Martin Lister, M.D., Nov. 29 Rev. Francis Tallents, Dec. 2 Archdeacon Nicolson, Dec. 12 Rev. John Milner, Dec. 31 1697. Rev. Joseph Hill, Jan. 13 Rev. Nathaniel Hough, jun. Feb. 4 Rev. Henry Robinson, Feb. 6 Archdeacon Nicolson, Feb. 8 Rev. John Killingbeck, March 8 Archbishop Sharp, March 16 IX I'iige 218 219 221 223 225 228 230 231 235 236 237 239 241 243 244 246 251 252 253 256 257 258 259 260 261 264 266 267 268 271 272 273 X CONTENTS. From Dr. Fxliniind Gibson, March 16 . Rev. Edmund Hough, March 16 Archdeacon Nicolson, April 8 The same, April 17 . Dr. Thomas Gale, April 20 Dr. Edmund Gibson, May 8 . The same, June 7 Rev. Richard Frankland, June 14 Rev. William Tong, June 28 Rev. Joseph Boyse Archdeacon Nicolson, June 17 Dr. Henry Sampson, July 1 ^ . The same, July 15 Rev. Oliver Heywood, July 19 Dr. Thomas Gale, July 21 Archdeacon Nicolson, Aug. 9 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Aug. 9 Rev. John Milner, Sept. 14 . Dr. Thomas Gale, Oct. 3 Dr. Edmund Gibson, Oct. 26 Archdeacon Nicolson, Nov. 30 . Dr. Thomas Gale, Nov. 30 • Archdeacon Nicolson, Dec. 23 1698. Dr. Martin Lister, Jan. 22 Dr. Jabez Cay, Feb. 19 Sir Michael Wentworth, Feb. 23 Rev. Francis Tallents, March 1 1 Archdeacon Nicolson, March 17 The same. May 7 Archbishop Sharp, Aug. 17 . Rev. John Humfrey, Aug. 25 The same Rev. Oliver Heywood, Sept. 19 Page . 276 278 . 280 280 . 282 283 . 285 286 . 286 288 . 292 293 . 295 297 . 298 299 . 301 302 . 303 304 . 306 307 . 309 311 . 312 314 . 315 316 . 317 319 . 320 324 327 CONTENTS. From Rev. Matthew Henry, Oct. 10 Archdeacon Nicolson, Oct. 22 Rev. Nathaniel Hough, Oct. 27 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Nov. 7 The same, to Dr. Sampson, Nov Dr. Edmund Gibson, Nov. 11 Archbishop Sharp, Dec. 14 . John Evelyn, Esq. Dec. 21 Archdeacon Nicolson, Dec. 22 Charles Townley, Esq. Dec. 27 1699. The same, Jan. IG . Rev. William Tong, Jan. 18 Dr. Edmund Gibson, Jan. 23 John Evelyn, Esq. Feb. 9 Rev. Richard Stretton, Feb. 18 Archdeacon Nicolson, Feb, 25 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Feb. 27 Archbishop Sharp, April 26 Dr. Edmund Gibson, May 9 Bishop Burnet, June 6 . Archbishop Sharp, June 6 Rev. Matthew Henry, June 22 The same, July 3 The same, July 8 John Evelyn, Esq. July 19 . Archdeacon Nicolson, Aug. 21 Bishop Burnet, Aug. 29 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Oct. 2 Rev. James Owen, Nov. 7 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Dec. 1 1 1700. Charles Townley, Esq. Jan. 8 Archbishop Sharp, Jan. 16 XI I'iige 32S . 331 333 . 334 336 . 340 342 . 344 347 . 349 352 . 355 357 . 358 359 . 360 365 . 3QQ 3G7 .369 370 . 375 377 . 379 381 . 384 385 . 386 387 . 388 389 . 391 XII CON IK NTS. From Rev. Matthew Henry, Feb. 5 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Feb. 19 Rev. Richard Stretton, July 13 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Nov. 11 . The same, Dec. IG . 1702. Dr. Edmund Gibson, Jan. 8 Rev. Oliver Heywood, Jan. 18 Rev. Timothy Hodgson, April 15 Dr. Richardson, May 11 Dr. Woodward, May 16 . Rev. Matthew Smith, May 16 Edward Lhwyd, May 20 . Sir Hans Sloane, May 26 Mr. James Sutherland, June 1 Rev. Edmund Calamy, June 2 Edward Lhwyd, July 17 Dr. Woodward, July 18 The same, Nov. 17 Sir John Kaye, Dec. 1 Bishop Nicolson, Dec. 10 The same, Dec. 22 1703. Rev. Matthew Henry, Feb. 1 Bishop Nicolson, Feb. 17 Dr. Edmund Gibson, March 4 Rev. Richard Stretton, Rev. Matthew Henry, March 13 . The same, March 24 Sir Godfrey Copley, March 23 . 'I'he same, March 30 Robert Molesworth, Ksq. April 12 Dr. Woodward, Esq. April 13 Rev. Edmund Hickeringill, April 24 Page 393 . 394 395 . 398 399 . 401 403 . 404 409 . 410 412 . 413 414 . 416 417 . 419 420 . 422 425 . 426 428 . 429 . 433 435 436 . 438 440 . 441 412 . 413 446 . 447 THE CORRESPONDENCE OF RALPH THORESBY FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, Sept. 25, 1679. That stunning blow given in the sudden removal of your dear and honoured father hath almost stricken us all deaf and dumb. But I hearing by Mr. Murfield how deeply you did resent it, I resolved to break silence (though I have but a scrap of time for it), and to give you a little seasonable counsel and cau- tion about your carriage under such a sharp dispen- sation. It is true you may justly claim the nearest, if not the greatest share in this loss : but you must not monopolize either the whole loss, or the sorrow for it, but admit of others to be sharers in both. I could lay claim to a great share in it ; but I reckon VOL. 1 B 2 ■ CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1679. neither your's nor mine, put together, as half so con- siderable as the loss the public hath sustained in the removal of him. But what shall we say? God hath spoken, and he also hath done it ! and it becomes us to be silent before God when he puts us to silence. There is no complaining of nor quarrelling against what he hath done : and you have more to be thank- ful for, than to complain of, or grieve under. Oh, think what arrears of thankfulness are due to God from you, that ever you had such a father (whose memory is so precious to all that knew him) and that God continued him so long to you, and for all the advantage you reaped from his good instructions, example, and prayers. God and the world expect that you should stand up in his room and stead, and help to make up something of this great breach : your work is increased by it, and I hope God will direct and assist you to perform those duties which this providence hath made incumbent upon you, and help to make up ]iart of this loss to others, especially to your brother and sister, that now must expect from you the care a tender father had of them. Pray, sir, beware you do not dishonour God, nor your dead father, nor yourself by your carriage under this sad i)rovidence. Do not dishonour God by charg- ing of him foolishly : He doth all things well, and that wliich you reckon as an aggravation of your sorrow, he designed and ordered as a mercy, that he should neither be oppressed with the fear or pain of death. And do not dishonour your dead father by il:,t. 22.] RALPH THORESBY. 3 sorrowing as though you had no hope of his happi- ness. His was a sudden but no unprepared death (which only is to be prayed against and lamented). He is now, I doubt not, as well as heart can wish, freed from those fears and dangers we are yet exposed to. And do not dishonour yourself by over-rnuch sorrowing and unfitting yourself for the duties God requires from you. Do not sorrow as one that hath no hope for yourself; for though an earthly father be dead, your Heavenly Father is yet alive, and he hath cut out work for you, and lays his commands upon you (whicli he expects you should reverence and yield obedience to) that you should rejoice evermore, and in all things give thanks, and that you should sorrow for earthly losses as though you sorrowed not. Pluck up your spirits, and show yourself a man and a Christian, that can be sensible of God's hand, and yet submit to it. Take heed lest the Lord hear your murmurings and be dis- pleased at it. Your father hath finished his course and done his work, and is now at rest : you and I have work still to do ; let us ply it hard whilst day lasts. And let us learn to be always ready, and then such a kind of death may be a mercy to us, and it will be but a short step into eternity. Oh, learn to live as he lived ! delight to honour God, and serve your generation according to the will of God, and then you need not fear to die as he did. It will rejoice my soul to hear that which I confidently expect, that you walk in his steps ; and let the world B 2 4 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1679. see by your carriage that you do not look upon your dead father as lost. Oh, let not Heaven seem worse in your eyes that your father is got thither before you, and that you liave hopes there to see him again never to part to all eternity. Oh! let not us be slothful ; but be followers of him and others, who through faith and jiatience do now inherit the promises. I did design to have taken time shortly to liave written more fully to you ; but hearing of your too much dejection, I could not but give you this hasty scribble, which I hope you will not neglect, but reckon a call from God to your present duty. I know you have rela- tions and neighbours and friends, that are true sympathizers with you, and great sharers in your loss, and that will give the best advice and counsel they can; pray hearken to them, and believe it is sinful to refuse to be comforted. Mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you and them. I pray God l)less you, direct, assist, and comfort you, and cause a douljle portion of your father's spirit to be poured upon you, which is and shall be, the prayer and hope of Your sympathizing friend and servant, Richard Stretton.* • See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account," ii. 257. iEt. 22.] RALPH THORESBY. 5 FROM RE\'. JOSEPH BOYSE. HONOURED SIR, London, July 27, 1680. I SEND you these lines rather as an invitation to answer them, than upon account of any thing I can present you worthy of your pervisal. One piece of news I can present you ; but it is such as I am unwilling to be the messenger of, and, as I am assured, will be very unwelcome to most that hear it. London has this afternoon lost one of its best preachers, and our young clergy their great pattern — Mr. Charnock ; a person, concerning whom may be said what is true of very few ; that his real de- serts did much transcend the repute of them, and he had much more of worth than name. He is one whom scholars do most lament, as the most capable of understanding the excellency of his parts. He died of a malignant fever, which in all proba- bility might have been prevented, if the nature of his distemper had been sooner observed and under- stood. But having something of a flux, remedies were applied to the cure of that, while his more dangerous disease, the fever, did seize his head, and fix itself there till it became incurable. He died about two o'clock this afternoon. Dr. Stillingfleet's Answer to Mr. Baxter is shortly expected in print, which it is supposed Mr. Alsop, the author of Mel. Inquir.* will answer, having some animadversions on his sermon ready for the press. * Melius Inquirendum, 8vo. 1679. Q CORKKSPOXDENCE OF [A D. 1680 I have as little leisure, as I have of any deserving suhject, to give you any further entertainment ; and this rude address does lay claim to your acceptance ujion no other account hut as it comes from, Dear Sir, Your most faithful friend and servant, J. BOYSE. ritOM RE\'. JOSEPH BOYSE. SIR, 1 A.M daily expecting to be somewhere disposed of. I am desired to be an assistant to a worthy mi- nister in Kent, that is now unfit to preach twice a day ; which if I comply with, I shall have need to liave some furniture of books, and being altogether unwilling to put my father to any further charges, and my brother being not in n capacity at present, I made bold to recpiest you, if you could conve- niently, to entrust me with a small sum for that j)urpose, till I am (by what encouragement I shall have) in a capacity to discharge it, which I do not ijuestioM but I shall be the first year. You may possibly wonder I make this request, particularly to yourself; but that I have done, as for several other reasons, so especially from a peculiar confidence in your goodness. Sir, I desire no great supply, though tlie i)articular sum I would leave to your own con- venience ; and withal, I desire vou would no less TEt. 23.] RALPH THORESBY. 7 conceal than grant my request, by which you will lay further obligation upon him who is, Sir, Your's to serve you, J. B. " I lent ten pounds upon this letter, which is since repaid. R. T." FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, London, Sept. 1, 1681. It has been both my trouble and disadvantage that I have not, for some considerable time, been in a capacity of keeping up that correspondence with you, that I have been always ambitious of. The unsettledness of my condition, and my usual dis- tance from London, discouraged me from attempting it. But being returned to London, and (I hope for some short time, at least,) fixed there, I send you this humble invitation to a more frequent inter- course ; and for the great boldness of it, I can plead nothing but my strong assurance of the obligingness and condescension of your temper, and the many great testimonies of your kindness and friendship, as to myself. I designed to have sent you Mr. Baxter's Breviate of his wife's life ; but upon perusal, I thought it was scarce worth giving you the trouble of it. I have here enclosed the proposals for printing Mr. Charnock's Discourses upon the Divine Attri- butes — Discourses that, I am persuaded, are to as 8 C0RRESP0NDP:NCE of [A.D. 1681. great and excellent purpose, and will give as general satisfaction, as any that ever were exposed to the public, on that subject. If you can assist me with one ov t\\'o subscriptions, I think I sliall be able to make up as many as will furnish me with one for myself. I know I need not recommend them, if I either consider the author's reputation, or your par- ticular esteem of him ; nor would I hazard my own credit so far, as to give so high a character, unless I were very confident it was deserved. I know nothing of late })rinted, that I can much recommend to you, unless the new edition of Mr. Glanville's Saducismus Triumphatus, with the addition of a great many very considerable stories to it : but I suppose you have seen it already. It were to Httle purpose to trouble you with any news, were there any worthy your notice, especially since I cannot conveniently send this per post. The most considerable is the New Commission, appointed for the honour of God and good of the Cluu'ch. I'he Commissioners are six : four Lords, Halifax, Radnor, Hyde, Seymour ; two Bishops, Canterbury and London. The care of Ecclesiastical affairs is connnitted to them ; i. e. to consider what is amiss, and what laws are proper to be ])ut in execution, and what is the most effectual way of doing it : it is not well understood, at least not oj)cnly visible, what the design is, but it is gene- rally suspected, the sup])ression of those turbulent Dissenters is designed, and will, ere long, be at- tempted. Mt.24.'] RALPFI THORESBY. 9 You hear daily, (I question not) the prodigious noise of the late perjuries ; and certainly never was so great impudence in swearing any thing (and un- swearing it again, were there occasion for it) prac- tised since the Creation. For that monstrous crime, our age has outvied all former, and will be the won- der of all succeeding times. What I might add about Shaftesbury, &c. I question not, will, before these, come to your knowledge. I must own myself your debtor, and I hope you shall find me honest at last, though I presume upon your patience and expectations, being something dis- appointed in my own. I should account it a great pleasure to receive an answer from you, and tliereby a further assurance of your continued respects, to. Sir, Your obliged and affectionate servant, ^^. J. BOYSE. You may direct to me at the Countess of Done- gal's, at Sir Richard Blake's house, in St. John's, near Smithfield. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, London, Oct. 1, 1681. I SENT you a few lines a considerable time since, and was somewhat surprised that I had not lieard any thing of them. But since I understand by Mr. Asquith, that you had taken a journey into the northern i)arts of the world ; and therefore lest those former lines should not come to your hands, I pre- 10 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1681. sume to give you tlie trouble of these : and their cliief design is to reaiind you (of what that gave you a fuller account) the subscri[)tions to Mr. Char- nock's Discourses concerning the Attributes of God, wliich, if you view the proposals, you will find ten shillings at present, and ten shillings more upon the delivery of the Ijook. If you please to subscribe yourself, or procure me an}^ subscriptions, I must desire you to hasten them ; because it will be full time, ere long, to deliver them in. I do not hear any news that is worthy your per- usal. Wq have been peaceable about London this long time ; but how long we shall be so, I cannot conjecture. Several ministers in the suburl)s. Hack- ney, Stepney, as Mr. Veal, Mr. Mead, Dr. Bates, &c. and other gentlemen, were summoned last Wednesday before a Court of Justices, to take the Oath of Alle- giance, and were also put upon taking the Oath of Supremacy ; and the ministers were very gravely told, upon their doing so, that they had laid an obli- gation on themselves for the future to preach no more ; ^^ hich, Mr. Mead (for the rest) told them he did not understand, and was resolved to the contrary. Mr. Asfjuith can give you an account of the elec- tion of onr Lord Mayoi', and the circumstances of it. I hcaid Dr. I'urnet's discourse before it, which, indeed, was a very moderate and impartial one. He did se\erely lash those that thought tlie Papists more tolerable than Dissenters. And for those that would ])ersuade us we were in no danger of Popery iEt. 24.] RALPH THORESBY. 11 he concluded them either fools, that did not see the plainest evidences of our danger, or such as had a reserve, that would secure their lives and interest, if compliance would do it. He did discourse to very good purpose of the method to be used upon dif- ferences in religion, which were not to prosecute those that dissented from us, but rather overcome them by the gentler arguments of meekness and love. But not to give you any further trouble with so impertinent and incoherent a scribble, I shall only desire the favour of hearing from you by the next occasion, and in the mean while renew the humble acknowledgment of my being. Sir, Your affectionate friend and obliged servant, J. BOYSE. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, London, Nov. 24., (81). I MUST make the great hurry I am in an apology for my overlooking your last very courteous and obliging letter; and can only stay to tell you, in short, the result of the great transaction this day at the Sessions, upon my Lord Shaftesbury's Bill of In- dictment : viz. that it is brought in ignoramus. And, indeed, it could not be expected otherwise, when there was a jury of so great sense and judgment, and witnesses so beyond expectation inconsiderable : for it is said of the eight, six or seven were Irishmen ; 12 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1681. viz. such as Joy, two Macnamaras, Smith, Tuber- ville, &c., and one Booth, an Englishman, viz. he that was concerned with Captain Wilkinson. It was ex- pected some more creditable and fashionable persons should have appeared : and one argument was suffici- ent to blast what all these said : the vast improbabi- lity a design of so terrible and dangerous importance should have been entrusted with them, and they of all men be my Lord's confidants in it ; and indeed, besides that, they were extremely hooted at in the Court ; the vulgar were so rude towards them when they withdrew to dine, that the Sheriffs were forced to guard them from their fury, or else (as it was ol)served) they had been sent to the devil before their time. Sir Samuel Barnardiston was foreman of tlie Jury, and managed the examination of the wit- nesses, till Lord Chief Justice Pemberton snubbed liim, and upon tliat Mr. Papillion and Mr. Duboyse undertook the office, and performed it very much to tlieir commendation. I might add other such scraps of stories as fly abioad, but being sensible my stories will be as fal- lible as their authors, and as uncertain as the first reports of things are, I shall dismiss you and myself from any further trouble about it : great was the ap- plause uj)on their verdict, and I question not but the honest country will echo the city's joyful acclamations. 1 shall per carrier send you to-morrow a discourse, entitled, 'I'lic History of the Popish Sham-plots ; it is, I think, very com])endious, and mixed with reflec- tions which are equally ingenious, as they are severe. ^t.24.] RALPH THORESBY. 13 The author is a person, whose pen I little expected would have undertaken a theme so remote from his profession, though he desires to be concealed ; and therefore, if you will tell brother Elk. (to whom you may please to give an account of the contents of this) that it is Mr. Nath. Taylor, he will give you a fur- ther account of him.* I have scarce the leisure to add, that I am, dear Sir, Your's under the greatest obligations, J. BOYSE. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, London, March 21, 1682. I PERUSED that part of yours to brother Elkana which concerned myself, and am glad that small ex- pression of my gratitude was so well accepted by my good father, and that I have eased myself, in part, of the trouble of being a debtor to so over-generous and kind a creditor. But the chief occasion of my giving you the trouble of these lines, is to acquaint you, that having no proposals made me agreeable to my inclinations here, (though one, in other respects, very considerable,) I was willing to comply with an invitation to go into Holland, to reside there, only for a quarter of a year. The occasion is, one Mr. Gouge desiring to see his friends here, proposed to any that would supply his place during that time, the defray of the charges of passage, and their board at Amsterdam, and 61. or 8/. besides ; which, I sup- * See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account," (1829) i. 474. 14 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1682. pose, will bear the superadded charges of travelling througli the country, which, next to being service- able, I should chiefly design, for it is the gratifying my curiosity, ratlier than any other advantage, that is my greatest inducement to undertake the journey. If you, or any of your friends at Leeds, have ac- (juaiiitance in that part of Holland they desire to write to, if you please to send any letters, per the fust post, 1 shall take care of them. But I fear I sliall scarce allow time enough for youi" purpose, for I think of going the next Tuesday, per the Har- wich coach, and should be very desirous to hear from you, if your affairs will admit, by the post that arrives here on Monday. Pray give my father an account of what I write, for it will save me the trouble, and him the expense of a letter. For news, here is little but the discourse of the great congratulation of his Royal Highness's return. But the motion being made to the Court of Aldermen last week, to join with the loyal Tories in doing so, (lid not succeed ; the ^Vhiggish Aldermen were too sturdy to comply with it. But the hurry that I am in upon the forementioned account, forces me to Ijreak off abruptly ; and, there- fore, desiring your hearty wislies may follow me, and recommending you with myself to the care of Divine Providence, I am, Sir, Vnur most affectionate friend and hujiible servant, J. B. My (hity to dear father, and service to all my friends. iEt. 24.] RALPH THORESBY. 15 FROM MR. ELKANA BOYSE. SIR, I WROTE you about ten days ago concerning Bradrick, and my cliarge about it, which I drew on Mr. Osbourne, and should be glad he may comply with it, doubting whether he will do it. Did he see the first part before it was compounded ? but, at your leisure, beg a few lines from you. Brother Joseph is a little short about the design in the Court of Aldermen : on Friday, it was ojjposed by some Aldermen ; but yesterday, my Lord Mayor prevent- ed them. He perceived the design to impose this on him ; but " it did not concern them, and if they did proceed in it, he would take up the sword and be gone.'' The Sheriff Knight, your great persecutor of Bristol, has been with a congratulation, and was by the Duke conducted into his Majesty's presence, and knighted. The University of Cambridge moved it ; but some, wiser than others, moved, since his Majesty was at Newmarket, within ten miles, they should go and see if he approved it ; and the King told them to return to their colleges, and mind their studies, but not meddle in such matters. Pardon extreme haste, only believe me. Sir, your's faithfully, E. B. 16 CORRESPONDENCE OF [y\.D. 1682. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, Amsterdam, June 29, 1682. JMr. Ibitson ofTering his service, I was willing to accept of it, and to give you the trouble of a few impertinent lines, not for any thing I have to write worthy your perusal, but only to assure you that no distance can make me forget you and your great obligations that lie upon me. I have been at Am- sterdam these two months or more, and see no occa- sion to repent my coming hither, either for want of courteous reception as to myself, nor I hope of some success as to my endeavours in my master's service ; and though my undertaking sits heavy on my weak shoulders, I hope it will only be an occasion to harden me in the service. To send you any news from hence were to little purpose, ours being little else but the translation of Englisli or French, and to send you our news from England were to carry coals to Newcastle. I have not yet had much leisure to visit the remote parts of Holland, and shall scarce have much, till Mr. Gouge return, whose absence I supply, which will be, I sup- pose, in five or six weeks. I find, by the most intelli- gent persons I converse with, that the States have no great inclination or affection to the English, whilst we keep up so much of friendship with France. I can hear of no great designs or actions of the Prince. For tlicir church affairs, that one unhaj>j)y principle of the Lord's-day being no divine institution, does iEt. 24.] RALPH TIIOllESBY. 17 occasion great liberty as to the observation of it, and it is easy to conjecture what the consequence of that will always be. And the ministers that are of that opinion, being chiefly encouraged in the cities by the magistrates, does more spread the ill influence it has upon the licentiousness of the people. And the violent maintaining of that, with some other singu- lar criticisms, derived chiefly from Cocceius's writ- ings, has given occasion to the forming those two parties of Cocceians and Voetians ; their opponents being called so from that known person, G. Voetius.* And as far as I can hear, the subtle statesmen do but further the difference to manage it for some little politic end, as they did the Arminian and Anti-ar- minian party, and as then the Arminian, so now the Cocceian party are reckoned the States' party ; and so the Voetian are accounted more addicted to the Prince, as the Anti-arminians of the Synod were esteemed to be before. I have neither inclination nor leisure to learn the language of the country, and rather think of making some attempts towards the French. I shall, I hope, easily attain to understand it, but question whether I shall make so much progress as to speak it. We hear continual complaints of the great seve- rity used against the poor Protestants, those espe- cially of Poictou, where the Intendant Marillac, a mercenary wretch the priests employ, does use great * See Dr. Calamy's "Historical Account/' i. 157, 161. VOL. I. C 1^ CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1682- barbarity. Tlie last Declaration was to forbid going out of the kingdom, or selling their lands. My ser- vice to all friends. I am, in great haste, Sir, Your faithful friend and humble servant, J. BOYSE. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, July 18, 1682. Having this fair opportunity of sending (though much straitened for time for writing,) I could not but salute you. Our news is not good or worth writing ; such as it is, I have hinted to Mr. Hickson, and that may save me the labour to you. I was sent to by a friend in Warwickshire, to buy him Dug- dale's Antiquities of that County, and King Charles's Entertainment in the City. I find they are much out of print, and not easy to come by : I know your father had them both, and if you have no par- ticular fancy for them (for they are of no gi'eat use, unless the former to them of that county, and the other a noodle's curiosity), if you would part with them, I u ill either satisfy you in money, or give the value in books for them. I will give you Dr. Edward Reinolds's Works, printed 1656, gilt and lettered, which cost me twenty shillings when I bought it, and if you have it not, is one of the l>€st pieces I know extant ; and Grimston's History of the Estates, Empires, and Principalities of the World, a fair large folio. I would willingly send ;Et. 24.] RALPH THORESBY. 19 you these for them, which cost much more than those stood your father in. If you have no pecu- liar fancy for them, you will not impair but mend your study by the change.* If you will part with them, pray send them by the first opportunity : if Mr. Jackson could put them in a pack, they would come safe, or otherwise by the carrier ; and I will either satisfy you in money or send the books (if you have them not already,) or as good in exchange. I bless God we are all well ; only little Ben's rickets keep him from running alone, else he is a very pleasant delightful child. I have placed Dick abroad, which I think will be more to his advantage. I hear Mr. Stubbs is come over, though I have not seen him, nor her of late ; possibly his coming prevents that. She did come often before, or else she took it ill my wife would not [let her] have her best chamber, and take the charge and trouble of her, for which she might be as well requited as before. I am sorry to hear they have begun with you at Leeds. They are troublesome here, but they make nothing of it yet to any purpose. The Lord fit us for the worst ! Mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you, and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest in haste, Your assured friend and servant, RiCHAIlD StRETTON. * Few people would think so now. c 2 20 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1683- FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M.D. WORTHY SIR, Jan. 19, 1682-3. I HAVE Ibund the other book, and as soon as I have thorouglily perused it I shall return it. I shall send you the proposals and enquiries I intend, as soon as I get them printed ; for, God willing, I am now resolved to hasten all that possibly I can. Mr. INIilncr, the ^''icar, hath long promised me an account of the charitable gifts of Mr. Harrison, and a short account of his life and last will. I pray give my humble service to him, and request him to remem- ber it. I desire also that you will get me an ac- count of what occurred of remark at Leeds, during the late war. If you have selected any of your Saxon coins, such as you find not in the life of King Alfred, you may safely convey them to me by the bearer, a gentleman of my Lord Eglinton's. My Ijiotlier, who lives at Wakefield, having had a chargeable suit about some lands, and having at last settled them, hath occasion for 150/. If you or any friend of your's can furnish him with such a sum, I and my eldest son at York shall join with him in security ; I desire therefore you will befriend him in it, and I shall take it as a favour done to Sir, Your very faithful servant, N. Johnston. iEt. 25.] RALPH THORESBY. 21 FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M.D. SIR, Feb. 6, 1683. I SENT the Scotch minister, who is one of the undertakers about the printing your manuscript De Hominio, with your letter, and another from myself to Mr. Ross, desiring liim to take an obligation under the hand of the gentleman, for the safe delivery again of the manuscript, but Mr. Ross could not readily find your former letter, and so desires that I will write to you again for fresh orders, which sliall be observed. The gentleman's name I sent is Mac Intosh, a worthy gentleman, whom I have known more than twenty years. The other gentleman is of the same nation, a Doctor in Divinity, both resi- dent in London, with their famihes, and I am sure they will most thankfully and carefully restore it. Having but this moment notice of this matter, and fearing I may be too late for the post, I can add nothing more, but to desire your speediest answer, directing your letter, as in my last I gave you an account ; and so, with all kindness to yourself, and all friends, I remain. Sir, Your very faithful, obhged friend and servant, N. Johnston. 22 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1683. rRO]M REV. RICHARD STRETTON TO DEAR SIR, London, March 31, 1G83. Having tlie oi)portunity of sending by our good friend IMr. Thoresby, I could not but in a few lines salute you, and give you (at his desire) some ac- count liow things are with us at present. You can- not but liave heard how I was the first minister witliin the walls that was assaulted for to seize my person and estate, (when they beset my house for several hours, and threatened to break open my doors, wliich we expected ev^ery moment, when many hundreds were spectators of it ;) and yet God preserv- ed us ; and by removal of the l)est of our goods, and careful keeping of our doors, (when they used an hun- dred arts to circumvent and surprise us) and putting on, for some time, a disguise, we were kept in peace. But when I saw my Lord Mayor's unexpected in- dulgence to ministers that were taken and brought before him, that he imposed no oaths, nor reflected it upon them as a ciimt^ to live in a corporation, I laid down my disguise, and for these five weeks have gone seciu'ely without it ; and I have seen much of the providence of God in it. But lately they have risen liiglier, and as if liberty and estate had been little, they have struck at my life. It seems strange to me that I should be such an eye- sore to them, that stand so little in their way, and make such an in- considcraljle figure in the world, not capable by any parts or interest to be made great, or much known in the world, but l>y their prosecution of me. And JEt. 25.] RALPH THORESBY. 23 of all crimes, I least expected to have treason charged upon me, who have been judged too mon- archical in my principles ; and for hearty praying for the King, and my moderation in principles and practices to the Church, many have been offended, and would no longer hear me, nor walk any more witli me. But we live in an age wherein innocency is no security. If Jesabel write letters in Ahab's name, and send them to the elders of Jezreel, they will, upon the evidence of two sons of Belial, convict and condemn innocent Naboth, and think they do God and the King good service, in going according to (that which they call) evidence. There is a villain, that was tenant to the Earl of Clare, that lived near the place I preached in, in Middlesex, which belonged to the said Earl, (for which tliey have convicted him for 300/. for the place, and me as much for preaching in it,) that the other week, with another soft knave that he had engaged, went down to N. M.* and swore high treason against the Earl of Clare and his steward, and Colonel Alger- non Sydney and myself, and two more ; and no less than killing the King and altering the government. They came back, and nothing was done in it till the King's return, on Monday last, when the Council sat ; and they were hard at it till ten of the clock : several there saw it was a malicious, ridiculous design, and the King perceived it, and said he would dismiss it from the Council to Secretary Jenkins, (who is reported, though no excellent plot-maker, * Newmarket. 24 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1683. yet well-skilled in plots) to see v/hat he could make of it. On Tuesday he sent for my Lord's steward, who went and found the King and Duke of York at his lodgings : after a little discourse, and Esquire Neale relating what he knew, of his own knowledge, of the ground of this fellow's dissatisfac- tion, because some of his irregular expectations were not answered, they withdrew, and after an hour's con- sultation, the Secretary came out, and told him it was the King's pleasure he should be dismissed till legally sent for, which was looked upon as a dismis- sion of the business, and it was tliought we should hear no more of it. But late on Thursday night, he received a summons from my Lord Chief Justice Pem- berton, (who was deputed to examine it) to appear before him the next day, which he did, and was three hours under very strict examination, and then dis- missed with orders to appear again this day, which he did, and was required only to subscribe his answers, (\\ hirh were to interrogatories taken out of this rogue's depositions, that consisted of nine leaves in folio) and then was dismissed with order to attend him again on Monday. Most of my friends laugh at it as an idle, ridiculous story, (and so it is) yet that is no de- fence. This keeping it so long on foot, shows they have no mind to part with it, but would fain lick it into some handsome form: besides we know they have been tampering, (and no mean ones neither, though it is not safe to tell names,) to get other rogues to come in and swear, if not to this, yet to any other treason (tliougli as false and groundless as this :) iEt. 25.] RALPH THORESBY. 25 and then those will be two good witnesses in law, though not to the same thing, and so cannot be so easily detected, (and we must not expect jurors that will take much pains to do that,) as if it was to the same thing : one of these deserts his partner al- ready, and is ready to hang himself for what he hath done ; but if they can get another, they will try what can be done. Lestrange, we hear, was first consulted by this villain how to put it into form ; and we presume he advised him what he should swear, and against whom ; but he laid it very impro- bable in itself. But since they have altered it, this faint-hearted witness did show my Lord's steward the first draught before they went to N. M. ; and though he could but cursorily read it over in haste, he perceived, by their interrogations, taken out or grounded upon his depositions, that it is much alter- ed : and this last raised much higher against me especially, than the former. This villain is of such a debauched reputation, that no man of common sense, or honesty, can believe him, and I do not think that any one of them believe it that make most of it ; but if it would do, it would serve a turn. What the issue will be, God only knows, and men variously conjecture. Some think it looks favourably, because they refer it to a man of reputation and honesty : others think that may be out of policy, to make it look better that such a man hath been concerned, that will give some countenance to it. However, that God that hath delivered, and doth deliver, in him we trust that he will yet deliver. When the 26 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A- D. 1683. ^N ickcd riscth up, no man is sure of life ; and yet God liatli given some favourable appearances, in checking the spirit of the other he had drawn in, and in detecting liis villainy at a strange rate. False witnesses are risen up against us, and those that breathe out cruelty. I find the trepanning, man- catching art of lying in wait for blood, was raised to a great height in David's time, and it is pretty well improved in our days : they lay to our charge things we know not of, nor ever thought of, but with abhorrence. Just now, between seven and eight of the clock, my poor wife comes in, (who usually trots up to Clement's Inn to my Lord's steward twice a day to learn what she can of their proceedings,) and brings word the rogue is run away, and his goods seized for debt ; but the neighbourhood say he is gone to seek his chief witness : he bragged much liow the Duke of York thanked him, but, doubtless, he expected (whatever he may get,) more than tlianks, and may be concealed. We shall see more on Monday ^\ hat they intend to do ; the Duke of York and trusty R.* have got our names, however, in their books. Pray helj) together by i)rayer, that we may be delivered from wicked and unreasonable men. Mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you, and tln- wf>uld go on Monday, and now on Tues- * Trobalily Roger (Lestrange). Mt.25.'] RALPH THORESBY. 27 day we know not much more ; but the confident rogue appears again, and brags he hath got more witnesses. We have found how he hath been with Lestrange four hours together, and it is thought he hath enlarged his evidence to four sheets, wrote close on both sides : we hope to get a copy of it. On Monday, the Lord Chief Justice caused my Lord's steward to subscribe his answers : it is to be showed to the King, and, it is said, to-morrow in Council they will have the business before them. I hope yet there will be a good issue of it ; though we see what they design and endeavour, if they could effect it. FROM RE^^ RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, April 26, 1683. I RECEIVED your subscription for Mr. Fox's Martyrs by Mr. Dickenson, and it brought him freely to offer his, that now I want but one for a subscrip- tion to a set of the large paper. I have sent you enclosed, some proposals of a second volume of Dr. Manton's, if you can promote it with you ; if you can get a set for yourself, I shall be glad of it, or if not, if you can get me but one or two I shall be thankful. If you send one to Mr. Whitaker, it is probable he will get a set among his people ; and if they return it to me, I will take care of it. The former volume (which now is not to be got for above thirty shillings, and not thirty left of them) the book- sellers had the benefit of ; but this is designed for the advantage of good Mrs. Manton, who stands in 28 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1683. need of it. Tliat worthy man left his family as low, though, tlirough the blessing of God, his children are like to do as well, as any minister's in London : this may induce some charitably disposed to sub- scribe, though the book will be well worth their money, and if the Protestant religion continue, be as good as plate. We know not what to say to the Postern, though wc watch their motions, and shall observe your direction ; things are not so fairly or ingenuously carried by the old folks as they ought. If you have a mind to part with that old Popish , manuscript of that banished man, or any others you do not much value, if you will send them me I will give you books for them to your content, if you let me know what you want or desire. My hearty love and service to you and to all friends. I com- mit you to God, and rest. Your assured friend and servant, Richard Stretton. Pray get the enclosed sent to Mr. Hawden. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, July 7th, 1683. I MUST trouljle you once more aljout a business I had tliought neither you nor I should ever have troubled our thoughts with more, unless in shght- ing of it. JiUt there may be (for aught I know) sometliirig of God in it, which should not be .-lighted ; it was as strange and unexpected to me. ^t. 25.] RALPH TIIOIIESBY. 29 as it can be to you. The Friday before last, Mr. Dickenson showed me your letter, and we consulted and resolved, that he should speak plainly to Mr. D., and sound his mind, and give you an account, that you might act accordingly ; his answer, I perceive, was not satisfactory. But yesterday, I was going to Mr. Hill's to see Mr. Spademan,* and Mrs. Denham stood at her door, whom I passed by very slightly, (as I had done him, one day this week before,) and took little notice of her ; but she presently sends after me, that she must needs speak with me before I went from the Postern. After an hour's stay at Mr. Hill's, I called, and found him and her together ; I looked strange, (as they soon perceived,) and I thought I had reason, to have myself and friend so abused by them. She presently began, that she heard by Mr. Hardcastle, and perceived by my carriage, that I had hard thoughts of them, for their carriages towards Mr. Th. : I told them so I had, and had reason for it ; and told them they had abused both me and my friend, and had not carried as those that know what either religion or good-breeding meant : my spirits were stirred, and I never was in a better temper to have discoursed and rattled them for their unhandsome carriage^ than at that time. They be- gan to palliate and make excuses ; but I told them that would not do ; they must not think to impose upon us, but we could see through such fig-leaved excuses. She blamed him as the cause, and he * See Dr. Calamy's "Historical Account," ii. 119. 30 C ORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1683. blamed her as first hindering it, (which she confess- ed, and seemed ashamed that they should entertain tu'o together,) which formerly she had owned, and he denied ; but since, she said, she has as much de- su'ed it as any thing in the world, and owned the message she sent you by Mr. Hardcastle, and said the fault lay only in her husband : he said it did not lie in him, but in his daughter, that did not incline, and he would not force her. I bade him for shame hold his tongue, and do not make her, that I did be- lieve was most innocent, to be the only guilty per- son. She replied, her daughter seemed averse, be- cause her father was averse to it ; but if he inclined, she would sooner incline to it : though I perceived the other girls over against, out of envy, had labour- ed to set her all they could against you ; and the mother remembered the caution I gave her daughter, (which she had thought on,) to take heed foolish young women, out of envy or design, did not make her slight or lose a good husband when offered. And I charged them with reporting you were slight- ed and cast off there before you made addresses to their daughter, which they owned ; and I convinced them of the falsehood of it. I would have been gone, but she stayed me, and sent for a glass of wine, and would liave had me take a pipe, which I refused. I oft essayed to go away, but I saw clear- ly, botli he and she desired my stay. She said, she expected an answer of her letter. I told her she had no reason, that had dealt so ambiguously, that no- Mt.25.'] RALPH THORESBY. 31 body could tell what they meant l)y their words and writing. I told them they had too many of your let- ters already, but I hoped they would have so much manners as to return them when he returned theirs ; which, I thought, they might sooner expect than any new answers, unless they had shown more honesty and plain-heartedness in this affair. The more I saw them coming on, the more averse I seemed to it ; but I saw we must not part thus. After long dis- course, I being up and down ready to go most part of an hour, ui3on my legs, at length, when I perceived (if I am not much mistaken) it was their design to have it brought on again, I told them, if they would leave all their juggling tricks, (which I did believe did not arise from themselves, but rather the ill counsel of others that consulted their own interest more than their good in it,) I would plainly and nakedly tell them my thoughts what had obstructed it, and how it might fairly be brought on again. I told them, I was satisfied upon the whole, that Mr. D. himself was the only hinderance, and the ground of it ; some ill counsel from Blackwell-hall that it was not his interest (that is not theirs that gave it, who, if he miscariied, must necessarily fall into his trade) to admit of a partner, especially one that had not served an apprenticeship, and there would be quarrels be- tween them. Mrs. D. said that was only her daugh- ter's fear, and not being bred to a calling, he would be negligent and not mind his business. He did in effect acknowledge I had hit the nail on the head. I 32 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1683. told hiin it was his own offer, and I judged it equally to be for his as well as your advantage, and told him, if he could agree with any man alive, I thought he iniglit witli you. And for your diligence and faith- fulness, I did not question, but if you was called to it, you would quickly remove their jealousies, and con- fute the reproaches some would cast upon your dead father and you. He said he had not been fairly dealt with as to your estate : I told him he never came so far as to demand it. He said your father designed your brother and sister more than by his will was given them, and you was obliged to make good his intentions, and then he could not learn you was worth above 1000/. though he said that was not the thing he stood upon. I told him if they would entertain no other in the mean time, I would once again propose it to you, and get a particular of your estate, which they seemed to promise. Therefore, pray, the next post (and direct your letter for me to be left with Mr. Dickenson) give me a true account of the value of your estate, and what by law or conscience you are obliged to pay out to your brother and sister. I will now make a bolt or a shot of it ; and if you write to her mother and her, it will not be amiss. I can scarce tell the tithe of our discourse : accept this abrupt account of some passages. My hearty love and service to you and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest, Your's, K. S. /l",t. 26. ] R A L P H T H 11 E S B \ . 33 FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. From the Press-yard in Newgate,* DEAR SIR, September 1, 1683. This is the fourth time I have begun to write to you since I was in this place, and was either diverted or discouraged from finishing of it ; but now liaving so safe a hand to convey it to York, I shall break silence. I have been so vexed and grieved about their unworthy carriage at the Postern, that I knew not how to s]3eak to them, or write to you. I must say they have carried it as badly as if they had wanted religion, as well as good-breeding. I never saw more double-dealing in a business in my life ; and I now see their after-juggling was out of design, to make me and Mr. Dickenson, and your other friends here, to think there was no fault in them, but in their daughter, which is loathsome and nau- seous to us that know the contrary. Your carriage all along hath been becoming a man and a Christian, and you have nothing to reflect upon with regret and trouble, which they may live to do more than at present they seem to do. Their dirty dealing ap- pears in that they have entertained two others, one immediately after the other, all the while they have been treating with you, and I hear a match is now fully concluded between the hosier and her. I doubt not but God hath a blessing in store for you, and * Mr. Sti'etton was six months in Newgate, for refusing- what was called the Oxford Oath. See Calamy, " Account," p. 677 j Dr. Ca- lamy's " Historical Account,"!. 88. VOL. I. D 34 CORRESrONDENC E OF [AD. 1683. submission to the will of God in it is your duty : to assist you in tliat and greater matters, I have sent you a sermon, which 1 perused, and hastily wrote a short epistle to,* since I came into this place, which may be of some use to you. I am ashamed of re- ceiving so great kindnesses from you, and being able to return no more to you. I received Mr. Dixon's and your kind tokens, which did as much exceed my expectation as desert. I can only make Paul's requital to Onesimus, for finding him out, and re- freshing him in his bonds : the Lord show mercy to you and to your houses, and grant that you may find mercy in that day when mercy will be most needed and prized : prayers and praises are all the recpiital I can make ; but God is not unrighteous to forget your works and labour of love, showed to his name's sake, in that you have ministered to his saints, and do minister. My prayers shall not be wanting, that he will repay your kindness sevenfold into your bosom. Piay my hearty service and thanks to good Mr. Dixon. I did design to have written to him; but the sudden going away of Mr. Lamb, of York, upon so small notice, (who is the bearer,) prevents me; pray make my excuse for it : it is not ingrati- tude for such surprising kindness that occasions it, nor so long delay for yours, but some other things that have diverted it. I bless (iod, I am very well under my confinement : Ciod can make any [)lacc healthful and pleasant, as 1 have found this to be. We are very full here, * Ladv RuHsel.— R. T ^t. 26.] RALPH THORESIJY. 35 though we have no plotters amongst us. It was expected they would have tried tliose in the l^'ower and Gate-house this sessions, but tliey did not ; it is said they want evidence against them. Though it was a great unhappiness, and horrible wickedness in some men to be drawn into such wicked desiirns, yet, upon the whole that yet appears, it is but like your Yorkshire . plot in 1662, though the persons were some of higher quality than they. They will make the most of it they can, and they can get easy and willing juries, that will make slight evidence go far.* We have had a great talk of a Padiament, and it was thought, when they had heated the people by the parsons' comment on the King's declaration, they would have been ready for their elections ; but some things, it is said, do hinder it. Whether there may not be some fiu'ther inquiry about the Earl of Essex's murder so soon after, is doubtful : the jury prepared on purpose brought him in guilty of self- murder, but they had first shifted his clothes, and washed off the blood, and laid him out in clean linen, before the jury were called to see him ; and, it is said, his right hand (the instrument of defence in a sudden assault,) had two or three wounds in it. This was not according to the old law and usage upon such occasions. There is one Brad well, a young lawyer, that hath undertaken to endeavour the discovery of it ; he hath met with discourage- • The. trial of Sj'diioy took place on the 21st of November, and lie was executed on the 7th of December. D 2 36 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1683. iiient enough to afiViglit liiiu from it, but he goes on with an undaunted resolution, and, it is said, hath made considerable discoveries of villainy in it ;* and if it come to light, it will fall heavily upon some. We have sent out a fleet of ships of twenty-six sail, under the command of the Earl of Dartmouth ; the design is kept private, but it is to make work for a Parliament to giv^e money ; some think it is some agreement between France and us, that upon his declaring war against the Spaniard and Dutch, (which he seemed resolved on, if the prevalency of the Turk above his expectation, and the insurrection in Languedoc, do not prevent it,) we should fall upon the Dutch Smyrna, or East India fleet, or the Spa- nish Plate fleet ; but they lie wind-bound at the Spitthead, Mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you, and to all friends. I commit you to God; and rest, in haste, Your's, Pray send the enclosed safely, or give it him when you see him. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, Dublin, October 8, 1683. Havinc; tlie opportunity of a chargeless bearer to London, and writing to brother Elk., I could not satisfy myself without giving you the trouble of • On t}ie 2801 of January following, IJradwell, or Braddon, was con- victed of spreadinfr a false and scandalous report, tbat the Earl of Es«ex was murdered, anrl of endeavouring to suborn witnesses to tes- tify the same, and fined 2000/. 7ir.t. 26.] RALPH TIIOIIESBY. 37 these lines. Tlieir chief errand is to make an apo- logy for a very great fault, but one that I cannot tell well how it was committed : I have missed three or four papers wliich I left in my cloak-bag out of my pocket, and among the rest your memoranda. It lay long in the Custom-house before I could meet with it ; but my other papers I had with me when I came ashore. I must therefore beg you would give yourself the trouble to review your book, and by that time I shall be so well acquainted, as to be in a fitter capacity to serve you in any thing of that nature. I must further request you (for you see what you must expect by keeping so troublesome correspondence) to give my duty to father, and tell him, that if I continue here, I shall have occasion to send for that box of books that I have left in my chamber at Leeds ; and therefore would desire him to consult any, as he has occasion, about the ways of sending it to Liverpool or Chester. I have not yet seen Mr. Williams, though I have once or twice heard from him. If I resolve to fix, as I see no- thing yet to dissuade me, I shall send for the box. I have met with more of respect and civility than I could expect among strangers, and such as will be an encouragement to stay, if our present circum- stances continue, which, though not so good as they have formerly been, yet are much more safe and desirable than your's. I expect Mr. Williams next week, and shall then soon be able to determine. A considerable case of his, relating to our liberties, rw«J*iiLl«^»3 38 C0RRP:SP0NDENCE of [A.D. 1683. will be tried tliis next sessions, upon which much will depend for the future. My service to Mr. and Mrs. Hickson. I shall be very desirous to hear the result of Mr. Askill's undertaking, and if it succeed, what 1 must pay for the happiness of seeing Mr. Peebles. My service to botii Mr. AVilsons, and their families. I have not been able to make much enquiry about Mr. Sykes's lands, but showed his memorandum to a gentleman that has a relation lives near the place, who has wrote to him about them, and expects an account of them. I think Mr. Sykes has mentioned nothing of his tenants' leases, and some account of them will be useful. They tell me, unless the land be exceeding barren, the rent must needs be improvable; and if the title be sure, there is no great question of offers to })ur- chase them, or exchange for some in England. I jierceive my Lord Arran is here deputy, and the Archbisliop (who is also Chancellor) said to have the chief hand in the management of affairs. For pic- tures of the Irish Bishops I have had no leisure yet to inquire, but shall in a little time. I am, thanks to God, well, and find no great in- convenience by the change of air. I am not fixed as to my lodgings till Mr. Williams comes to town ; but when you will please to honour me with a let- ter, you may direct it to my brother Elk. or send it lierc to me, at Mr. Francis Wooley's, at the Leg in Essex-street. My service to Mr. Shaip, and all my friends at Leeds : it would take up more paper .i:t. 26] RALPH THORESBY. 39 than is left to name them. However, I must not forget to give my more especial service to Mr. and Mrs. Dixon. Excuse this scribble, that must needs partake of the disorder and confusion that my pre- sent hurry puts me into ; and let me have still the undeserved happiness of being accounted, Dear Sir, Your affectionate friend and humble servant, J. B. FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M.D. WORTHY SHI, October 28, 1683. I AM going as fast forward as my occasions will permit, but such is the neglect or supineness of peo- ple, that I have not yet had one return made to me of the several hundreds of enquiries I have dispersed. Some few have sent me in some deeds, so that I must be forced to print a number more of enquiries without proposals, and a letter with them to desire gentlemen to make more expedition. When I am ready for the press, I must send out proposals. I want money to get the draughts, &c. taken, as I desire they should be done. I kept your book much longer than I designed, being in expectation of one to come who was to write those epitaphs fair over, that I needed not two transcribings ; but he being not yet come, I must borrow it again when he comes. I shall pay Mr. Wildman the bill, but my son's letter saith that Mr. Milner i)aid him but 8/. 10,s', It seems my son 40 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1683. had occasion to pay some money beforehand to the Professors, otherwise he needed not to have wanted before I could have sent him gold from hence by some ship from Hull, and that would have yielded him profit, and I sui)pose Mr. Milner, being a stran- ger to liini, took the benefit of the exchange, which is at the very highest ; therefore I hope you will show ine the kindness to write to Mr. Milner, to let him have the other ^Os., for it is very hard to pay so much when it is probable the money paying here may be equally advantageous to Mr. Milner as my son ; and if for the future my son shall need, by your kindness I hope I may obtain the favour of pay- ing sterling money here for sterling money there ; and I shall take this as a kindness done to, Sir, Your very faithful friend and servant, N. Johnston. FROM JAMES ILLING WORTH, B.D. oi:ar MR. TIIORESUY, I WROTE a few lines September 24th, and therein l)romised another, to be ready for the carrier at his coming next, and to give you account of some re- markable persons for learning, &c. who long since got to their rest : but I had forgot that those things were out of my hands, and know not when they will couK,' into my power again ; yet I hope, before I see you, I shall, in some good measure, satisfy your /Et. 26.] RALPH THORESBY. 41 learned curiosity by letter. If I had had them by me, it had been impossible for me before this time ; for my carrier hath not been here since, nor hav^e I seen any friend out of your country, or Lancashire ; but forbearance (as we say) shall be no acquittance. I will endeavour to pay my debts honestly and fully, and it may be sooner than you now expect. Think not this a frivolous excuse. If you knew the ground of it, (which I forbear at present,) you would rest fully satisfied. Though I could not, at that time, through business, do what I would have done, yet I pointed you, as I remember, to two books that I was sure might find you work, and in which I suj)posed you would reap the two chief things that the poet thought would make a man happy, profit and plea- sure ; Omne tulit punctinn qui miscidt utile dulci. The two books were these, Mr. S. Clarke's Lives of Eminent Persons, Divines, Nobility and Gentry, of both Sexes, a new volume, in folio, containing about 350 pages, and thirty-four Lives, with some passages of the Lives of Scotch Divines. It is about ten or eleven shillings price ; and, having read most of them, I assure myself you will thank me for the notice of it, if you knew not before. As to the other, it is Mr. Poole's Annotations upon the Bible, from Genesis to the end of Isaiah, which I told you I take to be the best family-book that ever was printed in the world ; at least, will be so, when the learned undertakers have printed the rest in another volume, which we expect this summer. This first 42 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1683. volume is thirty shillings price, or thereabouts, and hath in it all the text, in a foir, large print. And of the notes I would give you some account, but that I will not believe but you have enquired after it, as well as the former book, and got them, wliich yet if you have, blame yourself for me, that you have put me to this unnecessary scribble, when I would much rather have been employed in answering your ob- jections, doubts, queries upon some occurrences in it : for, let me tell you, as I love you, (who am one who knows he was dearly beloved of your good father, mother, uncle, and other of your friends,) that I shall be much troubled if I know you do not, with your otlier readings, study the Scriptures with tlie best helps you can get ; sed sapienti verbum. Why do you not encourage me to write oftener by doing tlie same yourself? I keep your only letter of August Sfi, 1682, and will endeavour to satisfy you; but let not that be a })lea for never writing until it be done fully. There is lately, this last year, come out also the New Testament, with annotations, and the Plarmony of the Gospels annexed, in quarto, about eight shillings price, by Mr. Samuel Clarke, the son of him who collected Lives ; which, upon a general view, I cannot but think liighly deserves the characters Dr. Owen, Mr. Baxter, Dr. J3ates, and Mr. Howe have given of it to the reader. It is acute, concise, clear, and full of good notions ; though, it is true, nil adco ycrfcctum quin alUiuid pas- su superadd I. Yet I wish sometimes the son had col- ^t. 26] RALPH THORESBY. 43 lected Lives instead of the father, finding hira a studied and accurate man. I must add but little more at this time, that I may entice you to write and enquire, or give me encouragement by letting me know you receive my letters, and that they are acceptable. I hear of you, and where you give some visits. If you get a good wife before summer, I may probably visit you both, and hope I shall find the number of my good friends are increased in Leeds, as I have desired in mine to Mr. Hill, &;c. You had a contest with some, as Mr. Stretton wrote, and came off, if I mistake not, with flying colours ; but never let your father's friend know any tiling. I remember we that were Fellows of Colleges used to say, when any of our society married, Now we have lost a friend, because he was taken from us to a country life. But pray let not visits, in order to such a thing, and neglect of your friend at a dis- tance, give him occasion to say so. How goes on the collection of pictures ? I once thought to have sent you a catalogue of mine, that if you should at any time at York> or other where, light of some I should name wanting, you might procure them for me, when you had supplied your- self, and I would be a faithful paymaster. But I will let them rest until I see how the Lord will deal with us in this storm. It is now about ten v/eeks that we have had a sore and sharp frost, (four days excepted,) and al)Out six weeks before that a dread- ful earthquake, that was some weeks the talk of Staf- 44 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1684- fordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwick- sliire, and Shropsliire. I know not wliether it reached any furtlier. What did you licar of it? Surely God is iiighly displeased, who gives such warnings and calls to repentance. Sed mamim de tabula. I must add no more, but that I am always your assured, loving, and thankful friend, James Illingworth. FROM RICHARD IDLE. KIND COUSIN, Cambridge, March the 2d, 1683-4. Yours of the 13th of December last, after six or seven weeks' wandering to and fro in the country, like a mistaken traveller, arrived safely at my hands on Candlemas-day. I had answered it ere this, but understanding that Mr. Sykes was shortly to return into Yorkshire, I deferred it until this opportunity, ])eing unwilling to adventure it with an unskilful guide, because I am afraid the letter I sent to return you thanks for the kindness you were pleased lately to remember me withal, missed the mark it was aimed at, you not mentioning the receipt of it. If it j)erished in its journey, suffer this to do its errand, and assure yourself I shall always be ready to make a grateful acknowledgment of it ; and if I may be serviceable to you, be pleased to honour me with your commands, and by making my deeds, rather than word.<, rhetorical, you shall see how much I hate the aboniinajjle sin of ingratitude. I have sent you the iT-t. 26] RALPH Til ORES BY. 45 inscription you desired, and another which I trans- cribed out of Christ's College Chapel: it was wrote by Dr. More, and is engrav^en upon two erected planes of marble, upon which are affixed their two heads, curiously cut in marble. Sir Thomas Baines his extraction, being mean, is not men- tioned in the epitapli. He was sizar to Sir John Finch when he was Fellow-Commoner at Christ's. Other particulars you will find in the inscription, which supersedes any thing I can say. You desire to know who has continued or wrote anew Fuller's History of Cambridge. That he ever wrote a His- tory of Cambridge, I cannot learn. He has written several otlier histories, which are now in esteem ; let me know which you mean, and I shall give you what satisfaction I can. My thin fortunes would never, to my no small detriment, furnish me with a necessary supply of books, so that what informa- tion I am aljle to give you is very small, for I seldom frequent the booksellers' shops. All Lives I know of at present, extant, are these that follow : — Dr. Ham- mond's, the learned paraphrast ; Bishop Saunder- son's, the deep casuist, alone, and before his Sermons, in folio ; Bishop Usher's, before his Body of Divinity, in folio, last edition ; the judicious Mr. Hooker's, alone, and before his Ecclesiastical Polity, last edition ; Arclibisliop Laud's, written by Dr. Heylin ; his by Mr. Vernon, alone ; Jiulge Hales, his life by Dr. Burnet ; the late Earl of Rochester's, by the same author; the life of Queen Elizabeth by Samuel 4G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1684. Clarke; the life of King Cliarles the First; and likewise CroniweU's, written all alone. Samuel Clarke has late written the Lives of some Modern Divines and Statesmen, in folio ; but they are most of them, as I am informed, Nonconformists. W. Winstanley has written the lives of The Worthies of England, as he entitles his book, in 8vo. printed in . . 84, which is commended for a pretty piece. These are the choicest I know of at present. If you please to give me a line or two, I shall either buy you what you desire, or upon further information acquaint you with any of the like nature I shall meet with. Caius, the founder of a college bearing his name in this University, has written a book in 4to. about the Antiquities of Cambridge; it is very scarce; when printed I cannot learn. Pray present my service to your iHother and sister ; pay my duty to my uncle M. and aunt, and give him my thanks for the token he remembered me with by Mr. Sykes; and distri- bute my respective salutes among those friends where you know they are due ; and to yourself take as faitliful an affection as I am capable of cherishing, or you of desiring from, Sir, Your afi'ectionate kinsman and most humljle servant, Richard Idle, Jun. Pray give the enclosed to Cousin Robert. .V.t. 26] RALPH THORER BY. 47 FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, March 8, 1683-4. There hath been too great apologies for your old friend's long silence ; but it is not from forget- fulness of your kindness, and the rest of his friends' with you ; for I can assure you, he never had a greater sense of it upon his spirit, and his expres- sions to others manifest it ; but his circumstances have confined his person and pen more than ordi- narily. Though you and I sufficiently know his loyal and peaceable temper, yet Mr. R. Lestrange (who creates him all his trouble,) hath another opinion of him. A gentleman that heard him told me, speak- ing of him, he gave him this character. There is Mr. S. one of the most peevish, subtle, active, lead- ing men of their party, &c. ; which, how ill it suits that person in any one epithet, those that know him can easily determine. Upon the earnest persuasion of some friends, he did u ithdraw for some time into the country, where he was very welcome, but is since returned, but stirs but little abroad. They have an inveterate spleen against him, and would get villains to swear any thing to deprive him of life, as well as liberty : but he is very well, and not much concerned. He wished me to tell you, that the books for which you have subscribed are all three in the press. Dr. Manton's (of which he hath per- used and corrected a hundred and twenty sheets, which please him well,) will be out before Midsum- 48 C ORRESPONDENCE OF [A. I). 1684. mer ; and they say Fox's Book of Martyrs will be out aljoiit that time. The Annotations will be last, but now they go on apace. The long frost hin- dered near a quarter of a year's time. He will take care to give you timely notice of it. You are de- sired to call u})on Mr. Richard Wilson, for six pounds, which your friend got for that poor man, whose case was subscribed by many of you ; and the paper sent to him by yourself, or Mr. E. H. He could not do it sooner, and is sorry it is no more. You are desired to remember and excuse him to all his friends : he was last night enquiring for some Leeds men ; and, if he could have met with them, he had written to you by them. He doth not judge it safe or prudent for him to write any thing to his friends, for the Judges are very severe against that party of men ; and, ])y an innuendo, they can con- strue men's words (though in themselv^es and the writer's intention never so innocent) to the worst meaning they please. It is commonly said, his Majesty hath had two expresses, that signify the Emperor hath sent to the estates of Holland, not to make i)eace with France, for his circumstances with the I'urk are such as he can spare them the Duke of Lorraine and 30,000 men to help them. It is said they are like to conclude a peace, and the Grand Seignor will restore all Hungary and J5e]grade ; and that Count Tekely and Abofi, Prince of Transyl- vania, sliall j)ay the same homage to the Emperor as they do to the Grand Seignor, and be protected iEt.26.] RALPH THORESBY. 49 in their religion and civil liberties. And the King of Poland shall have all the Ukraine, and Podolia and Wallachia restored ; and the Venetians all Dalmatia and Candia : and that he yields to this because Egypt is revolted, and Babylon and the Persians join against him, and he is resolved to suppress them. If this news hold true but in part, (as it is said the mer- chants have letters to the same purpose,) it will have an influence upon other places. It is said the Hol- land levies go on, and the Prince will advance the money ; and there is some likelihood that the busi- ness of Amsterdam will be composed. The Earl of Danby's patent for M. of Caermarthen, is stopped at present. Pray mine and your friend's hearty love and service to you, and to all friends ; and accept of his and my hearty thanks for all your kindness to him, and excuse this hasty scribble from your as- sured and engaged friend, D. N. Pray will you show this postscript to Mr. Richard Wilson, and wish him (for some reasons) to accept of it, as if written with more formality to him. DEAR SIR, There was to be some money returned from Mr. N. W. for two sets of Mr. Charnock's books, and he was directed to do it by you : now there was no formal notice of it, but some hint it would some time since ; but whether it be or what, I am not yet cer- tain ; but if it be not, it will the next week. There was 9^. the subscriptions, and the binding and other VOL. ] E 50 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1684. £ s. . 1 10 10 10 ► -1- 10 • S- charges 21. 14>s. Now, I have taken up Si. of Mr. Wright, and desire you to pay 61. more to Mr. R. Tlioresljy : and I must desire you to do a kindness to some poor ministers, as you have done formerly, to lay down 8/. to these men. Mr. Armitage Mr. Benson Mr. Havvden ]\Ir. Roots Mr. Denton Mr. Th. Johnson £8 and get acquittances in this form : — M ... 168 . Received tlien of the Trustees of the Honourable the Lady Armine, deceased, the sum of Ix'ing part of a gift be(|ucathed to the poor noncon- formist ministers in the counties of Huntington, Dcrljy, and York. I say, received by me. And pray send the acquittances up as soon as you can, by a safe hand, and I shall receive the money and pay it in to Mr. Wright, for they will part v^^ith no money without the acquittances. If I had had so much by me, I would have paid it to Mr. Wright ; but I know you have done tliem this kindness for- meily, and will not grudge to do it again, but will be ready to do every good work. I bless God we arc all well that are left ; (sweet Ben is long since TF.t. 26.] RALPH THORESBY. 5| got to heaven.) Our hearty love and service to you and yours, and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest your's. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, Dublin, May 10, 1684. I RECEIVED yours of April the 22d, and was sur- prised to find myself charged so severely for neglect of writing, when I thought all the while that I had received none since my last hy a particular bearer, that assured me he delivered it into your sister's hands ; and upon recollection, 1 find it to be so. I did indeed insert those words you mention, upon the prospect that I then had of some epitaphs you desired, and my having delayed them so long, was the only occasion of deferring my letter. The gentleman from whom I begged that favour, was with me this week, and assured me he would transcril)e them fair for me ; but I have not yet seen liim, and there- fore will rather send without them, than run the hazard of so hard constructions put upon my silence. I am sorry I should be so unhappy as to give occa- sion of being so censured, and shall take care to prevent it for the future. I may add, that I de- ferred the longer, expecting an answer from a friend of mine, that lives near Mr. Sykes's lands, which I received to this purpose. " I went to see the land, and find it generally as coarse land as most in this country. It is most E 2 52 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1684. grown over with Irish firs, and a great part of it ploughed much out of heart : improvement, there is none ; and truly, in that place, it is hardly worth the while to improve. If any place be better than other, it is, in my opinion, and the neighbours' whom I consulted, the lands of Ballamitty, and part of Marshal's Town. The tenants are most very indigent, and this year will, I fear, make them worse, by the great loss of cattle that is everywhere." This is the best account I can give of it. For receiving the rents I would willingly serve any friend of your's, on your account, but fear offending Co- lonel Scott, unless there were a right understanding between your friend and him ; besides, it lies remote from me, ten miles distant. This I must give you the trouble of communi- cating to Mr. Sykes or Mr. Wilson. Mr. Hickson's great trouble and pains in putting an end to Mr. P.'s business, I do with all gratitude acknowledge. But for that way of discharging the fees, (which I ques- tion not are unconscionable enough) it is too great an addition to the obligations already laid upon me ; and therefore I must beg your account of them, that I may be responsible. I must beg your pardon, Sir, for giving you this further trouble. I suppose Mrs. Halliday sometimes calls at my father's : desire him to tell her, " I have done what I can for selling her son's* books. Mr. • Timothy Halliday, a minister in Dublin, who dying young, was succeeded in his congregation by the writer of this letter. ^t. 26.] RALPH THORESBY. 53 .... and I have bought some part of them, but the most of them being old, and not very consider- able, I fear will stick long on my hands ; there has been 25/. disbursed for the charges of his funeral, &c. His Poole's I have taken, and hope mine are sold for him at London, by this time. I have sent Mr. Gardiner, of Kendal, the reason why we have so long deferred the paying that small debt, which shall be discharged as soon as we can sell his books : his clothes will, I suppose, be sent home, for I scarce think we can sell them here to any purpose." Sir, I know not how to excuse this rudeness of inserting what does wholly concern others, in a letter to you : you may easily perceive what trouble you bring upon yourself by this correspondence. I have not yet had the leisure to peruse Ware's History, but as soon as I can, shall give you others' and my own thoughts of it. There are very few histories, either of the nation in general, or any par- ticular persons famous in it, that are not as common in England as here, and the books themselves may be had cheaper at London than Dublin. Almost all our books come from thence and pay considerable custom, as I found by my own, though old ones. But of these things I need not say any thing tiU J procure the inscriptions promised me, which yet I fear will not be very considerable. The old chapel in Dublin College is demolished, and a new one building. I think there are but three that have any inscriptions, of which, two are Sele and Chaloner. 54 CORRESrONDENCE OF [A. D. 1684. Strong-bow's I shall also send. If I could get a sight of the College coins, I would send you an account of any considerable ones I could remember. And now having made my letter as tedious to your patience as the delay of it, I shall, for your diversion and to recompense the want of news, com- municate to you a part of one I received this week from Mr. Tr. to whom I formerly sent one by your hands. — " A letter of yours, from Leeds, was not long since delivered me : as near us I can remember it was a year travelling to me, and had suffered so many injuries by time that it looked like a relique rather tlian any thing else. By Mr. Ashurst I hear you are transplanted into Dublin, and become an Iri^ll a})ostle. But how happy soever you are there, your friends here seem to be in another condition ; schism and Whiggism are no longer rampant ; the Conventicling-houses are no more in use, but as empty as the heads or sermons of those that formerly jireached in them. There are at most but a few sucking meetings, of about thirty or forty at a time, and it is odd but one or two of them are taken every Sunday, and the offenders prosecuted for routs and riots. Some have had their understandings opened by the tweaking of their doors, and seizing their goods hath wrought more convictions than all our priests. Our cimrches are thronged and crowded, and there is hardly any of them but where you may find Dissenters and organs. Nay, not only are the -illy shec]) reduced, but some of the shepherds too, Mr. (jreenwood and Mr. Leadbeater, two Noncon- iEt. 26.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 55 formist parsons, about a fortnight ago took orders of our Bishop, and his Lordship gave them whole- some and ghostly advice (if they have but grace to follow it) to get them livings as soon as they can. Mr. P-, one that lived with Mr. V., is a convert of an earlier date : he hath received orders too, but no preferment as yet ; only sometimes he reads prayers, and if it be for a friend, hath sixpence for his la- bours, otherwise I think a groat serves his turn. Shower and Goodwin,* I suppose, have left Venice by this time and are on their way to Strasburgh, whence they intend for Holland, and then for France again. Mr. V. does some part of the Com- ment upon the New Testament, particularly the Epistle to the Ephesians, which I have seen and admired." To this of his I shall only add, that since none here are so severe, either to the Catholics or Dissenters, they find it hard to agree among themselves ; for a bill in Chancery was lately preferred against a Scotch minister in town, by some not long since his hearers, about some money collected for a widow, which they pretend he never paid her. But, I fear, you will in good earnest suppose this letter long and impertinent, to be written in pure revenge. I may justly expect to hear as large com- plaints of sending one to so little purpose, as before for sending none at all. However, it will satisfy you I am yet alive, and have not forgotten my friends. Pray give my particular service to them, * See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account," ii. 340. note. 56 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1684. Mr. Sharp, Mr. Hickson, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Dn, Mr. Fcnton, Mr. Milner, Mr. Asquith, &c. and their wives. I almost wish I could add to Mr. Thoresby and liis too. I fear it is scarce safe to name Alderman Dixon amongst so scandalous company (the constable excepted). I can yet meet with none of those he desired me to give his service to. I thank you for all your great respects, and as I account myself obliged to wish your's and your friends' welfare, so I shall be always glad to hear of it ; nay, I may add, nothing can be more acceptable to, dear Sir, Your obliged faithful friend and servant, B— s. Please to deliver the enclosed to my father. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, September 13th, 1684. Last night, Mr. Dickenson showed me your letter, and in answer to it, I think Dr. Manton's second vo- lume will be out the next week; it was hindered by one man's sickness, or it had been out a month ago. I got them to put two titles and epistles to it, that it may be bound in two volumes, it being too unwieldy for one. I shall get your's bound and sent with the first ; it will have thirty or forty sheets more than the former volume. They tell me the liook of Martyrs will be out within this month, (the Gazette will accpiaint you with that ;) —they talk of ^t. 27] RALPH THORESBY. 57 the Annotations by Christmas. I was lately in Lei- cestershire with my wife and son to see my aged mo- ther ; but hiring horses very dear, (though they proved very good,) and being unaccustomed to tra- vel, we could reach no further : though I should be glad of an opportunity to see my friends in the North, I cannot yet hope for it ; and should be glad it might be with more freedom and comfort than at present it can. I shall rejoice to hear of their wel- fare, and keeping on foot practical godliness amongst them, however they may be hindered of those oppor- tunities that may help to promote it. The honour of God and religion lie at stake, and are concerned in the conversation of professors. It grieved me lately to hear a considerable man say, the professors in Leeds were turned as great fuddlers as any were in the town, and instanced in our friend that was lately in this town in my absence : pray will you caution him when most serious to labour to cut off occasions from such as watch for occasions. I am not for a morose, reserved course of life, as though religion made men unsociable or unfit for humane conversation, nor against the temperate use of wit and drollery in due season ; but I woidd have per- sons to beware of habituating themselves to it, as to give others occasion to censure them that they are never serious. You and I knew one,* that knew when and where to be pleasant, and as well to be serious, and to use the one to assist the other : verburn * " My honoured and pious father. — R. T." 58 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1684. sat sap'ieut'i. The Pope proposeth an accommoda- tion to the Lutlieran Churches (we have the pro- posals) ; some think it is to widen the breach with the Calvinists. Things run high here ; and the Duke of Lunenburgh and the King of Sweden have made l)roposals to the Dissenters, that they shall have pro- tection, liberty, and encouragement, under them. Our Court was lately, if they are not yet, at sea. It is said the Earl of R.'s late advancement was not out of favour, but that he declines at Court. Mr. Jen- kins is where I was last year.* Mr. W. Holies, the Earl of Clare's second son, is dead, (a great loss.) Mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you, and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest your's, R. S. I had a hint last night, that by Monday we should hear sad news of tlie failure of one of your countrymen, a merchant here, which I was sorry for, and ^^•ish some of our friends are not concerned ; if tlicy are, it is too late to advertise them of it. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETl^ON. DEAR SIR, London, October 8, 1684. I SCARCE ever wrote in greater haste and confu- sion ; 1)nt being under a promise to Mr. Dickenson, I }ioi)e you will excuse the trouble and charge I put you to. I must desire you to convey the enclosed as directed ; I tJiink if it was with your own hands, * In Newgate. yEt. 27.] RALPH THORESBY. 59 it were not amiss ; but that I leave to your pru- dence. I have used the freedom with him I use to all my friends, and wish good success to it. The Martyr books are now binding, and will be done next week. I must be twice at work to-morrow, and must break off, craving your pardon for this abrupt scribble. Mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you : wishing you good success in all your affairs, I commit you to God, and rest Your assured friend and servant, D. N. I did not judge it needful to write before, and I hope there is not much now. [Letter inclosed.] MR. STRETTON TO RICHARD CIIOLMLEY, ESQ. DEAR SIR, London, Oct. 8, 1684. The last time I wrote to you was upon the diminishing of your family, and this is about the en- larging of it. I occasionally heard (though not from him) that my old friend, Mr. R. Thoresby, was a servant to your daughter, and I was not sorry to hear the news, having hinted to him my thoughts the last time I saw him, that she would make him a good wife, and I judged a suitableness on all sides. The person that first told me of it, hearing I had some acquaintance with you, desired me to write to you on his behalf, and to give you a character of him : I then declined it as needless, judging you both stood on an equal level, and the more you knew 60 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1684. each other tlie better would you like one another. I heard you offered that which would content him, and required no more than he was both able and willing to do ; that I judged the business lay only between your daughter and him : but the last night the same person told me you put some stop to it, and had wished him to cease his suit, which I was troubled at, upon your account as well as his, for I do not know where either of you can do better. Pray, if he bring this letter, make him welcome for my sake ; and consult God's glory, and your own and your daughter's comfort in this business. It may be, if you slight such an offer, you may never have the like again. If you knew him as well as some others do, you would prize him at another rate. If he do not make a good husband and a good son- in-law, I doubt Yorkshire will not afford one. His father was my most intimate bosom friend ; as worthy a person, and as useful as ever I knew any of his station, and as good an husband as ever York- shire had. And his son doth jmtrizare more than most young men I know of this age. You will value a good kind for to breed cattle out of, and will be more careful for your posterity. It may be his personal qualifications and endowments exceed most of his years : if his modesty conceal his worth, yet it is a safe covering and an ornament to it. Do jjut consider how you are outbid, both as to this world and another, to what was offered before ; and it you slip this, 1 (jucstion whether Leeds or York Alt. 27.] RALPH THORESBY. 61 can yield you a merchant every way more desirable. Do not give occasion to adversaries to open their mouths : consult God's honour, and your own and your daughter's reputation and comfort, and I think you will heartily close with it. I am in great haste, and can only present mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you and your's. Heartily praying that God would direct and succeed you in this affair, I commit you to his guidance and blessing ; and rest Your assured friend and servant. Rich. Stretton. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, October 18, 1684. Having the opportunity of sending by our good friend Mr. Buxton, who intends to visit Leeds as soon as he comes home, I could not but salute you in a few lines. I had thought Dr. Manton's book had come a week sooner than it did, else had I seen any bound then in two volumes, as I have done since, (at eighteen-pence more charge,) I should have sent it in two. If you can put that off (as methinks in this time, when opportunities are so rare, such warm, lively, spiritual discourses should be much prized, and of great use to families,) I can yet send another in two volumes. The Martyr books are printed off; they are now collating them, and within ten days will give them out to the subscribers. I see the large paper must be bound in three volumes ; I shall G2 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A-D. 1684. get yoiir's bound and lettered on the back, and sent with the first. Mr. Tallents, of Shrewsbury, hath finished his Chronological Tables, (which Mr. Bux- ton can inform you of,) which I believe will be much prized and bought up by ingenious men. We are hurried up and down, being forced to remove our lodgings, though I nnist pay for the old till Christ- mas. The last week I was glad to go out of town, upon a general search by a warrant from my Lord Chief Justice, wherein most of our names were men- tioned, and they had order to take us up. They met only with Mr. Baxter, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Franklyn, and, binding them to their good beha- viour, dismissed them. We see that is the design, to get all safe bound, that they may know where to have them and bring the net over them at their pleasure. Doubtless designed as a snare. Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Faldo are my successors in Newgate upon the same score I was ; and they had before seized worthy Mr. Rosewell, by a warrant from the Lord Chief Justice, and treated him as a traitor. They design to try him for his life, upon the evidence of two infamous women, that a con- siderate man would not hang a dog upon the credit of their evidence.* I hope God will give them some check. There are feuds at Court, and Rochester goes down the wind ; and the City Tories have been • He was found (guilty of Hit,^h Treason; l»ut pardoned, in conse- quence of Sir John Talbot's representation to the King, of tlie in- sufficient and scandalous evidence. See Dr. Toulmin's Nmle (1822,) iv. 495, 49G. JEt.27.'] RALPH THORESBY. G3 quarrelling one with another ; and it is said the Lord Keeper and the Chief Justice have had high words between them. Some are apprehensive of some great danger near this City. It was printed in two gazettes in France, one from Holland, and another from Brussels, that the Cardinal De Tree, the French Ambassador at Rome, gave it as the reason why he did not disband his army, having signed the truce, that his master did design a most glorious act to reduce these three lands to the Catholic faith, or to procure a toleration for Catholics at least. Others say the French King said publicly, it would pity one's heart to think what blood would be shed in England yet before Christmas. Many armed French come over daily in smaller numbers : but I have no such great fear of a massacre, and I think I have more weighty reasons than any they bring to favour it. Pray my hearty love and service to Mr. Dickson and Mr. Hickson, and their wives. I did intend to have written to both of them, but company coming in I am prevented. My hearty love and service to yourself, and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest Your assured friend and servant, Richard Stretton. 64 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1684. FROM RICHARD CIIOLMLEY, ESQ. SIR, Sprustie, Oct. 25, 1684. After you went from lience, I did read over the particulars you gave me of your estate ; and the truth is, I cannot but admire at your singularity in setting down old debts, and the furniture of your house, and 50/. in a chapel, laid out by your pious father, which is possible may be employed for the end it was builded for ; but, if not, I suppose the house will be of far less worth than it cost. I could comment upon every one of these particulars, and lay before you how gray-headed the furniture of the house may be, before you have a wife to inherit it. I might tell you how long the debts you reckon of, according to what you told me, hath been owing, and you showed me no bond or bill for ; but possibly I might find a wrong interpretation made of such reflections : therefore, Sir, in soberness, I am much dissatisfied with the particulars you gave me in an account of, as falling far short of that you valued your estate to amount unto, and am truly sorry that there should be any mistake betwixt us ; for, except I should go against all friends' advice, and expose my daughter to a life of temptation, I cannot obtain what I truly longed after, viz. to have so pious a son-in-law as I esteem you to be ; but your estate falling so far below expectation upon a due value, I must entreat you to give me time to consult with some of my friends and your's, that I may act as be- JEt.27.] RALPH Til ORES BY. G5 Cometh a wise parent ; and wlien I have come to a consultation with my friends, and a conchision witli- in myself, I shall impart myself more fully to you in a line or two, being not willing that you should have any more needless chargeable journeys to this place, till at least we have advised with our friends. The bearer being to come early on Monday to your town, I beg your pardon that my lines are so hasty, from so bad a pen ; and however things fall out, that yet I may be accounted one of your well-wishers, is the earnest request of, Sir, Your humble servant, Richard Cholmley-. FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M.D. DEAR SIR, Dec. 8, 1684. I HAVE been for a whole month detained in at- tendance upon the Earl of Strafford, who fell sick at my Lord of Derby's house in Lancashire, and could not get liberty to return till he was well recovered. I thank you for the manuscript, and, I assure you, it shall be as safe as in your own custody ; you oblige a great person in the perusal of it, who, if he like it, I believe will cause it to be transcribed. However, it shall be most carefully and safely re- turned. As to Mrs. 's child, the case is truly rare, being a schirrous humour in the muscles of the belly, and must have its feeding from some scro- fulous, or wen-like tumour within, Avhich occasions VOL. I. F GG ("ORRESrONM')ENCK OK [A.D. 1G84. the difliculty of its dispersing. I would have had Mis. to have left her at Pontefract, that I might have seen to tlic application of medicines, and ' have varied them, according as I had seen occasion ; and witliout that I fear little advantage can be ex- j)ected. I came home but on Saturday, and was sent for to Barnbow, from whence I send this. I liave, since I saw your letter, set apart some time to look over some other notions of my own and others, and have something in my thoughts, which I would advise to be used. But if she might stay at Ponte- fract a fortnight, and herself and a maid lodge at my house, I could hope for much better success than otherwise ; for I must use rolling of her body, be- sides the applications, which I cannot, by writing or otherwise, so well direct as I can do by my own hand, and when I should be absent my son would take care of her. The sooner she comes, the better. As to my Anticjuities, I am advised to jmblish some kind of specimen first, wliereby the lovers of this study may understand my method and design, and so may be encouraged to make subscriptions : so I am beginning to digest what I have of Ponte- fract, and so print it, as it may be a part of my first volume, and so bound up with it in its place, except- ing a sheet or so of queries and proposals, to go along witli it, and this I will hasten all I can, for I find strange slowness in making any return to my inquiries; and if this will not quicken them, they must blame themselves that neglect it. As to your JEt. 27.] RALPH THORESBV. QJ other manuscript, I have yet some use of it, but it shall be safely returned, and the catalogue of books, when I have leisure to look for it. Thus, with the tender of my kindest respects to Mr. Hickson, and his dear cousin and sister, and all friends, I remain, Sir, Your affectionate adopted father and servant, • N. Johnston. FROM REV. THOMAS SHARP. SIR, March 5, 1685. After my cordial wishes that the New World you are entered into may yield you many harvests of new joys, and your consort be the comfort of your life, and your last days together as delighful as the first, and all intermediate no worse; that you to one another may be, and jointly may inherit, bless- ings perpetually ; — the errand of these lines is to put you in mind of the Martyr-books, which I see are come forth, lest you should forget, as you did Man- ton, which yet, I confess, was more my fault than your's. I cannot say I did subscribe with you for either ; but, upon your motion, I assented, and I am much mistaken if I did not see you set down in writ- ing the Martyr-book : I am sure you told me there were to be of two sorts, one in royal paper, at 3/., the other at 2/. 106'. in common paper; and I chose to have one in royal paper, and do not repent it. I re- member also I told something of paying into your F 2 68 CORRESrONDENCE OF [AD. 1685. hands the money required, l)ut you said, it was no matter, and I, liaving no proposals to remind me, forgot it afterward ; Ijut, upon notice from you, shall send it wiien I send for the books, the collating whereof, with binding and carriage, will amount to a deal more, which you will let me know, as also for INIanton. I /ippcned, as we say, of j/ow, else should have taken some other course, for the Martyr-book I would not be without. My wife presents her ser- vice to you and your's ; and, now that you live in an unhabitable world for us, would be glad to see you In our more sociable world ; so also doth, and saith, and thinks your friend and servant, Thomas Sharp. Hearty respects to all friends, as if particularly named ; ([iiod nunc prescribere longum est. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAI{ SIR, I)ul)liii, August 4, 1685. I DO not remember that I heard from you since my last ; but it were rudeness to charge you with unkindness in it, since I heard of your marriage : for it were but just that so deserving a lady (as she must be that could charm your wary affections) should take up a great part of your time, and leave you none to throw away upon your distant friends. I considered also, that there have been few bearers you could send by. Since your last, I was at T and paid Mr. Cliarnock the 5s. he left with you, and iEt. 27.] RALPH T HO RE SB Y. 69 ordered my sister Priestley to take it of Mr. Dicken- son. I sent about 35^, 6d. to him, to be returned by your hands to Mrs. Halliday, who will call on you for it. You see every letter from me brings but new trouble with it : it is your readiness to do good makes me use this freedom. I hope you had the 50*. you laid out for me returned per Mr. Dicken- son. My service to all friends, of whose welfare I should be glad to hear. We have no news here : but now this rebellion is crushed, hope trade will re- vive. The life-guard and battle-axes in this city, being a great charge, are disbanded ; some of which, it is said, my Lord Tyrconnel (Talbot here, the. growing fav^ourite) will receive, to make up his troop. My duty to my father ; my humble service to your- self and your good lady is all necessary from. Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant, B. SIR, Since the writing of this I received your's of July 7th, and heartily congratulate your happiness in so excellent a lady. I am glad you can so sensibly prefer these pleasing bonds before what you for- merly counted sweet liberty. 1 see it is best to be undeceived by experience. I hope time will not alter your note, though some allowance be usually given to the first raptures of love : passions abate as the heat that feeds them evaporates ; but your's, I doubt not, is the judicious affection, that depends on harmony of temper, and improves every day. I wish 70 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1685. you blessings to each other in the concernments of time and eternity. But, for my part, your success, though great, will scarce embolden me to run the hazard. I have no hard thoughts of that obliging sex, but must suit my condition to my circumstances, and be cai)able to move without luggage. For the person mentioned in my father's letter, and characterized by her C sies, I am not certain whether I guess right, I suppose it is Mr. M — r's youngest daughter : she deserves much better, and will not be less accept- able upon the improvement a year or two will give her. For the contents of what Mr. Sykes writes, I shall put the question to my friend ; but since he lives some miles thence, some allowance will be expected for his trouble. Please to acquaint Mr. Sykes that Colonel Scott* is this Assizes to be tried at Wexford, upon an indictment of Higli Treason, for words sworn against him. My Lord 'Jyrconnel said he would go lliiilier to see justice done: what will be the issue is doubtful. Some Irishmen would have sworn ])lots against the English gentry in Tipperary and the Nortli ; jjut the senselessness of their stories, with just susj>icions of malice, have, I suppose, spoiled their evidence for the present. Mr. Sykes may accordingly tell me his thoughts concerning his concern ; and if he could sell it, would, I believe, take the wisest course : but I very much doubt whether he will easily have an offer he would ac- * I'robahly son of the former member for Aylesbury. See Noble's " Livea of the Regiciflew" (179B) ii. 198. iEt. 28.] RALPH THOllESBY. 71 cept. Give my service to my good cousin Hick son and his lady, and sisters, Mr. W.'s, Mr. D. and yom''s, and to all that enquire of me ; the same re- newed to yourself and lady, with whom I wish my- self better acquainted. I am, Sir, Your's. FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M.D. SIR, August 24, 1685. I DID not expect that you might be provided of such a sum yourself as I wanted for carrying on this work, but was in hopes that you, who cannot but be acquainted with many who have money, might have prevailed with some or other. I owe none to any of the town or parish ; but I have no acquaintance who are like to assist me, for having other occasions. If I cannot by your help or other be provided, I shall be like to have a perfect stop to my printing. I wish you would consvdt with Mr. Hickson, or any other my friends. As to my books, the Treatise of Monarchy will be about ten shillings, and I will allow one book in twelve to any that will get so many disposed of. I fear the first volume will not reach Leeds, for I must not be too short, nor make a volume too great. However, I desire you get me all the information you can, according to my Enquiries long since sent, whereof I have not one now by me, particularly I desire the transactions in the ^Var. As to the II 2 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1685. charter and cliaritable gifts I am pretty well in- structed. But the principal owners of the hamlets in the parisli, and the number of them, the chapels and constableries, I am not yet fully informed of, or who have any old deeds. I have not yet received back your book, but shall Mrite very shortly about it, and shall with it return your other, for I have yet some use of it. As to the catalogue, I pray, inform me particularly what it was of, and the author. Thus desiring to hear from you, as you have opportunity, with my true respects and service to yourself and Mrs. Thoresby, I remain. Sir, Your very faithful friend and servant, N. Johnston. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SlJt, London, September 8, 1685. I RECEIVED yours by Mr. D. this day sennight, at night, but I never heard from you nor of you before since I sent down the other books, only Mr. H. D. hinted they were come safe ; the very next morning I got the sheet, which (through the careless- ness of a binder, that thereljy sufficiently disobliged the bookseller) was wanting, and gave it to Mr. D. to send down by that carrier, which I hope is come to your hands, if the carrier was not gone; and with a little care they may be put into their proper place. I borrowed five pounds of Mr. D. to provide those you wrote for, and had tliought to have sent I£.t.28.'] RALPH THORESBY. 73 them to-morrow, but am prevented because that Whitlock was not bound as was promised me. You wrote to have them sent by sea ; but considering the small bulk of them, and the charge of a box, which would cost 1.S'. or 1*. 6(1. at least, and the Tables could not be put into it, and the charge of suffer- ance and wharfage, &c. would be Sd. or 10^/. at least, and the portage to the water 9(1. at least, I thought it would be as cheap, and come with less hazard and sooner by land than water. I have bought the Annotations, rough leather and lettered, two volumes for 2l. 17s. I could have bought a Whitlock, that hath been a little used, at 17s here. I pray God preserve our King in Ireland, and send him safe back again : we much need hi in. 1'hings are strangely carried here, in his absence, though the Queen, to her power, hath managed things with much wisdom and gallantry, and showed her true affection to the sober interest of England. But there are two or three men that now arc the spirit of the Government, (too great to be mentioned whilst they live, and keep the jwsts iEt. 33.] RALPH THORESBY. ] 07 they liave,) that seem to manage a quite contrary in- terest, and clog every thing that all others think tends to the honour, safety, and interest of their Majesties and their realms, and seem to be truer friends to their Majesties' professed enemies, than to their truest friends. But I hope God that hath begun, and appeared so gloriously in preserving and delivering us hitherto, will go on and perfect his begun work amongst us. This is a great mercy, that though we have too many of the instruments in the two last reigns in place, and their designs may be the same as ever, yet God hath blessed us with a Protestant King and Queen, that are true to that interest ; and I hope these sons of Zeruiah will not always be too hard for them. Mine and my wife's hearty love and service to you and yours, and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest Your assured friend and servant, R. Stretton. FROM PHILIP LORD WHARTON. SIR, London, March 3, 1691- I RECEIVED your's of the 25th February, and am very well satisfied with what you have done, as to the matter of the Bibles and Catechisms. The work being (as I think) of public good use, I hope you will continue your pains and care therein, it being like to hold for my life, and perhaps longer. I desire you to pitch upon any friends, two or 108 CORRESPONDENCP: OF [a. D. 1691. three whom you think fit, and can confide in, for tlie considering and pitching upon such children as may be fit, for the distributing such books in Oc- tober next. I sui)pose it may be convenient that endeavours be made herein, so as the cliildren may be pitched upon some time betwixt this and Whitsunday, that by tiiat you may alter any of them as shall be found requisite. Some time in September next, I liope you will use means that such of the children may attend you, who will pretend to tlie encouragement, which will be ajipointed them for such as deserve it, that is to say, one in ten. There are two books intended for each of the children of the ten, as aforesaid, and a shilling, or coals to that value, for the parents, or others who have the charge of the child ; and to the person who examines them as to their proficiency, about 26'. 6cl. for every ten they shall be concerned for. Let Mr. Thomas Sharp know, that by yesterday's post I received his undated ; and not knowing how to direct a letter to him, I return him my thanks by you, for his willingness to do any good office in this matter, and to excuse my mistake in writing to him therein, which, how it came, I know not, but he was the person I was informed was most fit. Your loving friend, P. Wharton. ^t. 33.J RALPH THORESBY. 109 FROM REV^ JO. HEPWORTII. WORTHY SIR, Bramhope, April 27, 1691. I WAS at Leeds on Saturday last, and was inform- ed that you made enquiry after me at Mr. Scott's, but I had so much troublesome business to look after, that I could not get time to wait on you. I have en- deavoured to get a sight of one of the chapel deeds, (for there were three,) but could not obtain it ; for Mr. Dyneley says that one is at my Lord Fairfax's, another with his son at London, and he knows not where the third is ; so that I cannot give you any satisfactory account concerning the settlement of our chapel maintenance. Mr. Dyneley expects his son from London at Whitsuntide, and then, he says, you shall have a deed to peruse ; in the mean time he tells me that you may have a deed from Mr. Wil- kinson of Armely, wliicli will inform you, for their's were made according to our's. All that I can say in this business is only this, tliat there were one hundred and thirty acres taken of the common, or waste, by the Lord of the Manor and freeholders, at Gs. Sd. an acre, which salary is settled by deed for ever for the maintenance of a preaching minis- ter at the Chapel of Bramhope. It was certainly a very worthy act of the Lord of the Manor, and he met with a great deal of opposition from some free- holders at first, yet with pains and patience all con- sented at last. 110 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1691. I preached the funeral sermon for the old Esquire ; what I said of him was only this: "Having done with my text, probably it may be expected that I should say something concerning tlie party deceased. You all know his extraction, tiiat he was a branch of a considerable and v.oithy family: you also know ^^ hat he hath done as to the setting up the worship of God amongst us. ' He loveth our nation, and hath built us a synagogue ;' was the fair commenda- tion which the Jews gave of a certain centurion, Luke vii. 5. • By the care and diligence of this worthy person, we have a chapel erected, and en- dowed with a competent maintenance for a preach- ing minister. 1 wish that the gentry, and those who have good estates, would follow the example, and give something to pnous uses ; that they would aug- ment ministers' maintenance where it is poor and inconsideraljle. It hath long since been observed, that scandalous livings make scandalous ministers ; he that is put to crouch for a ])iece of silver and a morsel of bread, is exposed to a sordid and sinful compliance with the ungodly humours and practices of the peojjle. But as our deceased friend ordered the matter, tlicre is (blessed be God !) no such temp- tation here. Here is a subject co})ious enough to treat on, but I shall say no more, because I would not be injurious to you in detaining you too long; but especially in regard that funeral orations are commonly interpreted to be a cunning kind of daub- Yl.t. 33.] RALPH T no 11 ES BY. HI ing, and the ])ioducts of a large conscience and mercenary tongue." I am really troubled that I can give you no better satisfaction in this business ; yet this is all that he is in a capacity to do at present, who is, Sir, 'Your faithful friend and servant, Jo. Hepwohth. FROM MR. THOMAS JACKSON. MOST KIND AND DEAR SIR, May 19th, 1691. After my most humble and hearty service unto you, being got very well and safe unto this })lace, I made bold to give you the trouble of these few lines, to acquaint you about some passages (according to my promise) that might represent themselves to me in my journey, and also about my settlement here, and the orders observed in our college.* In the first place, Sir, I give you my most humble and hearty thanks for the manifold kindnesses you have ever expressed towards me, and for the kindnesses which you were so ready to help me with, before my coming from Leeds, which I found very beneficial to me in a strange country, having met with none in all my way, that gave me any encouragement at nil. Even Sir John Hall, to whom Mr. Wilson gave me a letter, rather discou- raged than encouraged me, yet my whole trust was and is in God alone, who hath promised never to * St. Andrew's. 112 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D.1G91. forsake those that put their trust in him. I got to this place on INIay the first, liaving made as quick a dispatch of my journey as possibly I could, for soon I found travel very chargeable : for carriage for my- self and my box, it hath cost me about thirty-five shillings, besides keei)ing myself. The first, when I came, I found very kind and civil reception from Mr. Monro, He hath been in England nine or ten years, and there being no Englishmen in the whole University, nay, in the whole town, save Mr. Tur- ner, a Nonconformist minister's son, of London, and myself, who are now com})anions and bed-fellows, he gave us very good instructions, wishing us to be kind and respective each to the other, and ordered us to perform duties, each his week, which we do perform ; and I have great reason to bless God that hath ordered me so spiritual and kind a companion. I find several odd dues to pay here upon my en- trance. I (lid enter May the 5th. It is the custom here for each regent weekly to pray morning and evening in the church within tlie college, and about five in the morning to i)erlustratc the students' cham- bers, wlio, if they find in their beds, sufier a great rebuke ; at nine also at night, they perlustrate to see that all the students Ijc within the college, and the porter, after that time, will not suffer any to go out of the college ; the bursers also read their week al)out before the prayers in the church, and we do, morning and evening, sing a psalm. It is a very vEt. 33.] RALPH THOllESBY. 113 fine college, and far better entertainment than I expected to meet withal. I could wish that we had more English boys here, here being so very good order kept here. As for your directions, I observed them as much as I could, yet could not perform them as I would. The inscription upon Pig's pillar, you want, is this: — "Who would not love thee, while they may Enjoy thee walking? for thy way Is pleasure and delight : let such As see thee, choose thee, prize thee much. I did not go by Berwick, but by Kelso, which hindered my going by Dunbar. As for Mr. Henderson's tomb, his epitaph is clearly cut out, and I could not get nor hear of any that had it. But if I can hear of it, or of any Catalogue of Herriot's works, or of any other thing while I am here, I shall be very glad to plea- sure you in it. The ruins of this town do soon show the famous- ness of it : there have been six churches in it, yet none now, save the town-church and our college- church, where there is service ; and our college- church is now vacant for want of a principal ; the late principal is cast out for not conforming to the present government ; and so were all the regents in our college, save one. The town now consists chiefly of three long streets, and several wmds, as they are here called. VOL. I. I J 14 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1691. The e})itaph on Bishop Sharp's tomb is this : — " Sacratissinii Antistitis prudentissimi Senatoris Sanctissimi IMartyris, Cineres pretiosissimos sublime hoc tegit Mausoleum. Hic namque jacet Quod sub sole reliquum est, Revereudissimi in Christo Patris D. D. Jacobi Sharp, Sancti Andreee Arcliiepiscopi, totius Scotiae Priniatis, &c. Quern Philosophiae et Theologiae Professorem Academia ; Pres- byterum Doctorem Prcesulem Ecclesia ; turn Ecclesiastic! turn Civilis Status JMinistrum primarium Scotia ; serenissimi Caroli II. monarchicique imperii restitutionis suasorem, Bri- tannia ; Episcopalis ordinis in Scotia instauratorem, Chris- tianus orbis ; pietatis exemplum, pacis angelum, sapientiae oraculum, gravitatis imaginem, boni et fideles subditi ; im- pietatis perduellionis et scliismatis hostem acerrimum, Dei regis et gregis inimici, viderunt agnoverunt admirabantur. Talis et tantus cum esset, novem conjurati parricidae, fanatico furore perciti, in jNIetropolitica; sua: civitatis vicinio, lucente meridiano sole, cbarissima filia primogenita domesticis famulis vulneratis lachrimantibus reclamantibus, in genu (ut pro ipsis etiam oraret) prolapsum, quamplurimis vulneribus confossum, «clopetis gladiis ])ugionibus horrendum in modum trucidarunt, 3tio. die ]Maii, l()79, ojtatis sum, Gl." I sliall not add more at present, but my liumble service to Mr. Sharp, Mr. Wilson, and all other, my kind friends at Leeds, who may enquire of me, with my most humble service and real thanks to yourself, for all your kindnesses shown to me. I am, kind Sir, Your most humble, most obliged servant, Tiio. Jackson. I shall endeavour to answer the rest of your note Mt. 33.] RALPH THOllESBY. 115 or other observations the next. I desire to hear from you as soon as ever opportunity will permit, having a longing desire to hear from you. Pray let me know how to direct a letter to Uncle Joseph ; there is one that will go about mid June for Ire- land, from this college, who would carry a letter to him. The post at Edinburgh will not take any letters without post paid to Ferrybridge, which is three-pence, and two-pence I give between Edinburgh and here. Pray, likewise, let me know what news you have : for we never hear any here, ])eing a town of a very small trade, and no post that brings any news save the footman, that brings and carries private letters to Edinburgh, and from thence. And the Regents, and all people, are very inquisitive about news. All dis- affected persons here are called Gilly Krankas. Yesterday in the church was published a strict order for the keeping of the last Wednesday in May, and the last Wednesday of each succeeding month as a public fast. Here is very little news here. The Highlanders continue very quiet, save that a party lately came down of about twenty, who were sur- prised by a party of our's, and brought prisoners to Dundee. Pray deliver this beneath to my sister, at Mr. Ar- mitage's. You may direct for me. Student at St. Leonard's College, in St. Andrew's, Scotland. I 2 1 IG (ORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1691. FROM WILLIAM NICOLSON, ARCHDEACON (AFTERWARDS B1STI()I')0F CARLISLE WORTHY SIR, September 23, 1691. I AM heartily glad my late endeavours to serve you succeeded so well as to meet with so kind an acceptance as you mention. I am exceedingly in- debted to you for these last coins also ; and am \vondei*fully pleased to find so many among them that relate to the old kingdom of Northumberland. I have some prospect of retrieving part of the (almost) lost history of that ancient kingdom ; with the discovery of the manners, government, language, &c. of the people, more fully than the most of our antiquaries have hitherto done. The work has been upon my hands some years last past, designed in the following method : — 1. Nop^an-hymbpa-pic. Northyinbriae Regni Li- mites, Divisio et Historia Naturalis. 2. Incolanim Progenies, Lingua, Mores, Regi- men, &c. 3. Res Gestae, seu Annales. !1 Pagana (l Ebor. 2 Christiana ) ^ Lindisf sub Ei)is. ) „ ., , ^ ^ ( SCand.Casae. o. Literao et Literati. 6. Monuraenta Danica. 7. A'iliare. H. Glc).>IAM NiCOLSON. My service to Mr. Thornton and Mr. Wilkinson. FROM ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, February 12th, 1693. Your's make not that haste hither, which (it seems) mine do to Leeds. I received your last (of January 29th) on Friday, the 9th of this month ; where it halted, I know not. I have not Bale, nor is Pitz at present in my possession. But I shall be able (I think, without him) to give a good account of Dr. Gascoigne ; and what he says of Bishop Baines, you shall know as soon as I can inform you. This Dr. Gascoigne was not bred in Balliol College, (as Mr. Fuller and Dr. Savage, in his Balliofergus, say,) but in Oriel ; amongst whose writers, we have his story at large : Hist, ct Antiq. Oxon. lib. xi. pp. 106, 107. The sum of which is, he was born at Hunslet a. d. 1403, came to the University at eighteen, was ordained priest a. d. 1427, proceeded Doctor in Divinity in the year 1434, soon after, Chancellor of the University, and rector of Dighton, Yorkshire ; and died on the 13th of March, (accord- ing to our English account,) in the year 14.57. A deal more you will there meet witli ; all which, (if 128 C ORIIESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1693. you have not the book,) I will very readily tran- scribe for you. I have had an answer to my last to Mr. Gibson ; who tells me he has written to you himself, and assured you that your favours to him and his undertaking shall meet with all due ac- knowledgments from him ; and I dare engage for his performance. I should be glad to know what rea- sons persuaded Dr. Gale to fancy Condate rightly placed at Consley, (for that is the true name,) near Persebridge. I confess, I am not very forward to be of his opinion, though I have as high an esteem for the person as you can have, and could heartily wish the discovery were well bottomed. But in Antonine's Itinerary, (of the Doctor's own publish- ing,) we have the place twice mentioned ; and one Iter makes Condate to be eighteen miles from IVIancunium ; and the other sets it at twenty miles from Deva, or Chester, Now, if the Doctor can hand- somely reconcile this to his new conjecture, I shall not fpiarrel with him: only, I think Mr. Camden's Congleton answers better to the Itineraiy. When I told you I apprehended the main intent in this new edition v/as rather to correct mistakes than supply defects, you had my own conjecture. I now find the design is larger, and that we are to expect considerable additions as well as alterations. The undertakers, Mr. Gibson says, will not grudge any reasonable expense, that may advance the re- ])ute and value of the work ; and that (to this pur- pose) they will be at the charges of several new cuts JFA.35.'] RALPH TIIORESBY. 129 of antiquities, prospects, &c. It seems there were some had thoughts of giving us a new Latin edi- tion ; and, to that end, had collected a deal of ma- terials, which they do not think fit to impart. This is a mischief which will never be cured as long as we are men. Ambitious and narrow-spirited private interests, will be always interfering with, and spoil- ing, the public : and because we cannot singly have the honour and gains of any great enterprize, there- fore we must retard it all we are able : Pudet hcEC opprobria,8^r. I am, Sir, Your most faithful servant, WlI>LIAM NiCOLSON. FROM REV. CHRISTOPHER NESSE* MR. TIIORESBY. London, March 10, 1693 Grace and peace be multiplied upon you, &c. I am so far your friend (as I was your good father's friend,) that I judged it my duty to gratify a little your curiosity, rejoicing in this, that you do rather j)atrizare, and follow your fatlier's steps in the best things, as well as in a critical search after anti- quities, &c. than forsake your own mercy to follow lying vanities, Jonah ii. 8. as too many young men in this debauched day, both in city and country do ; therefore say I to you, as old Boaz said to young Ruth, "Blessed be you of the Lord," &c. Ruth iii. 10. Before your letter came to my hand, I was engaged * Concerning whom, see Calamy, Account, &c. \u 799. VOL. I. K 130 CORRKSPONDENC'E OF [A. D. 1693. to preacli my private lecture on Tuesday, (which I have ujiheld througli grace for seven years together,) and on the very next day at a public fast, where were present a thousand people ; so that besides my double work every Lord's-day, I could no sooner answer your desires, the brevity of which must there- fore be more excusable. Firsts for the account of my life in short (which, amplified, would fill a small volume, &c.) was this : I was born at North -Cave, near Beverley, in the year 1621, where also I had my education for school learning, under a choice schoolmaster, teaching me besides the Latin tongue, Greek three years, and Hebrew one year ; then went I to Cambridge at six- teen years of age, where I continued four years, though the plague broke forth in the University twice, to the breaking up of all the colleges, save some few to keep them, whereof I was one in St. John's — a most blessed time to me for improving my studies, &c. Then I commenced Bachelor, &c. ; at w hich time our Civil uncivil War broke forth in the kingdom, which caused me to go down into the country, where, after a due time, I entered into the ministry, and preached in a private chapel, under a most eminent divine, my uncle BrcarclilT; from whence I was called into Hol- derness, and aftei- a few years to Beverley. From thence to Cottingham, Dr. Winter resigning up that place to me, when he was chosen the Provost of Dublin College. After some years, I was called .'Et. 35.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 131 thence to Leeds, in a far larger harvest-labour, liav- ing some thousands of hearers ; in which place (as in the other places afore-named) the Lord was pleased to give me many souls as seals of my minis- try, and some that became ministers themselves, very useful in their orb. Generare patres is high honour vouchsafed by a gracious God to a worthless worm. All this enraged the Envious One, so that at the turn of times, I was forced from my pulpit at Leeds, (which God had so blessed, &c.) for preaching this doctrine, That all Div^ine worship must have Divine warrant ; preaching privately ever after thereabout, where God opened a door. This likewise so en- raged the adversary as to get me excommunicated three times, and the fourth time a writ De E.rcom- mwiicato capiem/o was issued out to take me, and another to take Mr. Awkland (born at Leeds), who was taken, and died in prison. But my Lord (hav- ing more work for me in this world) moved one of the Spiritual Court to give me timely notice ; so that I made my escape to London, where I have laboured in God's vineyard ever since the year 1675, including my banishment into Kent, by the Recor- der, for a year and a quarter, and my trial at Guild- hall before the Lord INIayor, for daring to preach, &c., too long to relate in particulars. Secondly, for the account of my books I have written and printed in this interspace : through the good hand of my good God upon me, [they] are, at your request, as followeth : K 2 132 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1693. 1. The Crown and Glory of a Christian. Lon- don, 1676. 2. The Christian's Walk and Work on Earth, nntil he come to Heaven. 1677. 3. The Chrystal Mirror ; or the Christian's Look- ing-glass, showing the treachery of the Heart. 1678. 4. An Antidote against Popery, &c. 1678. 5. A Discovery of Antichrist, in his Rise, Reign, and Ruin. 1679- 6. The Devil's Patriarch in the Life of Po^De In- nocent XL 1680. 7. A Spiritual Legacy for Young Men, &c. 1681. 8. A Church History from Adam to this day, and a Scripture Prophecy to the end of the world. 1681, 1682. 9. A Token for Children ; or New Year's Gift, Sec. I68f3. 10. Wonderful Signs of Wonderful Times. 1684. 11. Haifa Sheet of the Comet, or Blazing Star. 12. Three sheets of the Comet, &c. L3. A Whip for the Fool's Back, who did ridi- cule God's holy ordinance of Marriage, &c. 14. A Key with the Whip to unfold the Intrigues of Absolom and Achitophel. (Both those latter being wrote in satirical verse.) 1.5. Advice to the Painter, about the Earl of Shaftcslniry's Enlargement from the Tower. (In smoother verse, &c.) 16. An Astrological and Theological Discourse ^-t. 35.] RALPH THORESBY. ]33 upon tlie great Conjunction, ushered in by a great Comet, &c. 17. A Strange and Wonderful Trinity, or Tripli- city of Stupendous Prodigies, consisting of a won- derful eclipse, a wonderful comet, and a wonderful conjunction. All these without date were printed betwixt 1682 and 1689. 18. A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, logically discussed, and theo- logically improved. The first volume in folio begins at Adam, and ends at Moses. *19. The second volume in folio continues the History from Joshua to Christ. *20. The third volume in folio, from the Birth of Christ to the Death of John the Divine. No more ; but I am, Your's to serve you in our Lord Christ, Christopher Nesse. P. S. I have other manuscripts not printed, as 1st, An Antidote against Arminianism, commended by an epistle before it, signed by Dr. Owen, Mr. Grif- fith, and Mr. Lochier ; 2. A particular Confutation of the Romish Religion in all its Doctrines ; and 3. An ample Vindication of my Doctrine that all Di- vine Worship must have Divine warrant. I must beg a copy of this letter by any convenient messen- * These latter volumes are described moi*e correctly at the close of the letter. 134 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1693. ger at your own time, I having no time to take one, that I might gratify you the sooner, namely of the first and second accounts only, &c. [Anno 1700 was printed in 8vo. Mr. Nesse's Anti- dote against Arminianism.] 19. The second volume in folio (having the same title with the first,) begins with Joshua and ends at Solomon's birth. 20. The third volume be- gins at Solomon's life, and ends at the end of the Old Testament. 21. The fourth volume in folio (with the same title) begins at the birth of Christ, and ends at the death of John the Divine, which is an Exposi- tion of the New Testament. All these four volumes are now commended to the world by three of our learned and judicious divines, namely, Mr. Matthew Barker, Mr. George Griffith, and Mr. Samuel Slater : Ti'ia sunt omnia et in.star omnium^ 8^c. This work hath taken me wholly up from the year 89, to this year 99, and more. [22. His Divine Legacy, which is multmn in parvo : this octavo, 1700 : in whicli (Epistle to the Reader) is the list of his works, as above ; wherein he says, he had then " been a labourer in my Lord's harvest, and a vine-dresser in my master's vineyard, almost three-score years, wanting but a very little of it." The title of the Ijook is, " A Divine Legacy l)e(pieathed unto all Mankind of all ranks, ages, and sexes." — J\. T.] iEt. 35.] RALPH THORESBY. 135 FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M. D. SIR, June 20, 1693. Your's came safe to hand, for which I heartily thank you ; but it finds me now so busy in packing up my books and papers in order to a removal, (upon which account likewise, I must expect to lose a fort- night's time more ere I can get them put into order,) that I shall not be able to do any thing as I would ; but you may be assured, I will consider every cir- cumstance of your letter, and shall at the first oppor- tunity give you an account how to write to Mr. Evelyn. I know not as yet how far I may be able to help you as to the Castle* or the Vicars ; there are few towns but have such lists transmitted from one hand to another. You must consult the keepers of the records for what old charters you have. I doubt not but for the modern state of the town and parish you will get easy help, but it is to restore the intelligence of things out of memory, that antiquaries should labour. It is a pity Mr. Hopkinson's books, though full of errors, were not put in some pubHc library ; for as to surveys, rentals, old owners, and tenures, he has made a good collection. If they were lodged in the library of the Heralds' Office here, his memory * Thoresby had an opinion that there was a Castle at Leeds in the middle ages. He was now engaged on collecting for the history of his native town, and applies to Johnston, who appears in this cor- i-espondence more intent upon accpiiring than communicating in- formation. 13G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1693. would be eternized, and tliose who were the benefac- tors in bestowing them ; and learned men might have recourse to them. Though I had the perusal of some few, yet there were many more I never saw, and could now be better able to separate the wheat from the chafT. If the gentlewoman would lend you the coins to take the inscriptions, &c. it would be of use, though I fear there are not many choice ones. There was one Mr. Brearcliff, an apothecary in Hali- fax, had a great collection. There is a piece Mr. Wood, of Oxford, hath lately published of all the learned men, writers, and digni- fied clergy of that University, worth your having : my purse will not reach it. There is likewise an ingenious piece of Mr. Soinner's, published lately, of Roman Ports and Forts in Kent. If you be certain that Bishop Fisher was your vicar, I pray you let me know what proof; there is a gentleman of St. John's collecting all he can of his life, because he was a great benefactor of that College. I pray, if you can by any means, get me knowledge from Mr. Wit- ton,* how to direct a letter to Mr. Talbot, of Thornton. I think he married Mr. Witton's sister : he hath a great collection made by Colonel Talbot of that family, a sight of which would be of very great use to me, and very obliging to some of that nojjle family. I pray also, learn from Mr. Witton what he liath of Mr. White's,! useful to our studies. • Of Lupset near Wakefield. f A former Recorder of Leeds. iEt.35.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 137 But, Sir, I can add no more at present, Ijut kindest respects to yourself, Mr. Hickson, and his cousin, and all friends, who am, Sir, Your truly affectionate friend and servant, N. Johnston. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, June 23, 1693. I AM glad to hear that Leeds affords such plenty of subscribers for Camden's Britannia. I hope the performance will answer the expectation that the kingdom seems generally to have of it. I am desired to take care of Northumberland ; and I shall endea- vour to make the best remarks I can upon that part, so far as the Roman and British antiquities go. What alterations I might perhaps make in those that relate to the Saxon times, must be reserved for another purpose. My friend Mr. Gibson (the pub- lisher of the Saxon Chronicle) is deeply concerned in the undertaking ; and will, questionless, discharge himself very well. I am extremely pleased with what you tell me of Mr. Evelyn's design : but I despair of Mr. Johnston's completing his Yorkshire, if he be so deep in foreign pedigrees as you mention. One of the inscriptions you were pleased to communicate to me, shall be inserted, with a particular respect to you, in the county of Northumberland, to which it belongs. You may dispose of the hasty notes I 138 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1693. gave you, on the Runic pieces, as you please. But I tliink they will fall in more naturally in the work I have on my hands ; where they shall be enlarged, if God give me health and leisure to finish it. 1 wish we had in this kingdom, as they have in Sweden, a society for the collecting and preserving antiquities. This would do something for us. But as long as particular men engage in bvn-dens beyond their strength, we have millions of great matters at- tempted, and nothing performed to any purpose. If Mr. Johnston be so voluminous on a single family, what mountains of business will his Yorkshire bring upon liim? And, how shall I ever hope to live (whatever he himself thinks on) till the building is finished on his large foundations ? A fortnight hence our Metro-political visitation begins. As soon as that is over, I half hope to have liberty to get into Yorkshire. But, (as I told you) I have been so often disappointed, I dare resolve no more, even though I do resolve. But wherever I am, I am witli great sincerity, Sir, Your very faithful servant, William Nicolson. ^t. 36.] RALPH THORESBY. 139 FROM DR. OBADIAH WALKER. SIR, Aug, 27, 1693. My ill health will beg pardon for my incivility in not speedier returning to your most obliging letter. The infirmities of old age press eagerly upon me ; yet so that I sometimes get a little respite. I return you my hvimble thanks for your kind offer of the perusal of your coins : might it be done without in- convenience, I would entreat the sight of what an- cient British, or what Roman concerning Britain, as also those of the Saxons, w^hich I did not peruse in the edition of the History of King Alfred. Your Ru- nic ones also will be useful to us : I value most those which have faces upon them, the reverses being generally of the governors of the minting-places, or the names of the mint-masters ; which is also the like in those of ancient Gallia and France : the reason might be, that their evil coining might be known and punished, but this renders their reverses not so considerable as those of the Romans. If that Description of Coins and Medals be thought worthy of a second impression, I will take the con- fidence to beg your assistance, because we shall then add the description also of particular coins. Your inscriptions will, I doubt not, be very ac- ceptable to the editors of Camden, but my province only concerns the coins. That medal of Kendal is very considerable, for thereby he ajipears to have been a very eminent and considerable person. Turcu- 140 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1693. pcllerius, if I mistake not, was General of tlie horse of the Order,* and belonged to the EngHsh nation ; whereof, no doubt, but the most worthy was chosen. I have seen medals also of others of our nation who were eminent amongst that honourable and famous Order; but this is more notable, because it expresseth his presence at that famous siege, and in so eminent an office, where the great Mahomet was worsted. The memorial of your Mr. Harrison deserves a con- siderable place in the history of that province, but, as I said, that is not my task. Most humbly thank- ing you for your former favour to me upon Dr. Johnston's account, and this present one, I take leave, and remain. Sir, Your humble servant, Obadiah Walker. FROM AWNSIIAM CHURCHILL. SIR, Aug. 29, 1693. I RECEIVED this letter from Mr. Walker yester- day, and your letter and coins for him this day, which shall be delivered him to-morrow ; interim, send the above forward ; and am much obliged for your favours to us in this matter, which shall be always acknowledged, by Sir, Your servant at command, A. Churchill. * Of St. John of Jerusalem. There is an engraving of this famous mcrlal in the Ducat Ui. It is now in tlie cabinet of the Duke of Devonshire. 7F.t. 36.] llALril TIIORESBY. 141 FROM AWNSIIAM CIIURCIIILL. HON. SIR, London, September 21, 1693. I WAS yesterday with Mr. Walker, who gives his service to yon, and will soon restore the treasure you were so kind to send him. Your generous encou- ragement to our work of Camden has brought farther trouble on you. Dr. Gale, I thought, would have taken care of all Yorkshire for us, but other affairs, and his living out of the county of York, will not suffer him to do more than the North Riding. So I have ventured to be so bold to send you, per Leeds carrier, carriage paid, Mr. Camden's account of the West Riding of Yorkshire, interleaved, and shall be much obliged if you will in the blank pages correct what is amiss ; add what is omitted ; insert what discoveries have been made since Camden corrected the map ; where the possessor of any thing described in Camden is changed, to put the name of the present possessor : — I mean, to do any thing in any manner, how or what you shall judge fit, to better this our work. We are obliged for your favours to make all the public acknowledgments of your generosity in this affair, and shall be glad of all opportunities of owning how much I am. Sir, Your very obedient faithful servant at command, A. Churchill. 142 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1693. FROM DR. NATHANIEL JOHNSTON. SHI, I ASSURE you it hath neither been forgetfulness of you, nor of the many favours I have received from you, that hath hindered my giving due returns to your kind letters ; neither do 1 desist or slacken in the pursuit of the antiquities of Yorkshire. But having undertaken to collect the antiquities of the noble family of Shrewsbury, of which I have now got fair written upon royal paper, and ruled and Ijound, four large folios, consisting of two or three hundred slieets apiece, wherein all the letters of state, intelligence, or transactions, are written at length ; and having other two volumes to complete the work in hand, but far from being finished ; these things, together with the distractions of my private affairs, have hindered me from entering upon the suljject you desired, till I could go through with it. But having now got something beforehand with my other work, I resolve to take the time while those are fair writing out to go through all my indexes, and collect whatever I find relating to Leeds ; and when I have so done, I will digest them into a methodical strict of time, and transmit them to you that you may thereby compare them with what you have digested, and if you think fit to print it I shall give my consent. 1'here is one tiling I must request you will forth- with acquaint me with, that is, the names of all ALt.36.] RALPH THORESBV. 143 the towns, hamlets, and chapelries which are with- in the parish of Leeds, beginning at any point of the compass, and so going round ; and besides the name, you must let me know if any of them be manors, and who either now, or have been for- merly, the principal owners. I suppose you have the opportunity to peruse what ancient charters you have had granted to your town, of making it a borough as well as a corporation. Transcripts of those are necessary, if very old. Let me have only an extract of the heads of those materials you have, and the dates, as also what method you take in compiling, digesting, and then I can better note in the indexes I must go through in the search- ing through all my books, what may be proper to search for. I assure you I will not near give oVer till I have ransacked all my books, which I am sure will take me up a month at least, of all the spare time I can have. There is a gentleman of great worth, who is collecting an history of all the coins he can find, which have been made, either ancient or modein, in England. It is the most ingenious Mr. Evelyn, who hath written so excellently his Sylva and Po- mona, and lately a larger edition in folio. A noble- man hath spoke to me to afford him what assistance I can. I remember I had some few given me that were found, as I was told, by a woman feighing ing, in the lands belonging to a Leicestershire V01-. I. K 8 144 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1693. gentleman, who married the widow of Mr. Sunder- land, — I have forgot his name and the place, but I think the estate lay towards AVetherby, and was bouglit of Judge Westers. I had but four, and they were of Danish and Saxou kings ; but when I was robbed, since I came hither, of all the little jets, money, rings, and medals, that I had here, those were taken with the rest. I pray, tlierefore, enquire of all persons you can, who have any English coins, or Saxon, or Roman ones, here coined, and let me know in whose hands they are, and what you have in your own custody. The gentleman wlio desires to print your book De Hominio is often soliciting me to hasten its sending up. The learned men of this age are endeavouring, in all places, to publish such manuscripts as have been composed by learned men ; and it is pity they should be denied such things, m hen they are at the cliai-ge only for public good. You will have the honour to be mentioned as the procurer of it, and a book presented you, and your manuscript again ; tlierefore I pray deny not the favour : and if you send it to Mr. Ross, he may take security for the true restoring of it, and the sooner you do it the more acceptable it will be. It rejoiceth me very much to find you persist in that study ; I would every market-town in Yorkshire had one so inclined. I pray inform me, if you can, who hath the propriety and possession of the several manuscript books ^.t. 36.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 145 Mr. Stephenson wrote : he had a reasonable collec- tion of coins, &c. He promised in his life, and Mr. Abbot assured me he promised to him, that he would leave them as a legacy to me ; but I never heard more of them. Sir, when you write to me by post, if you write any time before the 24th of June, you may either direct your letter to me, at the Iron Balcony, in Leicester-street, next Lei- cester Fields, (or, when you send by a friend) to save charge of postage ; for I must deal truly with you, my condition is such, that I can scarce bear the charge of post letters, but my friends which know it, enclose letters to me in a cover, directing " For the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas Bishop of St. David's, to be left at the Iron Balcony, in Leicester-street, next Leicester Fields," and write Fratik, and give such a mark as 3, or || ; and then I can distinguish them from those to himself; for he orders all his letters to be directed to be left at my house. In such a cover they enclose what else they send to me, and seal it, and only superscribe " For the Doctor" without any more ; and so, if by chance it be carried to him, he sends me it without opening. I pray. Sir, let me know who got the late Re- corder the learned Mr. White's library. I doubt not but he had many learned collections. I am glad to hear there are any gentlemen who are endeavour- ing to collect materials for the antiquities of our county. I pray, in your next, acquaint me more VOL. I. L 14G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. particularly with their names and qualities, and how to write to them if I have occasion. I pray give my kind respects to Mr. Hickson and his cousin, and all friends who inquire after my welfare, and accept the very kindest remembrance and well wishes to yourself and Lady, from. Sir, Your cordial friend and servant, N. Johnston. FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M.D. Sm, January 30, 1694. I AM extremely joyful to hear from you. Accord- ing to my promise I [searched] all my manuscripts by their indexes, for the town and family of Leeds, in May last ; and going into the country in the latter end of June, I took, besides other books, two or three large ones, to make a more complete index for them ; but it i)leased God that in July I fell into a violent fever, and was not in a [condition] to return to town again till November, and have had several relapses and a great cold. I thank God, within this fortnight I find myself more sensibly to recover than of many months before. All the spare time I have had ])ath been necessarily employed in perfecting the fifth volume of the Antiquities of the Noble Family of Shrewsbury, and I have two more to perfect ere I can (:oiu\)\Qtc that great work. I'he five volumes are fair u rit in royal ))aper, the least of them com- preliends I.jO sheets; these I am obliged to finish jEt. 36.1 RALPH THORESBY. 147 in hopes of a gratuity to relieve my wants. As soon as I can get some work beforehand for the tran- scriber, I shall resume the business of Leeds. I knew nothing, till I received this letter, of your sending up the Manuscript de Hominio: I will, as soon as possibly I can, give the gentleman notice^ I did yesternight wait on the noble jierson who spoke to me about Mr. Evelyn's design, and showed him your obliging letter : he saith he is at present out of town, but he will shortly impart the matter to him. I thank you for informing me where the gentleman lives who undertakes the new edition of Camden's Britannia. I will give some assistance if I find the undertakers are qualified to adorn it. As to the Castle of Leeds, I find it of no considerable note as yet. You must have a care you misapjily not what is recorded of Leeds, in Kent, to your town ;* but I respite that till I can give you my notes. Want of books and money are great hindrances to me. When you write to me, be pleased to seal your letter and only endorse it " For the Doctor ;" put it in cover and direct it " For the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas Lord Bishop of St. David's, at Mr. Morer's, Postmaster, over against Axe-yard, in King's-street, Westminster," and write " Frank" upon it. If you enclose the letter in a cover with sucli a superscrip- tion as I have mentioned, it will come safe, without charge, to me. * This caution was too little heodLHl by Thoiesby, and, what is more extraordinary, hy his more acute and more learned successor L 2 148 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1694. As to Mrs. Yates, I hope your lady may safely rely ujion her care and skill, for I assure you she took all the best ways she could to be fully in- structed, not only by [various] midwives, but had di- rections from Dr. Chamberlain, at my desire, as well as from myself, and showed herself so capable of in- struction, and so diligent and cautious, as I cannot but judge she may be eminent in the profession. I must desire you to send to all your ingenious friends, to give you an account of the Roman high- way, which comes from tlie south, and is conspicu- ous south of Doncaster, and so passeth all along to Bramham Moor, &c. ; only I desire you would write to some about Doncaster, and so to one or other every six miles, that might give you the perfect Itinerary, together witli all the branching ways wliicli go from it, and to what places they go. This will be a very great liclp to me, for, besides what I have noted elsewhere, there are manifest traces of its deviation about Aberford to Berwick, north-west, and to a place called Maiden Castle, south-east. You may be assured, if God spare life, health, and liberty, as soon as I have perfected that work, now in the loom, I will fall upon digesting what I have not yet done of Yorkshire, and no other study shall divert me. The work is great, and deserves to l)e ehiborately done, and my chiefest work will Ijc to cull out the choicest tilings only ; for I believe I have materials for ten volumes, if I should enlarge as some would ; l^it I hope to compress iEt. 36.] RALPH THORESBY. 149 them in two or three. Thus, Sir, having given you as much satisfaction as I am able, that you are not out of my thoughts, and of tlie true reason of my long silence, I hope you will grant me your pardon. And you may assure yourself, as much as my liberty will permit, I shall take care of what else you write about, and remain. Sir, Your assured affectionate friend and servant, N. Johnston. My service to Mr. Hickson and his cousin, and all my w^orthy friends with you. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON, AFTERWARDS BISHOP OF LINCOLN AND OF LONDON. WORTHY SIR, London, Jan. 30, 1694. As I am accidentally concerned in the new edition of Camden, I cannot but trouble you with my ac- knowledgments for the great encouragement that work has received from you. Could but men be brought to the same accuracy and diligence in their respective counties, what a glorious book should we then have! Mr. Churchill has received your im- provements of the West Riding of Yorkshire, which shall be delivered to Dr. Gale, according to your order ; and the directions of your last letter shall be carefully observed. I heartily wish we could have notice of all the signal benefactions throughout England, that they might be inserted in their proper places. As it is a respect due to the memory of 150 COIUIESI'ONDENCE OF [A.D. 1694. such men, so would it induce a great many (who j)erhaps are not otherwise too charitably disposed) to follow their example, upon a prospect of being in- serted in a new edition of Camden. There are men of tliat vain-glorious temper, who, if they were not in hopes of some such thing, would probably dispose of their money to worse uses. I received a letter this morning, from Mr. Nicolson, of Carlisle, to whom you are very much obliged, if giving a man his just character, lay any obligation upon him. He is pleased to desire my impartial perusal of your's and his own notes ; but I am pretty well satisfied that they u ill not be much better for any thing which my mean abilities can do to them. However, I shall take care to do you justice, and not use you as I am told a certain gentleman of Pomfret has done. You have heard, I suppose, that Sir Henry Chauncy, a gentleman of Hertfordshire, has wrote the history of that county, and has it ready for the press ; and Dr. Hopkins is employed to methodize the posthumous papers of a gentleman, who had the same design for Worcestershire. ]\Ir. Kennet is printing the anti- quities of Sir William Glynn's seat and estate at Ambrosden, in Oxfordshire, and has been very nice in his observations upon camps, places of battle, coins, Sec. as they lay in his way. How comes this liai)py inclination in the kingdom ? Is it the noise of Camden that has raised men's a})petites, or are we weary of figliting abroad, and so, willing to em- j)loy ourselves at home ? If we could be persuaded ^t. 36.] RALPH THOllESBY. 151 to part with the French baubles and fashions, and turn our thoughts to old musty monuments, I fancy we should make a very good change, and should find no reason to repent of our bargain. But I beg your pardon for detaining you thus long ; and if you are for the future pestered with letters and queries, I must protect myself under a plausible pretence of working for the public. To begin the trouble you are like to have, I must desire your patience in the perusal of a little treatise about Portus Iccius, where Julius Caesar took shipping for Britain. It is lately published at Oxford, and I have delivered one to Mr. Churchill to send to you. Your acceptance of it, and the least interest in your acquaintance, will be a great honour and happiness, to Sir, Your very humble servant, Edm. Gibson. FROM AWNSHAM CHURCHILL, THE BOOKSELLER. SIR, London, 6th February, 1693. I RECEIVED your's of the 17th past, with the Saxon coin, which have communicated to Mr. Walker, who gives you his humble service ; he will take care of it, and your others, received before ; and hope suddenly to give you an account that I have them in my hands, to deliver to your order. I am much obliged for your additions to West Riding of Yorkshire, which shall show Dr. Gale, as you com- mand. We shall take all possible care as to Mr. 152 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1694. Seidell's notes or references, and throughout the whole work. If you have any thing else to commu- nicate, fit to be inserted in any other county of Eng- land, pray favour us with them. I sent Mr. Gibson's Portus Iccius per Leeds carrier, from Bear in Basinghall-street, Friday last, carriage paid. Sir, I am your much obliged servant at command, A. Churchill. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, Febraary 10^ 1694. I RECEIVED your's, and am very well pleased witli the contents of it. I received, the same post, a letter from Mr. Manlove, giving me the same ac- count, and assurance of it. The next day after I received your former letter, I wrote to Mr. Billingsley by the post, to hasten that Derbyshire minister, (which he had wrote to me aljout) to Leeds. His name is Mr. Feme ; and, if possible, that he might be there the next Lord's-day after mine came to hand, which would be on Monday or Tuesday at the farthest ; and I wondered I never heard from him nor you farther ajjout it. Now, by your's, I conclude that letter to him miscarried ; for I wrote to him about business of concernment to himself, which I think he would have answered. 1 hope the providence of God will answer my expectations, in a suitaljle provision for Leeds and Hull, and the jiersons I first tliought of for each of them, will ])e iEt. 36.] RALPH THORP^SBY. 153 comfortably settled with them. Our public affairs look with no i)leasing aspect upon us. We have many sad omens and presages of dreadful confusion, if not desolation, coming upon us. A perverse spirit of division seems to be mingled amongst us, in all greater or lesser societies, whether public or more private. Our King is very severely censured by those that do not consider his circumstances, nor what a Parliament they have sent him. God seems angry with the nation (as well he may), and so hides counsel from men, and leaves them to take such courses as will not be for their own or the public good. Our Parliament will give him money, but study to do it in such a way as shall be most un- pleasing to the people, and make his government uneasy to them. They talk of another quarterly poll [tax] &c. My hearty love and service to you and your's, and to all friends. T commit you to God, and rest in haste, Your's, Richard Stretton. I just now hear that the King hath changed our Lieutenancy, and taken my Lord Mayor's list, who hath left out forty Tories, and put in thirty-four honest men. Mr. Frankland's indictment we liave gotten quashed yesterday ;* and it is said the King will incline to Whiggish counsels. We talk of an honest judge, Mr. Samuel Eyres; I believe it is not vet done, thougrh resolved on. He is the Arch- bishop of Canterbury and my Lord Keeper's friend, and they have the King's ear and heart. * See Calaniy, Account, &c. p. 28?. 154 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. FROM NATHANIEL JOHNSTON, M.D. SIR, March 8, 1694. I AjNI constrained to write to you by a very sur- prising accident. Mr. Ross having made some scru- ple to deliver your manuscript to a gentleman I sent with your letter, I went myself to him, and agreed in giving him a receipt and promise under my hand for the restoring it, and an obligation from the gen- tleman such as he would desire, or draw up himself. But wlien the gentleman carried my writing, and offered him security, he denied to deliver it ; and upon my writing to him to desire the reasons, I re- ceived a letter from him, whereof I here send you the copy, as I have desired him to send you mine to him, or the copies. His is as followeth : — sill, March 6. I RECEIVED your's of the 28th of February. I return, You charge me with a promise to deliver a book : — so far is trutli : I did so : and it is as true, it was upon condition which was left to me. I have, and always had, a respect for you ; but in this case, pardon me, if I tell you, as I had no book from you, nor for you, except I pleased, and * without any disguise,' as you are pleased to phrase it, I have reasons and instructions, since I saw you last, that I should not part with tlio said book to you, nor any one from you, upcm any terms ; and although it be your j)r()viiice to make gain of printing books, it is Mi.36.] RALPH THORESBY. 155 not mine. And I am, as it is well known to some, as much for the honour of Scotland, to say nothing of particulars, as any man upon the face of the earth. I shall add no more, but shall satisfy Mr. Thoresby what I have done, and tliat I am. Sir, Your real friend and servant, RocEiiT Ross. Sir, this letter I had not answered, but for the ex- pression of my making gain by printing of books ; whereas I can testify, I have lost five hundred of pounds, and never got hitherto what I laid out ; and in this I had neither, directly or indirectly, either a proposal or design of intermeddling in the printing, or so much as desired a book. All I should have meddled in it had been to have seen you had been honourably mentioned, and have had one or more books. I have nothing further to add, but to request that according to that freedom and candour hath been, and else shall be preserved on my part betwixt us, I may know grounds of this disappointmentj and I shall give you no further trouble in this matter, who am, Sir, Your most affectionate loving friend and servant, Nathaniel Johnston. My true service to all friends. When you see Mrs. Yates, tell her I shall shortly answer her letter. 15G CORllESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1694. FROM AWNSIIAM CHURCHILL. Sni, London, April 3, 1694. Mr. Walker, in a few days, will hav^e finished the Saxon coins, and then shall follow your orders about them. Mr. S 's plate, I believe, cost 21. \0s. the graving. Dr. Gale is out of humour, and so was I, and sent for the North Riding of Yorkshire back from him ; for I found there Avas no dependance, — and staying for him we are quite destitute, — for that part, without it be some little, may be in Mr. Nicolson's account of the kingdom of Northumberland. Your very generous encouragement to our work has emboldened me to send you that Riding, per Leeds carrier Friday, that if any thing occurs to you, you would be pleased to mention it, and send it me up forthwith. I ought to ask so many pardons, and apologies, that I forbear, at present, all. Sir, Your \ery much obedient and faithful servant. At command, A. Churchill. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. WORTHY SIR, April 1.3, 1694. Tin: exactness you have shown in the West Rid- ing tempted us to desire more of your assistance,* and it is the misfortune of this work that your good inclination to be farther as.sisting to it, should be * The North Riding.— R. 'J'. iEt. 36.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 157 unluckily cut off by other business. You refer us to Dr. Gale, and add, that he is excellently qualified to help us : for my part, I could heartily wish he were either less qualified, or more ready to serve the world with his abilities. How it comes to pass, I know not, that these men should be so much wedded to their nostrums ; and that learning, one of the most sociable, best-natured things in the world, should beget in their tempers a sort of morose re- servedness. But so it is ; and nothing must be ex- pected from that quarter. No ; Mr. Churchill had a flat denial ; and, for some reasons, I cannot think fit to court him into a compliance. In your next, please to insert the inscription of Archbishop Thores- by's seal, because there is something I doubt of. What is it comes between Johannis and Sancti ? is it et ? This day, Mr. Walker was desiring a little of my assistance, to put the coins in order, that every man may have his own. I suppose we shall set aside some day next week for that business, and afterwards your's shall be carefully delivered to any one you shall think fit to trust with the carriage of them. Mr. Walker has now almost finished, and the whole body consists of eight plates, which are very beautiful, and will be a great ornament to the book. So soon as there is one entirely finished, you shall have it sent, enclosed in a letter, and from thence you may judge of the rest. Something I had to say more, but it is now out of my head. I am, Sir, your obliged humble servant, Edmund Gibson. 158 CORRKSPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. FROM MR. THOMAS JACKSON. TIONOrRED SIR, Edinburgh, April 19, 1694. That goodness and candour that always disco- vered itself in all your actions, especially towards me, both when in England, and also since my coming into this country, encourages me yet to attempt the renewal of that familiarity, which you was pleased to show unto me when in your parts, and now, by reason of a long absence, and remote distance, seems to be decaying. My ambition, per- haps, may be accounted too high, and consequently my fall tlie greater, yet my recourse shall still be to that goodness that has hitherto pardoned my imper- tinencies. Since my removal from St. Andrew's to tliis place, I wrote to you, acquainting you with the reasons of my removal, which, perhaps, might sound harsh to some, as a thing unusual in England, yet practicable enough here, and, when to one's advan- tage, I thJDk lawful too. I did hope for two or three lines from you since that, yet find myself dis- appointed, which I look u})on rather as an effect of your important concerns and continued hurry of affairs, than a decay of that love, which is not mea- sured by the external senses. I should have wiitten also since, but had several dissuasives in my own breast, i)erhaps founded ujion a false foundation. I now perceive that my return into England, God concurring, will be next spring at the utmost. Mr. Stretton gives me encovu'agement that he will use ^t. 36.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 159 his endeavours to support me till then, which I doubt not but will be much to my interest and satisfaction, especially thereby enjoying the assist- ance of the learned and worthy Mr. George Cam})- bell, Divinity Professor here, whose fame would extend itself far, did not his too great modesty pre- vent it. As for philosophy, I have already passed the time required to be spent in that study, and the class that I was in was dismissed about the begin- ning of this month ; so that I think very shortly, if things answer my expectations, to take my degree of Master of Arts, and the rest of the time I stay I shall spend under Mr. Campbell. I hope you will not withhold that assistance that you was hitherto pleased to help me with, which if you do not, pray, if you judge convenient, return it by Mr. Stretton, and there is no question but it will come safe ; for his encouragement to me is beyond my expression, and also expectation. He lets me want for nothing that is requisite for one in my station. As for pub- lic occurrences, what I hear I shall acquaint you with. Yesterday, in the morning, about five o'clock, his Grace the Duke of Hamilton died in the abbey of Holyrood-house. I sui)pose he sickened at York, as he was coming from London hither ; he was brouglit in a sedan, the night before he died, into the town ; his deatli probably wnll make some change in court, he being a man that had the great- est sway here. In the Forth, over against the Castle, lie four English men-of-w ar, w Iio are come to IGO CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. convoy the forces designed for Fianders ; there are about twenty-seven more ah'eady come ; it is thought that in a day or two they will be near one hundred sail : they have on board four or five regiments of foot, besides a great number of recruits, who in two or three days at the utmost, if the wind be fair, will set sail. Upon Tuesday last, at night, our Assembly w as dissolved ; they were unanimous all along, and parted very cordially. I had tlie fortune, by the favour of a friend, to be several times present in the assembly, and especially both the sessions of the day wherein they were dissolved. In the former part of the day, my Lord Carmichael, his Majesty's Commissioner to them, read a short letter from the King to tliem, thanking them for their loyalty ex- pressed in their's to him, hoping they would always be ready, in future times, to testify the same, and assuring them of his protection. At night, before they were dissolved, Mr. John Law, Minister of the New Church in this town, Moderator to them, spoke publicly to the Commissioner, desiring him to return his Majesty thanks for his kind letter, and that he would testify their loyalty to him, and intercede with the King, that the Session of next Assembly might not be so long put off as this was ; and then he spoke to the Commissioner himself, thanking him for his favour and concurrence with them during this Session. After which, the Commissioner, in the King's name, dissolved them, and a])ix)inted another to meet on the first 'J'hursday in April next. iEt. 36.] RALPH THORESBY. 161 Then the Moderator prayed, and sung a psalm ; and so they parted. I suppose their Acts may be printed, which, if they be, I shall send, if ever occa- sion offer. Having already, I fear, been too large, I shall not add only my service to all friends at Leeds, with my humblest service to yourself, thanking you for all the undeserved favours conferred upon me, and am, dear Sir, Your ever affectionate and humblest servant, Thomas Jackson. FROM MR. archdeacon NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, May 7, 1691. A LETTER I had this morning from your neigh- bour Wilkinson puts me in mind of the debt I owe to yourself Since the receipt of your last, I have been a little throng, and have been forced to tres- pass upon many of my friends, in delaying to acknowledge the like favours. A deal of my spare hours were employed in finishing the county of Northumberland, which I have now sent up to our friend Gibson, in such a dress as I had leisure to put upon it. I have given him as large marginal notes as, I think, the method of the designed work will admit of. I could have made pretty large additions, but I am still of opinion that there will be enough of that kind to make a second volume of the Britannia, which I am very desirous may be vmdertaken, as soon as this is finished. It will certainly be a pro- VOE. I. M 162 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. posal that will suit Avitli the humours of the book- sellers, who must be savers by it ; and I cannot see why the ])roject should not be acceptable to the antiijuaries. I would gladly bear a share in it ; for I hate the monojiolizing of such a business. It is that which renders all our performances of this kind so extremely lame, imperfect, and erroneous. All the great improvements in learning are now carried on in France and Ital}'^, by societies of per- sons proper for the several undertakings. I know no reason wliy history and antiquities should not be this way cultivated, as well as any other Belles Lettres whatever. At Upsal, in Sweden, they have such a college of anti(|uaries. And why should not we have the like in England ? We have the best stock of true remains of anticpiity of any nation, perhaps, in Europe ; and yet our histories hitherto have been most lazily written. Some time before I sent up Northumberland, I furnished Mr. Gibson with a few corrections of several of Camden's pas- sages in other parts of this province. Among others, I mentioned Dr. Gale's conjecture upon Condate, l)ut I did it with all the tenderness and respect that you could have desired ; so that you need not, as I think your last intimated, be in any pain upon that account. You may assure yourself I will never, to the best of my understanding, give any occasion to others to lessen the esteem tliey ought to have of you and your friends ; since I do, without a com- VEt. 36.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 163 pliment, tliink it my own great happiness to be thought. Sir, Your affectionate and obliged friend and servant, William Nicolson. FROM JABEZ CAY, M.D., OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. SIR, Scaleby Castle, June 27, 1694. I AM glad to hear that you have at last got the Astroites which I promised you. I doubt they have not answered your expectation, no more than mine, being all of them small, and most but ill-figured. I was ashamed to have been so long in performing my promise, but more so when I saw I must per- form it in so pitiful a manner : they grow upon the rocks in the Holy Island, and the sea every tide washes them down, and so, when the tide is out, the inhabitants may gather them. They call them there Saint Cuthberts beads, and tell many things fabu- lous enough touching the hammering and making of them ; but this account which I here send you is the true one. Dr. Lister has often found them in beds of clay in Yorkshire, and they have likewise been found in lead-mines in Wales, and the best account of them that I can recommend you to is a discourse of rock plants, by Mr. Beaumont, in the Philosophi- cal Transactions ; but being at a distance from my books, I cannot tell you the number, but, as I re- member, it is in the thirteenth or fourteenth volume. M 2 164 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. Tlie world is obliged to you for what you have done towards this new edition of Camden, but I am sorry that your coins have met ill handling. I heard once that one Dr. Johnston, I think, of Pontefract, had made a great progress in a natural history of Yorksliirc, after the manner of Dr. Plot's, of Oxford- shire and Staffordshire. I would gladly know if the gentleman be living, and goes on with the design ; or if dead, what becomes of his papers ? If I were in health I could possibly help to furnish your cabi- net with some few natural curiosities ; but a tedious sickness (as Mr. Manlove can acquaint you) has rendered me utterly imserviceable to myself and all my friends. They are very busy in this county working the copper-mines again, and being here, I shall, perhaps, be able to procure you some speci- mens of their copper ores ; if they may prove ac- ceptable, you may freely command them from, Sir, Your servant, Jabez Cay. You may direct your letter to me at Scaleby Castle, in Cumberland, to ])e left at Mr. Simpson's shop in Carlisle. rilOM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. HONOURED SIR, July 18, 1694. The enclosed was delivered me by Mr. Walker, with orders to send it away with all speed, that you might receive that satisfaction which he con- JEt 36.] RALPH THORESBY. ] G5 fesses himself, both in gratitude and civihty, obliged to give you. If any thing else be wanting, I hope at the up-shot all will appear, when we make our general inspection, upon finishing the book. The curious draught of Cambodunum is safe, with the seal and the inscription upon the card. We are now advanced as far as Leicestershire, which you must own to be tolerable progress. Our friend Mr. Nicolson was unluckily disap- pointed of the satisfaction he lately promised him- self in your good company, and the sight of your museum. But if I go into Westmorland next summer, I hope I shall have better fortunes. Sir, Your very humble servant, Edmund Gibson. FROM JABEZ CAY, M.D. SIR, Scaleby, July 18, 1694. I SHALL, according to your desire, make what inquiry I can after the gentleman you mention. Within ten days I think to be at Whitehaven, where I am promised a full account of every thing that concerns him, and you may then expect to hear from me. I know you have a great collection of old Roman inscriptions, as well as other curiosities, but I sup- pose you have been pretty well plundered, for the furnishing of the new edition of Camden. As a fresh supply thei-efore, I here send you a couple that 166 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. will not be in that book, and I believe you never saw either of them before. That which is drawn in colours, is but a small stone, not above half a yard higli, and of a })roportionable Ijreadth ; it was found in the river Irdin, not far from this place. The letters are shallow, and several of them (as you may see by the figure) are wanting; but what is fair, may give occasion to read it thus : Deo Sancto Belatu- cadro Aulus Decius Catulhnus Vovit Sacravit. If you or Dr. Plot, or any of your ingenious corre- spondents think it should be read otherwise, I desire to be better informed ; for I pretend not to under- stand these matters. There have been, as I am informed, some other altars taken up here, dedicated to this same Belatu- cader, one, I think, is in the old edition of Camden. I suppose he has been some old British god, that the Romans have thought themselves ol)liged to worship as the God of the place. It was the humour, you know, of the Assyrians, after they had led away the ten tribes captive, to desire the priests of Israel to go teach the new colony of Assyrians, the manner of the God of the land : and, I suppose, is a conceit that prevails among all the Heathen parts of the world. Another inscription to some Topical God I have here sent you, but much defaced, it having been used as a pig-trough, so that the inscription, by constant rubbing against the ground, is all worn out, saving the name of the God and two or three letters in the last line : it was taken out of tlie wall, within ^t. 36.] RALPH THORESBY. 1G7 two miles of this place, and both this and the former are here in the possession of my brother Gilpin, as likewise is that which I left with you at Leeds. Here is half of another altar, which has been a very noble one, dedicated DEO SOLI .... MIR. but this is all I can make out. There is an A in the last line of the second inscription made thus : A which some may perhaps think worth the minding. If Dr. Johnston design so many volumes as you mention, he overacts his design. Dr. Plot's book of Staffordshire, I think, is too big ; and the study of Antiquities being a little barren, I doubt Dr. John- ston's volumes would scarce sell, without a consider- able mixture of natural history to recommend them ; and for performing that part well and succinctly, perhaps Dr. Lister (if living) is as fit as any man. If you write to me within ten days, you may direct to me at William Gilpin, Esq.'s, at Whitehaven ; after that time, if I have strength, I undertake a journey to Bath. My service to Mr. Manlove, when you see him. Sir, your servant, Jabez Cay. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, July 26, 1694. Your kind letter is the welcomer, because it comes w^hen I was heavily reflecting upon the un- happiness of my late ramble. The paying my 1G8 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1694. respects to yourself and Dr. Richardson was what I more longed for than ever I did for the seeing of two persons, whose faces I am so little acquainted with. But it may be, the state of my health was not fit to admit of sucli a glut of pleasure as that would liave been. My horse was saddled for Leeds on the day I had mentioned ; when presently, that afternoon, company and the advice of my friends drew me to Scarborough. I did, indeed, counterfeit health and ease the best I could, whilst I stayed at Goldesborough ; but my dear kinsman, the Arch- deacon of Nottingham,* who accompanied me, can tell you I travelled in much pain to Scarborough, where, I am satisfied, I should have the most effec- tual cure for my distemper, if I could have afforded myself leisure enough to have drunk the waters. I am safely (I thank God) returned home, far from being wholly at ease in body, and much less so in my mind, till your very obliging letter a little re- vived me. Methinks I do not yet altogether despair of seeing you and Leeds : and the happiness will be somewhat the greater, (if it be capaljle of any in- crease,) in having the opportunity of accompanying my honest parishioner on so good an errand as you mention. I must do the young man the justice as to assure you that he is of a singular good disposi- tion and temper. His father is remarkably so too ; having generally the esteem of one of the most " Dr. Pearson, so often mentioned in the Diary. ^,t. 36.] RALPH THORESBY. 1G9 fairly downright honest gentlemen in our county. His estate I cannot be exact in ; but I will give the honestest account I can. He has two demesnes in my parish ; both which I take to be worth about 100/. per annum. He has a tythe and tenants in the neighbourhood, which I think are worth 50/. more, possibly a greater sum : some lands and tenants he has in the west of the county, which I am a stranger to, but have heard them computed to be about the like value with those on this side. In short, I do verily believe the whole estate to be (praeter propter) 200/. per annum. I may possibly lessen it ; but am very honestly confident that I do not over-value it. As to your last query, I must do the young lady and her mother the justice as to own that the whole family are Conformists. The old gentleman is as zealous a Protestant, in opposition to Popery, as your mother-in-law can wish for : and I dare undertake for him, that neither she nor her daughter shall find any reason to complain of his bigotry any farther. Only, she must give me leave to hope that I may be allowed to endeavour to bring both her and her daughter to their parish church, (together with the rest of their relations,) when I shall be so happy as to have them within the verge of my cure. I do faithfully promise them that they sliall not be railed at, neitlier in the church nor at home, if I cannot fairly prevail with them. The women, I am sensible, must be 170 CORRESrONDENCE OF [A.D;1694. tenderly dealt with, as weaker vessels, notwith- standing the passionate concern that you and I, as antiquaries, may have for the primitive disci- l)line of our Church. I am, dear Sir, Your ever faithful servant, W. NlCOLSON. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NlCOLSON. DEAR SIR, August 7, 1694. What I wrote to you lately, on the account of Mr. Salkeld, was my own present thoughts. I had heard nothing of what you imparted to me from any other liand. I have since been at my parish, wliere that family lives ; and, upon the l)est in- formation I could have, I do find that what I told of the value of the estate, is right enough in the gross, tliougli })ossiljly I had not exactly computed the particulars. However, I am assured I was as much under the worth of some of them, as above it in others. As to the scruple raised about con- formity, I took occasion to discourse the old gen- tleman himself, and can now peremptorily engage for him, that in case this treaty goes forward, he shall not press either your mother-in-law or her daughter to any compliances in religious worship. But still I must be allowed to prevail with them, if I can do it fairly. A brother clergyman of mine, I\Ir. Robinson, Rector of a neighbouring parish, will be with you, I believe, in a fortnight. He is an iEt. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 171 honest gentleman, and one that has the opportunity of being somewhat better acquainted with the cir- cumstances of the estate, than I can pretend to. I think he will agree with me in the main, that matters are as I have represented them. As to the young gentleman's temper, I must again re- peat it, that I do not know any man's I would sooner or more heartily recommend to the nearest related female I have in the world. You may think I write with a passion like a man interested in the case. I confess I am so : but I can withal assure you, that the great interest I have in view, is the gaining opportunities of having the happiness of your conversation, which hitherto I have been unluckily balked in. I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and faithful servant, W. NiCOLSON. FROM REVEREND RICHARD FRANKLAND. HONOURED SIR, Rathmell, November 6th, 1694. Your's of October 17th I received; and though I have delayed writing thus long, yet it is but a little wherein I can well satisfy your request at present, and that especially, as to the altitude of some of our Craven Hills. According to the observations which formerly have been made, and which I find set * See Calamy's Account, &c. p. 284. 172 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. down, the hill called Pennigent is five hundred and eighty yards perpendicular height above the plains of our Rathniell Ings ; and the hill called Ingle-borrow is about the same height ; and these two are the highest hills in our country. The liill called Fountain's-fell is about five hundred and sixty yards liigh ; the hills called Pendle-hill, and Hinkel- liaw, are not much above five hundred yards high: and though Pendle-hill seem as great an hill as any of them, yet I conceive the reason of its falling so much short in altitude, is from its standing on a falling ground. I might have mentioned some other hills, but these are the most remarkable in our parts. As to the conference I had with the present Archbishop, it was at two times : the former was at Skipton, where many of his clergy being present, would gladly have been hearers, but he would not suffer one of them to be in the room with us. I re- member he began at first to be somewhat hot, but I was resolved to abate him nothing ; he told me that he would not suffer such work to be done, as I was doing.* I told him there was other work much more proper for him, and of far greater importance, to be done by him ; he asked me what it was. I told him, that as to the exercise of severity, he should begin at home, with those of his own clergy, many of whom were scandalous, a great reproach to re- ligion, and stood need to be reformed. And for • Educating persons for the Dissentinj^ .Ministry. TEt. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 173 other work, I told him, I judged it much more suitable for him, to endeavour union and agreement amongst good men, though differing somewhat in their notions, than to cause rents in the Church about such poor and trivial things as ceremonies. He granted both ; and after, became very moderate, and invited me to come and see him, and we parted friendly. There M'ere other things we did freely discourse upon, but it is so long since, and the par- ticulars so far slipped out of my memory, that I fear I cannot give you a just account of them, and therefore would rather refer you to that letter I writ to Mr. Heywood about them : only this I well re- member, that in general, the Archbishop did much yield to, and comply with what I said. The second conference I had with him, was at his own house at Bishop-thorp ; where, to answer his invitation and my promise, I waited on him ; but he would not at all suffer, that we should enter upon a debate about such things as were in contro- versy betwixt us, though I did attempt it once or twice : yet he was very courteous ; he earnestly press- ed me for to dine with him, and would have sent for my daughter, who was at an inn-house ; but I, being much straitened in time, did at last prevail for to be excused. But I must view liis library, take a pipe of tobacco with him, and drink of some of his wine bottles. And when I took leav^e with him, he desired me to remember him in prayer. I had at that time some free discourse with him ; I told him 174 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. I had observed tlie manner of his confirming bap- tized persons, at Skipton. He asked me what I thought of it ; I said, I supposed it was at first in- tended for admitting baptized persons to the Sujjper Ordinance, ^^•ho could give a good account of their know ledge and conversation ; he said it was, and that he had given a strict charge to the ministers to bring none before him to be confirmed, but such. I told him that then he was grossly abused by them, because the persons brought before him were gene- rally ignorant, loose, and profane, and little, or no means used for their instruction and reformation ; he asked me how I thought this abuse might be remedied ; I gave him the best advice I could. He read me that petition against myself, which several ministers had presented to him ; but seemed to give so little regard to it, that he desired to be informed by me concerning them and their walkings, pro- mising to keep secret what I told him. He said I had great friends at London, and that he knew them. Tliere were other things passed betwixt us, which I cannot now relate, nor do I know, at pre- sent, where to find the secretary's letter ; but it was directed to the former Archbishop. That other work relating to my dear son, I should, above all otlier things, most willingly have complied with your most kind refjuest in ; but when I may have ability, or oi)portunity for it, I know not. Your ne[)hew is very well ; so witli. dearest I'espects to yourself and Madam Thoresljy, to your mother ^t. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 175 Sykes, to brother and sister Wilson, I take leave, who am, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and servant, Richard Frankland. Some things I have mentioned to you, which I should not have been free to mention, but that I know to whom I write. A COPY OF THE SAID LETTER TO MR. IIEYWOOD. REV. DEAR BROTHER, Rathmell, Aug. 9, 1694. YoUR's of July 26th I received. I am troubled to hear that the persons you mention do upon such weak grounds (so far as I understand them) put off their ordination, especially when grave ministers would not only argue them into their duty, but would likewise contribute their help to them. If they should persist in their present course of preach- ing without being ordained, it would give great offence, and also open the mouths of those enemies of the truth, whom we have sometimes more sharply reproved for their acting as ministers without a due ministerial call ; besides, (as you hint,) they might first, in general, be ordained ministers, and then they might, with better right, order and direct their people : they cannot expect to have the divisions that are amongst the people removed, till Christ's discipline take place amongst them. I am glad you have resolved for the ordination of Dr. Colton.* As * See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account/' ii. 146. 533. 176 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1694. to David Crossley, though I did, at his request, men- tion liim in my letter to you, and also desired that the ministers would appoint him a time for his waiting on them, in order to their having some conference with him ; yet I did not think it probable, that they would judge him meet or qualified for ordination ; but wliat I desired was, chiefly with respect to those poor people amongst whom he preacheth, whom he imposetli on, by telling them that he is willing to have a conference with the ministers, and to submit the trial of his gifts to them with respect to ordina- tion ; and, it is said, he gets much advantage in this way ; so that I judged that, for the ministers to deal with him, and, upon that dealing with him, not only to advise him, but also to signify to those people by letters, under their hands, what their judgment is concerning him, and his invading the ministerial office, might be a special means, divinely warranted, for keeping those people from being ensnared. As to my conference with the Archbishop at Skipton, I shall give you this brief account : he was somewhat warm at first ; told me what complaints came against me ; that the course I took tended to perpetuate a schism in the church, and that therefore it was not sufferablc. I told him they were fallible in their judgments, as well as we ; and therefore desired that I iiiiglit fairly aigue the case with him about schism, before lie determined any thing about it : withal, I told liiiii there was other work to be done, better and more pro])er for him, than to fall on us. He jEt. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 177 asked what ? I told him it was better work to en- deavour reconciliation amongst sober Protestants, for strengthening the Protestant interest, at a time when it was so much in danger ; and if he thouglit there was need of some severity, to begin with the correction of his own clergy : he freely confessed there was great need of both, and promised his ut- most endeavour in both ; adding, that he hoped we should find him an honest man. I said, that can- dour and moderation went to make up honesty, which he readily granting, I added, that should he not exercise moderation, in respect of those good characters that were given of him, he would frus- trate the hopes of many sober people. Upon this, he treated me very kindly, and desired me to come and see him, which I did, in part, promise ; and since that I waited on him at Bishopsthorp, which he took very kindly, and acquainted me with the ma- lignant petition drawn up against me, and with the number of the names subscribed, and was very in- quisitive after our Craven clergy. I told him they abused him as well as me, in presenting ignorant, unqualified persons to be confirmed by him ; he seemed much troubled at it : he was very familiar in conference with me upon several things, but would enter upon no debate. I had much ado to get excused from dining with him ; but he going first to his chapel, though he left me to my liberty as to that, yet I thought it better to content myself with a pipe of his tobacco, and a cup of sherry : he VOL. I. N ]78 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. told me I had many great friends at London, and at parting desired an interest in my prayers. I cannot further enlarge at present, but hoping you will ac- cept of this, with dearest respects to yourself and good Mrs. Heywood, I take leave, who am, Sir, Your truly affectionate Brother and servant in our Lord, Richard Frankland. FROM DR. JABEZ CAY. DEAR SIR, Newcastle, Nov. 6, 1694. Yesterday I received your kind letter enclosed in one from Whitehaven. 1 would beg one favour of you. I hear there is a man come to Leeds with a design to furnish the town with water, after a man- ner somewhat extraordinary ; they say he forceth the water almost half a mile upon an ascent, (the ascent being about four yards perpendicular in twenty) from the river to his conservatory. Now, I would gladly be informed of the truth of this : and what sort of an engine it is by which he does all this, tliat I may know whether it be applicable to our coal- works, or no ? and what the true height is, to which he raiseth his water? and whether his encourage- ment from the town, be like to answer the expense of so great a work ? My service to Dr. Manlove, tliougli I desire withal, that you would be pleased to tell him that I think him unkind. I beg your pardon for liaving put all this trouble ^t't. 37.] RALPFI THORESBY. I79 upon you ; if I can serve you in any thing here, as far as I am able, you may freely command, Sir, your servant, Jabez Cay. FROM RFA'. OLIVER HEYWOOD, OF NORTIIOWRAM. HONOURED AND DEAR SIR, Nov. 26, IGOi. YouR's of Nov. 13, I received last Thursday, and have sent your's enclosed in a letter of my own to Mr. Newcome, with whom I have some intercourse, and have reinforced your motions to the best advan- tage I could, though I am heartily sorry what my son John told me last Thursday night, that my Lady Wilbraham (where good Mr. lllingworth was last) had told him she must take another Nonconformist minister and his wife into her house, and had no oc- cassion for two chaplains, and desired Mr. lllingworth to provide for himself, which some think he laid so to heart, that it shortened his days. I do question into whose hands his books and papers are fallen, but if they can be retrieved, you shall have them. I hear nothing yet of my brother's Life, yet had a letter on Saturday from my younger son at London. I ordered him to go to Dr. Sampson* about it, from whom I have the contents of a curious manuscript in twenty-six chapters, containing the history of Non- conformity or Puritanism, from the days of Henry VIll. to this day : if you have not seen it, 1 will send it you, and beg your encouragement in his * See Dr, Calamy's " Historical Account," i. 76, 76. N 2 ISO CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. printing it. I now bethink myself that you have not seen it, therefore I here send you Dr. Sampson's let- ter and draft, desiring your return of it after perusal. I have sent you Mr. Frankland's letter to me after long search, and a catalogue of my poor weak labours. I have done little concerning Mr. Sharp. You were mentioning a manuscript of his upon Psalm xciv. 19- I long to see it, and wish its printing : Mrs. Sharp sayeth Mr. Hickson hath it ; pray get it and send it : I will promote it what I can. I have lately written a treatise of A Scriptural Fast, being desired to do it. My son John hath it ; if I have any encouragement, shall send it to the press. As for Mr. Stretton, my son hath had some letters from him : he complains that the shoemakers, (I think,) have taken their hall from him, which was his meeting-place, so he is des- titute ; hath been cpiite out of employ five or six sab- baths, and thinks he shall have none, except he build one himself ; for the people take no care. I am glad you are so well fitted by Mr. Manlove ; pray give my dear love to him. My son John hath a motion to Pomfret ; I know not what to advise : he is now married, and likely to remove from Ranfield. I ex- pect him and his wife with me this week. My dear love and service, with my wife's, to you, your wife, mother, brother, sister Wilson, &c. From your cor- dial friend, ready in all things to serve you, O. Heywood. P. S. Books printed by O. Heywood, of my own. 1. Heart 1'reasure, printed a. D. 1667; 2. Closet Prayer, 1671, (68); ^i. Sure Mercy, 1672 ; 4. Life A'.t. 37.] RALPH THOllESBY. 131 in God's Favour, 1679 ; 5. Israel's Lamentation, 1683; 6. Mr. Angier's Life, 1685; 7. Baptismal Bonds, 1687; 8. Meetness for Heaven, 1690; 9. Family Altar, 1693 ; 10. Best Entail, ditto. My brother Nathaniel Hey wood's Christ Displayed, 1679 ; and Mr. Creswick's Advice to an only Child, 1693. 11. New Creature, 1695; 12. His brother Mr. Nathaniel Hey wood's Life, ditto ; 13. Job's Appeal ; Mr. Denton's Funeral Sermon, ditto ; 14. Heavenly Converse ; or, a Discourse concerning the Communion between the Saints on Earth, and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect in Heaven, grounded on Heb. xii. 23, (in twelves,) 1697 ; 15, The General Assembly of the Saints, 1700; 16. A Treatise of Christ's In- tercession, 1701. R. T. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, December 1, 1694. I RECEIVED yours with shame and grief, as blushing for my own seeming disingenuity in the neglect of you, and grieving for the sad contents of it. I have too much to say by way of excuse to alleviate my crime. I was turned out of my place at Midsummer, and am not yet settled in one again (which hath made it one of the uneasiest parts of my time.) And the neglect and discouragements I have met with did almost overpower me, and would quickly have made me unfit for any public service, if I had given way to them ; but I bless God I am 1S2 CORRKSrONDENCE OF [A.D. 16 94 got above them : and I have cast that burden upon one that will sustain it for me. We are now treat- ins: ^^ itli the Haberdashers to succeed Mr. Howe in his place, wlien lie leaves it at Lady-day, to go to his new one built for him, and have some hopes to obtain it. T did not forget your business about the 'J^ansactions. I carried them at first to Mr. Smith and A\^alford, and they promised me to search for them. I have called very often since, and they told me they could yet find none. They now tell me that they have searched and cannot find one of them, but what are in complete sets, which they will not break. Mr. Ross showed me what you wrote aI)out Whee- lock's Bede, and the Decem Scri})tores ; they are both very scarce, but are both in a catalogue that Avill be exposed for sale. If either of them will come ten shillings cheaper than they will sell them in the shops, I will venture upon them. I am ashamed to be so long in your debt for the money laid down for the poor ministers. I reckoned that I owed you 3/. lO.y. on that account. You did re- turn 3/. by Mr. Joseph Jackson, as he told me, for Thomas Jackson in Scotland ; l)ut it being at the time when I sent to you to lay down money for the poor ministers, I did not receive it, but wished him to return it again ; and but yesterday I met him, and he said he should have ])aid me twenty shillings from Mr. Thoresby, which I fear there may be some mistake about it ; but we shall set all right, and I liope shortly to come out of your debt. I have been so straitened for monies, as I never was JE.t.31.] RALPH THORESBY. 183 since I knew what monies meant, tliat I have neg- lected myself by supplying others. I do heartily condole that sad breach that is made in Mr. Hick- son's family ; and if I can get an inch of time (in which I am greatly straitened at present) write a [ew lines to that good widow, that is a widow in- deed. If she parted with her estate only for his life, which was all tliat could in reason be expected from her, she will have something left ; if otherwise, her distress will be very great indeed. If I could do any thing to help her in disposing of her son, I should be glad of it : no endeavours shall be wanting. Last night the good Archbishop* [Tillotson] was interred at St. Lawrence Church. Bishop Burnet preached his funeral sermon : the public had such a loss in him that will not easily be made up. You always choake me with one hard question, which is harder to resolve than the Papists' ques- tion, " Where was your religion before Luther ?" viz. When will Mr. Baxter's Life be out?* Bishop Laud's Lifef is put out by his friends at ISs. price, and I think, to a considering reader, they expose him more than Mr. Prynne:}: did. Mine and my wife's hearty love to you and yours. I commit you to God, and rest in haste, » Your assiu'ed friend and servant, Richard Stretton. * See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account/' i. 376 — 380, t His " Diary," by VV^harton, with the " History of his Troubles and Trial." His " Life," entitled Cyprinnus Anglicus, had been published by Heylin, in 1G71. X In his '^' Bveviate and Canterbury's Doom, 16i4." 184 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1694. FROM Mil. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, Dec. 8, 1694. Upon my return home the other night from Car- lisle (where I have been confined for a fortnight last,) I was ashamed to find on the file of my unanswered letters one of yours, of too old a date to be men- tioned. You might conclude me gone into some foreign country, to serve my parishioner on new love in- trigues. But, Sir, neither you nor I have any such lucky hand at wooing, that we should be any more employed in those affairs ; so that, if you please, we will even quietly return to the conversation of our old acquaintance before the Conquest. My Northumberland is only yet (as you saw it) rudis indigestcKjuc moles. It is not fit to communicate any thing out of it till the whole has been better considered. But I can deny you nothing. Take, therefore, the following notes upon the two places you mention. Loibij-. Hodie Leedes in Agro Eboracensi. Hie Reges Northanhymbri villam erexere regiam, post- quam igne periisset ilia quam prius ad Donafeldam struxissent. Bed. Lib. ii. cap. 14. Suspicatur ami- cus meus mihi plurimum dilectus D. R. Thoresby (civis et ipse Leodiensis) nomen sortitum esse a Saxonico leob, Populus ; quod indigenis sub regi- mine veterum, fiequens esset. Eandem sc. nominis rationem urbi suae adscribit vir doctus quam Lon- dino ipso Somncrus noster, in Gloss, ad X Script. iEt. 37] RALPH THORESBY. 185 voce London. Cert^ si e fonte Saxonico vocabulum emanasse crederem, mallem ego petere a hlebe sive hleba quod Sedile son at : locumque kcct h^o-x/jv sic dictum existimarem, quod ibi Reges Northymbrici sedem posuerint. Veriim altius (puto) quserenda est origo vocis. Britannicum Llvvydd (inter alia ejus significata) statum denotat, rebus undique prosperis amoenum. An igitur Leedes haec Eboracensis (ut et ilia Cantiorum altera) Bellositi nomen, cum Oxo- nio, aliquando meruit ? Huic equidem conjecturse subblandiri videntur ilia regii Bedse interpretis — on ^am lanb "Se Loib ly hacen.* pinpibj:elba lieji Oj-pin opj'loh Penban on pinpibpelba. Chron. A.S. Laud, ad Aii. 654!. Alii, ad Ari. 655. Ab insigni hoc, Oswii, sive prajlio, sive (cum Camdeno) victoria, loci nomen oriri putat Gibsonus meus. Sax. enim (inquit) pinnan significat et pr8elio decer- tare et vincere. Quam aegre ducor ut illius unquam sententiae adverser ! At, Quid igitur (amabo !) sibi velint Bedae ista (lib. iii. cap. 24), prope fluvium Vinved ; quae interpres Saxo reddidit neah pinpaebe ]'C]ieam ? et Proverbii [quod] meminit Florilegus : In Winwed amne, vindicata est caedes Annae, &c. P. Cressy equi- dem asserit audax (Romano more) reperiri liodie, juxta Leedes, villulam Winfield. Sed hujus fabulae ipse sibi est author. Extat certe Winmore ad quartam ab oppido (qua Eboracum itur) lapidem ; atque hunc autumant docti locum pugnit\ Mihi Winwed fluvius * The simpler etymology suggested by Dr. AVhitaker is far to he preferred, " Leodis, Leod's, The land of Leod." 186 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1694. (Beda? Latino Juwet) hodi^ Aire, qui oppidum Leedes alluit, dictus videtur. Videant interim accolae annon Rivulus sen Torrens aliquis in vicinio etiam- num id genus nominis obtineat. I have room for no more at present. Inquire me out, if you can, some brook or rill that carries a name, any tiling akin to Winwed.* I would also gladly know whether you have any coins that you verily believe to be British, and your reasons for so thinking ; I have still a deal of scruples upon me about that matter. I am. Sir, Yours very affectionately, W. NiCOLSON. FROM WILLIAM GILPIN, ESQ. SIR, Whitehaven, Dec. 12, 1694. I RETURN you thanks for your kind letter : it came hitlier wlien I was at Newcastle, and I have since been so little at home, that I hope you will accei)t it as a just apology, that I am so late in making you a return. And that you may not think me indifferent in maintaining a correspondence, that I really am ambitious of, I do promise you that I shall be as careful in keeping of it up, on my part, as 1 can ; and if at any time you find me slow, I desire you to impute it eithei- to my other neces- sary affairs, or that I am not provided of any thing worthy your entertainment. • Dr. A\'Jiit;iker says, the ^V'ent. iEt. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 187 I can give you the account that you desire of Archbishop Grindal's birth-place, and of his bene- faction at St. Begh's. That good man was born at Hensingham, a mile south of this place, in the parish (but three miles distant from the vill) of St. Begh's. The school is in the vill, and was incorpo- rated by Queen Elizabeth, by her Letters Patent, dated 15th Junii, Anno regni 27, by the name of " The Wardens and Governors of the possessions, revenues, and goods, of the Free Grammar School of Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Kirkby Beacock, alias St. Begh's, in the county of Cumberland." And the patent recites that it was at the suit of the Archbishop, in his life-time, (for he was dead before the school was founded,) and after his death, at the suit of his executors, William Readman, Archdeacon of Canterbury, John Scot, Esq. late Steward of the Household to the Bishop, and William Woodhall, Gent, nephew of the Bishop. Kirkby Beacock in the patent is mistaken for Kirkby Begogh (villa ad fanum Begse), for so it is written in all the ancient charters, from Begogh, a famous Irish female Saint, of great sanctimony, who settled here in the time of the Saxons, and in memory of whom, long after, viz. a. d. 1140, William de Meschines, brother to Randolph Bohun de Meschi- nes. Earl of Cumberland, and sister's son to Hugh Lupus, the great Earl of Chester, erected a Priory, and made it a cell of St. Mary's juxta Muros Ebo- rum : and thereupon gave, " Deo et Sanctae JMarise 188 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1694. Eboium, et Sanctae Begae in Couplandia, et Mona- chis ibidem Deo servientibus totam terram, et totiim Feodum inter has di visas, viz. a pede de Whitost- haven (now Wliitehaven) ad Kekel, et per Kekel donee vadit in Egre, et per Egre quo usque vadit in mare." These lands, vesting in the Crown by the dissolu- tion of the monasteries, were granted to Sir Thomas Chaloner, from whom were purchased in old rents, at Sandualk and St. Begh's, 32l. 18s. 6d. per annum, and some land there of about 5l. per annum value, wherewith the school was endowed. And 28th Elizabeth, Thomas Chaloner, Escjuire, (son of Sir T. Chaloner,) gave an acre and a half of ground, parcel of the site of the Pnory, where the Bishop's executors built the school and master's-house ; and he gave also forty load of coals yearly, out of his coal mines of St. Begh's, to be spent there, reserving an (insignificant) right to place two scholars in the school, by the name of Chaloner's scholars. Sir John Lowthcr, of Whitehaven, (who now enjoys the rest of the possessions of the monastery, by purchase, under Sir T. Chaloner,) has lately, at his own charge, added a fair library to the school. The school was also endowed with a parcel of land, called Palmers-field, in the county of and witli a fellowship and two scholarships in Queen's, for maintenance whereof the governors of the school were to pay to that College 20/. per anruim. The l^'rovost of Queen's is always one of iEt. 37.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 189 the Governors ; and thereby having a stroke in the school affairs, one of them so handled the matter, as to procure from the rest of the Governors a grant of Palmer's-field (which is better than sixty pounds per annum) to the College, for one thousand years, under the reserved rent of 24/. per annum, which the College recovers for the pension of 20/. settled on them by the Bishop. By this means the school affairs are much impaired, for the College owning the receipt of no more than 24/. per annum, do now scarce ever admit any to the Grindalian fellowship, and but awkwardly to the scholarships. And the present Governors having now lately sold the rest of the school lands, the revenues at this day are only the said rents of ... . £32 18 6 And 178/. in cash (if some of that also be not squandered), of which the in- terest 10 12 4 And a benefaction of Sir John Low- ther's, who is so kind as to give yearly 5 £48 10 10 Dr. Lamplugh, late Archbishop of York, gave also 51. per annum, but I think that is now with- drawn. Out of this revenue there is, by the Bishop's statutes, 20/. allowed to the master, 8/. to an usher, 3/. to their steward and receiver, and 13^'. 4^/. for 190 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695. a court dinner. Tlie residue was kept as a stock for repairs, and other extraordinary occasions, but now usually what spares, is given to the master, and heretofore did commonly make his salary better than 40/. per annum. I must not forget to tell you, because it relates to your family, that at Kekel, (a rivulet mentioned in the grant aforesaid, of AVilliam Meschines,) there stood, as may be conjectured, a temjile dedicated to old Thor, for the town there, (which is now cor- ruptly called Chor-kekel) in several ancient charters in my custody, is written Thor-kekel. But I am afraid I have tired both you and myself I am, Sir, Your most obedient servant, WiLLiAiM Gilpin. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Jan. 14, 1695. My unsettled condition of late has made me very rude to most of my correspondents; and I think you must even pardon me, amongst the rest, upon a promise of better behaviour for the future. Your catalogue [of M8S.] is printed off just as you sent it u]): as tlic compiling of it pleased me, so I hope the printing of it will not displease you. Just as it went to the i)ress, I was called out of town, and ^,t. 37.] RALPH thorp:sby. 191 forgot to give order for three or four supernumerary sheets, as I had intended ; so that you must have patience till the book is published, which will be very shortly, as you would observe by a late ad- vertisement in the Gazette and Term Catalogue. If there is any such thing as an appendix printed, I will take care that the addition you have made to your stock since the return of your catalogue be in- serted, with a reference to the head under which they are to be placed. If Mr. Hopkinson's manu- scripts be so hard to come by, I fear they will land too late for our purpose, for we intend to shut up next Candlemas ; but pray do not let that slacken your endeavour to procure the Catalogue : you know men of curiosity will be glad, after the book is published, to pick up what little glean- ings are left, and to add them to their printed catalogues. I presume his Grace's Leland is the Itinerary of Leland, which is commonly handed about in manu- script, but is not, by any means, worth the publica- tion.* That which Mr. Tanner has under hand, is his book De Viris lUustribus, a very valuable v.ork, and which I dare undertake will be published with great advantage, and very much to the satisfaction of the learned. If that be the book, to take a tran- script will be but labour lost : for Mr. Tanner is ♦ Surely Dr. Gibson could;, at tliis time, be but slightly acquainted with that most curious and interesting work. 192 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1695. hard at work upon it, and will give it us with all convenient speed. A^^henever I remove from Ox- ford, you shall be sure to have notice where I fix. I am. Sir, Your affectionate friend and humble servant, E. Gibson. FROM REV. HENRY NEWCOME, OF MANCHESTER.* WORTHY SIR, Jan. 19, 1695. I RECEIVED a letter from you, by Mr. Hey- wood, of November 13, which found me weak, (for I have not preached since November 18,) and I could not answer it sooner. I did desire Mr. Sharp to apologize for me to you ; for I would not be guilty of any neglect towards you, whom I value for your father's sake, and more for your own, though not so well known to me, for that I hear you walk in his steps, (a thing not ordinary,) whereby I hope religion and the blessing is in an hopeful way to be entailed in the family. My dear friend Mr. Illingworth died at Weston, in Staffordshire, August 28, 1693, at Sir Thomas Wilbraham's, where he had lived chaplain several years. Sir Thomas being dead, and the lady in- tending to give over house, he was to seek for a settlement ; had offers several ways, but it pleased God to save him that trouble, and to take him to • A Nonconformist minister. — See Calamy, Account, &c. p. 391. ^,t. 37.] RALPH THORESUY. 193 his rest. He left several papers, but mostly in cha- racters, and so of less use. For Dr. Chaderton's Life, I do not yet find above one half of it ; and for the Memoirs out of an old book of Justice Hop- wood's, I have not yet met with them amongst his papers ; but I had them in a book of mine, and I have caused them to be transcribed for you, and have here enclosed them. The last paper was of later date, and I had it from old Mr. Clarke, the martyrologist, which shows the spirit of our gentry, even then, (but O quantum miitati !) but the pre- latical spirit then had so the ascendant, that Mr. Redish, that delivered it, was turned out of the commission for his presumption. I know not of any public use these papers can be, only design this tran- script for your private satisfaction. If Mr. Hey- wood think fit to have them transcribed for Dr. Sampson, who hath had something on foot that way, and hath imparted his scheme to him, I could be free he had them ; and that, because the Doctor him- self did desire, some years since, that I would impart to him what I had of that kind, which I had not leisure to gratify him in. But this I leave wholly to Mr. Hey wood. I have not farther at present, but commit you to the blessings of the covenant, and rest your affectionate friend and servant in the Gospel, H. Newcome. A^OL. I. O 194 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D.1695. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. HONOURED SIR, Queen's College, Oxford, Feb. 5, 1694-5. The trouble of finishing a tedious work, and the fatigue of removing from London to Oxford, has made me a little slack in my correspondence; and indeed I indulged myself in this neglect more par- ticularly, where I knew I had men of sense and honour to deal with. It is your goodness to have a favourable opinion of the poor Saxon Chronicle and its editor. It was the effect of young brains, and some spare hours stolen from the exercise of our College ; and you cannot but perceive in it both a want of judgment and leisure. For this charity, and the favour of your friendship, I cannot express my obligations to you. I heartily wish that any business, either of your own or friends, would give you an occasion of employing me in this place, which men of letters are forced now and then to consult. I never made any observations upon the British bricks, further than some cursory remarks in the review of Camden. Those who would have the Roman and British different, are certainly in an error. To be sure, the latter, before the settlement of the former, knew nothing of the matter. The Ro- mans gave them the model ; and we do not observe that th(' liiitons were either so ingenious or active as to frame new schemes of their own, especially in matters of architecture. I do not remember to have ^.t. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 195 seen above one or two bricks. There is a complete one in Greshani College library, which (if my me- mory fail not) is about half a yard long, a quarter broad, and some two inches thick. They used in- credible diligence in working them, which the poor Britons (who were to slave at them) paid dear for. Accordingly, they are much firmer than our modern ones, which, in London especially, are made of a firmness answerable to the years of the undertaker's lease, some thirty or forty. When I have settled myself among my books, if any thing occurs upon this subject, I will submit it to your judgment and correction. In haste, honoured Sir, Your obliged humble servant, E. Gibson. FROM RE\'. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, Feb. 23, 1694-5. I RECEIVED yours some time since, and lately a letter from Mr. Jackson, from Edinburgh, wherein he tells me of a letter from his uncle Boyse, earnestly inviting him to come to Dublin, to spend some time there, and I must send him monies, (which I design the next week to send your 3/. and as much more at least,) to defray his charge where he is, and to bear his charges : but he expresses his desire to come and see his friends at Leeds, and to stay a month or five weeks there, which his aunt Priestley is very averse to, and saith it will but needlessly o 2 19G CORRESrONDENCE OF [A.D. 1695. increase his charge, and make his journey above twice as long ; and I think he may find a more convenient season, when he is entered upon his M'ork, which he is now fitting himself for : he hath not his health so well at Edinburgh, that makes me more willingly to yield to his desires. My own son, and several other hopeful young men that I know, are quite diverted from any thoughts of entering upon the ministry ; and their arguments are too strong for me or others to answer, that I am forced to comply with their own choice. Our divisions and animosities here are grown so scandalous, that we make ourselves a scorn to our enemies, and a grief to our friends, and the mischievous conse- quences will be felt afterwards. I know some have followed after peace, and pursued it, and done all that men could do to prevent and heal breaches ; and yet by hot-spirited, rash, heady men, must be reproached as the great occasions of it ; and unless they will comply with all their unreasonable de- mands, and take laws from them, they must be con- demned as the causes of the breach. You will find Mr. Ross ingenious and honest. The manuscript is safe, and if it be printed, you will have that and a printed copy ; and as he made a free, generous proffer to you of his own accord, (though he will get nothing by it, but it is designed as a public service,) so you will not find him worse than his word. 1 have heard nothing from Mr. Sadler since his departure ; we drove it as far as it Mt.37.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 197 would go before he went : as soon as I hear any- thing, you or Mrs. Hickson shall hear. We have no public news here : our Parliament have done two or three good things of late : the Lords have con- curred in their votes with the Commons, in vindi- cating the government about the Lancashire Plot, and vindicated the Judges in their proceedings there, which Rochester and Nottingham had reflected upon : these two Lords, with some few, entered their protests against it. The Commons have thrown out that inflaming tax of the Chimney Money: it was carried in the committee of the whole house, by thirty votes. All the Jacobites and high Tories were in [favour of] it, to alienate the affections of the com- mon people from the government, and to make way for King James's return ; yet when it came to the house, they threw it out. Another good thing the Commons did, was to throw out a bill at the third reading, that had nothing good but the title in it : it had a plausible title of free impartial proceedings in Parliament, but was villainously designed, and of mischievous consequence to the Government. Some of our London divines (especially Dr. Paine) have played the fool in their hyperbolical commendation of the Queen, that looks like fulsome flattery, and some expressions bordering upon blasphemy. Her own works commend her in the gate, and she hath thereby erected a more lasting monument in the hearts of her subjects than their vain panegyrics will give her. Mine and my wife's hearty love and 198 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1695 service to you and your's, and to all friends. I com- mit you to God, and rest Your's, RlCHAl^D StRETTON. FROM REV. JOSEPH HILL. SIR, Rotterdam, March I5th, 1695. I HAD your's some time since, and was glad to understand your design, wherein I shall serve you what I can. As for myself, I shall say little at present : although I have often appeared in print, sometimes nominally, and often concealed ; yet I have had as much a hand in publishing others' works, as Dr. Lightfoot's in Latin here, and others' at London, as in my own, hitherto; for I have many more yet to publish than have yet come forth. But you have the two famous Cookes that have been your vicars, whose works are renowned. Ro- bert's Censura Scriptorum Veteruin, a book of great reading and learning, ])rinted first at London, in quarto, 1614; after, at Helmstadt, 1683, in octavo, and now lately again at London ; Alexander's Pope .loan, (translated into French) ; Work for a Mass Priest ; More Work for a Mass Priest ; and, Yet more Work for a Mass Priest, all which I have; also Mr. Stiles, that famous preacher, whose o[jinion of Church Government I have, (taken at his desire on his death-bed, before Mr. Wales, and Al- derman Moxon,) which I can send you. ^t. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 199 As for the books that you desire, I liave gotten two ; one at an auction, viz., Baleus de Scriptoribus Anglicanis ; and Decern Historic! at a bookseller's. These books are very dear here, and above all Bede's Saxon History, of the last edition, for which I am asked thirty-five gilders, which extravagant price I would not venture on : for we may buy gold too dear. Baleus is old, but perfect, fi. 13. The His- torians wants a sheet in the body of the book, viz. : M m m 3, and some in the Index, which is of less moment, and therefore I had it cheap, ^.6. 10 st. You may happily get it perfected at London, or transcribe what is wanting, if you have any near you, or any library where the book is. I have sent them to your cousin Milner, to send to you by the Hull ships, who hath paid me the money, j^. 19- 10. I have looked through Wharton's Angha Sacra, lately printed at London, but find little therein for your purpose, but I think you may find in the Monasticon Anglicanum, of the famous Abbey of Chrystal,* in your parish. I am shortly, God willing, for London, whither you may write to me, at Mr. Henry Hovener's, merchant, in Swithen's-lane, if happily I may serve you in any thing there. This, all at i)resent. The rest gives my respects to all friends, from Your's, Joseph HiLL.f * One of many orthographies of the name of Kirkstal. t See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account/" ii. 522. 200 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695- FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, March 31, 1695. I AIM glad to have it under your own hand that you are alive ; for I did something dread the con- trary. Now, Vou say, you are thoroughly employed in conversing with young Mr. Camden, and I hope you are pleased with his company. For my share, I am not yet so happy as to have seen him, and therefore cannot give you my thoughts of him. Mr. Gibson says he has a book for me, and I am (with great patience) expecting to receive it. I have in- formations from some other hands that it already sinks in the price, below the rate of our subscrip- tions. I know not how the undertakers may have done their parts, in providing good maps, and being at the charge of some other ornamental cuts ; but I am very confident the supervisor will have discharg- ed himself with credit. He must expect to be slan- dered and decried by an envious generation of pre- tended antiquaries, who will not be able to endure to find their own fifty or sixty years' dull plodding, on the point outdone by the attainments of so young a man. Tljis (I dare say, before I see the work) raises most of the gall and venom that is spit at it. This in haste from Your's, W. NiCOLSON. JEt. 37.] RALPH THORESBV. 201 FROM REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, April 22, 1695. Yesterday I received a letter from Mr. New- come, who desired me to give his service to you, whom I had informed that you had received his pa- pers, and will be glad to communicate any thing he knows ; but he hath met with no further intelligence. He saith if you knew with what difficulty he wrote to me, you would excuse him from writing to you : indeed, he is much out of frame ever since October; preacheth little. I am afraid of him. I hope to see him in Whitsun week, if the Lord will. What ser- vice you shall command me, I shall comply to my utmost. I had a letter from my son at London last week, wherein he tells me my brother's Life is now come out, though I have not seen it. One Cockerill prints it, but would not meddle with it except 5/.'s worth were taken off his hands. Sir Henry Ashhurst (who got it printed) paid 50s. , Mr. Taylor other 50s. Mr. John Whitworth may do well to send for some to furnish Leeds. I shall have but two. I am busy in writing a treatise of the New Creature ; but I know not how to get it printed. My dear love to you, your good wife, Mr. Manlove, &c. I am. Sir, Your cordial friend, Oliver Heywood. I have got Camden's Brit. 202 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, May i, 1695. This brings you the most sad disconsolate tidings that ever I had occasion to send you. It hath pleased the only wise God, with one stroke of his hand, to remove the desire of mine eyes, and the de- light of my heart, my tender, loving, and dearly be- loved wife from me yesterday between seven and eight at night, (after four or five days of pain and sickness) ; with a cheerful, sweet, composed counte- nance, without so much as one sigh or groan, she re- signed up her soul into the hands of a tender Re- deemer, who loved her, and washed her from her sins in his own blood. She had no pangs in her death : she is got to rest, and I have not the least hesitation, or doubt in my own heart, but that she is as well as heart can wish ; but we are left in a sad desolate and disconsolate estate. But God hath spoken, and he also hath done it, and what shall I say ? I will be dumb and not open my mouth, because he hath done it ; it is fit to be silent before God, when God puts us to silence. He had a greater right ill her than I had; his did precede and excel mine, and he hath better provided for her than ever I could have done. My lease of her was expired and forfeited long before ; and as a Sovereign he may dis})ose of his own as he pleaseth. She lived desired, and dies as ujuch lamented as most women of her rank ever wcie. She will be missed by more than iEt. 37.] RALPH THOUESBY. 203 near relations. I have lost as loving, tender, prudent a wife, and my son as tender careful a mother, as ever any could enjoy. Oh ! what arrears of thankfulness are due, that we enjoyed her so long, and so much sweetness and comfort in her ; help us with your prayers (and engage all our friends to beg) for sup- port under, and a sanctified use and improvement of this severe providence. I have known what it is to part with sweet hopeful children, and it is hard enough to bear it ; but to part with a wife, and such a wife, cuts deep and reacheth the very soul. Mine, and my son's hearty love and service to you and your's, and to all friends. I commit you to God and rest Your sorrowful, afflicted friend and servant, Richard Stretton. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, May 9, 1695. If I did omit (in my last) the giving you my thoughts of the new edition of Camden, it was because I had not received the present which the booksellers have thought fit to make us. I had it only last week. I have chiefly (since that time) bestowed the few hours I could aff'ord it in read- ing of Wales, which is admirably well done, and as I expected. Mr. Lhwyd is indeed an extraor- 204 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695. (linaiy person. If you see Oxford, it will want one of its chief glories (as Bishop Burnet said of Malpig- liius) if he be out of town ; if he be not, I hope you will take an opportunity of making an acquaintance with hun. Our friend Mr. Gibson will bring you to him ; or, if he be gone to London, you may let him know that I advised you to apply to him, without any further ceremony than the carriage of my respects, and this message, that I think it will be worth your while to be acquainted with one another. At Cam- bridge I have a nephew, (J. Archer,) at St. John's College, who is a young physician and virtuoso ; I hope he will be able to answer your queries in that place. As you walk up or down Fleet-street in Lon- don, if you please to call at an apothecary's shop, in the entrance into Salisbury-court, you may possibly meet with my brother, who may very probably make some discoveries that will gratify you. Dr. Lister will certainly bring you into Dr. Plot's com- pany and acquaintance. You may tell Mr. Gibson I am contriving of torments for him. Vexation of spirit is commonly all the return I ever make to my best friends. And now, Sir, I wish you (as heartily as I can for envy) a good journey, and all the happi- ness and enjoyment in it which you promise yourself. I know you will communicate your oljservations to Your affectionate humble servant, W. NiCOLSON. iEt. 37.] IIALI'II THORESBY. 205 FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. WORTHY SIR, May 9, 1695. It is your modesty not to bear the character which justice allows you. I am sensible your own abilities, and your many good offices to the public and myself, would not only have borne, but required a much more honourable mention. None who know you will think I have been too favourable : the an- tiquaries, I am sure, will thank me for paying this piece of respect to a person so inclinable to serve their interests, and who is so great a credit to the common cause. Our catalogue of manuscripts is far advanced ; but, rather than want so useful a collection as I am sure your's must be, the publication shall be deferred till they can be sent, only I must beg of you, that it may be done with all convenient speed ; for which I have engaged to Dr. Charlett. That it be accu- rately printed, and that the managers be acquainted with the character of the owner, shall be my care ; though the latter, I suppose, is a piece of informa- tion they do not need. Mr. Tanner is very busy with his Leland, which I dare engage, from an assu- rance of the gentleman's abilities and industry, will be a most complete work, and exceed the expecta- tions of the world. That his Notitia Monastica is abroad, you have seen in the Gazette ; it is a manual ; will be exceeding useful in the study of Monastical learning. I wish you had hinted to me 206 CORRESrONDENCE OF [A.D. 1695. something of your design of the History of Leeds, a little sooner, that I might have told the world from whom they are to expect the Antiquities of that place. If you come into the south this summer, travel what way you will, I will find you out. I must confess, Oxford is the place where I should most desire to see you. I fancy we have a variety in this place, which would afford a very agreeable enter- tainment to a person of your curiosity, for a fort- night or three weeks. While you stay among us, you are entire master of my time, and I hope your acquaintance in this place will not be so numerous, as to rob me of too much of your company. Whe- ther the manuscript you mention be among Mr. Dodsworth's collection I shall be able to tell you very shortly. I am, Sir, Your very obliged humble servant, Edmund Gibson. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, June 15, 1695. I AM glad to hear of your safe return. I sui)pose this hasty view will only raise your fancy, so as that once a year, for the future, you will see Oxford and Cambridge. Your stay, I perceive, was so little in our University, that Mr. Lhwyd's being in the way would have been burthensome to your com- pany, whatever he had been to yourself. He is in- .'F.t. 37.J RALPH THORESBY. 207 deed, if I may judge of him, the greatest man (at Antiquities and Natural Philosophy together) that I have had the happiness to conv^erse with. But I am, it may be, too passionately his friend to give him a character. Mr. Gibson, I knew, would win your lieart. He has already, so far, out-done his years, that I would have him to breathe awhile, and resolve to publish no more but what is very well considered. It is a difficult task to preserve so high a fame as he has already gotten himself. But his good temper will, I hope, vanquish all the malice of his enemies. You have mightily raised my fancy with your postscript ; and I cannot but long to hear further from you, about the great discovery of the Saxon coins you mention. If you secure any dupli- cates among them, I hope you will let me come in for a sharer with you ; at least, if any of them re- late to the kingdom of Northumberland, you will not fail of imparting your observations. Since the study of Antiquities comes so much in vogue, I sus- pect we shall shortly begin to counterfeit old coins as readily as we now do the more current money of England. There is as little of mystery in the trade : and it is what other nations (the Germans especially) have long practised. Mr. Lhvvyd tells me he is now going to give us a Synopsis of formed Stones, since Dr. Woodward has so slenderly answered the expec- tations the world had of his abilities that way. I am ever, Sir, Very much your's, W. NiCOLSON. 208 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695. FROM DR. THOMAS GALE, AFTERWARDS DEAN OF YORK. SIR, I GIVE you many thanks for your very kind and very instructive letter. I showed it also to Mr. Perry, who gives you his humble service. The ac- count which you give of Catarick is certainly true : after the burning of the Roman town, the new town was set lower. I have been told by a man of that town many stories, which induce me to believe that many Roman antiquities are there buried : time will, I liopc, discover them. Your account of the Ripon coins is more particular than wliat I had received, with some old pieces brought me thence. I expect yet from thence a further account. I am sorry I can- not answer your desires about Domesday Book : I did not tell you that I had a copy ; I told you I had perused Domesday Book, partly at the Exchequer, and partly in a copy, which was lent me. I took excerpta only out of them, but no copy. I have been reflecting upon that Winwcd field, and battle fought there. I conclude with Speed, in his Maps, (whence had he it ?) that the fight was at or near Kirkstal Abbey. My inducement is, that Monas- ticon Anglicanum, vol. 1, mentions a piece of ground given to that abbey by the name of Winnet, at the west end of the bridge. I take it, that there is a valley thereabout, which then might be overflown, and so many flying to the wath, (Winwath,) or Ijridge, were drowned. iEt. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 209 The river Aire seemeth otherwise to have been called Wint, or Winet : it springs at the foot of Pen-y-Givent : i. c\ the head of Went. Nennius, in his fragment (which I printed), calls that field Cam- pus Guenti ; so one manuscript. The same Nen- nius, by his urbs Judeu,* meaneth Lyodis, or Loydis. In page 135,-|- Nennius and others call it Caer-Loid- Coit, which Coit may well be understood of Elmetum. The same Nennius tfiere speaks of Campus Cai, as another fought-field, perhaps at Gayford, near Bhth. Cama- or Camu-lodunum, I do not take to be Almondbury, but rather Camelesbury, somewhere about Elland and Liversedge. That sixth Legion had several camps up and down that river ; Almond- bury was one. In this, I guess, some of the Ger- mans (as auxiliaries) might station. Their camps were commonly round ; such was this, if I remem- ber well the designation of it which you made. If this be sooth, then I would call it Almane-Bury, so the Monasticon calls it ; and Claudian mentions the Alemania, where he speaks of soldiers placed here in Britain. There are other towns in the West Riding, which take their names from that Legion and its auxiliaries. Such are Barneburgh, Deusburgh, Bar- wick- (or rather Buric-) in Elmet, Mexburgh, &c. ; but what to make of Bede's Campo-Dono, I know not. The anonymous geographer Ravennas (of whom I spoke, when I w^as so happy as to see you,) mentions Pampocalia, in these parts. I find Cayly, Coly, II- * So MS. t Dr. Gale refers to his own Scriptores XV. VOL. I. P 210 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695. kaly, all about this river of Aire. I find also that the river whicli joins Aire, near Castleford, is called Cale ; and after that, joining with Aire, that it is called Caldare; but where to place Panipocalia I know not : my hopes are, that you will prove so happy as to find it, and so kind as to communicate your discovery to me. I know that my author is very corruptly printed, and I have sent into France for varicB lectiones : if I might venture to alter Pam- pocalia into Campocalia, I should fancy it might prove Camsale, a place in that quarter, mentioned also in the Monasticon, vol. 1. As for Lagecium, in Antoninus and Camden, I dare say it is the Lagentium of that Anonymous. They were some troops of auxiliaries mentioned in Notitia Imperii, under the name Lagense. I think it will be hard to find a Roman way from Tadcaster, or York, to Leeds ; Mr. Kirk, perhaps, may enlighten us as to that way which passed up Wharf to likely ; I think he told me some observa- tions he had made about it. Now, dear Sir, I beg your pardon for not answering sooner, and also for making now so long an answer to your's, especially being able to offer nothing l)ut mere conjectures. I shall j)ray for your health and life, and farther suc- cess in your iiKjuiries, and crave leave to be in the list of those that may honour themselves by your friendship. Sir, I am your very humble servant, Thomas Gale.* * 16ft5. In answer to mine, of 26 June. — R. T. iT.t. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 211 FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Queen's College, Oxon, June 30, 1695. I RECEIVED your catalogue* and kind letter, and thank you for them both. I know not how the cata- logue could have been drawn up more regularly, or in a method more suitable to our design. For the accurate printing of it, and the sending down the sheet, you shall depend upon my care. I had pro- mised myself the happiness of calling at Leeds this summer and spending a day or two with you, but now I begin to fear my northern journey will hardly succeed. I have some business whicli will in a short time call me to London ; and when I am got thither, I fear it will hardly give me leave to stir much abroad. However, I shall always desire the favour of your correspondence, and think myself happy if I may be able to serve you either in your affairs relat- ing to antiquity or any other matters. Upon my remove from hence, you shall have notice where I settle, and how to direct, that your letters may not travel further than there is occasion. Our friend, Mr. Archdeacon, has promised to favour me Avith a sight of some part of his antiquities in three weeks' time. When your's are ready, I promise myself the satisfaction of seeing whatever is memorable about Leeds and the neighbourhood. Mr. Tanner is very eager upon his Leland ; but the edition of it * Of MSS., which is printed in the 2d Tom. of Cat. of MSS. p.229.— R. T. P 2 212 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1695. cannot be expected on a sudden. I am now in a little haste, and so you are eased from any farther trouble. Your v^ery affectionate friend and servant, E. Gibson. My service to your fellow^-travellers. FROM DR. HENRY SAMPSON. HONOURED SIR, London, July 23, 1695. I received your's yesterday, almost at the same hour when Mr. Howe had sent me your papers to peruse, whilst he goes his western circuit : an unexpected coincidence. I was reading with plea- sure your Memoirs of your worthy Father, then comes in your letter to make them more pleasurable : plates of sweetmeats are not the less grateful because they are double. I shall, at your desire, read over those, and your other papers, more leisurely ; and though I cannot pretend to be critical, yet I shall adventure to speak my poor tlioughts of them. I observe you are loth to displease the churchmen with any reflections ; l)ut sore eyes will never endure the light, though it strike them never so gently. I perceive your father was a good man, that is enough to gall some of them, — Bonus homo Caius, sed Cliris- liamis; was the old eye-sore ; for he was not wholly theirs : — I speak only of them of the high church, such as the ante-penultimate Vicar at Leeds (the Doctor), if I mistake not a wretched book that goes under his name. ^t. 37.] RALPH THORESBY. 213 I am, at present, very busy in writing out some Memoirs of the holy Hfe of an excellent country- man of your's, Mr. Rayner, the famous Minister of Lincoln, out of some Diaries of his own, and letters that I have procured. He mentions his birth and education about Halifax, Pudsey, and Woodchurch, and the good he got under the ministry of Mr. Samuel and Mr. Elkanah Wales, Mr. Hubbard, &c. These names I had before in Mr. Heywood's papers, and it was very delightful to me to read their use- fulness to this gracious man's edification ; but he no where sets down, that I find, the very town where he was born, nor the time. Sir, my desire is, that if you pass that way, you will please to find out the place of his birth, and search the register to know his age ; or if it be near Mr. Hey wood, please to give him my respects and desires in this matter. This is in pursuance of that affair, wherein you so impor- tunately require my proceeding, which, though it be opus impar humeris, yet I go on with it plan pimw, as the Italian speaks, and shall do so the more vigorously, if I may still be encouraged by such as- sistance as you have afforded, and still promise. That work will consist of short memorials of many men that are fallen asleep, who either did any thing re- markable, wrote or suffered, in that glorious cause of puritanism ; but as an Appendix, or Second Part, shall be added the larger Lives of some that were super-eminent, if I can procure materials. I have now divers papers of your's by me ; you 214 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1695. tell me no way how I may send them safely to you ; they are much too big to send by the post, and I fear too little (lest tliey be lost) to send by the carrier ; yet that is the way we must make use of, if you will direct me to know his name and inn in London, and give him a charge to be careful. Friends are the most unfaithful carriers in the world. I shall then send you, for your i)erusal, these rude collec- tions of Mr. Rayner's Life, and Mr. Heywood's notes of old Puritans. I thank you for what you write of that admirable person Archbishop Grindal : he was Fellow, Master, and Benefactor to the College where I was educated, viz. Pembroke Hall, in Cambridge. I have divers things of him from that College, that refer to his actions there. I much honour the memory of him. I have often received the rent of Palmersfield, to transmit it to the College. This puts me in mind to beg another favour of you, which concerns one of his successors in the See of York, viz. Dr. ToJjy Matthew. Mr. Stretton tells me there is a Diary of his lodged in the hands of his godson (and I think descendant) Dr. Toby Wickham, Dean of York. Sir, if it be possible, use all means, but bad ones, to get a sight and transcript of it : I am told it runs in an admirable puritanical strain. Sir, this proves a tedious letter for you to read. Scri])f.u.s at }ii Icrgo ncc cbnn jlnitUH Orestes ; I have but one word more, and that is to excuse me to Mr. iEt. 37.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 215 Heyvvood, that I used no greater industry to serve him ; it was winter time, when I was layed up : I am good for little in summer, but for nothing in winter. I take kindly that censure he gives of me in a letter of his to you (which you left amongst your papers), for it is true, I am slow both to prepare for, and send to, the press. Nonumque prematur in annum, is the pace of my publications. I heartily love and honour him, as well for his goodness, as correspondence in such kind of studies as I have a little followed. And now, if you have goodness to pardon, it is all 1 can expect for this, and so shall be obliged to be, Sir, Your very humble servant, H. Sampson. Love-lane, by Aldermanbury. FROM DR. OBADIAH WALKER. SIR, August 15, 1695. I HEARTILY beg your pardon ; first, for my long delaying to return to your kind and civil letter, I entreat you to impute this to my ill health, which hinders me very much to comply with my friends; and besides, for my so ineffectually serving you in what you have desired, and wherein I ought to have more diligently obeyed you. I here send you, I hope, that coin you value, of him you call Edward the Martyr, but I rather conceive it to be Edward Confessor, of some bad master ; it seemeth by the copy you sent, to be your's, and I hope it will arrive 21G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695. safely witli you. I have sent in company, one of King Harold, which you seem to desire ; be pleased to accept of it in some acknowledgment for my faults. I liave not as yet met with any more of your defects, being not in condition to stir abroad, except very seldom about business of concernment to myself; l)ut if it chance that I be able, I shall not fail to serve you to the utmost of my ability. What you refer me to in the Camden and Alfred, truly not having them at present, I must beg your leave to defer speaking to that till another opportunity. Mean- wliilc, congratulating your good fortune in the aug- mentation of your plentiful collection, and wishing you still more, I take leave, and rest. Sir, Your humble servant, Obadiah Walker. FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. WORTHY AND DEAR SIR, Nov. 25, 1695. I RECEIVED your letter of October 8th, some time after its dating, at Mr. Hough's, and that rich treasury of papers you were pleased to favour and honour me with of worthy Dr. Sampson's, and my daily pressing occasions have compelled me to detain them longer than I was willing, but now send them back to you by J. Baxter, after perusal, and am glad tlie Doctor proceeds in his resolution to print so in- comparable a work. Mr. Rayner's is well done ; and that little of Mr. Bowles I believe to be true, but I iEt. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 217 question whether it be convenient to descend to the particularity of diaries ; I had got some things out of my Reverend Father Angier's, which the London Ministers expunged. I can say little of Mr. Ward ; I spoke to Dr. Colton, but he doth nothing ; nor of Mr. Newcome. As for Mr, Sharp, Mr. Illingworth, your intelligence transcends mine ; all I can say is in my manuscrii)t of Mr. Sharp's funeral sermon, in Mr. Totty's hands : I am reading his Treatise on Psalm xciv. 19. If I can retrieve any thing of Mr. John Leaver, Mr. Roger Baldwin, Mr. Henry Pen- dlebury, worthy your acceptance, I shall communi- cate to you, that you may hand it to Dr. Sampson, to whom give my humble service when you write to him.* I am glad you are so well employed, and do humbly present this small Treatise of a New Crea- ture to you, hoping for your candid acceptance, and furtherance of its sale, by John Whitworth. My cordial love and service to your dear wife and mother- in-law, from Your servant in the Lord, Oliver Heywood. * Dr. Sampson published nothing at last; but these Memoirs found their way into the hands of Dr. Calamy, and the substance of them is to be found in his Account of the Ejected and Silenced Minis- ters. There are numerous passages from Dr. Sampson's biographical collections, among the MSS. in the British Museum. Several of these appear to be in the handwriting of INIr. Thoresby. 218 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1695. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DE;Ul SIR, Your last came soon after I had returned some few of the Saxon coins, which were sent to me by the post, from Bishop-thorp ; I was troubled that I had not kept them longer, or received yoin- letter sooner. The kind account you gave me of the rest, might have enabled me to make better guesses, than, I doubt, it will be thought I have done. I suppose them all to have been named anciently, jtycaj, and eight of them (as now the Liards de France) to have made a penny. This conjecture I ground upon our Saxon version of Mark xii. 42. But, truly, to what king any of the five that were sent me are to be attributed, I know not. I am still more greedily desirous to see more of them, since you tell me they are mostly coins of our Northumbrian mo- archs. As to Dr. Johnston's query, the great Ro- man way from Carlisle southward (or to the south- east), may be easily traced from hence to Tadcaster. A branch of it might possibly go off at Isurium towards York ; since all the Itinera that relate to these parts carry us that road. But Antonine (or whoever else was the author of the Itinerary) does not always keep the causeway, but elbows in any place of note that he comes near ; yet I have often fancied tliat I could as fairly discern the remains of such an old load between Burrough-bridge and York, as otliers could from that place to Tadcaster : I iEt. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 219 hope the learned Doctor is of my opinion. We have, in the compass of this small diocese, several Roman pavements that cross the great London road, and others that branch from it. Dr. Plot has ob- served the like in Oxfordshire and Staffordshire, The small treatise my kinsman puts me upon speed- ing into his hands, may be called what he pleases. He should have had the perusal of it ere this, if the troublesome state of my family (who have all run through the small-pox) would have allowed me to think quietly. I am, as you are, in daily expect- ance of hearing from our friend Gibson, who is in- vited into the Archbishop of Canterbury's family. As duplicates of the Saxon pieces (pcycaj) come to your hand, remember your promise, and Sir, Your affectionate servant, William Nicolson. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, Nov. 25, 1695. I HAVE been lately in such broils as are very un- suitable to my temper, and no ways agreeable to that satisfaction I take in conversing with so valuable a friend as yourself. I hope they are now over ; at least, I find my thoughts so much my own again, that I resolve to employ them better for the future. The first errand I have for them, is the making my due acknowledgements for the generous present your 220 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1695. last brought me. Half a score coins of our old Nor- thumbrian kings are a treasure, whicli (as soon as ever I came to myself) I could not but esteem above all the riches of the French monarch. I know you do not look for an answerable return ; it is impossi- ble you should expect any such thing from me. Witliout compliment, and by all the faith of my masters, the Antiquaries, I am proud of your token. I have not yet had leisure to consider the several pieces, luit, as soon as it is possible for me, I shall gratefully impart my conjectures upon them. I doubt not but you are right in your reading of such inscriptions as your's brings me. I think I told you that these pieces (as I wrote to cousin Pearson) I look upon as those which our ancestors called jcycaj-, two whereof made a farthing ; like the widow's mite in the Gospel, where we meet with this word. You cannot more obhge me than by communicating your observations on such others of them as relate to the kingdom of Northumberland, which, perhaps, they all do. I am finishing out one part of my Historical Liljrary, tliat (if any thing I write) may probably have the good luck to take and decoy in some pur- chasers for the Northumbeiland, which shall follow as fast as I can send it ; and then I have done with the services I proposed to myself in these studies. Your great kindnesses, and the assistances I hope for from you, are the chief sujiporters of me under such a fatigue ; and all you are to expect in return, is TEt. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 221 only the sharing with me also in the fate of the work, when it is finished. I am. Sir, Your ever obliged and faithful servant, W. NiCOLSON. Mr. Gibson is at Queen's College still. FROM DR. HENRY SAMPSON. WORTHY SIR, Dec. 31, 1695. Bon giorno, bon anno. I HAVE lately been in the country air for my health ; at my coming home, I met with the parcel you sent up by the carrier, safely delivered at my house, and with that your obliging letter. Be assured, Sir, it was not want of value for your friendship, or so desired a correspondent, that made my pen so sluggish, but that uneasiness and sickness that has crept upon me this winter more than before : if it please God I emerge, I shall highly cultivate your friendship, by which I am so gi^at a gainer. I thank you heartily for the additional notes you have given of this noble Countess of Warwick : I hoped Mr. Heywood would have done the like in Mr. Bowles's Memorials, from whom I thought I might have ob- tained such farther instructions, as that they might have been called a Life. I fear I have displeased him ; if I have, I desire I may know so much, that I may ask his pardon. As for the Diary of Archbishop Matthew, upon my second reading of it, I find it may be contracted 222 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1695. into a very few useful and exemplary observations, uhicli M ill be as a mirror to show the man, and with the addition of what is said by Wood, Fuller, &c. may increase our Biology ; and therefore beg of you that it may lie by me a little, and so I shall send back your book safely, with those additaments of re- spect and honour to his memory which I am able to collect and make. His, and his wife's epitaphs, are the epitomes of the whole. As for your papers, I am not able to censure that of anti([uities, in which sort of learning I am nobody. For the Life of your father, it is a most exemplary and curious thing ; it may be, there are some things of economical concernment, which the world will not care for. A thing that often comes into my mind in reading and writing Lives, and particularly in that of Mr. Rayner's ; how are men concerned, thought I, to know, in so laige a narrative, how much Norwich and Lincoln strove for him? with many other things of the like importance. I must also i)lainly and friendly tell you, that as I am exceedingly pleased with that Life, so not so well satisfied with the poetry, or sermon of your worthy friend. It were to be wished that nothing that is ordinary shp out of our pens into the i)ublic : then you'll say, I must write nothing ; I grant it, and can well lay it aside. However, mine being only used for transcribing, (as all historical things must be transcripts, not inventions,) I shall go on with my collections, hoping they may fall into the hands of some judicious dis])oser ; and one or two ;Et. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 223 such I have in my eye. Pardon me, Sir, that I use this freedom, I expect and desire the like ; pardon me also, that I have cut my paper too little for my materials. I intended only a line or two at the first, and now have scarce left room to write the name of, Your humble servant, H. Sampson. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, I RECEIVED your's of October 23d, and am there- fore ashamed that the answer has been so long de- ferred ; but I have your own apology to make, viz. a hurry of business, of which most has been rather others' than my own. I was, indeed, then engaged in some scribbles about our Bill of Indulgence, though to no purpose ; our Bishops being absolutely resolved against granting it without a Sacramental test, and they were themselves very near the ma- jority in the House of Lords. And since the ad- journment of our Parliament, I have taken a little fresh air at my Lord Loftus's country seat. But lest I spend the greatest part of this letter in excusing the delay of it, I must, in answer to your's, return you thanks for tlie account you give me of my age, though it makes me blush to think of having lived so long to so little purpose. My nephew Jackson thanks you for your kind remembrance of him and 004 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1695. former favours to him ; he is very studious, and hitlierto answers my expectations, and hope he will do so in his future usefulness; but I foresee the longer time he has to pursue his studies, the greater improvement may be expected from him. I have little news to impart to you from hence. Here has been a report, but only a flying, groundless one, of a French fleet on our coast, and of some design to have Galway betrayed into their hands. And there- fore, for want of other entertainment, I will acquaint you witli a passage or two I met some time ago in manuscript, written by the first Earl of Cork, (father to the famous Mr. Boyle,) with his own hand, in a short memorandum* for the use of his re- lations ; viz. that when he came first into this king- dom, which was in Queen Elizabeth's reign, he had but 25/. besides the clothes on his back, and a gold locket or two, though afterwards he acquired an estate of many thousands a-year, besides the honour he entailed on his posterity. The first rise of his for- tune was his marrying one Mrs. Apsley, a widow, with whom he had .500/. per annum. But the most remark- able turn I observed in his life was this : he, when a widower, waited on Sir Jeoffrey Fenton, then Se- cretary of State ; Sir Jeoffrey being busy, made him stay a good while. In the mean time, he was court- ing his little daughter, then in her nurse's arms ; and expressing to Sir Jeoffrey his great satisfaction • " True RememhranceH." The MS. was " published entire," by Dr. Birch. "Life of Robert Boyle," (1744.) pp. 3—15. Budgell had seen and quoted it. See " Memoirs of the Boyles," (1737) p. 3. ;Et.38.] RALPH THORESBY. 225 in that diversion, Sir Jeoffrey offered her to him, if he would stay for her, which accordingly he both promised and performed ; and by that lady he had those several children, of whom Mr. Boyle was one, and the Earl of Orrery another ; and it was in con- sideration of such a series of successes as his life was attended with, that he chose that motto, " God's Providence is my Inheritance." You see what I am forced to supply the want of other news with ; and therefore, since I have so little to impart that is worthy your notice, it is time to ease you of this trouble, by assuring you that all accounts of your welfare are highly acceptable to, dear Sir, Your most affectionate, humble servant, J. BOYSE. My due respects to Rev. Mr. Manlove, from whom, though unknown, a line would be very wel- come. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, February 25, 1695-6. These bring you the most amazing, surprising news of God's gracious care over us, and goodness to us, in the discovering, and thereby preventing an hellish cursed plot, as deeply and cunningly laid, and as near to execution, as the Powder-plot was. There were, some say fifty, others say three hundred, ruffians in a conspiracy, under an oath of secrecy and fidelity, to assassinate the King ; and it was to VOL. I. Q 226 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. have been executed last Saturday at Richmond, as he was shooting ;* or if that failed, (for he did not go as he was wont,) then on the Lord's-day, as he went to chapel ; and the Duke of Berwick, it is said, is in town, ready to have headed the insurrection upon the news of the blow being given ; and King James lay at Calais, where Boufflers was ready with twenty thousand men to embark (upon three or four hvm- dred transport ships they had ready, and Du Bart's fleet to be their guard,) as soon as they heard of the King's death. But God hath detected, and thereby, we hope, disappointed their villainous wickedness, and caused their own tongues to fall upon them- selves. It is said one of the conspirators discovered it to the King on Wednesday was se'nnight ; and the King had two expresses from Flanders last week, one on Wednesday, and the other on Saturday, giving him an account of Boufflers' march to King James at Calais, and the Duke of Berwick and others being here, and wishing the King to take care of his own person ; they came from the Duke of Bavaria, or Wittenburgh, or both ; and they had drawn down twenty thousand men towards Ostend, to be ready to embark if others did. On Satur- day there was a great council sate, and warrants issued out to apprehend the conspirators, several of which are seized. It was said yesterday there were fourteen in Newgate, and the Lord Moon sent to the Tower : they are in a close search for the Duke • See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Narration," i. 370. ^t. 38.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 227 of Berwick, the Lord Powis, Middleton, and Parker, (that escaped out of the Tower,) and others, that they say are in town. On the Lord's-day, my Lord Mayor and his brethren were sent for to Kensing- ton, and they have ordered the raising of the trained-bands; and auxiliaries to be ready. Yester- day, his Majesty came to the House, and made a speech to both Houses, (which is printed,) acquaint- ing them with the discovery of this helhsh conspi- racy ; both Houses agreed on an address, wherein they acknowledge him the only rightful King of England, and congratulate his deliverance, and as- sure him they will stand by him with their lives and fortunes to secure his person and support his go- vernment, against King James, and all his enemies, at home or abroad ; and if he should die an untimely death, (which God forbid !) they will revenge his death upon his enemies. The Commons ordered an association to be drawn up to the same purpose, which they agreed to, and were to subscribe this day ; and have ordered a Bill to be brought in, that if any thing happen to his Majesty, the Parliament in being shall not be dissolved till the next rightful heir shall do it. They have addressed the King to take care of his sacred person, and to secure all them that he may suspect will disturb his government; and have ordered a Bill to be brought in to suspend the Habeas Corpus Bill, that he may secure them : and several other good things they did ; the best day's work that ever they yet made. They sate till Q 2 228 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. seven, and then went botli Houses in a body with their address to Kensington. Our Common Council met twice this day to finish their address. The Earl of Romney is sent down into Kent to raise their militia, and the Earl of Scarborough into Sussex, to do the like. Admiral Russel is gone into the Downs, and all tlie men-of-war sent to sail with him. It is hoped there are forty or fifty men-of-war rendez- voused there by this time : we have good hopes their mischievous designs will be prevented. My hearty love and service to you and your's, and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest, in haste, your's, R.S. FROM REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD. HONOURED SIR, March 2, 1695-6. Your kind letter I received by the hands of J. Baxter, and thank you for the intelligence therein contained ; l)ut I suppose the Parliament will find other work to do now than to pick quarrels; the dis- covery of this horrid plot (a perfect account where- of, I doubt not, you have had,) will be such a diver- tisement as to beget an employment, if they know their own and the nation's interest ; but my son at London signifies there are eighty of them will not join in the Association for the King, some whereof are Yorkshire blades, but doth not think fit to name them. It is astonishing to find so many Jacobites. il:,t. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 229 Tuesday-morning- Closet-prayers have already pro- duced good success : I am no politician, but a poor petitioner at the throne of grace ; I prefer this exer- cise to ranting, railing, healthing. The Lord reign- eth, let the earth rejoice. Psalm xcvii. 1 ; Let the people tremble, Psalm xcix. 1. As for Mr. Sharp's manuscript, he was an excel- lent person, an holy man, a profound scholar, and of excellent refined gifts. I have not at this instant his manuscript in my hands, but I cannot meddle with the impression of it : 1. Because it must be transcribed, (which I have not leisure to do,) it being so interlined, that I know not that any body can make any thing of it : 2. The style is so proHx, that it will be difficult to be understood by vulgar read- ers : 3. There is much polemical matter in it, and a particular assertion, which I can in no way sub- scribe, viz. that there is in the church a superior order to presbyters, which seems to establish pre- lacy, which I judge will not do well at this time of day. You mistake, it is not Dr. Owen, the inde- pendent, but Mr. Owen, a presbyterian, that hath wrote a book lately on that subject. I know Mr. Sharp's meaning, (for he and I had much discourse on this head,) that it is not to establish Diocesan prelacy, but a certain Superintendency, (which Mr. Baxter pleads for in a prudential way) ; but then this notion must be explained, and not come out thus naked : misconstructions are apt to be made upon such assertions. Good Sir, pardon this boldness : I 230 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D.1696 am apt to think some other plain practical sermons of Mr. Sharp's might be fitter for the press than this ; but if any will undertake it, I shall not oppose. My hearty love and service to yourself and Mrs. Thorcs- by, from, Sir, Your obliged friend, Oliver Heywood. FROM REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, March 16, 1695-6. I HEARTILY thank you for your kindness in com- municating the enclosed to me, though my son at London had sent me the full account of this hellish confederacy, which God hath so graciously prevent- ed, for which I hope for a public day of thanks- giving. God's ministers and people had agreed to spend every Tuesday morning an hour in secret prayer for the nation, as foreseeing this, by divine instinct, some months before, and all men see the open answers, Mat. vi. 6. Let us l^less our prayer- hearing, all-seeing, wonder-working God, and act answeraljly. Mrs. Sharp hath her husband's manu- scripts ; he was an incomparable man : if you or any other will undertake the transcribing or methodizing them, I have nothing to say ; you may read them, and give your judgment upon them, I have daily employment : however, I could wish Mr. Manlove may remember his i)romise to me for a Meeting of ^t 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 231 Ministers at Mill-hill, in convenient time. I am in haste. My love to you and your's, Your real friend, Oliver Heywood. FRO:\I DR. TH0:\L\5 GALE. SIR, Lady-day, [March 25,] 1696. I RETURN you many thanks for your last. I am sorry to find that you have so little time to pursue those studies to which your genius so potently and successfully draws you. I know, by experience, how imeasy your mind must be, by being hindered from those pursuits. By your next, I hope for a farther account of the via vicinalis. But, to be free with you, I believe you will find it passed over at Kirkstal- bridge, and not at Leeds ; for it seemeth so to point to Halifax and Mancunium from York. Cair Luid-coit, or Loijd-coit, in Nennius and Alph. Beverl. and Hygden, I find no where else of such antiquity. I conjectured that it might be Leeds. It was a conjecture from the motions and actions of the Saxons and Britons in the parts about Don- caster. The Britons, as I suppose, drove the Saxons out of Lincolnshire northward. Hereupon we have mention of Cair Loyd-coit, as farther northward than Lincoln, and Cair-coil, Coledon, in Hygden, sub anno o44 (though, by Hygden, taken for Lincoln.) must rather be some town farther north. Coledon, 232 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. in British, signifieth hasels. The Latin writers seem to call every great wood in this land, of what kind soever, Sylva Caledonia. Floius, saith Julius Caesar, beat the Britons in Sylvas Calcdonias.* We have a town, not far from Tadcaster, called Hasel- wood ; all the country thereabout was woody ; you have Outwood and Sow-wood, &c. thereabout, and Cane-wood, and the forest of Gaul-trees, Sylva Cala- teria, and in both of them something sounds like Caledon. Camden saith Leeds was built after Camulodunum was burnt : I cannot think Leeds was ever a Roman station ; it stands on the wrong side of the river ; all their garrisons were on the soutli side of your waters. Castleford is not the right name of that place, but rather Calesford. The river was anciently Cale (so Holinshed, I think,) and Cale-air made Caldair : some towns on its banks favour this conjecture, and an old Latin geographer placeth Pampo-calia hereabout. A Latin Ptolemy hath Calagrona, for Halifax as I guess. I follow your letter; Leon or Legion, could never produce Leeds ; and the Legion which was once quartered in these parts lay at Cambodunum. The Castra Expluratorum we never find in the middle of the conquered country, but in or near the enemy's frontiers. Legeolium I quasi Lede-olium, compounded of • " Perhaps the woods in Kent or Sussex, or the Chiltern in Ox- fordshire, for he never went much farther, excejjt, perhaps, to St. Albans."— T. d. t " La^'ctiurn, Antoninus; Lagentium, Anon. Geog." — T. G. iEt. 38.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 233 Leed, the river or town hard by ; and oliiim, Olton, or Ollerton, both very near. So Isuriuin, from yse and youre. Searcli if the name of that river Aire may not have been sev^eral times changed betwixt its head and mouth ; at Kirkstal, I think, it was called Winet.* The Saxons had an ill way of perverting names of places and rivers. Loyd is near akin to these (see infra.) I shall be glad to hear farther of Mr. Bains's dis- coveries. Scala Chronica, I have wondered what was become of it ; am glad it is in yom- hand, I have some excerpta out of it. I have sent you a few bones out of that urn which I gave to the Royal Society : the urn was found near Peckham beyond the Thames, with many others, in a gravel pit. If you please to direct those coins to me, of which you speak, I will, in your name, present them to the So- ciety, and they shall be registered as from you, with the thanks of the Society. The President of the Royal Society is Mr. Montague, Chancellor of the Exchequer. When you see Mr. Kirk, I pray you give my ser- vice to him. I am sure he Avill be very ready to as- sist you in searching out that Roman way, south of Wherfe. I spoke wdth him formeily about it. I would have writ to him, if there had been any needs, or I had had time ; but you will believe I have not, * " Beda, anno 655, in regione Leedls, juxta flumen Winwed. V. Ilygden, eod. anno. — Proviucia Loidis : Flor. meaning Louthairie, in Scotland, Ledbury, in Herefordshire, from Lede, the river." — 'I'. G. 234 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. when I shall tell you that I have been three days in finisliing even this hasty scribble. I am, Sir, Your afTectionate friend, Thomas Gale. P. S. Nennius mentions one Cerdicselmet (ceretic- elmet) present at the interview betwixt Vortigern and Hengist. He also mentions Certic, King of Elmet, driven out by Edwin, son of Alia. I guess that Ceratec (or Caratoc) might give the name to Castle Gary (now so called) in Elmet, near Aberford. We find in Florilegus, p. 92, Gaer Garec for Gaer Caratoc. Consider well whether Bede do mean, by Villa regia, Dewsbery, or Conangburg on Don, or Berwick in Elmet ; I have not Bede before me. Cair-pensavel-coit Pen-uchel-coit, is mons editus in Sylva. Cair-luid-coit, is Civitas ad Luid (Loid, Leed, &c.) in Sylva, or civ. Ulmeti in Sylva, or civitas in ulmeti Sylva. Lwit is ulmus, which Lwit the Britons sound Looit ; perhaps your town ; by no means Lincoln, as Alphred of Bev. would, misleading H. Huntington and Ilygden and others. The Britons call Glocester, cair Loyw (which is as much as the City on the Water.) So, perhaps, Cair Loyd-coit may be the City at the Water in the Wood, for I find that iv and d are often equivalent. But in the map of South Wales, in the very bor- der of North Wales, you find Loyd R., and in the yEt. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 235 Map of North Wales you find Loyd-yerd upon tlie R. Murway ; and Mayn Loyd upon tlie R. Clowe- doc. I conceive this is the true British name of the town Loydis, Leeds : yovi have also Loyderis near Pulhelly ; you have Ve-Loyd R. in Caernarvonshire, and others, which plainly argue Bede's Loydis to be an old British wood (as are those above) ; but the particular signification of Loyd, which I think is grey, I know not how to accommodate to your town. All these conjectures (for they are no more) I venture to cast before you, not so much to guide you, as to show you that I am desirous to obey you, and com- ply with your desire, though with peril and hazard of discretion. FROM DR. THOMAS GALE. SIR, April 6, 1696. It is now some time ago since I had the favour of your's. I have been in much business and some in- disposition of health lately. This I plead in order to gain your pardon for my silence. In that letter you gave me some hopes of seeing you here : I hope you will, indeed, let me have that satisfaction. Sir J. Cotton is now in town, and you may have the use of that manuscript of Kirkstal, (of which you made mention,) if you come before Whitsuntide. I cannot give you any grounds to believe that he will let it travel so far as Leeds. I therefore impor- tune you to come up, and if that book of Scala 23C CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. Chronica be not very great, that you would let it come up at the same time, that I may look into it, and you have it at your return. Dear Sir, if in any thing I may be serviceable to your learned designs, be confident that I am in all possible respects. Your very assured friend and servant, T. Gale. I fancy that ''Pr/6'6ovi'oi>, in Ptolemy and Antoninus, I think, may, be Rhigton, near Bramham. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, June 4, 1696. I SELDOM have a letter from you which does not oblige me greedily to expect another. You mention an odd inscription from Worcestershire, which puz- zles a great many antiquaries to explain. If you will do me the favour to send it, I will venture to give you my thoughts of it, if I be able to think at all upon the matter. The inscription from Carrow is also new to me, and very well deserves my hearty thanks. Mr. Forster (in whose possession you tell me it now is) married my cousin-german. I have long designed to take his house in my ramble along the Picts' wall ; but, wanting so good a companion as yourself, I have hitherto delayed my journey. I find, on all occasions, it is much easier to project than perform. However, one of my designs is like to come to some issue or other very shortly, as you will learn from the enclosed. It is a sheet of my /Et. 38.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 237 English Historical Library, now in the press, which was sent me from the bookseller (as a specimen) by the last post. The book, he says, will be finished about a fortnight hence. It is only a third of what I have ready, and what the world is like to be trou- bled with shortly, if the first part take. I have not the happiness to be acquainted with Dr. Gale, but his good instructions (even at second hand) would be very valuable to me. When he favours you with plenty of light, why cannot you spare a northern friend one reflected ray ? With good wishes to ho- nest Mr. Thornton, and yourself in your Roman roads, I am, Sir, Your ever affectionate servant, William Nicolson. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth-House,neai-Ldndon, June 7, 1696. I THINK it my duty to let you know I am now removed from Oxford, and settled at Lambeth, to my very great satisfaction. If your business should lead you to London, I know you will be so kind as come over the water ; but if nothing draws you so far southward, your letters will always be exceeding acceptable here. I have some thoughts of taking a journey into Westmorland this summer, but cannot yet determine whether Yorkshire or Lancashire must be my road, in case my design takes. To see 238 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. you and your curious collection at Leeds, would be a happiness whicli I fear my circumstances will hardly allow me ; but you are, however, like to have the trouble of coming ten or a dozen miles from home to meet us upon the road. Mv. Nicolson, I presume, has given you an ac- count of the book which he has now printing in London. It will be of great use to the whole na- tion, but is a particular obligation upon us anti- quaries. Our Oxford Catalogue goes slowly on, the index taking up more time than was at first ex- pected ; but the world must rather have a little pa- tience, than let the book come abroad so maimed, as a work of that nature would be without an accu- rate table. Mr. Tanner works hard upon his Leland, having resolved to make it a complete book in the kind. He had a legacy left him, upon Mr. Wood's death, of the third volume of his Athenae ; but so imper- fect, that I fear he will hardly think fit to publish it, till he has more time to bestow in reviewing and adding. Mr. Kennet's Parochial Antiquities are published at the Theatre in Oxford ; but I believe they are scarce come into the booksellers' hands. If you have occasion to make use of me in any business about this City, you know who may freely command the best services of, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and servant, . Edmund Gibson. iEt. 38.] RALPH T II ORE SB Y. 239 FROM DR. HENRY SAMPSON. WORTHY SIR, Love Lane, June 25th, 1696. I WAS glad of your's, which I had this week ; if it had not come then, at this return of your carrier, I had prevented your call for your books, being re- solved to make a thankful restitution of them, and beg your pardon for detaining them so long. But you will see what use I have made of them. For those Memoirs of the Lord Fairfax, I was passion- ately desirous to peruse them, and had often solicit- ed my Lady Clinton's Chaplain to get a sight of them. They are kept as a treasure by such ladies, and other persons related to his Lordship. But this Chaplain was a capricio ; though he often promised, yet would never let me have a sight of them. You have abundantly gratified my curiosity in that affair. Then for the Diary of Archbishop Matthew; I am glad I saw it, though it answered not expecta- tion. Yet out of it, and other scraps of his History I have met with, I have made a shift to pick up so much as I call his Life, which I present to your view and reading, and am sorry I have not an ama- nuensis, that I might leave it with you. However, please to give me your censure of it, and send it back at your leisure ; if you know any thing of him farther, please to add it. I have represented him as an indefatigable preacher, neitlier do I know any like him in that kind, except that Reverend prelate I name. He is fit to give a great example to our 240 { 0RRESP0NDEN{:E of [A. t). 1696. loitering Bishops. You will ask me if I mean to print it : I shall deliberate of that, and plainly tell you no, at present, and never without your consent and approbation. I have dressed it up, indeed, as if it were for the press ; but still, I reserve time for ad- vice and perusal a second time. I shall include also Mr. Heywood's pa])ers of the old Nonconformists, and the sheet which was left out in the Preface to Mr. Angler's Life, which 1 remember you once de- sired ; also Mr. Gee's Dying Speeches. I thought I had sent you the letters which came from Mr. New- come and Mr. Illingworth, or delivered them to Mr. Stretton for you, but looking among my papers I find I have not. It is my great fault to keep them so long ; these and all the rest expect by your Leeds carrier, who goes hence to-morrow ; it is the same I sent by before ; carriage paid. I thank you for the additions you sent about Mr. Rayner. Those papers were sent to Lincoln, with the Diaries, to one that I hoped would have scanned them critically, and added to them : but, alas ! he is called home from us. I mean pious Mr. Drake, who lent me the Diaries : they are now in Mr. Dis- ney's hands, from whom I hope to have them speed- ily. I see it is not possible to get the true date of his birth or death. My cordial love and service to Mr. Heywood. I hope he will please to add to his catalogue what Nonconformists died since his former terminus. Tlicy go to rest apace with us ; we have lost nine iEt. 38.] RALPH THORESJiY. 241 in nine last months, in and near London ; viz. Mr. Mayo, Lawrence, Mentz, Baker, Myles, Chester, Rathband, Kentish sen'. Ford. I know not where we shall find as many, and as good, to supply their vacuities. But I tire you. I am. Sir, Your very humble servant, H. Sampson. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEA.R SIR, Lambeth, July 23, 1690. I HAD answered your's sooner, but for a cold that I got upon coming into this chill air, which has made me very lazy for this last fortnight. Mr. Tanner is upon all occasions so ready to serve the public designs of learning, that you might freely send your queries to him without any intercession of friends. But since you think my interest with him may be of some use to you, I have (by this post) sent him word of a fresh correspondent ; a piece of news which I know he will thank me for. I am very glad to hear you talk of digesting your collections ; it is a sign that you consider the fate of poor Dods- worth, and some other unhappy people, who were so greedy after materials, that they seem to have forgot at last for what end they collected them. Sir John Cotton's library is a place, where I have not much acquaintance, being wholly taken up at present with the settlement of our own here at Lambeth : so soon VOL. I. R 242 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD, 1696. as I can look that way, I will endeavour to find out the Kirkstal Chronicle by the directions of the No- titia ; and give you the best account of it I am able. I thank you heartily for the notice of your Via Vici- nalis, and other things in the neighbourhood ; and so does Dr. Fairfax too, a man of good understand- ing in those matters, to whom I communicated your letter. About a fortnight or three weeks hence, I shall go to Oxford, and after a week's stay there, shall come for the north ; to see you I have peremp- torily resolved, but whether in my way towards Westmoreland, I cannot promise. I foresee some obligations to go down the Lancashire road, and if these hold, I must take York in my return. Mr. Nicolson seemed to say lately in a letter to me, that it was possible he might meet me at Leeds, if I came that way. In case we could be sure of him there against the twentieth or twenty-second of the next month, there is no disputing the matter, but call I must, what difficulties soever lie in the way : though I confess, I had much rather have his company to Leeds in my return to London, which will be about the beginning of October. New catalogues of manuscripts may be still re- ceived ; when they come to their appendix, I shall desire a list of what additions you have made to your stock, that it may be printed in its proper place. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate friend, Edmund Gibson. vTlt. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 243 FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. ft DEAR SIR, August 1, 1696. I DEFERRED the return of my thanks for your Worcestershire inscription, till I could give some account of my book, which came to your hands be- fore it did to mine. I have desired Mr. Gibson to present you with a copy, in my name ; and if he brings you not one down, you shall (at farthest) be sure of it at his return. My cousin-german being sheriff of this county, I am obliged to attend him (as chaplain) at the assizes, which fall out so unluckily that I cannot meet our friend at Leeds at the time appointed. You are very kind in noting the defects you ob- serve in my little book, and I must beg the conti- nuance of such acts of friendship. I am troubled to hear that some great men at Oxford are offended with a passage in my preface, which, they think, re- flects on Dr. Bernard and his Catalogue of MSS. I assure you, I intended the reflection should fall on one nearer home, who had vilely imposed upon the public, merely to aggrandize himself; but a man that ventures to be an author, must resolve to be very impudent, and to stand the shock of all manner of censure and opposition. My province lies espe- cially exposed to the fury of a great many critics, and I easily foresaw the mischiefs that would attend the man that first engaged in it ; however, on I was resolved to go, whatever was the event, and I am R 2 244 ( OllRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. hastening a second part, before I stay to hear what is the fate of this. If you have observed any more, in your kite discovered brass coins, that relates to my Nortluunberland, you will continue your kind- ness in imparting it. That is a work, which I hope for more favour in, if my credit be not cracked in this other attempt. I am ever, Sir, Your obliged and faithful servant, W. NiCOLSON. FROM DR. WILLIAM PEARSON, ARCHDEACON OF NOTTINGHAM. SIR, August 6, 169G. I HAVE here sent you a list of the Suffragan Bishops of this diocese, from 1350 to 1560, which was the space of time Mr. Wharton desired me to inquire into, and to which I confined my search. It is possible there may be some account of some be- fore this time, but, I believe, very few, or none, to be met with in the Archbishops' registers. I find myself mistaken in what I told you the last time I had the lia])piness to see you, that one of the Suf- fragans had the title of Rossensis, which I fancied might be the vicar of Leeds you were inquiring after; but there is no such person in my catalogue, and I am apt to think that they were, for the most part, if not always, Regulars, and not Seculars, that bore that character ; Init that you can best determine. I would beg tlie favour of you, when you have ^t. 38.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 245 leisure to think of and consider it, to give me your thoughts upon this point : Whether we have any account among the ancient historians of Constantius Chlorus's being in Britain before the year 1042 U. C, when he was created Caesar, and sent against Carau- sius, who, about a year or two before, had taken upon him the purple, and usurped the empire ? This would give some light to us in the search after the place of his son Constantine's birth, which I should be glad to see fixed in our own country, upon un- questionable authority, and not mere presumptions and traditions. He is agreed by all to have been about nineteen years of age when his father Chlorus was made Caesar, — i.e. 1042 U. C. : and when he died, viz. 1054 U. C. (according to Lydiat, in his Series Magistratuum, &c. Rom. p. 154,) so must have been about thirty-one ; and consequently the time of his birth must fall in with the last year of Aurelian's reign, who was murdered An. 1023 U. C. : so that there is a possibility that what Camden, p. 75, n. ed., and some others assert, that Constan- tius was a soldier in Britain, under Aurelian, may be true, and I should be very glad to have it con- firmed by antiquity ; but, neither Vopiscus nor Eu- sebius, who wrote the Lives of those two Emperors, nor indeed any other old historian, that I have yet met with, making any mention of it, I am apt to doubt of it, and to fear that it has been said only to countenance that story of Jeff. Monmouth's, &c. of Helena's being the daughter of Coilus, Duke of Col- 240 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. clicstcr, who, having conquered the Romans under Asclcpiodokis, secured a great part of Britain to himself, and dying, left it to his daughter Helen, whom Constantius married, and of whom he begot Constantine. But tliere is a strange anachronism in this : for Asclepiodolus came not over, that I can find, till that expedition against Carausius, at which time Constantine was about nineteen years old. Pray, when you have a little spare time to throw away upon the consideration of this business, favour me with the result of your thoughts upon it, and you will thereby very much oblige, dear Sir, Your affectionate and luunble servant, W. Pearson. FROM DR.' HENRY SAMPSON. • WORTHY SIR, Love-lane, Aug. 6, 1696. I WAS glad to hear by your's of July 18th that the packet I sent by the carrier came to your hands : I was in pain till I heard of it. Manuscripts, if lost, can never be made good, as prints may : besides there was a manuscript courteously lent me, which I could no way have answered for, if not safely restored. As for the printing of the Archbishop T. M.'s Life, it is far from my thoughts, yet I put his picture and a preface before it, as if such a thing might be, as I do to some others which I believe will be safe enough from public view, I had the same thoughts with iEt. 38] RALPH THORESBY. 247 yoiir's, that the manuscript out of which it was prin- cipally taken, was lent by a friend, who might take it ill to see that public use and noise made about his private papers. Therefore assure yourself nothing that is unhandsome shall be done, and nothing which you shall think to be so. You have made yourself my debtor, by promising me some memorials of Mr. Wales, and some remains of Dr. Winter's ; yet I sup- pose you know how Dr. Hicks has exposed Dr. W. as an enthusiast (for that part of his Life which is already extant) in his Sermon at the Oxford Act ; yet I shall be glad to see what farther may be added to the account of him, whom I knew well to be a learned, pious, and moderate man. As for my Lord Fairfax's story, as I was exceedingly pleased with his own memoirs, which you generously accommodated me with (and I can compare them to no book I know so well as to Caesar's Commentaries), so to have said any more of him, must be to transcribe the other extant histories of him, for a whole decad of years, out of May, Sprig, Whitlock, and many thousand of pamphlets published in that unhappy, yet to him glorious, decennium. I remember well the poet's counsel, " Versate diu, quid ferre recusent^ quid vale- ant humeri''' His own secretary, Rushworth, both in the four years already pubHshed, and the four ex- pected and promised by the booksellers, is best able to do this, and I hope will do it to satisfaction. For that other part of this not unwilling task you require my service in, about the names of the Continuators 248 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. of Mr. Pool's Annotations, and of those called the Assembly's Notes, I hope you will find to your like- ing in tlie other pages. Only first give me leave to subscribe, what I very gladly am. Your faithful correspondent and humble servant, H. Sampson. The authors of the Annotations upon the Holy Bible, commonly called the Assembly's Notes, in the second edition : — Mr. Lee of Cheshire, on the Pentateuch. Mr. John Downliam, onward to the First Book of Kings. Dr. William Gouge, onward to Job. Mr. Fr. Taylor of Canterbury, the Book of Job. Dr. Casaubon, of Canterbury, onward to Isaiah. Mr. Gataker, onward to Ezekiel. Bishop Richardson, of Ireland, onward to the end of the Old Testament. Mr. Redding, of Dover, the four Evangehsts. Dr. Daniel Featly, onward to the Hebrews. Mr. Tucker, of Streatham in Surrey, Hebrews and the 1st of Peter. Mr. Fr. Taylor, thence to the end of the Bible. N. B. 1. This catalogue was written from a copy of Mr. Gippes, who was an Assemljly-man, and might well be thought to have had true intelhgence ; but there are mistakes in it, for Dr. Edward Reynolds (afterwards Bishop) wrote the Notes on Ecclesiastes ; and Mr. Smallwood upon yEt. 38.] RALPH THORESBY. 249 the Canticles. Besides, by a letter from Mr. Fr. Taylor, a Minister, son of Mr. Fr. Taylor the An- notator, I am informed that his father wrote the ^otes on Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, (as they were in the first edition,) for Dr. Gouge : if there be any enlargements in the second edition, they were done by Dr. Gouge himself, not by Mr. Taylor. Let them be compared. Likewise, that his father wrote for Mr. Tucker (in the first edition) the Notes on Second of Peter, on the Three Epistles of John, and on that of Jude. The enlargements are Mr. Taylor's, in the second edition, and so in the Revelations. N.B. 2. Dr. Meyrick Casaubon, Bishop Richard- son, Dr. Featly, Mr. Redding, Mr. Smallwood, were esteemed Episcopal Divines and Conformists : none of those five were Assembly-men, except Dr. Featly, at the beginning. I presume Dr. Casaubon and Mr. Redding were induced to this work by Mr. Taylor's means, who was a learned critic, and neighbour of these two learned men. N.B. 3. All the undertakers were sensible that St. Paul's Epistles ought to have been most accurately done, and would, at their second edition, have made choice of some learned men to have enlarged the first notes, and made them exact ; but the Lon- don booksellers would not admit of any additions to Dr. Featly's part, thinking his name would give more reputation, and quicker sale than all the rest. 250 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. The Continuators of Mr. Pool's Annotations : — Mr. Pool himself went to the end of chap. 56 of Isaiah, Mr. Jackson, Minister of Molesy, on the 57th and 58th of Isaiah. Dr. Collins, from thence to the end of Lamenta- tions. Mr. Hurst, on Ezekiel. Mr. Cooper, on Daniel. • Mr. Hurst, on the Small Prophets. Dr. Collins, on the Four Evangelists. Mr. Vink,* on the Acts. Mr. Mayo, on the Romans. Dr. Collins, on the Corinthians and Galatians. Mr. Veal, on the Ephesians. Mr. Adams, on the Philippians and Colossians. Mr. Barker, on the Thessalonians. Dr. Collins, on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Mr. Hughes, on the Hebrews. Mr. Veal, on Peter, James, and Jude. Mr. Howe, on the three epistles of John. Dr. Collins, on the Revelation. N.B. 1. Mr. Jackson undertook to finish Isaiah, and correct tlie press ; but the presses, being many, gave him so much work, that he could not perform in the Annotations what he promised, therefore the remainder was put upon Dr. Collins. The same Mr. Jackson has printed a Concordance, to be bound * Mr. Veal, buys Mr. Calamy's list, in Mr, Baxter's Life, p. 193. — R. v. ^t. 38.] . RALPH THORESBY. 251 up with large 4to Bibles, much larger and completer than that of Mr. Dovvnham, and is of excellent use. N.B. 2. Dr. Bates had the review of Dr. Collins's part upon the Four Evangelists, wherein he altered some things, but gives Dr. Collins's performance therein the encomium of a very worthy work. Dr. Jacomb had also the review of other parts of Dr. Collins's task herein, and made some alterations. N. B. 3. Dr. Collins, of Norwich, Mr. Hurst (first. Minister of Friday-street, at last a Nonconformist in Londbn) ; also Mr. Cooper, of St. Olave's, South- wark, Mr. Mayo, of Kingston-upon-Thames, and Mr. Jackson are all dead (169(>), the rest are yet alive. FROM REV. NATHANIEL HOUGH, VICAR OF HALIFAX. DEAR COUSIN, Halifax, August 8, 1696. I DO ingenuously acknowledge the extraordinary entertainment of your house and library, together with the advantages of your free instruction and converse : the continuance of Avhich I promise my- self upon the motives of your common goodness, and more particular relation. I heard the other day of a new Foundation, which may be added to your Catalogue of Protestant Benefactions. It is an alms-house or hospital of Mr. Parker's, of Carl- ton, built (or in building) at Waddington, in the West Riding, within five or six miles of Gisborn. 252 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. It is for the maintenance of ten widows, to each of wlioni (or at least to every two of thein) is assigned a particular room or apartment, with a garden. There is 4/. yearly allowed to every one, and 10/. to a reader (a place being built at the end of the hospi- tal for divine service), which makes the whole 50/. per annum. This is, I confess, a very lean account, but may be improved by further inquiry. I intend to see Leeds next Wednesday, and to attend my bro- ther to Smeaton, to whom and my dear sister, pre- sent my mother's best respects, with those of Your humble and affectionate kinsman, N. Hough. My kind service to cousin and your whole family. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, Sept. 3, 1696. I HAVE been so long in your debt, that (though I am at present in somewhat of a hurry) I have stolen so much time as to tell you that Mr. Gibson is now in the country. He was here last night ; but, I being vm fortunately from home, he went on towards Carlisle, and I have little prospect of seeing him Ijcfoi'e Monday next. Before he returns through Yorkshire, I believe we shall take a walk upon the Picts' wall ; and what discoveries we make are like to be imparted to yourself (in the first place) and the rest of our friends. I am sorry that my Lord's Grace of York should be troubled with any clashing iEt. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 253 betwixt my brother Todd and me. That passage in my preface, which has created the Doctor some dis- quiet, might perhaps have been spared, if (at the time of its being penned) I liad not been a little unworthily treated by liis Doctorhead. However, I must aver to the world, that the matter of fact is true ; and then (I should think) he has greater rea- son to beg Dr. Bernard's pardon than I have to crave his. Your observation about my omission of Dr. Barnes's Edward III. I thank you for; as I shall heartily do for all your other remarks of the like kind. I never had any correspondence with Mr. Ray, and therefore cannot help you to any of his original letters. Mr. Lhwyd and Dr. Woodward I have an acquaintance with, and I suppose they will allow me to communicate some of their informa- tions to so worthy a person as yourself. I have not the ambition to be the first man in your album, though I promise myself the favour of inserting my name amongst the rest of your friends. I am sure I am (with great truth). Sir, Your very affectionate and obliged servant, W. NiCOLSON. My service to honest Mr. Thornton. FROM REV. JOSEPH HILL. SIR, London, Sept. 30, 1696. I HAD your's of March 25, which I should have answered sooner, but then you had wanted the Dis- sertation, which comes with these. My cousin Hill's 254 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. letter liatli lain by ine till I answered your's, that I might send them together. As to the answering your enquiries : for R. Cook's Censure, I know not whether the later edition of London be before or after that in Germany, but shall enquire. For his brother Alexander's Pope Joan, I suppose you have it, because you mention it not. His several works For a INIass Priest may be lit on by chance ; I have two or three of them at home, whicli I can gratify you with, and his Pope Joan, if you have it not. ^Vhether his son-in-law Pullain, and his bro- ther were natives of Leeds, I know not. But as to myself and my own works, I think them not worth the troubling the world with the mention of either. My father, Joshua Hill, was sometime Lecturer at Leeds, under Mr. Alexander Cook, whom I remem- ber to have seen when very young ; went to Cam- bridge, and was brought up at St. John's College with Sir Edward Bernard, my chamber-fellow, till Bachelor of Aits, and was chosen thence by Dr. Rainbow, (after. Bishop of Carlisle,) and the Fellows to Magdalen College ; commenced Master of Arts in 1649 ; in which place I bred several pupils, some whereof are fallen asleep, and sundry remain ser- viceable in their places to this very day, which are a comfort to me. I was chosen Senior Proctor of the University in 16.59, and to answer the Act, in the i)ublic commencement for Bachelor of Di- vinity, in 1660. In 1662 I went beyond sea; and for five or six years travelled, and saw many of the i^t. 39.] RALPH THORESBV. 255 foreign Universities, and then stayed at Ley den : and, considering the dissensions in England about Church government, &c. resolved to settle beyond sea, that I might be quiet ; where I married Mr. Richard Maden's daughter, born in London, and then living with her father, minister of the English Church in Amsterdam, (who left England in those troublous times, 1643, and was presently called to the English Church at Utrecht, and thence to Am- sterdam, where he died,) being chosen to the Eng- lish Church at Middleburg, where I continued seven years ; till, writing for the English against the French, in the interest of the United Provinces, being a defence of the Zealander's choice, I was banished, durante hello, by a Frenchified party in the States, 1674. And, staying in England, I was called by the States of Holland and the city of Rotterdam, at the election of the English Church there, which I accepted, and went to in 1679, where I have hitherto continued ; where the revision of Dr. Lightfoot's Works, that were translated out of English into Latin, and printed there by R. Leers, cost me two years' time, at spare hours. For my own, there are so many small things as I remember not ; and those I have published are not the half I have to publish, if the Lord spare my life and health, which you may know better hereafter. As for my old friend Mr. lUingworth, I know little more than that he was Fellow, and some time President of Emanuel College, in Cambridge, and Bachelor of 25G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. Divinity. What manuscripts he had, I am ignorant of. He published a little Narrative of a person that for great sins was extraordinarily punislied, at the end of Dr. Ford's sermon on that text, " The Lord is known by the judgments he executes ;" which he sent me. This is all I remember of him, besides generals. The rest gives my respects to all friends at Leeds, from Yours in our dear Lord, Joseph Hill. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth, October 17, 1G96. I WAS heartily sorry to miss of your company at York ; but much more, to find tliat an indisposition occasioned the disappointment. I pray God bless you with life and health, for the service of the pub- lic, and the satisfaction of your friends. Never was any thing more firmly settled than my resolution to see you at Leeds, in my return to London : but the badness of the weather, and the importunity of my fellow-travellers, would not give me leave. I shall be in pain for you, till you send me a comfortable account of your recovery ; or, at least, of your being out of danger. All along upon tlie road my health was very un- certain ; but now I think it begins to settle, and brings with it my old inclination to business and .'Et. 39.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 257 study. Our friend Mr. Tanner is a candidate for a Fellowshii^ of All Souls, and, in all appearance, will succeed. I will not trouljle you with any more at present, but my hearty prayers for your health and long life. Your's affectionately, E. Gibson. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, Oct. 29, 1696. I HAVE been above a fortnight from home, and very happily met with your two letters together ; so that instead of being in affliction for you, I have now the more grateful employ of rejoicing at your recovery, and wishing the continuance of your health. Our friend Gibson made all the haste he could to Lambeth. He was under great uneasiness here: but he now tells me that he begins to enjoy his health much better, and hopes to brush through his distemper. I am sure he will have your prayers and mine in all his dangers. I am going on, as fast as I^gan get leisure, with the second part of my Library : which I hope to send up to the press a little before Christmas. I am in- debted to you for some defects you have already noted in my first part : but surely there are many more which you may find out. AVhat discoveries you or my other friends acquaint me with in this VOL. I. s 258 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. kind, shall be noted in my preface to this following part. I would have the work completed by degrees. It is impossible one man, especially such an one as myself, should ever do it. I shall also be very lame in this part ; especially in matters relating to our cathedral churches and monasteries. The register books of the latter were, in a good measure, ac- counted for by Sir W. Dugdale and Mr. Dodsworth. but they have changed their masters, mostly, since their time, though Mr. Tanner hardly takes notice of any such thing. Your ever affectionate servant, W. NiCOI-SON. FROM RICHARD THORNTON, ESQ. RECORDER OF LEEDS. DEAR SIR, November 23, 1696. I FIND in Archbishop Usher's Brit: Ecclesiarum Antiquit: a large dissertation concerning the birth of Constantine the Great, beginning page 93 of that l)ook, which, herewith I send you. I cannot find my cousin Pearson's question so much as touched upon. The Bishop of Worcester, in his Origines Brit: page 72, seems ])lainly to fix the time of Constan- tius's first arrival in Britain, to be immediately after Allectus was slain. I think it altogether in vain to seek for any thing of this subject, after the great Usher, wlio I am sure has left no part of History or iEt. 39.] RALPH THORKSBY. 259 Antiquity unsearched, which I can pretend to, either at first or second-hand, who am, Sir, Your obliged humble servant, Richard Thornton. FROM MARTIN LISTER, M.D. Old Palace Yard, in Westminster. SIR, Nov. 29, 1696. I TAKE it very kindly you would write to me ; your letter was welcome, and was well received at the Royal Society. As for the notions I had on Roman potteries, they are now quite out of my head, and I grow into years, and can mind but few things ; little of that nature, so that I cannot in- struct you ; but do encourage your ingenuity to proceed in those your curious researches of all an- tiquities. I am glad your father, my dear friend, whose memory I honour, has left so excellent a son : if you continue to write to me, I will compliment the Royal Society with your correspondence, from time to time. I desire to know if John Bolland, of Halifax, be alive ? if so, I desire you will inquire of him where he had the blue or black slate-stone he sent me to York, in every leaf of which, were it cleft into never so thin sheets, there were very fair impressions only, and not the substance of pectenites, or scallop-like shells : I imagine in some coal-pit about Halifax. If it can be s 2 2G0 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1696. found, I would have a good big piece of it, sent me up by the carrier ; I will most w illingly and thank- fully pay for it. Your most obliged servant, M. Lister. FROM REV. FRANCIS TALLENTS. SIR, Salop, Wednesday, December 2, 1696.* I AM glad I sent you any thing that was pleasing to a person that is so ingenious and curious as you are ; and have this afternoon been searching amongst the papers of the famous Mr. Arthur Hildersham, w^hich I have, (my first wife having been his grand- child) for some autograph manuscripts of some noted persons to add to your collection, but at present find none more eminent than one of Mr. Walter Travers, one of Mr. Fen's of Coventry, one of Mr. Robert Bolton's, one of Mr. John Cotton's, and a paper of his, which I send by the bearer, and hereafter may possibly help you to more, especially if you mention the names of any that you desire and want, as Mr. Baxter's, &c. I have also sent you two of my Tables,! bound in books, and four copies in quires, which have many corrections and additions up and down, since the first impression, and are brought down to this very time ; for I am daily adding things to the copies I have yet by me, as they fall out, or I happen to meet with them, and at the lowest rates that ever • " You will find thnt few of the good old men were careful to date their letters, if you observe it." — F. T. f Chronological. JEt.39.'] RALPH THORESBY. 261 they were sold to booksellers that are to put them off. I have also, Sh", sent you a copy of a little thing I put out, and a copy of the sermon that Mr. Copingdale saith you desired to see, which I got copied in haste on purpose, and which for some reasons I forbore to print, especially because dear Mr. Henry's Life is designed to be shortly put out from his diary, by his son. ]VIr. lUingworth died about fourteen miles off at the Lady Wilbraham's whom I know very well, and I will enquire of his manuscripts, and get that of Dr. Chaderton's Life if possible. God sanctify our knowledge, and make us abound in the true belief of the gospel, and be like the holy men that have gone before us. I am. Sir, Your very respective friend and humble servant, Francis Tallents. Two or three years ago, that I might set things in order before my dejDarture (which I ought, daily to expect,) I sold the copper-plates upon which my Tables were engraved, to Mr. Awnsham Churchill, bookseller, London. FROM MR. archdeacon NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, December 12, 1696. The kind pains you have taken to remark to me the failures and mistakes in my book is extremely obliging, and you have here my very hearty thanks in return. I am making what haste I can to rid my 262 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. hands of a second part, wliich will want yonr assist- ance as much as this. ]\Ir. Lhwyd attacks me vigorously, as you do, in defence of the old British coins ; and I can hardly hope long to maintain my post against two such powerful assailants. If I could ever see any of those pieces which are reported to have been coined by K. Lucius, I might be the better enabled to give my opinion of them. But for the present, I can only tell you, that as I am under violent temptations to believe that Juno has a right to most of the venerable remains of Cunobeline, so some other Pagan deity will Ijid fair for those of good King Lucius : if they are such as have undeni- able marks of age upon them. What Mr. Lhwyd mostly insists on is Caesar's authority in his Com- mentaries, lib. 5. " Utuntur aiitem niinimo cEreo, (^c." To which I have, by this post, returned the follow- ing answer : — " We are not sure that this passage is truly genuine. Lipsius complains of a great many inter- polations in that tract ; insomuch, that he can hardly allow one sound piece in it. And Mr. Selden parti- cularly assures us that, in this place, some manu- scripts had laminis instead of annuiis. If that be the true reading, their lumps of iron may prove as shajieless as I guess their brass to have been. Both metals they undouljtedly gave in exchange for other commodities : and it is not unlikely but Caesar miglit be a little too careless here in expressing their methods in bartering and traffic. I am of opinion that Soli- iEt. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 263 nus (a much later writer) explains that account to this very purpose, when he tells us — ' Siluram quo- que Insulam ab era quam gens Britanna Dumnani tenent, turbidiun fretum distinguit ; cujus homines etiam nunc custodiunt morem vetustum. Nundinas ac nunium refutant : dant res et accipiunt : muta- tionibus necessaria potius quam pretiis parant.' This Silura is most probably, as Camden conjectures, the Isle of Scilly : but then, instead of Delrius's Dumnani, we are to read Damnonii ; and so we have the Severn-sea to answer the turbidum fretum, here mentioned. The tinmen of that part of the island, which we now call Cornwall and Devonshire (the seat of Ptolemy's Damnonii) had certainly the chief trade in Solinus's time ; and might possibly have the knowledge, and use of foreign money. But (we see) it was so novel a thing, that the neighbourhood (no farther off than the coasts of Glamorganshire) knew nothing of the matter." The books you generously intend to spare me, may be either sent to my nephew, Mr. Archer, a bachelor of physic, in Kendal, or to Mr. Hildyard, bookseller in York ; and (either way) they will not fail of coming safe to my hand. If we Hve and flou- rish the next summer, I shall bring you such dupli- cates of my old coins (which are somewhat increased since you saw them) as may show that I am desirous to do all I can towards a suitable acknowledgment of your favours. I cannot tell ^\ hether the inscription on the altar 2G4 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1696. at Blenkinsop will admit of your whole reading ; though, it is ])lain, you are very much in the right. ^Vhat, if we only read it veteribiis ct mansuetce ? Un- less the letters v.et. be otherwise separated than (vet) as you give them, I cannot see why we should not. I need not tell you that the Dii urbani are the same in some of the Roman writers, that the Dii patrii are in others ; so that (perhaps) it was this L. Annius's intent to place his adored Claudia, as a Ro- man goddess, among the British nymphs. I am. Yours, W. Ntcolson. FROM REV. JOHN MILNER, FORMERLY VICAR OF LEEDS. DEAR SIR, St. John's College, Cambridge, Dec. 31, 1696. I 15EG your pardon that I have not answered your very kind letter before this : in the mean time, I have not been forgetful of you, but have enquired concerning Bishop Fisher, not only in this college, to which he Mas a prime benefactor, l)ut also at Queen's, of which college he was the third master, and at Caius's college, where I heard they had his Life in maniiscriiit. I hear nothing of his being Vicar of Leeds ; and if l)y anno 1482, be meant that he was inducted then, it cannot be, unless Baley (or Hall) impose on us very much, for by his account he was not Bachelor of Arts till anno 1488. My brother Lake was born in Halifax, if I mistake not, in a. d. A'.t.39.] RALPH Til ORES BY. 265 1624 ; he was educated at Halifax school, thence sent to this college when he was not complete thir- teen years of age. As far as I know, or can yet learn, there is but one sermon of his in print ; the later of those mentioned by Wood not being his, as I suppose. He was buried in St. Botolph's Church, near Bish- opsgate, as I think, Sept. 3, 1689: but of divers of these things concerning him, I shall inform myself more certainly. If you will make any mention of me, I am fully assured that you will not do it out of any sinister design. The place of my nativity is in the parish of Halifax, a town called Skircote, about a mile distant from Halifax. I was educated at the Free-school of Halifax, and thence translated to Christ's College in Cambridge : for preferments, you may mention. Minister at the New Church, Vicar of Leeds, and Prebendary of Ripon. J have published nothing since 1694. But I hope, that upon second thoughts, you will judge it best not to mention me at all. If I was capable of serving you, I should gladly and readily do it. I suppose you have Mr. Wheelock's edition of the Saxon Bede, with his notes ; if you have him not, I shall consult him for you, if you please to let me know what places you would have me look in him. Please to present my service to Mrs. Thoresby, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Joshua and Mr. Samuel Ibbetson ; and I wish you a very happy new year. Your real and most affectionate friend and servant, Jo. MlLNER. 266 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. FROM REV. JOSEPH HILL. MR. TIIORESBY, Buston, the 13th January, 1697. Sir, the enclosed papers (that I told you of at the Coflee-liouse) may liaply give you some further light into the differences between the Episcoparian, and the Presbyterian and other Dissenters from the Church, ^\ hich (as I conceive) chiefly lies in the ad- ministration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ; tlie lawfulness of receiving with the Church, and the unwarrantableness of separating from it in that ordinance, which Baxter, in his Saints'-Rest, calls an ungodly sei)aration, p. 650 : (so it is in mine.) You will find it among the Hindrances to a godly life, under the second or third head, (to wit; the dissuasive from the company of ungodly and sensual m.en. That I)ook has been so often reprinted, that I cannot be positive in what page you may find it ; but it w ill be worth your seeking. Please to keep these to yourself, till you can with conveniency re- turn tliem (and pardon the errata you may find in them) to, Sir, Your humble servant, Joseph Hill. iEt. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 267 FROM REV. NATHANIEL HOUGH, Jun. DEAR SIR, Coll. Jesu, February 4, 169G-7. I HAA'^E been, I am very sensible, much wanting to my duty and interest, in not cultiv^ating that correspondence, which I am engaged to, both as a schohir and a relation : and, indeed, I account it one of the greatest advantages of my brother's mar- riage, (excepting a new sister, and a coming nephew or niece,) that it has given me a nearer knowledge of one who bears so great and so just a character in the learned world. It is in this respect that I challenge the honour of your name, and expect such improvements as no pen but your's can [give]. But I know your modesty as well as merit, the good- ness and candour of your temper, as well as the depth of your learning, and strength of your judg- ment. I have only said thus much to profess my humble sense of your worth, and upon that account to desire the honour and benefit of your correspon- dence. Our mother has been big with twins ever since I got up, viz. with the double project of a theatre and a physic garden ; but I hear of no further advances made in either, than that the platform of the one is drawn, and the plot of the other laid. Archbishop Sancroft has given, by will, his whole library to Emanuel College, to the value of three thousand pounds. If you think there is any manu- script there, or any scarce autlior which you have occasion to consult, I have a friend wlio will procure •268 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1697. the sight of it. ^Ve are ahnost assured of a public commencement at this distance, because we have cot an active and ambitious Vice Chancellor. The report runs high of Mr. Wotton's (the translator of Du-Pin) keeping the Divinity Act. I had forgot to tell you, that tlie University has lately built a new printing-house, and have sent for choice letters into Holland, designing to hire a printer, buy paper, and manage the whole business with their own stock; so that now we shall have good editions, and a clean character. I do not at present remember any thing else worth advice. My humble and affectionate ser- vice to good cousin Thoresby, and all your children ; and to all at Sheeps-Carr. I am Your real friend and admirer, N. Hough. My humble service to Mr. Killingbeck. FROM REV. HENRY ROBINSON, MINISTER OF ST. JOHN'S, LEEDS. KIND SIR, Feb. 6, 1G96-7. My cousin Thornton was pleased yesterday to impart to me your design of communicating with us, and that you were desirous of receiving the conse- crated elements from my hands. I was solicited yesternight to go to preach at Whitchurch to-mor- row, but I purposely declined it, to be in a capacity to serve you : and yet 1 cannot pleasure you in the whole, (without more than ordinary notice to all iEt. 39.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 2G9 that will be spectators of that transaction. If you Avill place yourself upon the south part of the quire, in any part, betwixt the top of it and the south quire door, that opens into it, you cannot miss of that range that I always take, and consequently none can take notice of any design you can possibly have in fixing yourself there. But then, as I administer the bread, so some or other constantly follows with the cup, and that will be almost unavoidable, be you planted in what place soever ; you are therefore to consider, that if any sort of superiority may be assigned to each element, it is to the bread broken, (which so lively represents his mangled and torn body, and virtually, contains his blood,) and hence it is, the Romanists deny the cup to the laity ; be- cause, by way of concomitance, they say, the blood is exhibited to the people, virtually, because, the body cannot be supposed to be without the blood. I build not upon this argument, though it is the best and strongest they have for depriving the people of the cup ; but only to suggest upon what weak grounds they divide that asunder, which our blessed Lord has conjoined. Our Church, upon better rea- sons, too long to be recounted upon this scribbled note, has thought fit to follow the injunction of her great Master, and allow that to all, which the Church of Rome would appropriate to a very few in com- parison. And all that I would infer from what is set down, is only thus much, namely, that if that whole body of the laity, in the communion of that 270 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1G97. cluiicli, is content to acquiesce witli the administra- tion of one element singly unto them, you have all the reason in the world to rest well assured in re- ceiving of that one element, from one hand perhaps moie grateful unto you, when particularly you have the great happiness and advantage of receiving the other also, thougli perhaps from a hand, say it be not altogether so very acceptable unto you, (which yet at the best and at the most is but a fancy) yet may be as prevalent and every way effectual, to all the uses and purposes it is designed for. You will pardon this scribble, which is only raptim, from him that is, in all sincerity, Your most affectionate friend And faithful servant, Henry Robinson. My wife lies under so great an indisposition, that I think it not jjrudent this day to leave her, other- wise I would have waited purposely upon you, to have avoided any sci'uples that may incidentally arise, but should be glad to see you here, provided you think it worth the while to give yourself the trouble of coming up so far. ;Et. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 271 FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SHI, Feb. 8, 1696-7. You may justly wonder that you have not heard from me since your kind present by the carrier ; but that wonder will cease, when I tell you that it came only to my hand this morning, and that by great accident. I guess it has lain long in the carrier's warehouse at Penrith, my cousin Archer having given me no notice of it, if it did come through his hands ; however, it is now safe, and you have here my very hearty thanks for it. Mr. Lhwyd and I have agreed to let fall the debate about the old British money, till our modern coin be a little more plentiful. It is well for me that such a cessation is thought and agreed on ; I could not long have engaged you both, being nothing related to the French mo- narch. By the last, you seem to think that I reckon the British coins to be amulets, used by the Britons themselves. No ; I think they were made by the Romans, who certainly hollowed those little utensils, to distinguish them from their money. These things will be canvassed more fully, I hope, over the pieces themselves ; for it w as no casual turn of my pen that mentioned my thoughts of seeing you and Leeds this summer. It is true, I am always so desirous of that happiness, that I cannot avoid pro- mising it to myself very frequently ; but I have strong hopes I shall not be disappointed this time. If your design be only to gather the hand-writing of 272 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. some of our great men of this and the last ages, the enclosed will serve for that of my kind and worthy patron, Bisliop Rainbow. I sui)pose I may be able to procure you more of the like kind. Archbishop Usher did, indeed, hold this Ijishoprick (a short time) in commendam with Armagh ; or, rather, he had at once both the empty titles. I believe he never saw this diocese after it was committed to his charge. We have no sort of remains of him in our registries. I am, in haste, Your's, W. NiCOLSON. FROM REV. JOHN KILLINGBECK, VICAR OF LEEDS. GOOD MR. TIIORESBY, March 8, 1696-7. I RECEIVED your's of this morning, and it is a great satisfaction to me if any of my poor labours may Ije servicealjle to you or to any other ; may God Almiglity have the glory ! I have my reward. As to your request, I would most readily, and do design, God willing, to gratify you therein ; but my sermon notes, though they are not written in charac- ters, yet I make use of such abbreviations of words, and upon perusing them a second time, make such additions and interlineations, that they are scarcely legil)le l)y any but myself; and therefore desire you would give me leave to transcribe tbcm, which I will do at ray first leisure. I am sensible there are iEt. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 273 many imperfections in my performances of this na- ture, which I know your Christian and charitable temper will put a favourable interpretation upon. This tenderness you have expressed to me, confirms me in that good opinion I have always had of your sincere piety, and that awful sense you have of God upon your mind : I doubt not but, in his good time, he will give you perfect peace and settlement. I must request you that you would keep my notes private to yourself, for I cannot think any thing of mine correct enough for public view. By the grace of God, you shall not want my prayers, and I hear- tily beg your's, commending you to the care and blessing of Divine Providence. I am. Sir, Your most affectionate and faithful friend, to serve you, John Killingbeck. FROM DR. JOHN SHARP, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. GOOD MR. THORESBY, Bishop Thorp, Mar. 16,1696-7. I RECEIVED your's this morning, but am a per- fect stranger to any late transactions at Leeds there- in mentioned, unless you mean this : that I was told the other day that you had lately received the Sa- crament at Leeds church, which I was extremely glad to hear ; and, indeed, (give me leave to speak freely my thoughts,) 1 have often wondered how a person of such curious learning and good knowledge, VOL. I. T 274 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. and, withal, of such goodness of temper and iinde- sigiiing honesty, as I always took you to be, could possibly have entertained such prejudices against our way of worship, as to be of a different commu- nion from us, as I was told you was ; but I imputed it wholly to the principles of your education, and which I did verily believe, if ever you came to ex- amine things fairly, you would easily correct. I have one thing to take ill of you, viz. that you were at York about a week ago (or a fortnight) and came not to see me. I saw one at prayers, that put me in mind of you ; for I thought, at a distance, he was very like you, i)ut I did not think it was you, till afterwards I was told so. If I had known it, I would not have suffered you to have gone out of the church without speaking to you ; but, indeed, it pleased me much, (when I came to know it,) that I had seen you at our cathedral service, though I know there is something in it that you will not like, and that is the singing some of our prayers, as neither, indeed, do I much approve of it ; but it having been the custom of all cathedrals ever since the Reforma- tion, it is not to be altered without a law. As for Mr. Humphrey,* you may direct to him at his house in Great Russell-street, in Bloomsbuiy. I am sure he will vindicate your jDracticc of communi- cating with us in the holy Sacrament, because it is what himself doth, both as to prayers and sacra- mrnts. and so did Mr. Baxter ; for so long as he ' i^ee Dr. Calamj's " Historical Account/' i 37 J. ^t. 39.] RALPH TIIORESJJY. 275 lived in my parish,* he seldom failed, when he was well, of coming to our prayers and sermons twice every Lords-day ; and receiving the Communion with us, kneeling at the rails, once or twice ev^ery year : this, I speak, of my own knowledge. As for that discourse of mine, that Mr. Thornton told you of, I suppose he means one or both of those tracts, which I wrote at the earnest persuasion of the Bishop of London and Dr. Stillingfleet, at that time when the London ministers set themselves to write upon several arguments for the gaining of dis- senting bretlu'en to the Church. The argument that was assigned to me was, to examine the Dissenters' plea, that it was against their conscience to join in our worship, whereupon I wrote two tracts, one about conscience in general, the other about a doubt- ful conscience. I have not either of them single, but I have them bound up in one volume, with the rest of the tracts that were wrote on that occasion, and if you Iiave a mind to peruse them, I will, upon the least intimation, send the book to you by the carrier. I am, Sir, with sincere wishes of your peace and happiness. Your most affectionate friend and humble servant, Jo. Ebok. * St. Giles in the Fields, 1G77; Arclibisliop, 1691. VOL. T. T 2 27G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1697. TROiM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, March 16, 1696-7. I HAVE been rude to you beyond measure, and the best excuse I have for it is, that most of my friends hav^e been altogether as ill served. In answer to your queries : Dr. Bernard has been dead these two months, I think, and the Catalogue is well nigh finished. I have the promise of a very accurate catalogue of Irish manuscripts, if they will have tlie patience to delay their publication till it can be completed. They have been upon the index for some time ; which, indeed, is very full and accu- rate. How soon they design to publish, I cannot certainly tell ; especially, their promise in that par- ticular having been so often broken. Dr. Bernard was buried in St. John's Chapel, where he had been Fellow ; and the monument over liim is the figure of a heart, with this inscription : " Ilabetis cor vestri Bcruard'i.'''' The whole body lies there ; but the occasion of the heart's being only mentioned, I take to be this. Some time before his death, he went over into Holland, to buy some Arabic manuscripts at Golius's auction, for the Archbishop of Dublin. If he had died there (as he was very much indis- posed at his setting out) he designed his heart should liave been taken out, and sent over into England ; and (1 believe) upon this suj)position it was, that he ^t. 39.J RALPH THORESBY. 277 framed this inscription. Whether the Fellows will think to alter it, as not altogether so proper, I know not. Mr. Nicolson's second part is not yet come ; but I expect it every day. I know not whether he may have told you that he intends a third part, not being able to bring all he has to say of the ecclesiastical writers into one volume. I have good hopes that something of that kind may be done for the Irish writers ; a gentleman of my acquaintance (very well versed in tlie affairs of that kingdom) seems to like the motion well enough. Mr. Tanner pursues his design with great close- ness ; but yet I dare undertake, will find leisure to answer any queries you shall send him. Such autographa of learned men as fall in my way, shall be faithfully sent to you ; but of what persons, or at what time, I dare not promise, not having at present a certain prospect of any. Me- thinks I would willingly settle a correspondence be- tween you and Mr. Kennet. He that dealt of late so much in parochial antiquities, may be able to assist you in some difficulties ; and you (on the other hand) may give him hght into other matters of the same kind. He is a very candid and fair- conditioned man. I am. Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant, Edmund Gibson. 278 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. FROM REV. EDMUND HOUGH, VICAR OF PENISTON. DEAR SIR, Peniston, March 16th, 1696-7. The long neglect of what I promised, may justly occasion you to think I had perfectly forgotten my promise ; but I think I have some time since inti- mated some reasons in a short letter to cousin Hough, your brother-in-law and neighbour. As to old mo- numents, or things remarkable in our neighbour- hood, I wish I were able to have accommodated your wishes more than I am. But those few I can easily recollect, I shall give you here a brief account of: 1. Note, that before our present church, (as is reasonably conceived,) there was an ancient chapel, somewhat above a quarter of a mile from the place where the present church standeth ; which chapel may reasonably be supposed to have been the place of public worship before the building of the church. This chapel, though built of very mean stone, yet extraordinarily well cemented together, so that not without some difficulty the stones are separated one from another : it is now, for the most part, de- molished, the walls thereof having been, since my coming to be Vicar, taken to repair the churchyard walls. 2. As to the church, it is an exact and well built one, of endurable stone, as I think any in Eng- land : the steeple one of the most exact, for its height and compass, is an ornament to the church, which is now adorned, since I saw you, with a beau- ;Et. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 279 tifiil or neat pavement from the church gate to the great door, consisting of about thirty yards in length, and, I think, about two yards and a half in breadth. As to monuments in and about the church, they are rare and few with us. As to the epitaph on Mr. Swift's tombstone, which you desire an account of, it is, in short, thus, or to this effect ; viz. " Here was interred the body of Mr. Henry Swift, November 2, 1689, aged sixty-six years, and having been minister at Peniston forty years." 3. Note, that in the town of Peniston is a free-school, of an ancient foundation, whose revenues consist much in land-rents, the writings some of them scarce legible, nor the names of all the donors known, as I understand. These are the things most remarkable; and if they may be any wise satisfactory or service- able to you, or any other, I shall be glad. Pray give my truest respects, with my wife's, to cousin John Hough and his dear wife : likewise to his and your mother-in-law present my hearty service ; the same to your dear wife and self, from your real and affectionate friend, though of short ac- quaintance, Edm. Hough.* * " Who wrote the Country Minister's Serious Advice to his Pa- rishioners." — R. T. 280 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, April 8, 1697. I HAVE now finished my second part of my book. The Preface ^^•ill be sent up after it very shortly. In that I am to give an account of those errors and defects that have been remarked to me from my friends, amongst whom your kindness has been very obliging. You mention the Life of Alfred, written by Pouel, who, you say, was some time a member of the University of Oxford. Others tell me he was a lawyer, but take no notice of his being an Oxford man. Let me desire you to give me your informa- tion, with all the speed you can, more fully in this particular, and you will further oblige. Sir, Your ever affectionate servant, W. NiCOLSON. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON, DEAR SIR, April 17,1 697 . When your's came hither, I was in Scotland ; whither I rambled to view a cross in Revel (or S. Ruel's) Church, near Dumfries. I had heard of it some years ago, and was told there was a strangely un- couth inscription upon it. I gave not so much credit to the story as I might have done, and therefore neglected tlie matter till tliis favourable opportunity was offered me. I was surprised with a discovery so iEt. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 281 far beyond my hopes : it is a large cross (bigger than ours at Beaucastle,) broken by the Rebels in the late civil wars ; but so, as hardly to endamage any part of the four inscriptions ; two whereof are in Latin, and the other two in Runic : they are all of them very fair and legible, and almost entire ; the whole is undoubtedly one of the most valuable monuments in the three kingdoms, and what I hope to give you a more satisfactory account of hereafter. This un- expected treasure tempts me to think we have much more latent wealth of the same kind, and that there will be room enough for the next generation of anti- quaries to thresh on the same floor with ourselves. This is the best of my story ; what is behind, will (possibly) not be so pleasant to my friend. I know not whether the Scotch air or diet was disagreeable to my constitution, but I came home very much in- disposed, griped, and in a painful fit of the gravel ; neither of which have yet quite left me : this will not (unless on a second trial I find that I am really aged and feeble) discourage me from the hopes of see- ing you and Leeds : I cannot think of that till after Whitsuntide, and therefore you may finish your southern tour early enough for my purpose. I shall scarce ever dream of seeing London. R. Powel (I doubt) was no Oxford-man. The Society of New Inn must betoken some of the Law colleges in London ; there was an Inn of Chancery of that name : but (as I take it) it was converted to 282 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1697. other uses at the time wlien his book was published. My service to Mr. Thornton ; I should think an anti- quary would think him, and the honest Vicar you mention, as desirable company (at all times) as any new upstart teacher in a tolerated assembly. I am, your's, W. N. FROM DR. THOMAS GALE. SIR, London, April 20, 1697. I HAVE, since the receipt of yours, looked upon the Chron. de Kirkstal. I believe you would not desire the use of that book, because it no way would contribute any thing to your learned designs. The name of Kirkstal is given it, because it was found in that aljbey, and so belonged to that place ; but throughout the whole book there is not the least mention of Kirkstal, or any town or place near it. Indeed, it is nothing but a short, general, common history, most of it already in print in other books. What you seem to desire in relation to the Royal Society, I presume to assure you of; the charge I think is about 40^. A bond is usually taken for the payment of that sum ; I think, yearly ; but it is not, as far as I know, exacted of any. The time when admissions are usually made, is a little before St. Andrew's-day. The number to choose is thirty- one, and it is hard to get that number together, but ;Et. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 283 at that day, which is the general meeting of the society. Now, Sir, I thought fit to advertise you of these particulars, that you may contrive your jour- ney accordingly ; but if there be any opportunity of an admission or allowance by the council of the Royal Society before St. Andrew's, I will watch upon that opportunity to serve you. If you could send your Scala Chronica by some neighbour, for about this time of the year many tradesmen come up, I would return it you by the same hand, with safety : but I must not press. Sir, I shall be glad to hear that you have found out Ftyo'^ovvov. The name sounds like Righdon : I think the positions assigned by Ptolemy are not very ac- curate. But to trouble you no farther, I rest, Your affectionate friend and servant, T. Gale. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth, May 8, 1697. You have good reason to complain of me, in the business of the Kirkstal manuscript ; but it is likely that Dr. Gale's delay, as w^ell as mine, may be in a great measure owing to Sir John Cotton's being so frequently out of town. I am sorry (in the mean time) you should be kept so long in suspense, for a thing so very little to your purpose : for, having the beginning of this week got access to the library 284 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697, with some difficulty, I find that your Kirkstal Chro- nicle is, at least seems to be, no more than a short liistory of the kingdom, extracted out of the Saxon annals, Florence of Worcester, and some other of our Englisli historians. This is the best judgment I can make of it, upon a cursory view ; nor can I find any thing intermixed relating to that particular place: which yet, you know, we generally meet with in Chronicles that have belonged to this or that reli- gious house. Not, but a more strict examination may discover some little hints here and there : tliough, if there are any private matters here, they must be very few, and very short. It is written in a modern hand, and ends at the year 1421. You see upon what fruitless errands those general titles do very often send us poor antiquaries. If you should have occasion for any other informations from Cotton's library, I have now got into a shorter way of serving both myself and friends, from those manuscripts. Your brother was so kind as to bring over your letter to Lambeth, and to give me a verbal assurance of your health and welfare. He made me a sort of promise to call again before he left the City ; if he should not, I desire you at his return to Leeds to give my service to him, with thanks for his visit and good company. You may expect Mr. Nicolson's second part in six weeks or two months, I am. Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant, Edmund Gibson. ^t. 39.] RALPPI TIIORESBY. 285 FROM UR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth, June 7, 1697. Some time ago, I wrote to you about the manu- script in Cotton's library, but forgot to mention another business which requires a speedy answer. You have sent me in several of your letters an ac- count of some additions you have made to your stock of manuscripts, but, fearing lest I may have mislaid some of the letters, and so give an imperfect Appendix, I would desire you to send me the cata- logue of your books added, in the same manner and order as you would have them inserted. The Cata- logue is now either quite, or well nigh finished, so that delays may be dangerous ; and the University has been so retarded in the carrying on and publish- ing of this work, that they will be very unwilling to stop it, now the Index is finished. Our friend Mr. Kennet has given me notice of a new design he has under hand, the Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanse, being a series of the Bishops, Deans, Archdeacons, and all dignitaries above a Prebendary, in the several cathedrals of England, from the first foundation to our own time. His method (I sup- pose) will be much the same as Heylin's ; and the book cannot miss of being extremely useful to an- tiquaries. I am, (in a little haste) dear Sir, Your's most heaitily, Edmund Gibson. 286 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. FROM RE^^ RICHARD FRANKLAND. MOST DEAR SIR, Rathmell, June 14, 1697. It doth much rejoice me whenever I receive a fe^v Hnes from you, though I can scarcely get time to return one to you. I hope my manuscript about the Trinity, with dear brother Heywood's preface to it, is got printed by Frank Bentley, of Halifax, stationer, but it is not yet come to hand ; for if I had it, I would have sent it to you. I am much troubled at what you write, as to Mr. Heywood's decay in health. Oli, how desirable were it, if God saw it meet, that such a burning light were spared yet ! As to the Secretary's letter, I despair almost of finding it, and if I could find it, I think it would scarce put a stop to the malice of the court at York :* in other things you mention, I should be glad to answer your desires, if ever God give me opportunity, who am, dear Sir, Your truly affectionate friend and servant, Richard Frankland. FROM REV. W. TONG, A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER. DEAR AND HONOURED SIR, Derby, June 28, 1697. Your letter was exceedingly welcome, notwith- standing the reprimands it gave me. I easily con- • Where the writer had been prosecuted for keeping a Dissenting Academy. See Dr. Toulmin's " Historical View," (1814), p. 119; and another case, in Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account," i. 402. JEt. 39.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 287 fess, your great civilities at Leeds deserved a more early acknowledgment ; but assure yourself I have neither forgot them, nor my promise then made ; the correspondence you are pleased to offer is too honour- able, and too mucli agreeable to my inclination, to be neglected by me. I had certainly sent the sorry Diary, I mentioned, by Mr. Smith, had not his sud- den departure prevented me, but by the next you may expect it ; though I should be glad to make a present to you of somewhat that might be a more adequate expression of my regards to you, and have therefore got a promise of a copy of the famous ma- nuscript of S. Erdswick, containing the Antiquities of Staffordshire, which I intend to consecrate to your museum, unless I understand from yourself that you have it already. I should esteem it a mighty favour, if you would send me a copy of the Lancashire gen- tlemen's petition in favour of the Puritan preachers in Queen Elizabeth's reign. I have received nothing of late from my friend, Mr. Humph. Wanly, of the Bodleian Library, otherwise would have communi- cated it to you. I have been drinking the waters for a month, so that I am become a great stranger to books and study. Mr. Henry's Life is passing the files at London : I wish that, which they call smooth- ino- it, do not take off its acumen. I wish you much joy, that is to say, integrity and usefulness in your new station ; and am pretty confident of you, that you will not serve us as some others have done, pre- tended to come in, to do religion a kindness, and when warm in their seats, have treated it as a thing 288 ^ CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. below tlieir regard : I do believe it has so much the ascendant in your soul, that a far greater honour than wliat you have now stooped to, would not be able to set you above it. Pardon my bluntness. As- sure yourself that I am Your sincere friend and humble servant, Wm. Tong. FROM REV. JOSEPH BOYSE. DEAR SIR, Haying received an unexpected letter from a daughter of brother Samuel (Dorcas Boyse,) now at York, I give you this trouble to transmit the en- closed answer to her, which she desires me to direct for her at Mr. Dynely's in Bore-lane, Leeds. She seems, by her letter, a very ingenious and hopeful girl; but troubled that her Lady denies her the liberty of attending any meeting, and desires of coming hither, if I could encourage her. For your own letter, I know not well what to say ; for I am not so much as capable to comply exactly with your request, having so little regard for the small scribbles I have had a hand in, that I have few of them by me ; but I shall give you the best account I can. My first was, Reflections on Dean Manby's Con- siderations, and Mr. King's Answer (for he had then no other title,) that was published, Dublin, a.d. 1 687. The next was a Trifle in Vindication of Mr. ^t. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 289 Osborn, from Dr. Walker's Abuse, in his Account of the Siege of Derry. The next is a secret that I would not communicate, but only to show you that I esteem you as my particular friend. I had a hand in the composing a pamphlet called Vox Populi ;* or, the Sense of the Sober Laity of the Church of England, concerning the Heads proposed in his Majesty's Commission to the Convocation. That part which concerns the Canons, the Removing of Scandalous Ministers, and the Reformation of Manners in Ministers, was entirely my own. But this is a "pious fraud" which must not be discovered. The next was two Sermons about Quenching the Spirit, printed, without my consent, by Sir John F . . .| with whom I had left the copies of them, as I remember (for I have not so much as a copy of them by me,) London, a.d. 1691. The next was some Sacramental Hymns, for the use of our congre- gation at the Lord's Supper, printed, Dublin, a.d. 1693 ; and reprinted at London by Parkhm-st. The next was Remarks on the Bishop of Derry's Dis- course of Human Inventions, printed a.d. 1694!; and reprinted by Dunton at London. The next was a Vindication of the Remarks, printed in Dublin, 1695, whether reprinted at London or no, I know not. The last, and I hope I shall still have occasion to call it so, was a Sermon preached at a fast on the * Printed by Watts, in St. Paul's Churchyard, I'JOO. t Perliaps Fryer, a Dissenting Alderman. See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account," ii. 243. A^OL. I. U 290 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. occasion of the late Queen's death ; and printed (95,) Dublin. And now you have an account of all the public follies my pen lias been guilty of. For any thing that relates to my life, I know nothing remarkable that occurs in it. You know I had never the honour of any residence at our public Universities, having been only three years under Mr. Frankland's care, and about two under Mr. Veal's at London. My first essays in preaching were for three quarters of a year with the worthy Mr. French, at Sir Thomas Roberts's in Kent. I then spent three quarters of a year more in the Countess of Donegal's family in London. Thence I went over to Holland, and spent near that time (chiefly) in Amsterdam, where I preached in what they call the Brownist Church, and had the unusual hap, though a known Presby- terian, to be kindly treated by a congregation of very sour Independents. I thence came into Yorkshire, and was thence frighted (you know how) into a com- l)liance with an unexpected invitation to Ireland, September, a. d. 1683, where I was ordained to Wood-street congregation the February following, 83-4, and have since continued my ministry there now these twelve years, excepting what interruption the troubles here gave me for about a year and four or five months. And thus you have a short account of the several steps of my short ])ilgrimage. I find, by a list of Mr. Frankland's pupils sent me, that I came to him April 16'th, 75 ; but I am not very ^t. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 291 certain whether I was born January 59-60 or 60-61, though I think it was the latter, and could wish I knew the certainty, which I suppose might be learnt from the New Church Register in Leeds. But, perhaps you will think, by this tedious letter, I am taking a severe revenge upon you for complaining of my former silence on this subject, by putting you to the penance of reading so much impertinence : for I can account it no better to give you so many par- ticulars concerning one that has lived to too little purpose for the world to take notice of any thing that relates to him. However, I was willing, at any rate, to remove any suspicion of the entire interest and command that you have over, Dear Sir, Your affectionate humble servant, J. B. All things are here preparing for a Parliament. Several changes have been lately made in our judges and council to very good purpose. We have in the worthy Lord Capel, a Governor that seems to make the public interest his own, and hope to see the kingdom flourish under his care. The Bishop of Deny is writing again, but defers the publication till our Parliament sits ; I suppose to represent us un- worthy of the toleration we expect to be settled by law. My service to all friends, particularly the Rev. Mr. Manlove, though unknown. u 2 292 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, June 17, 1697. Our friend Gibson gave me advice, by the last post, that the second part of my book was ahnost finished ; and that the stationer waited for my orders how to dispose of some copies for me. I have this day sent up a list, wherein (I need not tell you) you had right to a place. If you will give directions to Mr. Swall or Mr. Child how to deliver your copy (as soon as notice is given of the book's being pub- lished) it will be done accordingly ; though I have already half instructed them to send it down, with those for the Archbishop and my cousin Pearson, to Mr. Hildyard. I am advised to betake myself to a course of bathing in the sulphur spa at Knares- borough, as the most promising remedy for a rheu- matism, that has pestered me some time. The chief happiness I promise myself from such an adventure is the coming so nigh Leeds, where your society, and the entertainment that your rich collections would afford, would certainly be a more effectual cure. This experiment I must try, as soon as I am in a condition to attempt such a journey, which truly I am not at present. I have not once gotten to the top of any of our mountains this year, though I used to have rambled over a good many of them before the season was thus far advanced. I know not what evil fate attends the rummaging amongst old -a:t.39.] RALPH THORESBY^ 293 evidences, and the poring on manuscripts ; but it is an employment that has not thriven with people of late years. It is probable Dr. Gale will now be brought nigh us by the deanry of York. As soon as he is settled (if I live so long) I hope you will assist me in pro- curing his help through some difficulties I have lately encountered with. I am ever Your's, W. NiC OLSON. FROM DR. HENRY SAMPSON. WORTHY SIR, July 1st, 1697. I KNOW not how our correspondence begins to languish. My last to you was to satisfy you about the authors of our English Annotations, both former and latter. I had your answer, with a promise of sending back the papers formerly sent down ; viz. those about Archbishop Matthew, and of Mr. Hey- wood about the ancient Nonconformists in York- shire, &c. I now entreat your favourable return of them as soon as you can, with any remarks or ad- ditions you or Mr. Heywood can make to them : all which will be grateful to me. I do not now send to Mr. Heywood, because I reckon what I send to you I send to him also. Only give him my most affectionate service, and let him know how much I 294 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. value him, his correspondence, and prayers. Those of his figure and circumstances go off apace : the other year we lost eiglit of them in and about Lon- don, and this year four or five more already. In Chester, Mr. Henry ; in the West, Mr. Albin ; in Essex, Mr. Warren, Mr. Firmin ; and others else- where are lately gone to rest. Young Mr. Henry is printing the Life of his father; he has a good pen, and I hope it will be well done. There is an excellent character of Mr. Warren, written by Esquire Josce- lyn, his neighbour : his successor at Bishop Stortford is aged Mr. Cradock ; Mr. Albin preached his own funeral sermons, which are lately printed. Mr. Firmin was abundant in labours, that kept two ploughs a-going for the souls and bodies of men till he was eighty-two years of age, and then died be- tween two Sabbaths, in one of which he had la- boured on earth, according to his wont, and before the next received his eiige hone serve. I saw your friend Mr. T. Manlove when he was here in London, and spake with him about you. If I opened any thing from your letters to Mr. Stretton, which I ought not to have done, I crave your par- don ; but I am not conscious of being under any pro- hibition. Since he went hence, I am under great dissatisfaction about him, and the education he has undertaken of my nephew Woolley. I wisli I had understood so much while he was here, that I might have been truly informed. It may be it is not so iEt. 39.] RALPH TIIOIIESBY. 295 I)roper to ask you of those things. If Mr. M. or my nephew go into Derbyshire, I shall let my sister Woolley know thereof, that things may be bettered either as to their report or reality. You see I am at the bottom of my paper, and therefore take my leave, and am, Sir, Your humble servant, H. Sampson. FROM DR. HENRY SAMPSON. WORTHY SIR, London, in Love Lane, July 15, 1697. I COUNT myself obliged to give you notice first of my receipt of your letter, and the book, with the in- terleaved papers* you mentioned, all safely yesterday. I thank you kindly for the sight of those papers, es- pecially that of Mr. Shaw, for whom I had a value before, having in his sermons, epistles before them, his tomb-stone, &c. and from Mr. Hey wood's account of him, taken notice of many remarkable things about him. But this paper puts them all in order, and adds to what I knew : so do those others of Mr. Elk. Wales, and Dr. Winter, inform abundantly about their subjects : you put me in hopes of some- thing also about Mr. Bourn, of Manchester, which will be grateful, or any thing else you meet with about those despised, valued men. * Now m the British Museum, {Ayscough 4460,) as " bought" by Dr. Birch, " at the sale of the Museum of Ralph Thoresby, Esq. 1764." 29G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. I have notliing to requite you with at present, but liope I may have, against the time I send back your papers. You will see our gazette, and therein no foreign news. AVe have had three mails from Hol- land since that was printed off : there is yet no cer- tain intelligence what is in them ; but the general talk is, that there are two Kings in Poland ; the Prince of Conti, whom the Primate* first declared, but falsely,! and then the Duke of Saxony ; and he is your true man. But some say, his own sulijects of Saxony disown him because of the change of his reli- gion. Upon the first post to France, it is said, the French King gave Conti the joy of his new kingdom, to whom he answered, he was his Majesty's viceroy of Poland.:}: From Barcelona it is said, that the French have taken a counterscarp with the loss of one thousand five hundred men. These things will be more certainly known when letters are dispersed. My very hearty service and love to Mr. Heywood. I reckon still, I write to him when I write to you : I pray for his life, health, and continuance in the church of God. I am. Your very much obliged and humble servant, H. Sampson. • " The Cardinal Primate," Archbishop of Ghesna, who, " ac- cording to custom," having " said mass," i)resided in " the field of election." See Des Fontaines' " Review of Pohmd," (173G,) p. 356. t Ibid. p. 362. X llnd. pp. 355—371. ^t. 39] RALPH Til ORES BV. 207 FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, July 19,1697. I RECEIVED the papers you sent me by J. Bax- ter, and heartily thank you that I am yet within the lines of communication ; for though Dr. Sampson does not direct his letters to me but to you, (because he thinks you are more able to be at charges,) yet I have the benefit of them : but I am sorry for the death of so many good men. As to what Mr. Stret- ton writes in your case, (I had a letter from liim on another account last week,) I can say little, not un- derstanding what oaths are requisite to Alderman- ship ; but I have so much charity for you, that I presume you will do nothing but what you have good warrant to judge lawful ; yet I must caution you, (as I love you,) 1. to consult pious Christian friends ; 2. take God's word for your rule ; 3. pray affectionately to God ; 4. renounce sinister ends, and design ultimately the glory of God, and you shall see God will lead you in the way that you should choose ; walk close with God, and maintain daily communion with him, and a sense of his om- nipresence; mortify affections to the world's tri- angular baits, 1 John ii. 16. I confess your parts and piety may both fit you for and render you use- ful in a more public station ; and I shall be glad to hear of your fair entrance and faithful management of such a degree ; but high places are tickle, and magistratus virum indicat . the wise God direct you 298 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. when such a case falls out ; and I judge myself bound to put you among the clients I am advocate for at the throne of grace. But our Lord Jesus is chief advocate in the court of heaven; retain him, and you will not miscarry. I make bold to enclose these two lines by you to Dr. Sampson, and commit you to the protection of the Almighty ; with hearty love, and my wife's to you and your's, resting Your obliged friend, Ol. Hey wood. FROM DR. THOMAS GALE. SIR, July 21, 1697. Last night, at the Royal Society, a letter of your'i^ to Dr. Lister was read. It concerned two altars, one found at Blenkensop, the other Hear Colurton. I take this Colurton not to be Procolitia, as you guess ; for in the Anonymous Ravennas Geogr. and in the Notitia Dign. we find Hunno, Celurno, Procolitiae, where Celurno will bid fairest for Colurton. The Anonymous, moreover, placeth these towns North of the Wall, which confuteth Mr. Camden's opinion for Prudhow. Upon the reading your letter, I moved the President and the Society, that they would please to admit you a Fellow of the Society. This was readily granted. The first step is thus made ; the rest Dr. Sloane, Secretary of the Society, will in order and time take care of. My A:t. 39.] RALPH THORESBY. 299 affairs will, I think, shortly call me to York, where I should be glad to see you. I thank you for your's of April 12th, 1697. From Catcric I lately have received some Roman coins ; an account of a Roman altar : nothing found but stones and bones, and a piece of a stag's horn. An inscription was found also thereabout, but it is concealed by some that stole it from the farmer of Thornborough-grounds, near Cateric. Sir, be pleased still to oblige the Society, and me in particular. Your very loving friend, T. Gale. P.S. I have even now received great assurance that the peace is very near being concluded. The project of it, given in by the French at Ryswick, is here in town. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, August 9, 1697. I AM (as I take it) indebted to you for a couple of letters. In these hard times every body runs upon the score ; and we are forced to make bold with our best friends. You may be assured I heartily long to see you and Leeds, and am not a little troubled at my being so frequently disappointed ; but the iniquity of my circumstances will frustrate my best hopes. I must learn to promise myself no happiness upon earth. I foresee what I must endure 3()0 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. this winter, for lack of a little bathing at Knares- boroiigh in the summer ; and yet, even the great necessity I have upon me to apply for such a cure (joined with a passionate longing to go a little further) has been hitherto over-ruled. I cannot but still wish that a proper season after our assizes may be afforded me ; and if, by that time (about the be- ginning of next month,) Mr. Dean could be waited on at York, I should think all my former disap- pointments nothing. I am glad to hear of the success you have lately had in adding some more manuscripts, and Roman monuments, to your noble collection. Amongst the other blessings of peace that we are now encouraged to hope for, surely learning will begin to flourish again ; and (instead of the many rascally disputes about matters of religion, which are now in fasliion) the more valuable study of antiquities will grow modish. I am abundantly convinced, that, if ancient history were more heeded, and better understood, we should be much more at quiet than we are. Our friend Gibson is alive ; at least, he was so very lately, for (two posts ago) I had a letter from him. He is throng — is completing Dr. Bernard's undertaking ; and I must desire you to believe that (whenever he fails of an exact correspondence) the puljlic will have the benefit of all we want in our private reckonings. There are two or three scandalous mistakes w:hich I have noted in my second part, whicli I cannot iEt 39] RALPH THORESBY. 30] imagine how they escaped me; p. 127, Tiirgot is made Bishop of St. David's instead of St. Andrew's ; p. 163, Fr. Wilson for Mason; p. 164, Edwards for Brown. Be pleased to correct these at my in- stance, as I shall very thankfidly do the rest at your's. My neighbour Banks, I suppose, has given you the account you desired of the late Countess of Pembroke's benefactions. I am ever, Sir, Your truly affectionate servant, W. NiCOLSON. FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, August 9, 1697. I AM ashamed I have not returned to you the enclosed before this ; having been abroad and busy the two last Mondays, I forgot to write by J. B. till it was too late, for which I crave pardon ; I now return it with thanks, and oft think of Dr. Samp- son, though I know him not. It would satisfy my curiosity to know how many meeting-places are in London, and so in England ; I would contribute what I know, if the Doctor would do something. It would greatly tend to God's glory, in his raising up such a number of young men to supply the breaches made. If you be Alderman and Mayor of Leeds, I hope you will not forsake your old friends, or forget that concern you have espoused. I am not 302 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1697. able to advise, but be suie you keep faith and a good conscience, act by scripture rule, walk up- rightly, maintain communion with God and his jicople, and aim at God's glory; and God Almighty bless you and yours, so prays, Your obliged friend, Oliver Hey wood. FROM REV. JOHN MILNER. WORTHY SIR, Sept. 14, 1697. I A3I much ashamed that I have not answered your kind letter sooner, and earnestly beg your par- don for it. If I could have contributed any thing to the furthering your noble studies in the search of antiquity, you had certainly heard from me sooner. As to my brother Lake, Mr. Wood, in " Hen. Bridgeman," makes him Rector of Prestwich, in Cheshire, when Prestwich is in Lancashire. He makes him also a preacher in the city of York, which he never was that I remember. In " Guy Carle- ton," he makes him the author of two sermons, yet sets a query at both of them ; but the former is cer- tainly his, and if the latter was preached anno 1690,* and my Ijrotlicr died anno 1689, (both which Mr. \Vood says,) we may conclude it certainly not to be his. As to RofTensis, if he was instituted anno 1 1-82, it cannot agree with tlie account given of the • " It was preached 1609, and printed 1C70."— R. T. TEt. 40.] RALPH THORESBY. 303 Cardinal by him, who calls himself Baily ; for he says that he took not the degree of Bachelor of Arts till anno 1488 ; but it may be that author is not to be relied on, and therefore I conclude nothing, only wish that I had the words of the register before me. Our library doth not afford Sir James Ware de Prse- sulibus Hiberniae, and (as far as I can perceive by the catalogue,) the Bodleian Library hath it not ; but if I hear that you cannot procure it, I shall make a further inquiry after it, and (if I meet with it,) examine it as carefully as I can. If you please to acquaint your friend Dr. Nicol- son with a mistake in attributing Mr. Brown's ser- mons to Mr= Edwards, I suppose he will take it as a kindness ; that so he may do an act of justice both to himself and Mr. Brown, by correcting it in his second edition. Please to present my service to Mr. Thornton and my other friends, especially to your good lady. I am. Your obliged faithful friend, to serve you, John Milner. FROM DR. THOMAS GALE, NOW DEAN OF YORK. DEAR SIR, York, Oct. 3, 1697. I HEREWITH return your Scala Mundi, and much thank you for it. I fancy that it contains many choice additions to some Chronicles that I have received, but cannot tell the true worth of it, 304 COnRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1697. not having tliose other books by me. However, I am glad it hath so good a master, and hope you will give us some extracts out of it. Here I have been in such a vortex of business, that I scarce can com- mand my mind into any consistency. When I come to London I shall write to you about your admis- sion into the Royal Society. In all things, I am, Sir, Your faithful servant, Thomas Gale. Your book is left with Mr. Dry den, in the Min- ster-yard, where you may please to demand it. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth, October 26, 1697. Till your last came, I took it for granted you were a letter in my debt ; and now upon notice of my error, do very heartily beg pardon for being so long in your's. I sent your Apj)endix to Oxford, from whence they sent me notice of the receipt of it, with an assurance that it should be carefully printed among the other additions at the end. It had been better, had it come in time to be joined to the body of your Catalogue ; but a reference to the page, and the Library to which it Ijelongs, will in some measure make amends for that inconvenience. My Lord of Canterbury has all along reserved our Lambeth Catalogue, to be printed with the Col- ^.t. 40.j RALPH THORESBY. 305 lection at Cambridge, which they have been long talking of; but he finds they are so very slow in their design, that he is weary of staying any longer, and so has agreed to pubUsh it in a separate volume, only in company with Bennet-College Catalogue, which is very choice. I hope the Fellows of that place will think fit to take this opportunity of writ- ing the life of their great patron, Archbishop Par- ker ; who was a benefactor in many respects, and particularly gave them the best part of their manu- scripts. Dr. Stanley, the Master of the College, has taken great pains in drawing a new Catalogue, which seems to me to be very accurate and particular. We design to publish the two catalogues in a folio volume, which may be about as large as Dr. Smith's Account of the Cottonian Library. A young gentleman in Oxford, Mr. (Humphrey) Wanley, is laying the foundation of a Res Diplo- matica, for England particularly. He designs and draws admirably well ; having, besides, an unaccount- able skill in imitating any hand whatsoever. His great curiosity in books, printed and manuscript, has recommended him to the University to be one of their under Library-keepers ; and the command he has of every thing there, gives him the best opportunity he could wish of carrying on this honourable design. I hear of notliing new that is going forward ; only they tell me that Sir Henry Chauncy is print- ing his Hertfordshire. I wish it had tluit judgment VOL. I. X 30() CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. in it which one would desire in a work of that kind. My hearty service to your brotlier. I am, Sir, Your ever affectionate friend, Edmund Gibson. Dr. Fairfax is well, and sends you his service. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, November 30, 1697. Your's was kindly welcome, after a silence that I knew not what to make of. I was afraid my friends and supporters were thinking of deserting me, at a time when I should most need them. Mr. Milner is kind in his remarks on the second part of my book, if (being a critic) he finds no greater faults than what you mention. Others are widely differ- ing from him in opinion. I assure you, I have had far rougher entertainment for what I have last pub- lished, than ever I had for any thing in the former part. I am told, that I dissemble trutlis, and trump on mankind what I know to be false ; that I have caressed those that flourish, and abused the afflicted ; and that all this (and much more) is done with a design rather to better my own fortunes, than to inform posterity justly and honestly as I ought to have done. To such stuff as this have I been forced to make a good many replies, since I wrote to you last : nor can I see when there will be an end to the controversy. I am sure I cannot much brag of the A'.t. 40.] RALPH THORESBY. 307 imi)roveinent of my foitiuies by writing books, any farther than tliat I have had the good fortune to please some whose opinions I value. But, whatever entertainment I meet with, I resolve (by God's as- sistance) to finish the work in the best fashion I can : and then leave the world to like or dislike it at their pleasure. I thank you heartily for the account your's gives me of the old coining moulds. These are curiosi- ties which you nuist further oblige us with, by pub- lishing such drauglits of them as you have already given us of some other Roman antiquities in the Transactions. If you sent lately any inscription from York, it is what never came to my hands. As soon as I see it, I will do all I can to assist you in the interpretation ; though you are far from want- ing the hel]) of, Sir, Your ever affectionate servant, W. NlCOLSON. FROM DR. THOMAS GALE. SIR, St. Andrew. [Nov. 30.j This day being St. Andrew's Day, the anniversary foundation of the Royal Society, in a very full as- sembly at Gresham College, your name, amongst many others, was put up, to bring you in as one of the Fellows of that Society. The company wei'e pleased, upon my declaring how al)le and willing you X 2 308 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. were to serve them, to elect you, 7ieminc contradicente, into their number. The Transaction printed this day liatli t\\o of your letters : that to Dr. Lister, and that other to me ; by which you see how what you write is valued. Sir, I wish you joy of this respect done to your merit, and hope you will still obhge the Society with your correspondence, and me in particular, by accepting of the constant and firm assurance of all possible service from. Sir, Your very obliged and humble servant, Thomas Gale. royal society. St. Andrew's Day, 1697. New Members chosen (as Sir Godfrey Copley wrote to Thomas Kirk, Esq.) Dr. Bentley ; Mr. Bird ; Monsieur Bauval ; Dr. Hutton, the King's Physician; Monsieur Moivre; Mr. Stepney ; Ralph Thoresby ; were balloted and elected. Then the votes were collected for the eleven to be continued at the Council : — Mr. Montague, 24 ; Sir Robert Southwell, 33 ; Sir Godfrey Copley, 28 ; Mr. Evelyn, 25 ; Mr. Henshaw, 21 ; Mr. Hill, 33 ; Sir ,Tohn Iloskins, 33 ; Mr. Pitfield, 19 ; Dr. Sloane, 31 ; Mr. Waller, 27; Dr. Harwood, 16. Mr. Montague, President, 22 ; Mr. Hill, Trea- surer, 19 ; Dr. Sloane, Secretary, 24. ^t. 40.] RALPH THORESBY. 309 FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, December 23, 1697. I HEARTILY wish you joy of the just honour which the Royal Society have done you, in making you one of themselves. I hope this will raise your resolution of continuing to give them also a respect abroad, by communicating to them your own dis- coveries. The Transaction I mentioned is that of August last. No. 231, wherein we have the draughts you sent to Dr. Lister, with an abstract of your letter, and Dr. Gale's notes upon it. Instead of your Veteribus et Junioribus, the Doctor conjectures that we ought to read Vettii, so as the inscription may have an eye to the local goddesses of Widen, in that neighbourhood. You will forgive me if I tell you that I very much incline to his opinion, having long had some such thoughts of the god Vitirinus, whom Camden met with near the same place. The Romans had a deal of strange gods here on the borders, which had odd patronymic titles from their stations, upon our rivers, woods, &c. I think I sent you (some years ago) an inscription of an altar, not long since found at Brampton in this county, which seems to give us a list of five or six such Pagan (rustic) Deities. The altar itself is still in the possession of Mr. Aglionby, Recorder of Car- lisle, who is a pretty curious collector of ancient re- mains. I shall give you a larger account of what I have met with in this kind in the Introduction to my 310 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1697. Noi-tlminberland, wliich (dante Deo) shall be engaged in, as soon as the third part of my Library is off my hand. In the mean time, I must request your pick- ing up together such materials as your own choice treasury will afford me ; such as your coins that are peculiar and proper to this part of our British world, with all such other helps as you have by you, and let me have your account and thoughts of them. If you will give yourself the trouble of noting down these matters, as they chance to fall in your way, you will undoubtedly be able to furnish me with se- veral new and useful discoveries : for all which I shall be as truly thankful to you as the men of Gresham are or can be, though I have not the like power of making a suitable leturn. I had, the other day, a specimen sent me from Oxford, of some Saxon pieces which they are there publishing. They have finished the Pentateuch, with the Books of Joshua and Judges ; to which they design to add several fragments of other portions of Scripture, together with some Apocryphal writings. Amongst these last, they give us the Gospel of Nicodemus, which (I confess) I care not for seeing in any language what- ever, under the same cover with any part of the Canonical Scriptures. Its account of our Saviour's Descent into Hell, his Resurrection, &;c. is so scan- dalously ridiculous and absurd, that I wish it may not tempt some of our Atheists to study the Saxon tongue on purpose to expose our more ancient Chris- tian faith. You may be assured all the interest I ^t. 40.] RALPH THORESBY. 311 can pretend to shall be laid out in serving your town in the affair of the river. Leeds is already the best market we have for our wool, which, it is hoped, will advance in its price by such a project ; so that you may reasonably promise yourselves all the voices this country can give you. I am your's, W. NiCOLSON. FROM DR. MARTIN LISTER. SIR, Westminster, January 22, 1698. The account you wrote me of the young man killed by lightning, was very welcome ; I gave it to Dr. Sloane to be communicated to the Royal Society. I asked him the reason your name was left out of the list ; which he says was the first year by the transcriber's negligence, but assures me it is now in the list which was printed this last St. Andrew's Day. They are about modelling the income anew, which when they have resolved on, you shall hear farther. I am glad my Journey to Paris pleased you : it hath given me a great deal of trouble here, though no book ever sold better, and the second impression being more correct, is to be had at Mr. Tompson's, the bookseller, in Gray 's-inn -gate, in Gray's-inn-lane, where your friend, which you shall order to call, may have one. I designed to send you one but for the booksellers combining not to distribute it. We have printed Mr. Lloyd's book of figured stones. 312 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. by private sul)scriptions ; wliicli if we had not done, the autlior must have given money to the l)ooksellers to liave printed it. But having j)nnted only 120, the author has them all to make presents of. Sir, if I should tell you, after having given seve- ral books to Smith and AValford, to print gratis, they never would let me have what I wanted of the P. T.* to complete mine, you would wonder, yet such selfish and ungrateful men we have to deal with ; and for this reason I cannot tell you the parti- cular number in which that Roman building is ; but it was printed about fourteen years ago, and the di-awing was done by Mr. Francis Place. As for your brass Roman images, they deserve to be carefully kept. I see them of all sizes, from two inches to thirty, in divers cabinets at Paris, some hollow, some solid. God keep you. Sir, and may you be prosperous and happy in your laudable and industrious researches of nature and art. I am, Sir, Your most humljle servant, M. Lister. FROM DR. JABEZ CAY. DEAR SIR, Newcastle, February 1 9, 1 697-8. I THANK you for your last kind letter, and that variety of news with which it entertained me. Your * Philosophical Transactions. iEt. 40.] RALPH THORESBY. 313 story of Blackston-edge put me in mind of the Alps, where it is not only no unusual thing to have differ- ent sorts of weather on the top of a mountain and in the plain at one and the same time, but even different seasons, it being often summer in the valleys below, before the winter be over on the hill top. I have seen the November Transactions, and have perused your two letters, that deserve a place there, better than your modesty, perhaps, will allow you to think they do, they being both very well in their kind. Your cru- cible is a curiosity that I would willingly see, and hope next visit that I make you to have my longing satisfied. You may be sure the Royal Society set no small value on those letters of your's, which you speak so contemptibly of yourself, not only because they think them worth the publishing, but because they think the author of them deserves a place among themselves. I wish you joy of this new honour, for I hear from Mr. Tong, that you are actually received into that Honourable Society. As to those that have written any thing of the Roman weapons of war, I know nothing but what I have from Salmuth's Comment on Pancirollus de rebus inventis et perditis,* (which, by the by, I think is a book which you should not want) and there I find these following books quoted and commended : — Lipsius, de milit. Romanorum ; — 2. Vegetius, de re militari; — * Which the Commentator had translated from the original Ita- lian. There was a French translation from Salmuth's Latin, in 1617. 314 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. 3. Hubertus Goltzius, de C. Julio Caesare ;*— 4. Ro- bertus ^'altll^ius, de re militari ;— 5. Gulielm. Choul, de re militari,! quam ex Gallica lingua Latin^ fecit Ludovic. Canierarius. I am glad to hear that Dr. Manlove is so far recovered as to be able to set pen to paper again, though I think I must not expect ever to see any more of his writing ; pray give my service to him and all my good friends at Leeds. I am glad to hear that the little box came safe to your hands. Sir, Your servant, Jabez Cay. FROM MICHAEL WENTWORTH. SIR, Bretton, February 23, 1967-8. The repute that your worth has gained in being well versed in antiquities, and in several other ver- tucs and curious learning becoming a gentleman, engages me at present to give you the trouble to consult you in tlie matter following : which is, that you would please to let me know in a line or two, by Mr. Inglish, where the Wentworths of North Elmsall came from, and whether they be a distinct family of themselves, or did descend from some of the families of Wentworths. Sir, I beg your pardon * " Julius Caesar, seu iUius vita ex numismatibus." — N. D. Hist. t " De la Religion et castrain<;tation des anciens Romains." — Jbid. iEt.40.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 31 O for this boldness, being unknown to you, yet I shall ever be, Sir, Your most faithful and humble servant, Michael Wentworth. FROM REV. FRANCIS TALLENTS. Salop, March 11, 1697-8 I WAS glad, honoured Sir, to see my good old friend, and receive your kind letter (all your's are so) by him this day, and that you had any content in tliat part of the Rev. Mr. Hildersham's Diary, the rest of which I intend to leave in the best hands I can. The Hacket he mentions was not he that was Bishop afterward, but only the Vicar of Ashby, as I remember. I will try farther several ways about Dr. Chaderton's Life by Mr. Illingworth, Sec. Go on, dear Sir, in your ingenious way, and hearty love to Christ, and his ways, and people, with true large principles, yet sticking most to those that stick most to Christ. Could I serve you in any thing, I would, and will readily pay the postage of letters, which will not be much, if you send them up to London at any convenient time, by some friend, for I shall be always glad to hear from you. ^ I am, honoured Sir, Your obliged friend and servant, F. Tallents. 31G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, March 17, 1697-8. You will pardon my long silence, when I have told you that (about five or six weeks last past) I have conversed wholly with law jjooks, &c. in order to the finishing the third and last part of my Li- brary ; so that I have trespassed alike on all my friends. U])on perusal of Mr. Evelyn's Numismata, I lesolved to conclude with a chapter about our English Coins, from the Conquest to the end of Queen Elizabeth. I have several in my own posses- sion which are not taken notice of either in Speed or Camden ; and I doubt not but you have abundantly more. Let me request an account of those which you think most remarkable, with their inscriptions, that I may compare them with my own, and see how far I can encourage our English historians (in future times) to hope for a complete collection of them. The Saxon Heptateuch (for Joshua and Judges are added to the five Books of Moses) is now wholly finished and published. The price is not great. However, I have subscribed for a dozen, which will be here sometime before Easter. I design to dis- perse them amongst such as are lovers of our English antifjuities, to promote the acquaintance with the old Saxon tongue. You will have a just title to one of them ; and, therefore, let me make you a present in return for those more valuable ones I have had from you. JFX.40.] RALI'II Til ORES BY. 3i/ I guess I have the very same inscriptions from Mr. Lhvvyd, which he has sent to Dr. Eichardson. They are only such as he has picked from sepulcliral monuments, and mostly not very ancient. He has some assistant with him that has a good hand at drawing these monuments on paper ; and by his means he gives them to advantage. Hitherto, in- deed, his discoveries in antiquities have not been great. We may be satisfied that nothing of moment will escape him ; and it must be the fault of the times and the poverty of the country he is engaged in, if he brings back no great treasure of this kind. My service to Mr. Thornton. I am ever, Very truly your's, W. NiCOI.SON. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, May 7, 1698. My attendance on my cure in the Western parts of this county, has occasioned my thus long defer- ring the return of my thanks to yourself and some other good friends. I am very much indebted to you for the instructive pains you have taken in send- ing me the inscriptions of your most rare coins since the Conquest. Several of them ai'e perfectly new to me, and shall be mentioned with the respect which is due to their owner and my friend. I have (this week) received my copies of the 318 CORIlESPOiNDENCE OF [A.D. 1698. Saxon Heptateuch ; and one of them will wait on you at Leeds, before the end of this month. I had also a printed copy of Boethius in the same lan- guage, whicli is lately published by Mr. Rawlinson, a Lancashire gentleman, commoner of our College, at his own charges. Both these books are very curiously printed, on good paper, and beautified with some excellent cuts. I have only a single copy of the latter ; and am afraid I shall hardly be able to procure another for my friend, since the publisher (wlio presented mine to me) tells me that he has printed only 250 copies in all, and that most of them were already either dispersed or bespoken. I am glad to see the study of our English antiquities in such a flourishing condition ; and I hope the God of Peace will furnish us with such times as are proi)er for the carrying on of the work. The last week, there came to my hands some papers relating to the antiquities of Cumberland ; one passage whereof, relating to your own name, as well as of a parish in this county, I will here tran- scribe : " Thoresbie, or Thursby, (says he) was a place where there was a temple dedicated to the heathen god Thore, in the time of paganism ; and the chancel of this church is built of an oval form, in tlie fashion of a synagogue. Everardus, some- time Abbot of Holm-Cultram, (who lived in the days of King Henry the Second) did register this to pos- terity : That the Danes had a temple, or house of sacrifice here, where those Pagans offered up the blood ^t. 40.] RALPH TIIOUESBY. 319 of their captives to a god, whom in that sort they honoured. Their priests dwelt at Cardew, alias Carthew, which is as mucli as God's- fen, or God's- bog, there being a great mire or bog betwixt that and Thursby." I shall make no reflections on this story : I have not room to do it at present ; only it is possible Abbot Everard might have authorities for his report which are now lost. Yoiir's, W. NiCOLSON. FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. GOOD SIR, Bisliopsthorp, August 17, 1G98. I RECEIVED your's. I know no other marks for the distinguishing the three Henries, viz. the 4th, 5th, and 6th, but those I told you of at Bishops- thorp, since I last came down ; whether they will hold or no, I know not, but I see the curious at Lon- don have no better. I have a penny with the three crowns, w^hich, from Speed, I always took to be Ed- ward the Fourth's, though his name be not upon it. The quartering the arms of France and England upon it, and the number of the fleur-de-lis being no more than three, show that it must be stamped about that time. As for your other Edward the Fourth's aroat, you may know whether it belongs to him or the Third Edward by the Aveiglit. For Edward the Fourth's groats weigh the same that Henry Sixth and Henry 3-20 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. Seventh's do, viz. soinetliing more than 6^d. of our jnescnt money ; whereas Edward Third's groats weigh ahnost our ten- pence. I will lay by some letters for you, which you sliall have next time you come. I have by this post wrote to ]Mr. Humfrey, as you desired ; so that you may now send up your matters to him when you please. Direct for Mr. John Humfrey, at his house in Great Russel-street, in Bloomsbury. The ill-dealing you meet with from shows what schismatical principles some of the Dissenters are acted by. Oh that it might have that effect upon you that I think it ought to have ! viz. to oblige you wholly to quit that party. Forgive my free- dom, but I mean friendly and kindly. Forgive like- wise the haste of this letter, which makes it almost unintelligible. I am, Sir, with sincere respects and hearty good wishes. Your assured friend, Jo. Euoii. FROM REV. JOHN HUMFREY. WORTHY .^IR, London, August 2Mli, 1698. I HAVE received your letter dated August 21, and a character of you in a letter from his Grace of York. I was unworthy that favour from him, and sensiljle of my slender abilities to perform what he hath so lovingly enjoined me, which is my endea- iEt.41.] RALPFI THORESBY. 321 voiir of your satisfaction. The case you propose is no grievous case, but very acceptable to me, who am very much of your judgment. I wish it were more easy to you, and common to others, who have their hearts bent, as you seem to me to have, for Heaven. The paths may be diverse, but the way one, which leads thereto, in our private and public congrega- tions. I will tell you first my own judgment and prac- tice, which is perhaps singular. There is our stated communion and occasional communion. Our mode- rate Nonconformist Presbyterians are for their stated communion with the congregations whereof they are pastors or members ; but they will join in their parish churches for occasional communion, or else they think themselves to be guilty of schism. Tims Dr. Bates does, some time in the year, receive the Sacrament in his parish, and Mr. Baxter did often in the parish I am. But as for myself, I declare my stated communion to be with the parish, (where we have a very worthy, ingenuous, diligent, and exem- plary Doctor for our minister,) and my occasional communion with the Nonconformist meetings, where I go sometimes, and sometimes I am called to preach. In short, I am a Nonconformist minister, but Con- formist parishioner, and I know nobody (knowing my constant principles) that is offended at it. As for the case of the Nonconformist, I have for- merly thus stated it. There are some who have been and are for our parochial churches, who are VOL. I. Y 322 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. satisfied with their constitution, and, if they might liave freedom, would still choose them ; and there are others that are in their inclinations for the con- gregational way only. I am, for my part, of the former sort, and declare thus when I go, or preach in a meeting : it is not in opposition, but in con- junction with the parish minister, with whom still I mentally, though not orally join, being sensible that, when ur Lord hath commanded that the tares should not be plucked up, for fear of endangering some of the wheat, how grievous a matter it may be to root up all the wheat for fear of the tares, which to unchurch whole parishes were to do. Two things, therefore, I will acknowledge: that our parish churches are true churches ; and that it is our duty consequently to desire and endeavour their union and ])rosj)erity. With these I must assume also, that it is the duty likewise of those who have been set apart to the office of the ministry, to preach the Gospel by way of discharge of that office. Now this rule I lay down, that when two duties come to- gether, so that w^e caunot perform the one but we must omit the other, the greater duty must take place of the less. Here, then, is the Nonconformist minister's case, Which of these is the greater duty ? W'e are to seek unity, and to preach the Gospel. If we keep our ])arishes, w^e must not preach the Gos- pel : if we preach the Gospel, we must go to these private meetings. Which of these is, indeed, of greatest concernment to the glory of God and the ;i:t. 41.] RALPH THORESBV. 323 people's salvation ? In general, which is the great- est matter, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ be preached, or the union of the parish church pro- moted ? In particular, whether shall I, or any other Nonconformist, who have a call or occasion to preach at such a time, place, or company, do more service to God by going and doing it, or by refusing, and keeping to my parish church for the sake of unity, for which I still have other seasons? And which is the greatest evil, to have a people of a parish divided into several places to hear the minis- ters of both persuasions preach to them, (when this too shall not hinder them being parts still, or mem- bers of the same Church,) or that all the preachers or ministers of the nation, but those only that con- form, should have their mouths stopped and talents buried ? The state of the case as to the minister, in regard to greater duty, may be laid as to the people, in re- gard to greater edification. To resolve yourself now what you shall do, ask your minister, (Mr. M.) when you were baptized ? into what church was it ? whether it was not into the church universal? Ask him then, whether that which gives a man right to be a member of the uni- versal Church, does not give him right of occasional communion with all true churches, that are but parts of it ? I pray, then, ask him which he will choose, to have you keep your stated communion with him, (as you yet do,) and your occasional with the parish ■^ Y 2 324 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. or your occasional coiiiinunion only with him, and your stated with the parochial congregation? And so long as your parish minister is a good man, let Mr. M. himself choose for you. And this, in the name of God, shall give you satisfaction. Your very mean and unw^orthy servant in Christ, John Humfrey. I received your's yesterday, but could hardly look on it till just now, when I write away this. FROM REV. JOHN HUMFREY. WORTHY SIR, I RECEIVED your's ; I will write you out the very words of the Bishop's letter : " Good Mr. Humfrey, — There is a gentleman in this country that has a desire to consult you in some matters wherein he has need of satisfaction ; but being a perfect stranger to you, he has jjcgged of me to introduce him to you, and to request that you would give him leave to trouble you with a letter, and that you would be so kind as to answer it. His name is Mr. Ralph Thoresby, an ingenious gentleman, and a modest humble Christian. He has of late used him- self to receive the Sacrament monthly, at his parish church. This, the Dissenters in that parish, I am told, take very grievously of him, he being, in other /Et. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 325 respects, a member of their congregation. I do be- lieve this is the matter that he means to write to you about ; if it be, I doubt not Imt you — " I thank you for the books of your's, which I received, which I like very well, and hope they will do good service. With hearty wishes of your health, I rest, Sir, " Your assured friend and servant, Jo. Ebok." August 17, 1698. This, upon your modest desire to know what the Bishop wrote to me, I do write out ; and as for the rest of your letter, I had thought once or twice to- day to consider the several questions that might be raised, and to say something to them, but upon second thoughts, I shall repress them aU, and con- tinue the counsel only I have given you, which in effect is, in the liberty wherein God and your conscience hath set you free to stand fast. I see nothing in both your letters, but what does savour of a sincere heart, and that what you do, is all in pursuance of that which seems to you most condu- cive to your own salvation ; and I think it all very well, and to be justified upon the plea of greater edification. I pray remember what was said of our Lord, when they told him such and such were of- fended. I say the same to you, let them alone. If what you did, gave occasion to the drawing any to sin, that were scandal ; but if it draw some to 326 CORRESrONDENCE OF [A.D. 1698- clmrcli, or only give some men some displeasure, and yet no otherwise but that they can communi- cate occasionally in both places when fit, I think you edify them, not scandalize them by your example. As for the extremes on both sides, I think you jiulge right. If Mr. M. (whom you do well to value for his parts) will allow you to go once or twice in the year to the Sacrament at church, he does not forbid it then as unlawful ; and so long as the occa- sion you take of going thither is your Vicar's monthly administration, it is a great oversight, and strange thing in Mr. M. that he should not see that to be an Occasional Communion : occasions, I hope, may be offered twelve times, as well as once in the year. The other extreme, on the churchmen's side, is as you rate that ; because you can go sometimes to their congregations, you must go always, as if it were not schism to separate from a true church of the Lord, without a cause, as it is to separate from thcir's, (I mean mentally, not only locally) ; and as if, indeed, they were not the true and great- est schismatics that never come at our's at all. I will not trouble you with another side. I am, your's in Christ, John Humfrey. iEt. 41.] RALPH THOllESBY. 327 FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, September 19, 1698. I RECEIVED your letter and Mr. Shaw's manu- script by Jeremiah Baxter, and thank you for it. I have read it, and hope it may be significant, if printed, for substance of it, which I refer to your's and Dr. Sampson's discretion. You say you have received both enclosed letters from Dr. Sampson, but there came none enclosed with your's or the book ; perhaps you thought you enclosed them but did not, so mistook. I shall be glad to see the other you mention of Mr. Shaw's, whom I knew, and was ac- quainted with that worthy man. I cannot yet find one letter of father Angler's and brother Hey wood's, which I wonder at ; for I wrapped them up more care- fully than the rest : they are gone out of sight, but if I find them you shall have them. I have no more ministers to acquaint you with than what you have. It troubles me nothing can be retrieved of precious Mr. Sharp's labours to be printed, that some re- marks might be put before it by way of preface. Mr. Whitlock wrote Mr. Reynolds' Life, and sent me one, which you shall see if you have it not. I am heartily sorry to hear you are not well. I pray God you may be better, both in body and in the frame of your spirit, that you and I may be fitter for the Lord's pleasure. Oh what need of an interest in Christ ! Improvement of him, habitual and actual readiness for death, will fit us for Hea- 328 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1698. ven. I am licartily sorry I was not at liomc when you came. ]\Ir. Boyse called as he went for Ireland : I was absent then, but met him on the road; we went into a house, had an hour's conference ; he saith he will write to me. Give my service to your and his lady. Your cordial friend, Oj.iver Heywoou. FROM REV. MATTHEW HENRY. HONOURED SIR, Chester, Oct. 10, 1698. I HAD no sooner made a thankful return for your kind letter of August 18, by Mr. Boyse, our common friend, but that I promised myself an opportunity of sending directly to you by some of your town, who used to come to our fair, and have sometimes favour- ed me with a visit ; but this last fair they not calling of me, and I not knowing where to enquire for them, I was disappointed. It is well our correspondence with Heaven is not exposed to such disappointments. The candid acceptance which the account of my honoured father's life finds with one of your charac- ter is much beyond what I ever expected, for I counted upon its being agreeable to those only that were well acquainted with him, and little acquainted with Ijooks and the woild. But I see practical C'hristianity and Catholic charity are not quite desti- tute of friends even among the learned of the age. Your letter gave me occasion to do as Paul did when /Et. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 329 he met the bretliren, — thank God, and take courage. There were several things left out in the printing of that book which were in my original, without my particular knowledge, and some things altered, none of which troubled me so much as that page 84, con- cerning the constancy of all the parts of his family wor- ship, which hath a cloud very disingenuously drawn over it by putting r^arely, and seldom^ for 7ieve7\ be- sides other alterations of the expression, which make it scarce sense. We have all the assurance that we can have of a thing of that nature, even his own express testimony not long before he died, that of all the time he was the master of a family he never once omitted any one part of his stated family worship. I did not except sickness and absence, because in those cases he took care it should be done pei' aliu}7i, as if he were present, except the expounding of the scripture. Many other alterations were made, which I knew nothing of till it came abroad ; some deroga- ting from his character, and others spoiling the sense: but there is no remedy ; it is well it is no worse. Your's to my worthy and honoured friend Mr. Tallents I had an opportunity of delivering to him myself within two or three days after I received it. He is still bringing forth fruit in old age (about his 78th year) to show that the Lord is upright. I would do any thing to prevent the loss of Mr. lUingworth's manuscripts, or to gain a sight of them, but know not which way to go about it, not having interest in any of his relations. I have by me many of Mr. Cook's manuscripts, but only some of them legible, and among 330 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1698. tliose a very large account of a particular rencounter between Hugh Peters and him,* when Peters, with- out liis consent, thrust into his pulpit at Ashby, and of the grievous affronts and ill-language that Peters gave him. It is several sheets, being (as all that Mr. Cook did was) very prolix. Your collection of auto- graphs I could look over with abundance of satisfaction, and if I had wherewithal would contribute to, for I hate to monopolize that which may be any way ser- viceable. I have many letters of Mr. Steel's to my father, but cannot readily find any that may be fit to be preserved; but meeting among my father's ])apers with a sheet of his in answer to Dr. Fowler's arguments for setting up rails about the communion table, writ- ten with his own hand, I send it you enclosed, and because it may perhaps satisfy your curiosity to read a sermon in my father's own hand-writing,t and in that imperfect way that he used to write his notes. Finding dui)licates of one sermon preached near thirty years ago, I enclose it likewise. Pray give my affectionate respects to the worthy Dr. Manlove. I tell Mr. Boyse he must let me have the honour of !)cing his groomsman at liis next journey to Leeds ; but we know not what a day may bring forth. My true respects attend you. I rest, Your obliged humble servant, Matthew Henry. ■ I'lohahly, in Uj.59, when Mr. Cook had joineil "Sir George llix.tli, to Iding ill tlie Kiiiff." Dr. Culamy's Acroinit, \). 12U. I 'iliere is aiiotiier sj)ecimeii in the British Museum. JEt.Al.} RALPH TIIORESBY. 331 FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, Oct. 22, 1G98. Ever since I received your last, I have been in attendance on our good old Bishop, who (ten days ago) buried his wife, and stood in need of company to support his great age under such a shock. I am now returned home, and one of the first things (I find) I have to do, is to congratulate your recovery out of a dangerous distemper. Health is a very- valuable blessing ; but our clay tabernacles are na- turally so crazy, that we ought to be in daily ex- pectance of their tottering and dissolution, and to be prepared against the surprise. I have Mr. Thornton's guinea towards the print- ing of the Septentrional Grammars ; and (it seems) my Lord Archbishop has likewise sent me your's. Yesterday I received a specimen of the first sheet in print : it will be a beautiful and noble edition, this ordinary paper being truly very fine. The Doctor* meets with far more encouragement than his own circumstances, and those of the times, seemed to allow him to hope for. There will be a deal of cuts in the book, and yet I do not question but it will be finished very early in the spring. I suppose you have heard of the publishing of King Alfred's Saxon translation of Boethius : it was done (from a fair copy that Junius left behind him) by Mr. Rawlin- * Di". Hickes. VOL. I. Y 6 332 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1698. son, a young gentleman of Queen's College, in Ox- ford, wlio was at the sole chai'ge of the impression, and dispersed the books amongst his acquaintance and friends. He did me the favour to send one hither. This generous benefaction has much in- creased the number of the Doctor's subscribers, several gentlemen being desirous to make themselves acquainted with the language of this kind present. I had the other day a letter from my friend, E. Lhwyd, in Wales. I either did, or should have desired you to tell me, whether you had any of the old British adder-beads in your museum ? It is a subject he is much upon of late : he now sends me draughts of them, that look pleasingly enough. He has seen, he says, some encompassed with a single waved snake, and manifest distinction of scales, head, and tail ; but the most have several little ser- pents inscribed on them. His countrymen have a tradition, that these enchantments lose all their virtue, if they touch the ground, which well agrees with Pliny's account of receiving the bead i?i sago militariy when the snakes blew it up into the air. Let your next tell me whether you have any thing of this kind. I do heartily wish the continuance of your health, being ever. Sir, Your truly affectionate servant, William Nicolson. /Et. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 333 FROM REV. NATHANIEL HOUGH. DEAR COUSIN, Jesus College, Oct. 27, 1698. I WAS glad to perceive, that when I left Leeds you were upon the recovering hand ; and I was more so, to hear the good news confirmed by my brother's letter, sent after me to Doncaster. I have seen your good friend Mr. Milner, but have not yet had the opportunity of giving him your service. As for news out of the learned world, Cambridge at present affords no great variety ; our new press is kept a going, and we are just about to print four of the most considerable classics, in a very curious cha- racter : Oxford does exceed us at present upon one remarkable account ; for Gloucester Hall is, by a charter under the great seal of England, just now converted into a college, and is called from the gentleman's county, who is the most considerable benefactor to it, Worcester College. He is, we hear, an old bachelor, and leaves to it 10,000/. ; but his name I cannot tell you. Dr. Woodroff', the pre- sent master, by whose i)rocurement the thing is done, intends to enlarge it by 3000/. out of his own pocket. So much for foreign intelligence. I have something to impart, which is nearer home. When I was at Doncaster, Mr. Copley, happening to dis- course upon my brother's marriage, told me he was afraid that a false representation of matters had been made ; for he w^as then informed that that part of my sister's fortune, which was in money, would be 334 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. paid in a sliort time ; whenas the executors could not exactly promise when the other, which was in land, slioukl come in. Now he tells me that he per- ceives things are quite contrary to what they told him, viz. that the land is already entered upon, but the money seems to be uncertain. I was surprised to hear this account ; and out of respect to so near relations as my brother and cousin Copley are, do presume to acquaint you with it. I have that in- ward assurance of your integrity in the case, that I do beheve you will give them a satisfactory insight into that affair ; and I do, as a friend and a kins- man, secretly entreat you, that my brother's want of knowledge and experience in such an intricate mat- ter as this seems to be, may not turn to his disad- vantage. I pray God preserve your health, and give you a sanctified use of your late affliction. My respects to your good Vicar, and to all at Sheeps- car. I am. Your very affectionate relation, N. Hough. FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, Nov. 7, 1698. I RECEIVED your loving letter, dated Oct. 11, together with Dr. Sampson's collections, which I must confess I have detained longer than I intended : the reason was, because Mr. N. Priestley, and his JEt.4\.'] RALPH THOIIESBY. 335 father and brother, earnestly desired the perusal of them, I made bold to lend them, and received them again but yesterday. There are many fine things in them. I now thankfully restore them ; and when you send them back to him, I pray transmit this en- closed letter to him, whether enclosed in one of your's, or put in the book I leave to your pleasure : I pur- posely leave it unsealed, that you may see and read what I write. If in any thing I can be serviceable to you, you shall command me. They have not yet got a tutor for the scholars at Mr. Frankland's; they desire Mr. Tong, of Coventry, but are in suspense. Mr. Owen stays till Christmas. J. P. and myself do earnestly desire the notes out of Mr. Shaw's Diary, or what else you judge new and rare, and you shall have them safely returned. I desire to know what Treatise you have of Mr. Wales, his Memorials, Dr. Winter, Mr. Ambrose — the loan of them if you can spare them. I am heartily sorry I cannot find my father Angler's nor brother Heywood's letters ; I wrapped them up, in- scribed upon them, bestowed much labour in seeking them, but yet cannot find them, only this one I acci- dentally lit on among other letters, which I send you. I am sorry to hear of your indisposition, and pray for a perfect recovery — health and sickness are in the hands of God ; yea, life and death : we are at best but a puff of l)reatli ; we blow it in and out at our nostrils every, every moment ; he alone holds our soul in Ufe ; but his loving kindness is better than natu- 33G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. ral life, and it is the goodness and wisdom of God to bring us into a wilderness, that he may speak to our hearts ; outward confinements are often means of in- ward enlargements ; God sees we are apt to be too busy al)road, and too little at home : conversing with God and our own hearts is both profitable and evi- dential ; it is a blessed chamber Avhere there is ex- change of loves betwixt God and the soul. Volun- tary confinement is better than necessary, yet God sometimes makes a virtue of necessity. Be sure you now go through stitch with the work of repentance ; tie the knot faster of covenant-relation ; say and act as David, Psalm cxvi. 16. I shall be heartily glad to hear you are better. My dear love and service with my wife's to you, your loving consort, remaining Your cordial friend, Oliver Heywood. A COPY OF MR. IIEYWOOD'S LETTER TO DR. SAMPSON. WORTHY SIR, Nov. 7, 1698. Although personal acquaintance be denied to us, and literal correspondence be of late interrupted lx,'t\vixt us, yet some compensation is made; first, by our sympathy of principles, and liarmony of affec- tions ; secondly, by our communion in spirit, wor- shipj)ing the same God, through the same Mediator, by the same Spirit ; thirdly, by the hoj)es we have iEt. 41] RALPH TIIORESBY. 337 of meeting in heaven, and conversing above at another rate than here we are capable of; fourthly, by our holding intelhgence by the medium of our ingenious friend, Mr. R. T., who communicates to me what he receives from you, and did lately send me your remarkable stories, collected with so much care, industry, fidelity, for which I do heartily thank you, which as they demonstrate an observing mind, so a public spirit, and a jirofiting heart, by discover- ing man's badness, God's goodness, Psalm cvii. 43. I have read them over with delectation, instruction, caution, so have some of my familiars : but must plead my insufficiency to answer your desires in the same kind. It is true I have written many observa- tions ; but first, they are but insignificant toys to your's ; secondly, my narrow intelligence incapaci- tates me for foreign observations ; thirdly, our poor domestic and rustic stories will look as ridiculous fopperies, compared with your metropolitan collec- tions; fourthly, I am so daily employed in more important affairs, that I cannot obtain time to col- lect or transcribe them, nor would it be worth the while. Therefore I desire to be excused. But, Sir, it is now some years ago since you were pleased to communicate to me a draught, or specimen, of a book you designed for the press, called " The History of Nonconformity or Puritanism," which you seem to procrastinate, which many earnestly desire you to accelerate the publication of; for, first, you are going off the stage ; secondly, it will fail if you VOL. I. z 338 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. die ; tliirdly, now is a proper season for such an impression ; fourthly, you are capal)le of rectifying the mistakes. The Mercury tells us of a hook under tliat title, which I suppose is not your's, for surely we should have had some notice of it from you. Good Sir, make the world happy by a true history. Dear Sir, let me know by your's to Mr. Thoresby (which is the cheapest way of transmitting correspondence to such poor country curates as I am) whether ye go on with that noble design, and I shall furnish you with some more remarks upon some Nonconformists that died lately in Lancashire and Yorkshire, which at present I want time to tran- scribe : I think the last you have in Yorkshire, was Mr. Amgel, of Treaton, Mr. Sherburn, of Cawood, concluding with the names of twenty-seven ministers in the East and North Riding, whose characters you may obtain better notice of than I : and now I have added Mr. Thomas Sharp, buried at Leeds, Aug. 29, 1693. A manuscri})t of his I have under my hands at this instant, which I am desired to prepare for the press, written by his own hand, upon Psalm xciv. 19. Ijcfore which I do propose to prefix some re- marks upon that excellent person. Another of our worthies lately departed. Mi*. Richard Frankland, that famous tutor in academic studies that has had three hundred pupils under his tuition, who died Oct. 1, 169H. I purpose to send you what I can jDro- cure relating to him. As for Lancaster, I think you have forty names : to Mr. Thompson and Dr. Mar- iEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 339 shal, Vicar of Lancaster, I must now add some more, viz. Mr. Jolin Leaver, of Bolton, buried July 6, 1692 ; Mr. Zacliariah Taylor, of Kirkham, died 92 ; Mr. Benson, of Kellet, in 91 ; Mr. Till of Eccles, in 89. But these four my intimate friends go to my heart, who all died in a year : viz. Mr. Roger Baldwin of Eccles, buried at Mancliester, June 8, 1695 ; Mr. Henry Pendlebury, of Rochdale, buried at Bury, June 20 ; Mr. Henry Newcome, buried in his New Chapel at Manchester, Sept. 20, 1695 ; Mr. Robert Seddon, of Bolton, buried at Ringley, March 24, 1695-6. In June following, I696, I travelled into Lancashire, and found them all dead ; yet in that journey I preached in all their four pulpits : they were all singular men and ancient. As for the Surey demo- niac,* I confess I was once there upon a call to spend a day in fasting, praying, preaching, in a barn to a considerable congregation ; wrote some remarks upon Richard Dugdale at my return home, but they are not worth taking notice of, since Mr. Thomas Jolly has cleared matters abundantly by his vindi- cating us from Zachariah Taylor's base reflections, and printing the depositions, which I judge will be satisfactory to all unprejudiced persons. He sent me this. Z. T. bears his father's name, but not his spirit, who was a worthy man. Sir, some that have * " Richard Dugdale, of Surey, in Lancashire, (1689,) was said to be dispossessed, by some Dissenting Ministers, who kept days of fasting and prayer, for near a year." See Dr. Hutchinson's " His- torical Essay concerning Witchcraft," (1720,) pp.57, 158 — 1G3. z 2 340 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.U. 1698. seen my Catalogue of York ministers, advise me to expunge three of them, viz. Mr. R. Town, Mr. Core, and ]\lr. Robinson, because they were Antinomians, wliich they say will be no credit to us. I refer it wholly to yom* discretion. I have been lately much affected in writing a small treatise upon 2 Thess. ii. 1, of saints being gathered to Him, which I have put in my son John's hand for the press, if judged fit. Oh, what a brave and blessed day will that be when all patriarchs, prophets, princes, apostles, ministers, Christians shall meet together to enjoy God and re- joice together ! where I hope you will arrive, and at last find, Your willing but unworthy friend, O. Heyavood. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth, November 11, 1698. After having been so long eased of any trouble from hence, you must give me leave to petition you in jjehalf of a learned friend of mine. Dr. Hicks ; and with you, I know, there will need the less ex- cuse, because it tends to the promoting your beloved study, the antiquities of England. He is now re- printing his Saxon, Gothic, and Icelandic Grammars, with very considerable improvements, and the addi- tion of a Francick Grammar, entirely new ; all which (enlarged by Dissertations and Catalogues of manu- scripts in the several languages) will, together, make Mt.41.'] RALPH TIIORESBY. 341 a very beautiful folio. There are, I believe, some fifteen or sixteen sheets already printed at tlie theatre in Oxford, and the copy of the whole is pre- pared, so that the work will go on as fast as the press will allow, and the author shall be enabled by the assistance of liis friends : for being a work out of the common road, the booksellers are afraid to under- take it, and so it is carried on entirely by the con- tributions of gentlemen and scholars. The author promises, that whoever contributes a guinea shall have a book for it (which will very near answer the value), and the more generous contributors, one in the royal paper. Our friend, the Archdeacon of Carlisle, has been very industrious among his ac- quaintance in those parts ; and it is possible he may have applied himself to you ; if so, I ask your pardon for this trouble. But if this be the first notice of the design, let me make it my request to you (for the sake of the work and the learned author) to use your interest, upon this occasion, with such of your friends as are likely to help forward so useful and honour- able a work. Whoever contributes, upon the payment of his money, has a note, under the hand of a bookseller empowered to receive it, for the delivery of a book in royal or common paper, (according to his contri- bution,) immediately after it is finished. I am, dear Sir, Your ever affectionate servant, Edmund Gibson. 342 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698- FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. SIR, December 14, 1698. Having occasion to send a servant to Leeds, I take the opportunity to send you these papers, which contain my ol)servations and conjectures about the silver coins of Enghind. I had not thought them worthy of your sight, but that heretofore having read some of them to you, out of my short-hand, you was then pleased to express your desire that they might be written at length, and that you might have the perusal of them. This intimation of your's stuck with me, though it did not then prevail with me to do what you desired, because, in truth, (as I told you,) I did not know how to justify the spending time in such trifles. But, since that, Mr. Archdeacon Nicolson was pleased to send me his Discourse about the English Coins (which is to make a chapter in the last part of his Historical Library), and to de- sire my thoughts and corrections of it. Here now what you had desired came into my mind, and I presently thought, why may not I, with one labour, pay my respects to Mr. Archdeacon and gratify Mr. Thoresby, that is, in the Yorkshire proverb, " kill two birds with one stone ?" Upon this, instead of making any remarks upon what he had writ upon the silver coins (though I did upon the gold ones), I set myself to get transcriljcd my notes (that I had by me) of the Silver Coins, to which I made additions and im- iEt.41.] RALPH THOllESBY. 343 provements ; which being done, I sent them to him, telling him that when he had done with them, I de- sired I might have them again to send them to you ; and accordingly he has sent them back, and I now desire you to accept them as a small testimony of my respects to you. Upon the reviewing of them, I am sensible of one mistake, viz. where I have said that I had a brass coin of Queen Elizabeth, wliich, as I took it, went for half a farthing. When I writ this, I remem- bered I had a small brass coin of that Queen's which I could not think to go for more than half of her silver farthing; but afterwards, when I came to look at it, I found by the harp that it was an Irish, and not an English one. I think I had it from you. I have added to my own papers some letters of such men as have made some figure in the world, which you desired me to look out for you, merely for the sake that they were originals ; for in the letters themselves (as to the matter of them, I mean) there is nothing. I am sorry that I have burnt or lost so many letters that have been in my hands from some great men that are now dead. I wish you health and peace, and am, with great sincerity. Your affectionate friend, Jo. Ebok. 344 CORRKSPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. FROM JOHN EVELYN, ESQ. SIR, Berkeley-street, December 21, 1G98. In acknowledgment of your courteous and in- structive letter, this should sooner have come to con- gratulate tlie recovery of your health, (for which I am heartily glad,) had not an indisposition of ano- ther nature (my often bleeding) with some other im- pediments, kept me from holding my head down to write so easily as I was wont to do. I have noAV (I thank God) been so free from that inconvenience for some days, that I take the first opportunity of writing to my friends again, among whom, give me leave to honour myself with the acquisition of one so obliging as IMr. Thoresby, to overlook and pass by the many defects of my rambling book ; which, that you may no longer borrow from othei's, I would present you with a copy of, could I think it worth your acceptance. The medals which I speak of in miniature, were long since painted by a German virtuoso of Frank- endale, and sent me to Paris by one who formerly kept the famous cabinet of the great Earl of Arun- del, whom I mention. I have put them in frames, and covered them with glasses before them, and left them in ray closet in the country, with all that I have of medals and valuables besides ; Imt both vvliich, either for number or consideration, come far short of what I find you are the possessor of. 'i'hose which yf»u have relating to the Eiiglisli, (had I been iEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY.^ 345 SO fortunate to have met with all here) would ex- ceedingly have adorned and supplied those gaps which occur in that part of my book, as well as that where I mention what a curious person here has collected of heads and effigies ; but which I believe is much inferior to yours. Of other prints, there are some of my acquaintance who have lately made very ample collection (since auctions have exposed the libraries of so many persons who were alike curious,) of the best masters' works ; store of which, I doubt not but you must needs have found in those of my Lord Fairfax's, who, indeed, I have been told by one who was acquainted with Mr. Rushworth, (formerly his Lordship's secretary) was a great lover of those diversions, even in the midst of his less innocent martial undertakings ; and I am glad they happened to fall into your hands, before they were dissipated. As to letters and autographs of eminent and fa- mous persons, I was once master of a glorious assem- bly by abundance of original papers, which a rela- tion of mine, who had the disposal of the inventory of the Earl of Leicester, prime minister of state to Queen Elizabeth, made me a present of; among which were divers letters under the hands of the then Emperor, Kings of France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden ; Electors, &c. and other potentates, ambas- sadors, &c. with sundry other original papers, rela- ting to the weightiest matters of state then on foot ; besides not a few I had gotten of most of the consider- able in pulillc employment during the reign of King 34G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. James I., together with a great number of their seals; and was still augmenting, till the late Duke of Lauderdale, hearing I had some among them of the Maitlands, his ancestors, and others under the hand of Mary Queen of Scots, came to my house under pretence of a visit, but indeed to borrow the perusal of them for a few days, with promise to return them in a very short time ; but, like a true Scotsman, never intending it : And for all the instances I could make, putting me off, till himself dying, his library was sold, and I bereaved of a treasure I greatly valued, and though I sought for them when the books were exposed, my papers would not be found. This, with what else I lost of what I lent Dr. Bur- net, mentioned as received of me for his History of the Reformation (pretended to have been lost by the negligence of the printers,) did so break and inter- rupt my collection, that I easily parted with those few were yet left to a friend of mine in this town, who had begun to gather ; but who (cautioned by my credulity) will not be so easily imposed upon. But thus. Sir, have I been deprived of being able to gratify that laudable design of yours, in which I wish you better success. The famous sculptor, Nanteuil, (celebrated by Monsieur Perault) engraved my picture when I was a very young man ; but this being now above forty years since, (lieu qiianto midatuH I) is no more me. The plate is still among my other trifles, and if there be any i*rint of it remaining, for it is near thirty iEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 347 years since any were taken off, I will send you one when I come to them, which I fear I shall not be able to do till the summer, if God so long continue the life of, Sir, Your most humble servant, J. Evelyn. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, Dec. 22, 1698. When I received your last letter, I was most ra- vishingly entertained with the perusal of some papers which my Lord Archbishop had sent me, of his own composing, touching our EngHsh coins ; and which, his Grace was pleased to acquaint me, he designed to communicate to you as soon as I had done with them. I suppose by this time they are with you : and I need not recommend them to your reading. I am sure they gave me that satisfaction which I thought was nowhere to be had. I have corrected my last chapter by them, and am now sending up the last part of my Library, to be disposed of as my friend Gibson thinks fit. You have set my mouth o' watering by the hint you gave of a certain gentleman's late Tour to Bre- menium, &c. Sir R. Sibbald, you know, places that fort somewhere on Grime's Dyke, in Scotland : but the historians of that kingdom, in spite of common sense, are for applying every thing that is said of the Vallum to their own ditch. I think I have made 348 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1698. some discoveries about tlie stations ad lineam Valli, wliicli will be thought considerable. However, I do not so much rely on my own skill in these dark matters, but that I shall be heartily thankful for the perusal of other men's labours on the same subject, and will always gratefully acknowledge the light I gain from them. I have ever thought that Camden's Rochester did not sound much like Bremenium : yet I know not how to place it more appositely at twenty miles distance from Corstopilum, if that be IMorpeth. Some manuscript copies read A^zfjAviov instead of Bcj/xsv/ov. Perhaps that may have given your friend room for some new conjectures, which I should be glad to hear of more at large, I also long for a farther account of your old Almanack. I wish it would prove a Runic Kalendar. There is nothing of any great note come to my hand since my last, save only a large vellum Lieger- Book of Dun mow Priory, in Essex. I have staged over a good part of it, but do not find any memorial of the famous usage of the gammon of bacon.* If your next will inform me in what volume (folio or quarto) you desire the autographa of the three gen- tlemen you mention, your directions shall be ob- served ; for I have letters from them of all sizes. The Dean and Chapter of Durham have subscribed 20/. to Dr. Ilickes's book. I am ever, Sir, Your truly affectionate servant, W. NiCOLSON. • See Plot's Staffordsliire.— R. T. JEt.41.] RALPH THORESBY. 349 Mr. Machell* is lately dead : he has left the in- spection of his papers to me, with a request, that if I find any thing that will abide the puljlic view, the press may be set on work for the benefit of his chil- dren. I do not yet see that any great fortunes are to be raised out of them, there being nothing that looks towards a formal work. FROM CHARLES TOWNLEY, ESQ. SIR, Townley, Dec. 27, 1698. I RECEIYED both your's on Christmas-day, and they do no little add to the cheerfulness that best suits with this almost forgotten festival. I am some- thing surprised that one of mine should loiter so long in its way to you. My brother Townley, who re- turns your kind remembrance with all the interest due to it, desires me to acquaint you, that he has several letters and papers, and some instruments, that were Mr. Gascoigne's, and hopes you will print nothing of that great astronomer till he can have looked over and digested what he finds, that so de- serving an ornament of your country may not want what he can contribute towards the setting of him forth in his good and due colours. Sir Edward Shire- burn, once a considerable man in the Tower, in his * Fellow of Queen's College, Oxford, and Rector of Kirkby Thore ; his collections related to Westmoreland, and were placed by Bisliop Nicolson in the library of the Dean and Chapter of Carlisle. 350 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1698. translation of JManilius dc Sphcero, makes an honour- able mention of him amongst astronomical writers, of whom he gives a large catalogue. By the superscrip- tion of letters to him, it appears tliat he lived with his father, at Middleton, near Leeds ; he followed King Charles the First's party, and was slain at the battle of Marston-moor,* where my father, being in the same interest, was likewise killed. Mr. Gascoigne was the first inventor of the micrometer, which my brother Townley has since perfected. Foreigners would gladly ascribe to themselves this invention, and rob Mr. Gascoigne and our nation of the credit of it ; but by the date of letters in my brother's custody, it may be fathered on its true parent. Bishop Fisher's Life is extant,f but I cannot remember whether the place of his birth + and parentage be there specified. I shall further endeavour to recover the rest of my uncle Christopher's manuscripts, and carefully pre- serve those I have got, till you have need of them, which I wish may be soon ; and hope your domestic afi'airs will be shortly composed, so that the public may not suffer by your too long attendance on them. I congratulate your having reprieved from destruc- tion, those valuable manuscripts you mention. What a loss to the learned it is, that in the last century there were no public-spirited persons like yourself, in clothing countries, to rescue all old parchment books from being pulled in pieces, and made use of • " At the age of 23." Ann. Ri-y. (17(iJ,) iv. 19G. t " Hy T. Bailey, D.D. 16.55. Reprinted 173»." t Beverly, in 1 l.5f>. Tbid. JEt.41.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 351 in hot-presses ; the paste-board now employed being since found out to supply the want of tlie other. The little monument at Brotherton is for my brother's eldest son, a youth of great hopes ; the in- scription such as I could make. I shall procure a copy of Lacies' pedigree by ray uncle, with what convenient speed I can. And now, Sir, I could wish that I had a prospect, or could fix a time for waiting on you, and viewing your museum : perhaps my brother and I may be so happy this next summer, but dare promise ourselves nothing. Age does now more than begin to lay its cold leaden hands on us both ; he is in his seven- tieth, and I follow, at no great distance, in my sixty- seventh year. My brother, some years ago, had quite lost his sight by cataracts, and has since been under another indisposition of a swimming and diz- ziness in liis head : the cataracts are happily cou di- ed, so that lie can see some little to read and write ; and though the other distemper be past, yet, since that, he has not thought it advisable to ride on horseback. We generally move togetlier ; and thus, Sir, you see how uncertain M'^e are of putting in ex- ecution any resolve we should make of seeing friends or stirring abroad : and this makes us hope that some lucky accident may draw you this way, and that then you would make use of this house for a place of some days' repose. Pray pardon this long scribble in, Sir, Your humlile servant to command, Charles Townley. 352 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1699. FROM CHARLES TOWNLEY, ESQ. SIR, Townley, Jan. 16, 1698-9. I RETURN with thanks, the little book and i)aper you were pleased to send me. I do not doubt but that the remarks on your coins are as curious as they themselves, but must own my knowledge in History so small, that on it I dare build nothing, so must learn from others the just value of things of that nature. There comes monthly, or every three montlis, out a History of the Works of the Learned : it is in French, and printed at Amsterdam ; it con- tains an abstract or epitome of such books as are publislied by the learned in most parts of Europe. I have seen a volume or two of these, and amongst them mention is made of several new tracts of medals and coins : if your curiosity prompt jou to know at least the titles of these, I shall endeavour to satisfy it. As to the paper of natural rarities, it at present only serves to nourish and ripen a desire which has already taken good root, of viewing your museum. I here also send you a transcript of the Lacies' pedigree, according to my uncle Christopher Town- ley's collections, and another of what I find in Sir Edward Sliireburn's ManU'iUH^ of Mr. Gascoigne : to tliis I liave added what he has of one Mr. Horrox and Mr. Crabtree ; they were his contempoiaries, and great astronomers,* and it is to the mutual cor- respondence of tin's triumvirate, that we owe the • Horrox died I Gil, ngcd jihrmt 2.5. Crabtree died 164i. Ann. Rpg. iv. 192—100. Sco " Oricntiii Hi'nJd," ii. i06. iEt. 41] RALPH THORESBY. 353 letters my brother Townley has of tlieir's, de re As- tronomica. They are many and intricate, and he thinks not to be made use of, without particular hints or instructions from himself. As your curi- osities draw us strongly towards Leeds, so he and I hope there may be something here that may beget in you some thoughts of seeing Townley ; and my brother will not only then impart what he knows, (and many particulars there are,) but likewise let you have copies of what may be judged fit for your collection. In the mean time, he begs that you would be pleased to accept of what I here write, as his answer to your letter ; and you may assure the curious, that he has, under Mr. Gascoigne's own hand, wherewith to entitle him to the invention of the micrometer before all other foreigners or Eng- lish : it was invented before 1641, for then he men- tioned it as in being. My brother has been told by my uncle, that Mr. Gascoigne, at his father's house when he was slain, had a whole barn full of machines or instruments ; it is not known what he intended them for, but perhaps, if some of them could be found, guesses might be made which way his endea- vours or further studies looked. My brotlier had never any correspondence by letter with Mr. Olden- burgh. There are two pretty large folios of my uncle's collections,* out of which materials for your * Manuscripts. R. T. — The collections here mentioned are tliose of Chi-istopher Townley, of which Dr. M'^hitaker had the use, wlien preparing his most exact, elaborate, and beautiful Ilistoiy of AFhalley. VOI,. I. 2 A 354 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1699. designs may be picked : these you may command, and shall be sent as you order, or sooner if a convenient opportunity offer itself I congratulate your retrieving those pieces of an- tiquity, of which you are pleased to give some ac- count in your letter. I have two trifles, I call them so, for I scarce believe they will deserve a place amongst your greater natural rarities. The one is a whitish, porous stone,* the product, I believe, of the sea ; water sinks through it : but what is pe- culiar, is the outside (and I think the inner parts are but stratums of the same) ; this resembles point- work, in which the ground or grosser threads wan- dering irregularly up and down, are tacked together, as it were, with curious fine needle-work. The other is the fragment of a stone found in a marl- pit ; it is of a darkish colour, and through it passes of the same grit, little round pillars, about the big- ness of one's finger, perfectly white. They are at your service, if what I here write represent them worth your having. But I trespass ; the only amends I can make, is to break off abruptly, with the assurance of my being, Sir, Your obliged humble servant, Charles Townley. I have not the honour to know or be known to the ingenious Mr. Thornton you mention. * The brain-stone. R. T. ^t. 41.] RALPH THORESIJY. 355 FROM REV. WILLIAM TONG. WORTHY SIR, Coventry, Jan. 18, 1C9S-9. I AM sensible I have transgressed the laws of that friendship you have been pleased to favour me with, through my long silence. I could say something to excuse it in part, which perhaps your candour will allow of, but wave all apologies, and promise amend- ment for the future, if the Lord will! I have, through my own forgetfulness, neglected many op- portunities of sending Erdeswick's Survey of Staf- fordshire, which has been ready above half a year, and is now with great and sincere respect consecra- ted to your museum, and craves your favourable ac- ceptance. We have a great precedent, you know, to teach us that in some cases a mite is to be allowed the honour to be pai't of the treasury. I am so unable at present to send you any news from the world of learning, that I am afraid you will ex- communicate me from the privileges of your corre- spondence. My friend Mr. Humphrey Wanley is very busy, and I fear almost fatigued with a work, which, when it has passed the pains and perils of its birth, is to bear the title De re Diplomatica, which I perceive by your last, you have had an account of. I am laying out for Dr. Guerdon's manuscripts of the Antiquities of Lancashire, and have ordered a considerable sum of money to be bid for them, but they must be contracted and corrected too before they be fit to be published ; and I know not yet 2 A 2 356 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. whether he will be prevailed with to part with them, though he be miserably poor : if I obtain them, I shall desire your advice and help in dressing them up. My worthy friend, Mr. Henry, of Chester, tells me he designs you a visit tiiis summer, and how happy should I think myself, could I come along with him, but the soUcitations of my friends has prevailed with me to teach academical learning to a few young men that were with Mr. Oldfield, and this, I fear, will detain me. Dear Sir, it would be very pleasing to me to have it under your own hand, that you are not utterly fallen out with me, but that amongst your many friends you allow some room for Your most affectionate and Most humble servant. W. TONG. My hearty service to good Dr. Manlove, and a thousand thanks for his serious savoury book. We say here, Mr. Baxter will never Jje quite dead while Dr. Manlove, who inherits so much his clear, weighty way of writing, lives. You will find many errata in the manuscripts. JEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 357 FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambetli, January 23, 1698-9. Dr. Hickes's Septentrional Grammars meet with more encouragement in these parts than one would expect should be shown to a work of that nature. I doubt not but, before the book is finished, the whole impression will be subscribed for, besides the very- honourable contiibutions of some gentlemen and scholars, to whom acknowledgments will be made by presents in the royal paper. The work will be as much a book of criticisms as grammar rules, and his dissertations will give us an insight into many customs, &c. about which we were wholly in the dark before. It is printed upon very excellent paper, and will stand him in a guinea per book, the prime costs. Mr. Kennet goes on vigorously with his Fasti Ecclesise Anglicanae, which will, indeed, be a most noble work when finished ; and our friend Mr. Tanner, is no less diligent about his History of the English Writers. Mr, Nicolson's third part of the English Library is just now come to my hands, and will be immediately put to the press. I heartily wish you health, and all other conveniences for the prosecuting your beloved studies, the fruits whereof we shall hope for in convenient time. I am, Sir, Your ever affectionate servant, E. Gibson. 358 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1699- FROM JOHN EVELYN, ESQ. SIR, Berkeley Street, Feb. 9, 1698-9. Mv utter disability to pleasure you with original letters of any value, I am glad is likely to be sup- plied by others' store. What I can find, so soon as I have any tolerable leisure, I shall add, being at present in no small perplexity about an affair which greatly concerns me, and comes very unexpected. In the mean while, what you mention of my Lord Archbishoj/s critical observations, with the Arch- deacon's chapter on the English coins and money, must be highly acceptable to the curious ; and I am not a little pleased at the expectation of the History of Leeds, which all, who know your ability and industry, cannot but be impatient for. My poor book is not of that importance as to be worth its carriage : it lies therefore to be delivered to any friend of your's, or other direction. The medal of General Monk, (as well as of others,) is indeed wanting, not through my neglect, but that after much diligent inquiry I could not procure them in any time, and when I needed them. My own effigies, by Nanteuil, I cannot as yet come at, till I go into the country, where both the plate, and, I hope, some of the stamps, may remain ; but so soon as I have the first opportunity, I shall not fail of sending you that trifle, with whatever else lies in the ])ower of. Sir, Your most humble and faithful servant, J. Evelyn. ^t. 41.] RALPH TIIORESiJV. 359 FROM RE\ . RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, February 18, 1699. I RECEIVED your's last night, and wonder they did not give Mr. Powel advice (as they promised me to do that post) ; I presume he will have it by this. I received your former letter, and sent the enclosed safe to Dr. Sampson, though I have not seen him since. I am glad to hear Mr. Baxter is come to Leeds, and in so fair a way to be chosen there. I am altogether a stranger to his person, but not to his character ; and by all the accounts I have had of him, he may do very well there. Dr. Worth is nearer forty than thirty, and I do not think he fell any thing short of Dr. Manlove, (in his many very commendable excellencies,) but only in his ill- nature and covetous humour, which he is as free from both as any man I know. But that is at an end, and I hope Mr. Baxter will iwove a blessing to them : my prayers shall not be wanting that he may be so. I bless God we are now all very well, but it hath pleased God to take away our youngest child, that was as pleasant, good-natured, desirable a child, of three quarters old, as ever I saw, but my son hath two lovely children left. I should have sent the proposals of printing a fifth volume of Dr. Man- ton's Sermons, at twenty-five shillings in quires, and Dr. Bates his \Vorks, collected all into one foho, at the same price ; but because persons grow tired out Avith subscriptions, I forbear ; though, considering it 3()0 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. would be some advantage to both their widows, (that need it,) I have done my utmost in other places. If any should be inclined to encourage the one or the other, 1 >\ ould take care of it. Our House of Commons had a hot day of it last Wednesday, and it lasted the length of a summer*s day with them ; but King William's friends carried it by above fifty votes against the Jacobites and Commonwealth's men, which the other were con- fident of, before their strength was tried ; and had they carried that, nothing had stood before them ; but the tide is turned since. My hearty love and service to you and to all friends, and believe, I am, entirely Your's, rv. S. FROM MR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEAR SIR, February 25, 1698-9. I HAVE both your letters (of January 11 and February 18) now before me. I have been indeed a little slack in my correspondences of late ; and that upon an extraordinary occasion, wherewith it is not worth the while to trouble my friends. I assure you I thought I had written to you since the coming in of the new year (at least I dreamed it) and ac- quainted you that I had sent up my third part to Mr. Gibson, who, I presume, has committed it to the iEt. 41] RALPH THORESBY. 361 press. Your account of Edward the Fourth's corns, &c. came a little too late to be i)laced, by me, in their proper places ; but yet, I hope, you will find them accounted for when the book comes to your hand. Your collection is certainly the most complete of any in our English coins, and we are extremely indebted to you for the additions you have made to my Lord Archl)ishop's incomparable notes on that subject. His Grace's authority prevailed on me to omit some pieces, whereof Mr. Tanner had given me notice, coined by Archbishop Lee and Bishop Tonstall, telling me that he neither had any such himself, nor had seen them elsewhere. This I took for a certain sign that my friend Tanner was mistaken ; and yet I now begin to think that he was not, having one in my own custody, which I take to belong to the former. Have you none of these ? Your friend's account of the symbolical characters about his giant at Risingham puts me upon a long- ing desire to take the same ramble ; and 1 believe I shall do it as soon as the weather will admit of a man's travelling in so boggy a country. I have a strong fancy that these same symbols will prove Runic ; and that, in truth, we have a much better stock of those monuments in this island than we imagined. The first story which was told me of the pillar in Revel Church, was just like this of your late traveller in Northumberland ; and as that gave me one of the most delightful entertainments I ever had in my whole life, so I hope will this. In the 3G2 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. 1). 1699. notes on Scotland, in the late edition of Camden, there are several pieces of antiquity reckoned up, which I believe will belong likewise to the Danes. At St. Kuths Church, in Wachopdale, p. 910 ; at Doetan, near St. Andrew's, p. 951 ; near Brechin, in Angus, p. 9o3 ; in Aberdeenshire, p. 955 ; near Kilross, in Murray, ibid. ; Earl's Cross and King's Cross, in Sutherland, p. 956. All these notes, as I guess, came from Sir Robert Sibbald, who (though a person that has merited much from his native coun- try) does not seem to have been well versed either in the characters or history of the ancient Danes. I like your derivation of the name of Rochester much better than that of the nameless antiquary, both be- cause it agrees with Camden's conjecture, and because I find it Radcaster in old writings. If the smoke, as the gentleman guesses, has proceeded from sacrifices, it miglitily supports the story of Magon. But, till I am farther convinced of that, I must desire leave to think that he sets too high a value on the sootiness of an old rock, ut fumos vemlat. IVIr. Lhwyd's Lithophylacium (or Synopsis of Formed stones) is lately published, but I have not yet seen it. He will certainly tribe those rarities in the best method that we have hitherto had them. His book, I am told, is wi'itten by way of letters, as Dr. Conner's History of Poland, to several friends ; and that he has done me the favour to make me one of them, and my nephew Archer another. They tell me also, tliat he is sometimes a little brisk upon my iEt.41.] RALPH THOKESBY. 3G3 friend Dr. Woodward. I hope it will provoke the Doctor to let us have his reply to this and Dr. Ar- buthnot together ; and then these disputes will have a happy conclusion, if they bring us to the bottom of the controversy. I am not altogether pleased with the story that Dr. Lister tells us of the violent emu- lations betwixt Monsieur Merrie and M. Verney ; but I like the Doctor's own concluding hopes, that, good may come of such quarrels. It is a little too hard in a pair of topping philosophers to expect that when they fall out, the whole creation must imme- diately go together by the ears, and every individual of mankind side with one or the other. It were more generous to try the cause in single combat, without bringing us gentle spectators within the lists, or requiring us to give our verdict before we have heard out the evidence. Dr. Burnet, the Theorist, has also made a late reply to Mr. Kiel ; and Dr. Bentley's answer to Mr. Boyle is coming abroad. These skirmishes are much more diverting (to me) than the late broils in Flanders ; but we have now so many of them that this war is come to be almost as expensive as the other. My Lord Archbishop was pleased to communicate half a sheet of notes upon our golden coins (in his own handwriting) to me, when he returned my own papers, and kindly gave me the perusal of those he afterwards sent you about the silver ones ; but I never saw so large observations on them as you mention. Perhaps I had hit upon all but what that 3G4 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. paper biought ; and so his Grace might not think it proper to send me the rest. I would gladly flatter myself with the hopes of that being my case, though at the same time I cannot but, on this information, suspect that my account will fall much short of what it might have been. I have taken the confidence to request his giving me a transcript of those on the Scotch coins ; and to let his Grace know that it is my opinion that one of those which (in his notes on the English) is ascribed to William the Conqueror, does indeed belong to William, King of Scots : so the half face and erected sceptre, directly l)efore the King's nose, persuade me to believe. I have a few of the coins of that kingdom, but none older than David the First. I am sure they had money much older than that reign ; but yet I do not altogether believe (what I have read in some of their best his- torians) that King Donald the First coined money in the latter end of the second century, whereon a cross was impressed, to notify his conversion to the Chris- tian faith. A list of such coins as you have, which you take to belong to the ancient kingdom, wdll oblige, Sir, Your's very heartily, W. NiCOLSON. I have six original letters for you. They are from Dr. H., Dr. Woodward, Mr. Lhwyd, Mr. Wot- ton, Mr. Tanner, and Mr. Thwaites. These are the chief of such of my correspondents, with whom (as iEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 365 a I take it) you have no epistolary commerce of your own. I could send you others from several other learned persons (particularly my worthy friend of Leeds) which I think as valuable as any of these ; but your own correspondence saves me the labour. You shall have them by the first opportunity. In the mean time, let this be reckoned a fair acknow- ledgment of your last two letters. FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, February 27, 1699. I HAVE taken some pains (more pleasure) in tran- scribing the rest of the Lives of these worthy men . I know I am defective in giving a full account of them, but hope these short hints will perpetuate their memory : you may please to add what you think fit, and transmit them to Dr. Sampson, who I hope will make haste to print his history. Some draughts of Mr. Frankland's life are designed to be printed with his funeral sermon, preached by Mr. Chorlton. I have helepd what I can, yet doubt nothing worthy of him, he having left us no memoirs under his hand. You know Mr. Sharp better than I ; may add — I sent his treatise long since to his brother to transcribe, but I perceive he makes no haste. I have enquired of the leaf in Dr. Sampson's book, but can hear nothing of it. I am for sending two 3GC CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. young men to Mr. Manlove next week ; one is a young nephew of mine, very hopeful : must follow them A\ith my prayers. AVhen you write to the Doctor, give my service to him ; mine and my wife's to you, your's, from Your willing servant, Oliver Heywood. FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. GOOD SIR, Bishopthorpe, April 26, 1699. I THANK you heartily for the piece you sent me, and for the account you have given me in your letter of the Irish coinage of King James. I cannot but say, I am very glad you have taken the matter you mention in your letter into your seri- ous consideration : I have often wished you would. I know it is hard to overcome the prejudices of edu- cation, and especially when they have been confirm- ed by long custom of thinking on one side, and a practice suitable thereto ; but I think a mind so sin- cerely honest as I have always taken your's to be, will easily surmount them, if you can give yourself the i)ains of an impartial enquiry into the matters. I heartily pray God to assist and direct you in your endeavours to find out truth, on which side soever it lies. And if you think that I am capable of contri- buting any thing to the satisfaction of any doubts or scruj)]es that you linve, I do assure you I shall be as iEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 367 ready to serve you, as any friend you have in the world. But I am of the mind (which you intimate in your letter you are of) that matters of this nature are fitter for a conversation than a short letter. I send you here a transcript of the authors of those tracts you speak of, as I find them printed in my edition of that collection. With hearty wishes of all good to you, I rest, Sir, Your obliged affectionate friend and servant, Jo. Ebor. FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth, May 9, 1699. Above half of Mr. Nicolson's third part is now finislied ; and when the book is ready for publica- tion, I doubt not but, among his other presents, one will be ordered for Leeds. But if I might article with you in his name, you should be debarred the satisfaction of reading it, till you will make a solemn promise, that your collections about Leeds and the neighbourhood shall be methodised and fitted for the press with all convenient speed. Your observations must be large already ; and, therefore, pray remem- ber the general fate of collectors,' whose misfortune it has been, never to consider either the uncertainty of human life, or the uselessness of their own materials unless put togethei' l)y the same hands that gathered them. 308 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1699. The impost upon paper is now taken away ; and so the booksellers will be more forward to undertake than they have been of late years. Mr. Tanner be- gins to wind up his matters, and will be in the press sometime the next winter : he is a good pattern, and in this particular I hope you will think him so ; not being so partial to your own county as to reject him ; and follow the steps of your countrymen, Mr. Dods- worth and Dr. Johnston. T have heard that Dr. Cuerden's collections are immoderately large ; let these take their chance, and not divert you from the work at home, about which you may employ your time with more honour and satisfaction to yourself, as well as greater benefit and advantage to the world, jThe catalogue of manuscripts has been puljlished some time ; and I wonder that neither the book nor the news of it, should have reached Leeds before now. We had designed to print the cata- logue of our manuscripts here, with Bonnet College in Cambridge ; but suspend it a little, in expectation of tliat University's sending al)road, in one volume, an entire list of their manuscripts, both in the public and private Hbraries. This they have directly pro- mised to my Lord Archbishop, who defers the publi- cation of his own upon no other account. lam, dear Sir, Your most humble and affectionate servant, Edmund Girson. ;F.t.41.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 3(39 FROM (BURNET) THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY. MOST HONOURED SIR, Salisbury, 6th June, 1699. I AM much beholding to my Lord Archbishop of York his Grace, for procuring me the acquaintance of so worthy and so ingenious person as you are, and I wish I may have opportunities given me to express the value I have for you, and my readiness to serve you. I thank you for the advertisement that you are pleased to give me concerning those Latin Bibles that you have consulted. That in octavo cannot be ancient, for it is not much above three hundred years since there were any Bibles written in that form. There are several ways of judging of the copies ; by the vellum, the ink, the abbreviations, the way of pointing, the capital characters, and the point over the i, at first only a dash. So, unless the an- tiquity of your copies can be well fixed, no sure ar- gument can be drawn from them. Howsoever, I thank you for your diligence and zeal. I wish I coiUd at present gratify your desire about the writ- ing of the blind woman ;* but as yet I cannot, for I am rebuilding that part where my closet was, and by this means all my papers are now lying in much confusion. I have been seeing for it, but must let it alone at this time. Next time I come into the * " Mrs. "Walkier of Geneva," who " lost her sight when but a year old." See Burnet to R. Boyle, Let- ii. P. S. Traveh; (1737) p. 95. VOL. I. 2 B 370 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1699. country, I will be more in order ; and I hope I shall be able to gratify you in that small matter, but shall look for greater occasions to let you see how much I am, most honoured Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant, G. Sarum. FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. GOOD MR. THORESBY, Bishopsthorp, June 6, 1699. I TOOK care not only to send your letter to the Bishop of Sarum, but also to introduce and recom- mend you to him by a letter of mine. Having this conveniency, I gladly embrace it for the sending to you a Common Prayer-Book, accord- ing to your desire. And if it will recommend it to you, that it is one that I am wont to make use of, you may take my word that it is the book I bought when I first came down from London hither, to be used by me daily in my chapel : and accordingly a great while it lay in my seat there, till afterwards I removed it to the communion-table ; from whence I have now taken it, and where I usually once a month officiate, in celebrating the communion with my family. I do not know any reason in the world why any body should suggest to you that the use of the Com- mon Prayer is dangerous to the life and spirit of de- votion, and that joining in our worship is the ready iEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 371 way to make the fervour of our minds towards God to degenerate into dull formality. I profess to you, as to my own experience, I could never find any ten- dency of it towards these effects. I can truly say, (and I hope upon this occasion it will be no vanity in me to say it,) that I look upon my daily joining in the public service, and in the comnumion, when- ever I have opportunity, (which here in the country is every Lord's Day,) to be the great means, with the Divine grace, that preserves a sense of God and goodness in my heart ; and I would not, for the world, be deprived of this blessing. And I never found in my life, but that if I was in a fit frame and disposition of mind for holy exercises, I could be as devout, and pour out my soul to God as affection- ately and fervently in the public prayers, as ever I was capable of doing in private ; but a great deal more than in the public conceived prayers of others : so much virtue is there in knowing beforehand what we are to join in and say Amen to. And truly, I have found more comfort and satisfaction (I thank God for it) to my own mind, and I hope likewise more of God's blessing, from joining as well as I can in this dull way of devotion, as your people are apt to call it, than in any other religious exercise what- soever. What I now tell you of my own experi- ence, (and I beg your pardon for it, though, indeed, I would not have said tliis to any one but you, nor to you but on the present occasion,) will, I dare say, be confirmed to you by the experience of as many 2 B 2 372 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. of our communion as you shall enquire of, that are serious and devout Christians. So that, as the writer of Dr. Hammond's Life observes truly, " It is the coldness of the votary, and not the prayer that is in fiiult, whenever fervour is deficient at the pub- lic office of the Church." He makes this reflection u]H)n occasion of Dr. Hammond's fervoiu* in his de- votions even in the common service of the Church, which he there gives an account of, and which, he says, was so transporting, that tears would some- times interrupt the Doctor's words in repeating the Confession, though he did what he could to hin- der it. But still you are in fear of declension, being fre- quently attacked with the penitent confessions said to be made by such as have sadly experienced a decay of the life and power of religion, upon their de- serting the purer institutions, &c. It is a sign they want arguments, when, instead of reasoning, they ap- ply to your fears. ^V^hen they have nothing to offer that can convince your judgment, they would fright you with stories, as we do children with Raw-head and Bloody-bones. Forgive the expression ; though, in truth, I think there is as much ground for the one as the other. Are not these the very artifices that Ijoth Papists and Quakers make use of for the keep- ing timorous people in their communion? If the stories they tell you be true, you can form no argument from them, but only that some peo})le have come from their communion to ours, that liave 2)roved formalists Mt.4l.] RALPH THORESBY. 373 and liypocrites. But what is this to the merits of the cause ? unless it can be shown that this decay of the life and power of religion was a necessary effect of their deserting that party, and coming over to the Established Church, which I am certain will never be. I pray, when they talk to you upon this head, desire tliem to tell you what is wanting in our church that is necessary by Christ's institution, for the making any one smcerely pious, that may be had in their's. Is not the doctrine of Christ as purely taught among us as among them? Have they any arguments, or motives, or encouragements for the helping on people in the way of godliness, that we have not? And why may not we then, in our way, as much expect the blessing of God and the assistance of the Holy Spirit in our endeavours against sin, and after holiness, as they can in their way ? Nay, I sliould think a great deal more : since we keep the unity of the church according to Christ's commandment, and they, as we believe, do causelessly break it. But, after all, I give no more credit to these stories than I do to those I meet with in the popish books of the same nature. Sir, give me leave to speak my mind freely to you. I have always thought you a man of sense, as well as a sincerely good man, and I could never be without hopes that you would overcome all the prejudices of your education in this business of conformity, if you once took the matter into your serious and impartial consideration. And I am now extremely glad to find 374 COKRESPOXDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. that you liave so far considered these matters, and received so much satisfaction as to the points in dif- ference upon that consideration, as that your reason is in a good measure satisfied, though you cannot conquer your fears. Why now. Sir, if this be all the bar that hinders your thorough embracing our com- munion ; if you would taive my advice, you should either cut this bar asunder or leap over it : my mean- ing is, you should follow your reason, and despise or break through your fears. It cannot be imagined but one that has been educated in your way, and whose notions and principles have been so long moulded towards that way, must needs find a great many scruples and fears in himself to engage in ano- ther way, though he is convinced in his judgment that all things considered, it is a better way. But, trust me, upon such a man's trial of that better way, he will in a little time find all his fears and scruples to vanish, and be satisfied that they were but merely panic terrors. As for your worldly concernments, which you may fancy may suffer by this change of your's, I think as you do, that is not a point that ought to bear any weight with a conscientious man. But give me leave to say, I hope that is a panic terror also. God will not have the less, but the more care over you, for doing your duty ; and I doubt not but you will meet with as many sincere friends to you and your's in the communion that you choose, as you lose in that wliich you leave. I have now, though \\ ith great haste, filled my /Et. 41.] RALPH THORESB.Y. 375 slieet : I beg of you to pardon the defects and uncoi- I'ectness of what yon here read. I do most heartily pray God to bless and guide you, and am sincerely Your affectionate friend, Jo. Ebor. FROM REV. MATTHEW HENRY. DEAR AND HONOURED SIR, Chester, June 22, 1699. The disappointment of my journey to Leeds, which I promised myself a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction in, added to those many instances by which I am brouglit not to boast of to-morrow. You cannot imagine w hat an unspeakable loss I had of Dr. Tylston, who was buried that very day that Mr. Boyse was married — so great a scholar, so good a man, so profitable a companion, and so true a friend, as I despair to meet with again in this world. He had just completed the thirty -fifth year of his age when his sun went down at noon. He was in this very exemplary, that though he was a man of very large and catholic princi[)les, and had nothing in him that was narrow, and was not dissatisfied in the lawfulness of the terms of lay conformity ; yet having joined himself in communion m ith us, he constantly adhered to us, because he thought himself obliged to attend that which he found most for his edification, and to encourage that which he thought most pure; and he would not be looked upon as unstable and 376 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1699. fickle ; when pressed w itli tlie lawfulness of conform- ing, he would answer, all things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things edify not. This steadiness was much his satisfaction ; as it was also his reputation. He thought it the best proof of his catholic charity to cleave to those with whom he foimd most of it ; and not, of choice, when other was to be iiad, to those whose declared principles unmi- nister all that are presbyterially ordained, &c. You will excuse me that I write so much of one that was a perfect stranger to you ; but he was one I had so just and so great a value for, that I must take all occasions to mention him ; for his memory is pre- cious with me, as it will be with many. Our worthy friend, Mr. Boyse, after he had waited for the carrier that should have brought his goods, but came not of a week after he undertook to be here, went down last Saturday to the water-side with his good wife, (in whom I believe he is very happy ;) but there he has been wind-bound ever since: I went down thither last night to see him, and left him there very well, a patient expectant. I am surprised at a hint in your last, of the dis- like of the alterations in the second edition of my father's Life, and should be very glad to know parti- cularly what they are : many, I am sure, they cannot be ; for I do not remember above four or five in all, besides the correcting the errors of the press. I have not now ready any letters or other things to com- municate to you ; but if you could any time take JE.t.4\.] RALPH THORESBY. 377 Chester in your way, you should see what I have that is rare, and I sliould be very well pleased to contribute to your collections. The bearer hereof presseth earnestly to have Mr. James Owen at Leeds, in the room of Dr. Manlove. I believe it will be hardly obtained, but if it could, you would find him a person of very great merit upon all accounts, and with very great ability for usefulness. God direct us all into the ways of peace and truth, and quicken us in them, and give us grace to persevere. I desire to be remembered in your prayers, and rest. Dear Sir, your much obliged humble servant. Matt. Henry. FROM REV. IVIATTIIEW HENRY. DEAR SIR, Chester, July 3, 1699. I AM sorry your friends return with no better an account of their embassy. That I did not oppose the mention Mr. Coppendale made of inviting Mr. Owen was, because I knew not but he might be in some prospect of leaving Oswestry, where I am sen- sible he has laboured under discouragement; but I find he is fully resolved not to leave them, and there- fore to give you a visit may do more hurt than good. I heartily wish it were in my power to serve you ; but your own county is wide, and certainly cannot fail to furnish so inviting a place with an agreeable supply ; and tlie Lord direct and prosper the affair ! 378 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1699. I heartily tliank you for the enclosed you sent me, wliicli I have here returned, and am very sorry that you had such provocation given you ; but I hope you will not fail, however, to give all the encouragement and assistance you can to your neighbours in the choice of another minister, with whom I hope you may sit down as much to your satisfaction as ever. As to the alteration made in my father's Life, re- lating to the King's death, it was but the restoring of what was, by I know not what hand, altered in the copy I sent up, without my privity. 1 ought to give a just representation of my father's sentiments, A\ hich the word abhorrence did, but the word dislike came short of doing, as I could easily prove under his own hand ; and there was nothing further in- cumbent upon me but giving an epithet of the action, and I think unparalleled a fitter word than rash, and less obnoxious to exception on any side. There is another alteration as to the constancy of all the parts of his family worship, no one of which (read- ing, singing, praying,) I had said was ever omitted morning or evening : this they altered to rarely and seldom, witliout acquainting me. Now, I have all the assurance that can be, that of all the time he was master of a family, he never once omitted any one part of his stated worship; for it was not long before he died he said to me he never had, and we that knew him knew it to be his principle that he never would. I did not except sickness and absence, partly because they except themselves, and partly because iEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 379 in those cases the same things were done (except ex- pounding) by wife, child, or servant, and I beheve never omitted. You cannot imagine what a trouble that slur upon my father was to me in the first im- pression. Some other blunders of those who under- took to correct my copy are altered in this impres- sion. I have sent you one of my father's pictures herewith : I thought it had not been wanting in any of this second impression. Mr. Owen joins with me in hearty respects. I long to see your library, and yourself, the living library, much more. Let us meet daily at the Throne of Grace, waiting to meet at the Throne of Glory. I rest in haste. Your affectionate friend and servant, Matthew Henry. I hear of Mr. Boyse's safe arrival at Dublin. FROM REV. IVIATTHEW HENRY. DEAR SIR, Chester, July 8, 1699. When your friends that came hither in pursuit of the proposal made for bringing Mr. Owen over to you, were with me on Monday, and found themselves disappointed (in the trouble for which I heartily sympathized with the good men), among other things they complained of, one was, that, while they were making further inquiries and trials, they were at a loss for a supply in the present distress. I mentioned to them Mr. Leech, a neighbour of mine, a young man of great modesty and approved inte- 380 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. grity, who was for some time assistant to Mr. Owen at Wrexham, and hath since been at London, and is not engaged at present to any place. Mr. Owen joined with me in recommending him to them for their present assistance, and as a candidate for a set- tlement with them, if upon trial you find him par iiegotio. I was not tlien certain where he was, nor \\ hether disengaged ; but since finding him not other- wise engaged, and willing to undertake the journey, I thought it not amiss to send him to you for the purposes before-mentioned ; and I hope the great Lord of tlie vineyard will appoint you such a labourer as you may entirely acquiesce in, and that the hands of that congregation will be strengthened by your constant adherence to them. If I were not engaged in constant work here, I would come and see you ; and is there nothing in or about this city, this ancient city, worthy to be visited by a friend to antiquity ? You should be heartily welcome to such accommo- dations as I have ; only let me receive a line or two from you before, lest I should hap{)en to be abroad, for tliough I seldom go far from home, yet I go often from home. I pray, think of making a visit hither, if it be possible. I commit you to the gracious protec- tion of the Father of Spirits, and rest Your assured, affectionate fiiend, M. Henry. I write to you by Mr. Leech, Ijccause I know not whom else to direct to ; but you will please to billet him as you see cause. TEt. 41.] RALPH THORESBY. 381 FROM JOHN EVELYN, ESQ. SIR, Dover-street, near Piccadilly, July 19, 1699. When I consider into what a vast arrear I am fallen, since yours of February last, I am, like in- solvent debtors, in despair almost of ever extricating myself; nor know I what to say in extenuation of my faults, if the many unhappy circumstances at once environing me, and which till of late have (I thank God) been more favourable to me, plead not my excuse, and in some measure obtain your indul- gence : for, besides a controversy to be decided by an appeal to both Houses of Parliament (and which concerned an estate of near 2000/. a year,) it pleased God to take from me my only son, labouring under an mdisposition contracted in Ireland, where he was one of the Commissioners of his Majesty's Revenue, and one whose parts and quahfications render my great loss more insupportable. I have (I thank God) after great charge and trouble, surmounted the first ; but this last has left its impression so deep in me, that as I was hardly able to bear up the pressure of it, so have I been ever since extremely unfit to enter- tain my friends with those returns of respect which are due to them, and especially to yourself, from whom I have received so many marks of esteem and repeated favours. I was thinking now of returning into the country for altogether ; but upon other con- siderations suspend that resolution as yet, and am now removing my family to a more convenient house 382 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. hei'e in Dover-street, where I have the remainder of a lease, and may hope for some better repose and accommodation, and to converse witli my friends again. I did not in the mean time forget the obhga- tion I have for your generous correspondence, and the letter you sent me with an account of my Lord Archbishop of York's observations on the Scotch money, and other curious matters and antiquities, which you give me hopes we may see published. The manuscripts you likewise mention must needs be highly valuable, and glad I am they are fallen into your hands, and preserved from ruin. The transcript of the old English Credo, &c. as it shows how our language and orthography is altered, so does it no less your excellent talent in so accurately following the character, with your other learned con- jectures. The narrative of the wonderful cures done by the famous Stroker* is very particular, and worth re- cording for the strange operation and power of the animal spirits, so vigorous in his constitution, as by a certain sanative virtue to be able to vanquish and put to flight such troublesome distempers ; espe- cially where the imagination entertains a confidence in the agent applying and pursuing the affected part with his warm and balsamic touch. But concerning the extraordinary effects of such mas- • Thoresby communicated to the Royal Society, " An Account of the Cures done by Mr. (iretorex the Stroker,;" ]iul>lis,lit'd in the Transactions, No. 256, vol. xxi. p. 332. /i;t. 41.] RALPH Til ORES BY. 383 terly aporlia?a, I have given some instances in my Discourse of Physiognomy ; and by a print which I somewhere have of Mr. Gretorex, he seemed to have a very remarkable countenance, which denoted some [thing] extraordinary. But to my observa- tion, the cures he commonly pretended to were most effectually on tumours, aches, rheumatisms, and other wandering distempers ; but did not extend to fevers, agues, pleurisies, &c. where the habit is vitiated. However, I say, the history is by no means to be slighted. He was some time with Mr. Digby, (son to the late famous Sir Kenelm,) in Rutlandshire, where he was much followed ; but what you report of his doing cures by laying his glove on, and using spittle to the ears of the deaf, looks towards miracle, — tlie handkerchiefs and aprons brought from St. Paul, and our blessed Saviour's cure, Mark vii., on the deaf man ; to which I can say nothing, only that the Saludadores in Spain are reported to do the like stupendous cures by their breath alone. But these particulars belong to further inquiry. Worthy Sir, I remain your very humble and obliged servant, J. Evelyn. I have one of Nanteuil's prints, (but none here of the larger paper,) which I would send you, if I knew how it might come to you without crumpling. 384 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. FROM I\IR. ARCHDEACON NICOLSON. DEiVR SIR, Aug. 21, 1699. I HAVE had many a welcome letter from you ; but none of them was ever so acceptable as the last. I know nothing on earth so valuable as a friend ; and an account of his happiness is the best and most pleasing news I ever meet with. The service my Lord Archbishop has done the church, in fixing you in her communion, is becoming himself: and I do not doubt but your example will have a happy in- fluence upon many more persons of sense and worth, whose education may have prejudiced them against our Liturgy. The late change of ecclesiastical dis- cipline in Scotland has brought our Common-prayer Book into greater request in that kingdom than, in all probability, we should ever have seen it without such a revolution, insomuch that it is now the gene- ral o})inion of the suffering party there that the English Service Book will l)e established at the next return of episcopacy, which few of them despair of seeing. I have had a second journey to Edinburgh; where I had an opportunity of joining in prayer, and hearing a good sermon, at one of their licensed meetings. I know not that ever I saw the English Common-prayer read with greater exactness in any of our cathedrals. Both minister and people ]jore their parts with the strictest gravity and devotion imaginable ; and every man in the congregation seemed zealously and heartily to attend what he IPX. 42.'] RALPH THORESBY. 385 was about. The meanest servant had his book in his hand, and his responsals as ready as those of tlie best fashion and education. Tlie clergy (as likewise the widows and children of several that are deceased, since the persecution fell upon thern) are in great straits : but their courage and resignation appear to be equal to their sufferings, and they are far from desponding under their burdens. By a mistake betwixt Mr. Gibson and my sta- tioner at London, you hitherto want a copy of ray Third Part. It is the case of most of my friends on this side Trent ; and shall be rectified as soon as it is in my power to do it. I shall heartily pray for the health of your family, being, Sir, Your truly affectionate servant, William Nicolson. FROM THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY. MOST HON. SIR, Windsor Castle, Aug. 29,1699. I AIM very glad that you accept of my poor endeavours to serve you. If I were in Scotland, I could easily procure you some of Dr. Hamilton's papers ; but I brought none of them with me into England. As to manuscripts, P. Mabillon dc re Diplomatica gave me all the instructions that I began with. Use and observation may carry a man farther, but it is scarcely possible to give more in the way of ride than P. Mabillon has done. In the VOL. I. 2 c 38G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. Cottoiiian Library tliere is more than in all England besides to entertain the curiosity of a critic in these matters. But the small beginnings I once had in these things are almost worn out for want of use. If any good occasion brings you up to London, I shall be glad of the honour of talking more fully of these matters with you, and of being able to express to you with how much esteem and respect I am, Most honoured Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant, G. Sarum. FROM REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, Oct. 2, 1699. I RECEIVED your's, and thank you for your kind invitation, but I am almost superannuated for far journeys — most of my work lies in my study, pul- pit, or about home. I am concerned much for a fit man for Mill-hill, and hope you put to your helping hand, and hope your heart is there, though your bodily presence be not always with them. I cannot forget you, for your dear father's sake, and your own, to whom I am so much indebted and endeared. Be sure you keep close to God in secret, wherein much of the life of religion consists. I have this day made myself busy in transcribing these two lives : short memoirs are most proper, else I could have enlarged. Pray, when you write to Dr. Samp- ^-t. 42.] RALPH TIIOIIESBY. 337 son, give my service to him ; tell liim I doubt his book will not antedate his death, except he make haste. I long, long for it. I am hastened: — my dear love, with my wife's to you, your's. Your assured friend, Oliver Heywood. FROM REV. JAMES OWEN. SIR, Oswestry, Nov. 7, 1699. I THOUGHT my last to you was so full and ex- press, that the good people of Leeds would have acquiesced in so positive a determination, which was but a repetition of what I had dehvered by word of mouth. I much rejoice to find you so heartily con- cerned for them. I am persuaded they cannot re- cover their pristine glory, without your return to your former station among them, whereby you will be able to influence both minister and people, for their common benefit. Dr. Bates's people gave me an earnest invitation to Hackney, which I should not have declined, had I been satisfied to leave this country. I am here near the AVelsh country, and do, every Lord's-day, preach in that language. Besides, I have lately taken in some young men for tutorage, whom I cannot leave under my present desolate circumstances ; they have lost much time last summer by tedious indisposition, and necessary absence from them, for my health's sake. This is 2 c 2 388 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1699. one principal reason why I could not visit them at Hackney. Be pleased to give my last resolution to your society, which is, that I cannot answer their desires, for the reasons mentioned. I am much oljliged to you and them for your kind invitation. Your's to Mr. Jo. ()w. I have carefully sent to him. I\Iay the Great Shepherd of the flock provide a man after his own heart to go in and out before them. I am, Sir, Your humble servant, James Owen. FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, December 11, 16.99. I HAD inteUigence that, after the all-wise God had thought fit to lay his afflicting hand upon yourself and second self, and had graciously removed it from you, it yet pleased the Lord to renew his witnesses against you, and laid his afflicting hand upon your children, and, as I was informed, plucked two out of your bosom. I was much troubled at the tidings, having felt the experiment of rending sucli members from my own body. I hope God supports you and your dear companion ; yet that must not be all, but a sanctified use of this hand of God is also neces- sary, which consists in, 1. Reflecting on what we have done amiss, or been short in our duty to God and men : 2. Importunately begging a pardon, sealed 7Et.42.] RALPH THORESBY. 389 « to our consciences in the blood of Christ : 3. Re- newing our covenant of better obedience, and more close walking with God, in Christian exercises, and in communion of saints : and 4. An heart more mor- tified to things below, elevation of our spirits to divine objects, preparedness for death and eternity. Dear Sir, I think I did send you the short me- moirs of Mr. Hawden's life : if you have any thing considerable from Dr. Sampson on Mr. Stretton, pray communicate it, as I shall freely do to you, what is worth my writing, or worthy your reading. I wish I were in a capacity to visit Leeds, but I am superseded from travelling, being exceeding short- winded, that I have much ado to go up stairs : being superannuated, I must confine myself to my study, pulpit, till laid in the dust, and, longing for celestial views, having had my glut of days, travels, difficul- ties in this lower world, I desire your prayers for me and mine : my dear love to you, your's. Your cordial friend and servant, Oliver Heywood. FROM CILA.RLES TOWNLEY, ES(). SIR, Townley, Jan. 8, 1C99-1700. This is but a late return for the favour of your last, bearing date October 29- I scruple to trouble you when I have nothing to offer, that can have the confidence to divert and call you from your better 390 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1700. studies ; and that is my present case ; — all I can say is, that the new year authorizes the custom of wish- ing a hajipy one to friends, and this I do to you, with a long series of many more. Methought, when I read your's, I was spirited into some country, I know not where, where women endure the throes of bringing fortli, and men lie-in, and are comforted and regaled for them. Mine was the great loss and misfortune in not seeing you and your curious mu- seum, when at Leeds, and you are pleased to grieve and fret for this my disappointment. ^Vell ! I am not yet so old, but I may live to retrieve that great loss. I am glad to hear your river project succeeds so well, and am told that boats of considerable bur- den (thirty tons) have come up to your very town. Dr. Charles Leigh, who practises physic at Man- chester, has dispersed proposals for the printing a Natural History of Lancashire, Cheshire, and the Peak in Derbyshire : many already have subscribed. The Doctor has already published something of Spas, and of his own faculty, physic, which, to men knowing in things of that nature, cannot but give credit to this future work. The proposals may be had at most stationers, particularly at Mi\ Bentley's, in Halifax. My brother Town ley gives you his service, and would be glad your occasions would bring you tliis way, which I am confident could not but produce a commerce above what can be pre- tended to, by the letters of, Sir, Your obliged humble servant, Chakles Townley. iEt. 42.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 391 My brother is in no Imste for his manuscripts : he is well pleased that they are serviceable to you, and I cannot but be a little inquisitive about the pro- gress you have made in your Histories of Kirkstal and the Lacies. FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. GOOD SIR, Jan. 16, 1699-700, I RECEIVED your's : I would do any thing to serve you, where I think I can ; but the project you propose seems to me altogether un practicable. I can easily imagine how the Duke of Buckingham might prevail with King Charles the Second, to grant his letters for the excusing a man from serving the Cor- poration, because I both know that King's easiness, and the Duke's interest with him, and that he would pretend that this man did do business for him in some capacity or other, which would be obstructed if he took any town-office. I dare say it was by these means, and upon such (or such like) suggestions, that the letter you speak of was obtained. But every thing looks with another face as to your affair. This King, I do assure you, considers well and ad- vises before he sends any letters of dispensation ; and though perhaps my Lord Chancellor, or one of his Secretaries of State might prevail with him to sign such a letter, if they could be Ijrouglit to undertake it, yet I am sure I could not ; nay, I am sure my moving such a thing to the King (it being so very 392 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1700. foreign to my business) would render it suspicious that it was not fit to be granted, unless I had greater arguments (and those too drawn from the necessity of the King's service that did require it) to offer for it than you have put into your letter. If I can light of my Second part of Conscience, I will send it you, though there is nothing in it that particularly relates to any dispute about baptism. There is now come out in octavo, an abridgment of all the cases writ for the sake of the Dissenters : if you will order any one to call on me for it, I will present it you. Among these, there is a particular discourse about the cross in baptism, which I fancy is the thing you scruple at. I not only hope, but I am confident you will never repent of your quitting the separation and joining in our communion, because I am sure there is no good reason that can hold you there, or keep you from us. Were but our lives as suitable to our profession, as our profession is to the laws of Christ Jesus, I durst answer for the salvation of every memljer of the Church of England. I saw old Mr. Evelyn to-day, who asked kindly after you, and spoke very kindly of you. I have thanked the Bishop of Sarum for his civilities to you since I came to town, who is your very kind friend. I have seen several pieces of English money since I came to town, which I had not seen before ; but I have never yet met with any pieces of Richard the First. This King (I mean King William) has, I tliink, four-pences, three-pences, two-pences, and Mt.42.'] RALPH THORESBY. 393 pence. If I can think of it, 1 will get you some of them. I heartily pray God to bless you and your family. I am, Sir, With great esteem, your affectionate friend, Jo. Ebor. FROM REV. MATTHEW HENRY. DEAR SIR, Feb. 5, 1699-700. I AM glad of this opportunity to return you many thanks for your kind letter in November last, and your obliging invitation to Leeds : could I spare a week from my family and work here, I would gladly spend it in your library, but I cannot foresee when that favourable juncture will happen : perhaps we may yet see again the years of our former silence and restraint, and then we shall have time enough to visit our friends, but while our opportunity lasts, we must be doing. I hope there can be no just cause of offence thereto. When invitations from divers parts were given to Mr. Owen, he closed with that from Salop, which was nearest him, and where he might be tantum non where he was. But he had not accepted, no, not that invitation, but would reso- lutely have stuck to Oswestry, had he not been over- ruled by the unanimous advice of the ministers of the county, who met to consider of it, without whose approbation he had not removed to Salop, and who, I believe, would scarce have consented to his removal 394 CORRESrOXDENCE OF [A. D. 1700. any where else. I sliould much rejoice to hear of the uniting of that congregation in a minister who might be instrumental to promote serious godliness among them, and wish I could help them to such a one, witii whom Mr. Thoresby might be entirely satisfied to join in constant communion. Good Mr. Tallents, wiien I saw him last, was in his usual state of liealth, beyond what is commonly met with in the eightieth year of life, and very lively in putting for- wards towards Heaven. May we there meet at last, if we never see one another in this world, and then all will be well, and not till then. I rest. Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant, M. Henry. Mr. Coppendale saith he had a message from you about the price of some book, which I do not under- stand. FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, Feb. 19, 1699-700. I AM willing to break silence to maintain corre- spondence, and would be glad to hear of your health and good condition of your family and relations in this sickly time. I bless God, I am preaching whole, but greatly afflicted with shortness of breath ; a little motion almost stops it ; what it will end in I know not. I am taking medicines upon medicines, but find little help. On Saturday last a Lancashire minister was with iEt.42.] RALPH THORESBY. 395 me, and told me of the death of my old friend Mr. Robert Constantine, formerly parson of Oldham, a Nonconformist, eighty years of age : when I can get intelligence of the time of his death, I shall send you some remarks. Sir, I find in a letter of your's to me, dated De- cember 12, 1699, that you designed an exchange of Mr. Trench's Life by Mr. Boyse, for my brother's Life, which I bought and sent you; but you have forgot to send me Mr. Trench's Life, which I desire not out of covetousness but desire to see it. I hope, Sir, you will not forsake your old principles and com- panions, but join with your brethren to procure a minister to Mill-hill Chapel. Pardon my boldness ; accept my service and wife's to yourself, your's, from Your much obliged servant, Oliver Heywood. FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. DEAR SIR, London, July 13, 1700. I AM much your debtor; I have received two letters from you, which though I have not formally answered them, yet I have not neglected to do what you desired me to do in them. I discoursed your nephew ^Vilson once and again, and he offers so fair that I could not desire any thing more from him. I wish none of you may be too tenacious of their own sentiments and interests, but let indifferent men 396 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1700. decide your differences, and you will all find the old adage verified, that " a lean arbitration is better than a fat judgment." I desired your nephew to write to you, and if he made the same proposals to you as he did to me, I did not question but you was a man of so much reason and conscience, that (if there was not something more in it than was discovered to me) you would readily comply with it. Differences be- tween such near relations are very scandalous and un CO mfi^r table, and if they be not made up in time, will prove more difficult to be cured : for the begin- ning of contention (as Solomon saith) is like the breaking forth of waters, — one turf or stone season- ajjly put in may stop it, Ijut, that being neglected, it makes a great breach, and the longer it runs the wider it is, that great pains and costs will hardly make up the breach. Are there no wise men amongst you that can compass such a difference? You must not any of you be your own judges ; and if friends that know you and will out of love weigh all circumstances, cannot set you right, strangers that will not have the time and opportunity to con- sider of things any otherwise than as transiently re- presented before them, they must determine, it may be after much cost and trouble: that will be less pleasing to you, and less for your advantage than friends that would have freely done it for you. It is much in going to law as it is in going to war : it should be with good advice, and usually the aggressor comes to the worst in the issue by it. iEt, 42.] KALPH THORESBY. 397 Pray pardon my plainness ; it is out of love and faithfulness I write thus unto you : I have said much the same to him. I thank you for your care about the poor ministers. I must shortly troul)le you again, as soon as I can get the money, and know a way to convey it to you. I bless God we have been all well : till this week God hath visited our family with a noisome infectious disease of the small-pox ; poor, pretty Deborah is now down with them, and how it will please God to deal with her, and myself and four more in the family that never yet had them, I cannot tell. I desire yovir prayers, that God would fit us for all emergencies of Divine Providence that may befall us. I am sorry to hear of the many and great afflictions you have had in your family, but am glad to hear Mrs. Thoresby is got safe at last through all her dangers and troubles. We have this week, I hear, lost that worthy citizen Mr. Thomas Papilon, at Canterbury, that was one of the great ornaments of this city; a man that feared God above many ; and did love and live religion as much as most men that ever I knew : poor ministers and their widows and children, and all necessitous serious Christians have lost such a friend as I know none living upon the earth. The thirty-first chapter of Job gives a due description of him. I was afraid we should have lost another very excellent man, Mr. Edward Harley ; he hath been very ill, but is recovered so as to go abroad again, and on Monday goes down into the country to get a little good air, which he much 398 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1700. wants, and I hope tliat will set him right again. Our King was much out of order a fortnight before lie went ; he spat blood, and had a tumour in his leg like a St. Anthony's fire. It is hoped the sea and his native air will set him right again ; they write he is something better. I pray God preserve his precious life for the good of unworthy England and Europe. My hearty love and service to you and your's, and to all friends. I commit you to God, and rest, in haste. Your assured friend and servant, Richard Stretton. FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, Nov. 11, 1700. I VERY heartily thank you for your brave pre- sent of choice papers of Mr. Woodcock's, and though I have read some of them, yet not all : they were extorted from me ; are in Mr. Nathaniel Priestly's hands ; I sui)pose he will transcribe some of them. They desire me to beg for them a little more time, which, I suppose, you may grant, because they are your own : they shall be safely returned. I am concerned for the death of Ur. Sampson, especially re infcctd ; as to his history, I wrote to Mr. Stretton, to know whom lie hath left behind him, but have no answer : methinks, we should have some account of hini, as well as his wife : it is ;Et. 43.] RALPH THORESBY. 399 true he hath got the start of me, but I am hieing after. God grant we may land safe in that blessed haven ! Be sure you mind closet work, that we may daily meet at the Throne of Grace, and at last before the Throne in Glory. My love to you, your's. Your obliged servant, Oliver Heywood. FROM REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, Dec. 16, 1700. I HERE send you back, with a thousand thanks, the papers of Mr. Woodcock, transcribed by Dr. Sampson, together with the twenty letters to Lady Vere. I confess we have kept them too long, but they were got out of my hands to old Mr. Jonathan Priestly and his two sons, who transcribed the most of them, and hath lent his notes to Mr. Waterhouse, who earnestly desired to see them : I have but had them a little while, and read them : I hope you will pardon this delay. I have, with my wife and ser- vant, searched again and again for my father An- gler's, and brother's letters, but cannot find one : which I admire at. I have none from Mr. Bowles, Mr. Williams, Mr. Calvert. I have received a letter from Mr. Stretton, dated November 30, wherein he saith, " Dr. Sampson's are left with his wife ; she saith they shall be all preserved safe. She talks of sending them to ]\Ir. Tong, of Coventry ; but liis 400 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1700. hands are full : it will be a difficult thing to find out a man of ability and leisure to manage them as they should." But I here send you his letter, wherein you may see what he saitli of our worthy friend, which, I hope, you will send back to me in your time. God Almighty bless you and your's, with the best blessings of an upright heart, and close commu- nion with God ; thus with mine and my wife's dear love to you, your*s, I rest, Your obliged friend, Oliver Heywood. From Mr. Stretton's letter, dated 30th November, 1700:— ** Dr. Sampson's papers are all left with his wife, that has been spoken to once and again, and she promises they shall be all preserved safe. She talks of sending to Mr. Tong, at Coventry, (who is a fit man, if had leisure to make a good improvement of them) ; but his hands are so full of other business, that it will be lost labour to send them to him. It will be a difficult thing to find out a man that has ability and leisure to manage them as they should. I knew and loved Dr. Sampson as well as most men, and was inwardly grieved that he sliould die in such a scandalous manner ; that when God had blessed him with such an estate, as 8 or 9000/. (as it is commonly said,) should not leave one penny to pious and charitaljle uses. All that can be said is, his wife made, or forced him to make, a new will the A.t. 44.] RALPH THORESBY. 401 day before she left London, and if she can be made a lady by it, she will think it as much for his honour." FROM DR. EDMUND GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Jan. 8, 1702. While these disputes in convocation hold, it is a favour that I am forced to desire of all my friends, to be excused from answering letters so punctually as I ought, though, in truth, my arrears with you are too great to be fairly excused. I hope you have, ere this, received " The Pretended Independence of the Lower House, &c." which filled my head and hands for some wrecks, and being much more bulky than I intended, will convince you, at least, that my silence was not the effect of forgetfulness, but business, if it be fit to plead that as an excuse, which now be- gins to be a crime, — I mean, the multiplying books upon a controversy, which begins to be tiresome to every body. You guess right, that in p. 75, Cecestrens should be Cestrens ; for so it is in the original Register ; but in p. 102, 103, the Register has it, as I have printed it, Brian, not Henr. ; and so also, p. 121, it is in the manuscript as in the print, Roberto Asaphen. Dr. Kennet has made good progress in a work, which he entitles Fasti Ecclesiae Auglicana^ being the succession of the Bishoi)s in each see, and the most remarkable occurrences of their life, by way of VOL. I. 2d 402 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. annals, in the method of Dugdale's Tables, at the end of Origines Juridiciales. I know you will give nio leave to tell him, that what assistance may be had from your collections, will be at liis service ; be- cause, I know, whatever you make yourself master of, is for the good of the i)ublic. Pray take care to maintain that cliaractcr in the main point, your Parochial Antiquities, and tliink your collections large enough, before you have too little life to digest them. There is no one good thing to which I am a professed enemy, but perfection ; because so many good designs have miscarried by it, while the authors were so intent ui)on the improvements of the work before them, that they forgot the com])ass of human life, and the decays of health and spirit that make us as incapable of finishing ovu' aims, as death itself. I pray God, it may never be your case ; but if it should, and I be alive to know it, expect to be upbraided with the many warnings I have given you to be wiser ill tliat point, than anticpiarians commonly are. My Lord of Carlisle intends to stay out this ses- sion, wliich is not like to be so short as was said, and believed at their first meeting. If they rise by Lady- day, it will be early, at least according to the present appearance of things ; which are not so friendly be- tween the two houses as you and I could wish ; and dif- ferences (you know) never fail to cut out new business. I am, your's most heartily, Edmund Gibson. A happy new year to you and yoiu's. ^^t.44.] RALPH THORESBY. 403 FROM REV. OLIVER IIEYWOOD. DEAR SIR, Jan. 18, 1701-2. I RECEIVED your letter, whereby I perceive you have been at our Metropolis, and conversed with the grandees for nobility and learning, who, I doubt not, have greatly added to your soaring and profound searching speculations, which possibly are edifying to you, but not much to iiie, though delightful to know omne scibile, as it is said of Hierom. Your acquaintance with great personages I do not envy ; I read what you write, but to ine one hour's com- munion with God, and my improving my poor talent to gain souls to Christ, is worth all. I thank you for Mr. J. Calvert's Life ; it came sea- sonably, for I was sending up to Mr. Calamy the Yorkshire and Lancashire ministers' Lives, to be an- nexed to a book he prints of Mr. Baxter's Life con- tracted, with the rest of the nonconformist minis- ters in England ; all which I got copied out of my manuscripts ; for I perceive Mrs. Sampson hath com- mitted her husband's papers to Mr. Tong, of Coven- try, who lets them lie by him, and frames not to order them. This book is in the press and will be out shortly,* and this Life of Mr. Calvert came but just in season, which I have sent up with the rest last Tuesday by the carrier. I got the same hand that copied out the former, to transcribe these, which I now send you by J. B. ; * See Dr. Calaniy's " Historical Account/' ii. 556. 2 D 2 404 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. which I suppose you have not seen, because their death was of a later date : Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Pen- dlebury, Mr. Newcome, Mr. Seddon, all ancient, emi- nent ministers, died in one year's time, which made a great breach in that Salford hundred. God Al- mighty fit us for that hour, that we may be follow- ers of them, that through faith and patience inherit the promises ! My dear love with my wife's to you, your's, ends this trouble from. Your cordial friend, Oliver Heywood.* FROM REV. TIMOTHY IIODGSON-t SIR, York, April 15, 1702. I HAVE here sent you the minutes I had drawn lip of Mr. T. Calvert, who may well be put in the class of the learned : he was an universal scholar, a good grammarian, an excellent orator, an acute dis- })utant, well skilled in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues ; an able divine. He was born in the city of York, in the beginning of the reign of King James the First ; his parents were of note for religion and trade ; he used oft mer- * This was the last letter which Thoreshy received from this his af^ed and pious correspondent, whose life was closed on the following Mh of May. + Chai)lain to Lady Hewley, of York, and son of Captain John Hfidgson, an old Parliamentarian officer, whose Memoirs, from his own ))aj)ers, were published with those of Sir Henry Slingsby, at Ediiihurgh, 1806. itt. 44] RALPH THORESBY. 405 lily to say at meals, he loved white bread: his father was a baker. He was contemporary at school, and in the University, with the learned Christopher Cart- wright. One of his father's name and trade was sheriff of York, when King Charles the First passed through it on his way to the North. He was trained up in grammar learning in this city ; he was soon ripe for the University : he was admitted in Sydney College under the learned and pious divine, Mr. Bell, for his tutor : he was a diligent and pious scho- lar, imi)roved his time well, and attained the end of his parent sending him thither ; he performed his exercises in the college and schools with great ap- plause : he was Bachelor and Master of Arts in that University ; when he removed thence he went to be be chaplain in the honourable family of Sir Thomas Burdett, in Derbyshire. March the 24th, 1637, he preached his lady's funeral sermon, printed in York, 1650, called. The Weary Soul's wish, or the Dove's Wings : Meditations on Psalm Iv. 6. with the addi- tion of elegies. When he removed thence, he came to York, preached at Christ Church, and Allhallows in the Pavement ; afterward was one of the four preachers at St. Peter's, and turned out, Bartholomew 1662. Anno 1656 he printed at York, his lectures on Isaiah liii, called Mel Coeli, or iVIedulla Evangelii, 4to.; before that, in the year 1648, he printed in 8vo. his Blessed Jew of Morocco, or, a Blackamoor turned White ; being a demonstration of the true Messius 406 COIUU:SPONDENCE OF [AD. 170-2. out of the law and prophets, by Rabbi Samuel, a Jew turned Christian ; written first in the Arabic, after translated into Latin, and now Englished : to which are annexed (by him) a diatribe of the Jews' sins and their miseries all over the world. Annotations on the book, with large digressions, discovering Jew- ish blindness, their refusing Christ, and the many false Christs they have received ; (abundance of Jew- ish learning is in it, the l)Ook is very scarce) this got him the name of Rabbi Calvert. After his turning out, he lived privately ; yet was not idle ; he was studious to the last. He reviewed many of his former labours, and prepared some for the press ; but they were lost, as many of his choice sermons, &c. He was very useful by his prayer and counsel to many troubled sjnrits, who came to him ; and trans- lated and printed Schola Consolatoria out of the Latin into English, with several additions and cases he resolved: 8vo. 1671. He was a great encourager of learning, and in the year 1672, he reprinted Christianus Triumphans, Comedia Apocalyptica, by John Fox, at Basil, 1556, with a learned epistle to schoolmasters, to teach it for the elegancy of the Latin ; and many here did. Printed by him at London, 1672, 8vo. He was very poetical ; wrote elegies on the death of Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Edward Bowles, and on the nremory of Mi". George Wilson, his brother-in-law, who died, aged seventy years, at Easingwold, in the Mt.44.'\ RALPH Til ORES BY. 407 North Riding of Yorkshire, where he had been mi- nister and turned out in 1662 ; died September 22, 1671. A sheet of Enghsh and Latin verses printed, and another elegy, Latin and English, upon the much lamented death of Mr. Joseph Stopford, B.D. Rector of All Saints, York, who died in the thirty- ninth year of his age, November 3, 1695. Another piece, printed in four sheets 4to., entitled Elegiacks on the Memory of Sir Wilham Strickland, of Boyn- ton, Yorkshire, Knight and Baronet, with a Latin Epitaph; he died September 12, 1673. He was the maul of heretics ; had several bicker- ings with Socinians and Formalists. Printed in 4to a little piece, but no year. The Visitation of the Sick ; or the Roman Church sick of Two Chronical Dis- eases, the Proud Tympany of the Pope's Supremacy, and the Mass' Blasphemous Phrensy ; in verse. Heart-Salve for a Wounded Soul, and Eye-Salve for a Blind World. Meditations on Psalm cxliii. 7, and Isaiah Ivii. with an elegy on the Lady Mary Griffith, who died 1632. The second edition, printed at York, 1675. Epistle dedicated to the Lady Barwick. He was of little stature, had a large soul in a contemptible body ; he was of a most serious yet merry temper, full of witty sayings ; bore all his afflictions, domestic and national, as a Christian and a minister. He was respected by all the learned here who had known him ; he had a very good li- brary, but parted with most of them in the latter 408 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1702. part of his life. He was sound in judgment, holy in life. In the Disciplinarian Controversy, he was of Mr. Ball's and ]Mr. Baxter's judgment and practice. He was very communicative to all that visited him. He liad all senses, understanding, and memory to the last. His last sickness was very short, not above two or three days : he had been at Lady Barwick's, got cold on his return home, fell into a fever and died, Animam tjfiavit et corpus deposuit et ad meliorem v'ltam transiit, April 15, 1679, aged seventy-two, buried in Allhallows Pavement, his parish church. He left several choice manuscripts, which are lost. Pardon this scribble, being in haste to give it you before you return. I wish you well home, and that you may meet your family with comfort. I am Your humble servant, Timothy Hodgson. I have of Mr. Calvert's works : — Heart-Salve for a Wounded Soul, 8vo. 1647. Printed at York. Eye-Salve for a Blind World, 8vo. ditto ditto. The Wise Merchant ; or the Peerless Pearl, in two sermons. London, 8vo. 1674. The Weary Soul's Wish ; a Sermon preached at Lady Burdett's funeral, 4to. 1650. York. The Black ; or History of Christ's Pas- sion, 4to. 1664. R. T. ^t.44.] RALPH THORESBY. 400 FROM DR. RICHARD RICHARDSON, F.R.S. SIR, North Bierley, Monday night, May 1 1, 1 702. I THINK myself obliged, upon my safe return into Yorkshire, to give you thanks for your recommenda- tory letters to Dr. Sloane and Dr. Woodward ; the latter of which received me very civilly, and showed me the noblest collection of fossils of all sorts that I ever saw, and with very little reflection upon any person, though I am informed his temper is quite otherwise. I hear nothing of his great work, though I perceive by him he goes on with it at leisure times. It is pity so ingenious a person should not have more friends. Dr. Sloane is the very epitome of courtesy ; and though he had several persons of worth to wait upon, yet deferred his visits till he had shown me his Jamaica collection, which is very fine and well prepared. Mr. Charleton's collection, which Dr. Sloane now has, lies all in confusion as yet, and will require some time to put them into order. His History of Jamaica will be shortly out, all the plates being now engraven, and some few specimens printed off. I saw Mr. Stonestreet's col- lection of shells, which is very large and valuable : he gives you his service, and wished me to remind you of a coin of Valerius Severus you promised him. My friend Mr. Lhwyd was in Gloucestershire, l)ut had a commission at large from him to take v\ hat fossils of his from the museum I wanted ; but he 410 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. not l3eing tliere, I carried very few from thence. I had a letter yesterday from Mv. Sutherland : he gives you his service. I have laid wait for a convenience to send to him some plants, &c. I expect to hear from some person daily that goes for Edinburgh. I have now some company with me, and must defer giving you a further account till I have the happi- ness to see you at Leeds, which I must not think of till I have more leisure. In the mean time I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Richard Richardson. FROM DR. J. WOODWARD. SIR, Gresham Coll. May 16, 1702. Learning suffered a great loss in the death of Dr. Gale ; and, in truth. Dr. Cay is much lamented by all who were not strangers to his sense and worth. But we have some reparation in the advancement of Mr. Nicolson to the Bishoprick of Carlisle. You antiquaries will be sure of a patron of him ; he is coming up to town, and I promise myself much plea- sure in his conversation. Dr. Richardson made me one visit, and stayed just while he looked over part of my collection, and no longer. He had with him drawings of the plants he found in North Bierley coal pits : it was with much difficulty I obtained them for about three iiours, he telling me he must need it,t.44.] RALPH THORESBY. 411 have them, he being to go out of town that after- noon : but next Wednesday, Dr. Sloane produced them at the meeting of the Society, he having given him these drawings, and promised to send him the things themselves. I just mentioned to him those passages relating to me in his letter published by Mr. Lhwyd. He offered me no satisfaction for the injury he had done me and the world there, so that I must do myself right. I should be glad to see the figure of the spur you speak of. I will send it to Monsieur Sperling, who is writing a tract De Armis Veterum. I am sorry I have not a Roman lamp to spare, if I had I would send it you immediately, and not stand bartering with you for the Coin of Quin- tillus, or any thing else, though, in truth, 1 should be glad of seeing some of the northern antiquities that are fair. I have obtained much fairer and truer copies of the Inscriptions, not long ago discovered near Durham, than those printed in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 266. The Prospect of Paul's will not be finished for some time ; when it is, you shall be sure of it ; and of sainples of my western ores vi^hen you will let me know how to send them. I am. Sir, Your affectionate humble servant, J. Woodward. 4]2 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. FROiM REV. MATTHEW SMITH.* WORTHY Sn{, May 16, 1702. Mr. Heywood is now dead ; and knowing you to be a person of interest, this comes humbly to en- treat you on the behalf of the meeting in Waiiey, which cannot (that I know of) be supported if that now be taken off, which they had by Mr. H.'s means, from the Trustees of Lord Wharton, the sum of 10/. per annum. Sir, it is the one place which I preach at, and have done for a long time ; for though I have my gatliered people at Mixenden, yet they of them- selves are not able to make necessary provision for me and my family ; but by the means of this 10/. that people have been able to allow me 10^. a day, and my people take care for the same for the other day ; and so, in ordinary, my stipend is and hath been, betwixt them, about 26/. per annum, which you know. Sir, is as little as a man can have who hatli a family, wife, and cliildrcn. But, Sir, if this 10/. be lost, I do not know how it can be reached. Therefore, Sir, seeing I have no interest, nor any of the people, in the Trustees, I humbly desire you do us the favour to improve your interest for the con- tinuance of what Warley hath had, which I will assure you, good Sir, will be a charitable act, well pleasing to the Lord, and yet farther obliging, Sir, to your very much obliged servant, M. Smith. • A Nonconformist minister in the neighbourhood of Halifax. m.44.'\ RALPH THORESBY. 4J3 Sir, I am but just, through the Lord's mercy, upon recovery from a sore, painful, feverish distemper, which both otliers and myself thought would have taken me off. Sir, pray give me a line in answer as soon as you can with convenience. FROM MR. EDWARD LIIWYD * WORTHY SIR, Oxford, May 20, 1702. I WAS not in Oxford when your obliging letter came, otherwise you had sooner receiv^ed my hearty thanks, for your account of the Venetian piece, &c. I was not at all satisfied with my conjecture about its being Mo. Ventae Regionis, as I have owned in the place where it is mentioned. I suppose our ex- cellent friend may be by this time satisfied of his mistake about our British coins ; for surely those that have Cunobelin so plain, must needs be such : and the rest, that are so like them, can neither be Roman, Saxon, nor Danish. I should be very glad if you could, at your leisure, favour me with draughts of such of your British coins as are not yet figured in Camden, &c. As to the Adder-beads, I have been inquisitive after them in my travels in AVales and Scotland, and have procured what variety I could of them ; one or two of which are at your service, though, I must confess, I am apt to value such things beyond their * Keeper of the Ashmolean Library. 414 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. use or rarity. I am fully satisfied they were amulets of the Druids, as were also some other such like trinkets still retained by the Highlanders of Scot- land. I have seen one of them that had nine small snakes ui)on it ; but the woman that had it was so ignorantly credulous, that she would not part with it for love nor money. There are others that have one or two, or more snakes ; some more curious, others very rude. I know not what we shall sup- pose concerning the making of these amulets. May we reconcile Ciesar's character of the barbarousness of the Britons with tlicir having the art of making glass ? For my part, I am fully satisfied these were Druid amulets and impostures, and see not much reason to doubt but that they themselves made them witli snakes, for the better imposing on the vulgar. Being in some haste, I add no more than that I am. Sir, Your obliged friend and humble servant, E. Lhavyd. FROM SIR HANS SLOANE. SIR, London, May 26, 1702. I HAVE been of late almost in a perpetual hurry, or else you may be sure I would not have been so rude as not to have answered your letters. I thank you heartily foi' the ojjportunity you gave me of being ac(j[uainted with Dr. Richardson. I had heard. I£X.44.'\ RALPH TIIORESBY. 415 ere I received your letter, of his arrival, and made interest with his friends to be made known to him. I found him answer the great character he has, ex- tremely knowing, candid, and obliging. I am sorry my showing soine of his designs and observations to the Society, should have drawn the wrath of a cor- respondent of your's upon him. I must do what I can to serve the Society, and do right to all men, who, I think, deserve well, without regard to the humours of those who would discourage every thing that comes not to the support of their hypotheses. I have not yet got you a Collection of Original Let- ters, but I will not fail to do it ; but such as are di- rected to the Society, or me as their Secretary, must remain amongst their papers. However, I will fur- nish you with many of eminent persons, both abroad and at home, besides those in your list. I would have proceeded some length in it already, but that I would choose letters upon some good subject. I hope you will not forget the Society, but let us know any thing that passes which is curious. I remain Your most obedient servant, Hans Sloane. Dr. Hickes gives you his hearty service. 41G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. FROM MR. JAMES SUTHERLAND. IIONOl RKD SIR, Edinburgh, June 1, 1702. I HAVE sent herewith, inclosed in a box, by your friend, I\Ir. Currer, of Leeds, a few ancient coins of Henry the Second and Third of England, with some small foreign ones I supposed you miglit u^ant, as also a few Scotch fossils I lately discovered some ten miles from this place, and in the bottom of the box you will find wrapped in paper, a stone I esteem very curious ; it smells strong of violets, and if you put it in warm water, after a short time it will com- municate its scent to the water, and continue as strong smelled as before. There are several sizes of it found above ground, lying by a brook-side in the north of Scotland, some four-score miles from this ; I had got four of them, one I sent to Mr. Charleton, of the Middle Temple, lately deceased, to my great regret and loss, and another to the Museum at Ox- ford, the fourth I reserve for Dr. Richardson. The bearer being in haste, I have not time to enlarge, but shall write by post, which I know will reach you before this. I am, honoured Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, James Sutherland. ^^t. 44.] RALPH THORESIiV. 417 FROM REV. EDMUND CALAMY. KIND SIR, Hoxton, June 9, 1702. Youji concerned inquiry after my welfare, when such news as you intimate had reached your parts, was very obliging, and I should be ashamed of my- self for my disingenuous return to this and all your other favours, did not my circumstances carry in them an excuse. To tell you the truth, I have for these six weeks past been in a constant hurry. It was occa- sioned not only by the finishing of my book, at which I was forced to labour night and day, to get it finished by the rising of the Parliament ; but also by the death of some of my particular friends, whose concerns I was obliged to engage in out of respect to the deceased ; and yet further by the condition of my wife, whom I have been in danger of losing, though I hope the danger is now well over. All together, I hope, will somewhat palliate my neglect. I have a book at your service, and will take care to convey it to you, whenever you will please to give me directions : you will find it drawn up in a hurry, and that I shall much need your can- dour. I heartily thank you for all the pains you have taken to assist me. You will find all your latter accounts of the ministers omitted, whicli was not as if they were less grateful tlian the former, but because they really came too late ; and that you may not wonder why I did not intimate so much before, I will candidly tell you the true reason : it was be- VOL. I. 2 E •% 418 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1702. cause I was willing to get as much from Mr. Thores- by as I could, and unwilling to give you any dis- couragement, while so free and communicative : and I must confess I have been so selfish, as to give several of my other friends, in this respect, the like treatment. But that wliich I hope will atone, is this : that I intend another volume, wherein those accounts shall be inserted, together with any others that you shall be so kind as to communicate, for which you will find scope enough, there being many of whom I liave only the names. I am heartily con- cerned for the loss of Mr. Heywood. Mr. Priestly he' h written to me, and kindly offered me an ac- c unt of his hfe, out of his own papers, which I intend thankfully to accept, and insert as much of it as seems needful in my next volume.* I have lately got access to the study of a deceased minister, Mr. Roger Morrice, (of whom I suppose you may have heard,) who had a very valuable collection of historical manuscripts. If I meet there with any autographs that can be spared, you may be assured I shall not be forgetful of my good friend. In any thing wherein I can serve you, you shall find great readiness on the part of. Sir, Your obliged friend and humble servant, E. Cai.amy. • See Dr. Calamy's Account, (1713,) pp. 801—808; Cont. (1727,) p. 947. iEt. 44.] RALPH THORESBY. 419 FROM MR. EDWARD LIIWYD. WORTHY SHI, Oxford, July 17, 1702. Mr. Ibbetson delivered me your kind letter, and I gave him the same time an adder's bead, not of the rarest, nor of the vulgar, but of a middling sort ; which has an obscure representation of a snake or two, round about it. I added a piece of the un- dulated kind, for I had not a whole one to spare. Perhaps you will value the piece as much as a whole one ; for you see the colouring the inside as well as without, which you would be loth to break a whole one in order to examine. I take these amu- lets to be a notable distinguishing mark of the Bri- tish nation, as I do the Elf arrow of the Scottish, throughout these isles : for you have nothing of the former, but either in Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, Ire- land, and perhaps Bretagne ; nor of the latter, but in Ireland, Scotland, and the Bordering countries of the north of England. The ancient Gauls, it should seem, had them not of glass, for Pliny tells us, he saw one of them, which, according to his description, must have been an Echinus. The Highlanders at this day use the Echinites galeatus, and the pileatus, as amulets ; the former is a duel-stcme, and the other as efficacious in preventing damage by fire and water. Now to me it seems not improbable but Pliny might confound these amulets, mistaking that for an Ovum Anguinum, of which the Gauls had another notion. As to tlie British coins, I desire only figures of such 2 K 2 420 CORRESPONDENCE OFj [A. D. 1702. as are not already published, and would not trouble you for a sight of the coins themselves. But if you should happen to have duplicates either of coin, or other antiquity, or fossil, that you shall guess would be acceptable here, your kindness will be thankfully acknowledged by, Your real friend and servant, Edw. Lhwyd. FROM DR. WOODWARD. WORTHY SIR, Gresham College, July 18, 1702. I RETURN you many thanks for the draught of the spur ; it is a very strange thing : Mr. Sperling shall have a copy of it when next I write to him. You need not wonder at the passage in my last about Dr. Richardson ; it was with some difficulty I ob- tained the favour of him to leave the drawings with me to examine and view ; and he granted me only a few hours : nay, I was to dine in the space he allowed me too. He told me he was to go out of town, and they must be sent him by six o'clock. The next news I heard was, that he had presented them to Dr. Sloane, and that he would also send him the leaves in slate, represented in those drawings. Your recom- mendation was enough to oblige me to treat him with all the civility I could ; and any one from you will always meet that here. For Dr. Richardson, he had jniljlicly in print* given me the lie, for asserting " Lhwydii Lithologia, p. 107. ^t.44.] RALPH THORESBY. 42T that all rocks whatever have shells upon them ; whereas he avers there are none on either Pendle, or Ingleborough. Now for the first, I no where assert any such thing ; and for the second, I have actually by me variety of shells, and impressions of shells, as well as other extraneous bodies from both Pendle and Ingleborough. He best knows what his reasons were for this ; but, by the blessing of God, this treat- ment, with some other that my labours have met with causelessly and unjustly, shall be candidly and plainly laid before the world, unless the authors themselves do me right. Mr. Wren I have not seen lately : Mr. Stonestreet is out of town ; and Mr. Dale intends to write to you speedily. I doubt not but you have heard that my Lord Pembroke is President of the Council. I can send you little news in learning ; the season has drawn most of the good company into the coun- try, so that nothing of moment can be expected. I suppose you have seen my Lord Chancellor Cla- rendon's History of the Civil Wars, vol. i. From Amsterdam, I have lately sent me nine dissertations on several inscriptions, medals, and other subjects of antiquity, by M. Van Dale, in 4to. I am, Sii*, your very humble servant, J. Woodward. Have any of your higher Yorkshire hills fogs or clouds hovering over them before rain ? Could you get me some queries answered relating to your deeper coal pits, and lead mines ? 422 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. FROM DR. WOODWARD. SIR, Gresham College, November 17, 1702. I HAD not been thus long in return to your two obliging letters, but that I was in hopes to have sent you an account of Dr. Guerdon's manuscripts, though my endeavours have been hitherto without success. The Doctor was in town two years ago, and was wont to come and dine now and then with me. At last, having heard nothing of him some time, and enquiring after liim, I was told he was dead, and I think [in] Lancashire. My enquiry about his manuscripts has been hitherto without success ; but I hope for better, from the assistance of Sir Roger Bradshaigh, who hath wrote into Lancashire about them : you shall know the result without fail. The bone you mention will be very welcome to me ; and I should be glad to know in what place it was found, what depth, and what else was found with it. Dr. Edward Brown showed me such a green bone, dug up somewhere in Hungary. I suppose the water in which your's lay, was an serose, or vitriolick water, from the colour of the bone. I will take care to send the brass sword you mention to M. Sper- ling, as soon as I receive it : pray send an account how and where it was found, &c. You shall have a letter of Sir R. Southwell's : I suppose you have heard that he died of a palsy, and gout in his stomach, the latter end of this summer. Mr. Dale says lie will write to you ere long ; but he is very JEt.45.'] RALPH THOIIESBY. 423 trifling and dilatory. Mr. Wrev i have not seen these four months ; when next ^ meet him, he sliall have yom' kind message, as shaii riso Mr. Stone- street. On the other side, you have the queries ahout mines, pits, &c. Pray procm'e me answers from as many parts of the North as you can. I am, Sir, Your very humble servant, J. Woodward. Queries concerning presages of Rain in Mines, Quarries, or Coal pits. 1. Can wind, rain, thunder, or lightning, be pre- saged by any vapours, steams, or exhalations, in the mines, quarries, or pits ? 2. Can it be distinguished by the manner or con- stitution of the vapour, what shall ensue, whether rain, wind, or thunder ? 3. Can judgment be made of the quantity and duration of the rain, wind, &c. by the thickness of the vapour, the continuance of it, or any o^her way? 4. Does the vapour consist simply of humidity, or is it charged with metallic or mineral steams ? 5. Does rain constantly ensue as often as these vapours discover themselves in the mines, &c. ; and do the vapours constantly appear whenever it rains ? 6. How long do these vapours discover themselves before the rain ensues ? 7. Are these va})ours observed only in some, or in 424 CORRESPONDENCE OF [AD. 1702. all mines indifferently ; and do they rise at the same time in all ? 8. Are they attended with any uniisnal heat ? 9. AVherein do these steams differ from those called damps ; or do damps and rain constantly at- tend each other? 10. How are the barometer and thermometer af- fected in the mines during the ascent of the steams and damps, and during rain ? Queries concerning Fogs upon the tops of high hills. 1. Do those mists, fogs, or clouds, arise out of the hill, or whence otherwise do the vapours that constitute them proceed ? 2. Are they seen hovering over the top only of one hill, or more ? 3. Does the fog on the several hills first appear at the same time on each, increase in equal propor- tional, and decrease likewise on each, at the same time ? 4. Are those fogs constant forerunners of rain, so that it never rains, winter or summer, unless they appear before ; and does rain always follow when- ever they do ajipear ? 5. How long do they appear before the rain falls? G. Can any judgment be made by view and ob- servation of these fogs, of the quantity and dura- t'lon of the rain ; or whether it will be attended with storms of wind, or by thunder and liglitning ? ^:t. 45.] RALPH THORESBY. 425 7. Does the rain that falls seem to proceed from the fog's gradually diffusing itself and overspreading the country ? 8. Does the barometer constantly fall as the fog rises, and in proportion to the quantity of it ? FROM SIR JOHN KAYE, BARONET. SIR, December 1, 1702. Your's and the enclosed were very acceptable to me, which I superscribed in a blank, and sent it for- ward this night, after I had perused and sealed it ; and am very well pleased I can in any respect serve you or your friends, which you shall always find me ready to do with pleasure. Affairs in this Par- liament go on without clashing, and with that ex- pedition that many believe this will be a short ses- sion ; that we may be up by Candlemas, or soon after. It is a great mercy our arms have been so successful abroad ; God send us as prosperous the next year, and I hope the Frenchman and his allies will never look up again to be the disturbers of Eu- rope's peace and quiet as they have been. Lord Marlborough came to town on Saturday night, and has given the Queen a very satisfactory account, and is shortly to be made a Duke. This is all I can inform you of; and a continuance of good health is wished you by Your very faitliful friend and servant, John Kaye. 42G CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1702. FROM (NICOLSON) THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE. DFAR SIR, Westminster, Dec. 10, 1702. You will not expect that I should requite your account of the old Agelocum in a narrative of the like kind, thougli we are in too ready a way, I fear, of furnishing the world with more ruins, ruljbish, and confusion. Yesterday the House of Lords read the Bill against Occasional Conformity ; and, with a great many amendments, sent it to the Commons. After wliich, a long debate began, which, upon a division of the House, (51 against 47,) ended in the follow- ing Order : — " That the annexing any clause or clauses to a Bill of Aid or Supply, the matter of which is foreign to and different from the matter of the said Bill of Aid or Sup])ly, is unparliamentary, and tends to the destruction of the Constitution of this Government."* All Lords that please, have leave to subscribe this Order, which is added to the Roll of standing Orders. This day complaint was made to the House, that the Lords Halifax and (Caermarthen) Osborne, had quarrelled u})on some seeming reflections which had happened in yesterday's debate, and that the Queen had confined the Lord Halifax, the other not being yet to be met with. The former was immediately sent for ; and, some time after, the Lord O. coming in, declared that he had no such quarrel with the other Noble Lord, as was pretended. He had, in- • See Dr. Calamy's " Historical Account,' i. i6G. yEt. 45.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 427 deed, he said, a controversy at law witli him ; and that he wrote a letter to him the last night on tliat subject, which he never intended should be looked upon as a challenge. However, they were ])oth commanded by the House to give their promise, upon honour, that they would not have any future dispute on occasion of any thing that had hitherto passed betwixt them ; or, (for indeed the chief clash- ing was betwixt the Duke of Leeds and Earl of Montagu,) any of their friends. The Commons have sat very late this evening upon the amendments sent to them : but I do not hear what resolutions they are come to. Dr. Gibson has published an answer to Dr. A.'s* last pamphlet, asserting the Parhamentary rights of the lower House of Convocation ; which, I suppose, he will send you. Dr. Wake's volume is a very large dissert in the conclusion of so glutting a feast as we had on this controversy. Nor will it be com- promised, after all that has hitherto been written ; so that now a new expedient is started. It is proposed that the Queen may appoint such arl)itrators, whose judgments may be final. A memorial to this pur- pose was given in the last week to the Bishops, who are to return their answer to-morrow. Your refreshing my daily attendance and fatigue in this place with such an obliging entertainment as your last gave me, will be extremely kind to. Sir, Your ever affectionate servant, W. Cari.iol. * Atterburv. 428 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1702. FROM THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE. DEAR SIR, Westminster, Dec. 22, 1702. My last told you that I had written to my bro- ther, reminding him of the letter he promised to send you. Here you have it. I find it relates to a kind benefaction to the Diocese of Carlisle, which was afterwards made good by Mr. Thursby's convey- ing to us several sets of good practical books and commentators on the Bible, which are still in the possession of some of our poor vicars and curates, and yearly attested by the churchwardens, at the visitation, to be unembezzled. — I cannot omit the making one remark more to you on this letter, which bears a date of more concern to me than per- haps any other man. I was born on June 3, 1655, married the very day this letter was penned, June 3, 1686, and confirmed Bishop June 3, 1702. You will say, it is want of more solid matter, that prompts me to trouble you with such an empty note as this. Be it, therefore, known unto you, that this day the Lords gave a second reading to a Bill for raising a land-tax of 4*. in the pound, which will have the Royal assent (God willing) to-morrow. It is of a goodly bulk, containing no less than 206 sheets of parchment, and lists of commissioners, to the sum total, as is said, of 32,000. There are others on the stocks, which, it is hoj^ed, will be all finished before Candlemas. Saturday last made a good advance in the Treaty of Union betwixt the two kingdoms. Most of the iEt.45.J RALPH THOIIESBY. 429 particulars relating to trade are fully adjusted; and, it is hoped, the other branches will pass off as for- tunately. I am big with hopes that the Cottonian Library will be opened in the beginning of the holidays. The trustees cannot meet till the Parliamentary af- fairs are a little laid aside, to appoint a Keeper : so that it has been fast locked ever since I got to town. With my respects to Mr. Thornton and your worthy Vicar, I am, Sir, Your ever affectionate and faithful servant, W. Carliol. I have brought here a large imperial charter, for Mr. Heclistetter, Mr. Thornton's brother-in-law, which I have not leisure to deliver. FROM REV. MATTHEW HENRY. HONOURED SIR, Chester, Feb. 1, 1702-3. I RECEIVED your's of December 19th with a great deal of satisfaction, because it assured me of your continued friendship, and was a revival of our correspondence ; the interruption of which, I am willing to hope, was not so much my fault as my un- happiness, being very confident that I had not re- ceived so many letters from you as your's speaks of since I wrote to you ; if I had, I could not forgive myself, though I am so well assui'ed of your candour, that I find by your last kind letter you would for- give me. However, to extenuate my fault, I have 430 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1703. sent you liere enclosed a letter I wrote to you on the day of tlie date thereof, immediately after Mr. Fen- ton had made me a kind visit, and promised me to carry one to you ; but sending it to his inn, and he not being tlien ^^ itliin, it was left with the people of the house, who some days after sent it me back, begging pardon that they had forgot to deliver it to Mr. Fenton ; so it has lain wind-bound ever since. I have now opened it, and find nothing in it out of date, and therefore trouble you with it. We lament with you the death of Mr. Scoles, in whom I lost an affectionate friend and brother ; but his relation to any that was Scribe to the Assembly of Divines I had not heard of before ; nor has he ever told me of any manuscripts he has had in his hands relating to that. But a worthy friend of mine in this county, had from Mr. Steel's son, and I believe has now by him, the original minutes taken by Mr. Adoniram Byfield while he was scribe to the Assembly, which, if it would be any satisfaction to you, I would endea- vour to procure you a sight of. If any thing va- luable of that kind were in Mr. Scoles's hand, Mr. Charlton could best procure it. I would undertake to solicit him about it, but tliat I presume you have a correspondence witli him. ]5eHeve me, dear Sir, I had not so long delayed to answer your last but that I was willing to give what satisfaction I could to your enquiry about the Roman tiles found in our city. I knew none able to inform me so well as Mr. Prescot, Registrar of our Bishop's court, to whom I found not an opportunity to be introduced till last TEt. 45.] RALPH TIIORESBy. 431 Friday ; though, had I known, as I do now, of his acquaintance with you, I should not have made such a difficulty of it. He not only (with many otlier rarities which he obliged me very kindly with the sight of) showed me some tiles, inscriljed Leg. xx. v.v. very legible, but showed me a purse with a laljel directed to you, wherein he had some months ago deposited some fragments of those tiles with the in- scription, together with some pieces of that mummy (so he called it) which was found here a while ago in a stone coffin, which, it seems, you had inquired after. That purse lies ready for an opportunity of conveyance to you ; which Mr. Prescot, with a great deal of respect, and honourable mention of you, de- sired me to acquaint you with. I would have sent you herewith Mr. Cook's narrative of his scuffle with Hugh Peters,* but that I reserve it to be sent with Mr. Prescot's, when you shall order by what hand it shall come. 1 cannot bethink myself of any autograplis or other rarities to present you with ; if 1 had any thing of that kind worth your acceptance, it would be a great satisfaction to me to have it lodged in your repository, where I should think it safer, and more likely to be serviceable than in my own hands. I shall hope to hear from you shortly, and receive your commands. Sir, what if you should make a visit to this an- cient city ? I assure you, you should be as welcome at my house as any friend I know, and perhaps we * See siiprd, p. 330. 432 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1703. could show you something here that might gratify your curiosity. If you cannot oblige me with this, I nuist contrive, if the Lord will, to see you at Leeds, which I should soon do, if my work at home did not detain me. Perhaps the time may be at hand when restraint may give us more liberty.* Fiat voluntas Domini. Mr. Tallents and Mr. Owen are both well, and both in a house at Salop. You would wonder (among other instances of vigour in old age,) how very fair and fine Mr. Tallents writes now, in the eighty-fourth year of his age : he gave me last year a manuscript of Mr. Arthur Hildersham's, and has ; by him many more. If you were not provided with some of that great hand, I could procure one for you. Your candid judgment of that poor Dis- course of Meekness emboldens me to acquaint you, that there is a little thing of mine just come out of the press, entitled a Scripture Catechism, in the method of the Assembly's : it is about eight or ten sheets, bound, printed for Parkhurst ; whether in 8vo. or 12mo. I know not ; for I have not yet seen it, nor any part of it, in print. The matter is old, the things wherein we have been instructed ; the manner somewhat new. Perhaps some of your mi- nisters will please to inquire after it. A second edi- tion of my Family Hymns, with large additions, came out about June last, printed for Mr. Parkhurst. I • Perhaps alluding to the sjiirit discovered by the " Bill for pre- venting Occasional Conformity." See Dr. Calamy's " Ilisturlcal Ac- count," ii. \'j, 10. ^t. 45.] RALPH TIIOIIESBY. 433 beg your pardon for trouljling you with this long scrawl, and commending you to the protection of Israel's keeper, I rest, Sir, Your most afiectionate obliged servant. Mat. Henry. Mr. Prescot, besides his ancient rarities, showed me a new one, which was a horse, of four years old, sent him the day before, out of the Isle of Man, for his little son, which was certainly a mini- mum quod sit : it was of just proportions, and yet wanted about thiee inches of a yard high. FROM THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE. DEAR SIR, Feb. 17, 1702-3. I CAN only in haste tell you, that I had your let- ter by Monday's post ; and, as I take it, am now in- debted to you for a couple. In my present condi- tion, I can hardly pay interest ; you are not to ex- pect the principal till the times grow better with me : and as matters look at this end of the town, my hopes of that are small. Yesterday, the Commons gave in a smart remon- strance (at a conference) against the late procedure of the Lords in relation to the Lord Halifax.* They * " Auditor of the Exchequer," whom the Commons had chai'ged with " suffering misapplications of the public money." Chron. Hist, i. 324. VOI>. I. 2 V 434 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1703. say, it was meddling in what did not concern them ; and could have no other design, than either intimi- dating the Judges, or i)repossessing the Jury. This is reckoned to be hard language, and such as the Lords will eftectually resent. Their Lordships have been considering (all this day) what return to make ; and are not yet come to a final resolution ; ])ut I can foretell that it will be a warm one, Flappy are you that are at leisure to intpiire after hidden treasure in old Roman forts and stations. The diversion is infinitely preferable to that of finding out ways and means here at Westminster. I sent yoiu' letter yesterday to Amen Corner, but the lady was gone into the (country, a week ago. My servant left the letter at her lodgings ; and the mistress of the house promised to have it safely con- veyed to her. I never yet had leisure to wait on my Lord Pre- sident ;* I have frequently the honour of his con- versation in the house ; and he seldom fails of giving me an opportunity of presenting your respects to him. I am, Sir, Your ever affectionate servant, W. Carlioi.. • riie Earl oi' Fenihioke. iEt. 45.] RALPH TIIOIIESBY. 435 FROM DR. EDML^D GIBSON. DEAR SIR, Lambeth, March 4, 1702-3. I AM much engaged to you for your charitaljle opinion of wliat I have troubled you with, about our Convocation affair.* It was fit, long since, that an end should be put to this unhappy and pernicious dispute ; but we are purely upon the defensive, and it is better to have no Episcopal Church, than to have Bishops under the awe and authority of Pres- byters ; for, by their present measures, an ecpiality would scaice content tlieiii. What you added about your own affairs was, and still is, a very sensible affliction to me, both as the misfortunes lay upon a person I heartily love and honour, and as they have, in a good measure, fallen upon you by your duty and affection to our esta- blished Church and its governors. May God send you comfort proportionable to your sufferings, and upon the foundation you now seek it, prayers to him, and a hearty trust and confidence in him ; in comparison of which, all other refuge is very uncer- tain, and without that, altogether ineffectual. I will keep your counsel as you direct, yet I see not why the case in general might not be repre- sented to his Grace of York. But I will do nothing without your directions to, Sir, Your very affectionate servant, E. Gibson. * On "the power" claimed by '" the Lower House to adjourn themselves." Chron. Hist. (1747,) i. 323. 2 F 2 430 COHRESPOXDKNC'E OF [A. D. 1703. IRAGMENT OF A LEITEU FROM REV. RICHARD STRETTON. Omi Parliament is broken up,* and we are glad they arc gone without the doing us any more harm. Tlie Occasional Bill that hath occasioned so much dis- course, is now printed both by the Lords and Com- mons ; the latter was printed upon Sir Edward Sey- mours motion and influence, while many of them think they shall gain no credit by it. All impartial men conclude the Lords are much too hard for them. One of your Knights of the Shire (which would do pretty well in a good parliament) will be stark nought in a bad one : your two Knights are never of a side in any trying case ; the Lord Fairfax and the other Knight, would have agreed much better. All King AVilliam's bishops that were in town, and some others, were all right and tight, only your Aiclibishop of York turned iiead upon them. He is much blamed for causing her Majesty to have the misfortune to appear so zealous for it.'| It is com- monly said, and I never heard it denied, that when this bill was first framed, her Majesty sent for him, and asked him if he thouglit in his conscience, that this bill did interfere with, or did undermine the Act for Toleration, and he should say in his consci- ence he did believe not. Some think (that love him * Pnin.ffiicrt Feb. 27, 1702-3, to April 22. t Sec I)i-. ( .ilamv's " Ilist. Account," ii. 10, note. -/Et. 45.] RALPH TIIORKSBY. 437 well) he was strangely surprized, or his conscience was not duly informed and consulted, that could give such an answer. But the influence of his old patron the Earl of N . . .* (from whose vassalage he brake in King William's time) hath brought him over to be the head of the high church party. Her Majesty, I am satisfied, would do well, if she knew how, to all her subjects, and there may be truth in the pasquil taken up in her Majesty's lodgings at her levee, in — " The Queen is good ; lier council bad ; - The Lords are wise, and the Commons mad." There is a great promotion of Lords, in order to the carrying on the bill in the next sessions ; viz. Mr. Finch, Conway, Seymour, Sir Levison Gower, Granville, and Mr. Harley, of Suffolk ; the four first are all right for their purpose, but the fifth will be an honest Englishman in what house soever he sits. Several Scotch Lords are made English Peers; and it is said, the Marquis of Normanby, and the Earl of Rutland will be made Dukes. King William's pro- phec)'^ in his last dying speech begins in the judg- ment of all wise men to be accomplished ; in that he hoped tliere would be no other difference known amongst us, but who was for the English govern- ment and the Protestant religion, and who were for a French government and popery. There are many devices in the hearts of men ; but the counsels of the Lord, that alone shall stand : the Lord reigns, and let the isles rejoice. * Nottingham. See il>ifl. ]>. 2k3. 438 COUKESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1703. FROIVI REW MATTHEW HENRY. HONOURED SH?, Chester, March 13, 1702-3. Your correspondence is more and more ol)liging and kind ; I know not how to exi)ress my thanks for it. I am glad to be further assured that moderation and catholic charity have so great an influence with those in power. Scarce any thing I inculcate more, according to the best of my capacity, than that (not only wherein 1 concur with you, but for which I love you) true piety is to be found in persons of dif- ferent denominations. Many follow Christ that do not follow with us ; I therefore could not but utterly dislike the design of the Conformity Bill, that it put a brand upon them that least interest themselves in our unhappy disputes, and place their religion not in meats and drinks, not either in the imposition or the opposition of indifferent things, but in righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Were we but more acted with the love of God, the faith of Christ, and the hope of heaven, how inconsiderable would those things appear, on which we are so apt to spend our zeal, as if the controversy were between God and Baal — Christ and Beelzebub ! Your friend that brought me yours, tells me how haj)j)y you are in your country in a good understanding and corre- s|)ondence between those of different sentiments ; I w ish it v/ere so every where else : were the Spi- rit poured out upon us from on high, it would be iEt. 45.] RALPH TilORKSBY. 431) SO. I have herewith sent you Mr. Cook's manu- script account of his struggle with Hugh Peters, which perhaps will not answer your expectation, hut it will give you some entertainment, and an idea of the man. When 1 see Mr. Lawrence, I will talk with him about Mr. liyfield's manuscript, and I think I shall see Mr. Chorlton next week, at Manchester, and will talk with him about the other you mention. I well remember I sent you, some time ago, a very fair manuscript of Mr. Steel's, and am sorry if it mis- carried. I return you many thanks for your kind invitation to Leeds. 1 am very willing to accept it, for I long for a personal acquaintance with one I have so great a value for. I talk of a journey to London this summer, if the Lord will : if any thing put by that, as perhaps it may, I will endeavour to wait upon you, but I doubt I can scarce compass both in one summer. This is not the world we are to be together in ; but there is such a world before us, where we shall be together for ever with the Lord. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in Heaven, we are already come in faith and hope ; by virtue of which we meet daily at the same throne of grace, and have comfort in a spiritual communion with all that in every i)lace call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours ; this is an earnest of that blissful state in which we shall be with all the saints, none but saints, and saints made perfect ; where Lu^ 440 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A. D. 1703. thcr and Calvin are both of a mind. God keep us looking for tliat blessed hope ! Mr. lies has promised to receive Mr. Prescot's answer; for when I waited upon him yesterday with your letter, he was indis- posed, and not to be spoken with. Yours to Salop shall be sent by the first opportunity. I beg an in- terest in your prayers, and the continuance of your friendship, and kind correspondence with, Your much obliged luiml)le servant. Mat. Henry. FROM REV. MATTIIKW HENRY. DEAR SIR, Chester, March 24, 1702-3. Having the honour of transmitting these to you, I am not willing they should go without a line from myself, to repeat my thanks to you for your kind correspondence. I was with Mr. Chorlton last week, but he assures me he knows nothing of any manu- scripts of the Assembly's in Mr. Scales's hands : he has indeed heard that one of his ancestors was Mr. Rathl)and, a member of the Assembly, but he did not remember to have heard of any rarities in his hand. When I see Mr. Lawrence, I will talk with him about Mr. Byfield's papers. Mr. Chorlton was presented last summer assize for teaching a private academy, Imt tlu'ough the favour of some not JEt.45.] RALPH THORESBY. 441 known, the prosecution was this assize let fall ; which we have reason to be tliankful for both to God and man. I should be somewhat the easier, if I well saw that your friend the Bishop of Carlisle would be against the Conformity Bill another ses- sions. God keep us quiet and peaceable, and in the way of our duty, and that shall be our rejoi- cing. AVith the tender of my true respects, I rest. Sir, Your most affectionate friend and servant, Matthew Henry. FROM SIR GODFREY COPLEY, BART. F.R.S. SIR, Newark, Tuesday, March 23, 1702. Being upon a journey, I have only time to tell you that I had your's before I came from home, which was another obligation added to that of your company at Sprotborough. I believe the pedigree is the same with that which my father had in parcli- ment, after the manner of that of the Fitzwilliaras's, whicli I showed you. I will get so much time as to enquire what may be found amongst the Heralds ; but I would by no means have you to be afraid of interrupting my business as a Commissioner of Ac- counts by your correspondence : that would be to make me a greater sufferer for the public than in reason I ought to be. My former wife was the 442 C OllRESrONDENCE OF [A. D. 1703. younger daughter of Mr. Jolui l^urcell, of Nant- cribba, in the county of Montgomery, who served for that county as uiember of ParHauient : her name was Catherine. The elder daughter, now alive, is the wife of Edward Vaughan, who now serves for the same county : they were heiresses to a consider- able estate, and, I think, the last of that family. My present wife, whose name is Gertrude, is the daugh- ter of Sir John Carew, of Anthony in the edge, of the county of Cornwall, near Plymouth. By the mother's side, she is the grand-daughter of Secretary Morice, who got a great estate, now descended to my wife's lialf uncle by the mother, Sir Nicholas IMoricc. I have received those small matters, and have them with me with design to show them to some of our friends ; and I can take no farther re- solution, as yet, tlian to let you know their opinion of them. I am Your very faithful servant, G. COPI.EY. rilOM Sill GODFREY COPLEY, BART. Sin, London, Marcli 30, 1703. I AM engaged to dine with my brethren, who are invited to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's, before w horn we are two of us to be sworn to-morrow ; and therefore shall not have opportunity of meeting at llic Uoyal Society, and showing those small matters. JEt.45.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 443 which, since you are pleased to put such a value upon them, I will l)e sure to bring down with me when I come. There is a piece of an urn, with some letters upon it; a small piece of glass, furrow- ed or fluted, of a pale-blue colour ; a kind of brass hook, or hasj), to a garment, which hath been en- amelled, I think, and hath had some sort of stone set in it ; and that which Mr. Barr. would fancy to be some tutelar God, is nothing, in my opinion, but a piece of metal tliat hath boiled over out of an iron or glass-house furnace ; but perhaps a more skilful man may find it to be something else, I give you thanks for your account of the fruitful woman. I will endeavour to make you a return of one that was as extraordinary, or more, in ray opi- nion : I think she is in town, if I mistake not. I pray give my service to Mr. Kirk when you see him. I am Your humble servant, G. Copley. FROM ROBERT MOLESWORTH, ESQ. AFTERWARDS LORD MOLESWORTH. HONOURED Sni, Edlington, April 12, 1703. The extraordinary value you are pleased to put upon my poor performances, testified in the letter of the lOtli instant, obliges me to be as early as I can poj^sible in returning my humble thatiks for it. I 444 CORRESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1703. am not a little proud of the approbation of so judi- cious a person, as all that have the lionour of being ac(piainted with you, know you to be ; and I look u})on it as one of tlie greatest advantages of my transplanting into this country, that I may now and then hope for the conversation and correspondence of one who does so justly merit the esteem of all the learned world. The sense I have of this, makes me regret my not having been able to meet the Justices at Pontefract Sessions. I can hardly excuse myself for tliat omission, though, I believe, the importance of the business I had then to do at home, (which was the dispatching my two eldest sons to travel for some years,) will plead my excuse with any body else. Had I been sure of meeting you there, this itself had not hindered me; however, I am com- forted liy the assurance you formerly gave me, that the mean entertainment you met with at Edlington has not discouraged you from visiting these parts again, at a convenient time. I intend, God willing, to-morrow to set out towards London, in order for Ireland ; in Ijoth which i)laces I shall have oppor- tunity to fulfil your retjuests, most of which are so particularly advfuitageous to myself, that I sliould be more than ordinarily stupid if I neglected them. I believe I can furnish you with an original Treaty, signed by the King of Denmark,* and do not doubt • To whom Lord Moleswortli had l»ecn " Envoy extraordinary, in J«92." He published " An Account of Denmark," of wliidi there liave heen several editions. ^t. 45.] RALPH TIIORESBY. 445 but to find some original papers of Sir Williann Petty, in Ireland, if not in my scrutoire at London. My own pedigree (since you are pleased to honour me so far as to consecrate my name to eternity, by inserting it among your rare collections,) shall be communicated to you by the first convenient oppor- tunity. My wife's father was the Lord Coote, Baron of Coloony in Ireland ; his eldest son was made Earl of Bellomont, (by King William,) who died Go- vernor of New England and New York last year. My wife is as sensible as I am of the honour you intend her, and is only sorry she deserved it no better ; but your kind acceptance of very trivial pre- sents will engage every body to endeavour to make you such as may be more suitable to your particular gusto, and that useful as well as curious piece of learning you intend one day (I hope) to oblige man- kind with. As for myself, I desire nothing more than to have frequent opportunities of testifying publicly the esteem I have for one so deserving, and thereby I think I receive a great deal more honour than I confer. I am, Sir, Your most faithful and most obliged humble servant, R. MOLESWORTH. Pray, Sir, assure Mr. Kirk of my true respects when next you see him. 44G COKllESPONDENCE OF [A.D. 1703. FROM I)K. WOODWARD. SIR, Gresham College, April 13, 1703. I THAXK you for your intention of making further inquiry about presages of weather in mines and coal- pits : and desire to know which way the gentleman you mention in your last frames his judgment of the quantity and duration of the rain from the steams in the pits. You say not one word in your last, of the bone you promised me : I fear it will go to the medal tliat was mentioned a year ago, which I perceive could not travel southward unless met half-way by a Roman lamp. I am sorry I had not a dupHcate, for I should have been very forward to have sent it on that errand. I am very far from making articles or conditions with any gentleman of curiosity about any thing I have to spare ; and Mr. Thoresby in par- ticular knows he can command any thing in my power : I am only concerned that no one single fossil or antiquity fit to be reposited in Gresham College, comes up to bear his name upon it, and do credit to my Collection. Sir Roger Bradshaigh gives me yet expectation of Dr. Cucrden's manuscripts, but, me- thinks, they come very slowly. Dr. Sloane had your paper about the Roman ruins, and ought to have re- turned you thanks. I have delivered your message to Mr. Wren, who gives me the hearing ; but I can tell you it is a ])roperty very inherent in that family, to pait ^\'ith nothing they can hold. If Mr. Dale iEt. 45.] RALPH THORP:SF{Y. 447 regards none of my former messages, I cannot but think it vain and unfit to deliver him any more. I have lately received a letter from Mr. Moiell, the author of the Specimen rei Nuniarise, in defence of his sentiments of some Consular coins, in answer to M. Galland. I am, Sir, your very humble servant, J. Woodward. FROM REV. EDMUND IIICKERINGILL. SIR, Colchester, April 24, 1703. ' I ONCE had a letter from you, but cannot tell whether you be yet alive, or whether this will come to your hands ; or if it do, whether you still go on with your design to write (as Plutarch) the lives of notable men ; at least, of your countrymen in York- shire : if so, I will keep a correspondence with you, (though I once declined it,) and possibly may furnish you with some materials : however, I am, thougli unknown, a cordial well-wisher to you, and your laud- able undertaking. I am seventy-three years old ; old enough to ex- pect (as I hourly and cheerfully do) my last hour ; yet mine eyes are not dim, nor my natural strength abated, at least, not much abated, having an ath- letical strength in a declining age, having long lived (most commonly) in an excellent air at my house 448 COlUlESrONDENCE, &c. [A.D. 1703. near Colchester (Pond-hall), not much inferior for l)leasure at least, if not for profit also, to any seat in Essex. But if you write to me, direct your letter to me, at my house in Colchester, where I have always some of my servants, who will speedily bring it to Your humble servant, Edm. Hickeringill.* * See vol. ii. pp. 8 — 17. END OF THE FIKST VOLUME. LONDON : I'UIN1I,I) I5Y SAMUEL BENTLEY, Dorset Siicet, l"l(ct Street. 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