"I thank you and your worthy kinsman the Præcentor (to whom my humble service) for your great trouble in reference to the York MS. of Thomas Eccleston; but I now despair (for I cannot go thither myself, and I know not what person to employ) not only of having the MS. sent me, but of having it copied for me; so that my design of printing Eccleston from that MS. is now (as I apprehend) wholly at an end.

"Mr. Hesketh is a gentleman for whom I have a great honour; my humble service to him; I had some small acquaintance with him when he was of Brazen-nose College. I should be glad to peruse his Collection of Letters, as I should likewise your Rental of Furness Abbey; but I am not in haste, so you may take your own time. I am, honoured Sir, &c. THO. HEARNE." "HONOURED SIR, Edm. Hall, Oxford, May 15, 1728. "After waiting a great while, I am glad at last to have an opportunity of returning the MS Roll, and the Folio MS. of Letters, you were so kind as to send me. I repeat my humble thanks for the loan of both. I transcribed some few things from the book of Letters, which I hope may be most carefully preserved, as it deserves, especially upon account of its having the hand-writing of so many illustrious persons in it. You will be pleased to return my humble service and thanks to the worthy owner. "Thomas Elmham' being finished (your copy of which was delivered to Mr. Yarburgh on the 20th of February last, when he paid me for it), we are now very busy about The Black Book of the Exchequer,' a thing of great note and curiosity, and the most authentic record of its kind that we have for our Families next to Domesday Book.'

"I hope this parcel (which I have delivered into the hands of your hopeful Son for the carrier) will come safe to you; and I am, Sir, your most obliged and humble servant, THO. HEARNE."

"HONOURED SIR, Edm. Hall, Oxford, Aug. 26, 1729. "I take this opportunity of writing to you by my friend your Son of Brazen-nose. 'Richard the Second's Life' being finished, we are now busy about the History of Edward the Second' from three MSS. never before printed. Trokelowe is often cited by Stow and others, but more by the name of Tricklow than Trokelowe. I know not whether you can tell any thing about either him or Blaneforde; otherwise I should request a word or two from you on that head; but, since Edward II. was much in the North, when he endeavoured, as much as he could, to protect his favourite Gaveston from his invidious enemies, it is probable you may have met with some particulars on that point that are curious, and not hitherto taken notice of by our common writers. If any thing of that kind hath come to hand, it will be very acceptable to, Sir, &c. THO. HEARNE." Edm. Hall, Oxford, Sept. 15, 1730. " Mr. Abraham Woodhead, formerly Fellow of University College, was born at Maltham, in the parish of Albonsbury, aliàs

"SIR,

* Richard Richardson, Esq. the Doctor's eldest Son; see p. 240.

Ambury

Ambury, in Yorkshire, being the son of John Woodhead, of Thornhill, in the same county. He was a man of that extraordinary worth, for piety, sanctity of life, modesty, humility, and all kind of virtue, as well as for extensive learning, that I have always thought that he ought to be reckoned as one of the greatest men that were ever bred in England; for which reason I am desirous to know something more of him than hath been related by Mr. Wood, who, however, hath given us a good account. As you were formerly of University College, and a Yorkshire man, it is probable you can inform me in some particulars of special remark about this good man; and for that reason I apply myself to you; and the rather so, because I well know your candour and readiness. Among other things, I should be willing to know, whether there be any of the family now remaining? But, as you have got Wood's 'Athenæ' by you, you will thereby pretty well see what it is that I want, since indeed I know but little more about him than what Mr. Wood hath published. The second volume of Thomas Key's Vinddicia Antiquitatis Academiæ Oxon.' &c. is in great forwardness.

"You will excuse the trouble that is given you by, honoured Sir, your obliged and most humble servant, THO. HEARNE." HONOURED SIR, Edm. Hall, Oxford, May 13, 1732. "On the first instant your Sont, of University College, paid me a guinea by your order (for which I thank you), in full for your copy, in small paper, of 'Thomas Otterbourne and John Whethamstede,' which I am now printing in two volumes in Svo.

"But the occasion of my writing now is this. A friend of mine designs in a little time to go into Scotland; and desires to know whether in such a journey it may be safe travelling for two or three persons out of the high roads, if they have a mind to seek Antiquities, and to go into bye-roads; and particularly if they have a desire to trace the Picts Wall from one end to the other. He is a young gentleman that is inquisitive and curious; and, being satisfied that most Antiquities lye hid in bye-places, he hath a desire of seeing what remains of that kind there are at the Picts Wall, and in some other bye-places; but is willing first of all to be satisfied whether there may be danger in such sort of travelling out of the high roads. My friend put another query to me, viz. Is it best to go by land or water from Edinburgh to St. Andrew's and Aberdeen? My friend's name is Loveday *; and you will find mention of him in 'Hemingford,' which I suppose you have received before this time. You are as a likely a person to inform me as any, and therefore I apply to you in my friend's behalf. Your known candour will excuse me; and I hope you will be pleased to answer the request of, Sir, your most obliged, &c. THO. HEARNE.

"HONOURED SIR, Edm. Hall, Oxford, March 21, 1732-3. "I am indebted to you for a letter ever since the 22d of May last. In that letter are many very curious remarks, for which I

* John Loveday, Esq. of Caversham. Of this learned and truly amiable gentleman, see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. III. p. 468; vol. VII. p. 238.

thank

thank you, especially since you put them down upon what I mentioned with respect to my friend's design of going into Scotland. Your observations (which I told him of) proved of good service; and he met with great civilities in that country, and he steered his course according to your directions; but then he found it impracticable to trace the Picts-Wall on horseback, so he designs to do it at some other time (when he takes another journey, perhaps next summer, into Scotland) on foot. He hath established some acquaintance at or near the Picts Wall, where he can safely leave his horse till he hath finished his walk, in order to made discoveries in that considerable piece of Antiquity, the Picts Wall. Our old Friend Mr. Ed. Lhwyd's letters to you, relating to his Travels in Scotland, must needs be very curious; and I do not doubt but you will take care to have them preserved, particularly such parts of those Letters* as relate immediately to Learning, and not to private concerns. There are many other curious Letters of his in other hands (for he had a large correspondence) which I likewise wish might be preserved; but I fear divers are lost. Sir Thomas Sebright hath a great number of his papers; and it would be of service to the publick were they digested by some qualified person. I think Sir Thomas would not be against such a good design. But then it should be done by a person of Mr. Lhwyd's own country, one that is well acquainted with the old British. I fear we must in vain wait for a man so qualified. Yesterday I delivered to your Son of University College+ (a very hopeful young gentleman) your copy of 'Otterbourne, &c.' for which I had been paid by him in full on May 1st last. He will take care to see it safe in your hands.

"We are now busy upon the Annals of Dunstaple,' so well known to Sir Edward Coke,and to many of our Historians, though I do not find that any of them knew, that his name was Richard de Morins. I am, Sir, your most obliged, &c. THO. HEARNE."

"HONOURED SIR, Edm. Hall, Orford, May 16, 1733. "I thank you for the guinea you paid me by your Son (to whom my humble service) of University College on the eighth of last month, in full for one copy (in small paper) of 'The Chronicle of Dunstaple by Richard de Morins,' which I am now printing at the Theatre in two volumes in 8vo. Your additional notes relating to the Picts Wall are equally curious with those in your former Letter. I believe my friend will hardly view that piece of Antiquity this Summer. Were I to trace it myself, I do not doubt but I could make new discoveries; but 1 must not now ever think of having that pleasure. I never yet saw Alexander Gordon's 'Itinerarium Septentrionale,' in which, it seems, are many curious observations. I am glad to hear so many of Mr. Edward Lhwyd's Letters to you are carefully preserved. Sir Hans Sloane had a true value for him, and it is well that any thing of that kind falls into his hands. Some things of Mr. Lhwyd's are printed in a 4to book about the 'Antiquities * Some of these very Letters hereafter, pp. 316–321. + Afterwards the Rev. Henry Richardson. See p. 242.

and

and Natural History of Ireland.' Had the Editor of that book consulted you, you could easily have furnished him with more, and I believe Mr. Lhwyd left MS notes upon that part of Camden which relates to Ireland; though where to meet with them now is as uncertain, as where to find Bp. Humphreys's MS notes upon the part of Camden which concerns Wales; which notes of the Bishop must be very learned, and indeed extraordinary in their way, if I may guess from what I have printed of his in 'Caius' and 'Otterbourne.' Mr. Camden, in his Britannia,' hath published a fragment relating to Dun the Robber, from a private MS History of Dunstable (it should be rather Dunstaple); but does not tell us where the MS. was, nor can I, after all my searches, find where it may be met with. It is a different thing from what I am printing. If you can any way learn where it is, be pleased to inform, Sir, &c. THO. HEARne.

"My service attends your other Son*, he that was of Brazenose." HONOURED SIR, Edm. Hall, Oxford, May 13, 1734. "On the 19th of March last your copy (in small paper) of the 'Annals of Dunstaple,' for which I had been paid before in full, was delivered to your Son of University College, so that I hope by this time you have received it safe. I am now printing (in two volumes 8vo.) Benedictus Abbas Petroburgensis de Vita et Gestis Henrici Secundi et Ricardi Primi.' The price two guineas the large, and one guinea the small paper. He is an Author never yet printed. He is the same Historian that was one of those who compiled Quadrilogus,' a work that is printed, but is become scarce.

"Gerardet, in his Herball 1597,' observes that Ingleborough hill in Yorkshire is the highest hill in England. I know of no one that is better acquainted with the affairs of that County than yourself. I desire that you would be pleased to let me know, whether that observation be true? Some have said Hillesden in Buckinghamshire, others Nettlebed in Oxfordshire, is the highest. I do not remember that I ever discoursed this point with our late friend Mr. Edward Lhwyd, a proper person to be consulted in affairs of this kind. Your obliged humble servant, THO. HEARne."

Mr. MARMADUKE FOTHERGILL to Dr. RICHARDSON. Pontefract, Aug. 23, 1718.

"DEAR SIR,

"I am sorry you could not keep pace with your promise the last Assize, where you would have added one more to the merry as

Richard, the eldest son; see pp. 240, 309.

John Gerarde, a Surgeon and famous Naturalist in the time of Queen Elizabeth, lived in Holborn, where he had a large Botanic Garden, of which he published a Catalogue in 1596, and again in 1599. He was born at Nantwich in 1545; and died about 1607.

A near Relation (I believe Uncle) to the celebrated Dr, John Fotbergill; who was born in 1712 at Carr End in Yorkshire; where his father, who had been a Brewer at Knaresborough (after having travelled from one end of America to the other) lived retired, on a small estate which he cultivated.

sembly,

sembly. Among other curiosities, the Collection of Liturgies have no small ascendancy with me. Lately an ingenious gentleman of Trinity College was with me; and, among other entertainments, a Collection of Eastern Liturgies, printed lately at Paris, in two vols. 4to. published, as I remember, by Renaudot*, hath so powerfully lodged itself in memory, that I was not easy till by discharge you was acquainted with it. My Lord Dupplin, and your Consult, are the only means to procure it: applications to the one may carry perhaps too great an air of freedom: whilst motions to the other may be more safe and allowable: and this is the true reason why this trouble courts you.

"Be pleased to suffer the whole contrivance to go under your name; and as the loss, if any happens, justly is my own, so the procurement, with all thankful returns, must be acknowledged, by, Sir, your most obliged servant, MARM. FOTHERGILL.

"My spouse and cousin Gill greet you all with their hearty services and in particular, your lady's namesake must again have her service presented."

Rev. HUGH JONES to Dr. RICHARDSON.

"DEAR SIR, London, April 26, 1758. "It gave me no small pleasure to hear, upon my arrival in England, that my good friend Dr. Richardson was still alive, from whom I have not heard, I think, these sixteen years. I arrived at Portsmouth the 16th instant, after a very lucky passage, from Fort St. George, where, you know, I had resided many years in quality of one of the Company's Chaplains; which station my age and consequent infirmities at last obliged me to quit; and any small matter I have saved in that country will go, after my decease, to three or four Relations I have in London, who much need it. I am now eighty-three years of age; and, I thank God, have all along enjoyed, and do still, my health surprizingly. Though by the course of Nature I can scarce be supposed to hold out above a year or two longer; at least I ought to think it my duty at my age in an especial manner to remember my latter end.

"I concluded that my dear friend was no more, from his long silence; and indeed I thought by the course of Nature I could scarce hope for his being alive; but how great was my joy, when I was informed by a Quaker in Gracechurch street, with whom you used to deal for Seeds, &c. that I might yet have the satisfaction of hearing from my first, my dearest, and most esteemed acquaintance and friend. Alas! how many of our dear friends are dead since 1700! The worthy Mr. Ray, and Dr. Lister, whom indeed we were not acquainted with until they were advanced in years; as was also Mr. Sutherland in Scotland! But of those "A Collection of ancient Greek and Oriental Liturgies, by Francis Renaudot, 1716," 2 vols. 4to.

+ Mr. William Sherard,

neares