2 Extract of another Letter, Feb. 6, 1726.

GEORGE CORYAT'S POEM.

"I HAVE been told Mr. George CORYAT'S Poem of England is printed, although neither his son Thomas, nor Mr. Wood had seen it. If it be, your curiosity will find it out. There is something in it relating to both Universities, which I should be glad to see. If this Poem be not already printed, 'tis probable it might be worth publishing by somebody, the author being styled by Dr. Caius, Poeta Oxoniensis et cum primis elegans."

3 Extract. Feb. 19, 1726.

JOHN LEWIS-THOMAS MADOX.

"I NEVER Saw Mr. Lewis's Antiquities of the Isle of Thanet. But I have had a character of it. I knew Mr. MADOX. His learning lay in affairs of the Exchequer, and he had a pretty good share of the Common Law. But he was little versed in Classics and Philology. I was many years ago acquainted with him in Oxford when he studied for some short time at the Bodleian Library. I know not whether he had any University education."

4 Extract. March 7, 1726,

LORD SURREY'S POEMS.

"In a Note of the bottom of p. 7 of the 2d. vol, of Leland's Itinerary, I have mentioned a corrected copy of the Earl of Surrey's Poems among Mr. Selden's books. Which note Mr. Sergeant of the Tower observing, he desired me many years since to get these Corrections copied for him; and he

sent down his copy of those Poems for that end. Accordingly, instead of employing any one else, I copied them myself, and returned his book. I do not doubt but it came safe to his hands, tho' he never made me the least acknowledgement either by letter or word of mouth. If this book, in which I entered the corrections, be in his Auction, it would be worth while to secure it."

"I AM glad Surrey's Poems with the MSS. corrections that I entered as I remember with my own hand from Mr. Selden's copy, were purchased by so worthy a Gentleman as you mention. I know not whether Mr. Sergeant had any hand in the Edition of these Poems, that came out in 1717. This later Edition is mentioned in p. 36, of Mr, Sergeant's Catalogue."

6 Extract. Feb. 7, 1727.

WM. PRYNNE,

"Wm. Pryn is a writer of the lowest class. I should not have made the least inquiry after him, had not you given me the hint. But I cannot meet with the two volumes you speak of. Were there no other, 'tis a sufficient argument that Learning sinks, (and with it Religion), when they propose to reprint any thing done by so very mean an author.

"We are going on at the press with the Black Book of the Exchequer, with all convenient expedition. It is a remarkable piece of Antiquity, and will settle many things about our nobility &c. that even Sir William Dugdale himself was mistaken in.

*Mr. West's Note. 66 Surrey's Poems."

James Joy Esq. bought the above Copy of

And there are withall many particulars not known in Worcester's Annals, that are to go with it."

7 Extract. April 3, 1729.

EARLY PRINTING AT GREENWICH.

"THERE was PRINTING at Greenwich temp. Hen. VIII.-Old Mr. Beckford (father of the late Mr. Beckford), of Wolvercote near Oxford (a paper-maker), had a Book printed there; but what it was, or what became of it, I know not. It will be worth your while to take notice if you should meet with any books printed at Greenwich."

8 Extract. April 28, 1729.

PALMER'S BOOK ON PRINTING.

"I KNOW not what Mr. PALMER may have from Mr. Mattaire (who I hear is his assistant), and from the papers of honest John Bagford; but being a mere mechanic himself, I cannot expect any curious, short, critical remarks of his own. "The Book you have, printed at Greenwich, is a curiosity, as you have the happiness and good fortune to meet with many curiosities, for which and for your virtues you are much respected by," &c.

9. Extract. July 4, 1729.

QU. JOHN LEWIS?

"THE person you mention (that hath printed part of my book), is a man of a very vile character, as I have heard long since, and is very pragmatical in Kent, where he is abominated. I do not wonder at the abuse you speak of (for I have not seen the Book), since I have often heard he is a silly Fellow.

(A man of common sense would have been contented to have stolen without otherwise abusing the person he robbed.) He is an enemy to Antiquity, and is for altering originals. His catechism, I am assured, was stole, and his book, in which he pretends to History and Antiquity, I find are in no esteem.*

"I am sorry the Gentleman you mention should be the Publisher of lying Bale's Book about Sir John Oldcastle. But his name being not to it, I will suspend my judgment."

10 Extract. July 15, 1729.

ARNOLD'S CHRONICLE.

"I HAVE got a copy of The Customs of London myself, which begins as yours does; and so indeed all the copies I have heard of, begin, not excepting even that which Bale made use of, who ascribes it to one ARNOLD a citizen of London, as the compiler; in which I believe he is right enough, since Bale lived at the time it first came out, (though he must be young then), and could hardly in that case be mistaken. Mr. Richard Smith also, (and he, you know, was very inquisitive and curious in affairs of this kind), ascribed it to Arnold, whom Bale and others call Richard Arnold. The things in the book that are different from "The Customs of London" are the Alia, which Bale makes Arnold to have written; but then Dr. Pits (who otherwise follows Bale) tells us, he knows not whether or no Arnold wrote any thing else besides the Repositorium (that is, Bale's word also), or Repertory. I have been inclined to think that the author of the Old Ballad in it, called The Nut-brown Maid, was Thomas Elmham. But this being only surmise, I did not ascribe it to him in my Edition of his History of Hen. V.

* This must allude to the learned John Lewis of Margate, and to his Edition of Roper's Life of More.

11 Extract. Sept. 22, 1729.

THE SAME.

"CERTAINLY the 2d Edition of Arnolde exceeds the first in this, that the History at the beginning (which is much the better part of the Book), comes much lower than it does in the first. I have been told that there was lately advertized a 3d Edition. Pray let me know if there be any such thing."

12 Extract. March 24, 1729.

SAXTON'S MAPS.-RASTELL'S CHRONICLE.

"I AM glad you have got so good a set of Saxton's Maps. I cannot at present recollect any thing about T. Sekford. I have Saxton myself, a copy good enough for my use. I often consult this first collection of our maps, and I find it of great service, as I have more than once hinted in my Notes to The Black Book. I must observe one thing to you, and that is, that I have heard some knowing men say, that the copies of Saxton's maps that are not coloured are preferable to such as are coloured."

"I am likewise no less pleased that you have got a fine copy of Rastell's Chronicle. I never saw a complete one."

13 Extract. April 24, 1730.

PATRICK GORDON,

"THE latter end of last month (as I have been informed), died at Fownehope, 4 miles from Hereford, Mr. Patrick Gordon, one of the worthiest and most learned men belonging to the Church of Hereford. He always inquired very kindly after me. He was formerly master of the Free School at Bray near Maidenhead in Berks. He was the very