The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

The Corresondence of the Browne Family
General Editor Brent Nelson
This text is based on OCR from Wilkins.
7 1661.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 7 Dr. Browne to his son Thomas.
Aprill the 22, Norwich, [1661.]
Honest Tom,
[MS 391 Rawlinson Collection. Wilkin: "seem to have been transcripts by Mrs. Elizabeth Lyttelton, his daughter"]. I hope by this time thou art got somewhat beyond
plaist il, and ouy Monsieur, and durst ask a question and give
an answer in french, and therefore now I hope you goe to the
Protestant Church, to which you must not be backward, for
tho there church order and discipline be different from ours,
yet they agree with us in doctrine and the main of Religion.
Endeavour to write french; that will teach you to understand
it well, you should have signified the Apoticary's name with
whom you dwell, in such a place you may see the drugs and
remember them all your life. I received your letter and like
your description of the place, both the Romans and English
have lived there; the name of Santonna now Xaintes is in the
geographie of Ptolemie who lived under Antoninus, as also
Porto Santonicus where Rochell stands, and Promontorium
Santonicum where now Bloys. My coyns are encreased since
you went I had 60 coynes of King Stephen found in a grave
before Christmas, 60 Roman silver coyns I bought a month
agoe, and Sir Robert Paston will send me his box of Saxon
and Roman coyns next week, which are about thirtie, so that                                  
I would not buy any there except some few choice ones which
I have not already; but you doe very well to see all such things, 88 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1661.
some likely have collections which they will in courtesie show,
as also urns and lachrimatories; any friend will help you to a
sight thereof, for they are not nice in such things. I should be
content you should see Rochell and the Isle of Rhee, salt
works are not far from you, for the sommer will be too hot to
travail and I would have you wary to expose yourself then
to heats, but to keep quiet and in shades. Write some times to
Mr. Dade civil letters with my service. I send at this time by
Rochell whither the ships will be passing from Yarmouth for
salt. Point your letters hereafter, I mean the ends of sentences.
Christ church is in a good condition much frequented, and
they have a sweet organ; on Tuesday next is the Coronation
day when Mr. Bradford preacheth: it will be observed with
great solemnity especially at London: a new Parliment on the
8th of May and there is a very good choice almost in all places.
Cory the Recorder, and Mr. Jay, 2 Royallists gained it here
against all opposition that could possibly bee made; the voyces
in this number, Jaye 1070, Corie 1001, Barnham 562, Church
436. My Lord Richardson and Sir Ralph Hare caryed it in
the county without opposition. Lent was observed this year
which made Yarmouth and fishermen rejoyce. The Militia is
settled in good hands through all England, besides volunteer
troops of hors, in this Citty Collonell Sir Joseph Pain, Lieutenant
Coll. Jay, Major Bendish, Captain Wiss, Brigs, Scottow,
2 volunteer troops in the country under Mr Knivet and
Sir Horace Townsend, who is made a Lord. Good boy doe
not trouble thy self to send us any thing, either wine or bacon.
I would have sent money by Exchange, but Charles Mileham
would not have me send any certain sum, but what you spend
shall be made good by him. I wish some person would direct
you a while for the true pronunciation and writeing of french,
by noe means forget to encrease your Latin, be patient civil
and debonair unto all, be temperate and stir litle in the hot
season: by the books sent you may understand most that has
pasd since your departure, and you may now read the french
Gazets which come out weekly. Yesterday the Dean preached
and red the Liturgie or Common prayer, and had a Comunion
at Yarmouth as haveing a right to doe so some times, both at 91661.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 9
St Marys the great church at Lynn and St Nicholas church
at Yarmouth as he is Dean. It is thought by degrees most will
come to conformitie. There are great preparitions against to-
morrow the Coronation day, the County hors came hither to
joyn the Regiment of foot of this Citty, a feast at the new hall,
generall contributions for a feast for the poor, which they say
will be in the market place, long and solemn service at Christ
Church beginning at 8 a Clock and with a sermon ending at
twelve. Masts of ships and long stageing poles already set up
for becon bonfires, speeches and a little play by the strollers
in the market place an other by young Cityzens at Timber
Hill on a stage, Cromwell hangd and burnt every where,
whose head is now upon Westminster hall, together with Ireton
and Bradshows. Have the love and fear of God ever before
thine eyes; God confirm your faith in Christ and that you may
live accordingly, Je vous recommende a Dieu. If you meet
with any pretty insects of anany kind keep them in a box, if
you can send les Antiquites de Bourdeaux by any ship, it
may come safe.
(No Signature.) 151661.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 15 Dr. Browne to his son Thomas
Honest Tom,
[MS 391 Rawlinson Collection. Wilkin: "seem to have been transcripts by Mrs. Elizabeth Lyttelton, his daughter"]. I sent November the first a box with letters and
other things, by a ship bound for Rochell, but perhaps that
may be a month before it comes unto you, and therefore by
this of the post I signifie that you may goe to Nantes if you
desire and have convenience, and from thence may goe to
Paris as you find the season favour. I received the pritty
stones and insects, it is good to take notice of quarrys and
mines. I know not whether I shall have the convenience to
write to you to Nantes as I have here except you signifie by
some way, by some English marchants there. God Bless you.
Your loveing father, T. B.
Nov. ye 2. stilo veterie, [1661.] 911665.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 91 Mr. Edward Browne to his Father
[MS. SLOAN. 1868]
Sir, I received two letters from you yesterday, and
baue met with a great many more at Venice and Padoua. I
intend not to come by Lions or Geneua; the way being too
bad to crosse the Alpes ouer Mount Godard, Mount Sam-
pion, or Mount Senis. I think it will not bee worth my
staying much longer when I haue seen the practise in the hos-
pitalls. The anatomy is done; it hath giuen mee great satis-
faction, not in any thing that bath been said upon the parts,
but in seeing the praparationspreparations, which was done so neatly, that
I think I shall neuer see any thing like it againe. 'Twas
young Marchetti that dissected; hee first learned this dexte-
rity of Sr John Finch, a worthy gentleman, and of great
esteem all ouer Italy, and one that in anatomy hath taken as
much pains as most now liuing. Hee hath tables of the
veines, nerues, and arteries, fiue times more exact then are
described in any author. I am particularly obliged to him,
hee doing mee the fauour of showing mee the receptaculum 9292 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1665.
chyliductus thoracicus, ductus Whartoni, and ductus Stenonis,
in a dog, which wee got for the purpose. Hee is a great
honourer of you, sir, which ·made him willing to doe me a
kindnesse, though hee be nice in showing any thing in ana-
tomy. My design as to my journey is to goe directly into
Prouence, if the plague be ceaced there, and from thence, as
I find opportunity, to Paris, by some way which I have not
yet gone. I haue laide aside my thoughts of seeing Ger-
many, chusing rather to be perfect in Italian and French then
to understand Dutch also, and haue but a smattering of all
three. I think I shall haue Mr. Trumbulls companye againe,
at least some part of the way. There is heere an academy;
those of it call themselves I recouerati; one made a speech
about the last commet, which I read in print. Hee afirms
that there was at first obserued a large parallax by obserua-
tion from diuers places, but by some instances in his discourse
I perceive he understands not the business, and names places
where it was seen different five degrees, but in such a part of
the heauen where tis impossible for it to bee seen, by obser-
uations made from such parts of the earth. But I hope
some astronomer will write of it; the relation of it would bee
mighty pleasing to mee, haueing made some obseruation of
its motion my self at Rome. The best picture that euer I
saw, and which I think goes beyond Michell Angelo's day of
judgment, is in the refectory of the conuent of St Georges at
Venice. 'Tis a marriage by Paul Veronese, upon a piece of
cloth four times as big as your Icarus.
Your obediant Sonne,
Padoua, March 20, 1665. Ed. Browne. 1751669.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 175 Dr. Browne to his son Edward
[MS. SLOAN. 1848.]
March 1, styl vet. 1668-9.
Dear Sonne, I receaved your last letter, Febr. 14, with others
which should have come before, but they all came together.
I sent to you about xii dayes ago. Yours came together of
late, when some have layn by the way a weeke or more, and
so they come unto your sister safe at last, and therefore, I
tbinck you may so direct them from any place. I cannot con-
ceaue your stay will bee longer at Vienna, perhaps not while
this may come unto you; but out of my love and care of you,
I would not omitt to send adventure this. For satisfaction of
the queries of the R. S. putt yourself to no hazard or ad-
venture, butt leame and make the best enquiries you can of 176176 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1669.
things in Hungarie, and at distance, by others, and what is
neere Vienna or in it, you may observe yourself. Your chief
buisinesse must bee to settle a correspondent, who may write
unto you at any time and answer your letters, in order to the
R. S. or to their secritarie, if need requireth, which must bee
some person resident in Vienna, of an ingenious and inquisi-
tiue temper, who make it his businesse to enquire particularly
of himself or according to your queries, or what may bee
further hinted hereafter. There is an author named Wern-
herius, or Vernherius, de rebus Pannoniæ, which is Hun-
garie and part of Austria, who hath writ of all the mineralls
and all minerall waters in and about those parts; out of whom
Baccius, de Thermis, hath taken what hee writes of such
things in Austria, Hungarie, and neere Poland. I doubt
whether you can have the opportunitie in any librarie there to
looke upon it. You may receave some knowledge about. the
mines in your queries by proposing them all, or some, to
some of the emperours officers implyed about the mines,
which you may find in Vienna, or some practical workmen
that hath observed them. Quarries of . . . . . . . . . are
probably not farre from the city. The baths of Baden, by
Vienna, are mentioned in Baccius, de Thermis. You may
enquire of what they consist, and what tryall hath been made
of what mineralls they consist. You may enquire about
an hot bath by Buda, very hot, which Baccius calls purga-
torie, from the popular name. Vitriolun Hungaricum, the
best is only worth the obtaining; Cinnaberis nativa, best in
lumps; and Vitriolum Crystallinum, and other things you
mention; but how you should send them, I see not, sure not
by the post, in respect of dearenesse and hazard to bee lost.
You must fall in with some merchands that send any goods to
Amsterdam, and so putt them up distinctly in boxes; the
saline bodyes being apt to relent by moyst ayre; and some
smaller quantities of what is singular you may putt in your
portmantell. I confesse I should bee willing to receave or see
such things. Take as good account, and as particular as you
can. Whether you should give any account now, or rather
hereafter, to the R. S., I make some doubt; for in your returne
you may observe many things, perhaps considerable, in 1771669.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 177
those poynts; butt, however, you may signifie them, and
write of them, in your letters to mee. You may enquire of
Mr. de Bois concerninge thus and myrrha, non arborea,
sed fossilis, found at Gradisco in Moravia, whereof you may
read in Ortelius his Geograpbie in the cap. of Moravia;
read also his chap. De Mansfieldiæ comitatu, where scheyffer-
steyn
are found, and a lake wherin the shape of fishes and
froggs are found in stones. I am glad you gave account of
so many things in your letters. It was high enough to go up
338 stepps in St. Steph. steeple; and very much that the
half moone should stand so longe. The ice showes exceed
others in any place. Clusius, the learned botanist, that writ
De stirpibus Pannonicis, was over the emperours garden.
Endeavor by all means to see his treasure of rarities, and
what is remarkable in any private custodie. I am glad you
have anatomies there. 'Tis not bard to converse with learned
men in those parts. I am sorry the great bridge is broke
down, which must much incommodate the citty. How came
you to see Rudolphus his glasse, and what credit doth it·
beare? Dee I thinck was at Prag in his time. The fountaine
at Saltzberg is noble. I could make a shift to understand the
Duch writing in it. I like the Turkish foot ensigne well, &c.
The Turkish Asper was not in the letter. 'Tis good to see
the manner of the executions in all places. I beleeve Nurn-
berg is the largest towne you have yet met with. You do
well to observe fishes and birds, and to learne the Duch
names, which commonly are significant, and are set downe
with the. Latin in Aldrovardus. By that time you are on
your returne, the hearbs will showe a litle in the fields and
trees also, which you may take notice of. Enquire what tree
that is of which they make musicall instruments; a white
waved wood which is called ayre, and sayd to come from
Germanie. I bless God for your health, good rencountres
and protection of you, and that he would continue the same,
is the prayer of your loving father,
Thomas Browne.
9 Dee and Kelly were at the emperor's court at Prague in 1585, but were soon
afterwards banished from his dominion as magicians, at the instigation of the
pope's nuncio. 178178 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1669. What minerall waters you see you may tast, butt take
downe none, nor any way hazard the discomposure of your
body. We are all glad you have layd by the thoughts of Tur-
key or Turkesh dominions. Observe the great jaspis agayne,
whether of a good green colour where it is worne. What
kind of stone is that which stoned St. Stephen, pebble, flint,
or freestone? See the emperour's librarie or any other. De
Terris Bohemicis you may read in Musaeum Wormianum,
terra Bohemica, Silesiaca, &c. whereof divers. I have con-
ferred with some who knowe the country about Saltzberg well,
for that is plentifull in mines, mineralls, sallts, sulphur, anti-
mony, &c. Mr. Scoltow is much out of London, at his
mothers; cosen John Cradock is constant at Mr. Thomas his
howse, at the Sheaf, in Covent Garden. Hee was heere [at]
Christmas, and Nancy never out of London. The Bishop,
Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Dentry, now with the Bishop, Whitefoot,
Robins, Bendish, and all friends, present respects. Your
mother, Betty, Moll, and Franck, also. I have payd the
bills of fortie pounds. I hope you will not bee to seeke for
credit, as at your coming to Vienna; but that you may go on
upon the former credit, as need requireth, in your returne.
Sir Tho. Woodhowse, now with me, presents his respects.
We all hope your returne before the hott wether. Dear Brother, Wee are mightily delighted with your little pictures.
Now I hope you will be heare as soon as you can. My sister
is still at Clerkenwell, and I believe ever will be out. Every
body you left, they all desire to see you, cheefly
Your affectionate sister,
E. Browne. Dear Sonne, I am sorry to heer your coming home is defured;
for there is nothing we all desire more then to see you. I
besich God of his mercy bless you, and send you well to us,
and as soone as may be. [D. B.]
A Monsr. Monsr. Edouard Browne, Anglois, chez
Mr. Beck, in Keller-hoff, Vienne en Austriche. 3391682] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 339 Sir Thomas Browne to his son Edward
[MS. SLOAN. 1847.]
[April, 1682.]
Dear Sonne, I presume by this time you receaved my letter, by
Captain Lulman. I receaved yours last weeke, with Dr.
Grewe's paper of proposalls, and I am willing to subscribe
for one booke myself, and will shewe the paper unto others,
and probably some may subscribe, butt others may bee back-
ward, there having been so many subscriptions to other
bookes, and some now on foot. I should bee willing to do
him any service. You had a kind of fungus not usual, fungus
ligneus lanterniforis, like the lanterne of a building; and
you had also I thinck the draught thereof. I have also a
draught by mee; if you remember not what you did with it,
I can send you the draught. It was found within a rotten
willowe. Of the Lapis obsidianus Islandicus you had a peece,
which I receaved from Island; and I have another peece of
three times the bignesse. There is a rock of it in Island,
butt at a good distance from the sea, and I beleeve it is not
usual to meet with such a stone. Among the draughts of
birds which Mr. Martyn had, I thinck there is the icon of an
unusuall kind of locust, which was given mee long ago, and
brought from the West Indies, butt I never sawe another;
which I was fayne to call locusta sonora, as supposing that
Odde horny excursion or prominence, running beyond the
3 Probably, "Proposals for printing his Anatomy of Plants," which were read to
the Royal Society, March 15, 1681-2, and printed in that year, fol. Lond. 1682.
340340 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1682.
head, made the sound the lowder. I have the animal, and
will have it drawne out, if need bee.
Wee all long to heare of my daughter Browne's safe deli-
very. Pray present my service to my sister Whiting and Mr.
Whiting. God blesse you all.
Your louing father,
Thomas Browne. You may well insert that verse you mention, as thus:
"The water of the Danube seemes white, troubled, and more
confused, according to the expression of Virgil..... That
of the Savus, &c." I remember you sent me some good observations
of an asse's colt or fole, to give a reason of an asse's
bearing so great a burden, of the baying, &c. which you
might have well mentioned at your dissection, if you did not
forgett it.
These for Dr. Edward Browne, in Salisburie Court,
next the Golden Balls, London. 380380 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1658. Mr. Dugdale to Dr. Browne
[POSTHUMOUS WORKS, AND Sloane MS 1911-13, f. 96.]
Blyth-hall, neer Colhill, in Warwickshire,
Honoured Sir, 4th Oct. 1658. By your letter, dated 27th September, (which came
to my hands about two days since) I see how much I am
obliged to you for your readinesse to take into consideration
those things which I desired by the note sent to Mr. Watts;
so that I could not omitt, but by this first opportunity, to re-
turne you my hearty thanks for the favour. I resolve, God
willing, to be in London about the beginning of the next
terme, and by Mr. Watts (my kind friend) will send you some
of the bones of that fishe which my note mentioneth.
2 No. 2 of the "Miscellany Tracts."
3 Now first published from MS Sloan. 1848, 1882, 5233.- See vol. IV.
4 Unfortunately it has not come to our hands. 3811658.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 381
Certainly, sir, the gaining Marshland, in Norfolk, and Hol-
land, in Lincolnshire, was a worke very antient, as by many
circumstances may be gathered; and therefore considering
the industry and skill of the Romans, I conceive it most like
to have been performed by them. Mr. Cambden, in his Britannia,
speaking of the Romans in Britaine, hath an observation
out of Tacitus in the life of Agricola; which Dr. Holland
(who translated Cambden) delivers thus: viz. that the Romans
wore out and consumed the bodies and hands of the Britans,
in clearing of woods, and paving of fens. But the words of
Tacitus are, paludibus emuniendis, of which I desire your
opinion; I meane, whether the word emuniendis do not meane
walling or banking.
Sir, I account my selfe much happy to be thus far known
to you as I am, and that you are pleased to thinke me worthy
to converse with you in this manner, which I shall make bold
still to do upon any good occasion, till I be more happy by a
personall knowledge of you, as I hope in good time I may,
resting Your very humble servant and honourer,
William Dugdale.
For my much·honoured friend, Dr. Browne, at his
house in Norwich. 3851658.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 385 Mr. Dugdale to Dr. Browne
[POSTHUMOUS WORKS, and Sloane MS 1911-13, f. 104.]
London, 17th Nov. 1658.
HONOURED SIR Yours of the 10th instant came safe to my hands,
with that learned discourse inclosed, concerning the word
emunire, wherein I perceive your sense is the same with my
good friends Mr. Bishe and Mr. Junius, (with both whome I
have also consulted about it.) I have herewithall sent you
one of the bones of that fish, which was taken up by Sir
Robert Cotton, in digging a pond at the skirt of Conington
Downe, desiring your opinion thereof and of what magnitude
you think it was. Mr. Ashmole presents his best service and thanks to you,
for your kinde intention to send him a list of those books you
have, which may be for his use. That which you were told of my writing any thing of Nor-
folke was a meere story; for I never had any such thing in
my thoughts, nor can I expect a life to accomplish it, if I
should; or any encouragement considerable to the chardge
and paynes of such an undertaking. This I mean as to the
county, and not my Fenne History, which will extend there-
into.
And as for Mr. Bishe, who is a greate admirer and
honourer of you, and desires me to present his hearty service
and thanks to you for that mention you have made of him in
your learned discourse of Urnes. He says he hath no such
5 It is not in the Hydriotaphia, but the Garden of Cyrus, that Browne mentions
"Upton de Studio Militari, et Johannes de Bado Aureo, cum Comm. Cl. et Doct.
Bissæi -Hamper 386386 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1658.
purpose at all, nor ever bad; but that his brother-in-law
Mr. Godard (the recorder of Lynne) intends something of
that towne, but whether or when to make it publique he
knows not. And now, sir, that you have been pleas'd to give me leave
to be thus bold with you in interrupting your better studies,
I shall crave leave to make a request or two more to you.
First, that you will let me know where in Leland you finde that
expression concerning such buriall of the Saxons, as you
mention in your former discourse concerning those raysed
heaps of earth, which you lately sent me; for all that I have
seene extant of his in manuscript, is those volumes of his
Collectanea and Itineraryes, now in the Bodleyan Library
at Oxford, of which I have exact copies in the country.
The next is, to entreat you to speake with one Mr.
Haward (heir and executor to Mr. Haward lately deceased,
who was an executor to Mr. Selden) who now lives in Nor-
wich, as I am told, and was a sheritfe of that city the last
yeare: and to desire a letter from him to Sir John Trevor,
speedily to joyne with Justice Hales and the rest of Mr. Sel-
den's executors, in opening the library in White Friars', for
the sight of a manuscript of Landaffe, which may be usefull
to me in those additions I intend to the second volume of the
Monasticon, now in the presse; for Sir John Trevor tells me,
that he cannot without expresse order from him, do it: the
rest of the executors of Mr. Selden being very desirous to
pleasure me therein. If you can get such a letter from him
for Sir John Trevor, I pray you enclose it to me, and I will
deliver it, for their are 3 keys besides. And lastly, if at your leisure, through your vast reading,
you can point me out what authors do speake of those im-
provements which have been made by banking and drayning
in Italy, France, or any part of the Netherlands, you will do
me a very high favour. From Strabo and Herodotus I have what they say of
Ægypt, and so likewise what is sayd by Natalis Comes of
Note in the Posthumous Works.
7 William Heyward, or Howard.-Blomfield 3871658.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 387
Acarnania: but take your owne time for it, if at all you can
attend it, whereby you will more oblige Your most humble servant and honourer,
William Dugdale.
For my much honoured friend, Dr. Browne, &c. Dr. Browne to Mr. Dugdale. 8
[FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THE EDITOR's POSSESSION. check to see whether BL now has it.]
Norwich, Dec. 6, 1658.
Worthy Sir, I make noe doubt you have receaued Mr. Howard's
letter unto Sir John Trevor. Hee will be readie to doe you
any seruice in that kind. I am glad your second booke of the
Monasticon is at last in the presse. Here is in this citty a
conuent of Black Friers, which is more entire than any in
these parts of England. Mr. King tooke the draught of it
when he was in Norwich, and Sir Thomas Pettus, Baronet,
desired to have his name sett vnto it. I conceive it were not
fitt in so generall a tract to omit it, though little can be sayd
of it, only coniectur'd that it was founded by Sir John of Orpingham,
or Erpingham, whose coat is all about the church
and six-corner'd steeple. I receaued the bone of the fish,
and shall giue you some account of it when I have compared
it with another bone which is not by mee. As for Lelandus,
his works are soe rare, that few private hands are masters of
them, though hee left not a fewe; and therefore, that quo-
tation of myne was at second hand. You may find it in Mr.
Inego Jones' description of Stonehenge, pag. 27 having litle
doubt of the truth of his quotation, because in that place hee
hath the Latine and English, with a particular commendation 1
of the author and the tract quoted in the margin, and in the
same author, quoted p. 16, the page is also mentioned; butt
the title is short and obscure, and therefore I omitted it.
8 Not in Hamper's Correspondence of Dugdale. This letter bean the indorse in
Dugdale's hand-writing--" Dec. 6, 1658, Dr. Browne's letter (not yet answered.)"
9 Qre: to ask the Docter whether ever he saw this draught.--MS. marginal
Note by Dugdale in the Original. 388388 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1658.
Leylande Assert. Art. which being compared with the subiect
of page 25, may perhaps bee De Assertione Artkuri, which
is not mentioned in the catalogue of his many workes, except
it bee some head or chapter in his Antiq. Britannicis or de
Viris illustribus. I am much satisfied in the truth thereof,
because Camden hath expressions of the like sense in diuers
places; and, as I think in Northamptonshire, and probably
from Lelandus: for Lambert in his perambulation of Kent,
speakes but some times of Lelandus, and then quoteth not
his words, though it is probable hee was much beholden unto
him having left a worke of his subject Itinerarium Cantii. Sir, having some leasure last weeke, which is uncertaine
with mee, I intended this day to send you some answer to
your last querie of banking and draining by some instances
and examples in the four parts of the earth, and some short
account of the cawsie, butt diuersions into the country will
make me defer it untill Friday next, soe that you may receive
it on Mondaye. Sir, I rest
Your very well-wishing friend and servant,
Thomas Browne.
To my worthy friend Mr. Dugdale, at his chamber,
in the Herald's Office, London, these. 3931668.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 393 Dr. Browne to Dr. Merritt
[MS SLOAN. 1833]
July 13, 1668.
Most Honored Sir, I take the boldness to salute you as a person of sin-
gular worth and learning, and whom I very much respect and
honour. I presented my service to you by my son some
months past; and had thought before this time to have done
it by him again. But the time of his return to London being
yet uncertain, I would not defer those at present unto you.
I should be very glad to serve you by any observations of
mine against the second edition of your Pinax, which I cannot
sufficiently commend. I have observed and taken notice of
many animals in these parts, whereof three years ago a learned
gentleman of this country desired me to give him some
account, which, while I was doing, the gentleman, my good
friend, died. I shall only at this time present and name some
few unto you, which I found not in your catalogue. A
Trachurus, which yearly cometh before or in the head of the
herrings, called therefore a horse. Stella marina testacea,
which I have often found upon the sea-shore. An Astacus marinus pediculi
marini facie, which is sometimes taken with the
lobsters at Cromer, in Norfolk. A Pungitius marinus, whereof
I have known many taken among weeds by fishers, who 394394 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1668.
drag by the sea-shore on this coast. A Scarabæus Capri-
cornus odoratus which I take to be mentioned by Moufetus,
fol. 150. "I have taken some abroad; one in my cellar,
which I now send;" he saith, "Nucem moscl1atam et cinnamomum
vere spiral." To me it smelt like roses, santalum, and
ambergris. I have thrice met with Mergus maximus Farensis
Clusii; and have a draught thereof. They were taken
about the time of herring-fishing at Yarmouth. One was
taken upon the shore, not able to fly away, about ten years
ago. I sent one to Dr. Scarborough. Twice I met with a
Skua Hoyèri, the draught whereof I also have. One was
shot in a marsh, which I gave unto a gentleman, which I can
send you. Another was killed feeding upon a dead horse
near a marsh ground. Perusing your catalogue of plants,
upon Acorus verus, I find these words:-" found by Dr.
Brown neer Lynn:"- wherein probably there may be some
mistake; for I cannot affirm, nor I doubt any other, that it is
found thereabout. About 25 years ago, I gave an account
of this plant unto Mr. Goodyeere, and more lately to Dr.
How, unto whom I sent some notes, and a box full of the
fresh juli. This elegant plant groweth very plentifully, and
leaveth its julus yearly by the banks of Norwich river,
chiefly about Claxton and Surlingham; and also between
Norwich and Hellsden-bridge; so that I have known Heigham
church, in the suburbs of Norwich, strewed all over with it.
It has been transplanted, and set on the sides of marsh ponds
in several places of the country, where it thrives and beareth
the julus yearly. Sesamoides salamanticum magnum;-why you omit Sesa-
moides salamantium parvum? This groweth not far from
Thetford and Brandon, and plentiful in neighbour places,
where I found it, and have it in my hortus hyemalis, answering
the description in Gerard. Urtica romana, which groweth with button seed bags, is
not in the catalogue. I have found it to grow wild at Golston
by Yarmouth, and transplanted it to other places. 3951668.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 395 Dr. Browne to Dr. Merritt
[MS SLOAN. 1830]
Aug. 18, 1668.
Honored Sir, I received your courteous letter, and am sorry some
diversions have so long delayed this my second unto you.
You are very exact in the account of the fungi. I have met
with two, which I have not found in any author; of which I
have sent you a rude draught inclosed. The first, an elegant
fungus ligneru, found in a hollow sallow. I have one of them
by me, but, without a very good opportunity, dare not send
it, fearing it should be broken. Unto some it seemed to re-
semble some noble or princely ornament of the head, and so
might be called fungru regius; unto others, a turret, top of
a cupola, or lantern of a building; and so might be named
fungus pterygoides, pinnacularis, or lanterniformis. You
may name it as you please. The second, fungru ligneus teres
antliarum, or fungus ligularis longissimru, consisting or made
of many woody strings, about the bigness of round points or
laces; some above half a yard long, shooting in a bushy form
from the trees, which serve under ground for pumps. I have
observed divers, especially in Norwich, where wells are sunk
deep for pumps. The fungus phalloides I found not far from Norwich, large
and very fetid, answering the description of Hadrianus Ju-
nius. I have a part of one dried still by me. Fungus rotundus major I have found about ten inches in
diameter, and [have] half a one dried by me. Another small paper contains the side draughts of fibulæ
marinæ pellucidæ, or sea buttons, a kind of squalder; and re-
ferring to urtica marina, which I have observed in great
numbers by Yarmouth, after a flood and easterly winds.
They resemble the pure crystal buttons, chamfered or wel-
ted on the sides, with two small holes at the ends. They
cannot be sent; for the included water, or thin jelly, soon run-
neth from them. 396396 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1668. Urtica marina minor Johnstoni, I have often found on this
coast. Physsalus I have found also. I have one dried, but it hath
lost its shape and colour.
Galei and caniculæ are often found. I have a fish hang-
ing up in my yard, of two yards long, taken among the
herrings at Yarmouth, which is the canis carcharius alius
Johnstoni, table vi, fig. 6.
Lupus marinus, you mention, upon a handsome experiment,
but I find it not in the catalogue. This lupus marinus or
lycostomus, is often taken by our seamen which fish for cod.
I have had divers brought me. They hang up in many
houses in Yarmouth.
Trutta marina is taken with us. A better dish than the
river trout, but of the same bigness.
Loligo sepia, a cuttle; page 191 of your Pinax. I conceive,
worthy sir, it were best to put them in two distinct lines, as
distinct species of the molles.
The loligo, calamare, or sleve, I have also found cast upon
the sea-shore; and some have been brought me by fishermen,
of about twenty pounds weight.
Among the fishes of our Norwich river, we scarce reckon
salmon, yet some are yearly taken; but all taken in the river
or on the coast have the end of the lower jaw very much
hooked, which enters a great way into the upper jaw, like a
socket. You may find the same, though not in figure, if you
please to read Johnston's folio, 101. I am not satisfied with
the conceit of some authors, that there is a difference of male
and female; for all ours are thus formed. The fish is thicker
than ordinary salmon, and very much and more largely spotted.
Whether not rather Boccard gallorus, or Auchorago
Scaligeri. I have both draughts, and the head of one dried;
either of which you may command.
Scyllarus, or cancellus in turbine, it is probable you have.
Have you cancellus in nerite, a small testaceous found upon
this coast? Have you mullus ruber asper?—Piscis octan-
gularis Bivormii?—Vermes marini, larger than earth-worms,
digged out of the sea-sand, about two feet deep, and at an
In June, 1827, I knew of two salmon-trout in our Overstrand mackarel nets.—G. 3971668.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 397
ebb water, for bait? They are discovered by a little hole or
sinking of the sand at the top about them. Have you that handsome coloured jay, answering the de-
scription of garrulus argentoratensis, and may be called the
parrot-jay? I have one that was killed upon a tree about five
years ago. Have you a May chit, a small dark grey bird, about the
bigness of a stint, which cometh about May, and stayeth but
a month; a bird of exceeding fatness, and accounted a dainty
dish? They are plentifully taken in Marshland, and about
Wisbeech. Have you a caprimulgus, or dorhawk; a bird as a pigeon,
with a wide throat bill, as little as a titmouse, white feathers
in the tail, and paned like a hawk?
Succinum rarò occurrit, p. 219 of yours. Not so rarely on
the coast of Norfolk. It is usually found in small pieces;
sometimes in pieces of a pound weight. I have one by me,
fat and tare, of ten ounces weight; yet more often I have
found it in handsome pieces of twelve ounces in weight. Dr. Browne to Dr. Merritt
[MS SLOAN 1830]
stn, Sept. 13, [1668.] I received your courteous letter; and with all re-
spects I now again salute you.
The mola piscis is almost yearly taken on our coast. This
last year one was taken of about two hundred pounds weight.
Divers of them I have opened; and have found many lice
sticking close unto their gills, whereof I send you some.
In your Pinax I find onocrotalus, or pelican; whether you
mean those at St. James's, or others brought over, or such as
have been taken or killed here, I know not. I have one hung
up in my house, which was shot in a fen ten miles off, about
7 Bait for codling.-G. 8 The Garrulous Roller.
9 Not uncommon; I had a young one brought me a few years ago.-G.
1 It is becoming scarce at Cromer. The fat amber most commonly occurs.-G. 398398 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1668.
four years ago; and because it was so rare, some conjectured
it might be one of those which belonged unto the king, and
flew away.
Ciconia, rarò huc adeolat. I have seen two in a watery
marsh, eight miles off; another shot, whose case is yet to be
seen.
Vitulus marinus. In tractibus borealibus et Scotia. No
rarity upon the coast of Norfolk. At low water I have
known them taken asleep under the cliffs. Divers have been
brought to me. Our seal is different from the Mediterranean
seal; as having a rounder head, a shorter and stronger body.
Rana piscatrix. I have often known taken on our coast;
and some very large.
Xiphias, or gladius piscis, or sword-fish, we have in our
seas. I have the head of one which was taken not long ago,
entangled in the herring-nets. The sword about two feet in
length.
Among the whales you may very well put in the spermace-
tus, or that remarkably peculiar whale which so aboundeth
in spermaceti. About twelve years ago we had one cast up
on our shore, near Wells, which I described in a peculiar
chapter in the last edition of my "Pseudodoxia Epidemica;"
and another was, divers years before, cast up at Hunstanton;
both whose heads are yet to be seen.
Ophidion, or, at least, ophidion nostras, commonly called a
sting-fish, having a small prickly fin running all along the back,
and another a good way on the belly, with little black spots at
the bottom ofthe back fin. If the fishermen's hands be touch-
ed or scratched with this venomous fish, they grow painful and
swell. The figure hereof I send you in colours. They are com-
mon about Cromer. See Schoneveldeus, "De Ophidia."
Piscis octogoniru, or octangularis, answering the description
of Cataphractus Schonevelde; only his is described with
the fins spread; and when it was fresh taken, and a large
one. However, this may be nostras, I send you one; but I
have seen much larger, which fishermen have brought me.
2 The Stork.
3 Very rarly seen at Cromer. I think they are met with on sandbanks near
Hunstanton.-G 4 Frog-fish 3991668.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 399
Physsalus. I send one which hath been long opened and
shrunk and lost the colour. When I took it upon the seashore,
it was full and plump, answering the figure and description
of Rondeletius. There is also a like figure at the
end of Muffetus. I have kept them alive; but observed no
motion, except of contraction and dilatation. When it is fresh,
the prickles or bristles are of a brisk green and amethist co-
lour.
Some call it a sea-mouse.
Our mullet is white and imberbis; but we have also a mul-
lus barbatus ruber miniaceus, or cinnaberinus; somewhat
rough, and but dry meat. There is of them major and minor,
resembling the figures in Johnstonus, tab. xvii, Rotbart.
Of the acus marinus, or needle fishes, I have observed three
sorts. The acus Aristotelis, called here an addercock; acus
major, or garfish, with a green verdigrease back-bone; the
other, saurus acui similis. Acus sauroides, or sauriformis,
as it may be called; much answering the description of sau-
rus Rondeletii. In the hinder part much resembling a mack-
erell. Opening one, I found not the back-bone green. John-
stonus writes nearest to it, in his Acus Minor. I send you
the head of one dried; but the bill is broken. I have the
whole draught in picture. This kind is much more near
than the other, which are common, and is a rounder fish.
Vermes marini are large worms found two feet deep in the
sea-sands, and are digged out at the ebb for bait.
The avicula Maialis, or May chit; is a little dark grey bird,
somewhat bigger than a stint, which cometh in May, or the
latter end of April, and stayeth about a month. A marsh
bird, the legs and feet black, without heel; the bill black,
about three quarters of an inch long. They grow very fat,
and are accounted a dainty dish.
A dorhawk, a bird not full so big as a pigeon, somewhat of
a woodcock colour, and paned somewhat like a hawk, with a
bill not much bigger than that of a titmouse, and a very wide
throat; known by the name of a dorhawk, or preyer upon
beetles, as though it were some kind of accipiter muscarius.
In brief, this accipiter cantharophagus, or dorhawk, is avis
5 I have seen a sea-mouae taken out of a cod-fish, but thev are not common at
Cromer. -G. 400400 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1668.
rostratula gutturosa, quasi coaxans, scarabæis vescens, sub
vesperam volans, ovum speciosissimum excludens. I have had
many of them; and am sorry I have not one to send you. I
spoke to a friend to shoot one; but I doubt they are gone over.
Of the upupas, divers have been brought me; and some I
have observed in these parts, as I travelled about.
The aquila Gesneri I sent alive to Dr. Scarburg, who told
me it was kept in the colledge. It was brought me out of
Ireland. I kept it two years in my house. I am sorry I have
only one feather of it to send you.
A shoeing-horn or barker, from the figure of the bill and
barking note; a long made bird, of white and blackish colour;
fin-footed; a marsh-bird; and not rare some times of the year
in Marshland. It may upon view be called, recurvirostra
nostras, or avoseta; much resembling the avosetæ species in
Johnstonus, tab. 5. I send you the head in picture.
Four curlews I have kept in large cages. They have a
pretty shrill note; not hard to be got in some parts of Norfolk.
Have you the scorpius marinus Schoneveldei?
Have you put in the musca tuliparum muscata?
That bird which I said much answered the description of
garrulus argentoratensis, I send you. It was shot on a tree
ten miles off, four years ago. It may well be called the par-
rot jay, or garrulus psittacoides speciosus. The colours are
much faded. If you have it before, I should be content to
have it again; otherwise you may please to keep it.
Garrulus Bohemicus probably you have. A pretty hand-
some bird, with the fine cinnabrian tips of the wings. Some
which I have seen have the tail tipt with yellow, which is not
in their description.
I have also sent you urtica mas, which I lately gathered at
Golston, by Yarmouth, where I found it to grow also twenty-
five years ago. Of the stella marina testacea, which I sent
you, I do not find the figure in any book.
I send you a few flies, which, some unhealthful years, come
about the first part of September. I have observed them so
numerous upon plashes in the marshes and marish ditches,
6 The Golden Eagle.
8 The Waxen Chatterer.
7 The Garrulous Roller.
9 Marshy. 4011668.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 401
that, in a small compass, it were no hard matter to gather a
peck of them. I brought some; what my box would hold;
but the greatest part are scattered, lost, or given away. For
memory's sake, I wrote on my box muscæ palustres autum-
nales.
Worthy sir, I shall be ever ready to serve you, who am, sir,
Your humble servant,
Thomas Browne. Dr. Browne to Dr. Merritt
[MS SLOAN. 1830]
December xxix, [1668.]
Sir, I am very joyful that you have recovered your
health, whereof I heartily wish the continuation for your own
and the public good. And I humbly thank you for the cour-
teous present of your book. With much delight and satis-
faction I had read the same not once in English. I must
needs acknowledge your comment more acceptable to me than
the text, which I am sure is a hard obscure piece without it,
though I have not been a stranger unto the vitriary art, both
in England and abroad. I perceive you have proceeded far
in your Pinax. These few at present I am bold to propose,
and hint unto you; intending, God willing, to salute you
again. A paragraph might probably be annexed unto Quer-
cus. Though we have not all the exotic oaks, nor their
excretions, yet these and probably more supercrescencies,
productions, or excretions may be observed in England.
Viscum-polypodium-juli-pilulæ-gemmæ foraminatæ
foliorum-excrementum fungosum verticibus scatens-excre-
mentum lanatum-capitula squamosa jacææ æmula-nodi-
melleus liquor-tubera radicum vermibus scatentia-muscus
-lichen-fungus-varæ quercinæ.
Capillaris marina sparsa, fucus capillaris marinus spar-
sus; sive, capillitius marinus; or sea perriwig. Strings of 402402 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1668.
this are often found on the sea-shore. But this is the full
figure, I have seen three times as large.
I send you also a little elegant sea-plant, which I pulled
from a greater bush thereof, which I have, resembling the
backbone of a fish. Fucus marinus vertebratus pisciculi
spinum referens, ichthyorachius; or what you think fit.
And though perhaps it be not worth the taking notice of
formicaæ arenariæ marinæ, or at least muscus formicarius
marinus: yet I observe great numbers by the sea-shore, and
at Yarmouth, an open sandy coast, in a sunny day, many
large and winged ones, may be observed upon, and rising out
of the wet sands, when the tide falls away.
Notonecton, an insect that swimmeth on its back, and mentioned
by Muffetus, may be observed with us.
I send you a white reed-chock by name. Some kind of funco,
or little sort thereof. I have had another very white when
fresh.
Also the draught of a sea-fowl, called a sheerwater, billed
like a cormorant, fiery, and snapping like it upon any touch.
I kept twenty of them alive five weeks, cramming them with
fish, refusing of themselves to feed on any thing; and wearied
with cramming them, they lived seventeen days without food.
They often fly about fishing ships when they clean their fish,
and throw away the offal. So that it may be referred to the
lari, as larus niger gutture albido rostro adunco.
Gossander.-Videtur esse puphini species. Worthy sir,
that which we call a gossander, and is no rare fowl among us,
is a large well-coloured and marked diving fowl, most an-
swering the merganser. It may be like the puffin in fatness
and rankness; but no fowl is, I think, like the puffin, differ-
enced from all others by a peculiar kind of bill.
Burganders, not so rare as Turn makes them, common
in Norfolk, so abounding in vast and spacious warrens.
If you have not yet put in larus minor, or stern, it would
not be omitted, so common about broad waters and plashes
not far from the sea.
1 This name is very illegible in the original.
2 Probably sterna hirunda and minuta. See Sir Thomas's paper "On the Birds,
&c. of Norfolk." 4031668.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 403 Have you a yarwhelp, barker, or Jatrator, a marshbird
about the bigness of a godwitt?
Have you dentalia, which are small univalve testacea,
whereof sometimes we find some on the sea-shore?
Have you put in nerites, another little testaceum, which we
have?
Have you an apiaster, a small bird called a bee-bird?
Have you morinellus marinus, or the sea dotterell, better
coloured than the other, and somewhat less?
I send you a draught of two small birds; the bigger call-
ed a chipper, or betulæ carptor; cropping the first sproutings
of the birch trees, and comes early in the spring. The other,
a very small bird, less than the certhya, or eye-creeper, called
a whin-bird. I send you the draught of a fish taken some times in our
seas. Pray compare it with draco minor Johnstoni. This
draught was taken from the fish dried, and so the prickly fins
less discernible.
There is a very small kind of smelt; but in shape and smell
like the other, taken in good plenty about Lynn, and called
prims.
Though scombri or mackerell be a common fish, yet our
seas afford sometimes strange large ones, as I have heard
from fishermen and others; and this year, 1668, one was
taken at Leostoffe, an ell long by measure, and presented to
a gentleman, a friend of mine.
Musca tuliparum moschata is a small bee-like fly, of an
excellent fragrant odour, which I have often found at the bot-
tom of the flowers of tulips.
In the little box I send a piece of vesicaria or seminaria
marina cut off from a good full one, found on the sea-shore.
We have also an ejectment of the sea, very common, which
is funago, whereof some very large.
I thank you for communicating the account of thunder and
lightning; some strange effects thereof I have found here;
but this last year we had little or no thunder or lightning. 404404 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [l668-9. Dr. Browne to Dr. Merritt
[POSTHUMOUS WORKS]
Norwich, Febr. 6, [1668-9.]
Honoured Sir, I am sorry I have had diversions of such necessitie,
as to hinder my more sudden salute since I received your last.
I thank you for the sight of the spermaceti, and such kind of
effects from lightning and thunder I have known, and about
four yeares ago about this towne, when I with many others
saw fire-balls fly, and go of when they met with resistance,
and one carried away the tiles and boards of a leucomb win-
dow of my own howse, being higher than the neighbour
howses, and breaking agaynst it with a report like a good
canon. I set down that occurrence in this citty and country,
and have it somewhere amongst my papers, and fragments of
a woeman's hat that was shiver'd into pieces of the bignesse of
a groat. I have still by me too, a litle of the spermaceti of
our whale, as also the oyle and balsome which I made with
the oyle and spermaceti. Our whale was worth 500lib. my
apothecarie got about fiftie pounds in one sale of a quantitie
of sperm. I made enumeration of the excretions of the oake, which
might bee observed in England, because I conceived they
would be most observable if you set them downe together,
not minding w hetber there were any addition: by excrementum
fungosum vermiculis scatens I only meant an usual excretion,
soft and fungous at first, and pale, and sometimes cover'd in
part with a fresh red, growing close unto the sprouts; it is
full of maggots in litle woodden cells, which afterwards turne
into litle reddish brown or bay flies. Of the tubera indica
vermiculis scatentia I send you a peece, they are as bigg as
good tennis-balls and ligneous. The litle elegant fucus may come in as a difference of the
abies, being somewhat like it, as also unto the 4 corallium in
Gerhard, of the sprouts, whereof I could never find any
3 Where it is published (erroneously) as a letter to Mr. Dugdale. 6051668-9.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 405
sprouts, wings, or leaves as in the abies, whether fallen off I
know not, though I call'd it ichthyorndius or pisciculi spinam
referens, yet pray do you call it how you please. I send you
now the figure of a quercus mar. or alga, which I found by
the sea-shore, differing from the common as being denticulat-
ed, and in one place there seems to be the beginning of some
flower-pod or seed-vessell. A draught of the morinellus marinus, or sea-dotterel, I
now send you; the bill should not have been so black, and
the leggs more red, and a greater eye of dark red in the
feathers or wing and back: it is less and differently colour'd
from the common dotterell, which cometh to us about March
and September: these sea-dotterels are often shot near the sea.
A yare-whelp or barker, a marsh-bird, the bill two inches
long, the legges about that length, the bird of a brown or rus-
set colour. That which is knowne by the name of a bee-bird, is a litle
dark gray bird; I hope to get one for you. That which I call'd betulæ carptor, and should rather have
call'd it alni carptor, whereof I sent a rude draught; it feeds
upon alderbuds, nucaments or seeds, which grow plentifully
here; they fly in little flocks. That call'd by some a whin-bird, is a kind of ox-eye, but
the shining yellow spot on the back of the head, is scarce to
bee well imitated by a pensill. I confesse for such litle birds I am much unsatisfy'd on the
names given to many by countrymen, and uncertaine what to
give them myself, or to what classis of authors cleerly to re-
duce them. Surely there are many found among us which
are not described; and therefore such which you cannot well
reduce, may (if at all) be set down after the exacter nomina-
tion of small birds as yet of uncertain class or knowledge. I present you with a draught of a water-fowl, not common,
and none of our fowlers can name it, the bill could not bee ex-
actly expressed by a coale or black chalk, whereby the little
4 The ring plover, or sea lark, plentiful near Blakeney; charadrius hiati-
cula.-G.
5 Names of two distinct species, the godwit, or yarwhelp, scolopax ægocephala, and
the spotted redshank or barker, S. Totanus. The description agrees with neither.
6 Probably the beam-bird, or flycatcher; Muscicupa Grisola.-G.
Possibly the goldencrested wren, Motacilla Regulus. 406406 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1668-9.
incurvitie at the upper end of the upper bill, and small recurvitie
of the lower is not discerned; the wings are very short, and it
is finne-footed; the bill is strong and sharp, if you name it not
I am uncertain what to call it, pray consider this anatula or
mergulus melanoleucus rostro acuto. I send you also the heads of mustela, or mergus mustelaris
mas. et fæmina, called a wesel, from some resemblance in
the head, especially of the female, which is brown or russet,
not black and white, like the male, and from their preying
quality upon small fish. I have found small eeles, small
perches, and small muscles in their stomachs. Have you a
sea-phaysant, so commonly called from the resemblance of an
hen-phaisant in the head and eyes, and spotted marks on the
wings and back, and with a small bluish flat bill, tayle longer
than other ducks, longe winges, crossing over the tayle like
those of a long winged hawke. Have you taken notice of a breed of porci solidi pedes?
I first observed them above twenty yeares ago, and they are
still among us.
Our nerites or neritæ are litle ones.
I queried whether you had dentalia, becaus probably you
might have met with them in England; I never found any on
our shoare, butt one brought me a few small ones, with smooth
small shells, from the shoare. I shall enquire farther after them.
Urtica marina minor, Johnst. tab. xviii. I have found more
then once by the sea-side. The hobby and the merlin would not bee omitted among
hawks; the first comming to us in the spring, the other about
autumn. Beside the ospray we have a larger kind of eagle,
call'd an eruh. I have had many of them. Worthy deare sir, if I can do any thing farther which may
be serviceable unto you, you shall ever readily command my
endeavors; who am, sir,
Your humble and very respectfull servant,
Thomas Browne.
8 This must be the smew, mergus albellus: which comes on the coast of Norfolk
in hard winters.-G.
9 The pin-tailed duck.-G.
1 Several ospreys have been taken near Cromer.-G.
2 Erne?-The white-tailed or cinereous eagle; falco albicilla. 4091662.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 409 Sir Robert Paston to Dr. Browne
[Bodleian MS Rawlinson CCCXCI]
Parson's Greene, the 19th of September, [1662.]
Worthy Sir, You may justly wonder my pen has beene soe long a
stranger to you, though, through manie removes, I could
never till now com att my meddalls. All I have of the
Brittish and Saxon I have this day sent you in a box, by the
Norwich coachman, which I hope will be with you this night,
with a large one of Heraclius, and some copper ones, which
I hope are good. The manuscript of Dunstan and Beniamin
Lock, I find verbatim in print, but nott the coronatio
naturæ, though I have the same figures in another manuscript,
without explication uppon them. This ring with the head of Vespasian, which I esteeme
verie good, I desire your finger may honor, I having wome
itt on my owne, as the best I could find of that kind.
Sir, I desire the favor of you, by the returne of the coach-
man, to send me your two manuscripts of Mayerne, there
beeing somthing in one of them which I immediatelie intend
to putt in execution. My wife has the ill fortune to be attacqued with a quartan
ague, which is soe much the worse, she beeing within two
months of her time. My humble service to your ladie and my cousin Le Gross,
and, sir, if you have anie notion that you please to commu-
nicate, in order to the old affaire I discoursed to you att
Norwich, I shall hope to give you an accompt of itt in som
short time; for I have delayed my self in vainelie endeavour-
ing to fix a volatile spiritt on itts fixed salt; when I am
master of the way, bringing the fixed part over in a volatile
water, which, after circulation, I hope will performe the pro-
mises of Raymund Lullie. Your good hints may be a meanes
to aduance my design which will oblidge,
Sir, your verie humble servant,
Robert Paston. 410410 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1669. Sir, be pleased to direct your letter, as also the bookes, to
Mr. George Clayton's, att the Crowne, in Lombard-street,
London. 4131674.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 413 Sir Thomas Browne to Elias Ashmole
(Ashmolean MS 1131, f. 280; Vol. 35 of Elias Ashomole's
COLLECTIONS FOR THE ORDER OF THE GARTER.)
Norwich, Oct. viij, 1674.
Honord Sir, I give you late butt heartie thancks for the noble
present of your most excellent booke; which, by the care of
my sonne, I receaved from you. I deferred this my ·due
acknowledgment in hope to have found out something more
of Dr. John Dee, butt I can yett only present this paper unto 414414 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1677-8.
you written by the hand of his sonne, Dr. Arthur Dee, my
old acquaintance, containing the scheme of his nativity,
erected by his father, Dr. John Dee, as the title sheweth;
butt the iudgment upon it was writt by one Franciscus Mur-
rerus, before Dr. Arthur returned from Russia into England,
which Murrerus was an astrologer of some account at Mosko.
Sir, I take it for a great honour to have this libertie of com-
munication with a person of your eminent merit, and shall
industriously serve you upon all opportunities, who am, Worthy good sir,
Your servant most respectfully and humbly,
THOMAS BROWNE.
("Recd. 24 Oct. 1674.") In the hand-writing of
Ashmole.
8 Mr. John Brown was the nephew and pupil of Mr. William Crop, a distin-
guished surgeon in Norwich. He was appointed surgeon to King Charles II, and
published in 1678 "A Compleat Treatise of Preternatural Tumours, &c. Sco." To
which is prefixed, amont other recommendatory letters, the present, from Sir
Thomas Browne. 415MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 415 Sir Thomas Browne to Mr. Talbot.
[MS SLOAN, 1833, f. 16.]
Sir, The coyne which you shew me hath on the obverse
the head of Marcus Plætorius Cestianus, with a dagger
behinde his head; on the reverse it hath a Caduceus or Mer-
curies wande, with this inscription: M. PLAETORJ CEST. EX.
s. c., the j in Plætorius and s. c. on the reverse are scarce
visible, or the dagger on the obverse. It is thus to be read;
Marcus Plætorius Cestianus ex Senatus Consulto.
This Marcus Plætorius, or, as some will have it, Lætorius,
was a remarkable man of the ancient Plætorian family, who
derive themselves from the Sabines, which family was of the
faction of the commons of Rome, as may be gathered from
their being chosen ædiles and tribunes of the people. He
was contemporary with Crassus, Pompey, Brutus, and was
designed prætor together with Cicero, in the 686 yeare after
the foundation of Rome, three yeares before Catilines con-
spiracy, and eighty-five yeares before the birth of our Saviour.
He had been an ædile before that, as I know by a coyne
which I have with an ædiles chair on the reverse, and this
inscription: M. Plætorius ÆD. CVR. EX. S. C., on the obverse
his head, with this inscription: Cestianus. He is mentioned
by Varro in his fifth booke De Lingua Latina, and by Livy,
lib. 30. He preferred a law de jure dicendo, taken notice of
by Censorinus De die natali, cap. 19. He is spoken of by
Cicero in his oration pro Marco Fonteio, whom this M. Plæ-
torius accused, and in another, pro A. Cluentio; but this
coyne was stamped upon his being chosen to dedicate the
temple of Mercury, no small honour, and for which both the
consuls at that time sued, Claudius and Servilius, but carried
it from them both by the election of the people, although he
were at that time onely a centurion, as is to be seen in
Valerius Maximus, lib. 9. cap. 3.
9 This letter is but a fragment. It is acrompanied by a pen drawing of the coin. 442442 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1668. From Dr. Merrett to Dr. Browne
[SLOAN, MS. 1830, f. 3]
Worthy Sir, Yours of the 14th instant I received, as full of
learning in discovering so many very great curiosities as kind-
ness in communicating them to mee and promising your
3 See letter at p. 395; the date of which, Aug. 18, I see on reference to the MS.
was wrong copied;-it should have been Aug. 14, 1669. 4431668.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 443
farther assistance. For which I shall always proclaim by my
tongue as well as my pen my due resentment and thanks. The two fungi you sent the figures of are the finest and
rarest as to their figure I have ever seen or read of; and so is
your fibula marina, far surpassing one I received from Corn-
wall much of the same bigness, neither of which I find any
where mentioned. The urtica marina minor Jonst. and phy-
salus I never met with, nor have been informed of the canis
charcarius alius Jonst. Many of the lupus piscis I have
seen, and have bin informed by the king's fishmonger they
are taken on our coast, but was not satisfied for some reasons
of his relation soe as to enter it into my Pinax; though 't is
said to bee peculiar to the river Albis>, yet I thought they
might come sometimes thence to your coasts. Trutta marina
I have; and the loligo, sepia, and polypus, the three sorts of
the molles have bin found on our western coasts, which shall
bee exactly distinguished-as for the salmons taken above
London towards Richmond and nearer, and that in great
quantity, some years they have all of them their lower jaw as
you observe, and our fishermen say they usually wear off
some part of it on the banks, or else the lower would grow
into the upper and soe starve them, as they have sometimes
seen. You ask whether I have the mullus ruber asper, or the
piscis octangularis Wormii, or the sea worms longer than
the earth worms, or the garrulus Argentor. or the duck cald
a May chit, or the Dorhawke. The four first I have no
account of, the two later I know not especially by those
names, wee have noe hawke by that name--your account of
Succinum as all the rest will be registred. As for the Aquila
Gesneri I never saw nor heard of any such in the colledge
for this 25 years last past. Sir you are pleasd to say you
shall write more if you know how not to be superfluous--
certainly what you have hitherto done hath bin all curiosities,
and I doubt not but you have many more by you. I can direct
you noe further then your own reason dictates to you- Be-
sides those mentioned in the Pinax I have 100 to add, and
cannot give you a particular of them. Whatever you write
is either confirmative or additional. I doe entreat this favour
4 This bird was not mentioned by Browne as at all resembling a duck. 444444 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1669.
of you to inform mee fu1ler of those unknown things men-
tioned herein, and to add the name, page, &c. of the author
if mentioned by any, or else to give them such a latin name as
you have done for the fungi, which may bee descriptive and
differencing of them-Sir I hope the public interest and
your own good genius will plead the pardon desired by
Your humble Servant
CHR. MERRETT.
London, Aug. 29. 68.
For Dr. Browne in Norwich. 4631658.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 463 From Dr. Browne to Mr. Elias Ashmole
[Ashmole MS 1788, art. 18, f. 153.]
Most Worthy Sr. I returne you humble thancks for your courteous
letter and the good newes of the hopefull recoverie of Mr.
Dugdale, unto whom I shall be readie in any further service,
and shall, God willing, send unto him concerning the fish
bone, which I have not forgott. It can very hardly fall into
my apprehension how I can afford any addition unto your
worthy endeavours. Notwithstanding, I have enclosed a list
of such tracts of that subject which I have by mee. Most
whereof I receaved from Dr. Arthur Dee, my familiar freind,
sonne unto old Dr. Dee the mathematician. He lived many
yeares and dyed in Norwich, from whom I have heard many
accounts agreable unto those which you have sett downe in
your annotations concerning his father and Kelly. Hee was
a persevering student in hermeticall philosophy, and had noe
small encouragement Having seen projection made, and
with the highest asseverations be confirmed unto his death,
that hee had ocularly undeceavably and frequently beheld it
in Bohemia, and to my knowledge, had not an accident pre-
vented, hee had not many yeares before his death retired be-
yond sea, and fallen upon the solemn processe of the great
worke. Sr. if you shall desire a viewe of any of these bookes, or all,
I shall find some way to send them, and you may peruse or
2 That is, Lilly's Christian Astrology modestly treated of, in three books: or, an
Introduction to Astrologie, London, 1647, 4to. of which his own copy is in the Ash-
molean Museum.-W. H. B. 464464 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1658.
transcribe them; butt I shall entreat the favour to have them
returned. Mr. Stanley gave mee the honour of a visit some
fewe yeares past, and if hee signified my mind unto you, you
might have receaved them long agoe. Sir, I thinck myself
much honored in your worthy acquaintance, and shall ever rest
Your very respectful freind and servant,
Thomas Browne.
Norwich, Jan. xxv, 1658. A manuscript containing these tracts:
1. Take earth of earth earths mother with some explication.
2. A short worke and true-of halfe a sheet.
3. Cantilena Ripley, de L. Phil. seu de phœnice.
4. Verbum abbreviatum Rogeri Bacon a Rajmundo Gal-
frido explicatum-above a sheet.
5. The great worke or great Elixir of Ripley ad Solem et
Lunam, with an accurtation or shortning of the great
work-containing 2 sheets.
6. A Letter of Ripley, sent to a friend, subscribed by
George Ripley, ch. of Bridlington, farmer and curate
of F...balbergh.
7. The easiest way in practising the Philosopher's stone
a sheet and half.
8. Philossium and medulla, translated out of Latin by
George Higins.
9. A Concordance of the Sayings of Guido and Raymund.
X. The worke of Dickinson-about a hundred verses.
An ancient manuscript of Nortons ordinall.
Dunstanus Epus Cantuariensis de Lapide philos-a small
manuscript.
Theriaca divina Benedicti MS. Lat. Anonym.
A Manuscript entitled Investigation of causes, writt by a person
of these parts about 50 yeares agoe. A theoreticall
3 This is MS. Sloan. 1842.-Catalogue of Sir Thomas Browne's MSS. No. 6, 4to.
vol. iv, 463, &c.
4 Very illegible in MS. On reference to the MS. Sloan. 1842, I find it is thus:
"Fox Bulburg Churche. 1460 vel 1476.
5 MS Sloan. 1873.-Catalogue of Browne' MSS. No. 39, 4to. vol. iv, p. 463, &c.
6 This may be MS. Sloan. No. 3757, fol. 40; or No. 1255, art. 2, fol. 12C:-
probably the latter.
7 MS. Sloan. l857.-Catalogue of Browne's MSS. No. 18, 4to. vol. iv, p. 463, &c. 4651674.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 465
piece, but relating to the Herm. philosophic and worke.
An originall, and I thinck there is noe coppy of it-
about 4 sheets.
Ripleys emblematicall or hieroglyphicall scrowle in parchment,
about 7 yards long, with many verses, somewhat differing
from those in your first part next Ripleys vision.
Two small pieces of Garlandus Anglus, Latin and printed.
Dastini Speculum philosoph. MS. Lat.
Benjamin Locks picklock unto Ripleys castle, prose and verse
-about 4 or 5 sheets, MS.
To my worthy and honord freind, Elias Ashmole,
Esqr. in the Middle Temple, these, London.
(The above direction is on the back of the latter,
(ff. 153, 156,) within which is enclosed a half sheet
folded in quarto,(ff. 154-5, containing the list of
MSS. Close to the direction is preserved a small
seal of arms, impressed in red wax.) Sir Thomas Browne to Mr. Elias Ashmole
[Asmole MS 1788, art. 17, f. 151.] I was very well acquainted with Dr. Arthur Dee, and at one
time or other hee hath given me some account of the whole
course of his life: hee gave mee a catalogue of what his
father Dr. John Dee had writt, and what hee intended to
write, butt I think I have seen the same in some of his printed
bookes, and that catalogue hee gave me in writing I cannot
yet find. I never heard him saye one word of the booke of
spirits, sett out by Dr. Casaubone, which if hee had knowne
I make no doubt butt hee would have spoake of it unto mee,
for he was very inquisitive after any manuscripts of his fa-
ther's, and desirous to print as many as hee could possibly
obtaine; and, therefore, understanding that Sir William Bos-
well, the English resident in Holland, had found out many
of them, which he kept in a trunck in his howse in Holland,
to my knowledge hee sent divers letters unto Sir William,
humbly desiring him that hee would not lock them up from
8 MS. Sloane. 1893.Catalogue of Browne's MSS. No. 9, 8vo. vol. iv, p. 463, &c.
9 MS. Sloan. 1854.-Catalogue of MSS. &c. No. 13, 4to. 466466 MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. [1674.
the world, butt suffer him to print at least some thereof. Sir
William answered some of his letters, acknowledging that
hee had some of his father's works not yet published, and
that they were safe from being lost, and that hee was readie
to showe them unto him, butt that hee had an intention to
print some of them himself. Dr. Arthur Dee continued his
sollicitation, butt Sir William dying I could never heare more
of those manuscripts in his hand. I have heard the Dr. saye
that hee lived in Bohemia with his father, both at Prague and
other parts of Bohemia. That Prince or Count Rosenberg
was their great patron, who delighted much in alchymie; I
have often heard him affirme, and sometimes with oaths, that
hee had seen projection made and transmutation of pewter
dishes and flaggons into sylver, which the goldsmiths at
Prague bought of them. And that Count Rosenberg playd
at quaits with sylver quaits made by projection as before; that
this transmutation was made by a powder they had, which
was found in some old place, and a booke lying by it con-
taining nothing butt hieroglyphicks, which booke his father
bestowed much time upon: but I could not heare that he
could make it out. Dee sayd also that Kelly delt not justly
by his father, and that he went away with the greatest part
of the powder and was afterwards imprisoned by the Em-
peror in a castle, from whence attempting an escape downe
the wall, hee fell and broake his legge and was imprisoned
agayne. That his father, Dr. John Dee, presented Queen
Elizabeth with a little of the powder, who having made triall
thereof attempted to get Kelly out of prison, and sent some
to that purpose, who giving opium in drinck unto the keepers,
layd them so faste asleepe that Kelly found opportunity to
attempt an escape, and there were horses readie to carry him
away; butt the buisinesse unhappily succeeded as is before
declared. Hee sayd that his father was in good credit with
the Emperour Rodolphus, I thinck, and that hee gave him
some addition unto his coat of armes, by a mathematicall
figure added, which I thincke may bee seen at Mr. Rowland
Dee's howse, who had the picture and coat of armes of Dr.
John Dee, which Dr. Arthur Dee left at Mr. Toley's when hee
1 His portrait is preserved in the Ashmolean Museum.-W. H. B. 467l672/3.] MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 467
dyed. Dr. Arthur Dee was a young man when he saw this
projection made in Bohemia, butt hee was so inflamed there-
with, that hee fell early upon that studie and read not much
all his life but bookes of that subject, and two years before
his death contracted with one Hunniades, or Hans Hanyar,
in London, to be his operator. This Hans Hanyar having.
lived long in London and growing in years, resolved to re-
turne into Hungarie; he went first to Amsterdam where hee
was to remain ten weeks, till Dr. Arthur came unto him.
The Dr. to my knowledge was serious in this buisinesse, and
had provided all in readinesse to goe; but suddenly hee
heard that Hans Hanyar was dead.
If hereafter any thing farther occurreth to my memorie I
shall advertize. (No. Signature.)
(Note subscribed by Ashmole.} Recd. 29 March,
1674, 4h. P.M. from Dr. Browne, of Norwich,
directed to Mr. Ashmole.