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

[ Previous ][ Next ]

Guil. Thornton ( - )

Alias for Sir William Thornton

Linked print sources: as Donator of object(s) - Ducatus Leodiensis; or the topography of the town and parish of Leedes and parts adjacent ...
References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

A Land Tortoise, 6 ½ Inches long, and 5 ½ broad. The Shell of a Tortoise curiously chequer'd, so ridged on the Back, that the Convexity of the Shell is equal to its length, viz. 6 ½ Inches. Don. Gul. Thornton Mil. A flat one from Barbadoes; the convex Work is composed of Black and Citrine, 13 entire round, or rather Pentagonal Figures, besides the Halves at the Edge. Don. D. Netherwood.

Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

A Coco-Nut. A larger, Don. D. Briggs. Part of the Husk. A Nut entirely surrounded with the thick fibrous Cover, half a Yard in Circumference. Don. D. Guil. Thornton Mil. Another near two Foot round, which is the largest Sort (a)(a) Hugh's Amer. Phys. p. 61., the Rind is nigh an Inch thick, saith the same Author; but this is above an Inch and half, near two in one Part. An Oval Coco-Nut-shell, five Inches long, cut for a Cup. An Orbicular Shell, cut for the like Purpose, near four Inches Diameter. The Coco is one of the most useful Trees in the World, out of whose Husk all Manner of Ropes and Cables are made; of the Shells, Ladles, Wine Bottles, &c. The inmost Cover is eaten as a very pleasant Meat, its Liquor drunk as a clear, sweet, and cool Drink; from hence also they obtain their pleasant Sura; this standing an Hour in the Sun becomes good Vinegar: Of it also they make their Brandy (after it is distill'd) which is the first Running, and their Wine which is the second: From hence also they have a Sort of brown Sugar called Jagra, from the Kernel when fresh they press a Milk, used with all their Rice-Meats; of the dried Kernel they make Oil both to east and to burn: Of the Leaves of the Trees are made Sails for Ships, Covers of Houses and Tents, and Summer Hats. Of the Wood they make Ships without Nails, sewing the several Parts together with the Cords made of the Husks of the Net (b)(b) (a) Grew's Mus. Reg. Soc. p. 199..