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

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Claudius Ptolemy (c. 90 - c. 170)

Greco-Roman writer, mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198606413.001.0001/acref-9780198606413-e-5426?rskey=IZxiem&result=2 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy Authority - ancient
 Relevant locations: Residence at Alexandria, Egypt
 Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - London in 1710, from the Travels of Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach .
 References in Documents:
Objects mentioned in correspondence
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, 8 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 1661.] 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 tomorrow 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.)
London in 1710, from the travels of Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach

On the morning of 25 Oct. we drove to Kensington. The house is not very large but new and regular, having many handsome and well-furnished rooms. In several we saw various pictures of Holbein and other fine paintings, of which the Birth of Christ, a night-piece, and the Sacrifice of Elijah were the most elegant. We saw also here a barometer of Tompion with a round disc as a clock. We were taken into a room where paintings of the English admirals, fourteen of them, were hung. This opened into a small room in which were portraits of the four Indian kings who some time ago paid a visit to London. In another we saw a curious screen before the fireplace, on which there were all manner of Indian birds in relief with their natural feathers stuck on it. The so-called Great Hall is narrow and long but adorned with handsome paintings. Above the chimney-piece in this room stands an anemoscope. The paintings in this room are fifty-nine in number. By the door is a large painting by Tintoretto with several nude figures. Over one door is the Beheading of St John and over the other a Cupid drawing his bow, both remarkably well painted. There are, moreover, several portraits by famous artists, some perspective-pieces, a Lucretia, a Susanna, which are all very excellent. In one corner stands a curious striking clock with a fine black case ornamented with gilt figures. The clock does not only tell the time but also the course of the sun. Above stands the knight St. George in silver-gilt of the most excellent workmanship. We were told that it was presented to King William by the Frenchman who made it, and that the latter received a hundred guineas for it. On the table lay a small box of amber with several figures on it, extremely well wrought. The paintings hung high on the walls all round the room are of little account. In one corner was the bust of a Moor very well done from life—made, indeed, of nothing but coloured stones, with great skill. In another room we saw a prodigiously fine bed of red velvet and costly stuffs; in yet another, in which hung the Czar's portrait, was a most curious clock, of which a description with copper engravings has appeared in London. It has four great round dials, in the middle being a small one showing the hours. Above one sees the course of the sun and moon according to Ptolemy's system and next it the system of Copernicus, with the course of all the planets. The lowest discs have all manner of special divisions. In one of these was written: Samuel Watson, now in London; and in the other: Coventriae fecit. In most of the rooms stood very elegant inlaid tables. The garden round this palace is large, and in it hedges alternate with lawns, yews and flower-beds. The prospect from this garden and the zoological garden next it is most agreeable. On the left hand is the orangery, which is very well and elegantly planned in a straight line with round vaulted chambers at either end. The shrubs were for the most part laurels, but among them were some fine plants. There are no statues here, and only a very wretched and paltry fountain and some mere basins. The walks are extraordinarily large and handsome, especially the middle one. The open space, which is laid out like an amphitheatre, is vastly elegant, though the hedges and bushes on both sides are not fully grown. After we had seen all we drove back to London.