The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
John Wilkins, Bishop of Chester (1614 - 1672)
Theologian, natural philosopher, and founding member of the Royal Society. In 1663, he "presented the Society with several things for their repository: 1. A wind-gun. 2. A burning-glass, in a brass frame. 3. Another burning glass, in a wooden frame. 4. Scales for weighing of gold without any counterpoise. 5. A strange bone, with a rib in the middle. 6. A geometrical arch, composed of many small pieces of wood, without any nails or pins. 7. A loadstone, then in the hands of Sir William Persall, and ordered to be called for by the operator. 8. A large concave metal. 9. A cylinder metal. 10. An angular metal. 11. A blue concave glass. 12. A piece of petrified wood. 13. A cocoa-nut. 14. An ostrich's egg-shell. 15. A piece of perspective. 16. Two papers of petrified glass. The operator was ordered to fit the wind-gun, and to polish and varnish the burning-glass. The presenter of these things received the thanks of the Society; and it was ordered, that he be registered as a Benefactor; together with prince Rupert, for his water-engine; the bishop of Exeter, [note: Dr. Seth Ward], for his pendulum-clock; Mr. Boyle, for his pneumatic-engine; Sir Heneage Finch, solicitor-general, for remitting the fees due to him for the Society's charter; and Dr. Bate, for a present of ten pounds" (Birch, 1:324; Hunter, 1989).Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/29421 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkins#Bishop Authority - early modern
Collector (minor)
Relevant locations: Title (royalty or holy order) Chester, Cheshire
Workplace or place of business Chester, Cheshire
Workplace or place of business Savoy Chapel, Westminster
Relationships: John Wilkins was a friend of John Evelyn (1620-1706)
John Wilkins was a member of Oxford Philosophical Society (1649-1660)
John Wilkins was a member of Royal Society (-)
Captain Hinde (-) was a donor to John Wilkins
Richard Gilpin (1625-1700) was a worked with John Wilkins
Cromwell Robina (1594-1660) was a wife of John Wilkins
Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - An essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language.
as Authority - early modern - The Collector's Voice: Critical Readings in the Practice of Collecting. Volume 2. Early Voices.
as Mentioned or referenced by - The Royal Society and the Invention of Modern Science.
as Mentions or references - The History of the Royal Society of London for Improving of Natural Knowledge ... In which the most considerable of those papers communicated to the Society, which have hitherto not been published, are inserted in their proper order, as a supplement to the Philosophical Transactions .
References in Documents:
Oxford, which
being on the 7th was the Eve of the Act: [Sholes, & after dinner the Procter opened the Act at St. Maries (according to
custome) & the Praevaricators their drolery, then
the Doctors disputed, & so we supp’d at Waddum Coll: The
French Maries on Matt:
42Philosophers, but Scriptures:
in the afternoone the famous Independent OwenEpiscopacy: he was now Cromwells Vice-Chancellor: We din'd with WardSalisbury],
& at night Supp'd in Balliol Coll: Hallfellow Commoner, where they made me
extraordinarily wellcome, but I might have spent the Evening as well.
St.
Maries. The long speeches of the Proctors: The V: Chancelors, the severall Professars, Creation of
Doctors, by the Cap, ring, Kisse &c: those Ceremonies not as yet wholy
abolish'd, but retaining the antient Ceremonies & Institution: Dr. Kendals
(now Inceptor amongst others) performing his Act incomparably well,
concluded it with an excellent Oration, abating his Presbyterian animositie,
which he with-held not even against that Learned & pious divine HammondV: Chancellor.
There being but 4 In Theologie, 3 in Medicine, which was thought a considerable matter,
the times consider'd: I din'd at on[e] Excester Coll:Waddum Hall Dr.
Wilkins, then Warden [now Bishop of Chester]: on the Eleventh
was the Latine Sermon which I could not be at,
invited, being taken-up at All-Soules, where we had Music, voices & Theorbes perform’d by some ingenious Scholars, where
after dinner I visited that miracle of a Youth, Mr. Christopher Wren, nephew to Bishop of Elie: then BarlowBibliothe[c]arius of the Bodlean Library Wife, The rarities of that famous place, Manuscrip[t]sMedailsMSS an Wycliffite Versions of the Holy Bible.
Ed. Josiah Forshall and Sir Frederic Madden. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1850, vol. 1, pp. xlvi-xlvii. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 106, n. 5). Philip, is cald the Gelding, & Philip &
the Gelding went down into the Water &c, also
Council of Basil, 900 years since, with the Bulla
or leaden Affix, which has a silken Chord,
passing thro every parchmentDiary, ed. de Beer,
vol. 3, p. 107, n. 1). Ritual secundum ,Catalogus impressorum librorum,
1674Missale ad usum ... ecclesicae Sarum,
ed. F. H. Dickinson, 1883, introd.Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
2).French, by a Lady every Chapter of a severall Character, or
hand, the most exquisitely imaginableDiary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3,
p. 107, n. 3)Hieroglypical TableCarta folded up like a Map, I suppose it painted
on Asses hide, extreamely rareDiary, ed. de Beer,
vol. 3, p. 107, n. 4).History ... of the University of Oxford, ed.
Gutch, 1792-6, ii. 939-42.Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
5) Sir Kenhelme Digby,Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 6)Diary, ed. de Beer, vol.
3, p. 107, n. 7)Oxoniensis Academia, 1749, p. 143; cf. p.
141Life and Times, iv. 57Early science
in Oxford, 1923, sqq., iii. 252-3Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
8) Josephs parti
colourd Diary, ed. de
Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 9).Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
10)Calico, which is made up in a Priests Vesture
or Cape after the Turkish, & the Arabic Character so exquisitely written, as no
printed letter comes neere itDiary, ed. de Beer, vol.
3, p. 108, n. 1)Diary, ed. de
Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 2)TalismansMedailsDivinity ScholePhysick Or Anatomie
ScholeDiary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 4)JaccalJacatrooParot,Diary, ed. de
Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 5)humble bee: which indeede I
had not seene before that I remember
St. JohnsSkeletonsLawd New-Coll:
where the Christ-Church, in whose Hen: 8WolsyCapitel to sustaine the roofe as one gos up the
Stayres is very remarkable: Next we walked to Magdalen Coll: Library & Chapell, which was likewise in
pontifical order, the Altar onely I think turn’d Table-wise: & there was still the double Organ, which abominations (as now esteem’d) were
almost universaly demolish’d: GibbonMusitian, giving us a tast of his skill & Talent on that
Instrument: Hence we went to the Physick Garden
Wilkins'sTransparant Apiaries,The
reformed commonwealth of bees. Presented in severall letters
... to Sammuel Hartlib Esq., 1655 ' pp. 50-1; diagram
p. 52; another type described (by Hartlib?), p. 56. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n.
1)Castles & Palaces & so ordered them one upon another,
as to take the Hony without destroying the Bees; These were adorn'd with variety of Dials, little Statues, Vanes &c: very
ornamental, & he was so aboundantly civill, as finding me pleasd
with them, to present me one of these Hives,
which he had empty, & which I afterwards had in my Garden at Says-Court,
many Yeares after; & which Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n.
2)Species,Vindicicae academiarum, 1654, pp. 19-22;
epistle to the reader, prefixed to Wilkins's Essay; Plot, Oxfordishire, pp.
282-5; OED., s.v. Species 8b. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n.
3)Samuel Hartlib, His Legacie (see
above, pp. 85-6 n.); see also 0ED. A way-wiser given by
Wilkins to the Royal Society is described by N. Grew, Musaeum Regalis Societatis (below, 2
April 1666, n.), pp. 360-1. (Diary,
ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n. 4)Thermometer Magnes, Conic & other Chr: WrenWhite
marble he had stained with a lively red very deepe, as
beautifull as if it had ben natural.Life and Times, i.
241Philosophical
transactions, i (1665), 125-7; and Plot, Oxford-shire, p. 277. (
Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 111, n. 1)
St.
Maries. The long speeches of the Proctors: The V: Chancelors, the severall Professars, Creation of
Doctors, by the Cap, ring, Kisse &c: those Ceremonies not as yet wholy
abolish'd, but retaining the antient Ceremonies & Institution: Dr. Kendals
(now Inceptor amongst others) performing his Act incomparably well,
concluded it with an excellent Oration, abating his Presbyterian animositie,
which he with-held not even against that Learned & pious divine HammondV: Chancellor.
There being but 4 In Theologie, 3 in Medicine, which was thought a considerable matter,
the times consider'd: I din'd at on[e] Excester Coll:Waddum Hall Dr.
Wilkins, then Warden [now Bishop of Chester]: on the Eleventh
was the Latine Sermon which I could not be at,
invited, being taken-up at All-Soules, where we had Music, voices & Theorbes perform’d by some ingenious Scholars, where
after dinner I visited that miracle of a Youth, Mr. Christopher Wren, nephew to Bishop of Elie: then BarlowBibliothe[c]arius of the Bodlean Library Wife, The rarities of that famous place, Manuscrip[t]sMedailsMSS an Wycliffite Versions of the Holy Bible.
Ed. Josiah Forshall and Sir Frederic Madden. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1850, vol. 1, pp. xlvi-xlvii. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 106, n. 5). Philip, is cald the Gelding, & Philip &
the Gelding went down into the Water &c, also
Council of Basil, 900 years since, with the Bulla
or leaden Affix, which has a silken Chord,
passing thro every parchmentDiary, ed. de Beer,
vol. 3, p. 107, n. 1). Ritual secundum ,Catalogus impressorum librorum,
1674Missale ad usum ... ecclesicae Sarum,
ed. F. H. Dickinson, 1883, introd.Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
2).French, by a Lady every Chapter of a severall Character, or
hand, the most exquisitely imaginableDiary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3,
p. 107, n. 3)Hieroglypical TableCarta folded up like a Map, I suppose it painted
on Asses hide, extreamely rareDiary, ed. de Beer,
vol. 3, p. 107, n. 4).History ... of the University of Oxford, ed.
Gutch, 1792-6, ii. 939-42.Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
5) Sir Kenhelme Digby,Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 6)Diary, ed. de Beer, vol.
3, p. 107, n. 7)Oxoniensis Academia, 1749, p. 143; cf. p.
141Life and Times, iv. 57Early science
in Oxford, 1923, sqq., iii. 252-3Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
8) Josephs parti
colourd Diary, ed. de
Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 9).Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n.
10)Calico, which is made up in a Priests Vesture
or Cape after the Turkish, & the Arabic Character so exquisitely written, as no
printed letter comes neere itDiary, ed. de Beer, vol.
3, p. 108, n. 1)Diary, ed. de
Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 2)TalismansMedailsDivinity ScholePhysick Or Anatomie
ScholeDiary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 4)JaccalJacatrooParot,Diary, ed. de
Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 5)humble bee: which indeede I
had not seene before that I remember
Whale, taken near the
kins
thence. It seems to be part of the Brain-Pan, that was
broken
off and struck into the Brain, when the Whale
was
taken.
called by the Natives
of
others with the Name of Ricinus
Americanus; & Palma Christi. Curiously figur'd by
a) a)
Horti
Far
nesiani
note, That in the said
Author, through some inadvertency,
the Titles of this Plant
and of the Spinacia Fragifera are
transpos'd. The Seeds are of the bigness of a Horse-Bean,
somewhat long, smooth and glossy,
ash-colour'd and mix
ed with black specks. The Kernel
white and very oily.
Given by Dr.
Hinde.
thin concave
Glasses set together, and so to be fill'd up with
water when
it is us'd. About the same bigness as the
former: but burneth
not altogether so strongly. Contrived
and given by Dr.
made of Ivory. In shape like a Funnel, saving that the Nose
is bended for the more convenient application to the Ear,
and reception of the sound. Given
likewise by
Wilkins.
Geography. A Wilkins.
'Tis very manageable. It hath five Indexes
pointing to so
many different Measures, sc.
Perches, Furlongs, Miles, Tens
of Miles, and Hundreds of Miles;
and turn'd about with
as many Wheels. Made to Work in a Coach, thus; In
Axletree is cut a little Box to receive the
Wiser: from whence the Axeltree is made hollow to the end.
In this hollow lies
a Rod, loose from the Axletree, and fasten'd
at one end to the Nave of the Wheel, and so
turns round with
it. And with a Worm it
hath at the other end, at the same time,
it turns the Perch Wheel of the Wiser,
and that all the rest. Yet
by this measure, 1 yard will sometimes
be lost in a 100 yards.
Architecture. A Geometrick
FLAT FLOOR.
Given by the
neated (a) by Dr. Geometry at
Who was pleas'd to give me the following
Account, as an
Abstract of that he hath formerly published hereof.
(a)
a) See his
Book
tu, Cap. 6.
Prop. 10.
Fig. 243
I did first, saith the Doctor, Contrive and Delineate It in
the
Year, 1644. at
afterwards I was made Professor of Geometry at
about the Year, 1650. I caused it
to be framed of small
pieces of Wood,
representing so many pieces of Timber;
prepar'd by Mr. Joyner in
ther by my self.
This I shewed soon after to divers in
larly to Dr.
Warden of
another to be made for himself,
according to that Pattern.
Which he kept by him for many years,
and afterwards pre
sented to the
After the Restauration, I caus'd another to be
made;
and, in the Year, 1660. presented it to
who was well pleas'd with it, and caused
it to be reposited in
his Closet.
On the Model first mention'd, I Read two Publique
Lectures at Vespers
of the Publique Act: the
one, in the Year,
1652. as to the Construction of it; the
other, in the Year, 1653.
as to the computation of what
weight every Joynt of it sustains;
whereby it might be the
better judged how far it may be safely
practised. The
greatest weight charged on any one Joynt, doth not
amount to Ten-times the weight of one Beam: And the
greatest
weight bor'n by any one Beam; not to seventeen
times its own
weight: and even this, not laid all on the
same part, but
distributed to several parts of it. The sum
of these two Lectures, is to be seen in the Sixth Chapter of
my Book
A Third Lecture, much to the same purpose, I read,
May, 1699
Duke of
Visit,
and me with his Presence at that Lecture. After
which, he was pleased very particularly to consider both
the
Delineation and Model, and declared himself very well
pleased with
it,
The contrivance is obvious to the Eye. The outsides re
present the Walls of the Building on which this Flat Floor
or
Roof is to be laid. The Beams next adjoyning to the
sides, have
one end lodged on those Walls; the other end
sustained by another
Beam, lying cross; both ends of
which, are in like manner
sustained by other cross Beams;
and those again by others; till
they reach the other Walls.
So that no one of them can fall,
unless the Walls fail, or the
Beams break: all mutually sustaining
each other without
any Pillar or Prop to support them, besides the
outer
Walls.
The Models I caused to be made, and that of the
Society
as much as the Length of
the longest Beam. But may be
continu'd, at pleasure, to farther
breadth, as shall be thought
fit. With this Caution: That the
farther the Work is
continu'd, the greater Weight will be charged
on every
Joynt; especially near the middle. And though in this
Model, no one Beam is charged with so much as seventeen
times its own weight: yet if the Work be continu'd to a
greater
breadth, the proportional Weight will be thereby
increased. And
therefore must be limited, according to
the strength of Timber,
able to bear more or fewer times
its own weight.
I do not know, that yet it hath been reduced to practise,
in more
than four Pieces, in this Form. Such is
one of the Floors in the
Tower of the Publique
Schools at
Length of the Beams, is as three to two. But
may doubtless be continu'd much further: especially in
such a Roof
or Floor, as is not to bear much more than its
own weight.
Thus, for instance, a Bowling-Green of near an
Acre of
Ground, may be cover'd with a Frame of long slender
Vines, or other like Plants to run upon, so as to shade the
whole.
Note here, That whereas the ends of the several pieces
are to lie
upon those that cross them, about the middle
thereof; it will be
necessary at every Joynt to abate both
pieces half way, or near
it; that one may be thus let into
the other, and the whole reduced
to a Flat. But whether
such piece, so abated doth end even with
that on which it
lies, or doth lie over somewhat beyond it; is
indifferent.
And though That may seem more elegant; This, perhaps,
may be fitter for use.
Each piece, I say, must be so abated half way, or near
it. For,
whereas those Beams, especially if of a considera
ble
length, will, with the weight, bow a little; if this abate
ment be somewhat less than half way, (whereby without
such
bowing, the whole would somewhat rise in the mid
dle) it
will by such bowing be reduced to a Flat.
Note also, That a Frame thus contriv'd, needs neither
Nail nor Pin; the several
pieces fastening, as well as support
ing one another.
Yet, if it be to bear a great weight more than
its own; it will be
convenient to fasten each Joynt with
Pins; and, if need be, to strengthen it with Iron-Plates, or
line it with other pieces
of Timber, to be fasten'd with Iron- Bolts; to make amends for what is weaken'd by the
abate
ments at the Joynts:
which will make the whole Frame
exceeding strong.
Architecture. A Geometrick
FLAT FLOOR.
Given by the
neated (a) by Dr. Geometry at
Who was pleas'd to give me the following
Account, as an
Abstract of that he hath formerly published hereof.
(a)
a) See his
Book
tu, Cap. 6.
Prop. 10.
Fig. 243
To which is fitted a Rod to
charge it with Air. At the
Breech, where the two Barrels are open
one into the other,
is placed a Valve, to
admit the Air into the outer Barrel, as
the Rod drives it, and to
keep it there.
Wilkins.Paint
looks as if it were al
together rude and irregular, so as
nothing can be made of
it. But a Metalline
Cylinder being placed perpendicular
upon a certain Point
of the Table; the Rays are in such sort
incident thereon, and thence reflected to the Eye, as to re
present a variety of curious Work: sc. a Shepherd playing
on a Pipe; and his Wife dancing with a Child in her
Arms,
and a Basket on her Head.
-
A List of those who have Contributed to this
-
His Highness Prince RUPERT, Count Palatineof theRhine . -
THomas Thomas M. D. -
John Aubrey Esq. -
WILLIAM L. Visc. BROUNCKER . -
Hon. ROBERT BOYLE, Esq. -
Dr.Erasmus Bartholine . -
John Bembde Esq. -
Sign.Paul Boccone . -
Mons.Olaus Borrichius . -
Joseph Bowles Merch. -
Sir Thomas Brown -
Edward Brown. M. D. -
JONH JOHN late Lord B. ofCHESTER . -
EAST-INDIA COMPANY . -
ROYAL AFRICAN COMPANY . -
Walter Charleton M. D. -
Walter Chetwynd Esq. -
Andrew Clench M. D. -
Samuel Colepress, Esq. -
Thomas Cox, Esq. -
Edward Cotton M. D. -
Thomas Crispe Esq. -
Ellis Crispe, Esq. -
William Crone M. D. -
John Evelyn Esq. -
George Ent Esq. -
CaptainThomas Fissenden. -
Nehemjah Grew M. D. -
Hon. CHARLES HOWARD of N. Esq. -
Theodore Haac Esq. -
Thomas Henshaw Esq. -
Abraham Hill Esq. -
Mr. Hocknel -
Luke Hodgson M. D. -
Robert Hook Geom. Pr. -
Anthony Horneck B. D. -
SirJohn Hoskins. -
John Houghton Pharm. L. -
Edmund King M. D. -
Mons. Lannoy -
Mr. Langerman -
Mr. Linger -
Fath. Hieronim. Lobus . -
Richard Lower M. D. -
Martyn Lyster Esq. -
Mr. John Malling. -
Sign. Malpighi. -
Christopher Merret M. D. -
SirThomas Millington. -
SirJonas Moore. -
SirRobert Moray -
Mr. S. Morgan. -
HENRY Duke ofNORFOLK . -
Walter Needham M. D. -
Isaac Newton Math. Prof. -
Henry Oldenburge Esq. -
Philip Packer Esq. -
Dudley Palmer Esq. -
SirWilliam Petty. -
Robert Plot L L. D. -
Walter Pope M. D. -
Thomas Povey Esq. -
SETH Lord B. ofSALISBURY. -
Mr. ScottoMerch. -
Mr. John Short. -
SirPhilip Skippon -
Francis Slare M. D. -
George Smith M. D. -
Mr. John Somner -
SirRobert Southwell -
Dr. Swammerdam. -
CaptainTayler -
George Trumbal T. D. -
Edward Tyson M. D. -
WILLIAM late L. WILLOUGHBYofParham . -
SirChristopher WrenP. R. S. -
George Wheeler Esq. -
Daniel Whistler, M. D. -
Henry Whistler Esq. -
SirJoseph Williamson. -
Francis Willughby Esq. -
John Winthrop Esq. -
Robert Witty M. D.
excepting some Names which are lost.
The Usefulness of Bp. Wilkins Universal Character
killed on the Sea-coasts thereabouts, and bought in the Market by my Lord BishopChester ,
hisWilkins
Wilkins