The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Mundy's Observations
Brent Nelson
editor
Jon deTombe
OCR and transcript proofing
* This is a beta version *
The Travels of Peter Mundy, In Europe and Asia, 1608-1667. Vol. 3, Part
1
Lt. Col. Sir Richard Carnac Temple
London
Hakluyt Society
1919
Based on Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson A 315
Relation XX. Some Observations Since My Arrival Home
From
India, 1634, Til My Departure
Thither Againe on
Sir William
Courteenes Shipps, Vizt. HAVEINGEHaveinge Cleired with theHonourable East India
Company, whose servant I was,[1] See vol. II. P. 338. I
prepared to goe downe to my freinds in the Countrey.
Rareties att John Trediscans.
In the meane tyme I was invited by Mr Thomas
Barlowe (whoe went into India
with my Lord of Denbigh and returned
with us on the Mary)[2] See vol. II. p. 323 n. to view some rarieties att John Tradescans,[3] John Tradescant the
elder, traveller, naturalist and gardener, who dyied in
1637 or 1638. His son, John
Tradescant the younger, was probably abroad at this time,
as he is known to have been in Virginia in 1637
collecting flowers, shells, etc. For an account of both father and
son, see the articles in the Dict. Nat.
Biog. soe went with him and one
freind more, where wee spent that whole day in peruseinge,[*]examining and
that superficially, such as hee had gathered together, as beasts, fowle,
fishes, serpents, wormes (reall, although dead and dryed), pretious stones
and other Armes, Coines, shells, fether, etts. Of sundrey Nations,
Countries, forme, Coullours; also diverse Curiosities in Carvinge,
painteinge, etts., 2 as 80 faces carved on a Cherry stone,
Pictures to bee seene by a Celinder which otherwise appeare like confused
blotts, Medalls of Sondrey sorts, etts.[4] In a catalogue of the Tradescant collection, published
in 1656, these objects are
thus described: "Mechanick artificiall Works in Carvings . . . A
Cherry-stone, upon on side S. George and the Dragon, perfectly cut:
and on the other side 88 Emperours faces . . . Variety of Rarities.
Severall sorts of Magnifying glasses: Triangular, Prismes,
Cynlinders." Under "Medalls" are enumerated Gold (5), Silver (55),
Copper and Lead (52). Musæum
Tradescantium; or A Collection of Rarities Preserved at
South Lambeth neer London. By J. T. [John Tradescant junior], London,
1656. It is doubtful whether the carved cherry-stone seen
by Mundy at Lambeth was sent to Oxford with the rest of the "rarities" handed over to
Elias Ashmole by Tradescant’s widow. It is not in existence
now, but among the Tradescant
specimens at the Ashmolean Museum
are six plum or "apricock" stones carved in the same manner with
minute figures. A drawing of the cherry-stone is, however,
preserved. Mr D. G. Hogarth,
Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum,
to whom I am indebted for the above information, tells me that under
a pencil drawing of the stone in an Ashmole
MS at the Bodleian
Library (1131-183) is a note in 17th century
handwriting (? Ashmole’s) as
follows: "The draught of a cherry-stone whereon St George on ye one side and divers heads on
the other by Capt. Burgh and
given by him to Mr John
Tradescant who preserved it amongst the rarities." The
drawing shows the two faces of the stone enlarged some 3 diameters,
with a sketch of the stone natural size beside. About 80 heads are
arranged concentrically on one side. Mr Hogarth is of opinion that the note under the drawing
leaves the question open as to whether the stone itself was ever in
Tradescant’s hands or only
Captain Burgh’s drawing of
it. But, judging from Mundy's
usual accuracy of statement, I feel convinced that the cherry-stone
was among the "rarities" that he actually saw. The particular
magnifying glass described by Mundy cannot be traced in the Ashmolean Museum. Moreover, a
little garden with divers outlandish herbes and flowers,[5] The Physic Garden and Tradescant’s "Ark" (or his house containing his
collection) were situated in the South Lambeth Road. The neighbourhood of the
site is commemorated by Tradescant Road a
street on the east side of the modern South Lambeth Road. The number
and variety of plants in Tradescant’s Physic Garden are described in the list
entitled Catalogus Plantarum in Horto
Johannis
Tradescanti nascentium. It occupies
pp. 73-178 in John
Tradescant’s catalogue quoted
above. whereof some that I had not seen elsewhere but in
India, being supplyd by Noblemen,
Gentlemen, Sea Commaunders, etts.[6]
Among the "Principall Benefactors"
to the Tradescant collection are
the names of William "Curteene"
Esqr., Captain Weddell
and Captain Swanley. Musæum Tradescantianum, by J.
T. with such Toyes[*]
curiosities as they could bringe
or procure from other parts. Soe that I am almost perswaded a Man might in
one daye behold 3 and collected into one place more Curiosities
then he should see if hee spent all his life in Travell. Mr Job Best[7] I can find no trace of any Job Best at this date, nor does the name Job
occur among the various references to the Best family in the 17th
century. At the period when Mundy was in London,
Thomas Best of Whitehouse Street and his son
Josias were both well
known inhabitants of Ratcliffe.
It is possible (as Mr William Foster suggests) that Josias was familiarly called Jo,
and if Mundy heard of him as
Mr Jo Best, the mistake is
easily explained. It is also extremely probable that the Bests of
Whitehouse Street had a
collection of "rarieties," since Thomas Best, who served the East India Company from 1613 to 1617, made several voyages to the East. In his will he
bequeathed his "est India
sword or Seimtary" to his grandson Thomas. See the article in the
Dict. Nat. Biog. on
Thomas Best, where however
the date of his death (August
1639) has not been traced. See also Wills Proved in the P. C. C. (148 Harvey),
and Memorials of Stepney Parish
(Hill and Frere), addenda to p. 31. is said
to bee well stored with the like, dwellinge att Rattcliffe.
Alsoe att Sir Henry Moodies, lyeing in the Strand,[8]Sir Henry Moody of
Garsdon, Wilts, and
Baronet, succeeded his father (cr. 1622) in 1629. He
emigrated to Massachusetts with his
mother, Lady Deborah Moody, a
nonconformist, in 1636. Their
estate was sequestrated in 1646 and Sir Henry
died in Virginia in 1661. See The Complete Baronetage, I. 191. I
have found no other record of Sir Henry
Moody's scientific tastes or his "divers
conceipts." one of his gentlemen shewed mee divers
conceipts[*]
devices, inventions of his Masters. Amonge the rest, the roome
being made quite darke, only one little hole in it with a glasse through
which a light strooke to the opposite side, where was placed white paper,
and thereon was represented, as in a glasse, all that was without, as Boates
roweing on the Thames, men rideinge on the other side, trees, etts., but all
reversed or upside downe, in their true Collours.[9]This appears to be an early mention of
the Camera Obscura in England.
William Molyneux's
Dioptrica Nova, published
in 1692, was the first work
to be printed in English on the subject.
Nott long after I went to the Tower of
London, where I saw a Unicorns horne, about 1½ yards in
length and 2 or 2½ Inches diameter att the bigger end, goeinge
Taperwise and wreathed, although somewhat smoothe (I thinck by often
handlinge). It was white, resemblinge the substance of an Eliphants Tooth,
estimated att 18 or 20000 pounds Sterlinge. This, as all the rest are,
conceived to bee rather the horne of some fish then of a beast, because such
a beast now a dayes is not to bee found, although discoveries att present
are in farr greater perfection then they were then.[10]
Mundy's estimate of the
value of this horn (probably a narwhal's tusk) is greatly in excess
of that given in "A true Inventorie and Appraisement of all the
Plate now being in the Lower Jewell
House in the Tower ...
taken 13 August 1649,"
where is noted "The unicornes hornes weighing 40 lb. 8 oz. valued at
600l. 0s. 0d." See Archaeologia, xv. 274.
Paul Hentzner, however, writing in
1598, saw at Windsor Castle "the horn of a
unicorn, of above eight spans and a half in length, valued at above
10,000 l." Travels in England, ed. 1892, pp. 72-73. This
may have been the horn described by Mundy, but I have failed to trace its transfer to the
Tower.
From
India, 1634, Til My Departure Thither Againe on
Sir William Courteenes Shipps, Vizt. HAVEINGEHaveinge Cleired with the
Honourable East India
Company, whose servant I was,[1] See vol. II. P. 338. I
prepared to goe downe to my freinds in the Countrey.
Rareties att John Trediscans.
In the meane tyme I was invited by Mr Thomas
Barlowe (whoe went into India
with my Lord of Denbigh and returned
with us on the Mary)[2] See vol. II. p. 323 n. to view some rarieties att John Tradescans,[3] John Tradescant the
elder, traveller, naturalist and gardener, who dyied in
1637 or 1638. His son, John
Tradescant the younger, was probably abroad at this time,
as he is known to have been in Virginia in 1637
collecting flowers, shells, etc. For an account of both father and
son, see the articles in the Dict. Nat.
Biog. soe went with him and one
freind more, where wee spent that whole day in peruseinge,[*]examining and
that superficially, such as hee had gathered together, as beasts, fowle,
fishes, serpents, wormes (reall, although dead and dryed), pretious stones
and other Armes, Coines, shells, fether, etts. Of sundrey Nations,
Countries, forme, Coullours; also diverse Curiosities in Carvinge,
painteinge, etts., 2 as 80 faces carved on a Cherry stone,
Pictures to bee seene by a Celinder which otherwise appeare like confused
blotts, Medalls of Sondrey sorts, etts.[4] In a catalogue of the Tradescant collection, published
in 1656, these objects are
thus described: "Mechanick artificiall Works in Carvings . . . A
Cherry-stone, upon on side S. George and the Dragon, perfectly cut:
and on the other side 88 Emperours faces . . . Variety of Rarities.
Severall sorts of Magnifying glasses: Triangular, Prismes,
Cynlinders." Under "Medalls" are enumerated Gold (5), Silver (55),
Copper and Lead (52). Musæum
Tradescantium; or A Collection of Rarities Preserved at
South Lambeth neer London. By J. T. [John Tradescant junior], London,
1656. It is doubtful whether the carved cherry-stone seen
by Mundy at Lambeth was sent to Oxford with the rest of the "rarities" handed over to
Elias Ashmole by Tradescant’s widow. It is not in existence
now, but among the Tradescant
specimens at the Ashmolean Museum
are six plum or "apricock" stones carved in the same manner with
minute figures. A drawing of the cherry-stone is, however,
preserved. Mr D. G. Hogarth,
Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum,
to whom I am indebted for the above information, tells me that under
a pencil drawing of the stone in an Ashmole
MS at the Bodleian
Library (1131-183) is a note in 17th century
handwriting (? Ashmole’s) as
follows: "The draught of a cherry-stone whereon St George on ye one side and divers heads on
the other by Capt. Burgh and
given by him to Mr John
Tradescant who preserved it amongst the rarities." The
drawing shows the two faces of the stone enlarged some 3 diameters,
with a sketch of the stone natural size beside. About 80 heads are
arranged concentrically on one side. Mr Hogarth is of opinion that the note under the drawing
leaves the question open as to whether the stone itself was ever in
Tradescant’s hands or only
Captain Burgh’s drawing of
it. But, judging from Mundy's
usual accuracy of statement, I feel convinced that the cherry-stone
was among the "rarities" that he actually saw. The particular
magnifying glass described by Mundy cannot be traced in the Ashmolean Museum. Moreover, a
little garden with divers outlandish herbes and flowers,[5] The Physic Garden and Tradescant’s "Ark" (or his house containing his
collection) were situated in the South Lambeth Road. The neighbourhood of the
site is commemorated by Tradescant Road a
street on the east side of the modern South Lambeth Road. The number
and variety of plants in Tradescant’s Physic Garden are described in the list
entitled Catalogus Plantarum in Horto
Johannis
Tradescanti nascentium. It occupies
pp. 73-178 in John
Tradescant’s catalogue quoted
above. whereof some that I had not seen elsewhere but in
India, being supplyd by Noblemen,
Gentlemen, Sea Commaunders, etts.[6]
Among the "Principall Benefactors"
to the Tradescant collection are
the names of William "Curteene"
Esqr., Captain Weddell
and Captain Swanley. Musæum Tradescantianum, by J.
T. with such Toyes[*]
curiosities as they could bringe
or procure from other parts. Soe that I am almost perswaded a Man might in
one daye behold 3 and collected into one place more Curiosities
then he should see if hee spent all his life in Travell. Mr Job Best[7] I can find no trace of any Job Best at this date, nor does the name Job
occur among the various references to the Best family in the 17th
century. At the period when Mundy was in London,
Thomas Best of Whitehouse Street and his son
Josias were both well
known inhabitants of Ratcliffe.
It is possible (as Mr William Foster suggests) that Josias was familiarly called Jo,
and if Mundy heard of him as
Mr Jo Best, the mistake is
easily explained. It is also extremely probable that the Bests of
Whitehouse Street had a
collection of "rarieties," since Thomas Best, who served the East India Company from 1613 to 1617, made several voyages to the East. In his will he
bequeathed his "est India
sword or Seimtary" to his grandson Thomas. See the article in the
Dict. Nat. Biog. on
Thomas Best, where however
the date of his death (August
1639) has not been traced. See also Wills Proved in the P. C. C. (148 Harvey),
and Memorials of Stepney Parish
(Hill and Frere), addenda to p. 31. is said
to bee well stored with the like, dwellinge att Rattcliffe.
Alsoe att Sir Henry Moodies, lyeing in the Strand,[8]Sir Henry Moody of
Garsdon, Wilts, and
Baronet, succeeded his father (cr. 1622) in 1629. He
emigrated to Massachusetts with his
mother, Lady Deborah Moody, a
nonconformist, in 1636. Their
estate was sequestrated in 1646 and Sir Henry
died in Virginia in 1661. See The Complete Baronetage, I. 191. I
have found no other record of Sir Henry
Moody's scientific tastes or his "divers
conceipts." one of his gentlemen shewed mee divers
conceipts[*]
devices, inventions of his Masters. Amonge the rest, the roome
being made quite darke, only one little hole in it with a glasse through
which a light strooke to the opposite side, where was placed white paper,
and thereon was represented, as in a glasse, all that was without, as Boates
roweing on the Thames, men rideinge on the other side, trees, etts., but all
reversed or upside downe, in their true Collours.[9]This appears to be an early mention of
the Camera Obscura in England.
William Molyneux's
Dioptrica Nova, published
in 1692, was the first work
to be printed in English on the subject.
Nott long after I went to the Tower of
London, where I saw a Unicorns horne, about 1½ yards in
length and 2 or 2½ Inches diameter att the bigger end, goeinge
Taperwise and wreathed, although somewhat smoothe (I thinck by often
handlinge). It was white, resemblinge the substance of an Eliphants Tooth,
estimated att 18 or 20000 pounds Sterlinge. This, as all the rest are,
conceived to bee rather the horne of some fish then of a beast, because such
a beast now a dayes is not to bee found, although discoveries att present
are in farr greater perfection then they were then.[10]
Mundy's estimate of the
value of this horn (probably a narwhal's tusk) is greatly in excess
of that given in "A true Inventorie and Appraisement of all the
Plate now being in the Lower Jewell
House in the Tower ...
taken 13 August 1649,"
where is noted "The unicornes hornes weighing 40 lb. 8 oz. valued at
600l. 0s. 0d." See Archaeologia, xv. 274.
Paul Hentzner, however, writing in
1598, saw at Windsor Castle "the horn of a
unicorn, of above eight spans and a half in length, valued at above
10,000 l." Travels in England, ed. 1892, pp. 72-73. This
may have been the horn described by Mundy, but I have failed to trace its transfer to the
Tower.