The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
John Browne (1642 - 1702)
Surgeon, anatomist, author. He became a surgeon at St Thomas's Hospital in 1683. He does not appear to have been related to Sir Thomas Browne, although the latter wrote commendatory letters to the author. Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/3681 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Browne_(anatomist) Relationships: William Crop (fl. 1678-) was a uncle of John BrowneLinked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A Remarkable Account of a Liver, appearing Glandulous to the Eye; communicated by Mr John Brown, Chirurgeon of St Thomas Hospitall in Southwark; in a Letter to one of the Secretarys of the Royal Society.
as Subject of/in a document - John Browne (1642–1702): Anatomist and Plagiarist.
References in Documents:
I hope by this time thou art got somewhat beyond
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
geographie of
Santonicum
you went I had 60
before Christmas
agoe
and Roman
I would not buy any there except some few choice ones which
I have not already
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
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
salt. Point your letters hereafter, I mean the ends of sentences.
they have a sweet organ; on Tuesday next is the Coronation
day when
great solemnity especially at
against all opposition that could possibly bee made; the voyces
in this number,
436. My
the county without opposition. Lent was observed this year
which made
settled in good hands through all
troops of hors, in this Citty
Coll. Jay
2 volunteer troops in the country under
not trouble thy self to send us any thing, either wine or bacon.
I would have sent money by Exchange, but
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
and red the Liturgie or Common prayer, and had a Comunion
at
at
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
Church
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
Hill
whose head is now upon
and
thine eyes; God confirm your faith in Christ and that you may
live accordingly,
with any pretty insects of
you can send
may come safe.
No Signature.)
Honest
I sent November the first a box with letters and
other things, by a ship bound for
may be a month before it comes unto you, and therefore by
this of the post I signifie that you may goe to
desire and have convenience, and from thence may goe to
mines. I know not whether I shall have the convenience to
write to you to
some way, by some English marchants there. God Bless you.
Your loveing father,
[MS. SLOAN. 1868]
Sir,
I received two letters from you yesterday, and
baue met with a great many more at
intend not to come by
bad to crosse the
pion
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
I think I shall neuer see any thing like it againe. 'Twas
young
rity
of
esteem all ouer
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
chyliductus thoracicus, ductus Whartoni
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
I find opportunity, to
yet gone. I haue laide aside my thoughts of seeing
many
to understand Dutch also, and haue but a smattering of all
three. I think I shall haue
at least some part of the way. There is heere an academy;
those of it call themselves
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
saw, and which I think goes beyond
judgment, is in the refectory of the
cloth four times as big as your
Your obediant Sonne,
[MS. SLOAN. 1848.]
March 1, styl vet. 1668-9.
Dear Sonne,
I receaved your last letter,
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
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
venture,
butt leame and make the best enquiries you can of
things in
neere
buisinesse must bee to settle a correspondent, who may write
unto you at any time and answer your letters, in order to the
some person resident in
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
herius
garie
and all minerall waters in and about those parts; out of whom
things in
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
that hath observed them. Quarries of . . . . . . . . . are
probably not farre from the city. The baths of
enquire of what they consist, and what tryall hath been made
of what mineralls they consist. You may enquire about
an hot bath by
torie,
from the popular name.
best is only worth the obtaining;
lumps; and
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
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
you may observe many things, perhaps considerable, in
those poynts; butt, however, you may signifie them, and
write of them, in your letters to mee. You may enquire of
sed fossilis, found at
read in
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
half moone should stand so longe. The ice showes exceed
others in any place.
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
beare?
at
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
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
and protection of you, and that he would continue the same,
is the prayer of your loving father,
9 Dee and Kelly were at the emperor's court at
afterwards banished from his dominion as magicians, at the instigation of the
pope's nuncio.
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
terra Bohemica, Silesiaca, &c. whereof divers. I have con
ferred
with some who knowe the country about
for that is plentifull in mines, mineralls, sallts, sulphur, anti
mony,
&c.
mothers; cosen
howse, at
Christmas, and
bills of fortie pounds. I hope you will not bee to seeke for
credit, as at your coming to
upon the former credit, as need requireth, in your returne.
We all hope your returne before the hott wether.
Wee are mightily delighted with your little pictures.
Now I hope you will be heare as soon as you can.
is still at
body you left, they all desire to see you, cheefly
Your affectionate sister,
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. [
[MS. SLOAN. 1847.]
[
Dear Sonne,
I presume by this time you receaved my letter, by
Grewe's
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.
ligneus lanterniforis
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.
which I receaved from Island;
three times the bignesse.
butt at a good distance from the sea, and I beleeve it is not
usual to meet with such a stone.
birds which
unusuall kind of locust, which was given mee long ago, and
brought from the
which I was fayne to call
Odde horny excursion or prominence, running beyond the
3 Probably, "Proposals for printing his Anatomy of Plants," which were read to
the Royal Society,
head, made the sound the lowder. I have the
will have it drawne out, if need bee.
Wee all long to heare of my
very.
Pray present my service to my
Whiting
Your louing father,
You may well insert that verse you mention, as thus:
"The water of the Danube seemes white, troubled, and more
I remember you sent me some good observations
confused, according to the expression of Virgil..... That
of the Savus, &c."
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
next the Golden Balls,
[POSTHUMOUS WORKS, AND Sloane MS 1911-13, f. 96.]
Honoured Sir,
By your letter, dated
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
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
terme, and by
of the
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.
Certainly, sir, the gaining Marshland, in
land
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.
speaking of the Romans in
out of
(who translated
wore out and consumed the bodies and hands of the Britans,
in clearing of woods, and paving of fens. But the words of
opinion; I meane, whether the word
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,
For my much·honoured friend,
house
[POSTHUMOUS WORKS, and Sloane MS 1911-13, f. 104.]
HONOURED SIR
Yours of the 10th instant came safe to my hands,
with that learned discourse inclosed, concerning the word
good friends
have also consulted about it.)
one of the
Robert Cotton
Downe, desiring your opinion thereof and of what magnitude
you think it was.
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
folke
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
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
"Cl. et Doct.
Bissæi -Hamper
purpose at all, nor ever bad; but that his brother-in-law
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
expression concerning such buriall of the Saxons, as you
mention in
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
at
The next is, to entreat you to speake with one
Haward
who was an executor to
wich
yeare: and to desire a letter from him to
speedily to joyne with
den
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
that he cannot without expresse order from him, do it: the
rest of the executors of
pleasure me therein. If you can get such a letter from him
for
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
me a very high favour.
From
Ægypt, and so likewise what is sayd by
Note in the Posthumous Works.
7 Blomfield
attend it, whereby you will more oblige
For my much honoured friend,
[FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THE EDITOR's POSSESSION. check to see whether BL now has it.]
Worthy Sir,
I make noe doubt you have receaued
letter unto
any seruice in that kind. I am glad your
Monasticon
these parts of
when he was in
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
or
and six-corner'd steeple.
and shall giue you some account of it when I have compared
it with
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
Inego Jones
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
9 Qre: to ask the Docter whether ever he saw this draught.--MS. marginal
Note by Dugdale in the Original. 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
places; and, as I think in
from
speakes but some times of
his words, though it is probable hee was much beholden unto
him having left a worke of his subject
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.
Your very well-wishing friend and servant,
To my worthy friend
in the Herald's Office,
[MS SLOAN. 1833]
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
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.
herrings, called therefore a horse.
which I have often found upon the sea-shore.
marini facie
lobsters at
I have known many taken among weeds by fishers, who
drag by the sea-shore on this coast.
cornus
odoratus
fol. 150.
which I now send;" he saith, "Nucem moscl1atam et cinnamomum
vere spiral." To me it smelt like roses, santalum, and
ambergris.
Clusii
about the time of herring-fishing at
taken upon the shore, not able to fly away, about ten years
ago.
shot in a marsh, which I gave unto a gentleman, which I can
send you.
near a marsh ground.
upon
Brown
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
How
fresh
leaveth its julus yearly by the banks of
chiefly about
church
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.
moides
salamantium parvum
where I found it, and have it in my
the description in
not in the catalogue. I have found it to grow wild at
by
[MS SLOAN. 1830]
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.
with two, which I have not found in any author; of which I
have sent you a rude draught inclosed.
by me, but, without a very good opportunity, dare not send
it, fearing it should be broken.
semble
some noble or princely ornament of the head, and so
might be called
a cupola, or lantern of a building; and so might be named
may name it as you please.
antliarum
of many woody strings, about the bigness of round points or
laces
from the trees, which serve under ground for pumps. I have
observed divers, especially in
deep for pumps.
and very fetid, answering the description of
nius
diameter, and [have]
marinæ pellucidæ
ferring
to
numbers by
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.
coast.
lost its shape and colour.
ing
up in my yard, of two yards long, taken among the
herrings at
but I find it not in the catalogue. This
I have had
houses in
river trout, but of the same bigness.
worthy sir, it were best to put them in two distinct lines, as
distinct species of the molles.loligo, calamare, or
sleve
the sea-shore; and
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
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.
Boccard gallorusAuchorago
Scaligeri
either of which you may command.
Have you
this coast? Have you
gularis
Bivormii
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.
ebb water, for bait? They are discovered by a little hole or
sinking of the sand at the top about them.
scription
of
parrot-jay? I have
years ago.
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
with a wide throat bill, as little as a titmouse, white feathers
in the tail, and paned like a hawk?
the coast of
sometimes in pieces of a pound weight. I have
fat and tare, of ten ounces weight; yet more often I have
found it in handsome pieces of twelve ounces in weight.
[MS SLOAN 1830]
stn,
I received your courteous letter; and with all re
spects
I now again salute you.
last year one was taken of about two hundred pounds weight.
sticking close unto their gills, whereof I send you
In your Pinax I find
mean those at St. James's, or others brought over, or such as
have been taken or killed here, I know not.
up in
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 G.
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.
marsh, eight miles off; another shot, whose case is yet to be
seen.
rarity upon the coast of
known them taken asleep under the cliffs.
brought to me.
seal; as having a rounder head, a shorter and stronger body.
and Xiphias, or
seas.
entangled in the herring-nets.
length.
Among the whales you may very well put in the
tus
in
on our shore, near
chapter in the last edition of my "Pseudodoxia Epidemica;"
and another was, divers years before, cast up at
both whose heads are yet to be seen.
Ophidion, or, at least,
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
of
the fins spread; and when it was fresh taken, and a large
one.
have seen much larger, which fishermen have brought me.
2 The Stork.
3 Very rarly seen at G 4 Frog-fish
shrunk and lost the colour. When I took it upon the seashore,
it was full and plump, answering the figure and description
of
end of
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.
lus
barbatus ruber miniaceus
rough, and but dry meat. There is of them major and minor,
resembling the figures in
sorts.
major
as it may be called; much answering the description of
rus
erell.
stonus
the
whole draught in picture. This kind is much more near
than the other, which are common, and is a rounder fish.
sea-sands, and are digged out at the ebb for bait.
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 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
In brief, this
5 I have seen a sea-mouae taken out of a cod-fish, but thev are not common at
vesperam volans, ovum speciosissimum excludens
spoke to a friend to shoot one; but I doubt they are gone over.
have observed in these parts, as I travelled about.
me it was kept in
only one
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,
nostras
pretty shrill note; not hard to be got in some parts of
ten miles off, four years ago. It may well be called the par
rot jay, or
much faded. If you have it before, I should be content to
have it again; otherwise you may please to keep it.
some
which I have seen have the tail tipt with yellow, which is not
in their description.
five years ago.
you, I do not find the figure in any book.
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.
that, in a small compass, it were no hard matter to gather a
peck of them.
but the greatest part are scattered, lost, or given away. For
memory's sake, I wrote on my box
nales
Worthy sir, I shall be ever ready to serve you, who am, sir,
Your humble servant,
[MS SLOAN. 1830]
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
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
foliorum-excrementum fungosum verticibus scatens-excre
mentum lanatum-capitula squamosa jacææ æmula-nodi-
melleus liquor-tubera radicum vermibus scatentia-muscus
-lichen-fungus-varæ quercinæ
sus; sive, capillitius marinus
this are often found on the sea-shore. But this is the full
figure, I have seen three times as large.
from a greater
backbone of a fish.
spinum referens, ichthyorachius
marinus
at
large and winged
of the wet sands, when the tide falls away.
by
or little sort thereof.
fresh.
like a cormorant, fiery, and snapping like it upon any touch.
I kept
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
that which we call a
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.
in
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
&c. of
about the bigness of a godwitt?
whereof sometimes we find some on the sea-shore?
have?morinellus marinus, or the
coloured than the other, and somewhat less?
ed a
of the birch trees, and comes early in the spring.
a very small bird, less than the
a
seas. Pray compare it with
draught was taken from the fish dried, and so the prickly fins
less discernible.
like the other, taken in good plenty about
seas afford sometimes strange large ones, as I have heard
from fishermen and others; and this year,
taken at
excellent fragrant odour, which I have often found at the bot
tom of the flowers of tulips.
marina
is
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.
[POSTHUMOUS WORKS]
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.
and have it somewhere amongst my papers, and
a woeman's hat that was shiver'd into pieces of the bignesse of
a groat.
our whale,
the oyle and spermaceti.
apothecarie got about fiftie pounds in one sale of a quantitie
of
I made enumeration of the excretions of the oake, which
might bee observed in
would be most observable if you set them downe together,
not minding w hetber there were any addition: by
fungosum vermiculis scatens
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.
vermiculis scatentia
good tennis-balls and ligneous.
3 Where it is published (erroneously) as a letter to
sprouts, wings, or leaves as in the
know not, though I call'd it
referens
now the figure of a 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.
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.
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.
call'd it
upon alderbuds, nucaments or seeds, which grow plentifully
here; they fly in little flocks.
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
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.
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;
cula
5 Names of two distinct species, the godwit, or yarwhelp,
the spotted redshank or barker, S. Totanus. The description agrees with neither.
6 Probably the beam-bird, or flycatcher;
Possibly the goldencrested wren,
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
mas. et fæmina
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.
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.
I first observed them above twenty yeares ago, and they are
still among us.
might have met with them in
our shoare, butt one brought me
small shells, from the shoare. I shall enquire farther after them.
then once by the sea-side.
hawks;
autumn.
call'd an eruh
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,
8 This must be the smew,
in hard winters.-G.
9 The pin-tailed duck.-G.
1 Several ospreys have been taken near G.
2
[Bodleian MS Rawlinson CCCXCI]
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.
Brittish and Saxon I have this day sent you in a box, by the
I hope are good.
Lock, I find verbatim in print, but nott the
naturæ
without explication uppon them.
verie good, I desire your finger may honor, I having wome
itt on my owne, as the best I could find of that kind.
man, to send me your
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
and, sir, if you have anie notion that you please to commu
nicate, in order to the old affaire I discoursed to you att
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
to aduance my design which will oblidge,
Sir, your verie humble servant,
Sir, be pleased to direct your letter, as also the bookes, to
(Ashmolean MS 1131, f. 280; Vol. 35 of
COLLECTIONS FOR THE ORDER OF THE GARTER.)
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.
you written by the hand of his sonne, Dr.
old acquaintance, containing the scheme of his nativity,
erected by his father, Dr.
butt the iudgment upon it was writt by one
rerus
which
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,
Your servant most respectfully and humbly,
("Recd.
8
guished surgeon in
published in
"A Compleat Treatise of Preternatural Tumours, &c. Sco."To
which is prefixed, amont other recommendatory letters, the present, from Sir
[MS SLOAN, 1833, f. 16.]
Sir,
the head of
behinde his head; on the reverse it hath a Caduceus or
curies
s. c.
visible, or the dagger on the obverse. It is thus to be read;
Marcus Plætorius Cestianus ex Senatus Consulto.
This
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
their being chosen ædiles and tribunes of the people. He
was contemporary with
designed prætor together with
the foundation of
spiracy, and eighty-five yeares before the birth of our Saviour.
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:
by
lib. 30. He preferred a law
by
torius
coyne was stamped upon his being chosen to dedicate the
temple of
consuls at that time sued,
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
9 This letter is but a fragment. It is acrompanied by a pen drawing of the coin.
[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
farther assistance. For which I shall always proclaim by my
tongue as well as my pen my due resentment and thanks.
fungi
rarest as to their figure I have ever seen or read of;
your fibula marina
wall
where mentioned.
salus
charcarius alius Jonstlupus piscis
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
might come sometimes thence to your coasts.
I have;loligosepiapolypus
the molles have bin found on our western coasts, which shall
bee exactly distinguished
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.
the earth worms,
a
account of, the two later I know not especially by those
names, wee have noe hawke by that name--your account of
Gesneri
for this 25 years last past.
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
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
For
[Ashmole MS 1788, art. 18, f. 153.]
Most Worthy Sr.
letter and the good newes of the hopefull recoverie of
Dugdale
and shall, God willing, send unto him concerning the
bone
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
sonne unto old
yeares and dyed in
accounts agreable unto those which you have sett downe in
your annotations concerning
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
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,
molean MuseumW. H. B.
transcribe them; butt I shall entreat the favour to have them
returned.
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,
1. Take earth of earth earths mother with some explication.
2. A short worke and true-of halfe a sheet.
3. Cantilena
4.
frido
5. The great worke or great Elixir of
Lunam
work-containing 2 sheets.
6. A Letter of
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
9. A Concordance of the Sayings of
X. The worke of
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.
piece, but relating to the Herm. philosophic and worke.
An originall, and I thinck there is noe coppy of it-
about 4 sheets.
about 7 yards long, with many verses, somewhat differing
from those in your first part next
-about 4 or 5 sheets,
To my worthy and honord freind,
Esqr. in the
(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.)
[Asmole MS 1788, art. 17, f. 151.]
I was very well acquainted with
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
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
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;
well
of them, which he kept in a trunck in his howse in
to my knowledge hee sent divers letters unto
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.
the world, butt suffer him to print at least some thereof.
William
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.
sollicitation, butt
of those manuscripts in his hand.
that hee lived in
other parts of
was their great patron, who delighted much in alchymie;
have often heard him affirme, and sometimes with oaths, that
hee had seen projection made and transmutation of
dishes
at quaits with
this transmutation was made by a
was found in some old place, and a booke lying by it con
taining nothing butt hieroglyphicks, which booke
bestowed much time upon: but I could not heare that he
could make it out.
by
of the powder
peror in a castle, from whence attempting an escape downe
the wall, hee fell and broake his legge and was imprisoned
agayne.
Elizabeth
thereof attempted to get
to that purpose, who giving opium in drinck unto the keepers,
layd them so faste asleepe that
attempt an escape, and there were horses readie to carry him
away;
declared.
the
some addition unto his coat of armes, by a mathematicall
figure added, which I thincke may bee seen at
Dee
John Dee
1 His portrait is preserved in the W. H. B.
dyed.
projection made in
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
in
lived long in
turne into
was to remain ten weeks, till
The Dr. to my knowledge was serious in this buisinesse, and
had provided all in readinesse to goe; but suddenly hee
heard that
If hereafter any thing farther occurreth to my memorie I
shall advertize.
No. Signature.)
(
Note subscribed byAshmole .} Recd.
1674
directed to
A Remarkable Account of aLiver,
appearingGlan
dulous
to the Eye; communicated by
Brown
Chirurgeon of
Hospitall
in
in a Letter to one of theSecretarys
of the
Liver of an Hydro
pical Person, a Patient of our Hospitall, (as it was
accurately taken by Faithorn
curious as to be worthy the notice of the
and therefore have presumed to communicate it to you.
The Person was about 25 years of age, a Soldier in
one of his Majesty's Regiments here in Town; who
contracted his distemper by drinking much water,
when he could not stirr from his duty, and catching
cold at nights in being upon the guard: He was under
the care of our Physicians for some time, by whose di
rections his swellings did by times abate; but afterwards
it was observed, that the method which had been be
neficiall to others, had not here the like success, his
swellings returning upon him as before; so that there
was nothing more now to be thought of, but a
centhesis
zardous, by reason of the time of the year; and for that
the Patient was very much emaciated; yet he being so
much swell'd, that it was uneasy to him to ly in his
bed, he importun'd us very often, and with great ear
nestness, that the Operation might be performed. Where
upon we taking
stat Remedium anceps, quam nullum
better to attempt a cure that might be but barely pos
sible, then to abandon him to the certain expectation
of death; a
and directions, was made by me the fourteenth
of November last part, whereby we drew from the Pa
tient about 3 pints of Brinish Liquor, and within 4
days after as much more, the next day morning he
dyes, and his death as was found upon dissection, was
partly occasioned by a mortification upon his Scrotum
and Penis.
This Operation was performed to the satisfaction of
the Physicians and Chirurgeons that saw it, and by it
the Patient had some ease for the present.
Upon opening the body, I believe I took out about
24 quarts of water; he had a large inflammation upon
the Peritonæum; all his other inward parts not much
disaffected, except the Liver; which now I am going
to describe to you.
Its magnitude was not extraordinary, but rather
seemed less then usuall, but that which was very re
markable (and I think the like case scarce ever observ
ed by any Author,) and seems much to confirm the
opinion of the Learned
ed in its concave, convex, and inward parts of glands,
which (with the Vessels) made up the whole substance
thereof; these glands contained a yellowish Ichor, like
so many Pustulæ, and was I suppose part of the bilious
humor lodged in the same, tho otherwise the Liver
between the glands was of its usuall reddish colour.
In the bladder of Gall, we found a soft friable stone,
but otherwise nothing considerable further in that part.
The Liver was opened before the Physicians of our Hospitall DawkinsBriggsTyson
and others who had the curiosity to see it; at which
place Faithorn
draught which I now present to you; so that this be
ing attested by so good Judges, I need add no more
but that this case by them all was thought worthy to
be presented to your excellent
at their request I have adventured to do, hoping you
will favourably interpret this presumption of,
December 15th
1685
Sir,
Your faithfull Servant
A Remarkable Account of aLiver,
appearingGlan
dulous
to the Eye; communicated by
Brown
Chirurgeon of
Hospitall
in
in a Letter to one of theSecretarys
of the