their furniture, which I had translated, minding to reprint it, as what I conceived might not be unseasonable whilst auctions were become so frequent among us, and gentlemen everywhere storing themselves with books at those learned marts; and because it was so very thin a volume, I thought of annexing a sheet or two of Medals, as an appendant not improper. But being persuaded to say something of our modern Medals relating to our country (as France and Holland had of theirs), I found it swell to so incompetent a bulk, as would by no means suit with that treatise. Whilst I was about this (and indeed often and long before) I had been importuned to make a second edition of my Chalcography (now grown very scarce), and to bring it from 1662, where I left off, to this time, there having since that been so great an improvement of Sculpture. This being a task I had no inclination for (having of a long time given over collections of that sort), I thought yet of gratifying them in some manner with an ex-chapter in my Discourse of Medals, where I speak of the effigies of famous persons, and the use which may be derived of such a collection, and that which follows it. 'Tis now a good while ago since first I put it into the hands of a bookseller, with strict injunction not to work off a sheet till it had been revised by abler judgments than my own; and so remained whilst the Medals could be collected that were to be graven, which though hardly amounting to a hundred, were with difficulty enough procured in two years time. This slow proceeding, together with my long and frequent excursions at this distance from town, made me absolutely resolved to abandon and think of it no further, but give it up to the bookseller to dispose of it for waste paper, when he would needs persuade me that he had such an accomplished supervisor of the press he employed, as would do me all the right I could expect from an able and learned man; and that now he had been at such charges for the sculptures, I should extremely injure him to withdraw my copy, and what I had to annex, as certainly I should [have done] but for that consideration only. So as I had now no remedy left me but by embarking the errata to my greater reproach; and it was very slender comfort to me the being told that even the most incomparably learned Spanheim, whose glorious work of Medals was not long since reprinted, escaped not the press without remarkable and cruel scars. But now I mentioned the noble Spanheim (to whose judgment all defer) I may haply be censured for what I have said concerning Etiminus, after what he has objected against that medal (De Præst. Numis. Rep. 647); but if I was, and still am, unwilling to degrade our renowned city of her so metropolitan dignity, whilst I had any to stand by me, I cannot be so deeply concerned, and indeed ashamed, should any think me so ignorant as not long since to know that obryzum signifies gold of the most exalted purity and test, or, as the ancients expressed, ad obrussum exactum, which yet, I know not how, escaped me when I was gathering out the errata. [As for CONOB, though I ever read it Constantinople, the extreme rudeness of a reverse and metal I had showed me of that coin, so perfectly resembling that of Cuno, might favour my conjecture.]* There is in margin, p. 207, a mistake of Richborow for Regulbium, which also escaped me. But, Sir, there are so many more and greater faults as put me out of countenance, for which, and this tedious scribble, I heartily beg your pardon, who am, &c. John Evelyn to Mr. Henshaw. Wotton, 1st March, 1697-8. THE bearer hereof, Dr. Hoy, a very learned, curious, and ingenious person, and our neighbour in Surrey, acquainted (as who is not?) with the name and great worth of Mr. Henshaw, hearing that I had the honour to be known to you, desires me to introduce him; I need say no more how worthy he is to be let into your esteem, than to acquaint you how deservedly we value him here in this * In the letter immediately subjoined to Mr. Henshaw, the latter part of which is almost a transcript of this letter to Dr. Godolphin, the sentence printed above within brackets is thus expressed : "I found the period omitted, p. 22, which should have been read, mixed and obrize sort also, which has on it a horse rudely designed with the letters CON-OB. stantinopoli obrizatum: which some will have to signify Cōnstantinople only; others, some Prince of ours." Con country, not only for his profession and success, but for those other excellent talents which were ever encouraged by your free and generous communications. And in this I serve myself also, by taking the occasion to present the most humble service of a now old acquaintance, begun long since abroad, and cultivated ever since by the continuance of your friendship through many revolutions. I frequently call to mind the many bright and happy moments we have passed together at Rome and other places, in viewing and contemplating the entertainments of travellers who go not abroad to count steeples, but to improve themselves. I wish I could say of myself so as you did; but whenever I think of the agreeable toil we took among the ruins and antiquities, to admire the superb buildings, visit the cabinets and curiosities of the virtuosi, the sweet walks by the banks of the Tiber, the Via Flaminia, the gardens and villas of that glorious city, I call back the time, and, methinks growing young again, the opera we saw at Venice comes into my fancy, and I am ready to sing, Gioconda Gioretri-memoria sola tù-con ramento mi'l fu-spesso spesso viena rapir mi, e qual che si sia ancor ringiovenir mi. You remember, Sir, the rest, and we are both near the conclusion, hai che non torni, non torni piu-mo-ri--bondo. Forgive me, Sir, this transport; and, when this gentleman takes his leave of you, permit me to beg your pardon also for the presumption I am guilty of, in obtruding a Discourse of Medals on one who is so great a master and so knowing, and from whose example I sometimes diverted to that study. 'Tis now near fifty years, &c.* Archbishop Tenison to John Evelyn. GOOD SIR, November 17, 1698. Mr. Fleetwood, after some deliberation, has thought fit to decline the preaching at Mr. Boyle's lecture, thinking that the fatigue of it may not well consist with his health. One of the next to him in the city, the * The rest of this letter, which is nearly the same as the preceding letter to Dr. Godolphin, need not be given. esteemed of all, is Mr. Bradford, minister of Bow church. Him Sir Henry Ashurst knows, and will elect, if you and I will join with him. I have told him I will upon my certain knowledge of the person, who is an excellent scholar and a very upright discreet man: I therefore desire your concurrence. I am of opinion that we should oppose Sir J. Rothem's taking anything for the diploma, it being a thing of no good report: the preacher can be furnished with a copy without his help: if he gives his clerk for writing it a crown or so, perhaps that may be dispensed with. Upon further consideration I am confirmed in my opinion that we have strained Mr. Boyle's words by admitting any who are not city ministers, or such as are within the bills of mortality. I hope I may enjoy your good company sometime this month, either at Lambeth or at the Cockpit. I am your affectionate friend, Archbishop Tenison to John Evelyn. GOOD SIR, November 28, 1698. The time for choosing a preacher at Mr. Boyle's lecture is so nigh, that if we pass over a few days without determining about the person, the preacher will have no time to prepare for the first sermon. I did lately recommend to you Mr. Bradford of Bow, a very excellent man and one well known to Sir H. Ashurst. I have heard nothing in answer and fear the messenger may have made some mistake. Pray, Sir, let me this day either hear from you by letter, or see me at dinner at Lambeth. I am at the Cockpit and shall be so till one o'clock, and can carry you over in my barge. I am, Sir, your assured friend, John Evelyn to Archdeacon Nicolson (afterwards Bishop of Carlisle). 10th November, 1699. After thanking him for the tenderness and civility with which he had mentioned his book on Medals, Evelyn proceeds: You recommend the study of our own municipal laws and home antiquities, most becoming an Englishman, and lover of his country, which you have skilfully derived from the fountain, and tracked through all those windings and meanders which rendered the study deserted as dull and impolite, unless by those who, attracted by more sordid considerations, submitted to a fatigue which filled indeed their purses for the noise they made at Westminster Hall, whilst their heads were empty, even of that to which they seemed to devote themselves. Did our Inns of Court students come a little better grounded in ethics, and with some entrance into the civil law, such an history as you are meditating would lead them on with delight, and enable them to discover and penetrate into the grounds of natural justice and human prudence, and furnish them with matter to adorn their pleadings, before they wholly gave themselves up to learn to wrangle, and the arts of illaqueation, and not make such haste to precedents, customs, and common-places. By reading good history, they would come to understand how governments have been settled by conquest, transplantations, colonies or garrisons, through all vicissitudes and revolutions, from east to west, from the first monarchy to the last; how laws have been established, and for what reason changed and altered; whence our holding by knight's service; and whether feudal laws have been derived from Saxon or Norman. 'Tis pity young gentlemen should meet with so little of this in the course of their academic studies, at least if it continue as in my time, when they were brought up to dispute on dry questions which nauseate generous spirits, and to discourse of things before they are furnished with mediums, and so return home rather with the learning of a Benedictine Monk (full of school cant) than of such useful knowledge as would enable them to a dexterity in solving cases, how intricate soever, |