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no credit to be given to Dr. Burnet's Collections; he and his Scotch Amanuensis having been guilty of shameful omissions and perversions in numerous instances, as I have noted in the margin of my book: besides there are several letters of the Cardinal, and of others written to him, in the height of his grandeur and prosperity, which escaped his sight, he writing them in post haste, pursuing his natural fervor, without any mature deliberation or serious reflexion.

London, 31 Dec. 1705.

LETTER LV.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. T. HEARNE to the Rev. Dr. THOMAS SMITH.

Antiquitatis Acad. Oxon. Apologia, written by Bryan Twyne.

TALKING lately with one, who is well versed in our English Antiquities, he was pleased to say that he did not believe Mr. Bryan Twyne was author of the book, which goes under his name, called Antiquitatis Academiæ Oxoniensis Apologia, but thought Mr. Tho. Allen, of Gloucester Hall, writ it in English, and that Mr. Twyne only put it into Latin, it being hardly possible, in his opinion, that a man so young as

Twyne was when that book was ready for the press, (being then scarce 28 years of age*) should have read over and perused such a vast number of muniments, &c. as were requisite for compiling it. There is no doubt Mr. Twyne received great assistance from Mr. Allen, as also from Mr. Miles Windsore; but I really believe the whole composition is owing to himself, and that (being a man of indefatigable diligence) he made most of the collections himself. Nor is it likely Mr. Allen should write such a book in English, and afterwards get another to translate it; since 'tis well known he was a profound scholar, a polite man, and of great skill in the Greek and Latin tongues. Mr. Smith, of University College, has had for some time (the Warden of All Souls' knowing little or nothing of those matters, and Dr. Wallis in his last days being hardly able to go up so high) the privilege of looking over the University Charters, Records, &c. lodged in the School Tower, of which Mr. Twyne was first Keeper, and made a great number of additions for the use of the University, which were so serviceable to Mr. Wood, that, as Mr. Smith informs me, (who has compared his book with Mr. Twyne's papers) he oftentimes took what

* This same objection was made by several persons in Anthony Wood's time, but that antiquary conceived Twyne to be the real author. Athena Oxon.

Twyne had done ready to his hands, without acknowledgment. Particularly he says the Discourse about Printing is wholly Twyne's, abating some few things which have happened since. I remember once I went into the roome where the said Charters, &c. are preserved, and happening to look over a volume of Mr. Twyne's hand writing found several particulars which Mr. Wood has in his Antiquities, and believe for that reason what Mr. Smith says to be in great mea

sure true.

Oxon, March 3, 1705-6.

LETTER LVI.

From the same to the same.

I SUPPOSE you have looked into a

book lately published, called Chronicon Pretiosum, the chief design of which is to keep Mr.

* The first edition, although evidently published in 1706, is dated 1707. The best is Svo. Lond. 1745, which possesses An Historical Account of Coins, with twelve plates not in the former impression. It is a work of considerable merit, displays great ingenuity and very extensive reading, and clearly makes good the case he has undertaken to prove: which is, "that if about the founder's time seven or eight marks were judged a competent provision for a single clergyman, and eight marks do not much exceed five pounds, then

Worth in his Fellowship of All Souls' College, which he ought to leave on account of the Archdeaconry of Worcester being almost a year since conferred on him, and is valued more in the Q.'s Book than is consistent with the oath he took at his entering upon his fellowship, viz. to observe all the statutes of the College. But the author of this book (which some say is Dr. William Fleetwood) endeavours to shew that he is not obliged to resign, if the value of money be considered as it was at that time.

Oxon, Nov. 23, 1706.

five pounds was a tolerable maintenance for a single student. And if so, then if twenty-eight or thirty pounds be now a days but a sufficient maintenance for a single student (sober and virtuous) it can be presumed to be no more now, than seven or eight marks heretofore were, and therefore may be enjoyed with the same innocence and honesty, together with a fellowship, according to the founder's will." The curious reader will find some interesting tables of the variation in prices of necessaries of life in this volume for the six hundred years immediately preceeding its appearance.

LETTER LVII.

From the same to the same.

THE riot you hint at, was committed in All Souls' College Buttery about 12 o'clock on the 30th January. The two persons who were the chief instruments of it were Mr. Dalton, A.M. and Mr. Talbot, A.B. and son to the Bp. of Oxon. The former is one of those who were put into the Society by Dr. Tenison upon the devolution of that power to him on the death of the late Warden, Dr. Finch. In ridicule and contempt of the memory of the B. Martyr, they had woodcocks for the chief part of the entertainment, whose heads they cut off in a formal manner. Dalton (a sad fellow) would have had calves'-heads, but it seems he could not get the cook to dress them. There were also present Mr. Ibbetson, and Mr. Rogers, Fellows of Oriel College, and two of our ProProctors. The matter is kept as secret as possible, and I cannot learn whether the Warden inflicted any punishment, or what reprimand the two Pro-Proctors had from Mr. Vice-Chancellor.

Oxon, March 1, 1706-7.

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