Sir, I thank you for your good wishes, and rest, I GIVE you many thanks for your kind letter, which I received about a week since, but being extraordinary busy in performing some exercise required by the Colledge for my Batchelor's degree (which I take next term) I could not answer you sooner. I was heartily sorry to hear of your affliction by that tormenting disease the gout; but was more troubled at that you told me at the bottom of your letter, viz. that you were so far stricken in years. I have seen, heard, and read of the notorious misfortunes that usually attend posthumous papers, so that I hope you will make haste, and yourself communicate the One greatest and best part of your laborious collections to the world; I'll assure you there shall no industry be lacking on my part, if you please to command it in any thing whatsoever. I highly approve and commend your thoughts of sending your Natural History of Wilts hither. I shall long to see it, and will do the utmost of my endeavours to get it printed; and dare engage for Mr. Lloyd's assistance therein, whom you know to be excellent in that part of learning. I hope you will be as good as your word about your Remains of Gentilism, I liked the subject, from the first time I heard of it, and I promise you if we get it among us, we will quickly put it into a method. thing I must beg of you on my own account; which is, that you would be pleased to let me have your Wiltshire Antiquities (if it be but for a month) seeing they will be of extraordinary use in guiding me in the gathering of my Collections, which I intend to fall to with all the diligence and speed imaginable. I have not spoke with Mr. Clements of late; he told me about 3 weeks since, that he would subscribe for 14 himself; he will be at London at Whitsuntide, so that I suppose it will be convenient for you to talk with him about it: you may hear if he is in town of Mr. Smith, or any of the Booksellers; I will also acquaint him where you lodge. I was desired by a particular friend to enquire of you whether you have, or where you have seen any coins, or any other antiquities relating to the kingdom of the Northumbers, for there is a reverend person eminent for his skill in Antiquities, (Mr. Nicholson, Archdeacon of Carlisle,) that hath made great progress in illustrating the History of that Country: so that if you would be so kind as to acquaint me with any such thing, you will in an extraordinary manner oblige my friend, and that worthy person the Undertaker (he is Mr. Archer's uncle) who (I do not question) would be very ready to communicate any thing of the like nature to you. All your friends at Queen's give their service to you. So wishing you health and good success, I rest, Sir, Your most affectionate friend to serve you Qu. Coll. Oxon. May 16, 1693. I desire you to let me hear from you as soon as you can about your Wiltshire Antiquities. If you can spare them, I will order the Waggoner to call for them in a short time. I shall scorn to be like Ant. Wood, viz. make use of your papers and acquaintance and at last not afford you a good word: your entire originalls shall be deposited hereafter in the Museum according to your desire, that posterity may see how just we I THANK you for the favour of yours of the 8th of this instant. I could send you a long answer to your Quæres, but have not the confidence to do it, for all that I can say was only heard from others, when I was at school at Eaton, and if I should depend upon that, perhaps, I should make too bold with truth. "Twas then commonly said, that the college held some lands by the custome of salting, but having never since examined it, I know not how to answer for it. One would think at first view, considering the foundation was designed for a nursery of the Christian Religion, and has not bin in being much above 250 years, that it is not likely any remain of the Gentils relating to their sacrifices should in so public a manner be suffered in it; however, I cannot but own with those that understand any thing of antiquity, that the Christians very early assumed some rites of the Heathens; and probably it might be done with this design, that the nations seeing a religion which in its outward shape was something like their own, might be the sooner persuaded to embrace it. To be free, Sir, with you, I am apt to believe, for the honour of that society of which I was once an unworthy member, that the annual custome of salting alludes to that saying of our Saviour to his disciples, ye are the salt of the earth, for as salt drys up all that matter that tends to putrefaction, so it is a symbol of our doing the like in a spiritual state, by taking away all natural corruption. I might enlarge here, but I know to whom I write. However, if this will not please, why may it not denote that wit and knowledge, by which boys dedicated to learning ought to distinguish themselves?* You know what Sal sometimes signifyes among the best Roman authors. Publius Scipio omnes sale facetiisque superabat. Cic. and Terent. Qui habet salem qui in te est. I will not trouble you * There have been various conjectures relative to the origin of this custom. Some have supposed that it arose from an ancient practice among the friars of selling consecrated salt; and others, with more probability, from the ceremony of the bairn or boy-bishop, as it is said to have been formerly part of the montem-celebration for prayers to be read by a boy dressed in the clerical habit. |