322
NOTES AND QUERIES. [n s. x. OCT. 24, wu.
exercised his mind. As might be expected
with a man of this temperament, the cata-
logue is full of surprises. There are books
on theology, astrology, alchemy, and magic ;
catalogues of auction sales ; books on
Egyptian plants and medicine; a treatise on
potable gold ; dictionaries ; a work on bills
of exchange ; Acts of Parliament ; books on
seamanship, travel, coins and medals ; a
description of the Grand Signior's seraglio ;
and a tract on the fall of purple rain at
Brussels in 1647. Browne had a special gift
for accumulating miscellaneous information.
How he would have enjoyed ' X. & Q.' !
The books on seamanship Tim Gadbury's ' Young Seaman's Guide,' 1659 ; Vossius, ' On the Motion of the Sea and the Wind,' 1677, and others were no doubt procured for the benefit of his sailor son Thomas, of whose end so little is known." Browne's letters to " Honest Tom " are full of good advice, and contain many references to books. Thomas is to inquire after any one who has been to Fez, and learn what he can of the present state of the place, " which has been so familiar in the description of Leo and others." b Leo's ' Geographical History,' a record of extensive journeyings in Africa, Arabia, Persia, Barbary, Armenia, Syria, and Egypt, was a very popular book in Browne's day, and he makes frequent use of it. In addition to the English translation by Porie, c Browne appears to have used a Latin version, but it is not in the catalogue. Browne, like Burton, was especially delighted \vith the study of cosmography. Travel books had a tremendous fascination for him, and his book- sellers at Norwich seem to have made the most of his weakness. He purchased books from two booksellers there, William Oliver (Wilkin, i. 296) and Geo. Hose (id., i. 276). In 1663 Oliver was next door to the " Castle and Lyon " (H. R. Plomer, ' Dic- tionary of Booksellers, 1641 to 1667 ') ; later his address was next door to the " Half Moon in the Market Place " (Arber, ' Term Cata- logues,' Index). Rose's London agent was Robert Clavell, who, in partnership with John Starkey, founded and edited the periodical called Mercurius Librarius, which began in Michaelmas Term, 1668, and was afterwards
" Blundiville's 'Exercises,' 1622, and Moxon's 'Tutor to Astronomy and Geography,' 1659, which are lx>th in the catalogue, were among the books recommended by Browne to his son (Wilkin, i. 118).
' Wilkin, i. 145.
c ' A Geographical Historie of Africa, written in Arabicke by John Leo, a More, borne in Granada and brought up in Barbaric,' translated and collected by John Porie, 1600.
succeeded by the Term Catalogues (Arber,.
' Term Cat.,' i. viii.). Browne certainly saw
Clavell's book lists (Wilkin, i. 308/330).
He also purchased books from Martyn at
" The Bell in S. Paul's Church Yard '"' (id.,
i. 337). Martyn was in partnership with.
Allestry, and succeeded him as publisher to
the Royal Society.
Among some new books sent to Browne " to vewe " in May, 1682, was
"a Historie of Athiopia, set out by one Ludolphus, and translated into English, and! nowe published in a thinne folio with some cutts in it, especially of some animals, as apes, elephants,. &c."
The book, having been " vewed," appears- to have been kept, and is in its place among; the English folios. a The English transla- tion of Vansleb's ' Description of Egypt r Browne seems to have had in 1678, b as soon, as it appeared. In November and Decem- ber, 1679, he was busy with Rycaut's ' Turkish History,' " a very good historic," which his daughter Betty read aloud to him. The book pleased him so much that he directs Edward Browne to purchase a copy at his- charges so that he may have it always by him. ' Ortellius his Geographie,' Braun's- ' Book of Cities,' Radziwill's ' Journey to Jerusalem,' translated out of Polish into- Latin, d Moses Pit's ' New English Atlas,' 1680, e produced at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, at 21. a volume probably the most expensive work produced in England at the time together with many others, are touched on by Browne in his letters, as with " Book,. Map, and Card " he follows the journej-ing* of his two sons, and from his study at Xor- wich himself takes knowledge of the estates, empires, and principalities of the great world.
It is quite beyond the ability of the present writer to deal at all adequately with Browne's medical books. There are many familiar
a 'A New History of Ethiopia,' &c., by the
learned Job. Ludolphus, Author of the ' Ethiopick
Lexicon,' Englished by J. P., 1682. See letter,
Wilkin, i. 340.
b 'The Present State of .Egypt; or, A New- Relation of a late Voyage into that Kingdom,' by Father Vansleb, R.D. Englished by M. D., B.D., 1682. See letter to Ed. Browne, Wilkin, i. 221.
c ' The History of the Turkish Empire from the Year 1623 to the Year 1677. . . .being a continuation of Knolles' " Turkish History," 1679.' See letters, Wilkin, i. 268, 272, 275, 276.
d ' Jerosolymitana Peregrinatio Principis Radzi- villi a Tho. Tretero ex Polonico Sermone in Latin, translat.,' Ant., 1614.
6 Browne had 4 out of 11 vols. He found the book " so long and broad that it becomes un- tractable and uneasie to make use of." See letters, Wilkin, i. 293, 338.
