assure your lordship I aim at no higher a character than that of a faithful transcriber." He afterwards speaks of himself as being "the channel through which those most valuable collections are laid open to the public;" and that he has used his "utmost endeavour to do justice to those valuable collections of which he has had the advantage."
No one can read his dedication, preface, and notes, without at once admitting that he did not desire to take the credit of other men's labours; for he is profuse in his acknowledgments of the assistance he had received from many quarters, especially from bishop Kennett; it therefore seems hard that he should be deprived, as he has been by Cole, Hearne, and others, of all the credit which may be due for the compilation of the "Fasti."
Although Le Neve met with considerable assistance in the production of the "Fasti," yet he also speaks of several difficulties and discouragements, particularly "a maliciously contrived imprisonment, purposely intended to ruin both the author and the design." It seems strange that so apparently harmless an undertaking should have created enemies to a pious and laborious man ; and it is to be regretted that no elucidation of the circumstances of the case can be offered[1].
That he received considerable literary assistance cannot be doubted, but it is sad to reflect that he met with so little encouragement from the public. He gives a list of the subscribers to his work, amounting to only forty-five, (out of which number twenty-seven were on the bench of bishops,) although seven hundred and fifty copies were printed. Browne Willis also states, that Le Neve declined to publish even a supplement to his work, "alleging that he could not meet with the least encouragement[2]."
- ↑ On the Common Pleas Roll (Hil. 70 Ann. rot. 1567) is entered a trial, in which he was plaintiff, relative to lands in Ashton, Roade, and Hartwell, in Northamptonshire; but there is nothing there to lead to the inference that the suit ended with his imprisonment, unless, indeed, he was arrested for the payment of the costs in the action.
- ↑ Although he declined publishing a supplement to the "Fasti," yet he made collections for one. Browne Willis sent him several additions and corrections ; he also promised to procure him information from bishop Tanner and others. Willis writes, "I count these will be of admirable use to you. I might possibly pick up more : but let me know how your design advances of your supplement." The Lansdown MS. 1038. f. 88. contains a letter from Le Neve to bishop Kennett, dated i8th Aug. 1719, wherein he says, "This waits on your lordship to beg the use of your lordship's MS. ' Fasti,' in 2 vols., during your stay in the country. I do assure your lordship they shall be carefully kept in my own possession, and immediately returned on your arrival in town. If your lordship please to favour me with a line, by way of order, I beg it may be directed to my house in Theobald's row, near Red Lyon street, Holbourn."
