The Lives of J. Selden and Abp. Usher

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1812. Excerpt: ... wise entered. A remonstrance was in consequence framed by the commons against the undue taking of tonnage and poundage, and presented to the king, who received it with marks of impatience, and after passing the bill of subsidies, prorogued the parliament. In this interval of his public duties Selden retired to the seat of the Earl of Kent, at Wrest in Bedfordshire, with which nobleman he was particularly connected, and there recreated his mind from the fatigues of political contention by a return to his philological studies. There had lately been brought from the East to the town-house of the Earl of Arundel, a great patron of the fine arts and of literary researches, among other relics of antiquity, some large marbles, broken and mutilated, but covered with Greek inscriptions. As soon as they were seen by Sir Robert Cotton, he went to Selden,:ind engaged him to examine them upon the spot on the very next morning. Accordingly, taking for his companions Patrick Young, (11) royal librarian, and the learned Richard James, (12) he repaired to the Arundel gardens. dens. They first found in different fragments the decrees of the Smvrneans, and their treaty with the Magnesians in defence of king Seleucus Callinicus. These they fitted together, cleansed, and transcribed. The intelligence of such a treasure being dispersed among the learned, Selden was urged to give copies of their transcription; but this he declined, lest errors should be multiplied by successive transcribers; and he promised that it should appear from the press. In the meantime, successive visits to the spot discovered other Greek inscriptions, of which the most valuable were some containing ancient epochas or dates of facts, which, though unfortunately imperfect and mutilated, afforded a number...