Athenæ Oxonienses. Vol. 1. an exact history of all the writers and bishops who have had their education in the most ancient and famous University of Oxford, from the fifteenth year of King Henry the Seventh, Dom. 1500, to the end of the year 1690 representing the birth, fortune, preferment, and death of all those authors and prelates, the great accidents of their lives, and the fate and character of their writings : to which are added, the Fasti, or, Annals, of the said university, for the same time ...

The PREFACE

IT is well known, that the Author of this Work hath through the whole course of his life, declin'd the pursuit of any private interest or advantage, and hath only, according to his abilities, endeavour'd to promote the honour and glory of that Nation where he had been born; and more especially of that Vniversity wherein he was educated. His early application, or as some call it, his natural propen∣sity to Histories and Antiquities made him more fit to serve his Country in that, than in any other St••••y; and that part of Antiquity, which was most useful in its self, and which yet lay most neglected became the imme∣diate object of his care, as that which not only deserv'd, but requir'd and wanted the greatest industry.

The Vniversity of Oxford had now flourish'd for many Centuries, its Members had been great and fa∣mous; their works wanted neither value nor number, and therefore nothing seem'd more necessary for the in∣crease of its glory, and for the true knowledge of its strength than a Register of its Heroes and an exact survey of its powers: It was requisite then, not only that the Writers of this Vniversity, and the Characters of their works shou'd be perpetuated to posterity, but that a History of all Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, as well in this Nation as beyond the Seas; all of them formerly Members of this Vniversity, should at the same time and by the same hand be attempted, and carried on; and that lastly the account of any remarkable Persons, that would not fall under those heads, might be reserv'd to, and digested under the Fasti, or Annals of the Vniversity. So that upon the whole, not only the lives of the Authors, and the fate of their Writings, but the succession of all eminent Men in Oxford, the decay and growth, the rise and progress of learning, might at one view in due order of time distinctly appear. It is a wonder indeed that among all the members of that Body▪ who have signaliz'd their learning and industry in all professions, and almost upon all subjects; the intire glory of this Work should be left to this Author, and that no part of literature should be left wholly uncultivated in that famous Society; but the Memoires of the Vniversity it self, and the History of Learning therein. Somewhat indeed in defence of the antiquity of the place had before, by Mr. Twyne and others been successfully undertaken and performed; but it was a far more easie and less useful enquiry to look into the Original of this Society, than to record the Acts of its Members, to discover the head of this Fountain, than to trace all its Channels: Since therefore this Work seem'd for the most part new, and as yet untouch'd, it was once the Authors design to Com∣mence with the time of K. Alfred, and from thence to have brought down the concurrent History of the Vni∣versity and Learning together. But afterwards when he had consider'd not only that the famous Antiquary Jo. Leland, and his followers Bale, Pits, and Dr. Fran. Godwin, had in a great measure anticipated the former part of his design, but that the Records and Registers themselves, upon which his Relations are chiefly founded, were in those times either wholly lost, or at least dark and imperfect; He thought fit to begin with the 15th Century, and to ascend no higher than his Records would lead him. However, since a great and noble part of the History of Learning, would upon so late a date of this Work be wholly omitted, it was esteemed requisite that a short and full relation of all Authors and Works, which before that time had been publish'd in this Island should sup∣ply that loss, and render the work it self more perfect and entire.

This Introduction the Reader may expect before the 2d. Vol. At present nothing more remains for the subject of this Preface, than to give a short account of the design of this work, of the management and language of it, and to add somewhat concerning the Author.

As to the design, it must be own'd that since an intire Collection of all passages relating to eminent Authors was intended; some circumstances have a place here which at first view may seem trivial and immaterial. It ought therefore to be consider'd, that those little accidents however mean in themselves, yet in respect of the Persons and of the works which they attend, oftentimes become considerable. In a common repert••ry any redundance or superfluity of matter, however too severely blam••d by nice palats, is such a fault as is not far re∣mov'd from an excellence. The work is fitted for all Men in all faculties, and therefore those of one profession should not be displeased, if somewhat be inserted, which however useless to them, may be chosen and admir'd by others. In all Commentaries and Journals which afford Materials for History, there ought not only to be some∣what rude and naked, which may afterwards be polish'd; somewhat rough and plain, that may be beautify'd and improv'd; but somewhat at least little, and seemingly immaterial than may upon occasion judiciously be chosen, or sometimes perhaps with no less prudence, rejected. Such general collections are read by most Men with diffe∣rent designs; and therefore however easie it may be for any Man to discover an omission; it is very hard for any one Reader to pronounce one single passage in them wholly superfluous. 'Tis true indeed, that Men who af∣ter a great search and enquiry into Records, have found but somewhat that might as well have been spared, na¦turally choose rather to trespass on the Reader, than to pass sentence on their own disc••veries; and this, if any ble∣mish, is so common to this Author with all other famous Antiquaries, from Plutarch, and Athenaeus down to Selden, and Dugdale; that his Title to that name might well be disputed if he should be without it.

2ly. The management of such a Work as this must necessarily depend as upon a search into ancient Records, so upon a Commerce with those Relations and Friends of the deceased Authors which had survived them. Those of the Ch. of Rome, to which this Author applyed himself, have been communicative and industrious in furnishing Materials for this Work; and therefore if any thing more largely be said of the Members of that Communion than may be thought necessary, it ought to be imputed to the ready concurrence of that party towards a Work of this nature, rather than to any propensity of the Author to that Religion. The Nonconform••sts, who bear some s••are in this Work, have been as usually, so little Friends to the carrying on of a publick design, and to that free intercourse, which ought to be maintain••d between all learned Men, that very few, and those unsatisfactory relations could be obtain'd from them; and therefore a true, but no very large nor favourable account of their Writings ought to be expected from him. And lastly, as to those of the Church of England, they have generally behaved themselves so well, that they have no need to desire flattery no•• have any reason h••••e to complain of

Calumny. It is to be hoped therefore, since this Author hath endeavoured to shew himself just and indifferent to Men of all professions; his love of impartiality will not be mistaken for want of Religion. All good Antiquaries, Men of enlarged Souls, and of an even temper; however of divers professions, have always been of the same Principle: They all equally sacrificed to Truth and Learning; and suffered not their private Opinions to put a biass on their History. And whoever will compare the Cento's of Bale, and Pits, with the excellent Works of Leland and Camden, must necessarily discern, how near an Alliance there is between Zeal and Ignorance, and between Learning and Moderation.

3. As to the Language, the Reader may expect such Words as are suitable to the character of the Work, and of the Person. It is impossible to think that men who always converse with old Authors, should not learn the dialect of their Acquaintance. An old Word is retain'd by an Antiquary with as much Religion as a Relick; and few are by him receiv'd as English, but such as have been naturaliz'd by Speneer. Language is the dress of the Thoughts as well as Cloaths of the Person; and therefore the Expressions of an Antiquary ought to be priviledg'd, as well as his Garb. Words are neither good nor bad if abstracted from Things; and therefore they, as all Ornaments, have no beauty in themselves, but receive it by accidents as gracefully suited, and apply'd to the Subject. Originals are best express'd, as found, without Alteration; and it is not only a mispent, but ridiculous labour, to change the old Expressions of a Deed; and to put a new Stamp upon a Me∣dal. Thus much hath in short been said of the Book, and somewhat that may prevent Objections may without suspicion of Vanity be added concerning the Author of it. When this Work some years since was first undertaken, he not only consulted all the Registers relating to the Vniversity, but all other Writings and Records, MS. and printed, whether in the Bodleian, Norfolk, or Cottonian Libraries, whether in the Tower, Exchequer, Paper Office, or elsewhere, that could give him any notice of these Authors, or let him into the true knowledge of their Lives, Preferments, and Writings. The Registers of the ancient Churches and Cathedrals were diligently consulted; the Wills of the deceas'd persons were at the Preroga∣tive Office examin'd; the Windows of Churches, Epitaphs and Inscriptions, have been search'd; the Genea∣logy of the Authors at the Heralds Office hath been nquir'd into; and no method hath been unattempted which could contribute to a true History of these Writers, or ascertain the least date and circumstance of their Lives. This extraordinary care and unwearied industry, was undertaken without any other motive than a love to Truth, and without any other prospect, than the benefit of Posterity. The Author never enjoy'd any Preferment, nor pursu'd any; he liv'd as a Recluse from the World, so independent of it; and therefore it is not to be wonder'd if he takes such a liberty of Speech as most other Authors, out of Pru∣dence, Cunning, or Design, have usually declin'd. It might be fit perhaps that some harsh Expressions might be allay'd; that a few severe Reflections might be softned, and that some Passages at last, which seem too hardly charg'd on men otherwise creditable, might be wholly omitted: but at the same time it is not to be denied, That Faults ought no more to be conceal'd than Virtues, and that whatever it may be in a Painter, it is no excellence in an Historian to throw a veil on Deformities.

If lastly, There should be any defect or failure; if Truth, which is often too strictly pursued, should in one single instance, or some little circumstance, be mistaken; it is at least, certainly a just Request, that in so great and tedious a Work, which oftentimes and almost every where deserves praise, any small Errors may be entitled to Pardon.

A farther discourse of the nature of these Books in general, and of the use of this in particular, is reserv'd to the second Volume; in the mean time all judicious men must be satisfied that the History of Learning, which hath hitherto been so much wanting in England, is now at last so far advanced; and that the Ma∣terials at least of so great and so useful a Work are ready, and prepar'd.

In other Countries, particularly in France, Italy, and the Northern Nations, now above fifty years, the most famous Writers have employ'd their care in the account of Authors and Books, and have thought it more necessary to number and marshal than to increase the Forces of the Commonwealth of Learning.

In England in the mean time an Account of Learning was more defective even than our Civil History: Our Authors had been as famous as our Heroes; our Writings were as successful as our Battels; and yet the Annals of both were so imperfect, that either generally we had no representation of them at all, or such an one as traduc'd the Original. As to our Heroes indeed, Tho an universal History to the discredit of this Nation, be yet to be desired, and in all probability will be long expected, yet some independent Relations that give account of one great Action, or perhaps of one particular Reign, may with honour be remembred; but as to our Author's, after the ancient Discoveries of Boston and Leland, there hath been nothing at∣tempted but some rude and disproportionable draughts of mean and ignorant Designers. However now at last it must be own'd, That if this Essay may not be just and compleat, yet the first Lineaments are so faith∣fully and exactly drawn, that the finishing strokes may without difficulty be added, and perhaps without loss expected; and that so regular a design is here presented to your view, as may encourage at least the future industry of the best Artist, if not supersede it.