Volume 1

The works of Sir Thomas Browne : including his unpublished correspondence, and a memoir / edited by Simon Wilkin.

  • Browne, Thomas, Sir, 1605-1682.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of Sir Thomas Browne : including his unpublished correspondence, and a memoir / edited by Simon Wilkin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    Wood remarks, the first man of eminence graduated from the new college, to which the zeal or gratitude of those that love it most, can wish little better, than that it may long proceed as it began. Having afterwards taken his degree of master of arts,9 he turned his studies to physick, and practised it for some time in Oxfordshire ;* but soon afterwards^ either induced by curiosity, or invited by promises, he quitted his settlement, and accompanied his father- in-law, t who had some employment in Ireland, in a visitation of the forts and castles, which the state of Ireland then made necessary. He that has once prevailed on himself to break his connexions of acquaintance, and begin a wandering life, very easily continues it. Ireland had, at that time, very little to offer to the observation of a man of letters: he, therefore; passed into France and Italy;t made some stay at Montpellier and Padua, which were then the celebrated schools of physick; and returning home through Holland, procured him- self to be created doctor of physick at Leyden.1 When he began his travels, or when he concluded them, there is no certain account ;2 nor do there re- main any observations made by him in his passage through those countries which he visited. To con- sider, therefore, what pleasure or instruction might have been received from the remarks of a man so cu- rious and diligent, would be voluntarily to indulge a painful reflection, and load the imagination with a wish, which, while it is formed, is known to be vain. It is, however, to be lamented, that those who are • Wood's Athena Oxonienses, vol. i, col. 713. \ Life, Sfc. % Vad. 0 master of arts.'] June 1 1, 1629.— 2 When he began, <jjr.] It was be- U nod's Fasti. tvvecil lC)[i0 an(J 1G33- at Leyden.] About 1633, probably. b 2