Volume 1

The works of Sir Thomas Browne : including his unpublished correspondence, and a memoir / edited by Simon Wilkin.

  • Thomas Browne
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Credit: The works of Sir Thomas Browne : including his unpublished correspondence, and a memoir / edited by Simon Wilkin.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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    there is not matter proportionate to the skill of the antiquary. The other pieces are, Answers to Sir William Dugdale's enquiries about the fens ; a letter concern- ing Iceland ; another relating to urns newly discover- ed ; Some short strictures on different subjects; and A letter to a friend on the death of his intimate friend, published singly by the author's son in 1690. There is inserted, in the Biographia Britannica, A letter containing instructions for the study of phy- sick; which, with the Essays here offered to the pub- lic, completes the works of Dr. Browne. To the life of this learned man, there remains little to be added, but that in 1665 he was chosen honorary fellow of the college of physicians,4 as a man, Vir- tute et Uteris ornatissimus,—eminently embellished with literature and virtue : and, in 1671, received, at Norwich, the honour of knighthood from Charles II, a prince, who with many frailties and vices, had yet skill to discover excellence, and virtue to reward it, with such honorary distinctions at. least as cost him nothing, yet, conferred by a king so judicious and so much beloved, had the power of giving merit new lustre and greater popularity. Thus he lived in high reputation; till in his seven- ty-sixth year he was seized with a colick, which, after having tortured him about a week, put, an end to his life at Norwich, on his birthday, October 19, 1682.* Some of his last words were expressions of submission to the will of God, and fearlessness of death. He lies buried in the church of St. Peter Mancroft,5 * Life, fyc.— Whitefoot. 4 in 16C5, %c] Rather in 1GG4.— railes at the east end of the chancel.— See Supplementary Memoir. Wood, 4to. Le Neve says the cathe- 5 He lies buried, <yc] Within the dral, vol. iv, 38.—See next page.