Volume 2

Bibliographical notes on histories of inventions and books of secrets : Six papers read to the Archæological society of Glasgow April 1882-January 1888 / by John Ferguson.

  • John Ferguson
Date:
1895-1915
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bibliographical notes on histories of inventions and books of secrets : Six papers read to the Archæological society of Glasgow April 1882-January 1888 / by John Ferguson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    *5 23. In the second half of the sixteenth century there lived Peter Levens, or Levenes, of whom Anthony a Wood * gives this account: Peter Levens, or Levins, was born at, or near, Eske in Yorkshire, became a Student in the University, an. 1552, was elected Probationer-Fellow of Mag. Coll, into a Yorkshire place 18 Jan. 1557, being then Bach, of Arts, and on the 19 Jan. 1559 was admitted true and perpetual Fellow. In 1560 he left his Fellowship, and one Thomas Dunne, M.A., succeeded him, but whether our Author Levens proceeded in Arts, or took a degree in Physic, or was licensed to practise that Faculty, it appears not in our Registers. Afterwards he taught a Grammar School, and practised Physic, which is all I know of him, only that he wrote and publish’d these things following, A Dictionary of English and Latin Words, £r=c. the English going before the Latin ; necessary for Scholars that want variety of words, and for such as use to write in English Metre. Loud. 1570. in 18 sh. in qu. A right profitable Book for all Diseases, called the Pathway to health; wherein are most excellent and approved Medicines of great virtue; as also notable Potions and Drinks, and for the distilling of divers Waters, and making of Oils, and other comfortable receipts, Lond. 1587. qu. The Author is stiled in the Clar. title Page Master of Arts of Oxon, and Student in Physic and Chirurgery. 1588. This Book was afterwards several times printed with Corrections; and one Edition came out at Lond. 1664. what else Peter Levens hath written I cannot yet tell. In the Fasti Wood adds: 1556. July 6. Peter Levens of Magd. coll, was admitted [B. A.] the same Day. He was afterwards an eminent Physician. and again: 1559- Feb. In the said month of Feb. did supplicate for the said Degree [M.A.] Pet. Levens of the same Coll, but whether admitted it appears not; however, in his Book entit. The path way to Health, he writes himself M. of A. of Oxon. 24. Of Levens’ two books, the first, Manipulus Vocabulorum, seems to be of extreme rarity. There is a copy of it in the British Museum, there is one in the Bodleian, and an imperfect one is in the possession of Mr. H. B. Wheatley, who edited the work for the Camden Society, 1867, 4°, •Wood, Athena Oxonienses, London, 1721, I., No. 269, cols. 237-238. Fasti, I., col. 84, 1556 ; col. 88, 1559. Id. ed. Bliss, London, 1820, I., col. 548 (Editions 1587 and 1644 and Bliss adds 1596 and 1608). Fasti, London, 1815, I., cols. 149 and 156. Joseph Foster, Alumni Oxonienses, Oxford 1892, Early Series, III., p. 903.