Robert Record (1510?-1558).
[883]Robert Record, M.D.—his life is in lib. 2, p. 174 of[884] Historia et Antiquitates Universitatis Oxon., among the writers of All Soules College[885].
He was the first that wrote a good arithmetical treatise in English, which hath been printed a great many times, viz. his 'Arithmetick, containing the ground of arts in which is taught the general parts rules and operations of the same in whole numbers and fractions after a more easie and exact methode then ever heretofore, first written by Robert Record, Dr. in Phisick,' printed....
It was dedicated 'to the most mighty prince Edward the 6th by the grace of God king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, etc.' In the end of which epistle:—
'how some of these statutes may be applied to use as well in our time as in any other time I have particularly declared in this book and some other I have omitted for just considerations till I may offer them first unto your majestie to weigh them as to your highness shall seem good. For many things in them are not to be published without your highness knowledge and approbation, namely because in them is declared all the rates of all oyles, for all standards from an ounce upwards, with other mysteries of mint-matters, and also most part of the varieties of coines that have been current in this realme by the space of 600 yeares last past, and many of them were currant in the time that the Romans ruled here. All which with the ancient description of England and Ireland, and my simple censure of the same, I have almost compleated to be exhibited to your highnesse.'—
Quaere if ever published?
'To the reader:—It shall induce me to set forth those further instructions concerning geometric and cosmography which I have already promised and am sure hath not hitherto in our English tongue been published.'—
Quaere of these.
The Whetstone of Witt, which is the second part of Arithmetick, containing the extraction of rootes, the cossicke practice, with the rule of equation and the workes of surd nombers. Quarto; dedicated 'to the right worshipfull the governors, consulles, and the rest of the company of venturers into Muscovia.' Here he speakes:—'For your commodities I will shortly set forthe suche a book of navigation'—quaere de hoc libro—'as I dare saie shall partly satisfy and contente not onely your expectation but also the desire of a great nomber beside. Wherein I will not forget specialy to touche bothe the old attempte for the northerly navigations and the late good adventure with the fortunate successe in discovering that voyage which no man before you durst attempt sith the time of king Alfred his reigne, I meane by the space of 700 yere, nother ever any before that time had passed that voiage except onely Ohthere that dwelt in Halgolande who reported that jorney to the noble king Alurede, as it doeth yet remain in auncient recorde of the old Saxon tongue.—In that book also I will show certain meanes how without great difficultie you may saile to the North-east Indies and so to Camul Chinchital and Balor which be countries of great commodities; as for Chatai lieth so far within the land toward the South Indian seas that the journey is not to be attempted untill you be better acquainted with those countries that you must first arrive at.—At London the xii day of November 1557.'
Preface:—'by occasion of trouble upon trouble I was hindered from accomplishing this work as I did intend.'
In the last leafe of this booke he is frighted by the hasty knocking of a messenger at the dore and sayes—'then is there no remedie but that I must neglect all studies and teaching for to withstand these dangers. My fortune is not so good to have quiet time to teache.'
The Castle of Knowledge, printed at London, 1596, quarto[886], and is dedicated 'to the most mightie and most puissant princesse, Marie, by the grace of God, Queen of England, Spaine, both Sicilies, France, Jerusalem, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Archduchesse of Austria, Duchesse of Milaine, Burgundie, and Brabant, Countesse of Haspurge, Flanders, Tyroll, etc.'
He was the first that ever writ of astronomie in the English tongue.
In an admonition for orderly studying of the author's workes before this booke there is an intimation in verse that he wrote these five bookes, scilicet, (1) The Ground of Arts, (2) the Pathway to Knowledge, (3) the Gate of Knowledge, (4) the Castle of Knowledge, (5) the Treasury of Knowledge.
All that I have seen of his are written in dialogues between the master and scholar.
[887]Can you[888] enforme me where Dr. Record lies buried? Me thinks Mr. Stow should mention him.