Thomas Street (1621/2-1689).
[1011]Mr. Thomas Streete[LXXXVI.], astronomer, was borne[BT] in Ireland, his widowe thinkes, at Castle Lyons, March the 5th, 1621.
[LXXXVI.] His astronomical tables are the best that ever were yet made.
Anno 1661 he printed that excellent piece of Astronomia Carolina, which he dedicated to king Charles II, and also presented it well bound to prince Rupert and the duke of Monmouth, but never had a farthing of any of them.
Afterwards he published an Appendix to his Astronomia Carolina, 4to, which makes it perfect—printed for Francis Cossinet at the Anchor and Mariner in Tower Street, 1664.
Before this appendix he writes thus, scilicet:—
'I doe here think it fitting for once publiquely to propose unto all the world that by the farther blessing of God on my astronomical studies since the publication of my Astronomia Carolina I can discover and demonstrate the never yet discovered art and science of finding ☞ the true longitude, and can make it universally practicable at sea and land with the like ease and certainty as the latitude, and though the failings of severall specious pretenders to this discovery have almost perswaded the world to believe the impossibility thereof, if those that are most concerned herein will accept of it, either upon the same termes which them selves have already offered or other the like just and proportionable considerations, this proposall shall be (God willing) on my part faithfully and according to the attest of competent judges performed; otherwise I intend not to proceed any farther with it.
'Thomas Streete.'
[1012]He had the true motion of the moon by which he could doe it—(he hath finished the tables of the moon and also of Mercury, which was never made perfect before)—but two of his familiar acquaintance tell me that he did not committ this discovery to paper: so it is dead with him. He made attempts to be introduced to king Charles II and also to king James II, but courtiers would not doe it without a good gratuitie.
He was of a rough and cholerique humour. Discoursing with prince Rupert, his highnesse affirmed something that was not according to art; sayd Mr. Street, 'whoever affirmes that is[1013] no mathematician.' So they would point at him afterwards at court and say 'There's the man that huff't prince Rupert.'
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[1014]Memorial verses relating to the Calendar, 4to.
Some Almanacks, for about three yeares, dedicated to Elias Ashmole, esquire: but was not encouraged for his great paines.—He was one of Mr. Ashmole's clarkes in the Excise office, which was his chiefest lively-hood.
The Planetary Systeme, with a description of the house, (Mr. Morden haz of them)—this was about 1670.
[1015]He hath left with his widowe (<who> lives in Warwick lane at the signe of the ...) an absolute piece of Trigonometrie, plain and spherical, in MS., more perfect than ever was yet donne, and more cleare and demonstrated.
He dyed in Chanon-row (vulgarly Channel-rowe) at Westminster, the 17th of August 1689, and is buried in the church yard of the new chapell there towards the east window of the chancel, scilicet, within twenty or 30 foot of the wall.
Hee made this following epitaph himself:—
Although too few him rightly understood:
Above the starres his heightned mind did flye,
His hapier spirit into Eternity.'
His acquaintance talke of clubbing towards an inscription. No man living haz deserved so well of astronomie.
Note.
[BT] MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 87, is a lithographed chart for inserting a scheme of nativity, 'sold by George Parker at the Leopard in Newgate Street.' On it Aubrey has put the scheme for the subject of this biography, on the calculation 'Mr. Thomas Street natus March 5th, 1621, at 5h 43´ 12˝ P.M., latitude 51° 46´.' Some notes about astrological conjunctions at various times in his life follow; and the note 'maried at 55ann. 232dies.'