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ON THE ANTIQUITY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

(From Mr. Dyer's History of the University and Colleges of Cambridge, vol. I.)

IT

T should seem that, in describing a place of literature, it is difficult for genuine sons to suppress partial regards. Gratitude is apt to grow overfond, Curiosity to become superstitious: and hence men give to antiquity what is due only to truth. Thus we are told by some, that Cambridge was founded in the year of the world 4321*; by others in 3588, i. e. 375 years before Christt. Then it was, they say, when Cambridge was formed into a seat of literature by one Cantaber, a Spaniard, and from him called Cantabrigia. Very early they introduce into it Grecian Philosophers, to give it literature: they people it early with Christian Doctors: it is soon destroyed, and soon revives and in purifying it from heresies, and in promoting Astronomy, with the other sciences, they lead us on with a tolerable grace to the year of Christ 529 .

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Then we are surrounded with a train of sacred testimonies and illustrious Patrons; with charters from Kings Arthur and Cadwallader, and confirmations by Edward, son of Alfred; with bulls and confirmations from Popes Honorius, Sergius, and John: and thus we are brought down to the year of Christ 915, the date of Edward's charter.

Yet, after all, we are following an ignis fatuus, a light reflected from a history unsubstantiated by authority, and written by a very fabulous writer. For such is the book appealed to, called LIBER NIGER, or the Black Book, in the archives of the University of Cambridge; and such, in the opinion of all writers, was he to whom this history is ascribed, Nicholas Cantalupe.

"Nicholas Cantalupe, (to borrow Bishop Nicolson's words §,) is re

ported also to have penned a general Chronicle of England." Yet of such little account was he, that by Bellarmine, whose business was to chronicle such chroniclers, he is not once mentioned. But, it appears, he was Prior of a Monastery of Carmelites Friars A. D. 1441.

As to the Black Book, the little credit due to that depends not merely on the assertions or solitary proofs of Oxford Antiquaries. They, indeed, have been as violent in opposing its claim, as some Cantabrigians have been rash in its support. Nor can we wonder that, when one Cambridge Orator supported the superior antiquity of his University, by a desperate appeal to this book of fables, an Oxford Orator I, the assertor of the superior antiquity of his University, should entrench himself, as it were, within this argument. It was a sort of stratagem of war, and a justifiable

one.

But Bishop Nicolson speaks too largely when he affirms, that "the Black Book at Cambridge makes as considerable a figure there as our old Statute-books at Oxford."

This book is, indeed, the groundwork of Caius's idle assertion for its great antiquity (though even Caius and Codex differ in their dates), and of the violent Controversy between Key and Twine of Oxford, and Caius of Cambridge. It is introduced also into Parker's History of the Antiqui ties of the University of Cambridge, though he decides neither for nor against its authenticity. But the opinion of Hare was decided. "This is said (he is speaking of an Historiola alluded to above) to be taken ex NIGRO CODICE Universitatis, from the Black Book of the University; but it seems to be no better than idle fiction, though the preceding Charters, 1. 3. 5. (viz. the Charters of Kings Arthur, Cadwallader, and Edward,) are copied from it.”** Hare, being a Papist, was probably willing to reserve the Pope's Bulls for the honour and glory of Alma Mater.

*The History, &c. of Cambridge, as printed in Mr. Hearne and Mr. Parker. + Hist. Cantab. Lib. 1. Authore Joanne Caio Anglo. So Caius states it, afterGildas. Nay the foundation of Cambridge has been placed still higher, in a time in which, says the Assertor Antiq. Oxon. "Nullos adhuc incolas, nisi forte à gigantibus occupatam contendant, magno scriptorum consensu constat; viz. A. M. 1829. Hist. in Liber Niger.

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But Baker*, our honest and learned Cambridge Antiquary, considered these Bulls also gross forgeries, for the purpose of fresh impositions. Dr. Ashton, too, a learned man, and well acquainted with Cambridge Antiquities, bas prefixed to the Index of the first Volume of Parris's Index, his testimony against both Bulls and Charters + and Dr. Parris appears from what he says" of the most useless part of the book‡," to have been of the same judgment.

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What Carter's opinion of this Black Book was, is clear enough. He says, without the smallest authority, indeed, "that the first original of this famous University is said to be about A. D. 536, when one Cantaber, a Spaniard, was a Governor under Arthur, King of the South Britons:" so unaccountably out of order is he in his chronology, and so at variance both with Caius and Codex.

To crown all, Mr. Robert Smyth, when remarking th Mr. William Bokenham was the author of the Historiola, adds, "being part, as it is called, of the Black Book of Cambridge. Therein is the story of Cantaber, whose son Grantanus is said to have built Cambridge, called from him at first Cairgrant:" but of this book, and the Legends, Leland has said too justly," there are a hundred things of the same kind. Truly I never read any thing in it more vain, nor at the same time more stupid and foolish." If, therefore, our Oxonians pay as much (and no more) deference (I use Nicolson's words) to their old Statute Books, as our bestinformed Cantabs do to the Black Book, it is clear they pay no deference to them at all.

As to the earliest Charters and the Bulis, then, contained in this book, their authority will tell but for little. In tracing the birth of some Colleges, I have found, if they have not in their Chartularies an original Charter of Foundation, they have at least an attested copy, which, as it would be valid in a Court of Law, so would it authenticate history: but, in the pre

sent instance, there are neither originals, nor attested copies of originals; and as Black Books would be no legal evidence, so can they give no authority to History.

As little can be said in favour of Cantaber: no such name is once mentioned either by Gildas or Bede, who are our earliest writers of British History; nor, of course, by succeeding writers, who tread in their steps; such as Spelman, in his British Councils, and Camden, in his Britannia. And yet a Spanish Prince, settling in this island, founding a seat of learning, and giving name to a part of the country, must have been circumstances of notoriety. Had they been true, must they not have been heard of? Had they been heard of, must they not have been recorded? Is it probable that neither Cæsar, nor Tacitus, should have heard of such au occurrence? There was a Roman Camp near Cambridge. Tacitus was very curious about the Britons, and prepared to do them justice, as may be fully seen in his Life of Agricola. Indeed, he expressly observes that some of the Iberi, an Eastern people of Spain, passed over to the Western side of Britain: and had any of the Northern inhabitants of Spain, the Cantabri, settled in the Eastern part of Britain, is it not as likely he would have mentioned also that: I say, the Cantabri (so the Biscayans were called); for, had there been any foundation for this report, they should rather have been called some Cantabri, a gentile name, than ONE Cantaber, a proper name of an individual.

As neither Cæsar, nor Tacitus, nor Gildas, nor Bede, nor any contemporary writer, mentions the circumstance; neither does Richard of Cirencester, in his account of the Province of Flavia, where Camberico was, as it occurs, stated by him, in the 5th Iter of Antonine's Itinerary].

But enough of Black Books, and Bulis, and dreams of Charters. The truth is, many circumstances have combined to disturb the repose of our University Records, and Public Li

*MS Hist. of St. John's College, in the British Museum.

Hæ Chartæ Antiquæ, una cum Bullis, omnino videntur esse fictitia.-Dr. Ashton's Note to Dr. Parris's Index to Hare's Collections, 1st vol.

History of Cambridge.

§ Mr. R. Smyth's MS. in Mr. Nichols's copy of Carter's History, &c. and Leland in his Notes to Cantio Cygnea.

Ricardus Monachi, &c. de Situ Britanniæ, Cap. vi.

braries.

braries. Antient writers speak of the Danes as having made a complete desolation of every monument of literature and religion in these parts: the Saxons, too, had been here be fore, and they came at first not as re vivers, but as destroyers: and whatever honours Popery may claim in subsequent periods, by her creations, yet our alterations from Popery to Protestantism introduced much disorder and confusion. Eighty years after the foundation of Duke Humphrey's Library at Oxford, not a single book remained of the old Library*. Caius, who has preserved the titles of the books left in the two public Libraries at Cambridge in 1574, confesses they had been plundered of a great part; and, though he speaks of privileges granted by antient Kings, he appeals to none directly, nor could he to any authentic, higher than Henry III. Fuller, in his History of Cambridge, has given, after Caius, an account of the furious disputes about privileges, that had subsisted long before, between the Townsmen and Scholasticks of Cambridge, together

with the entire destruction made of the University Records by the former; and such Records as the Scholasticks would have been most willing to preserve, the Townsmen would have been most willing to destroy. Some

of Kings and Popes; I leave these uncertainties for others to shape into what forms they please; as also to Oxford Historians, to manage their tale of Greek Philosophers, coming into this Country with King Brutus, and instituting an Academy at Greek. land near Oxford *. For I cannot help observing how pleasantly the Oxford Assertor, after convicting the Cambridge Orator of having trifled, sets about trifling himself. But enough of trifles; for stultum est absurdas opiniones refellere; “It is foolish to aim at too much accuracy in confuting trifles."

We can lay little stress on any literary occurrences in this antient Town till the tiine of Sigebert, which, according to the Venerable Bede, was about the year 637.

Olim Granta fuit titulis urbs inclyta multis,

sita est,

Vicini à fluvii nomine nomen habens: Saxones hanc belli deturbavere procellis, Sed nova poveteri non procul inde [secutus, Quam Felix Monachus Sigeberti jussa Hæc ego perquirens gentis monumenta Artibus illustrem reddidit atq. scholis.

Britannæ

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Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 9.

YOUR Correspondent, who repeats

be our most flattering testimonies, Y the charge of ignorance against

therefore, must have been made up of conjectures, traditions, and antient histories, accessible to every one; or of impostures, and fragments of no

account.

I have included antient histories, because, in questions of this kind, it is no uncommon thing for Writers to speak of Archives, which, while they do reach to later occurrences, do not to such as are remote. Here they take up antient Authors: but where are their Archives?

The first public instrument relating to this UNIVERSITY, that can be spoken of as undoubtedly authentic, is of the 13th year of Henry III. A. C. 1229.

Splendid, therefore, as our History might have appeared, if introduced with a Spanish Prince, brought into this Island by our King Gurguntius, and founding a British University, and decorated in front with the names

* Reliquiæ Bodleianæ.

Dr. Priestley, (p. 520.) puts me in mind of a very ingenious Lady, who persists in assuring the publick that Dr. Wilmot was the Author of Junius's Letters. But where is the evi

dence of the facts?

Any person who considers the great number of quotations, amounting to some thousands, from the Greek and Latin Fathers, and many of them of great length, which Dr. Priestley has collected, arranged, and interpreted, with some mistakes; and avery small may naturally enough expect to meet share of candour might be sufficient to pardon them. The present charge of ignorance against this Writer is the meaning of a Greek epithet, grounded on an alleged mistake of which has more significations than one; and, if the mistake were real, it would scarcely be of the weight of a feather. Are not all Translators lia

* Oxon. Historiola, ex Libro Procuratorum,

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Let your Correspondent read with attention this vast collection of quotations, not with the paltry view to find mistakes, but to examine with seriousness and impartiality the evi'dence they contain, and then let him conscientiously draw the legitimate inference from them after which, let him lay the result of his diligent inquiry before your Readers, and we shall be happy to afford it the consideration it deserves. Truth can be no loser by it.

The sentiments of Ignatius may be pretty clearly ascertained from what this venerable sufferer for his religion said, when he appeared before the Emperor Trajan. His words are very remarkable: You err (says he) in that you call the evil spirits of the heathens, gods: for there is but one God, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them; and one Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, whose kingdom may I enjoy. Any sentiment in the Epistles, inconsistent with this solemn declaration, must necessarily be suspected of having undergone some alteration, and cannot be implicitly admitted as genuine. And, let me ask, are these words of this excellent man the lane guage of an Arian, a Trinitarian, or a Unitarian? Let the Reader judge.

I beg leave, Mr. Urban, to add a word or two to a Parish Priest, who (p. 538.) looks upon it as a duty to support the antient faith, and established Institutions of our Country. Of course, it was once a duty to resist the introduction of Christianity, as well as the progress of the Reformation, in this Country. And had this resistance, which was actually excried, prevailed, we, the inhabitants of this highly-favoured Isle, might now have been bigoted Papists, or even idolatrous Heathens. Also, had this duty been regarded as paramount in former times, we of this day, instead of living under a free Government, in which the people themselves have a share through their Representatives, might have been groaning under the tyranny of a single Despot,

who, like William the Conqueror, should have disposed of our lives, and liberties, and property, by his own arbitrary will and pleasure. But our glorious Ancestors understood their duty better than the Parish Priest; and to their noble exertions we owe the important improvements that have been inade in our Civil and Religious Institutions. May we, and our posterity, have the wisdom, the virtue, and the fortitude, to improve by, as well as to admire, their emnient example.

The doctrine of the Parish Priest, whose instruction, I have the satisfaction to hear, is more conformable than your Correspondent's to that of the zealous and benevolent Apostle, who exhorts us to prove all things, to hold fast that which is good, and to go on to perfection. And though it be true that absolute perfection is what cannot be attained by any human endeavours, yet it is equally true (as he has often told us, and I have listened to it with delight,) that it is our duty always to aim at it, as the best means of improvement, either in Art, ia Science, or in Morals.

Accept the thanks of an individual, Mr. Urban, for your interesting account of Improvement in the Art of Printing, (p. 341.) which is highly gratifying to

Yours, &c. A SUSSEX FREEHOLDER.

Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 18.

THE Extinct Baronage by Banks is

a work of unquestionable merit; but I cannot approve of the remarks in the first volume, under the article of Rythre and Lascels. It was, f admit, Mr. Banks's duty to reject unfounded claims to antient descent; but it should have been done with more address and civility. Whether the Ryders and Lascels of the present day are of the same lineage as the antient Barons Rythre, and Barons Lascels, I am not disposed to discuss; and your Readers will not, I suspect, feel much intérest on the subject. But where was the necessity of attempting to turn into a ridiculous point of view two noble families of the existing Nobility one of them founded by an eminent Judge; and the other (whether descended from the Barons Lascels or not) most assuredly established in Yorkshire for some centuries. Mr. Lascelles, Member for Northallerton in the reign of

Charles

Charles I. "was," says Noble, in his Lives of the Regicides, " of an antient family." He was seated at Stank in Yorkshire (still in the possession of the Harewood family), and married the daughter of Sir William St. Quintin, bart. Mr. Banks seems to lay too much stress upon "epigrams" and "epitaphs" as deciding points of Family Antiquity. He talks, too, of the Kingdom of Ireland, though his book is dated 1807. By Lord Shirebourne, he probably means Lord Sherborne. A constant Reader & Subscriber.

Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 17.

HE antiquated and now improThe antiquated and on on reland occurs rather frequently in Mr. Banks's Extinct Baronage. In vol. 11. p. 109, he speaks of Bligh, Earl of Darnley, in Scotland. What he states of the Howard Family in p. 276, is a fact; but is not the mention introduced in a way rather uncourteous, when treating of a family whose claims to respect are founded on a basis so much stronger than bare an tiquity? I do not mean to combat the truth of Mr. Bauks's statement; I only object to the sucering way in which it is brought forward. The House of Howard may yield to many families in point of inere antiquity; but few can compare with them in high rank, celebrity, and alliance, for such a continuance.

I

Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

G. H. W.

Lee, Jan. 18. HAVE a copy of " "Epigrammatum Joannis Owen Cambro - Brittani, Oxoniensis, Editio Postrema. Lugd. Bat. Ex Officina Elzeviriana, Anno 1628," 12mo.

The number of Epigrams in this work, which is divided into several books, amounts to more than sixteen hundred, some of which have much of the true epigrammatic point about them; others, as may well be ex pected from their number, little besides the forced conceit of the time. The Latinity, as far as I am qualified to form a judgment, is good; at any rate, as much so as the quaintness of some of the subjects will allow. The book came to me, with others, from a deceased relation, a member of the family of Owen, of Orielton in Pem

GENT. MAG, January, 1815.

brokeshire; and under the following Epigram,

"An Petrus fuerit Rome sub judice lis est,

Simonem Romæ nemo fuisse negat," I find, in my late friend's writing, the note, "This Epigram cost Owen a fortune."

I had formed an opinion that these Epigrams were the early productions

of the celebrated Dr. John Owen, the Nonconformist, the friend and favourite of Cromwell, and who, during the time of the Commonwealth, was preferred to the Deanery of ChristChurch, Oxford, and was also Vicelearn from Middleton's Biographia Chancellor of that University; but I Evangelica, that the Doctor was born in the year 1616, and therefore at the time of the publication in question (which, as we see, was not a first edition), could only have been about twelve years of age, and, of course, not its Author.

I shall hold myself greatly obliged to any of your Correspondents who can favour me, through your excellent Miscellany, with some account of their real Author, aud any observations that may occur respecting this, or any other of his works. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

W.

'Jan. 19.

Trious Volume on Cookery, may HE following account of a cu be amusing to some of your Readers.

"The Accomplisht Cook, or the Art and Mystery of Cookery. Wherein the whole Art is revealed in a more easie and perfect Method than hath been publisht in any Language. Expert and ready Wayes for the Dressing of all Sorts of Flesh, Fowl, and Fish, with variety of Sauces proper for each of them and how to raise all manner of Pastes; the best Directions for all sorts of Kickshaws; also the tearms of Carving and Sewing. An exact account of all Dishes for all Seasons of the Year, with other

A la mode Curiosities. The Third Edi

tion, with large Additions throughout the whole Work; besides two hundred all manner of bake't Meats (either Figures [on Wood] of several Forms for Flesh or Fish), as Pyes, Tarts, Custards, Chessecakes, and Florentines, placed in Tables, and directed to the Pages they appertain to. Approved by the fiftyfive Years Experience and Industry of Robert May, in his Attendance on seve

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