The matter of your prayse Flowes in upon me; and I cannot rayse Printed by T. DAVISON, Ben Jonson to Selden. BIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE. NOTHING can be more interesting than this little book, containing a lively picture of the opinions and conversation of one of the most eminent scholars and most distinguished patriots England has produced, living at a period the most eventful of our history: there are few volumes of its size so pregnant with sense, combined with the most profound learning it is impossible to open it, without finding some important fact or discussion, something practically useful and applicable to the business of life: it may be said of it, as of that exquisite little manual, lord Bacon's Essays, "after the twentieth perusal one seldom fails to remark in it something overlooked before." Dr. Wilkins, the editor of Selden's works, has attempted to discredit the authenticity of the Table Talk,' upon the ground of its containing many things unworthy of a man of Selden's erudition, and at variance with his principles and practice but this objection is far from conclusive, and the compilation has such a complete and unaffected air of genuineness, that we have no hesitation in giving credit to the assertion of Richard Milward, Selden's amanuensis, who says that it was faithfully committed to writing, from time to time, during the long period of twenty years, in which he enjoyed the opportunity of daily hearing his discourse, and of recording the excellent things that usually fell from him he appeals to the executors and friends of Selden, that such was the usual manner of his patron's conversation; and this dedicatory appeal to them is no slight testimonial of the veracity of his assertion. It is true, that the familiar, and sometimes coarse manner in which many of the subjects discussed are illustrated, is not such as might have been expected from a profound scholar; but Selden, with all his learning, was a man of the world, familiar with the ordinary scenes of common life, and knew how to bring abstruse subjects home to the business and bosoms of men of ordinary capacity, in a manner at once perspicuous and agreeable. It is remarkable, that the style of Selden, in those English compositions published during his life, appears harsh and obscure; but lord Clarendon, who knew him well, tells us, "that he was a clear discourser, and possessed the faculty of making difficult things easy, and presenting them clearly to the understanding." This faculty is every where apparent in the following pages, which are replete with the fruits of his varied and extensive erudition, illustrated in the most plain, and sometimes in the happiest manner, by familiar parallels, without pedantry, and without pretension. In preparing the present edition for the press, the text of the first edition, printed in 4to. London, 1589, under the care of Richard Milward, has been scrupulously followed, the orthography alone having been reformed. Selden was born at Salvington, an obscure village on the coast of Sussex, near Terring, and not far from Worthing, on the 16th of December, 1584: his father was a substantial yeoman, and had very much bettered his condition by marriage with the only daughter of Thomas Baker, of Rushington, descended from an ancient and knightly family of that name: it was his skill in music which obtained him his wife, who was mother to this "great dictator of learning, and glory of the English nation." Selden received the rudiments of education at the free school of Chichester, and was from thence, at the age of sixteen, sent to the university of Oxford, and entered of Hart Hall, under the tuition of Anthony Barker, a relation of his master at Chichester school. His progress at college was more than usually rapid; and he left it with a high reputation in about four years, to pursue the study of the law in the Inner Temple, where he was admitted in May, 1604. He became so sedulous a student, and his proficiency so well known, that he was soon in very extensive practice as a chamber counsel; but he does not seem to have appeared frequently at the bar. His devotion to his profession did not prevent him from pursuing his literary occupations with assiduity; and, at the early age of twenty-two, he had completed his Dissertation on the Civil Government of Britain before the Norman Conquest.'* This work is an astonishing performance, considering the age at which it was composed. In 1610, we find him pursuing the same course of study, the fruits of which were given to the world, under the titles of Jani Anglorum Facies Altera,'' England's Epinomis,' and The Duello, or Single Combat.' These publications were in a measure connected with the studies incident to his profession; but in 1612, was put forth his elaborate and interesting commentary on the first twelve books of the Polyolbion; he must, therefore, have been indefatigable in his pursuit of knowledge through every channel, and in all its various ramifications. His intense application appears to have very materially injured his health; for in the dedication of his Titles of Honour,' published in 1614, to his friend, Mr. Edward Heyward, he says, "Some year since it was finished, wanting only, in some parts, my last hand-which was then prevented by my dangerous and tedious sicknesse." From this attack he recovered, by the skill and care of Dr. Robert Floyd, returning to his studies with fresh zest, and renewed vigour; "and thus," says he, "I employed the breathing times which, from the so different studies of my profession, were allowed me: nor hath the proverbial assertion, that the lady Common Law must lie alone,' ever wrought with me." His fame now rang through Europe, and his books were received and read with avidity. In the year 1617, was produced that extraordinary and profoundly erudite treatise on the Deities of the Ancient Syrians, which he "intended as a commentary on all the passages of the Old Testament relating to the idols of the heathens, and discussing, there This was not published until 1615, when it was printed at Frankfort, under the title of Analectwn Anglo-Britan nicwn.' De Diis Syris, Syntagmata Duo. London, 1617.' fore, not only the Syrian, but the Arabian, Egyptian, Persian, African, and European idolatry." His History of Tithes' was published in 1618, in which he seemed to combat the divine right of the church to them, and, consequently, gave great offence to the clergy, and incurred the displeasure of king James. He was admitted, at the intercession of his friend Ben Jonson, to explain himself to the king in person, and seemed to have conciliated him; but in a very short time he was cited before the high commission court, his book was prohibited, he was enjoined to declare his contrition for having written it, and forbid to reply to any of those who might write against it, upon pain of imprisonment. The king pointed out to him many objectionable passages, particularly one which seemed to throw a doubt upon the day of the birth of Christ; he therefore composed a short treatise upon that subject, and presented it to the king on Christmas day. In the preface to his History of Tithes,' he reproaches the clergy with ignorance and laziness, and upbraids them with having nothing to keep up their credit, but beard, title, and habit; and that their studies reached no farther than the breviary, the postills, and polyanthea: this was enough to draw down their indignation upon him, and he was consequently vehemently attacked. Wood says, that "the usage he met with sunk so deep into his stomach, that he did never after affect the bishops and clergy, or cordially approve their calling, though many ways were tried to gain him to the church's interest." He had certainly a great contempt for the ignorant and fanatic among the clergy of his day-and did not scruple to express it openly: indeed it appears he was of opinion that the state should invariably keep a rein on This treatise does not appear to have been printed during Selden's life, but was published in 1661, under the following title,ЕANOPLПO2, or, God made Man; proving the Nativity of our Saviour to be on the 25th of December. London: printed by J. G. for Nathaniel Brooks, at the Angel, in Cornhill, 1661,' 8vo. with a wretched portrait of Selden prefixed, engraved by I. Chantry. |