Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 05.djvu/263

 :: Metaphysical New Books,’ London, 1658, 8vo, written in imitation of J. Birkenhead's, Paul's Churchyard, and published under the name of ‘Grass and Hay Withers.’ Of ‘Boscobel’ the first part contains the history of the king's escape after the battle of Worcester up to the time of his leaving the White Ladies and Boscobel; the second, his concealment at Trent in Somersetshire, with his adventures in the west of England. The famous Worcestershire historian, Dr. Nash (Worcestershire Supplement, p. 90), strangely remarks of this book: ‘Who was the author is not known; certainly not Mr. Blount. In a manuscript I have seen,’ continues Dr. Nash, ‘he denies that he was the author of “Boscobel,” and says the first time he ever saw the book was at Lord Oxford's at Brampton Bryan. Blount's grandson says: “I dare say my grandfather, Counsellor Blount, was not the author of ‘Boscobel,’ for in a letter to my father I have seen the following sense expressed: ‘The other day, being on a visit to Lord Oxford, I met with a tract called “Boscobel.” My lord expressed great surprise on seeing me eager to peruse it, saying I was deemed the author. How the world comes to be so kind to give it me I know not; but whatever merit it may have, for I had not time to examine it, I do not choose to usurp it. I scorn to take the fame of another's productions. So if the same opinion prevails amongst my friends in your part of the world, I desire you will contradict it; for I do not so much as know the author of that piece.’ ”’ Notwithstanding this flat denial of Blount's, the piece seems, by general consent, to be undoubtedly his. The first edition of 1660, printed for Henry Seile, stationer to the king's most excellent majesty in London, contains a preface signed by Thomas Blount. In the majority of cases Blount seems not to have attached his name to his works. William Denton, the author of ‘Horæ Subsecivæ,’ a book written against the papists, and of ‘The Burnt Child dreads the Fire,’ justifying an act of parliament for preventing dangers which might happen from
 * 1) ‘Boscobel, or the History of his Sacred Majesties most miraculous preservation after the battle of Worcester, 3 Sept. 1651,’ London, 1660, frequently republished (translated into French and Portuguese; the last of which was done by Peter Gifford, of White Ladies, in Staffordshire, a Roman catholic).
 * 2) ‘The Catholic Almanac for 1661–2–3,’ &c. (which selling not so well as John Booker's almanac did, he afterwards wrote ‘Animadversions upon Booker,’ &c.; vid. inf.)
 * 3) ‘The Pedigree of the Blounts, printed in Peacham's Complete Gentleman,’ 1661.
 * 4) ‘Animadversions upon Booker's Telescopium Uranicum, or Ephemeris, 1665, which is very erroneous,’ &c., London, 1665, in one sheet.
 * 5) ‘The several Statutes concerning Bankrupts, methodically digested, together with the Resolutions of our learned Judges on them,’ 1670, ‘intended for the generality of men and ordinary capacities,’ says Blount in explanation.
 * 6) ‘A Law Dictionary interpreting such difficult and obscure Words and Terms as are found either in our Common or Statute, Ancient or Modern Lawes. With References to the several Statutes, Records, Registers, Law-Books, Charters, Ancient Deeds, and Manuscripts, wherein the Words are used; and Etymologies, where they properly occur,’ 1670. This is the Nomolexikon, republished in 1691, with some corrections and the addition of above six hundred words. Mr. Phillips incorporated a number of the articles in this book in a second edition of his own. In a letter to Wood, Blount says: ‘I am much discouraged in my so much fancied scrutiny of words, since I am lately assured my last Dictionary [meaning the ‘Law Dictionary’] is at the press surreptitiously being transcribed, mutilated, and disguised with some new title; and this by a beggarly half-witted scholar hired for the purpose by some of the law booksellers, to transcribe that in four or five months, which cost me twice as many years in compiling,’ &c. It was this matter which occasioned the publication of the ‘World of Errors,’ &c. (vid. inf.)
 * 7) ‘Journey to Jerusalem in 1669,’ 1672.
 * 8) ‘Animadversions upon Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle and its continuation, wherein many errors are discovered and some truths advanced,’ Oxford, 1672. This book bears the motto from Cic. ‘De Orat.:’ ‘Prima est historiæ lex ne quid falsi dicere audeat, deinde ne quid veri non audeat.’ This was revised by Wood. It was called in and silenced by Dr. Mews, because it said that the word ‘conventicle’ was first taken up in the time of Wycliffe.
 * 9) ‘A World of Errors discovered in the Interpreter of hard Words written against Sir Edward Philips book entitled A New World of English Words,’ &c., 1673.
 * 10) ‘Fragmenta Antiquitatis, Ancient Tenures of Land, and Jocular Customs of some Manors,’ &c., 1679; new edition, enlarged, with explanatory notes, &c., by Jos. Beckwith, F.A.S., York, 1784; new edition, with considerable additions from authentic sources, by Hercules Malebysse Beckwith, 1815.
 * 11) ‘A Catalogue of the Catholics who lost their lives in the King's Cause during the Civil Wars,’ printed at the end of Lord Castlemain's ‘Catholick Apology.’
 * 12) ‘Boscobel, pt. ii., and Claustrum regale reseratum,’ published by Mrs. Anne Windham, of Trent, 1681.