JOHN SELDEN. TABLE-TALK. 1689. περι παντὸς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν Edited by EDWARD ARBER, F.S. A.. Fellow of King's College, London; Hon. Member of the Virginia Historical Society; Antiquary, Philologist, Heraldist, Linguist, Jurist, Statesman, &c. * Probable or approximate dates. A Life of Selden does not exist: to the great reproach of the Lawyers. All accounts of him are but sketches. Few of Selden's many works have been mentioned here, for want of space. A list of them is given in Dr. Aikin's Life of Selden, pp. 197-9. Ed. 1812. 1558. Nob. 17. Elizabeth begins to reign. Birth and Infancy. At Chichester School. 1584. Dec. 16. 1595. Dec. 20. JOHN SELDEN, the glory of the English nation, as Hugo Grotius worthily stiles him, son of John Selden, by Margaret his wife, the only daughter of Thomas Baker of Rushington, (descended from the knightly family of the Bakers in Kent) was born in an obscure village called Salvington near to Terring a market town in Sussex. His father. was a sufficient plebeian, and delighted much in music, by the exercising of which he obtained (as 'tis said) his wife, of whom our famous author Jo. Selden was born on the 16th of Decemb. 1584. Wood, Ath. Oxon. iii. 366. Ed. 1817. . The birthplace of John Selden is Salvington, a hamlet of the parish of West Tarring, in the county of Sussex. Tarring is about two miles from Worthing.. ... The cottage in which he was born still remains. It was then known as Lacies, being the residence attached to a farm of about eighty-one acres. The date of 1601 is upon its front. G. W. Johnson. Memoirs of John Selden, pp. 33. 34. Ed. 1835. 1584-John, the sonne of John Selden, the minstrell, was baptized the 20th day of December.' Parish Register of West Tarring. Besides John there were two younger sons, who died infants, and a daughter, who married to a John Bernard of Goring in Sussex: by whom she had two sons and four daughters. They appear to have remained in humble situations. Johnson, p. 36. He was 'instructed in grammar learning in the Free School at Chichester, under Mr. Hugh Barker of New College [Oxford].' Wood, idem. On the inside of the lintel of his birthplace and home "is carved a Latin distich, said to have been composed A. 10. by Selden when only ten years old. The following literal copy made at the time of a personal inspection [in August 1834] is submitted to the reader's judgement. GRATVS Honeste MIH NO clavDaR INITO SEDEB' FVR ABEAS: NO SV FACTA SOLVTA TIBI. The last character of the first line is somewhat imperfect. It probably was intended as a contraction of 'que.' In this case the literal translation is 'Honest friend thou art welcome to me, I will not be closed, enter and be seated. Thief! begone, I am not open to thee.'' Johnson, idem. Studying, writing, and living chiefly in the Inner Temple. At Oxford. 1600. Mich. term. By the care and advice of his schoolmaster, Seiden æt. 15. enters Hart Hall, Oxford: and is committed to the \1602. tuition of Mr. Anthony Barker, one of the Fellows,' brother to his schoolmaster, by whom he was instructed in logic and philosophy for about three years, which with great facility he conquered.' Wood. idem. 'Sir Giles Mompessen told me, that he was then of that house, and that Selden was a long scabby-pol'd boy but a good student.' Aubrey MSS. quoted in Bliss's Edition of Wood; ut supra. Becomes a member of Clifford's Inn. æt. 17. 1603. Mar. 24. James E. succeeds to the English crown. (1604. May. Removes to the Inner Temple. "His chamber was æt. 19. in the Paper buildings which looke towards the garden, staire-case, uppermost story, where he had a little gallery to walke in. He was quickly taken notice of for his learning."-Aubrey MSS., idem. 1607. 1612. 1614. 1617. 1618. After he had continued there a sedulous student for some time, he did by the help of a strong body and vast memory, not only run through the whole body of the law, but became a prodigy in most parts of learning, especially in those which were not common, or little frequented, or regarded by the generality of students of his time. So that in few years his name was wonderfully advanced, not only at home, but in forreign countries, and was usually stiled the great dictator of learning of the English nation. He seldom or never appeared publickly at the bar, (tho' a bencher) but gave sometimes chamber-counsel, and was good at conveyance. He had a very choice library of books, as well MSS. as printed, in the beginning of all or most of which he wrote either in the title, or leaf before it, Tepi TANTOS THY ¿λevepíav: ABOVE ALL, LIBERTY; to shew, that he would examine things, and not take them upon trust, Wood. Idem. [Dr. Bliss, on this, says, I shall take leave to render the words ABOVE EVERY THING, LIBERTY! That is, liberty is dearer to me and more desirable than every other blessing; even than life itself: a sentiment worthy not only of Selden, but of every one who calls himself an Englishman."-Wood. Idem.] He was solicitor and steward for the Earle of Kent.- art. 22. He publishes his first work Analecton Anglo-Britannicon. ct. 29. He publishes Titles of Honour, 'his largest English, and in the opinion of Usher, his best work.'-Johnson, idem. æt 32. He publishes De Diis Syris, Syntagmata duo: a history of the Idol deities of the Old Testament. t. 33. [Preface dated Apr. 4.] Selden publishes The Historie of Tithes, that is, The practice of payment of them. The positive laws made for them. The opinions touching the right of them. Whereupon a needless ecclesiastical uproar arises. Selden tells us "Having at length. composed it, I committed it to the censure of one that had the power of licensing it for the press. I left it with him, and to his own time, and without so much as any further request from me to him. He sent it to me licensed, |