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generosi, R. S. S. et tabularii publici in Turre Londinensi Vicecustodis; quo munere annos circiter LX summâ fide et diligentia perfunctus, XIV kalend. Mart. A. D. MDCCXLVIII, ætatis suæ LXXXVII, fato demum concessit. In fratris sui erga se meritorum testimonium hanc tabulam SociETAS ANTIQUARIORUM Londini, cujus commoda semper promovit, sumptu suo æri incidendum curavit, MDCCXLIX. R. Van Bleeck p. 1743. G. Vertue del. & sculp." He well deserved this distinction, for no man ever was more able or more willing to serve all who applied to him; even in his office he had a pleasure in directing those who came to consult him in their researches: this, Browne Willis, Dr. Tovey, principal of New-Inn Hall, Oxford; Dr. Richardson, editor of "Godwin de Presulibus ;" acknowledge, and very many others knew, by experience, to be true. He was particularly conversant in English history.

SAMUEL KNIGHT, D.D. a native of London (where his father was free of the Mercers' Company), received the early part of his education at St. Paul's school; and was thence admitted of Trinity College, Cambridge; where having taken his degree of B.A. 1702; and M. A. 1706; he became chaplain to Edward earl of Orford; who presented him to the vicarage of Chippenham in Cambridgeshire; and also to the rectory of Borough Green, in the same county; to which last he was instituted Nov. 3, 1707. He afterwards was collated by Bp. Moore to a prebendal stall in the church of Ely, June 8, 1714; and presented by him to the rectory of Bluntesham in Huntingdonshire, June 22, 1717; D. D. Regiis Comitiis 1717. He was made chaplain to King George II. in February 1730-1; and promoted by Bishop Sherlock to the archdeaconry of Berks, 1735. He married Hannah, daughter of Talbot Pepys, esq. of Impington, near Cambridge; but soon became a widower, his wife dying in 1719, soon after the

birth of their only child. She was buried at Chippenham, where her memory is thus preserved: "H.S. E. Hanna, filia natû major Talbott Pepys, de Impington, in com. Cantabr. armigeri, uxor charissima Samuelis Knight, S.T.P. Canonici Eliensis, hujus ecclesiæ nuper vicarii, et prænobilis Edwardi Comitis de Orford à sacris, (copulâ felici, at fragili)

primum nempe infantulum enixa, tabe correpta, ob. Apr. die 14°, 1719, ætat. suæ 39."

Dr. Knight died December 10, 1746, in the 72d year of his age; and was buried in the chancel of Bluntesham church, where a neat monument of white marble is erected to his memory, with an inscription written by his friend Mr. Castle*, dean of Hereford, who knew him well, and has given him a character, which all who remember Dr. Knight will readily allow to be a just one:

"Hic juxta situs est Samuel Knight, S.T.P. ecclesiæ Eliensis præbendarius, com. Berkensis archidiaconus, et hujus ecclesiæ rector: Rei Antiquariæ cujuscumque generis cultor studiosus; præcipuè verò famæ virorum ingenii, virtutis et literarum laude maximè insignium, fautor eximius; prout ea quæ scripsit de vitâ rebusque gestis celeb. Erasmi et Coleti, palàm testatum faciunt. Concionando assiduus; rebusque gerendis sedulus, præsertim iis quibus aut amorem inter amicos, locorum longinquitate dissitos, fovere, aut publicum Ecclesiæ commodum promovere, aut quamplurimis prodesse potuerit: adeò ut posteris jure commendetur, tanquam humano generi amicus.

Laboribus, studiis, negotiis, tandem confectus, in hoc loco placidam invenit quietem, beatam expectans resurrectionem.

*Of whom, see vol. VI.

p. 78.

AA 2

Ob.

Ob. Dec. 10, 1746, ætat. 72.

Hoc monumentum, reverentiæ et pietatis ergô, posuit filius unicus *."

Dr. Knight published the "Life of Erasmus" in 1724; and in 1726 the "Life of Dean Colet." As a residentiary of Ely, he shewed himself an active and useful member of that church; and intended to have published an historical account of their antient documents. He lent Mr. Whiston a Life of Bp. Patrick, drawn up in the Bishop's own hand, ending with his birth-day, when he was 80 years old. The MS. (it is believed) is now possessed by Dr. Knight's grandson.

Some specimens of his Epistolary Correspondence, taken from the originals, shall be given below*.

* Bentham's Ely, p. 264.

† See Whiston's Memoirs of his own Life, vol. I. p. 295. To Dr. Edmund Gibson, Bishop of Lincoln.

MY LORD,

Ely, Jan. 26, 1719-20. Since I have been here upon my residence, I have taken some pains in looking over and transcribing several of our antient charters and writings belonging to this church. I find more than I expected, or (as I think) have been taken notice of, which almost tempts me to set about the history and antiquities of this church, either in that way which Mr. Gunton wrote his of Peterborough in, or else Annales ecclesiæ Elyensis ex autographis aliisque MSS. contexti, &c. I have ventured to trouble your Lordship upon this affair for your advice and assistance, if your Lordship has any materials which may be of any use to me. My friend Dr. Tanner is abundantly more fit for such an undertaking than myself; but his hands are so full of other work that it must for ever be despaired of from him. I did hint to him in one of my last letters what your Lordship said to me when in town last about his finishing his Leland; I will give your Lordship his own words in answer to me: If it please God to spare my life, I shall not forget to put together what I have collected for the improvement of Leland de Viris Illustribus; but they having ten years since printed the text at Oxford (scarce with fair usage of me, whom they knew to be engaged about it before) I did cool a little-but, when I get through this edition of Notitia Monastica, I shall resume the other. Mr. Anthony Wood's papers were bequeathed to me under a condition to publish them; and no fairer can be offered than now, when Mr. Tonson is reprinting the Athenæ. If I should not have suffered them to

be

He published seven single sermons: 1. At a Funeral, 1724, Rev. xiv. 13.-2. In the same year,

be published, they might one time or other have fallen into hands less tender of the reputation of the dead and living. I believe you know me so well as to vouch for me that I am as seldom idle as any body, having not for some years allowed myself a week's time to relax among my friends, especially in London.'-I transcribed thus much from his letter to me, hoping it would not be unacceptable to your Lordship to know what he is doing now, and what we may expect hereafter from him. Dr. Watson, being now in town, can (if your Lordship thinks fit) give an account of those antiquities lately found in North Britain. Your Lordship has heard of those at Trumpington, in Mr. Thompson's possession. I am, &c. SAM. KNIGHT.

P.S. I saw last night that the two vacancies in the list of king's chaplains are filled up. I shall be contented to wait for another opportunity, or when my friends shall think proper.

2. To the Rev. Dr. Moss, Dean of Ely,

MR. DEAN,

Ely, Nov. 25, 1725. I doubt not of your receiving other letters from Dr. Ashton and Mr. Jones this post; yet, however, thought it not improper to let you know that I got loose from Lady Tipping on Monday morning, and got hither on Tuesday before dinner. Dr. Fleetwood and his cousin Powel are the only absent members. The former was frightened at the badness of the roads, the latter is in Berkshire. Tookie was forced hither by his Lord. So that we are enough for business, though it is not much. The organ is out of order. Something must go out of the money reserved out of Lord Onslow's fine for that. One Thomas Heblethwait is chosen vicar choral in the room of Serle. He has a tolerable voice. We have agreed to give 20l. towards the building in Cambridge. It is agreed likewise that the supernumerary sermons be paid out of the Prælectura money; that one pound be allowed for each of those sermons, and that the remainder be divided amongst those only that keep their residence, We all are for augmenting Stuntney and Churcham, if the bounty-money can be procured. We have not here that book of Mr. Ecton's which you refer to. We beg that you will see about that affair, whether feasible or not. I shall be in town about Christmas, if I can be serviceable. The scruple is that such curacies do not fall in with the design of the governors. The Bishop may be consulted. It is pity that the 400l. should lie dead till fixed somewhere else, if this project doth not take. Your matter about part of the prælectura money stands as it did, the same reasons being urged as before. You will excuse my bad writing, having but a quarter of an hour before the post goes out. I am, with humble service to your Lady, &c. SAM. KNIGHT.

Mr. Fleetwood thought the roads too bad for 7 miles, and I rid above 50 to come hither.

from Tit. iii. 1.-3. Before the House of Commons, May 29, 1725.-4. Before the Lord Mayor, &c. on

3. To the Rev. Dr. Moss, Dean of Ely.

MR. DEAN,

Ely, June 16, 1726. I know not whether any of our brethren write to you this post, waiting possibly till the conclusion of the Chapter; but, however, I was willing rather to give you an imperfect account of matters than none at all this post. We had the good fortune to finish with Mr. Swann before Mr. J- made his appearance. He came through from London on Monday; so, being much tired, we were loth to disturb him, for fear also that he should disturb us; but soon after, when we had also fixed Mr. Acton's fine for Stoke manor, he came to us, and Mr. Needham was called to the bar. A storm very soon arose; and the old gentleman was as loud as Jones, and was escaping at last for his life; but the milder brethren persuading to come back, he begged to be delivered from man. With much ado at last Mr. N. complied; and we parted good friends, carrying away with him a terrible idea of the first prebendary. We went on more glibly with other tenants, only Mr. Marshal of Leverington and our spokesman had several brushes, both before and after his renewal, having exasperated him and Mr. N-m by telling them their design was to impose upon the chapter, &c. Before Mr. Tookie left us yesterday to meet his Lord Orford at Chippenham, we called over the matter of the Queen's bounty money. Mr. J stood stiff that the affair was not as we all represented it at the last chapter; but, however, since he was outvoted, he would acquiesce in having the seal put to the instrument for that purpose. The furniture is well liked in general; only sure the curtains should have been the same as the covering of the cushions; and they both sides alike, or at least so far as is seen above the desk. There wanted stuff to hang down and cover the deformity withinside; for I think the work is very indifferent, being patched with new and old boards, which gives it a paltry view. The old stuff is under the cushions, and the new scarlet serge covers the women's desk, where they lay their books. But enough of this. I just send you what money we have already got, and so conclude, being, with humble service to your lady, &c.

Your very humble servant,

SAM. KNIGHT.

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