above-named
JOHN MURRAY; but Hearne, who was his intimate friend, has
been very sparing in his anecdotes of him, having left us
but a few desultory notices, written chiefly in the Latin
language. The earliest mention of him that I find is the
following: "Verum illud praecipue mentionem meretur, quod
mutuo accepi, schedula una et altera jam excusa, a JOANNE
MURARIO Londinensi, rei antiquariae perscrutatore diligenti,
cui eo nomine gratias ago." "Denique subdidi descriptionem
fenestrarum depictarum ecclesiae parochialis de Fairford in
agro Glocestriensi, e schedula quam mutuo sumpsi ab amico
supra laudato Johanne Murrario, qui per literas etiam
certiorem me fecit e codice quodam vetusto MS. fuisse
extractum. Neque dubito quin hic idem fuerit Codex quem olim
in ecclesia de Fairford adservatum surripuisse nebulonem
quempiam mihi significavit ecclesiae aedituus, vir simplex,
necnon aetate et scientia venerandus." Praef: p. XXII. _Guil.
Roperi Vita Thomae Mori_, 1716, 8vo., edit. Hearne. There is
another slight mention of Murray, by Hearne, in the latter's
edition of _Thom. Caii. Vindic. Antiq. Acad. Oxon_, vol.
ii., 803-4--where he discourses largely upon the former's
copy of _Rastel's Pastyme of People_: a book which will be
noticed by me very fully on a future occasion. At present,
it may suffice to observe that a perfect copy of it is
probably the rarest English book in existence. There is a
curious copper plate print of Murray, by Vertue, in which
our bibliomaniac's right arm is resting upon some books
entitled "_Hearne's Works, Sessions Papers, Tryals of
Witches_." Beneath is this inscription:

_Hoh Maister John Murray of Sacomb,
The Works of old Time to collect was his pride,
Till Oblivion dreaded his Care:
Regardless of Friends, intestate he dy'd,
So the Rooks and the Crows were his Heir._

G.N.

Of the above-mentioned THOMAS BRITTON, I am enabled to
present a very curious and interesting account, from a work
published by Hearne, of no very ordinary occurrence, and in
the very words of Hearne himself. It is quite an unique
picture. "Before I dismiss this subject, I must beg leave to
mention, and to give a short account of, one that was
intimately acquainted with Mr. Bagford, a