nd was also a great
man, though of but ordinary education. The person I mean is
Mr. THOS. BRITTON, the famous _Musical Small Coal Man_, who
was born at or near Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire.
Thence he went to London, where he bound himself apprentice
to a small coal man in St. John Baptist's Street. After he
had served his full time of seven years, his master gave him
a sum of money not to set up. Upon this, Tom went into
Northamptonshire again, and after he had spent his money, he
returned again to London, set up the _small coal trade_
(notwithstanding his master was still living) and withall,
he took a stable, and turned it into a house, which stood
the next door to the little gate of St. John's of Jerusalem,
next Clerkenwell Green. Some time after he had settled here,
he became acquainted with Dr. Garenciers, his near
neighbour, by which means he became an excellent chymist,
and perhaps, he performed such things in that profession, as
had never been done before, with little cost and charge, by
the help of a moving elaboratory, that was contrived and
built by himself, which was much admired by all of that
faculty that happened to see it; insomuch that a certain
gentleman in Wales was so much taken with it that he was at
the expense of carrying him down into that country, on
purpose to build him such another, which Tom performed to
the gentleman's very great satisfaction, and for the same he
received of him a very handsome and generous gratuity.
Besides his great skill in chymistry, he was as famous for
his knowledge in the _Theory of Music_; in the practical
part of which Faculty he was likewise very considerable. He
was so much addicted to it that he pricked with his own hand
(very neatly and accurately), and left behind him, a
valuable collection of music, mostly pricked by himself,
which was sold upon his death for near a hundred pounds. Not
to mention the excellent collection of PRINTED BOOKS, that
he also left behind him, both of chemistry and music.
Besides these books that he left behind him, he had, some
years before his death, sold by auction a _noble collection
of books_, most of them in the _Rosacrucian Faculty_ (of
which he was a great admirer): whereof there is a printed
catalogue extant (as there is of tho