Abraham Hartwell
Encyclopedia
Abraham Hartwell, the younger (1553/4–1606), was an English translator and antiquary, and Member of Parliament. Another Abraham Hartwell (the elder)
of the period was also an author, publishing Regina Literata in 1564, and the two have in the past been confused.
, he graduated B.A.
in 1571 and M.A. in 1575, and was incorporated M.A. at Oxford in 1588. At Trinity College, Hartwell apparently attracted the notice of John Whitgift
, who made him his secretary, reported in this capacity in 1584. A notary public, he was MP for East Looe
in 1586 and Hindon
in 1593.
Hartwell is recorded in 1587 as one of the proctor
s of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Court of Audience.
Hartwell met Richard Hakluyt
, who urged him successfully to translate Odoardo Lopez's account of Africa. Hartwell later wrote that he did so "...to help our English Nation, that they might knowe and understand many things, which are common in other languages, but utterly concealed from this poore Island".
He was buried at Lambeth
on 17 December 1606.
Hartwell was the last member admitted into the old Society of Antiquaries. Two short papers which he wrote for the society are printed in Thomas Hearne
's ‘Curious Discourses,’ London, 1771; they are entitled ‘Of Epitaphs’ (ii. 375), and ‘Of the Antiquity, Variety, and Reason of Motts with Arms of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England’ (i. 278), and were both read before the society in 1600.
Two of Hartwell's letters to Whitgift written in Latin
survive in the Cambridge University Library
.
Abraham Hartwell (the elder)
Abraham Hartwell the elder , was a Latin-language poet.Hartwell was born in 1542 or 1543, was educated at Eton College; he was admitted scholar at King's College, Cambridge, on 25 August 1559, and became a fellow on 26 Aug. 1562; he graduated B.A. in 1563, M.A. in 1567, and resigned his fellowship...
of the period was also an author, publishing Regina Literata in 1564, and the two have in the past been confused.
Life
A student of Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, he graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1571 and M.A. in 1575, and was incorporated M.A. at Oxford in 1588. At Trinity College, Hartwell apparently attracted the notice of John Whitgift
John Whitgift
John Whitgift was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 800 horsemen...
, who made him his secretary, reported in this capacity in 1584. A notary public, he was MP for East Looe
East Looe (UK Parliament constituency)
East Looe was a parliamentary borough represented in the House of Commons of England from 1571 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1797 to 1800, and finally in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until its abolition in 1832. It elected two Members of Parliament ...
in 1586 and Hindon
Hindon (UK Parliament constituency)
Hindon was a parliamentary borough consisting of the village of Hindon in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1448 until 1832, when the borough was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
in 1593.
Hartwell is recorded in 1587 as one of the proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
s of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Court of Audience.
Hartwell met Richard Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt was an English writer. He is principally remembered for his efforts in promoting and supporting the settlement of North America by the English through his works, notably Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America and The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques and...
, who urged him successfully to translate Odoardo Lopez's account of Africa. Hartwell later wrote that he did so "...to help our English Nation, that they might knowe and understand many things, which are common in other languages, but utterly concealed from this poore Island".
He was buried at Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
on 17 December 1606.
Works
Three translations by him from the Italian are dedicated to Whitgift, ‘at your Graces in Lambith.’ He published:- ‘The History of the Warres betweene the Turkes and the Persians. Written in Italian by Iohn-Thomas Minadoi, and translated by Abr. Hartwell’ (licenced 1588). The volume contained ‘a new Geographicall Mappe.’ Minadoi's ‘Epistle to the Reader’ is translated by Hartwell with the title ‘the Author's,’ and has given rise to the notion that Hartwell was a traveller.
- ‘A Report of the Kingdome of Congo, a Region of Africa And of the Countries that border rounde about the same...Drawen out of the writings and discourses of Odoardo Lopez, a Portingall, by Philippo Pigafetta,’ London, 1597, 4to. The ‘Epistle to the Reader’ tells that this translation was undertaken at the request of R. Hakluyt; the volume contains several cuts. It has been reprinted in ‘Purchas his Pilgrimes,’ &c., pt. ii. 1625, and in ‘A Collection of Voyages and Travels,’ vol. ii. 1745.
- ‘The Ottoman of Lazaro Soranzo. Wherein is delivered … a full and perfect report of the might and power of Mahomet the third, … as also a true Description of divers peoples, Countries, Citties, and Voyages, which are most necessarie to bee knowen, especially at this time of the present Warre in Hungarie,’ London, 1603. A chance question of the archbishop's about Turkish ‘Bassaes and Visiers’ was the occasion of this translation.
- ‘A True Discourse upon the matter of Martha Brossier of Romorantin, pretended to be possessed by a Divell,’ London, 1599, from the French. The dedication to Richard BancroftRichard BancroftArchbishop Richard Bancroft, DD, BD, MA, BA was an English churchman, who became Archbishop of Canterbury and the "chief overseer" of the production of the authorized version of the Bible.-Life:...
, bishop of London, explains that the cases of possession and witchcraft at Nottingham which, in his capacity of secretary to the archbishop, Hartwell had become acquainted with had suggested this translation to him.
Hartwell was the last member admitted into the old Society of Antiquaries. Two short papers which he wrote for the society are printed in Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne or Hearn , English antiquary, was born at Littlefield Green in the parish of White Waltham, Berkshire.-Life:...
's ‘Curious Discourses,’ London, 1771; they are entitled ‘Of Epitaphs’ (ii. 375), and ‘Of the Antiquity, Variety, and Reason of Motts with Arms of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England’ (i. 278), and were both read before the society in 1600.
Two of Hartwell's letters to Whitgift written in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
survive in the Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
.
External links
- Abraham Hartwell, Of Epitaphs (1600), in A collection of curious discourses (Volume 2, 1775), full text online at books.google.com