(Part I.) It was
probably soon afterwards that Evelyn perused and added some notes to
the manuscript;‡ and in February 1694 Aubrey also lent the work to
Thomas Tanner (afterwards Bishop of St Asaph), at his earnest request.
He seems to have become acquainted with his fellow county-man, Tanner,
only a short time before this. The latter, although then only in his
twenty-first year, and pursuing his studies at Oxford, had acquired a
reputation for knowledge of English antiquities, and with the ardour
and enthusiasm of youth evinced much anxiety to promote the
publication of this and some of the other works of his venerable
friend. He added several notes to the manuscript, and whilst in his
possession it was no doubt examined also by Gibson. It is referred to
in the notes to the latter's edition of Camden's " Britannia."
‡ [Perhaps in May 1692 ; when he is known to have examined another of
Aubrey's works, "An Idea of Education of Young Gentlemen". - Evelyn's
notes to the "Wiltshire" are thus referred to in a memorandum by
Aubrey on a fly-leaf of the manuscript: "Mdm. That ye annotations to
which are prefixed this marke [J. E.] were writt by my worthy friend
John Evelyn, Esq. R.S.S. 'Twas pitty he wrote them in black lead; so
that I was faine to runne them all over againe with inke. I thinke not
more than two words are obliterated."]
Had Aubrey's life been spared a few years longer it is very possible
that most of his manuscripts would have been printed, under the
stimulus and with the assistance of his youthful friend.
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