246J A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



and published with fine plates in one volume folio, in 1793. The 

 Calendar to the Patent Rolls in the Tower of London, from the 

 third year of the reign of John to the twenty-third of Edward IV. 

 was printed from four MS. volumes, procured in 1775, by Mr. 

 Astle, for public use, from the executors of Henry Rooke, Esq. his 

 predecessor in the office of Keeper of the Records in the Tower, and 

 collated with two Manuscripts in the Cottonian Library, marked 

 Titus c 2 and 3. 



Mr. Astle's principal residence was at Battersea-rise, a beauti- 

 ful eminence contiguous to Clapham-common. His library was 

 richly furnished with a large collection of books and manuscripts, 

 which afforded the highest gratification to the most celebrated Bri- 

 tish antiquaries of the age, who were his frequent visitors. Among 

 his most curious manuscripts was a series of original Saxon Char- 

 ters, unequalled in number, beauty, and preservation. He died 

 of a dropsy, on the 1st day of December 1803, in the 69th year of 

 his age, leaving eight sons and daughters, by whom he was de- 

 servedly venerated and beloved. 



Mr. Astle's library was purchased by the Royal Institution for 

 .1000. His manuscripts were, according to his will, to be offered 

 first to the Marquis of Buckingham, and on his declining the pur- 

 chase, to the British Museum. 



Mr. Astle was not only a learned antiquary but a liberal contri- 

 butor to the history and antiquities of his country; and very 

 willing to give assistance to gentlemen employed in historical in- 

 vestigation. His principal work is " The Origin and Progress of 

 Writing." He was fortunate in his matrimonial connexion, and 

 his antiquarian researches were facilitated by the possession of opu- 

 lence. In private life his manners were irreproachable, and he 

 was much esteemed by his learned contemporaries. 



DR. JOHN LIGHTFOOT. 



JOHN, the second son of the Rev. Thomas Ughtfoot, was born 

 at Stoke- upon-Trent, on the 29th of March 1602: his mother's 

 maiden name was Bagnall, a gentlewoman of a good family. The 

 Rev. Thomas Lightfoot was in holy orders fifty-six years, thirty- 

 six of which he was vicar of Uttoxeter, and he died July the 21st 

 1658, in the eighty-first year of his age. He had five sons : the 





