fession, or art of life for lucre, such persons being already of other bodies,' The members of the academy were to have extraordinary privileges, and among others were to have the superintendence of the review, or the review itself, of all English translations of secular learning, to authorise all books which did not handle theological arguments, and to give to the vulgar people indexes expurgatory and expunctory upon all books of secular learning printed in English. The members were to wear a riband and a jewel, and Bolton even speculated on the possibility that Windsor Castle might be converted into an English Olympus, and assigned to the members as the place in which to hold their chapters. Eighty-four persons were selected by Bolton as the original members. Among the most remarkable names are those of Sir Thomas Aylesbury, George Chapman, Sir Edward Coke, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Kenelm Digby, Sir Dudley Digges, Michael Drayton, Thomas Habington, Sir Thomas Hawkins, Hugh Holland, Ben Jonson, Inigo Jones, Sir Thomas Lake, Sir Toby Matthew, Endymion Porter, Sir William Segar, Sir Richard St. George, John Selden, Sir Henry Spelman, and Sir Henry Wotton. The project was favourably entertained by King James, and seemed on the point of being accomplished, when his majesty died. It did not find equal favour in the court of Charles I; and the Duke of Buckingham, who had been its main supporter, growing indifferent to it, the whole scheme fell to the ground.
Besides his grand idea of the establishment of an order of men of science and literature to be in some way connected with the order of the Garter, he proposed that a grand collection should be formed of what history had preserved for England, that a minute history of the city of London should be written, that a map on a very extensive scale of the country around London should be prepared, and that a life of the Duke of Buckingham, commensurate with his great deservings, should be drawn up.
All his schemes failed. He was now becoming advanced in years. He had a wife and three sons, and very slender means of support, none indeed at last, for there can he no doubt that he is the ‘Edmund Bolton of St. James, Clerkenwell,' who being assessed as a recusant convict at 6l. in goods, is returned by a collector of the subsidy of 1628 as having to his knowledge no lands Or tenements, goods or chattels on which the tax could be levied, ‘but hath been a prisoner in the Fleet’ ever since the assessment was made. The same return was made in 1629, he only difference being that his place of detention was then not the Fleet at the Marshalsea. It was after this that he made his appeal to the city authorities, and he appears to have made some progress with the work; but here he found himself anticipated by his friend Ben Jonson, who had promised to prepare for them ‘Chronological Annals;’ and when he talked of the history and the map costing 3,000l. or 4,000l., Sir Hugh Hammersley told him plainly that in prosecuting the application he would but berating the air. The latest letter of his at present known is addressed to Henry, Lord Falkland, on 20 Au . 1633. Probably he died soon afterwards, gut the exact date of his death is not known.
His works are:
- ‘The Shepheard’s Song: a Caroll or Himne for Christmas,' In ‘England’s Helicon,' 1600. To ‘England's Helicon' Bolton also contributed ‘A Pastoral Ode’ and three other pieces.
- ‘The Elements of Armories,’ Lond. 1610, 4to (anon.) Dedicated to Henry, earl of Northampton. The work consists of a dialogue or conference between two knights, Sir Eustace and Sir Amias, continuing through thirty-five chapters. It is written in a very pedantic style, but many curious examples are brought forward and illustrated by woodcuts, spiritedly executed. The original manuscript of this curious book is in the library of Christ Church at Oxford.
- ‘Life of King Henry II.' This was intended for insertion in Speed’s ‘Chronicle,' but as it was thought to give a too favourable account of St. Thomas à Becket, it was rejected and another ‘Life’ by Dr. Thomas Barcham was substituted for it.
- ‘Carmen Personatum. In quo, Maria Regina Scotorum gratulatur sibi de corpore suo, ab obscurâ et deuiâ urbeculâ, Petriburgo, filii sui Iacobi Regis pietate, ad lucem Westmonasterii Proauum suorum sepulchreti officiosissimè traducto: A.D. MDCXII. Tabulæ ad monimentum eiusdem Reginæ pensili ab authore destinatum.' Cotton MS. Titus A, xiii. 178-184.
- ‘The Roman Histories of Lucius Iulius Florus, from the foundation of Rome, till Cæsar Augustus, for aboue DCC yeares, & from thence to Traian neare CC yeares, divided by Florus into IV ages. Translated into English.' Lond. 1618, 12mo; 1636, 16mo. The dedication to the Duke of Buckingham is signed ‘Philansistophil.' This word, which Bolton often used afterwards, was invented by himself, and may be interpreted ‘friend of the king's friend.'
- ‘Hypercritica, or a Rule of Judgment for writing or reading our History’s: Delivered in four Supercensorian addresses by occasion of a Censorian Epistle, prefix'd by Sir Henry
