as stated by Browne Willis, on account of the little encouragement he received when he published his volume. Browne Willis himself was one of the first who collected materials for the purpose, but they afterwards appeared in a different form[1]. Since his time various attempts have been made to produce a second edition, but without result[2], owing, perhaps, to the great labour attendant on such an undertaking, the expense of printing and publishing it, and the limited sale to be expected of such a work.
The present edition was undertaken under the fol-
- ↑ A Survey of the Cathedrals of York, Durham, Chester, &c. 4to. 1728; and A Survey of the Cathedrals of Lincoln, Oxford, and Peterborough. 4to. 1730.
- ↑ About five and twenty years since, a Prospectus was issued by the Rev. William Richardson, M.A., of St. John's college, Cambridge, for a new edition of the Fasti Ecclesise Anglicanse, in two volumes folio; but the work was not proceeded with, for the want of a sufficient number of subscribers to defray the expenses. The late Earl Powis, having purchased an interleaved copy filled with annotations and additions by several persons, liberally offered its use to the members of the Roxburgh Club; but it was not a popular measure with the club, and the design was abandoned. Nichols, in his Literary Anecdotes, states that the Rev. J. Gutch " was only deterred from undertaking a new edition by its extreme labour, and from the fortunate circumstance of his obtaining the easier and more profitable employment of Registrary of his University; and afterwards the Rev. Charles Coates would have brought out a new edition, provided the University of Cambridge would have printed it."
several other preferments (not dignities) which many of the persons herein named enjoyed; which may conveniently be added. The said works will likewise furnish very many materials towards an Obituary of several eminent personages who lie buried dispersedly, and which, being duly placed under their respective years, may very properly be placed after the monumental inscriptions of each year, and help much towards a catalogue of the viri illustres of each age."—Jo. Le Neve, April 28th, 1716.
