Abraham Hartwell: Basilis Epistemon

Abraham Hartwell, the elder, Latin poet, was born in 1542 or 1543, and educated at Eton. He was admitted scholar at King's College, Cambridge, on 25 Aug. 1559, and became a fellow on 26 Aug. 1562. He graduated B.A. in 1563, and M.A. in 1567, and resigned his fellowship in 1567.

'Basilis epistemon, sive de serenissimae D. Elisabethae Angliae Franciae et Hyberniae Reginae, fidei defensatricis in Academiam Cantabrigiensem adventu Ao. 1564° Aug. 5° narratio Abraham Hartwelli Cantabrigiensis ad clarissimum virum D. Gualterum Haddonum Regiae Maiestati a supplicum libellis', 67 folios. The MS is a poem in elegiacs, containing over fifteen hundred lines: (fo. 3) dedication to Queen Elizabeth I; (fo. 5) preface addressed to Walter Haddon; (fo. 14) text. On fo. 2v is '186', encircled. On the front cover and back bookseller's labels is '9'.

Purchased 1936.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Abraham Hartwell: Basilis Epistemon, MS Add.6861

The preface and text were printed in London, 1565.