A treatise of musique[AA], in 4to, inch + thick[223], unprinted.
Memorandum:—Mr. Nicholas Mercator made and presented to King Charles the 2d a clock ('twas of a foote diameter) which shewed the inequality of the sunn's motion from the apparent motion, which the king did understand by his informations, and did commend it, but he never had a penny of him for it.
Well! This curious clock was neglected, and somebody of the court happened to become master of it, who understood it not; he sold it to Mr. Knib, a watch-maker, who did not understand it neither, who sold it to Mr. Fromantle (that made it) for 5 li. who askes now (1683) for it 200 li.
Anno 1682, mense Febr., Mr. N. Mercator left London; went with his family to Paris, being invited thither by Monseigneur Colbert.
Nicholas Mercator, Holsatus, mathematicus, obiit Parisiis, 4to Januarii 1686/7: he went to Paris (being invited thither by Monseigneur Colbert) the 30th of November, 1682:—from his son, David Mercator.
Notes.
[Y] Aubrey gives, incompletely, a scheme of the nativity 'clarissimi viri N. Mercatoris, Holsati'; adding that in it 'Mars is in proximity to Mercury, but he has forgot on which side.'
[Z] On May 17, 1673, Aubrey had written to Anthony Wood (MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 208):—
'The learned (yet poore) Mr. Nicholas Mercator has a most elaborate piece, "Astronomiae compendium sphaerice et theorice, et hypotheses Ptolemaei, Tychonis, Copernici, Kepleri, Bullialdi, et Mercatoris."
It will be in 4to, two fingers thick; pret. 10s. Cambridge has subscribed for 50; London, as many more. If he could gett, at Oxon, 50 subscriptions more the printer would print it.... There are 70 schemes.'