I propose therefore briefly to recite,
I. What memoirs we can recover, concerning our author and his writings, with the occasion and manner of finding out and saving the manuscript.
II. I shall give an account of the map prefixed to the present treatise, which I copied from that of our author; giving it the advantage of the present geographical direction. I shall exhibit an alphabetical index of all the places mentioned in it, with the modern names annexed.
III. A transcript of his most curious Itinerary; with an alphabetical index, all along aligning the present names of the places, according to the best of my judgement. This is the last help we must expect, toward finding out the Roman Names of places in Britain.
I. Let us inquire, who our Richard of Cirencester was: and it will be regular to declare who he was not.
He has often been confounded with a Richard, a monk of Westminster, a writer who lived a good deal after our author. This latter Richard was a Devonshire man, cited by Risdon, in his description of that country; by Antony Wood, from Pitse’s manuscript, p. 462; by Fuller, book I. in his Worthies, p. 263; by Bale, V. 87; by bishop Tanner, who repeats this; all erroneously.
My learned friend, the reverend Mr. Widmore, librarian to Westminster Abbey, deserves public thanks for his inquiries, which he made at my request. In perusing the Abbey rolls diligently, he finds, that he was Richard, a monk of Westminster, admitted, in 1450, a member of that religious foundation: that he continued there till 1472. The roll beyond that time is defective.
But our author (Richard of Cirencester)’s name first appears on the chamberlain’s list of the monks of Westminster, by the name Circestre, in 1355. 30 Ed. III.
In 1387, he is witness in a parchment deed, by the name of Richardo Cirencestre confrater.
1397, in the chamberlain’s list, mentioned again R. Cirencester.