Richard Madox
Encyclopedia
Richard Madox was an English
explorer, who served as a chaplain aboard Edward Fenton
's voyage headed for the Moluccas and China
in 1582. He died during the voyage, but left a diary which has been republished and is preserved in the British Museum
.
, one of three brothers. He initially attended Shrewsbury School
and then became an undergraduate at All Souls College
, Oxford University, when he was 20. After receiving his B.A.
, he was appointed a fellow of All Souls College, graduating with an MA in 1576. He was ordained as a priest five years later.
Madox, along with John Walker, was appointed to the position of chaplain
on Edward Fenton
's Galleon Leicester, which set sail on 1 May 1582. Fenton was intending to sail around the Cape of Good Hope
to the Moluccas and China
.
Madox died on the voyage, on 27 February 1583, while the vessel was near Vitória
, Brazil
.
, on 1 January 1582. During the voyage on the Galleon Leicester, Madox resorted to writing in a cipher
, and then in Latin and Greek
, in order to ensure his diary remained secret.
As well as recording events onboard, his diary during the voyage described various examples of flora and fauna which he encountered. He also included illustrations.
The last entry in Madox's diary, a comment on the weather, was written on 31 December 1583.
His diary was published by the Hakluyt Society
in 1977, edited by Elizabeth Story Donno, under the title An Elizabethan in 1582: The Diary of Richard Madox, Fellow of All Souls.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
explorer, who served as a chaplain aboard Edward Fenton
Edward Fenton
Edward Fenton was an English navigator, son of Henry Fenton and brother of Sir Geoffrey Fenton.He was a native of Nottinghamshire...
's voyage headed for the Moluccas and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1582. He died during the voyage, but left a diary which has been republished and is preserved in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
Biography
Madox was born on 11 November 1546 in ShropshireShropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, one of three brothers. He initially attended Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and then became an undergraduate at All Souls College
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
, Oxford University, when he was 20. After receiving his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, he was appointed a fellow of All Souls College, graduating with an MA in 1576. He was ordained as a priest five years later.
Madox, along with John Walker, was appointed to the position of chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
on Edward Fenton
Edward Fenton
Edward Fenton was an English navigator, son of Henry Fenton and brother of Sir Geoffrey Fenton.He was a native of Nottinghamshire...
's Galleon Leicester, which set sail on 1 May 1582. Fenton was intending to sail around the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
to the Moluccas and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Madox died on the voyage, on 27 February 1583, while the vessel was near Vitória
Vitória
Vitória is the capital of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It is located on a small island within a bay where a few rivers meet the sea. It was founded in 1551. The city proper has a population of 313,300 whilst the Greater Vitória metropolitan area has a population of more than 1,612,885 ,...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Diary
Madox started writing his diary, which is now preserved in the British MuseumBritish Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, on 1 January 1582. During the voyage on the Galleon Leicester, Madox resorted to writing in a cipher
Cipher
In cryptography, a cipher is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption — a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure. An alternative, less common term is encipherment. In non-technical usage, a “cipher” is the same thing as a “code”; however, the concepts...
, and then in Latin and Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, in order to ensure his diary remained secret.
As well as recording events onboard, his diary during the voyage described various examples of flora and fauna which he encountered. He also included illustrations.
The last entry in Madox's diary, a comment on the weather, was written on 31 December 1583.
His diary was published by the Hakluyt Society
Hakluyt Society
Founded in 1846, the Hakluyt Society is a registered charity based in London, England, which seeks to advance knowledge and education by the publication of scholarly editions of primary records of voyages, travels and other geographical material...
in 1977, edited by Elizabeth Story Donno, under the title An Elizabethan in 1582: The Diary of Richard Madox, Fellow of All Souls.