Thomas Madox
Encyclopedia
Thomas Madox was a legal antiquary and historian
, known for his publication and discussion of medieval records and charters; and in particular for his History of the Exchequer
, tracing the administration and records of that branch of the state from the Norman Conquest to the time of Edward II
. It became a standard work for the study of English medieval history.
, though he was never called to the bar. He became a sworn clerk in the Lord Treasurer's remembrance office (i.e. official archives), and afterwards joint clerk in the Augmentation Office
, which administered the crown estates; first with Charles Batteley, who died in May 1722, and afterwards with John Batteley.
There he pursued his historical researches under the patronage of Lord Somers
. He made his first appearance as an author with the publication of Formulare Anglicanum in 1702, concerning ancient charters, which Madox introduced with a learned dissertation on the subject. The principal materials for this work were obtained from the archives of the court of augmentations
. It is justly (according to the Dictionary of National Biography
) described by Bishop William Nicolson
as 'of unspeakable service to our students in law and antiquities'. On the motion of Peter Le Neve
, Madox was elected a member of the Society of Antiquaries
in January 1707-8 (O.S./N.S.).
In 1711 he published his History of the Exchequer, with a dedication to the queen and a long prefatory epistle to Lord Somers, giving an account of his researches among the public records in order to gather the materials for the work. Madox was subsequently sworn in and admitted to the office of historiographer royal
, in succession to Thomas Rymer
, on 12 July 1714, with an attached salary of £200 a year.
The last of his works Madox saw printed in his lifetime was Firma Burgi, on early records concerning English towns and boroughs, dedicated to George I, published in 1723. Madox died on 13 January 1726-7 (O.S./N.S.), and was buried at Arlesey, Bedfordshire. He was succeeded in the office of historiographer royal by Robert Stephens. By his wife Catharine, daughter of Vigarus Edwards, Esq., he had no issue.
A posthumous work, Baronia Anglica, on the history and records of the feudal baron
s, appeared in 1736. A collection of further transcripts was bequeathed by his widow to the British Museum
, as an addition to the Sloane Library. It ran to ninety-four volumes, folio and quarto, consisting chiefly of extracts of records from the Exchequer, the Patent
and Close Rolls in the Tower, the Cottonian Library, the archives of Canterbury and Westminster, and the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
; all that Madox had transcribed himself, intending them as materials for a Feudal History of England from the earliest times.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, known for his publication and discussion of medieval records and charters; and in particular for his History of the Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
, tracing the administration and records of that branch of the state from the Norman Conquest to the time of Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. It became a standard work for the study of English medieval history.
Life
Born in 1666, Madox applied himself at an early age to the study of the common law, and was admitted to the Middle TempleMiddle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, though he was never called to the bar. He became a sworn clerk in the Lord Treasurer's remembrance office (i.e. official archives), and afterwards joint clerk in the Augmentation Office
Court of Augmentations
The Court of Augmentations was established during the reign of King Henry VIII of England along with three lesser courts following the dissolution of the monasteries. Its primary function was to gain better control over the land and finances formerly held by the Roman Catholic Church in the kingdom...
, which administered the crown estates; first with Charles Batteley, who died in May 1722, and afterwards with John Batteley.
There he pursued his historical researches under the patronage of Lord Somers
John Somers, 1st Baron Somers
John Somers, 1st Baron Somers, PC, FRS was an English Whig jurist and statesman. Somers first came to national attention in the trial of the Seven Bishops where he was on the their defence counsel. He published tracts on political topics such as the succession to the crown, where he elaborated his...
. He made his first appearance as an author with the publication of Formulare Anglicanum in 1702, concerning ancient charters, which Madox introduced with a learned dissertation on the subject. The principal materials for this work were obtained from the archives of the court of augmentations
Court of Augmentations
The Court of Augmentations was established during the reign of King Henry VIII of England along with three lesser courts following the dissolution of the monasteries. Its primary function was to gain better control over the land and finances formerly held by the Roman Catholic Church in the kingdom...
. It is justly (according to the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
) described by Bishop William Nicolson
William Nicolson
William Nicolson was an English divine and antiquary.-Life:He was born in Plumbland, Cumberland, the son of Joseph Nicolson, Rector of Plumbland and educated at the school in nearby Dovenby...
as 'of unspeakable service to our students in law and antiquities'. On the motion of Peter Le Neve
Peter Le Neve
Peter Le Neve was an English herald and antiquary. He was appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 17 January 1690 and created Norroy King at Arms on 25 May 1704. From 1707 to 1721 he was Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary, an officer of arms of the College of Arms...
, Madox was elected a member of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in January 1707-8 (O.S./N.S.).
In 1711 he published his History of the Exchequer, with a dedication to the queen and a long prefatory epistle to Lord Somers, giving an account of his researches among the public records in order to gather the materials for the work. Madox was subsequently sworn in and admitted to the office of historiographer royal
Historiographer Royal (England)
In England the office of Historiographer Royal, a historian under the official patronage of the royal court, was created in 1660 with an annual salary of £200 and a butt of sack.-Historiographers Royal:Holders of the office included:...
, in succession to Thomas Rymer
Thomas Rymer
Thomas Rymer , English historiographer royal, was the younger son of Ralph Rymer, lord of the manor of Brafferton in Yorkshire, described by Clarendon as possessed of a good estate, who was executed for his share in the Presbyterian rising of 1663.-Early life and education:Thomas Rymer was born at...
, on 12 July 1714, with an attached salary of £200 a year.
The last of his works Madox saw printed in his lifetime was Firma Burgi, on early records concerning English towns and boroughs, dedicated to George I, published in 1723. Madox died on 13 January 1726-7 (O.S./N.S.), and was buried at Arlesey, Bedfordshire. He was succeeded in the office of historiographer royal by Robert Stephens. By his wife Catharine, daughter of Vigarus Edwards, Esq., he had no issue.
A posthumous work, Baronia Anglica, on the history and records of the feudal baron
Feudal baron
Feudal baron may refer to:*English feudal barony*Scottish feudal barony*Irish feudal barony...
s, appeared in 1736. A collection of further transcripts was bequeathed by his widow to 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...
, as an addition to the Sloane Library. It ran to ninety-four volumes, folio and quarto, consisting chiefly of extracts of records from the Exchequer, the Patent
Patent Rolls
The Patent Rolls are primary sources for English history, a record of the King of England's correspondence, starting in 1202....
and Close Rolls in the Tower, the Cottonian Library, the archives of Canterbury and Westminster, and the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
; all that Madox had transcribed himself, intending them as materials for a Feudal History of England from the earliest times.
Works
- Formulare Anglicanum, or a Collection of Antique Charters and Instruments of divers kinds, taken from the Originals, placed under several Heads, and deduced (in a Series according to the Order of Time) from the Norman Conquest to the End of the Reign of King Henry VIII. London, 1702, fol., 441 pp.
- History and Antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England . . . from the Norman Conquest to the End of the Reign of . . . Edward II, London, 1711, fol., 752 pp. plus annexes. An index was printed in Baronia Anglica, and a second edition, in 2 vols., with the index, was published in London in 1769, (4to). (vol. 1, vol. 2)
Appended was a copy of the Dialogue concerning the ExchequerDialogue concerning the ExchequerThe Dialogus de Scaccario, or Dialogue concerning the Exchequer, is a mediaeval treatise on the practice of the English Exchequer written in the late 12th century by Richard FitzNeal...
(De Scaccario), erroneously ascribed to Gervase of TilburyGervase of TilburyGervase of Tilbury or Gervasius Tilberiensis was a 13th century canon lawyer, statesman and writer, apparently born in either East Tilbury or West Tilbury, in Essex, England.-Life and works:...
, now believed to be by Richard FitzNealRichard FitzNealRichard FitzNeal Richard FitzNeal Richard FitzNeal (or FitzNigel; circa (c. 1130 – 10 September 1198), sometimes called Richard of Ely, was a churchman and bureaucrat in the service of Henry II of England.-Life:...
; also a Latin dissertation by Madox on the Great Roll of the Exchequer (the Pipe rollsPipe RollsThe Pipe rolls, sometimes called the Great rolls, are a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, or Treasury. The earliest date from the 12th century, and the series extends, mostly complete, from then until 1833. They form the oldest continuous series of records kept by...
). An English translation of these appendices, made by 'a Gentleman of the Inner Temple', appeared at London, 1758, 4to. - An account of all the gold and silver coins ever used in England: particularly of their value, fineness, and allay, and the standards of gold and silver in all the respective reigns for the last six hundred years: likewise of it's plenty and scarcity, London, 1718, 8vo., 23pp.
- Firma Burgi, or an Historical Essay concerning the Cities, Towns, and Boroughs of England, taken from Records, London, 1723, and again 1726, fol., 297 pp.
- Baronia Anglica; an History of Land-honours and Baronies, and of Tenure in capite Verified by Records, London, 1736, fol., 292pp.; reissued in 1741.
Further reading
- Charlotte Harrison (2008), Thomas Madox and the Origins of English Diplomatic Scholarship, Journal of the Society of Archivists, 29(2), 147-169
- Joseph M. Levine (1991), The Battle of the Books: History and Literature in the Augustan Age, pp. 368–373. Cornell University Press ISBN 0801481996
- David C. DouglasDavid C. DouglasDavid Charles Douglas was a historian of the Norman period at the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. He joined Oxford University in 1963 as Ford's Lecturer in English History, and was the 1939 winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.-Works:* William the Conqueror: The Norman...
(1939 / 1951), English Scholars, pp. 237–243. Eyre & Spottiswoode - Harold D. Hazeltine (1916), Thomas Madox as Constitutional and Legal Historian, part 1 32 L. Q. Rev., p. 268; part 2, 32 L. Q. Rev, p. 352
- William Searle Holdsworth (1928), The historians of Anglo-American law, New York: Columbia University Press; pp. 42–45
- Catherine S. Sims (1959), An Unpublished Fragment of Madox' "History of the Exchequer", The Huntington Library Quarterly, 23(1), pp. 61–94 Jstor