* * * * *
Queries.
"THE LIGHT OF BRITTAINE."
I should be glad, through the medium of "N. & Q.," to be favoured with some
particulars regarding this work, and its author, Maister Henry Lyte, of
Lytescarie, Esq. He presented the said work with his own hand to "our late
soveraigne queene and matchlesse mistresse, on the day when shee came, in
royall manner, to Paule's Church." I shall also be glad of any information
about his son, Maister Thomas Lyte, of Lytescarie, Esq., "a true immitator
and heyre to his father's vertues," and who
"Presented to the Majestie of King James, (with) an excellent mappe or
genealogicall table (contayning the bredth and circumference of twenty
large sheets of paper), which he entitleth _Brittaines Monarchy_,
approuing Brute's History, and the whole succession of this our nation,
from the very original, with the just observation of al times, changes,
and occasions therein happening. This worthy worke, having cost above
{571} seaven yeares labour, beside great charges and expense, his
highnesse hath made very gracious acceptance of, and to witnesse the
same, in court it hangeth in an especiall place of eminence. Pitty it
is, that this phoenix (as yet) affordeth not a fellowe, or that from
privacie it might not bee made more generall; but, as his Majestie has
granted him priviledge, so, that the world might be woorthie to enjoy
it, whereto, if friendship may prevaile, as he hath been already, so
shall he be still as earnestly sollicited."
These two works appear to have been written towards the close of the
sixteenth century. Is anything more known of them, and their respective
authors?