other antiquarian essays on the question, in a volume on the subject in 1658; and again in 1775, in a later edition of Hearne's ‘Collection’ (pp. 295–9). Other articles, prepared by Agard—on the antiquity of arms in England (2 Nov. 1598), on the antiquity of the christian religion in England, on stewards, on barons, on dukes, on castles, on funeral ceremonies, on epitaphs, on the offices of constable and marshal, on lawful combat, on seals, on sterling money, and on forests and forest laws—were printed for the first time in 1775 in the revised edition of Hearne's ‘Collection,’ and many of them are now among the Harleian MSS. (Harl. MS. 5177, fol. 131 et seq.). A French treatise of apparently greater pretensions is also to be numbered among Agard's contributions to historical literature. It bears the title ‘Aduertissements pur vn Roy ou Prince,’ and was dedicated ‘a haut et puissant Seignr Henry, Prince de Galles,’ the eldest son of James I. From the address to the prince we gather that the work was completed in 1612. It is now preserved in manuscript in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, to which it was probably presented by the son of Sir Adam Newton, Prince Henry's tutor; it has never been printed.
All Agard's original English writings are characterised by a pleasant fluency of style and a careful arrangement of recondite facts; but modern historical scholarship has falsified many of his conclusions, and he made some distinct errors (Archæologia, i. 345, xiv. 164). He must, however, be credited with considerable critical acumen, and the first discovery of the true authorship of the well-known tract, ‘Dialogus de Scaccario,’ which had been erroneously assigned to Gervase of Tilbury, is ascribed to him by both Selden (Titles of Honour, 1614, Index, s.v. ‘Gervasius’) and Madox (Firma Burgi, 1726, Pref.).
Agard died towards the end of August 1615, at the age of seventy-five (Cal. State Papers, 1611–18, p. 305). On the death of his wife in 1611 he caused a monument to be erected to her memory in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, near the Chapter House, and there, where his life was mainly spent, he was buried. His tomb was inscribed with the words ‘Recordorum regiorum hic prope depositorum diligens scrutator’ (Stanley, Memorials of Westminster Abbey, p. 443). He bequeathed eleven of his manuscripts to the Exchequer Office, and the rest to his friend, Sir Robert Cotton. The majority of them have since passed to the British Museum.
[Biographia Britannica; Rev. Joseph Hunter, in S.D.U.K. Biog. Dict.; Archæologia, i. vii; Wood, Athen. Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 427–8; Rymer's Fœdera, xvi. 497; Lysons's Magna Britannia, v. 253; Bolton Corney on Rose's Dictionary, pp. 21–3; Chester's Registers of Westminster Abbey (Harleian Soc.), pp. 110, 112, 151; information from W. Aldis Wright, Esq., of Trinity College, Cambridge, and G. F. Warner, Esq., of the British Museum.]
AGAS, RADULPH or RALPH (1540?–1621), a land-surveyor, who rose to eminence in the reign of Queen Elizabeth by making maps of London and the two university towns. He was a native of Stoke-by-Nayland, in Suffolk, and it is probable that his birth occurred between the years 1540 and 1545. In 1566 he began to practise as a land-surveyor. It appears that he used to reside chiefly in Suffolk, coming up to town in term time to obtain orders. In the Lansdowne and the Additional MSS. there are several original documents written in a very neat hand by Agas himself. The first is a letter, dated 22 Feb. 1592–3, and addressed to Lord Burghley, lord high treasurer to Queen Elizabeth. It is entitled ‘A Noate for the Perfection of Lande Measure, and exact Plattinge of Cities, Castels, Honors, Lordshippes, Maners, and Landes of all sortes.’ In this quaint description of the manner of surveying lands, the writer speaks of the ‘profitable staff’ and the ‘theodolite’ of some 20 inches in diameter, with a protractor of one foot at least. He adds that ‘the measure attendinge uppon this instrument is of steele wier toe pole longe lincked foote by foote, excepte the halfe foot at either ende.’ The next document in point of date is addressed to the same nobleman. It is dated in pencil 1597. In this he speaks of his labours in the Fenlands, and states how he had plotted out the ground, gauged the quantity of the waters, the ebbs and flows, and the daily abuses of the landholders; and, while thanking his lordship for bounties already bestowed, alludes to a considerable sum still owing to him for his services. There is also a document in the form of an advertisement printed on a half-sheet quarto, to be issued to his patrons. In this he describes himself as of Stoke-next-Nayland in Suffolk, and asserts that he had practised in survey for more than forty years. He states that he had a perfect knowledge of customary tenures and titles of all kinds, that he was a good penman and well acquainted with old records. In another manuscript, dated 1606, there is an opinion given by him to the commissioners appointed to inquire into the question of concealed lands belonging to the crown. On 17 Nov. 1606, we find him lodging in London at the sign of the ‘Helmet’ in Holborn, at the end of Fetter Lane; and if we desire to
