SAVILLE, (SIR HICIVRY,) in biography, a very learned Englishman, the second son of Henry Saville, Esq. was born at Bradley, near Halifax, in Yorkshire, No vember the 3Uth, 1549. He was entered of Merton College, Oxford, in 1561, where he took the degrees in arts, and was chosen fellow. When lie proceeded master of arts, in 1570, he read, for that degree, on the Almagest of Ptolemy, which procured him the reputation of a man eminently skilled in mathematics, and the Greek language; in the former of which he voluntarily read a public lec ture in the University for some time.
In 1578, he travelled into France, and other countries; where diligently im proving himself in all useful learning, in languages and the knowledge 'of the world, he became a most accomplished gentleman. At his return, he was made tutor in the Greek tongue to Queen Eli zabeth, who had a great esteem and re spect for him.
In 1585, he was made Warden of Mer ton College, which be governed six and thirty years with greafhonour, and im proved it by all the means in his power. In 1596, he was chosen Provost of Eton College ; which lie filled with many learned men. James I. upon his acces sion to the crown of England, expressed a great regard for him, and would have preferred him either in church or state ; but Saville declined it, and only accepted the ceremony of knighthood, from the King, at Windsor, in 1604. His only son, Henry, dying about that time, he hence forth devoted his fortune to the promot ing of learning. Among other things, in 1619, he founded, in the University of Oxford, two lectures, or professorships, one in geometry, the other in astrono my; which he endowed with a salary of 1601. a year each, besides a legacy of 600/. to purchase more lands for the same use. He also furnished a library with mathematical books, near the mathemati cal school, for the use of his professors ; and gave 100/. to the mathematical chest of his own appointing ; adding after wards a legacy of 40/. a year to the same chest, to the University, and to his pro fessors jointly. He likewise gave 120/. towards the new building of the schools, besides several rare manuscripts and printed books to the Bodleian Library ; and a good quantity of Greek types to the printing-press at Oxford.
After a life thus spent in the encou ragement and promotion of science and literature in general, he died at Eton Col lege, the 19th of February, 1622, in the seventy-third year of his age, and was bu ried in the chapel there. On this occa sion the University of Oxford paid him the greatest honours, by having a public speech and verses made in his praise, which were published soon after in 4to. under the title of " Ultima Linea Sa villii." As to the character of Saville, the highest encomiums are bestowed upon him by all the learned of his time ; by Casaubon, Mercerus, Meibomius, Joseph Scaliger, and especially the learned Bishop Montague, who, in his " Diatribm upon Selden's History of Tythes," styles him, "that magazine of learning, whose memory shall be honourable amongst not only the learned, but the righteous, for ever."
Several noble instances of his munifi cence to the republic of letters have al ready been mentioned : in the account of his publications, many more, and even greater, will appear. These are, 1. Four Books of the Histories of Cor.i nelius Tacitus, and the Life of Agricola, with Notes upon them, in folio ; dedicat ed to Queen Elizabeth, 1581.
2. A view of certain Military Matters, or Commentaries respecting Roman War fare. 1598.
4. Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores post Bedam, &c. 1596. This is a collection of the best writers of our English History, to which he added chronological tables at the end, from Julius Czsar to William the Conqueror.
4. The works of St. Chrysostom, in Greek, in eight volumes, folio, 1613. This is a very fine edition, and composed with great cost and labour. In the pre face he says, " that having himself visit ed, about twelve years before, all the public and private libraries in Britain, and copied out of thence whatever he thought useful to his design, he then sent some learned men into France, Germany, Italy, and the East, to transcribe such parts as he had not already, and to collate the others with the best manuscripts." At the same time he makes his acknow ledgments to several eminent men for, their assistance ; as Thuanus, Velserus, Schottus, Casaubon, Humus, Gruter, Hoeschelius, &c. In the eighth volume are inserted Sir Henry Saville's own notes, with those of other learned men. The whole charge of this edition, includ ing the several sums paid to learned men, at home and abroad, employed in finding out, transcribing, and collating the best manuscripts, is said to have amounted to no less than 80001. Several editions of this work were afterwards published at Paris.
5. In 1618, he published a Latin work, written by Thomas Bradwardin, Arch. bishop of Canterbury, against Pelagius, entitled De Causa Dei contra Pelagunn, et de virtute Causarum ; to which he prefixed the life of Bradwardin.
6. In 1621, he published a collection of his own Mathematical Lectures on Eu clid's Elements in 4to.
7. Oratio coram Elizabetha Regina Oxonim habits, anno 1592. Printed at Oxford, in 1658, 4to.
8 He translated into Latin King James's Apology for the Oath of Allegiance. He also left several manuscripts behind him, written by order of King James ; all which are in the Bodleian Library. He wrote notes likewise upon the margin of many books in his library, particularly Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History ; which were afterwards used by Valesius, in his edition of that work, in 1659. Four of his Letters to Camden, are published by Smith, among Camden's Letters. 169L 4to.