STOW, Jot's, one of the earliest and most diligent collectors of English antiquities, was b. in London in the year 1.525. lie was brought up to his father's trade of a tailor in Coruhill, but ultimately abandoned it for antiqnarian pursuits. Writing in 1575. he says: "It is now ten years since I, seeing the confused order of our late English chron icles, and the ignorant handling of ancient affairs, leaving mine own peculiar gains, con secrated myself to the search of our famous antiquities." A patriotic sacrifice, which Ought to have insured to the devoted antiquary from his king and country an old age of ease and honor, hut which only brought him to want and beggary! In his 79tn year, Stow obtained letters-patent from .James I. authorizing him to become a mendicant, or, as it is expressed in the state document, " to collect amongst our loving subjects their voluntary contributions and kind gratuities." He died April 5, 1605, and was buried in the parish church of St. Andrea' tudeishaft. in Aldgate ward, where his momunent of
terra-cotta, erected at the expense of his widow, may still be seen. The principal works of Stow are his Summary of Eng.'ish Clironieles, first published in 1561, and subsequentl reprinted every two or three years, with a continuation to the date of each new publicay tion; A JO of England, 1580, and reprinted in 1592, to which year the annuls are brought down; and A Survey of London, the most important of his writings. published in 1593. Besides these original works, Stow assisted in the continuation of Holinshed's Chronicle, Speght's edition of Chaucer, Lehuurs Collectanca: ete. lie load collected or transcribed a vast number of MSS., and much valuable information which might other wise have perished; and in the use of his stores he was liberal to others, while as an original historian lie was faithful and impartial.