PERCY, THOMAS ( 1729-1811). Au English antiquary. editor of the Re11qt:es of Ancient Eng lish Poetry, born in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, April 13, 1729. He graduated from Christ Church, Oxford, B.A.. in 1750, and M.A. in l7.53; and proceeded D.D. from Emmanuel Col lege, Cambridge, in 1770. In 1753 he was given the viearage of Easton-Mandit. Northampton shire, Nr here he remained twenty-nine years. In 1782 be was appointed Bishop of Dromore in Ire land, where he resided till his death, September 30, 1811. Percy published two most important works. While visiting his friend Humphrey Pitt at Shifnall in Shropshire, he found a folio manu script (early seventeenth century) "lying dirty on the floor under a bureau in the parlour." This manuscript he made the basis of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765), a collection of English ballads, which has been aptly called the Bible of the romantic movement. It marks the first. decisive return in England to the ballad measure, afterwards to be so beautifully em ployed by Coleridge. The publication exerted,
too, great influence in Germany. To the awak ened interest in Norse mythology Percy con tributed Northern Antiquities (1770), which was a translation of the Introduction d l'hMtoire de Hanemare (1755) of Paul Henri Mallet. ]le also edited The Household Rook of the Earl of Northumberland in 1512 (1768), and thus set the example for many similar publications. As a poet he was best known for The Hermit of Warkworth, and the ballad "0 Nanny, wilt thou gang with me?" Of interest, too, as showing Percy's curiosity, is a translation of a Chinese novel from a Portuguese manuscript (1761). Percy's portrait was painted by Sir Joshua Rey nolds, and he was honored by a group of schol ars who gave his name to the Percy Society (18-10-52). founded for the publication of old ballads. Consult: the Re/it/acs, ed. by Wheatley (London. 1891) ; and the Folio Manuscript, ed. by llales and Furnivall (lb., 1867-68). See also 1 ZOMANTICISM.