Oxford, and LL.D. of the University of Cambridge. He died on the 28th of
June 1754, and was buried in the chancel of Hillington Church, Norfolk.
In 1792 a monument was erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey.

Folkes, who was the author of two works on English coins, and several
papers in the _Philosophical Transactions_ of the Royal Society and the
_Archaeologia_ of the Society of Antiquaries, formed a fine collection of
books, prints, drawings, pictures, gems, coins, etc., a considerable
portion of which he acquired during his travels in Italy and Germany.
His library, which was very rich in works on natural history, coins,
medals, inscriptions, and the fine arts, was sold by Samuel Baker, York
Street, Covent Garden, on Monday, February the 2nd 1756, and forty
following days. The sale consisted of five thousand one hundred and
twenty-six lots, which produced three thousand and ninety-one pounds,
six shillings. A catalogue, marked with the prices, is preserved in the
Library of King George III. in the British Museum. A copy of the first
Shakespeare folio fetched but three guineas. The sale of Folkes's prints
and drawings occupied eight days, and that of his pictures, gems, coins,
and mathematical instruments five days. Dibdin says that 'the MSS. of
his own composition, not being quite perfect, were, to the great loss of
the learned world, ordered by him to be destroyed.'

WILLIAM OLDYS, 1696-1761

William Oldys, Norroy King-at-Arms, was born on the 14th of July 1696.
There is some obscurity respecting his parentage, but there is little
doubt he was the natural son of Dr. William Oldys, Chancellor of
Lincoln, and Advocate of the Admiralty Court. His father left him some
property, which he appears to have lost in the South Sea Bubble. From
the year 1724 to 1730 Oldys resided in Yorkshire, but in the latter year
he returned to London, and became acquainted with Edward Harley, the
second Earl of Oxford, to whom he sold his collection of manuscripts for
forty pounds. In 1738 the Earl appointed him his literary secretary and
librarian, first at a salary of one hundred and fifty pounds, and
afterwards of two hundred pounds, a year. Unfortunately the Earl died in
1741, and Oldys was obliged to earn a precarious livelihood by working
for booksellers, and was soon involved in pecuniary difficulties. He was
confined in the Fleet prison from 1751 to 1753, when he was released by
the kindness of the Duke of Norfolk, wh