a measure of capacity, four of which make a bushel.

Francis, a learned antiquarian, was born at Stamford in Lincolnshire, May 4, 1692, and educated at Cambridge, where he took the degrees of B. and M. A. He was the author of many works, of which the first is a poem, entitled, "Sighs on the Death of Queen Anne;" printed probably about the time of her death in 1714. Two years afterwards he printed "ΤΟ ΥΤΟΣ ΑΤΙΟΝ;" or an Exercise on the Creation, and an Hymn to the Creator of the World; written in the express words of the sacred Text, as an Attempt to show the Beauty and Sublimity of the Holy Scriptures, 1716, 8vo." In 1721, being then curate of King's Clifton in Northamptonshire, he issued proposals for printing the History and Antiquities of his native town, which was published in 1727, in folio, under the title of "Academia certa Anglicana;" or the Antiquarian Annals of Stamford in Lincoln, Rutland, and Northamptonshires; containing the History of the University, Monasteries, Gilds, Churches, Chapels, Hospitals, and Schools there, &c., inferred to John duke of Rutland. This work was hastened by "An Essay on the ancient and present State of Stamford, 1726, 4to," written by Francis Hargrave, who, in his preface, mentions the difference which had arisen between him and Mr Peck, on account of the former's publication unfairly foreshadowing that intended by the latter. Mr Peck is also therein very roughly treated, on account of a small work he had formerly printed, entitled, "The History of the Stamford Bull-running." Mr Peck had before this time obtained the rectory of Godeby near Melton in Leicestershire, the only preferment he ever enjoyed. In 1729, he printed on a single sheet, "Queries concerning the Natural History and Antiquities of Leicestershire and Rutland," which were afterwards reprinted in 1740; but although the progress he had made in the work was very considerable, yet it never made its appearance. In 1732 he published the first volume of "Deferata Chriogia;" or, a Collection of divers scarce and curious Pieces relating chiefly to Matters of English History; consisting of choice tracts, memoirs, letters, wills, epitaphs, &c. transcribed, many of them, from the originals themselves, and the rest from divers ancient MS. copies, or the MS. collations of sundry famous antiquaries and other eminent persons, both of the last and present age: the whole, as nearly as possible, digested into order of time, and illustrated with ample notes, contents, additional discourses, and a complete index." This volume was dedicated to Lord William Manners, and was followed, in 1735, by a second volume, dedicated to Dr Reynolds bishop of Lincoln. In 1735 Mr Peck printed in a 4to pamphlet, "A complete catalogue of all the discourses written both for and against popery in the time of King James II. containing in the whole an account of 457 books and pamphlets, a great number of them not mentioned in the three former catalogues; with references after each title, for the more speedy finding a further account of the said discourses and their authors in sundry writers, and an alphabetical list of the writers on each side." In 1739 he was the editor of "Nineteen Letters of the truly reverend and learned Henry Hammond, D.D. (author of the Annotations on the New Testament, &c.) written to Mr Peter Stainough and Dr Nathaniel Angelo, many of them on curious subjects, &c." These were printed from the originals, communicated by Mr Robert Marsden archdeacon of Nottingham, and Mr John Worthington. The next year, 1740, produced two volumes in 4to, one of them entitled, "Memoirs of the Life and Ac- tions of Oliver Cromwell, as delivered in three panegyrics of him written in Latin; the first, as said, by Don Juan Roderiguez de Saa Meneses, Conde de Penaguiao, the Portugal ambassador; the second, as affirmed by a certain Jesuit, the lord ambassador's chaplain; yet both, it is thought, composed by Mr John Milton (Latin secretary to Cromwell), as was the third; with an English version of each. The whole illustrated with a large historical preface; many similar passages from the Paradise Lost, and other works of Mr John Milton, and notes from the best historians. To all which is added, a collection of divers curious historical pieces relating to Cromwell, and a great number of other remarkable persons (after the manner of Desiderata Curiosa, v. i. and ii.). The other, "New Memoirs of the Life and poetical Works of Mr John Milton; with, first, an examination of Milton's style; and secondly, explanatory and critical notes on divers passages in Milton and Shakespeare, by the editor. Thirdly, Baptists; a sacred dramatic poem in defence of liberty, as written in Latin by Mr George Buchanan, translated into English by Mr John Milton, and first published in 1641, by order of the house of commons. Fourthly, the Parallel, or Archbishop Laud and Cardinal Wolsey compared, a Vision by Milton. Fifthly, the Legend of Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, kn. chief butler of England, who died of poison, anno 1579, an historical poem by his nephew Sir Thomas Throckmorton, kn. Sixth, Herod the Great, by the editor. Seventh, the Resurrection, a poem in imitation of Milton, by a friend. And eighth, a Discourse on the Harmony of the Spheres, by Milton; with prefaces and notes." These were the last publications which he gave the world. When these appeared, he had in contemplation no less than nine different works; but whether he had not met with encouragement for those which he had already produced, or whether he was rendered incapable of executing them by reason of his declining health, is uncertain; but none of them ever were made public. He concluded a laborious, and, it may be affirmed, an useful life, wholly devoted to antiquarian pursuits, Aug. 13, 1743, at the age of 61 years.