Abraham Hartwell facts for kids

Abraham Hartwell the Younger (born around 1553 or 1554, died 1606) was an English writer and translator. He was also interested in old things and history, which is what an antiquary does! He even served as a Member of Parliament. There was another writer named Abraham Hartwell around the same time. People sometimes got them mixed up in the past.

Life of Abraham Hartwell

Abraham Hartwell went to Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university. He earned his first degree in 1571 and a master's degree in 1575. Later, he also got a master's degree from Oxford University in 1588.

At Trinity College, he caught the attention of John Whitgift. Whitgift was a very important person, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Hartwell became his secretary, helping him with letters and official tasks. This was reported in 1584.

Hartwell was also a notary public. This means he was an official who could witness signatures and make documents legal. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for East Looe in 1586. Later, he was an MP for Hindon in 1593.

In 1587, Hartwell was one of the officials working for the Archbishop of Canterbury's special court.

Hartwell met Richard Hakluyt, a famous English writer who collected travel stories. Hakluyt encouraged Hartwell to translate a book about Africa. This book was written by Odoardo Lopez. Hartwell agreed to do it. He later wrote that he wanted to help English people learn new things. He felt many important facts were hidden from England because they were in other languages.

Abraham Hartwell was buried in Lambeth on December 17, 1606.

What Abraham Hartwell Wrote

Abraham Hartwell translated three books from Italian. He dedicated these books to Archbishop Whitgift.

Books Translated by Hartwell

• The History of the Warres betweene the Turkes and the Persians: This book was written by Iohn-Thomas Minadoi. Hartwell translated it in 1588. It was about the wars between the Ottoman Empire (Turks) and the Persian Empire. The book also included a new map.
• A Report of the Kingdome of Congo: This important book was about the African region of Congo. It also described the countries around it. The information came from a Portuguese traveler named Odoardo Lopez. Philippo Pigafetta wrote it down, and Hartwell translated it in 1597. Hartwell said he translated it because Richard Hakluyt asked him to. The book had several pictures. It was later printed again in other famous travel collections.
• The Ottoman of Lazaro Soranzo: Hartwell translated this book in 1603. It gave a detailed report about the power of Mahomet the Third, an Ottoman ruler. It also described different peoples, countries, cities, and journeys. This book was especially useful during a war happening in Hungary at the time. Hartwell translated it after the Archbishop asked a question about Turkish officials.

Other Writings

• A True Discourse upon the matter of Martha Brossier: This book was translated from French in 1599. It was about a case in France involving a woman named Martha Brossier. People thought she had strange powers. Hartwell had learned about similar cases in England. He dedicated this translation to Richard Bancroft, who was the Bishop of London. Doctors examined Martha Brossier. They found she did not have any strange powers. Instead, she was pretending some things and had a few illnesses.

Hartwell was the last person to join the old Society of Antiquaries. This was a group of people who studied old things and history. He wrote two short papers for this group. They were about "Epitaphs" (words written on gravestones) and "Motts with Arms of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England" (slogans and symbols used by important families). Both papers were read to the society in 1600.

Two letters that Hartwell wrote to Archbishop Whitgift are still kept today. They are written in Latin and are in the Cambridge University Library.