A Chronology

Part I: 'Profite and Commoditie': the Practitioners

Introduction

Robert Recorde and William Herbert Earl of Pembroke

The Affair at Clonmines

The Physician

Part II: Intrinsic Worth

Introduction

The Grounde of Artes

The Pathway to Knowledg

The Castle of Knowledge

The Whetstone of Witte

Antiquary and Linguist

Readers and Publisher

Part III: Retrospect and Prospects

Retrospect and Prospects

His Will and His Religion

The 16th-Century intellectual Robert Recorde is chiefly remembered for introducing the equals sign into algebra, yet the greater significance and broader scope of his work is often overlooked. This book presents an authoritative and in-depth analysis of the man, his achievements and his historical importance. This scholarly yet accessible work examines the latest evidence on all aspects of Recorde's life, throwing new light on a character deserving of greater recognition. Topics and features: presents a concise chronology of Recorde's life; examines his published works; describes Recorde's professional activities in the minting of money and the mining of silver, as well as his dispute with William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke; investigates Recorde's work as a physician, his linguistic and antiquarian interests, and his religious beliefs; discusses the influence of Recorde's publisher, Reyner Wolfe, in his life; reviews his legacy to 17th-Century science, and to modern computer science and mathematics.