Wotton Edward

Lessico

Edward Wotton

Medico e naturalista (Oxford 1492 – Londra 1555). Medico di Enrico VIII, scrisse De differentiis animalium (De differentiis animalium libri decem, Lutetiae Parisiorum: Vascosanum, 1552) con i primi tentativi di una classificazione scientifica degli animali. Lasciò molte osservazioni sugli insetti da cui Thomas Moffet (o Moufet) trasse i materiali per il suo Insectorum sive minimorum animalium theatrum (1634).

Edward Wotton (1492-1555)
primer naturalista del Renacimiento

Xavier Bellés
Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo-CSIC, Barcelona
http://entomologia.rediris.es

Edward Wotton puede considerarse el primer naturalista del Renacimiento y el primer sistemático moderno. Médico de oficio, nació en Oxford, y ya durante su periodo de estudios fue lector de griego en el famoso Corpus Christi College de su localidad natal. Enviado a Padua a ampliar conocimientos, a su vuelta se graduó en Oxford, y empezó a ejercer de médico, llegando a ser presidente del College of Physicians entre 1541 y 1543.

Aparte de su trabajo como médico, durante muchos años se ocupó de estudios sistemáticos sobre la estructura del cuerpo y sobre la vida de los animales, a los que clasificó en grandes grupos, siguiendo y perfeccionando los principios aristotélicos. La obra capital de Thomas Wotton es De differentiis animalium Libri decem, clasificación sistemática general de los animales dedicada al rey Eduardo VI y publicada en 1552. Se trata de una obra sagaz y cuidadosa que parte de los principios aristotélicos, pero hace un meritorio esfuerzo por precisar la metodología sistemática y avanzar en el problema de los cuadros. Por ese camino llega a conclusiones avanzadas, por ejemplo, a la inclusión de los quirópteros entre los mamíferos. Su contemporáneo Gesner los incluía entre las aves y, cincuenta años después, Aldrovandi aún dudaría en situarlos entre los mamíferos y las aves. El libro IX de su De differentiis animalium trata de los insectos y es en el que Wotton muestra mayor independencia y originalidad respecto a Aristóteles. De su lectura se deduce claramente que crió varias especies de lepidópteros y coleópteros para observar y anotar cuidadosamente detalles de la reproducción y metamorfosis, lo cual es un progreso inédito y extraordinario para el siglo XVI. Su tratamiento y ordenación de los insectos sería retomada por Conrad Gesner y, después, influiría notablemente en la estructura de la obra emblemática Insectorum sive minimorum animalium Theatrum, terminada por Thomas Moufet a finales del siglo XVI, pero publicada en Londres en 1634. Gesner, por cierto, citó De differentiis animalium de Wotton en la lista de autores consultados del cuarto volumen de su Historia Animalium, dedicado a los animales acuáticos y publicado en 1558. El comentario de Gesner tiene un cierto aire condescendiente. Viene a decir que aunque Wotton no aporta nada nuevo, su libro merece ser leído por cuanto se trata de una síntesis clara y completa de todos los trabajos previos sobre el tema. Posteriormente, De differentiis animalium sería comentado también, en términos quizá más amables, por Neandro en su Succinta explicatio orbis terrarum (Leipzig, 1597), diciendo que nunca nadie había escrito sobre animales de manera más atinada y elegante que Wotton.

A pesar de los comentarios coetáneos o casi coetáneos mencionados, la obra de Wotton pasó casi desapercibida en su tiempo, e influyó poco en el progreso de la zoología renacentista. Es ahora cuando, en perspectiva, podemos apreciar su estimable valor, y apoyar las palabras del historiador Victor Carus cuando dice que De differentiis animalium marca el momento en que la ciencia entra verdaderamente en la vía del progreso, superada la época medieval.

Bibliografía: De differentiis animalium Libri Decem. Paris: Michel Vascosan, 1552.

EDWARD WOTTON, Will 3 March 1550
Tudor P.C.C. Will Transcription by L. L. Duncan - Book 52 page 67

Edward Wotton, Knight, 3 March 1550. My bodie or vile carkas I will to be buried within the guyre of the parishe churche of Bocton Malherbe in Kent yf I dye within the parish. For breking of the grounde to the parson 20s. For the reparacion of the church of Bocton Malherbe for that I am patrone £6. 13. 4. to be employede as shall be thought mete and necessarie by the churche wardeins and other honest men inhabitants in that parishe.

Four quarters of my wheate, good measure, and as come the from the myll to be baken into bread and that of euery bushell be made eight loves the same to be of lyke quantitie as nigh as conveniently may be and that one of the same loves and 4d. wt in seven daies next after my decease be given to one poore housholder dwelling in Bocton or nyghe aboute there till all the loves be fully distributed.

Item where oftentymes great sumes of money be wastfully spent and consumede as well in Bowelynge and ceryng of the corps as also in the funerales to wyt in the blacke clothe for morners and seruauntes, in a hersse with lights and deckyde with schochyns of armes with cote armer, helmet and sworde wt suche other ceremoneys vsually don by the herauds at Armes wt such lyke I vtterly charge myn executours that in no wyse they bestowe one peny in any of all the forsaide thinges.

To euery of my men seruaunts over and above their wages then due to them 20s. and to women seruaunts 10s.

Where I am bownden to leave unto Dame Vrsula my wief the some of £400 I will that in discharge of my said bonde the same Dame Vrsula shall have at her choyse and election either in redye money or other of my moveable goodes to be indyfferently praysed to the some of £400 wt in three monthes next after my decease.

To my sonne William Wotton towards his preferment in mariage £400.

To myn doughter Rudstone either one of my gilt potts whiche I bought of Welshe the goldsmyth or else the value in money.

Item where the King of most famour memorye King Henry theight my late Mr. by his testament did give and bequeathe to me three hundreth poundes which I have not yet recevyde I do frely remytt and give to the Kings maiestie our present Mr. the said legacie.

To Thomas Wotton my sonne all the rest of all my goodes, catalls and debts due to me. To my nevewe Mychall Norton £6. 13. 4. To my nyce Cornelys Duporte £6. 13. 4. To Euery of my doughter Rudston children by my sonne Rudston her pnte husbande whiche shall live to be 14 yeres £5.

To William Trowmer sonne to my said doughter Rudston £6. 13. 4.

To my wief Dame Vrsula stuff of houshold I shall happen to have in London except alwais all plate.

Also where E. Hoddington doethe owe me £45 besids £16 whiche I have latly lent more to hym I do remytt the same E. Heddyngton the said hole somme, so the same E. Heddington and his wyf make seale and elyuer vnto the executors of Sir John Rudston Knight deceasing one discharge of almaner of matters whereof the same E. Heddington as in his owne right or as in the right of Mrs. Jane Heddyngton his wief have agenst the said executours.

To euery childe whiche my doughter Jane Heddyngton shall happen tohave £3. 6. 8. when 14. To euery of suche children as my doughter Wotton shall happen to have £10 when 14.

I make Dame Vrsula my wief, Thomas Wotton my sonne and my brother Doctor Wotton myn executours.

Towchinge the disposicion of the manors landes and tenements &e in Kent. I will Dame Vrsula my wief doo enjoy so much therof as ys assurde to her for her joynter during her lyfe.

I will William my sonne shall have one anuell rent charge of £20 by yere oute of all my pruchased lands, on condition he do not impeche, molest nor in enny wise disturbe his brother Thomas Wotton for eny of the landes the same Thomas shall have by this my will.

I geve to Richard Fynne my seruaunte during his lyf yf he be in my service at the tyme of my deathe one anuall rent of fourtie shillings by yere of my purchasede landes.

To my seruaunt Christofer Clement otherwise called Christofer Arnold 20s. anuall rent.

To Sr. John Armorer, priest, one anuall rent of £3. 6. 8. so that he contynew and remayne in service eyther with my wife or with my sonne Thomas Wotton.
To John Buknam my seruaunte the howse of myn in Lyffleton wherin he now dwellith with those landes whiche Thomas Sare who last dwellyde there dyd occupye provided he do paye yerely the suyts and rentes therof so as the same be alwayes kept wyndtight and watertight.

In case I shall happen to dye before John Chamber my warde shall have accomplished his full age of 21 yheres I do remytt to hym freely the profytts of his mariage he to discharge myne executours.

I will that my sonne Thomas Wotton shall have all those my manors, lands, tenements &e with all my hereditaments in Kent being of the nature and tenure of gavelteynde which from and sithens 1 Januarye 1547 vnto the daye of my dethe have come to me either by purchase or by discent &e.

This my Testament and last will wherin enything is ritten have wt myn owne hand subscribed my name.

Certen bequests and legacies and declarcons made by Sir Edward Wotton, Knight at sondry tymes during his sicknes and sythens the makinge of his Testament.
To Robert Rudston £40 towarde the pruchase of the lande he bought at Boughton.
To William Chenys his seruant and kynesman £20. Vnto Vrsula Bluett £6. 13. 4. which his wief Dame Vrsula should put to her use.

To Dame Vrsula all his plate in London.

Where he had given certain money to his daughter Rudstons children and to Edward Hedingtons children and vnto his son Thomas Wottons children when 14 if any die their part to be deuyded amongst the residue.

Item he willed all the fryse whiche was bought for wynter lyveries for his seruantes to be bestowed amonge the poore people to be imployed in gownes amonge them.

Proved 19 November 1551 by Joh Lewes proctor for executors. (P.C.C. 33 Bucke)