When Lord Napier (of Merchiston) first published his Logarithms, Mr. Briggs, Professor of Mathematics at Gresham College, London, was so surprised with admiration, that he could not rest till he had seen the noble inventor, and actually went to Scotland for that purpose in 1615. Lilly, the astrologer, thus describes the interview:—"Mr. Briggs appointed a certain day when to meet at Edinburgh; but, failing thereof, Merchiston was afraid he would not come. It happened one day, as John Marr and the Lord Napier were speaking of Mr. Briggs: 'Ah! John,' said Merchiston, 'Mr. Briggs will not come.' At the very instant, one knocks at the gate; John Marr hastens down, and it proved to be Mr. Briggs, to his great contentment; he brings Mr. Briggs up into my Lord's chamber, where almost one quarter of an hour was spent, each beholding the other with admiration before one word was spoken. At last, Mr. Briggs began, 'My Lord, I have undertaken this long journey purposely to see your person, and to know by what engine of wit or ingenuity you came first to think of this most excellent help unto astronomy, viz. the logarithms; but, my Lord, being by you found out, I wonder nobody else found it out before, when now, being known, it appears so easy.'" Briggs was nobly entertained by Lord Napier; and every summer after, during his lordship's life, this venerable man went to Scotland purposely to see him.