1. Brian Twyne was rewarded by appointment in 1634 to the new position of Keeper of the Archives, in which role he obtained a new royal charter for Oxford to confirm its rights and privileges, and helped the university in its disputes with the city authorities.
Brian Twyne's father was the translator and doctor Thomas Twyne, and his grandfather was the schoolmaster and antiquarian John Twyne.
Brian Twyne studied with the mathematician Thomas Allen, encountering modern developments in astronomy and navigation, and learned French, Italian and Hebrew.
Brian Twyne became a Fellow of Corpus Christi in 1606, and was ordained in the following year; although he later became vicar of Rye, Sussex, he stayed in Oxford and the parish duties were undertaken by curates.
Brian Twyne submitted his work for inspection by a university committee in early 1608.
Brian Twyne had been unable to find the reference to Alfred's visit to Oxford in any known manuscript of Asser's work, and challenged Camden about it.
Brian Twyne dedicated the work to Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset: the 1st Earl had died earlier in 1608.
Brian Twyne studied manuscripts at the Bodleian Library, founded by Thomas Bodley in 1602.
When Bodley died in 1613, Brian Twyne was one of the contributors to a volume of verse commemorating him: he wrote eight poems in Latin and one in Greek, and recalled a comment by King James I that Bodley ought to be called "Sir Thomas Godley".
Brian Twyne did not secure any further academic advancement: he hoped to be appointed Camden Professor of Ancient History on the death or resignation of Degory Wheare.
Brian Twyne was first appointed to a 28-strong committee for revising the statutes in 1614, although nothing came of their work.
Brian Twyne led efforts to improve the archives of Corpus Christi in 1627 and 1628, producing 30 volumes of manuscript transcriptions of title deeds.
In 1630, Brian Twyne was part of a new delegacy appointed by the new Chancellor of the University William Laud to revise the statutes.
The vice-chancellor asked Turner to make a final revision, and requested that Brian Twyne write a historical account of the previous attempts to reform the statutes as a preface.
Brian Twyne advised the university authorities in their disputes with the city fathers in relation to courts, licensing, markets and other matters.
Brian Twyne complained that his allowance was not enough to employ someone to carry out tasks such as making the fire, but his father was unsympathetic.
Brian Twyne made some pecuniary bequests to friends and those who had assisted him in his final illness.
Brian Twyne was buried in the chapel of Corpus Christi.
Brian Twyne was disliked intensely by the city authorities for his actions against them.
When Brian Twyne was commemorated in 1934, James Patrick Ronaldson Lyell gave the Keeper of the Archives a copy of Brian Twyne's Antiquitatis academiae Oxoniensis apologia.