DA 447

.A3 A8

1898 v.l

Aubrey,

John ,

1626-1697 .

"Brief

lives"

AUBREY'S 'BRIEF LIVES'

ANDREW CLARK

VOL. I.

HENRY FROWDE, M.A.

PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK

Digitized by tine Internet Arcliive
in 2014

Iittps://arcliive.org/details/brieflivescliiefl01aubr

^ Brief Lives chiefly of Con-
temporaries^ set down by
John Aubrey^ between

the Years i66g & i6g6

EDITED FROM THE AUTHOR'S MSS.

BY*

ANDREW CLARK

M.A., LINCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD; MA. AND LL.D., ST. ANDREWS

WITH FACSIMILES

VOLUME I. (A - H)
©;efori

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1898

O;cforb

PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

BY HORACE HART, M.A.
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

PREFACE

The rules laid down for this edition have been
fully stated in the Introduction. It need only be
said here that these have been scrupulously followed.

I may take this opportunity of saying that the
text gives Aubrey's quotations, English and Latin
alike, in the form in which they are found in his
MSS. They are plainly cited from memory, not
from book : they frequently do not scan, and at
times do not even construe. A few are incorrect
cementings of odd half lines.

The necessary excisions have not been numerous.
They suggest two reflections. The turbulence
attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh seems to have made
his name in the next age the centre of aggregation
of quite a number of coarse stories. In the same
way, Aubrey is generally nasty when he mentions
the noble house of Herbert, earl of Pembroke, and
the allied family of Sydney. There may be personal
pique in this, for Aubrey thinks he had a narrow

vi

Preface

escape from assassination by a Herbert (i. 48) ;
perhaps also there may be the after-glow of a
Wiltshire 'feud' (i. 316).

The Index gives all references to persons men-
tioned in the text, except to a few found only in
pedigrees, or otherwise quite insignificant ; also to
all places of which anything distinctive is said.

Andrew Clark.

Janiiary 4, 1898.

CONTENTS

VOLUME I

Frontispif.ce : John Aubrey, aetat. 40.

PAGE

Synopsis of the Lives ...... ix-xv

Intkouuction . . . . . . . . 1-2.^

Lives: — Abbot to Hyde ..... 24-427

VOLUIME II

Frontispiece : Aubrey's book-plate.

Lives: — Ingelbert to York 1-3 16

Appendix I: — Aubrey's Notes of Antiquities . .317-332

Appendix II: — Aubrey's Comedy The Coimtrey Rcvell . 333-339

Index ......... 341-370

Facsimiles . . . . . . . .At eiuf.

I. Castle Wound, Oxford. Riding at the Quintin.

II. Verulam House.

III. Horoscope and cottage of Thomas Hobbes.

IV. Plans of Malmsbury and district.

V. Horoscope and arms of Sir William Petty.

W. Wolsey's Chapel at Christ Church.

SYNOPSIS OF THE 'LIVES'

In the text the Lives have been given in alphabetical order
of the names. This was necessary, not only on account of their
number — more than 400 — but because Aubrey, in compiling
them, followed more than one principle of selection, writing,
first, lives of authors, then, lives of mathematicians, but bringing
in also lives of statesmen, soldiers, people of fashion, and
personal friends.

The following synopsis of the lives may serve to show (i) the
heads under which they naturally fall, (ii) their chronological
sequence.

The mark f indicates the year or approximate year of death ;
X denotes a life which Aubrey said he would write, but which
has not been found ; § is attached to the few names of
foreigners.

BEFORE HENRY VIII.

Writers.
I'oeis.

Geoffrey Chaucer (+1400).
John Gower (+1408).

Prose.
Sir John Mandeville

(+1372)-

Writers.

Sir Thomas More (fi 535).
§Desiderius Erasmus

(ti536).

Mathematics.
John Holywood (f 1256).
Roger Bacon (■1-1294).
John Ashindon (ti3 • • )•

Alchemy.
George Ripley (ti490 i.

Mathematics.

Richard Benese (•j-i546).
Robert Record (ti558).

Church and State.

S. Dunstan (t988).
S. Edmund Rich (+1240).
Owen Glendower (ti4i5).
William Canynges(ti474).
John Morton (tisooj.

1558)-

Church and State.

John Colet (fiSig)-
Thomas Wolsey (fisso).
John Innocent (ti545).
Sir Thomas Pope (ti559)-
Edmund Bonner (ti669).

Sir Erasmus Dryden

(11632).

HENRY VIII— MARY (f

X

Synopsis of the 'Lives'

ELIZABETH (11603).

Writers.
Foets.

Thomas Tusser (f 1580).
Edmund Spenser (ti599)-
Sir Edward Dyer (+1607).
A\'illiam Shakespear

(ti6i6).

Prose.

§t Petrus Ramus (ti572).
John Twyne (+1581).
Sir Philip Sydney (ti586).
John Foxe (fisS?).
Robert Glover (fisSS).
Thomas Cooper (+1594).
Thomas Stapleton (fispS).
Thomas North (ti6oi).
William Watson (ti6o3).
John Stowe (ti6o5).
Thomas Brightman

(ti6o7).
John David Rhese

(ti6o9).
Nicholas Hill (ti6io).

Mathematics.

James Peele (ti5 . . )•
Leonard Digges (fisyi).
Thomas Digges (ti595)-
John Secnris (t • • • )•
Evans Lloyd (■!"...).
Cyprian Lucar (f . . . ).
Thomas Hoode (t . . . )•
X Thomas Blundeville

(+16..).

Henry Billingsley (f 1606).
§ Ludolph van Kenlen

(+1610).
John Blagrave (ti6ii).
Edward Wright (f 1615).
Thomas Hariot (ti62i).
Sir Henry Savile (ti622).

Chemistry.
Adrian Gilbert (+...).

Zoology.

Thomas Mouffet (f 1604).

Alchemy and Astro-
logy.
Thomas Chamocke

(tisSi).
John Dee (ti6o8).
Arthur Dee (11651).

State.
William Herbert, ist earl

of Pembroke (ti57o)-
William Cecil, lord Burgh-
ley (ti598).
Robert Devereux, earl of

Essex (•t-1601).
Sir Charles Danvers

(ti6oi).

George Clifford, earl of
Cumberland (fiCos).

Thomas Sackville, earl of
Dorset (ti6o8).

?Sir Thomas Penruddock

ct . . . ).

Law.

Sir William Fleetwood

(ti594)-
William Aubrey (ti59S)-
Sir John Popham (ti6o7).

Commerce, etc.
Sir Thomas Gresham

(ti579)-

John Davys, capt. (ti6o5).
Richard Staper (ti6o8).

Society.
? . . . Robartes (t . . • )■
Elizabeth Danvers (f . . . ).
Sir John Danvers (ti594).
Richard Herbert (ti596).
Edward de Vere, 1 7th earl

of Oxford (ti6o4).
Sir Henry Lee (ti6ir).
Silvanus Scory (ti6i7).
Mary Herbert, countess of

Pembroke (ti62i).

Writers.
Foets.

Francis Beaumont (ti6i6).
John Fletcher (ti625).
Arthur Gorges (ti625).

JAMES I (ti6a5).

Mathematics.
Edward Brerewood

(ti6i3).
John Norden (+1625).
Edmund Gunter (ti626).
Thomas Allen (f 1632).

Church.

Richard Bancroft (ti6io).
John Overall (ti6i9).
Lancelot Andrewes (t 1 62 6).
George Abbot (ti633).
John Davenant (ti64i).

Synopsis of the ^Lives'

xi

JAMES I (ti625) continued.

Writers.
Poets.

Fulk Greville, lord Brooke
(ti628).

Michael Drayton (ti63i).
George Chapman ('t-i634).
Ben Jonson (11637).
George Feriby (ti6 . . ).
tBenjamin Rudyerd (fi 6. .).

Prose.

Henry Lyte (+1607).
Richard Knolles (+1610).
JRichard White (ti6i2).
Thomas Twyne (ti6i3).
Thomas Coryat (ti6i7).
Sir Walte r Raleigh ( 1 1 6 1 8) .
John Barclay (+1621).
William Camden (ti623).
Nicholas Fuller (■)-i624).
John Florio (ti625).
Francis Bacon (•)-i626).
John Speed (+1629).
Thomas Archer (•|-i63o).
John Rider (+1632).
Isaac Wake (•f-i632).
William Sutton (■t'i633).
Philemon Holland (-)-i637).
John Willis (ti6..).

Mathematics.

Robert Hues (+1632).
John Speidell (+16..).
JThomas Fale (ti6..).
JThomas Lydiat (ti646).

Astrology.
Dr. Richard Napier

(ti634^

State.

Everard Digby (ti6o6).
Thomas Overbury (+1613).
t James I (ti625).
William Herbert, 3rd earl
of Pembroke (ti63o).

Law.

Sir Thomas Egerton, lord

Ellesmere (ti6i7).
Richard Martin (ti6i8).

Medicine.
. . . Jaquinto (ti6 . .).
William Butler (ti6i8).
Francis Anthony (f 1633).

Commerce, etc.
Thomas Sutton (ti6ii).
John Guy (ti628).
John Whitson (fifiap).
Sir Hugh Middleton

(+1631).
William de Visscher

(ti6..).

Edward Davenant (t 16 . . ).

Inventors.
William Lee (ti6io).
. . . Gregory (ti6 . . ).
. . . Ingelbert (ti6 . .).
. . . Robson (ti6 . . ).

Seamen.

Walter Raleigh (ti6i7).
^Thomas Sturape (ti6 . . ).
Roger North (ti652).

Schoolmasters.

Alexander Gill (ti63';).
Martin Billingsley (+16. . ).

Miscellaneous.
Charles Hoskyns (f 1609).
Richard Sackville, 3rd earl

of Dorset (■t-i624).
Sir Henry Lee (ti63i).
Simon Furbisher (_ti6 . . )

xii

Synopsis of the 'Lives'

Writers.
Poets.

Hugh Holland (tiG^s).
George Herbert 1. + 1633).
Richard Corbet (ti635).
Thomas Randolph(ti63.5).
John Sherburne (ti635).
Sir Robert Alton (ti638).
John Hoskyns (ti638).
Philip Massinger (+1640).
Charles Aleyn (f 1640).
Sir John Suckling (ti64i).
\^'illiam Cartwright (+1643).
Henry Clifford, earl of

Cumberland (ti643).
George Sandys (+1644).
Francis Quarles (ti644).
William Browne (ti645).
ThomasGoodw)'n(ti6 . . ).
William Habington (-1-1654).
John Taylor (ti654).
Sir Robert Harley (•t-i656).
Richard Lovelace (ti658).
John Cleveland (ti658).
Gideon de Laune (ti659\
James Shirley (ti666).
Prose.

Ger\'ase Markham (+1637).
Robert Burton (ti64o).
Sir Henry Spelman(t 1 64 1 ).
W. Chillingworth (ti644J.
Rob. Stafford (1644 .
William Twisse (ti646).
Degory Wheare (ti647).
Edward, lord Herbert of

Chirbury (ti648).
§Joh. Ger. Vossius (ti649).
Abraham Wheloc (ti6 . . ).
Theoph. Wodenote, sen.

(ti6..).
§Rene des Cartes (1651).
. . . Gerard (ti6 . . ).
JSamuel Collins (-1-1651).
§Jean L.de Balzac (ti655).
John Hales (+1656).
James Usher (ti656).
Joseph Hall (ti656).
William Harvey (ti657).
Robert Sanderson (ti663).
Sir Kenelm Digby (ti665).

CHARLES I (ti649),

Mathematics. j

Henry Briggs (ti63i).
William Bedwell (ti632).
Nathaniel Torporley

(ti632).

Henry Gellibrand (ti637).
Walter Warner (+1640).
William Gascoigne

(ti644).

Charles Cavendish (f 1 65 2 ).
Henry Isaacson (-1*1654).
Edmund Wingate (•l-i656).
William Oughtred (ti66o).
Franciscus Linus (ti6 .).
John Tap (-t-l6 . . ).
John Wells (ti6..)-

Church.

Richard Neile (ti64o).
George Webb (11641).

State.

George Villiers, duke of
Buckingham (+1628).

Sir Edward Coke (ti633).

William Noy (■1-I634).

Richard Boyle, 1st earl of
Cork (ti643)-

Lucius Cary, earl of Falk-
land (ti643).

Henry Danvers, earl of
Danby (+1644).

Robert Dalzell, earl of
Carnwarth (ti654).

Law.

Sir Henry Martin (ti64i).
David Jenkins Cti663).

Medicine.
Sir Matthew Lister (+1656).

Art.

Inigo Jones (ti652).

Soldiers.
CharlesCavendish (ti643).
Sir James Long (f 1659).
Sir Robert Harley (fi^/S)-
Sir William Neale (fi^gi)-

School and College.

Alexander Gill (f 1642).
Ralph Kettell (ti643).
Hannibal Potter (+1664).
Thomas Batchcroft(t 1670).

Society.
Elizabeth Broughton

(ti6..).
Venetia Digby (ti633).

Miscellaneous.

Elize Hele (ti633\
John Clavell (ti642).
? . . . Cradock (ti6.. ).

Synopsis of the ^ Lives '

xiii

Writers.
Poets.
Thomas May (+1650).
Katherine Philips (ti664\
George Withers (ti667).
John Milton (ti674).
Andrew Marvell (ti678).

Prose.

Clement Walker (ti65i).
John Said en (+1654).
Walter Rnmsey (ti66o).
Thomas Fuller (ti66i).
William Prynne (-j-iCGp).

Poets.

Alexander Brome (ti666).
Abraham Cowley (ti667).
Sir William Davenant

(ti668).

Sir John Denham (i-i669).
Samuel Butler (ti68o).
John Wilmot, earl of

Rochester (+1680).
John Lacy (ti68i).
Martin Lluelyn (ti682).
Edmund Waller (fiSS?).
Thomas Flatman (ti688).
tSir George Etherege

(ti6..).
Henry Vaughan (fifigs).
John Dryden (•t-i7oo).

COMMONWEALTH.

Mathematics. |

Richard Billingsley

(ti6..).
Samuel Foster (11652).
Lawrence Rooke (ti662).

Science.
John Wilkin s (+1672 .

Astrology.
Nicholas Fiske (ti6 • • )•

Christopher Brookes

(+1665).

William Neile (+1670).

Lancelot Morehouse

(ti672).

Richard Norwood (+1675).
Isaac Barrow (ti677).
John Newton (ti678).
Francis Potter (+1678).
Sir Jonas Moore (ti679).
JRichard Alcorne (ti6 . .).
JHenry Bond (ti6. .).
Michael Dary (+1679).
William, lord Brereton

(ti68o)

Edward Davenant (ti68o).
Richard Stokes (ti68i).

State.

Sir John Dan vers (+1655%
Thomas Chaloner (tl66l).
Sir William Platers

(+16.. )•

James Harrington (ti677).
Henry Martin (ti68o).
Sir Henry Blount (ti682).

Soldiers and Sailors.
Robert Grevill, lord Brooke

(ti643)-
Robert Blake (ti657).
George Monk (ti67i).
Thomas, lord Fairfax

(ti67i).

Law.
Henry Rolle (+1656).

Medicine.
Jonathan Goddard (t 1 675) .

School.
Thomas Triplett (ti67o).

Herbert Thorndyke

(ti672).

William Outram (ti679).
Peter Gunning (ti684).
Thomas Pittis (ti<587).

State.
Sir Robert Moray (+1673).
Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey

(ti678).
Sir Thomas Morgan

(ti679).

John Birkenhead (+1679).
William Ilarcourt (ti679).
Robert Pugh (ti679).
§Jean Baptiste Colbert

(ti683).

CHARLES H (ti685) and JAMES H.

LRS.

Mathematics.

Church.

xiv

Synopsis of the 'Lives'

CHARLES II (ti685) and JAMES II {coniinued).

Writers.
Prose.
Peter Heylyn (ti662).
James Heath (ti664).
Sir Robert Poyntz

(ti665).

Thomas Vaughan (ti667).
George Bate (ti668).
John Davenport (ti67o).
Vavasor Powell (ti67o).
Samuel Hartlib (ti67o).
Edward Bagshawe (ti67i).
Edward Hyde, earl of

Clarendon (ti674).
Sir William Saunderson

(ti676)
John Ogilby (ti676).
John Tombes (ti676).
Thomas Whyte (ti676).
Silas Taylor (ti678).
Thomas Stanley (+1678).
John Cecil, 4th earl of

Exeter (ti678).
Thomas Hobbes (fiSjg).
. . . Barrow (+l6S.)-
. . . Monday (ti6 . . ).
Joseph Glanville (ti68o).
Thomas Jones (ti682).
William Stafford(ti684).
Edward Lane (fiSSp).
Thomas Pigot (ti686).
Richard Head (ti686?).
Sir William Dugdale

(ti686).
Isaac Vossius (ti688).
Robert Barclay (+1690).
John Rushworth (ti69o).
Fabian Philips (ti69o).
Samuel Pordage (ti69i).
Elias Ashmole [■\l(>g2).
Anthony Wood (f 16951.
Henry Birkhead (ti696).
John Aubrey (ti697).
William Holder (ti698).
Richard Blackburne

(ti7-.?)-
Thomas Gale (ti702).

Mathematics.

Sir George Wharton

(ti68i).

Thomas Merry (ti682).

John Collins (+1683).

William, lord Brouncker

(+1684).

John Pell (ti685).
Nicholas Mercator (ti687).
Thomas Street (ti689).
Seth Ward (ti689).
John Kersey (fx 690).
John Wallis (+1703).
tjohn Flamsted (ti7i9).
Jlsaac Newton (ti737).
Edmund Halley +1742^.

Science.
John Willis (ti6..).
John Graunt (ti674).
Robert Boyle (ti69i).
Sir Edward H arley (+ 1 7oo\
Robert Hooke (,ti7o3).
Sir John Hoskyns (ti705 J.

State.

Anthony Cooper, earl of

Shaftesbury (ti683).
Sir Leoline Jenkins

(+16S5).

J James, duke of Monmouth
(ti685).

Sir William Petty (ti687)-
Thomas Osborne, earl of
Danby (ti7i2).

Law.

Sir Matthew Hale (ti676).
George Johnson (f 1683).

Medicine.
Thomas Willis (ti675).
Baldwin Hamey (ti676).
Sir Richard Napier (ti676).
Henry Stubbe (ti676).
Thomas Shirley (ti678).
Sir Edward Greaves

(ti68o).

Sir Robert Talbot (ti68l).
William Croone (tl684).
Daniel Whistler (+1684).
Christopher Merret

(ti695).

Walter Charleton (ti707).
Art.

Samuel Cooper (+1672).
Wenceslaus Hollar

(ti677).
Sir Christopher Wren

(ti723)-

School.
. . . W>bb (+16 . . ).
Thomas Stephens (ti6 . . ).
Arthur Brett (ti677)-
Ezerel Tonge (f 1680).

Commerce, etc.
Sir Edward Ford (ti67o).
Thomas Bushell (ti674).
William Marshall (ti6. .).
Robert Murray (ti72.S).
James Bovey (f . . . . ).

Synopsis of the 'Lives'

XV

(ti685) AND JAMES II (contimied)

CHARLES II

Writers.

Prose.
JSir Edward Sherburne

(tl702).

John Evelyn (ti7o6).
John Philips (+1706).
John Hawles (ti7i6).
William Penn (ti7i8).

Astrology.
John Heydon (ti66.).
John Booker (ti667).
William Lilly (+1681I.
Henry Coley (ti695).
Charles Snell (fiG . . ).
John Gadbury (tl704).
John Partridge (ti7i5).

Society, etc.
Lucy Walters (ti6 . . ).
Sir Walter Raleigh (+ 1 663).
Eleanor Ratcliffe, countess

of Sussex (ti666).
. . . Berkeley (ti6 . .).
. . . Curtin (ti6 . . ).
Dorothy Selby (ti6..).
Anne, duchess of York

(ti67i).

Cecil Calvert, lord Balti-
more (ti675).
Sir Thomas Billingsley

(ti67. ).

Richard Sackville, 5th earl

of Dorset (ti677)-
Charles Pamphlin (ti678).
Sir Francis Stuart (ti6 . . ).
X. . . Aldsworth (ti6 ..).
Sir Robert Henley (ti68o).
Sir Thomas Badd (ti683).
. . . Ralphson (ti684).
Charles Howard (fi 7 . . ).
Willonghby Bertie (ti 760).

AUBREY'S PERSONAL FRIENDS.

I. Of the Old School.

Isaac Lyte (i677-ti66o).
Thomas Tyndale (l588-ti67l).
James Whitney (1593-1166.).
William Beeston (. . . .-ti682).
Deborah Aubrey (i6io-ti68f).
Edmund Wyld (i6i6--t-i6 . . ).

n. Contemporaries.

Anthony Ettrick (i622-fi7o3).
William Morgan (1622-f. . . . ).
Ralph Sheldon (i623-ti684).
William Radford (i623-ti673).
Theophilus Wodenoth (1625-. . . . ),
George Ent (. . . .-ti679).
John Sloper (. . . .-f. . . . ).
Richard Kitson (. . . .-f. . . . ).
Sir John Dunstable (. . . .-f. . . . ).
Thomas Gore (i632-ti684).
Jane Smyth (i639-ti6 . . ).
Thomas Deere (1639-f 16. •)•

. . . Gwyn ( -t ).

. . . Yarrington (. . . .-ti684).

AUBREY'S 'BRIEF LIVES'

INTRODUCTION

I. Origin of the 'Lives.'

Aubrey sought and obtained an introduction to Anthony-
Wood in August 1667. He was keenly interested in
antiquarian studies, and had the warmest love for Oxford ;
he had been a contemporary in Trinity College with
Wood's brother, Edward ; and so was drawn to Wood
on hearing that he was busy with researches into the
History of the University of Oxford.

Aubrey was one of those eminently good-natured men,
who are very slothful in their own affairs, but spare no
pains to work for a friend. He offered his help to Wood ;
and, when it was decided to include in Wood's book short
notices of writers connected with Oxford, that help proved
most valuable. Aubrey, through his family and family-
connexions, and by reason of his restless goings-to-and-
fro, had a wide circle of acquaintance among squires and
parsons, lawyers and doctors, merchants and politicians,
men of letters and persons of quality, both in town and
country. He had been, until his estate was squandered, an
extensive and curious buyer of books and MSS. And
above all, being a good gossip, he had used to the
utmost those opportunities of inquiry about men and
things which had been afforded him by societies grave,

I. B

2 Aubrey^s 'Brief Lives'

like the Royal Society, and frivolous, as coffee-house
gatherings and tavern clubs. The scanty excerpts, given
in these volumes, from letters written by him between
1668 and 1673, supply a hint of how deeply Wood's
Historia et Antiqtiitates Universitatis Oxoniensis, published
in 1674, was indebted to the multifarious memory and
unwearying inquiries of the enthusiastic Aubrey.

Dean Fell's request that Wood should notice Oxford
writers and bishops in his Historia had suggested to Wood
the plan of, and set him to work upon, the larger and
happier scheme of the Athenae Oxonienses, an 'exact
history of all the writers and bishops that have had their
education in . . . Oxford' since 1500. He engaged his
friend Aubrey to help him in his undertaking, by com-
mitting to writing in a more systematic way, for Wood's
benefit, his multitudinous recollections of men and books.
He was dexterous enough to supply the additional motive,
that, after serving his friend's turn, Aubrey's collections
might be gathered together, preserved for a while in some
safe and secret place, and, when personal feelings were
saved by lapse of time, be published and secure their
writer a niche in the Temple of Fame.

It was now by no means easy for Aubrey to undertake
any extensive, and especially any connected work. Being
by this time bankrupt, and a hanger-on at the tables of
kindred and acquaintances, he had to fall in with his
patrons' habits, at the houses where he visited ; to sit with
them till they wearied of their carousings in the small
hours of the morning ; and to do his writing next forenoon,
before they had slept off their wine.

Still, his interest in the subject, and his desire to help
his friend prevailed ; and we soon find him thanking Wood
for setting him to work. March 27, 1680*: — "Twill be
a pretty thing, and I am glad you putt me on it. I doe
it playingly. This morning being up by 10, I writt two
(lives): one was Sir John Suckling'', of whom I wrote

" Letter of Aubrey to Wood : MS. Ballard 14, fol. 131.
^ MS. Aubr. 6, fol. no, iio\

Condition of the Text

3

a leafe and \ in folio.' May 22, 1680 — 'My memoires
of lives ' (is now) ' a booke of 2 quires, close written : and
after I had began it, I had such an impulse on my spirit
that I could not be at quiet till I had donne it.' Sept. 8,
1680'': — 'My booke of lives . . . they will be in all about
six-score, and I beleeve never any in England were
delivered so faithfully and with so good authority.'

Aubrey, therefore, began these lives'' on the suggestion
of, and with a desire to help Anthony Wood.

Among the lives so written were several of mathema-
ticians and men of science. And another friend of
Aubrey's, Dr. Richard Blackburne, advised him to collect
these by themselves, and add others to them, with a view
to a biographical history of mathematical studies in
England. To this suggestion Aubrey was predisposed
through his pride at being ' Fellow of the Royal Society,'
and for some time he busied himself in that direction

In the same way, although the bulky life of Thomas
Hobbes® was partly undertaken in fulfilment of a promise
to Hobbes himself, an old personal friend, the motive
which induced Aubrey to go on with it was a desire to
supply Dr. Blackburne with material for a Latin biography,
Vitae Hobbianae Aitctariuni, published in 1681.

These matters will be found more fully explained in the
notices which Aubrey has prefixed to the several MSS. of
his biographical collections, as described below.

II. Condition of the Text of the ■ Lives.'

Few of the ' Lives ' are found in a fair copy ^ Again
and again, in his letters to Anthony Wood, Aubrey makes
confession of the deficiencies of his copy, but puts off the
heavy task of reducing it to shape.

• Aubrey to Wood, in MS. Wood ^ Writing MS. Aubr. 8 (part ii.).

F. 39, fol. 340. • MS. Aubr. 9.

Ibid. fol. 347. ' The lives of Isaac Barrow, and of

<^ Composing MSS. Aubr. 6, 7, and (Serjeant-at-Law) John Hoskyns, may

8 (part i.). serve as specimens of a fair copy.

B 2

4

Aubi'ey's 'Brief Lives'

His method of composition was as follows. He had
a folio MS. book, and wrote at the top of a page here and
there the name of a poet, or statesman, or the like, whose
life he thought of committing to paper. Then, selecting
a page and a name, he wrote down hastily, without notes
or books, his recollections of the man, his personal ap-
pearance, his friendships, his actions or his books. If
a date, a name, a title of a book, did not occur to him on
the spur of the moment, he just left a blank, or put a mark

of omission (generally, ... or ), and went on. If the

matter which came to him was too much for the page, he
made an effort to get it in somehow, in the margins (top,
bottom, or sides), between the paragraphs, or on the
opposite page.

When he read over what he had written in the first glow
of composition, he erased, wrote alternatives to words and
phrases, marked words, sentences, and paragraphs for
transposition, inserted queries : unsettled everything.

If later on, from books or persons, he got further in-
formation, he was reckless as to how he put in the new
matter: sometimes he put it in the margin, sometimes
at a wrong place in the text, or on a wrong leaf, or in the
middle even of another life, and often, of course, in a
different volume.

And there, as has been said, the copy was left. Very
seldom was a revised copy made.

To the confusions unavoidable in composing after this
fashion, must be added the unsteadiness consequent on
writing in the midst of morning sickness after a night's
debauch. One passage, in which he describes his difficulties
in composing, explains, in a way nothing else could, the
frequent erasures, repetitions, half-made or inconsistent
corrections, and dropping of letters, syllables, and words,
which abound in his MSS. March 19, i68f ^ ; ' if I had but
either one to come to me in a morning with a good scourge,
or did not sitt-up till one or two with Mr. (Edmund) Wyld,
I could doe a great deal of businesse.'

" Aubrey to Wood, MS. Ballard 14, fol. 129'.

Aim of this Edition

5

III. Aim of this Edition.

In presenting a text of Aubrey's ' Lives,' an editor, on
more than one important point, has to decide between
alternatives.

1. Shall all, or some only, of the lives be given?

It is plain, from a glance over the MSS., that many of
the lives are of little interest ; in some cases, because they
contain more marks of omission than statements of fact; in
other cases, because they give mainly excerpts from prefaces
of books ; and so on. A much more interesting, as well as
handier, book would be produced, if the editor were to
reject all lives in which Aubrey has nothing of intrinsic
value to show.

2. In the lives selected, shall the whole, or parts only, of
what Aubrey has written be given ?

Many sentences occur, which declare only Aubrey's
ignorance of a date, or a place, or the title of a book. In
other cases, dull and imperfect catalogues of writings are
given. The omission of these would be a service to the
whole, like the cutting of dead branches out of a shrub.

3. In constituting the text, how much, or how little,
notice is to be taken of the imperfections of Aubrey's
copy ?

The simplest, and, from some points of view, the most
effective, course would be to treat Aubrey's rough draft as
if it were one's own, rejecting (without comment) one or
other of two alternatives, supplying (without mark) a
missing word or date, omitting a second version (though
having some minor peculiarities) of a statement, and so on.
In this way, with a minimum of trouble to the editor,
a smooth text would be produced, which would spare the
reader much irritation.

4. How far is the text to be annotated, the editor
supplying Aubrey's abundant omissions, and correcting his
many mistakes ?

6

Aitbrey^s 'Brief Lives'

In respect of all these questions, the aim of the present
edition, and the reasons for the decision taken in each case,
can be stated v-ery briefly and decidedly.

I, and 2. This edition seeks to give in full all that
Aubrey has written in his four chief MSS. of biographies,
MSS. Aubrey 6, 7, 8, and 9.

The entire contents of these MSS. will thus be placed
beyond that risk of perishing, to which they must have
remained liable so long as they were found only in MS.,
and they will, for what they are worth, henceforth be
accessible to all.

Some things in Aubrey's writing offend not merely
against our present canons of good taste, but against good
morals. The conversation of the people among whom
Aubrey moved, although they were gentry both in position
and in education, was often vulgar, and occasionally foul,
as judged by us. I have dealt with these lives as historical
documents, leaving them, with a very few excisions, to
bear, unchecked, their testimony as to the manners and
morals of Restoration England.

3. This edition seeks to present faithfully Aubrey's
text as he wrote it, neglecting only absolute minutiae.

{a) A plain text is given of what Aubrey wrote, taking,
as seemed most convenient, sometimes his first version of
a sentence or a word, sometimes his alternative version.
The rejected alternatives are given in the textual notes, as
• duplicate with' ; and occasionally the erasures, as ' substi-
tuted for.' Many of these notes are very trivial ; but
their presence, which after all gives little trouble, provides
a complete view of the MS. text. I believe also that in
this way I have preserved for the collector of words some
quaint forms and expressions for which he will thank me^
and provided the student of English style with some apt
instances of the way in which terse native words have been
replaced in our written language by feebler latinisms.

(//) I have been careful to give, in every case, Aubrey's
own spelling, with or without final or medial "e,' with single

Ai'tn of this Edition

1

or double letters, 'ie' or other diphthong where we write
'ei,' and the like. The English of Aubrey's age is so like
our own that it is not unimportant to mark even its minor
differences.

All merely artificial tricks of writing {w''^ for which, and
the like) have been neglected.

{c) Where a date, a word, or a name has been inserted,
the insertion is enclosed in angular brackets ( ).
Where it seemed requisite to mark that a word or phrase
was added at a later date, or by another hand, square
brackets have been used [ ]. The use of these symbols,
borrowed from Vahlen's edition of Aristotle's Poetics, has
been censured as pedantic, but I know of no clearer or
shorter way of making plain in a printed text just what is,
and what is not, in the MS. text.

{d) Punctuation is generally absent in Aubrey's text, as
might be expected, and where it is found, it is often mis-
leading. The points and marks in this edition are therefore
such as seemed to make the meaning clear to myself, and
therefore, I hope, to others.

[e) As regards the order of the paragraphs, Aubrey's
text has been given, where convenient, sentence by sen-
tence, and page by page. But I have taken full liberty to
bring into their proper place marginalia, interlinear notes,
addenda on opposite pages, &c. In some cases, indeed, to
give in print the MS. text sentence by sentence is to do it
injustice. In the MS., the difference of inks between
earlier and later notes, the difference of pen-strokes (on one
day with a firm pen, on another with a scratchy quill), and
similar nuances, impress the eye with a sequence of para-
graphs which in print can be shown only by redistribution.
For example, I claim that the life of Milton, in this edition,
is, from its bolder treatment, truer to the MS., than the
servile version in the old edition.

4. As regards notes and explanations. Aubrey's lives
supply an inviting field for comment, correction, and
addition. But, even so treated, they will never be a

8

Atibrey^s 'Brief Lives'

biographical dictionary. Their value lies not in statement
of bibliographical or other facts, but in their remarkably
vivid personal touches, in what Aubrey had seen himself
and what his friends had told him. The notes therefore
seek to supply no more than indications of outstanding
features of the text, identifications of Aubrey's informants,
or necessary parallels from his letters.

IV. Description of the MSS.

MS. Aubr. 6 : a volume chiefly of folio leaves ; written
mostly in February i6|^ ; now marked as containing 12a
leaves (some pages blank), but having also a few unfoliated
slips. Aubrey's own short title to it was : —

' 'S.^ehiaaixara. Brief Lives, part i.,'

and, in his pagination, it contained eighty-six leaves.
A rough index of its contents, by him, is found as foil. 8-10 :
and there he gives the names of several persons whose lives
he intended to write, but has not included in this volume.
Some of these are found elsewhere, especially in MS.
Aubrey 8 ; but a few * are not discoverable in any MS. of his
biographical collections — e.g., Richard Alcorne ; (Samuel)
Collins, D.D. ; Richard Blackbourne, M.D.; (John)
Flamsted''; Sir John Hoskins; James Rex; James, duke
of Monmouth''; Peter Ramus ; Benjamin Ruddier; captain
(Edward) Sherburne; captaine Thomas Stump ; Richard
White. Possibly Aubrey never wrote the missing lives ; but
it must be remembered (i) that he cut some leaves out
of his MS. himself (see in a note to the life of Richard
Boyle, earl of Cork) ; (2) that Anthony Wood cut out of
MS. Aubr. 7 forty pages at least, containing matters 'to
cut Aubrey's throat,' i.e. reflections on politics, where the
lives of James R. and Monmouth may well have been.

* In this edition, some notes about Flamsted.

some of them have been brought in Aubrey adds the reference ' vide

from Aubrey's letters, and his 'Col- libr. B.': see Macray's p. 366.

lectio Genituramm.' ^ The adventures of Captain Thomas

*" Aubrey notes ' Mr. (Edmund) Stump in Guiana are recorded in

Halley ' as the person to ask about Aubrey's Natural History of Wilts.

Description of the MSS.

9

One point about this MS. which deserves mention is
that, in these lives, Aubrey, in his hope to supply data for
crucial instances in astrology, is careful to give the exact
nativity wherever he can. His rule is thus laid down by
himself in MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 12^, in a note attached to the
nativity of his friend Sir William Petty : —

' Italian proverb —

" E astrologia, ma non e Astrologo,"
i.e. we have not that science yet perfect; 'tis one
of the desidei-ata. The way to make it perfect is to gett
a supellex of true genitures ; in order wherunto I have with
much care collected these ensuing^ which the astrologers
may rely on, for I have sett doune none on randome, or doubt-
full, information, but from their ozvne moiithes : quod N. B.'

Another point is, that Aubrey very frequently gives the
coat of arms, in trick or colour. In some cases, no doubt,
he did this from having seen the arms actually borne in
some way by the person he is writing about ; but in other
cases he merely looked up the name in a ' Dictionary of
Arms,' and took the coat from thence, thus nullifying his
testimony as to the actual pretensions to arms of those he
writes about. All coats he mentions have, however, been
given in the text or notes.

Prefixed to the volume are two notes in which Aubrey
explains its origin and destination.

(A)— MS. Aubr. 6, fol. " 2 :—

' Tanqiiam tabulata naufragii.

Sum Johannis Aubrii, R.S.S.
Febr. 24, i6|^.

My will and humble desire is that these minutes,

" i. e. the schemes of nativity given
at the beginning of many of the lives
in MS. Aubr. 6. MS. Aubr. 23, ' Col-
lectio genitnrarum,' drawn up by
Aubrey in 1674 to be deposited in
the Ashmolean Museum, is an earlier

contribution to the 'supellex.'

In fol. 11^ Aubrey's book-plate is
pasted on.

<= In the top left corner, ' \s. 4^. ' is
written. Possibly the price of the
original paper-book.

lO

Aubrey^ s 'Brief Lives'

which I have hastily and scribhngly here sett downe,
be delivered carefully to my deare and honoured friend
Mr. Anthony a Wood, antiquary, of Oxford. —

Ita obnixe obtestor,

Jo. Aubrey.

Ascenscione Domini,

correptus lipothymia, circiter 3 P.M.
i68o.'

(B)— MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 12:—

'To my worthy friend Mr. ANTHONIE a WOOD,
Antiquarie of Oxford.

Sir!

I have, according to your desire, putt in writing
these minutes of lives tumultuarily, as they occurred to my
thoughts or as occasionally I had information of them.
They may easily be reduced into order at your leisure by
numbring them with red figures, according to time and
place, &c. 'Tis a taske that I never thought to have
undertaken till you imposed it upon me, sayeing that I was
fitt for it by reason of my generall acquaintance, having
now not only lived above halfe a centurie of yeares in the
world, but have also been much tumbled up and downe
in it which hath made me much * knowne ; besides the
moderne advantage of coffee-howses in this great citie,
before which men knew not how to be acquainted, but
with their owne relations, or societies. I might add that
I come of a longaevous race, by which meanes I have
imped some feathers of the wings of time, for severall
generations ; which does reach high. When I first began,
I did not thinke I could have drawne it out to so long
a thread.

I here lay-downe to you (out of the conjunct friend-

" ' Much ' substituted for ' so well.'

Description of the MSS.

II

ship" between us) the trueth, and, as neer as I can and that
religiously as a poenitent to his confessor, nothing but the
trueth: the naked and plaine trueth, which is here exposed
so bare that the very pudenda are not covered and affords
many passages that would raise a blush in a young
virgin's cheeke. So that after your perusall, I must
desire you to make a castration (as Raderus*^ to Martial)
and to sowe-on some figge-leaves — i. e., to be my Index
cxpiirgatoruis.

What uncertainty doe we find in printed histories?
they either treading too neer on the heeles of trueth
that they dare not speake plaine, or els for want of in-
telligence (things being antiquated) become too obscure and
darke ! I doe not here repeat any thing already published
(to the best of my remembrance) and I fancy my selfc
all along discourseing with you ; alledgeing those of my
relations and acquaintance (as either you knew or have
heerd of) ad faciendani fidem : so that you make me to
renew my acquaintance with my old and deceased friends,
and to rejnvenescere (as it were) which is the pleasure of old
men. 'Tis pitty that such minutes had not been taken
loo yeares since or more : for want wherof many worthy
men's names and notions'^ are swallowd-up in oblivion;
as much of these also would [have*^ been], had it not been
through your instigation : and perhaps this is one of the
usefullest pieces ^ that I have scribbeld.

I remember one sayeing of generall Lambert's, that " the

* Aubrey cites in the margin : —

' Utrumque nostrum admirabili modo
Consentit astrum.

HORAT. lib. 2, ode 1 7 :
Nescio quod certe est, quod me tibi temperct, astrum.

Pers. Sat. V. V. 50 ' ;

and adds the date in the margin Matth. Raderi 'novi commentt.'

'1665'; but according to Wood, were published in 1602, and later

1667 was the date of their first editions.

acquaintance (Clark's Wood's Life « Dupl. with ' inventions.'

and Times, n. n6). '' Have been ' is scored out.

Dupl. with ' hid.' g Subst. for ' things."

Subst. for 'girle's.'

12 Aubrey^ s 'Brief Lives*

best of men are but men at the best " : of this, you will
meet with divers examples in this rude and hastie collec-
tion. Now these arcana are not fitt to lett flie abroad, till
about 30 yeares hence ; for the author and the persons
(like medlars) ought to be first rotten. But in whose hands
must they be deposited in the mean time? advise me,
who am,

Sir,

Your very affectionate friend
to serve you,

John Aubrey.

London,
June 15,
1680.'

MS. Aubr. 7 : a folio volume of twenty-one leaves
(several pages blank), of which two'^ only belong to the
original MS.

The original title may be conjectured to have been :
' 2x€8tao-/xara. Brief Lives, part ii.,'
and it possibly contained some letters, like those in the
preceding volume, which made Wood think it was given
to him.

On fol. I, is a note describing the make-up of the
volume : —

' Aubrey's Lives : fragments of part ii. — These scattered
fragments collected and arranged by E. M. Sep. 1792.'
A note (in Dr. Philip Bliss's hand?) says that E. M. is
Edmund Malone.

In this, as in the other Aubrey MSS., Dr. Bliss has
made several slight notes, both in pencil and ink, with
a view to his edition.

The mutilation of the MS. was the crime of Anthony
Wood, to whom it had been sent. Two conjectures may
be hazarded — either that Wood did this in order to paste
the cuttings into his rough copy of his projected Aikenae,
and so save transcription ; or, more probably, that he was

" Foil. 47, 48, in the original (foil. scraps: fol. 8 is a paper, bearing date
10, II, as now foliated). The rest are 'London, March 12, 1 68|.'

Description of the MSS.

13

so thoroughly alarmed by the threat of Lord Clarendon's
prosecution of himself (Clark's Wood's Life and Times, iv.
1-46), that he destroyed the papers containing Aubrey's
sharp reflections on various prominent personages*. But
whatever the pretext, Aubrey was, naturally, very grieved
at his unjustifiable conduct. In a letter to Wood, dated
Sept. 2, 1694 (MS. Ballard 14, fol. 155), he writes: —

' You have cutt out a matter of 40 pages out of one of
my volumnes, as also the index. Was ever any body so
unkind? — And I remember you told me comeing from
Hedington that there were some things in it that " would
cutt my throat." I thought you so deare a friend that
I might have entrusted my life in your hands and now
your unkindnes doth almost break my heart.'

When Aubrey had the volume back in his own hands,
he wrote in it the following censure : —

' Ingratitude ! This pm't the secotid Mr. Wood haz
gelded from page 1 to page 44 and other pages" too are
wanting wherein are contained trueths, but such as I
entrusted nobody with the sight of but himselfe (whom
I thought I might have entrusted with my life). There
are severall papers that may cutt my throate. I find too
late Memento diffidere was a saying worthy one of the
sages. He hath also embezill'd the index of it — quod N. B.
It was stitch't up when I sent it to him.

Novemb. 29, 1692.'

MS. Aubr. 8 : a folio volume, containing 105 leaves : it
contains two distinct MSS., bound together.

The first part of the MS. (foil. 1-68 in the present
marking) might have been entitled : —

' 2xe8tao"/xa7a. Brief Lives, part iii.'

" See, e. g. in the life of David
Jenkins, from a letter of Aubrey's,
the expressions which brought Wood
into court and expelled him from the
University.

Fol. 2, in the present marking.

I have little doubt that the sub-
stance of all the missing pages is
incorporated into the Athettae : cf.,
e.g. William Penn's life here by
Aubrey, and the notice of Penn in
Wood's Athenae.

14 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives*

On fol. 1 and fol. 3, the short title actually written by-
Aubrey is : —

Pars ^ iii*'*
1681

i.e. the symbol for Saturn, the patron of antiquarian
studies, and Aubrey's monogram. On fol. 4 Aubrey has
a very elaborate title, showing the destination of the
MS.:—

'Auctarium vitarum a A collectarum, anno Domini
1681.

Tanqtiam tabiilata naufragii.

John Aubrey, R.S.S.

Le mal est que la vive voix meurt en naissant et ne laisse rien qui
reste apres elle, ni formant point de corps qui subsiste en I'air. Les
paroles ont des aisles; vous scavez I'epithete* qu'Honn^re leur donne,
et un poete Syrien en a fait un espece parmy les oiseaux; de sorte que,
si on n'arreste pas ces fugitives par I'ecriture, elles eschappent fort
vistement k la memoire.

Les Oeuvres diver ses du sieur de Balzac, page 43.

Omari res ipsa nolit contenta doceri.— HORAT

For Mr. Anthony Wood
at

Oxford.'

A slip by Anthony Wood, pasted here, shows that
Aubrey recalled the MS., probably to make additions
to it :—

' Mr. Aubrey,

I beseech you as you have been civill in giving this
book to me at Oxon in Sept. 1681, so I hope when you
have done with it you'l returne every part of it againe to
your servant,

As originally made up, this ' Auctarium ' contained

" Aubrey quotes in the margin

Description of the MSS.

15

four leaves at the beginning (for an index and leaves
foliated 1-38 (of which I2 and 13 are now*^ missing).

The second parf of the MS. extends over foil. 69-103
in the present marking.

Aubrej', on fol. 69. writes the title : —

' An Apparatus for the lives
of our English mathematical writers
by

Mr. John Aubrey, R.S.S.
March 25, 1690.'

As originally made up, this treatise consisted of one leaf (for
an index'') and pages marked 1-46 (of which pp. 31-38
are now missing).

The history of this treatise is fully set out by Aubrey in
some notes in it and in the other MSS. : —

1. It was suggested by Richard Blackburne.

MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 8^:— 'Dr. (Richard) Blackbourn
would have me putt out in print the lives of our English
mathematicians together.'

2. It had been partly anticipated by Selden and
Sherburne.

MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 70 : — ' My purpose is, if God give me
life, to make an apparatus, for* the lives of our English
Mathematicians ; which when I have ended, I would then
desire Mr. Anthony Wood to find out one that is master

"Dated 'July i"", 168 1 '—MS.
Aubr. 8, fol. 5. In this index the
names of some persons occur for
notice, of whom no account is found
here or elsewhere: — e.g. ' . . . Aids-
worth ; Richard Blackboume, M.D. ;
Sir George Etheridge; Isaac Newton.'

There are now several inserted
papers and slips. The two last leaves
of the MS. as now made up (foil. 104,
105), belong to neither section of it,
but have been brought in from else-
where, possibly from loose Rawlinson
papers.

' Anthony Wood has marked it as

' G. jo' of his Alhenae Collections
(see Clark's Wood's Life and Times,
iv. 232), thus showing that he looked
on it as his own property.

In this index or on blank pages in
the treatise, some are mentioned for
their lives to be written, of whom no
account is found here or elsewhere
in the biographical collections : — e. g.
Mr. (Thomas) lilundeville ; (Henry)
Bond; Mr. Robert Hues; Mr.(Thomas)

Lidyate; Mr Phale (i.e. Thomas

Fale); Edmund Wingate.

" ' For ' subst. for ' in order to the
writing.'

i6

Aubrey* s 'Brief Lives*

of a good Latin stile, and to adde what is ^ already in his
printed booke'' to these following*^ minutes.

'I will not meddle with our own-writers'' in the mathe-
maticks before the reigne of king Henry VIII, but prefix
those excellent verses of Mr. John Selden (with a learned
commentary to them) which are printed before a booke in-
tituled (Arthur) Hopton's Concordance of year es^,sc\\\cet: —

MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 69 : — ' Sir Edward Shirbourn, some-
where in his translation and notes upon Manilius, has
enumerated our English mathematicians, and hath given
short touches of their lives — which see.'

3. The first step towards it would be to pick out the
mathematicians from the lives already written by Aubrey.

MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 51'': — 'I would have the lives of
John Dee, Sir Henry Billingsley, the two Digges (father
and Sonne), Mr. Thomas Hariot, Mr. (Walter) Warner,
Mr. (Henry) Brigges, and Dr. (John) Pell's, to be putt
together. — As to the account of Mr. Hariot, Mr. Warner,
and Mr. Brigges, I recieved it from Dr. Pell.'

MS. Aubr. 9 : a folio, containing fifty-five leaves, and in
addition several printed papers.

The title is found on fol. 28 (as now marked) of the MS. : —
' Supplementum vitae Thomae Hobbes,
Malmesburiensis,

HOBBI f jucunda senectus,
Cujus erant mores qualis facundia, mite
Ingenium. — Juvenal, Sai. iv. v. 81.

Extinctus amabitur. —

HORAT. Epist. I. lib. 2.

I. A.'

I. A. = Aubrey's initials.

" ' Is ' subst. fcr ' Mr. Wood haz.'
Hist, et Atitiq. Univ. Oxo7i.,
1674.

'These following' subst. for 'my.'

^ Aubrey queries 'Is John Escnidus
mentioned among them ? '
" Lond. 16 1 6.

' Written at first ' Venit et Hobbi.'

Description of the MSS.

17

The reason for this title was that Aubrey intended his
Collections to be a sort of commentary on Hobbes' short
Latin autobiography, which was in the press in Febr. i6|^~,
and was published in Nov. 1680 (Clark's Wood's Ltfe and
Times, ii. 480, 500).

But Anthony Wood (MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 28) objected :—
'What need you say Supplimentum ? ' sic 'pray say the
life of Thomas Hobbs.' And Aubrey, in obedience to this,
changed the short title on fol. 30 (see the beginning of the
life) ; and on the parchment cover of the MS. (now fol. i)
wrote : —

' The life of
Mr. Thomas Hobbes,
of Malmsbury,
by

Mr. John Aubrey,
Fellow of the Royall Societie,

10 8 (T-

Aubrey set about this Life of Hobbes immediately
after Hobbes' death, partly as a tribute of respect to his
friend's memory, but apparently also in fulfilment of
a promise to the deceased. The preface * is as follows: —

' Lectori.

'Tis religion to performe the will of the dead ; which
I here'' dischardge, with my promise (1667) to my old
friend Mr. T(homas) H(obbes), in publishing^ his life
and performing the last office to my old ^ friend
Mr. Thomas Hobbes, whom I have had the honour to
know (from) my child-hood®, being his countreyman and
borne in Malmesbury hundred and taught my grammar
by his schoolmaster ^.

Since nobody knew so many particulars of his life as

» MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 29. Aubrey Subst. for 'now.'

notes in the margin : — ' The vKrj of the Subst. for ' setting forth.'

preface to the life written by Mr. H. Subst. for 'honoured.'

him selfe in (the) third person'; » Dupl. with 'pueritia mea.'

intending I suppose to consult it in re- ' Dupl. with ' having both the same

modelling his own draft preface. schoolmaster.'
I. C

i8

Aitbrey^s 'Brief Lives*

myselfe, he was willing" that if I survived him, it should
be handed to posterity by my hands, which I declare and
avow to do ingenuously and impartially, to prevent mis-
reports and undecieve those who are scandalized by . . .

One sayes ^ that when a learned man dyes, a great
deal of learning dyes with him. He was ' flumen ingenii,'
never dry. The recrcvicnta " of so learned a person are
t We read that valueablcf. Amougst innumerable observables
ra"mp^^''a" ^^"^ which had deserved to be sett downe,

fq^'aaerenoLen) ^hcse few (that have not scap't^ my memory)
hath been sold J humbly offer ^ to the present age and
'Ada^'tl'lnd"' posterity, tanqumn iabulaiii naufragii %, and
^ificffaS'i plankes and lighter things swimme, and are

BKackbume). pj-gserved, where the more weighty sinke and
are lost. And^ as with the light after sun-sett — at which
time, clear ^; by and by*, comes the crepitsailum \ then,
totall darkenes — in like manner is it with matters of
antiquitie. Men thinke, because every body remembers
a memorable accident shortly after 'tis donne, 'twill never
be forgotten, which for want of registring at last is
drowned in oblivion. Which ^ reflection haz been a hint,
that by my meanes many antiquities have been reskued
and presen-ed (I myselfe now inclining ° to be ancient °) —
or els utterly lost and forgotten.

For that I am so minute, I declare I never intended it,
but setting downe in my first p draught every particular i,
(with purpose, upon review, to retrench what was super-

' Dupl. with ' desired.'

•> .See in tlie life of Selden.
In a marginal note Aubrey re-
marks ' meliorate this word.' Another
note is ' Quaere of the preface of this
Supplement,' i. e., I suppose, ask some
one's opinion whether it will do or
not

^ Dupl. with 'will <be>.'
^ Dui l. with 'slipt.'
' Dupl. with ' (Itt' i. e. dedicate.
8 Subst. for ' But for that the recre-
mmta of such a person are valueable.

It is with matters of antiquity as with
the sett . . .'

h Subst. for 'good Light.'

' Dupl. with ' so many degrees, etc'

* Dupl. with ' entring.'

' Subst. for 'This.'

™ 'From oblivion' followed ; scored
out.

° Dupl. with ' growing.'
° Dupl. with ' senescens.^
P Dupl. with 'rude.'
1 Dupl. with ' thing.'
Dupl. with 'cutt off.'

Description of the MSS.

19

fluous and triviall), I shewed it to some friends of mine
(who also were of Mr. Hobbes's acquaintance) whose
judgments I much vakie, who gave their opinion : and
'twas clearly their judgement % to let all stand ; for though
to soome at present it might appeare too triviall ; yet
hereafter 'twould not be scorned but passe for antiquity.

And besides I have precedents of reverend writers to
t Dean Fell plcad, who have in some lives f recited things
hfs moTh'er'^s'^ triviall nay, the sayings and actions of
Ifctir^^ good woemen.

rema^qu'es of ^ ^1^1 also to bcg pardon of the reader for
i?'ifii"iife,'"°"'' two long digressions, viz. Malmesbury and
written by him. Gorambcry ; but this also was advised, as the
only way to preserve them, and which I have donne for
the sake of the lovers of antiquity. I hope its novelty and
pleasantness will make compensation for its length.

Yours %

I. A.'

In MS. Aubr. 9, fol. aS'' are two letters by Aubrey,
asking advice in connexion with this life.

i. Aubrey to Anthony Wood.
' To his honoured friend Mr. Anthony a Wood, Master
of Arts, at Merton College in Oxon.

Deare friend !

I have hastily writt this third draught, which
I hope is legible : I have not time to read it over.
Pray peruse it as soon as you can, for time dravves on.
Dr. Blackburne and I will be diligent in it and will doe
yo2i. all the right ^ your heart can wish. I thought together
with this to have sent you the transcript of Mr. Hobbes'
life revised by himselfe but am prevented by hast, and 'tis
the last day of the terme. I will send it suddenly.

" Dupl. with 'sense,' 'opinion.' ' Iiiconnexion with the controversy

*" Dupl. with 'slighted.' originated by Dr. Fell's excisions in

Dupl. with ' goe.' Wood's notice of Hobbes in his Hist.

■* Dupl. with ' meane.' et Antiq. Univ. Oxon., 1674, see

e Subst. for ' Tuus^ Clark's Wood's Zz/i? a«(/7'/OT«,ii. 291.

C 2

20 Aubrey^ s 'Brief Lives'

My service to Mr. Pigot. I am, Sir, your affectionate
friend and servant,

Jo : Aubrey.

London Feb. 12,

Why might not his two sheetes Of heresie be bound up
with this to preserve it and propagate trueth ?

I know here be severall tautologies ; but I putt them
downe thus here, that upon reviewe I should judge where
such or such a thing would most aptly stand.

Why should not Dr. Blackbourne in the life of Mr. H.
written by him selfe quote that of A. Wood in the margent
for a blindation, because there are in great part the very
same words ? '

ii. Aubrey to Richard Blackburne.

' Dr. Blackbourne !

Pray advise me whether 'twould not shew hand-
somest to begin with a description of Malmesbury, and
then to place Mr. H. pedigre?

But, with all, should not

" Thomas Hobbes was borne at Malmesbury, Apr. . . .
1588 a"

be the initiall and, as it were, textual!, line ?

Shall I in the first place putt Mr. H. life donne by
himselfe ? (If so, whether in Latin, or English, or both ?)
Or else, shall I intersperse it with these animadversions ?

I could begin with a pleasant description of Malmesbury,
etc., (all new and untoucht) 14 leaves in 8vo, which his verses
will lead me to, and which Ant. Wood seemes to desire.

Pray be my Aristarchus, and correct and marke what
you thinke fitt. First draughts'* ought to be rude as those
of paynters, for he that in his first essay will be curious in
refining will certainly be unhappy in inventing.

Doctor, I am your affectionate and humble servant.

J. A.

MS. has ' 1688,' by a slip. •> Dupl. with 'sketches.'

The Old Edition

21

I will speake to Fleetwood Shepherd to engage the
earl of Dorset to write in the old gentleman's praise.

Should mine be in Latin or English or both ? (And
by whome the Latin, if so ?) Is my English style well
enough

Other MSS. A few additional lives, and portions of lives,
of persons mentioned in these four biographical volumes,
have been brought in from letters by Aubrey in MS.
Ballard 14 and in MS. Wood F 39 and F 49.

Three lives, in fair copy, by Aubrey, are found in MS.
Rawlinson D. 727, foil. 93-96, and have been given here.
They were formerly in Anthony Wood's hands : see
Clark's Wood's Life atid Times, iv. 192, note.

MS. Aubr, 21, a volume made up in the Ashmolean
library from siftings out of Aubrey MSS. and papers ; MS.
Aubr. 22, a collection of grammatical tracts, brought
together by Aubrey with a view to a treatise on education ;
MS. Aubr. 23, a volume of 125 leaves, dated on fol. 8 as
' CoUectio geniturarum, made London May 29, 1674,' but
on the title as ' 1677 : for the (Ashmolean) Musaeum ' ;
MS. Aubr. 26, ' Faber fortunae,' i. e. projects for retrieving
Aubrey "s fortunes have yielded additional matter.

V. The Old Edition.

The pith of these lives was extracted by Anthony Wood,
and incorporated in his Athenae, vol. i. in 1691, vol. ii. in
1692, and the 'appendix' left in MS. at his death
(published in the second edition of the Athenae in 1721).

The MSS. of Aubrey's 'Lives' were placed in the library
of the Ashmolean Museum, in the personal custody of the
Keeper, Edward Lhwyd, in 1693. Aubrey, writing'' to
Thomas Tanner, intimates that his MSS. will show how
greatly Wood's Athenae was indebted to his help, and

" Anthony Wood has jotted here 1693, is found in MS. Tanner 25,
' 'Tis well.' fol. 59.

Aubrey's letter, dated June i,

22

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

makes a special request that Wood shall not know that
they have been placed in the Museum.

Beginning" on Sept. 16, 1792, Edmund Malone made
a transcript of 174 lives from the three MSS. (MS. Aubr.
6, 7, 8), with notes, with a view to publication. The first
volume of this contained folios 1-152, forty-four lives of
poets and sixty-eight of prose writers. It is now in the
Bodleian, by the gift of C. E. Doble, Esq. ; but mutilated,
folios 126-152 having been torn off from the end of the
volume. The second volume, containing folios ^^2>~?>^^'>
sixty-two lives, was MS. 9405 in Sir Thomas Phillipps'
library, was mentioned in Notes and Queries (8 S. vii.
375), and has recently been bought by the Bodleian.

Some years later, James Caulfield, of London, publisher,
arranged for the issue of a select number of biographies
from Aubrey's MSS., illustrated by engravings from
originals in the Ashmolean and elsewhere. They were
to appear under the title of ' The Oxford Cabinet ' ; and
one part, 32 pp., a very pretty book, was published at
London in 1797. This part contains the lives of William
Aubrey, Francis Bacon, John Barclay, and Francis Beau-
mont, with engravings (inter alia) of Aubrey's drawings
of Verulam House, and Bacon's fishponds. At this point
the Keeper of the Ashmolean, at Malone's instance, with-
drew the permission which had been granted to Curtis
to transcribe for Caulfield. The reason given was that
Curtis had taken away papers and title-pages from Oxford
libraries, and was not to be trusted in the Ashmolean —
see Macray's Annals of the Bodleian, p. 273.

The dates, however, suggest that Malone's action may
have been in part inspired by a wish to keep the course
clear for his own project. The transcription made for
Caulfield, although not always accurate in point of spelling,
is by no means badly done : certainly it is much better
than that which was made for the later issue.

In 1813 appeared ''Letters ivritten by Eminent Persons
. . . and Lives of Eminent Men by John Aubrey^ Esq. . . .

" Malone's note in Mr. Doble's MS.

TJie Old Edition

23

from the originals in the Bodleian Library and Ash-
molean Museum : in two volumes.' The editors are said to
have been Dr. Philip Bliss and the Rev. John Walker,
Fellow of New College.

The Lives by Aubrey occupy pp. 197-637 of Volume II.

Dr. Bliss's interests were bibliographical, and he was not
careful " to collate with original MSS. either the printed
text of earlier editions or transcripts made for himself.
As a result, that issue of Aubrey's Lives, although making
accessible the greater portion of what is interesting in
the originals, is marred by many grave blunders and
arbitrary omissions.

A comparison of a few pages of Dr. Bliss's edition with
Aubrey's MS. copy suggests a troublesome question in
English textual criticism. If two eminent Oxford scholars
in the beginning of the nineteenth century could thus
pervert their author's meaning, can we have trust in the
earlier redaction of greater texts, such as Shakespeare ?

" I have shown this as regards the
text of Anthony Wood's Life; and
I hope some day to show it in the

much more important matter of the
text of the Athenae.

THE 'LIVES'

George Abbot (i 562-1 633).

* Archbishop Abbot was borne in the howse of old
Flemish building, timber and brick, now an alehouse,
the signe ' Three Mariners/ by the river's side by the
bridge on the north side of the street in St. Nicholas
parish on the right hand as you goe out of the towne
northwards.

** Old Nightingale was his servant, and weepes when he
talkes of him. Every one that knew, loved him. He was
sometimes cholerique.

He was borne the first howse over the bridge on the
right hand in St. Nicholas parish (Guildford). He was
the Sonne of a sherman ^ His mother, with child of
him, longed for a jack, and dream't that if shee could
eate a jack, her son should be a great man. The next
morning, goeing to the river, which runs by the howse
(which is by the bridge), with her payle, to take up some
water, a good jack came into her payle. Which shee
eat up, all, her selfe. This is generally recieved for
a trueth.

His godfather and godmothers sent him to the Uni-
versity, his father not being able.

* Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 223; Sept. 16, 1673.
** Idem, ibid., fol. 221; Aug. 10, 1673.
» Sic, substituted for ' cloth-worker.'

Sir Robert Alton

25

Sir Robert Aiton (1570-1638).

* Sir Robert Aiton ^, knight ; — he lies buried in the south
aisle of the choire of Westminster abbey, where there is
erected to his memory an elegant marble and copper
monument and inscription — viz.

This long inscription is in copper : —

M. S.

Clarissimi, omnigenaque virtute et eruditione (presertim poesi)
ornatissimi equitis, Domini Roberti Aitoni, ex antiqua et illustri gente
Aitona ad Castrum Kinnadinum apud Scotos oriundi : qui a serenissimo
rage Jacobo in cubicula interiora admissus ; in Germaniam ad impera-
torem imperiique principes, cum libello regio regiae authoritatis vindice,
legatus ; ac primum Annae, demum Mariae, serenissimis Britanniarum
reginis, ab epistolis, consiliis, et libellis supplicibus ; necnon Xeno-
dochio S''^® Catharinae praefectus ; anima Creatori reddita, hie, depo-
sitis mortalibus exuviis, secundum redemptoris adventum expectat.

Carolum linquens, repetit Parentem ;

Et valedicens Mariae, revisit

Annam ; et Aulaei decus alto Olympi
Mutat honore.

Obiit coelebs in Regia Albaula, non sine maximo bonorum omnium
luctu et moerore :

Aetat. suae LXVIII, Salut. humanae MDCXXXVIII.
Hoc devoti gratique animi testimonium optimo patruo, Jo. Aitonus,
M.L.P.

In white marble at the bottome of the vionunient : —

Musarum decus hic, patriaeque, aulaeque, domique
Et foris exemplar, sed non imitabile, honesti.

His bust is of copper, curiously cast, with a laurell held
over it by two figures of white marble.

That Sir Robert was one of the best poets of his time —
Mr. John Dreyden sayes he has seen verses of his, some
of the best of that age, printed with some other verses —
quaere.

He was acquainted with all the witts of his time in
England. He was a great acquaintance of Mr. Thomas
Hobbes of Malmesbury, whom Mr. Hobbes told me he
made use of (together with Ben Johnson) for an Aris-

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 1 16.

26

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

tarchus, when he made his Epistle Dedicatory to his
translation of Thucydides. I have been told (I think by
Sir John himself) that he was eldest brother to Sir John
Ayton, Master of the Black Rod, who was also an excellent
scholar.

ICote.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' . . . , on a cross engrailed between 4
crescents a rose,' with the motto

' Et decerpta dabnnt odorem.'
He encircles the coat of arms with a laurel wreath, as is his custom when it is
a poet whose life he is writing.

Aldsworth.

* . . . Aldsworth, mathematical boyes.

** Memorandum : — the patent for the mathematicall
blew-coate boj'es at Christ Church in London was dated
'iiyth August in the 25th yeare of the reigne of king
Charles the second' (1673).

Thomas Allen {1542-1632).

Thomas Allen, Trin. Coll. Oxon. — Elias Ashmole,
esqr., (has) the MSS. of Thomas Allen's commentary on
the second and third bookes of Ptolomey's Quadripartite ■\

**** Thomas Allen — vide Anthony Wood s {Hist, ety
Antiq. {Ujiiv.} Oxon.

Mr. Thomas Allen ' was borne in Staffordshire.

Mr. Theodore Haak, a German, Regiae Societatis Socius,
was of Glocester Hall, 1626, and knew this learned worthy
old gentleman, whom he takes to have been about ninety-
six yeares old when he dyed, which was about 1630 (vide).

The learned (Edmund) Reynolds, who was turned Catho-
t Memorandum lique t by his brother the learned Dr. (John)
made on tiieir Rcynolds, President of Corpus Xti Colledge,
sions-which was of Gloccstcr Hall then too. They were
^dia inter . . . both Hcer of an age, and they dyed both within

plusquam civilia r 1 > 1 tt 11

fratrcs. 1 2 moncthcs onc of th othcr He was at both

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 5 : in the index, *** MS. Aubr. S, fol. 14'.

as a life to be written. •'' MS. Ashmole, 3S8.

** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 6. **** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 95''.

Thomas Allen

27

their funeralls. Mr. Allen came into the hall to commons,
but Mr. Reynolds had his brought to his chamber.

He sayes that Mr. Allen was a very cheerfull, facetious
man, and that every body loved his company, and every
bowse on their Gmidie-daycs were wont to invite him.

His picture was drawne at the request of Dr. Ralph
Kettle, and hangs in the dining roome of the President of
Trin. Coll. Oxon. (of which house he first was, and had
his education there) by which it appeares that he was
a handsome sanguine man, and of an excellent habit
of bodie.

There is mention of him in Leicester s Coinvionwealth^
that the great Dudley, earle of Leicester, made use of
him for ca.sting nativities, for he was the best astrologer
of his time. He hath written a large and learned com-
mentary, in folio, on the Quadripartite of Ptolemie, which
Elias Ashmole hath in MS. fairly written, and I hope will
one day be printed.

In those darke times astrologer, mathematician, and
conjurer, were accounted the same things ; and the vulgar
did verily beleeve him to be a conjurer. He had a great
many mathematicall instruments and glasses in his
chamber, which did also confirme the ignorant in their
opinion, and his servitor (to impose on freshmen and
simple people) would tell them that sometimes he should
t J Power^ meet the spirits comeing up his staires like bees.
<s^Mfchaei Onef of our parishj was of Glocester Hall about
Wilts). yeares and more since, and told me this

from his servitor. Now there is to some men a great
lechery in lying, and imposing on the understandings of
beleeving people, and he thought it for his credit to serve
such a master.

He was generally acquainted, and every long vacation,
he rode into the countrey to visitt his old acquaintance
and patrones, to whom his great learning, mixt with much
sweetnes of humour, rendred him very welcome. One
time being at Horn Lacy^' in Herefordshire, at Mr. John

* By Robert Parsons, S.J, i.e. Holm Lacy.

28

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Scudamores (grandfather to the lord Scudamor), he
happened to leave" his watch in the chamber windowe —
(watches were then rarities) — The maydes came in to
make the bed, and hearing a thing in a case cry Tick,
Tick, Tick, presently concluded that that was his Devill,
and tooke it by the string with the tongues '', and threw it
out of the windowe into the mote (to'= drowne the Devill.)
It so happened that the string hung on a sprig of an elder
that grew out of the mote, and this confirmed them that
'twas the Devill. So the good old gentleman gott his
watch again.

Sir Kenelm Digby loved him much (vide Sir K. Digby's
Life (p.) 69 <i), and bought his excellent library of him,
which he gave to the University. I have a Stifelius'
Arithmetique that was his, which I find he had much
perused, and no doubt mastered. He was interred in
Trinity College Chapell, (quaere where : as I take it,
the outer Chapell.) George Bathurst * B.D. made his
funerall oration in Latin, which was printed. 'Tis pitty
there had not been his name on a ^ stone over him.

*) Thomas Allen. . . . left the house ^ because he would
not take orders.

Queen Elizabeth sent for him to have his advice about
the new star that appeared in the Swan or Cassiopeia (but
I think the Swan), to which he gave his judgment very
learnedly.

He was great-uncle to Mr. (Henry) Dudley, the
minister of Broadhinton in Wilts (1665).

Notes.

1 Thomas Allen, of Staffordshire, aged 17, was elected Scholar of Trinity,
June 4, 1561, and Fellow, June 19, 1564. His retirement to Gloucester Hall
was no doubt to avoid the Oath of Supremacy imposed by Elizabeth on members
on the foundation of the Colleges. Edmund Reynolds, in the same way, retired
to Gloucester Hall, vacating his fellowship in Corpus Christi College.

^ Edmund Reynolds died Nov. 21, 1630; Thomas Allen died Sept. 30, 1632.

* Dupl. with 'forgett.'
i. e. tongs.

Subst. for ' to have drowned.'
^ i. e. fol. 99, of MS. Aubr. 6.

« Subst. for ' the.'
* Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39,
fol. 142^: Oct. 27, 1671.
' Trinity College.

Charles Alleyn. Lancelot Andrewes 29

^ This will serve to show how imperfectly the names in the Matriculation-
register represent those who actually studied in Oxford. The Matric. register
gives ' Zachaiy Power, e com. Wilts.,' as matriculating at Gloucester Hall,
Nov. 3, 1609: but omits his elder brother John Power (mentioned in MS.
Aubr. 3, fol. 48, as being 40 in 1624, when Zachary was 32).

* George Bathurst, of Ga(r)sington, Oxon, aged 16, was elected Scholar
of Trinity June 6, 1626, and Fellow June 8, 1631 ; B. D. 1640. His Oralio
funebris on Allen was publ. London 1632.

Charles Alleyn (obiit 1640?).

* Charles Alleyn, who wrote the Battailes of Agencourt,
Poitiers, and Crescy, was usher to Mr. Thomas Farnaby.

Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626).

** Lancelot Andrewes^, lord bishop of Winton, was
borne in London ; went to schoole at Merchant Taylors
schoole. Mr. Mulcaster ^ was his schoolemaster, whose
picture he hung in his studie (as Mr. Thomas Fuller,
Holy State).

Old Mr. Sutton, a very learned man of those dayes,
of Blandford St. Maries, Dorset, was his school fellowe,
and sayd that Lancelot Andrewes was a great long boy
of 18 yeares old at least before he went to the university.

He was a fellowe* of Pembroke-hall, in Cambridge
(called Collegmm Episcopormn, for that, at one time, in
those dayes, there were of that house . . . bishops).

The Puritan faction did begin to increase in those dayes,
and especially at Emanuel College. That party had
a great mind to drawe in this learned young man, whom
if they could make theirs, they knew would be a great
honour to them. They carried themselves outwardly with
great sanctity and strictnesse, so that 'twas very hard matter

to as to their lives. They preached up very strict

keeping and observing the Lord's day; made, upon the
matter, damnation to breake it, and that 'twas lesse sin
to kill a man then . . . Yet these hypocrites did bowle
in a private green at their colledge every Sunday after

♦ MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 42'. ** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 27.

" Elected Fellow in 157G.

3^

Aubrey^ s 'Brief Lives'

sermon ; and one of the colledge (a loving friend to
Mr. L. Andrewes) to satisfie him one time lent him the
key of a private back dore to the bowling green, on
a Sunday evening, which he opening, discovered these
zealous preachers, with their gownes off, earnest at play.
But they were strangely surprized to see the entrey of
one that was not of i/w brotherhood.

There was then at Cambridge a good fatt alderman
that was wont to sleep at church, which the alderman
endeavoured to prevent but could not. Well ! this was
preached against as a signe of reprobation. The good
man was exceedingly troubled at it, and went to Andrewes
his chamber to be satisfied in point of conscience.
Mr. Andrewes told him that (it) was an ill habit of body
not of mind, and that it was against his will ; advised him
on Sundays to make a more sparing meale and to mend
it at supper. The alderman did so, but sleepe comes
upon (him) again for all that, and was preached at.
(He) comes againe to be resolved, with tears in his eies ;
Andrewes then told him he would have him make a good
heartie meale as he w^as wont to doe, and presently take
out his full sleep. He did so*; came to St. Marie's ^
where the preacher w^as prepared with a sermon to damne
all w^ho slept at sermon, a certaine signe of reprobation.
The good alderman having taken his full nap before,
lookcs on the preacher all sermon time, and spoyled the
designe. — But I should have sayd that Andrewes was
most extremely spoken against and preached against for
offering to assoile or excuse a sleeper in sermon time.
But he had learning and witt enough to* defend himselfe.

His great learning quickly made him known in the
university, and also to King James, who much valued
him for it, and advanced him, and at lasf^ made him
bishop of Winchester, which bishoprick he ordered with
great prudence as to government of the parsons, pre-

" Subst. for 'he followed his advice.'
1* ' To St. Marie's' subst. for ' to church.' * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 27'.

In l6l|.

Lancelot Andrewes

31

ferring of ingeniose persons that were staked to poore
livings and did delitescere. He made it his enquiry to
find out such men. Amongst severall others '^whose names
have escaped my memorie) Nicholas Fuller (he wrote
Critica Sacra) minister of AUington necr Amesbury
in Wilts, was one. The bishop sent for him, and the
poor man was afrayd and knew not what hurt he had
donne. (He) makes him sitt downe to dinner; and,
after the desert, was brought in in a dish his institution
and induction, or the donation, of a prebend : which was
his way. He chose out alvvayes able men to his chaplaines,
whom he advanced. Among others, (Christopher) Wren,
of St. John's in Oxon, was his chaplaine. a good generall
scholar and good orator, afterwards deane of Winsore,
from whom (by his son in lawe. Dr. William Holder)
I have taken this exact account of that excellent prelate.

His Life is before his Sermons, and also his epitaph,
which see. He dyed at Winchester house, in Southwark,
and lies buried in a chapell at St. Mary Overies, where
his executors . . . Salmon M. D. and Mr. John Saint-
lowe, merchant of London, have erected (but I beleeve
according to his lordship's will, els they would not have
layed out icoo/z.) a sumptuose monument for him.

He had not that smooth way of oratory as now. It
was a shrewd and severe animadversion of a Scotish lord,
who, when king James asked him how he liked bp. A.'s
sermon, sayd that he was learned, but he did play with
his text, as a Jack-an-apes does, who takes up a thing and
tosses and playes with it, and then he takes up another,
and playes a little with it. Here's a pretty thing, and
there's a pretty thing!

* Bishop Andrews : vide the inscription before his
Sermons.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives the coat : — ' See of Winchester ; impaling . . ., 3 mullets on
a bend engrailed and cottiseJ . . .,' ensigned with a mitre or, and encircled by
the Garter motto.

^ Richard Mulcaster, Head Master of Merchant Taylors' Scliool, 1561-1586.
* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9.

32

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Francis Anthony (1550-1623).

* Dr. [Francis*] Anthony, the chymist, Londinensis,
natus 16 Aprilis, 1550, i^. P.M., Virgo 0° 3' ascend.

Quaere A (nthony) W {cod) if of Oxon or Cam-
bridge ''.

Scripsit 2 Hbros, viz. : — Aiiriim potabile, and his Defense
against Dr. (Matthew) Gwyn (who wrote a booke called
Aurtan non Aurum). This is all that Mr. Littlebury,
bookeseller, remembers.

He lived in St. Bartholomew's close, London, where he
dyed, and is, I suppose, buried there, about 30 yeares since ^,
scil. 1652.

Vide his nativity in Catalogue ^.

He had a sonne who wrote something, I thinke (quaere
Mr. Littlebury) ; and a daughter maried to . . . Montague,
a bookeseller in Duck-lane, who in Oliver's time was
a soldier in Scotland.

A'otes.

' Wood notes here ' so that by this reckoning,' i. e. if bom in 1550 ut supra,
' he was 102.'

* i.e., I suppose, in MS. Aubrey 23 (Aubrey's Collectio Genitiiraruni), where
at fol. 121, among nativities from Dr. Richard Napier's papers, is: — 'Dr.
Anthony, Londinensis, who made aurum potabile at London, natus 16 April,
1550, i" P.M.'

Thomas Archer (i 554-1 630?).

Mr. Archer, rector of Houghton Conquest, was a good
scholar in King James's (the ist) dayes, and one (of) his
majestie's chaplains.

He had two thick 4to MSS. of his own collection ; one,
joci and tales etc., and discourses at dinners ; the other,
of the weather. I have desired parson Poynter'^, his
successor, to enquire after them, but I find him slow
in it. No doubt there are delicate things to be found
there.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 2i\
" Added by Anthony Wood.

He was M.A., Cambridge, 1574.

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. i'.
Thomas Poynter, rector of Hough-
ton Conquest, Beds., 1676-1700.

JoJin Ashindon. Deborah Aubrey 33

John Ashindon (obiit 13 — ?).

* Johannes Escuidus* Merton College : — Elias Ashmole,
esq., hath the corrected booke by the originall MSS. of
Merton College library, now lost, which is mentioned in
Mr. William Lilly's almanack 1674, a folio.

Amongst many other rarities he haz a thin folio MS.
of Alkindus in Latin.

** Johannes Escuidus : — Summa astrologiae judicialis,
in folio, Venetiis, 1489. — It is miserably printed, he sayes
there ; and that he was a student of Merton College
Oxford. — Mr. Elias Ashmole has the booke.

Elias Ashmole (1617 -1692).

*** Memorandum — the lives of John Dee, Dr. (Richard)
Nepier, Sir William Dugdale, William Lilly, Elias Ash-
mole'', esq., — Mr. Ashmole haz and will doe those himselfe:
as he told me formerly but nowe he seemes to faile.

Deborah Aubrey (i6fi^-i68f).

**** Mris. Deborah Aubrey, my honoured mother, was
borne at Yatton-Kaynes, viilgo West-Yatton, in the parish
of Yatton-Keynel in com. Wilts., January 29**^ 1609'',
mane.

In a letter from my mother, dated Febru. 3'', i6|§, she
tells me she was seaventie yeares old the last Thursday
[29 Januarii] — quod N. B.

Her accidents.

My mother was maried at 15 yeares old.

She fell sick of a burning feaver at Langford, Somerset.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. •> In MS. Ballard 14, fol. 19, 20 is

"John Ashindon (or Eastwood): an autobiography dictated by Ashmole

see Brodrick's Memorials of Merton to Robert Plot, to be sent to Anthony

(O. H. .S.), p. 200. Wood, Dec. 29, 1683.

** Aubrey, in MS. Wood, F. 39, Added later by Aubrey to his note,

fol. 229: Sept. 22, 1673. **** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 81", 82.

*** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. lo".
I. D

34 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

She was taken on the 6*^ June 1675 ; feaver there againe in
July 1675.

She was borne Jan. 29*'', morning, scil. the day before
the anniversary-day of the king's decollation. She was
15 yeares old and as much as from January to June when
she was maried.

She fell from her horse and brake her . . . arme the last
day of Aprill (1649 or 50) when I was a suitor to Mris
Jane Codrington.

Lettre, Aug. 8, 1681 : — she was lately ill three weekes
and now her eies are a little sore.

Memorandum : 6 Januarie i68§, my mother writes to
me that she is 73 yeares of age.

Note.

She died at Chalk in Jan. i68f, and was buried at Kingston S. Michael ; so
in a letter by Aubrey to Anthony Wood, May 11, 1686, in MS. Ballard 14,
fol. 139.

John Aubrey (1626-1697).

(These autobiographical jottings are found in MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 3-5.
They have been printed, with a few slips and slight omissions, in John
Britton's Memoir of J. Aubrey., London, 1845, pp. 12-17. Aubrey
(fol. 3) directs that the paper is ' to be interposed as a sheet of wast
paper only in the binding of a booke ' ; and appends to this direction
the motto : —

' I presse not to the choire ^ . . .
Thus devout penitents of old were wont,
Some without dore, and some beneath the font.

Mr. Thomas Carew.'

Aubrey gives (fol. 3) an (incomplete) drawing of his own horoscope,
on the scheme : —

'i^ natus i62f, March nth, 17'^ 14' 44" p.m. . . (tempus
verum), sub latitudine 51° 30'.'

In MS. Aubr. 21, fol. no, is Charles Snell's calculation of Aubrey's
nativity, on the scheme

'Sunday, 12 Martii 1626, 5** 13' 40" A.M., natus Johannes Aubreius,
armiger, sub polo 51° 06.' The astrologers of the time used sometimes
the English, and sometimes the Italian, enumeration of the hours.}

* 'Nor dare I' followed, scored out.

Astronomical symbols omitted.

John Aubrey

35

* I. A\

His life'' is more remarqueable in an astrologicall respect '
then for any advancement of learning ^, having from his
birth (till of late yeares) been labouring under a crowd of
ill directions : for his escapes of many dangers ^, in journeys
both by land and water, 40 yeares.

He was borne (longaevous, healthy kindred *) at Easton
Pierse^, a hamlet in the parish of Kington Saint Michael
in the hundred of Malmesbury in the countie of Wilts, his
mother's ^ (daughter and heir of Mr. Isaac Lyte) inherit-
ance, March the 12 (St. Gregorie's day'^), A. D. 1625*^,
about sun-riseing, being very weake and like to dye that
he was christned before morning prayer.

I gott not strength till I was 11 or 12 yeares old; but
had sicknesse ® of vomiting for 1 2 houres every fortnight
for . . . yeares, then about monethly, then quarterly, and at
last once in halfe a yeare. About 12 it ceased.

When a boy, bred at Eston, an ^ eremiticall solitude.
Was s very curious ; his greatest delight to be continually
with the artificers that came there (e. g. joyners, carpenters,
coupers, masons), and understood their trades.

1634'', was entred in his Latin grammar by Mr. R(obert)
Latimer', rector of Leigh de-la-mere, a mile's fine walke,
who had an easie way of teaching : and every time we askt
leave to goe forth, we had a Latin word from him which
at our returne we were^ to tell him again — which in a little
while amounted to a good number of words. 'Twas my
unhappinesse in half a yeare to loose this good enformer
by his death, and afterwards was under severall dull
ignorant rest ''-in ^-house teachers'" till J 638 (12'), at

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 3. ' Subst. for 'a place for solitude

* Aubrey's favourite way of writing like an . . .'

his initials. A is his favourite mono- ^ I'^e notes slide from i=,t to 3rd

o Explained in the margin as being ' i.e. at 12 years of age.
' the belly-akc : paine in the side.'

gram.

Dupl. with 'This person's life.'
Subst. for ' being.'
i. e. i62f.

person.

Subst. for ' at 9,' scil. years of age.
' Subst. for ' must re(peat),'
Reading doubtful, blurred.

D a

36

A iihreys 'Brief Lives '

which time I was sent to Blaiidford schole in Dorset
(William Sutton B.D., who was ill-natured).

Here I recovered my health, and gott my Latin and
Greeke, best of any of my contemporaries. The usher "
had (by chance) a Cowper's Dictionary, which I had never
seen before. I was then in Terence. Percieving his
method, I read all in the booke where Terence was, and
then Cicero — which was the way"^ by which I gott my
Latin. ' Twas a wonderfuU helpe to my phansie, my
reading of Ovid's Metamoi-pJiy in English by Sandys,
which made me understand the Latin the better. Also,
I mett accidentally a booke of my mother's. Lord Bacon's
Essaies, which first opened my understanding as to moralls
(for Tullie's Offices was too crabbed for my young yeares)
and the excellence ^ of the style, or hints and transitions.

was alwayes enquiring of my grandfather^ of the
old time, the rood-loft, etc., ceremonies, of the priory, etc.
At 8, I was a kind of engineer ; and I fell then to drawing,
beginning first with plaine outlines, e.g. in draughts of
curtaines. Then at 9 (crossed herein by father and school-
master), to colours, having no body to instruct me'';
copied pictures in the parlour in a table booke like ■'^

Blandfordiae, horis vacuis, I drew and painted Bates's ....
(quaere nomen libri ^•^).

I was wont (I remember) much to lament with my selfe
that I lived not in a city, e. g. Bristoll, where I might have
accesse to watchmakers, locksmiths, etc. (I did) not very
much care for grammar. (I had) apprehension enough,
but my memorie not tenacious. So that then ' was
a promising morne enough of an inventive and philoso-
phicall head. (I had a) musicall head, inventive, (wrote)
blanke verse, (had) a strong and early impulse to anti-

* Supra, p. 29.

Dupl. with ' our.'

Thomas .Stephens : see sub no-
mine.

Dupl. with ' meanes.'
" Dupl. with ' clearnesse.'
' ' At 8 y^ears of age) I,' but the

first words are scored out.

6 Isaac Lyte.

Dupl. with ' being only my owne
instructor.'

' Dupl. with ' (when) a boy.' For
' was ' he began to write ' I (had) '
but struck it out.

John Aubrey

37

quitie (strong impulse to T-j^'*). (My) witt was ahvaies
working, but not adroict for verse. (I was) ex(ceeding '')
mild of spirit ; migh(tily) susceptible of fascination.
* My idea very cleer"^'; phansie like'' a mirrour, pure
chrystal water which the least wind does disorder and
unsniooth — so noise or etc. would*".

** My uncle Anthony Browne's bay nag threw me
dangerously the Monday after Easter 1639. Just before
it I had an impulse of the briar under which I rode, which
tickled him, at the gap at the upper end of Berylane.
Deo gratias 1

*** 1642, May z^, I went^* to Oxford.

Peace

Lookt through Logique and some Ethiques.

1642, Religio Medici printed, which first opened my
understanding, which I carryed to Eston, with Sir K. D.

But now ' Bellona thundered, and as a cleare skie is
sometimes suddenly overstretch (ed) with a dismall'' cloud
and thunder, so was this serene peace' by the civill
warres through the factions of those times ; vide Homer's
Odyssey.

In August™ following my father sent for me home,
for feare.

In February . . . following, with much adoe ° I gott mj-
father to lett me to beloved Oxon againe, then a garrison
pro rege.

* i. e. to Saturn, patron of anti-
quities.

Margin frayed.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 3^

In the margin Aubrey writes
' Tacitus and Juvenal,' perhaps mean-
ing that he read these authors now,
before going up to Oxford.

* The sentence stood at first : —
' Phansie like a pure christall mirrour.'

* Soil. ' disorder my phansy.'
** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 2.

' i.e. Monday, April 15.
*** MS. Aubr, 7, fol. 3'.

" Aubrey intended to write a tint
sentence, parallel to what follows,
describing the quiet of Oxford before
the outbreak of the great war.

Sir Kenelm Digby's ' Observa-
tions on Religio Medici,' publ. in
1643.

' Dupl. with ' now did Bel-
lona . . . .'

•< Dupl. with ' black.'

' Dupl. with ' one '

™ Uupl. begun, but scored through
' J.' i. e. July.

" Dupl. with ' importunity.'

38 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

I gott Mr. Hesketh, Mr. Dobson's man, a priest, to
drawe the ruines of Osney 2 or 3 wayes before ' twas
puUd downe Now the very foundation is digged-up.

In Aprill I fell sick of the small pox at Trinity College ;
and when I recovered, after Trinity weeke % my father
sent for me into the country again : where I conversed
with none but servants and rustiques and soldiers quartred,
to my great griefe {Odi prophaniim vulgiis et arceo), for in
those dayes fathers were not acquainted with their children.
It was a most sad life to me, then in the prime of my
youth, not to have the benefitt of an ingeniose conversation
and scarce any good bookes — almost a consumption. This
sad life I did lead in the country till 1646, at which time
I gott (with much adoe) leave of my father to lett me goe
to the Middle Temple, April the 6*'' 1646 ; admitted . . .

24 June following, Oxon was surrendred, and then came
to London many of the king's party, with whom I " grew
acquainted (many of them I knew before). I loved not
debauches but their martiall conversation was not so fitt
for the muses.

Novemb. 6, I returned to Trinity College in Oxon
again to my great joy ; was much made of by the fellowes ;
had their learned conversation, lookt on bookes, musique.
Here and at Middle Temple (off and on) I (for the most
part) enjoyd the greatest felicity of my life (ingeniose
youths, as^ rosebudds, imbibe the morning dew^) till
Dec. 1648 (Christmas Eve's eve) I was sent for from
Oxon home again to my sick father, who never recovered.
Where I was engaged to looke after his country businesse
and solicite a lawe-suite.

Anno 1 65-, Octob my father dyed, leaving me

debts 1800 li. and bro(thers') portions loco //.

" Trinity Sunday, 1643, was June 4.
Subst. for ' was faine ' (to con-
verse).

Dupl. witli ' renewed ' (acquaint-
ance).

i.e. though my friends were not
debauchees, yet their conversation

was not improving. For the low
tone which grew up among Oxford
scholars from contact with the garri-
son, see Clark's Wood's Life and
Times, i. 129.

» Subst. for ' like.'

' ' Dew' is subst. for 'and sp(irit).

John Aubrey

39

Quid digni feci, hie process, viam ? Truly nothing ; only
umbrages, sc. Osney abbey ruines, etc., antiquities. Cos,
a wheatstone, exors ipse secandi, e. g. (my) universall
character"^ (:that) which was neglected and quite forgott
and had sunk had not I engaged ^ in the worke, to carry
on the worke — name them

He began to enter into pocket memorandum bookes
philosophical! and antiquarian remarques. Anno Domini
1654, at Llantrithid.

Anno 16 — I began my lawe-suite on the entaile in
Brecon^®, which lasted till . . . , and it cost me 1200

Anno 1 was to have maried Mris K, Ryves, who

died when to be maried, 2000 //. + ^, besides counting care
of her brother, 1000 per annum.

Anno 1 made my will " and settled my estate on

trustees, intending to have seen the antiquities of Rome
and Italy for . . . (years), and then to have returned and
maried, but —

Diis aliter visum est superis,

my mother, to my inexpressible griefe and ruine, hindred
this " designe, which was ^ my ruine.

* My estate (was of) value 100 li. fere + Brecon.

Then debts and lawe-suites, opus et ustis, borrowing of
money and perpetuall riding. To my prayse, (I had)
wonderfull credit in the countrey for money. Anno . . .
sold manor of Bushelton in Herefordshire to Dr. T(homas)
Willis. Anno . . . sold the manor of Stratford in the same
county to Herbert (Croft) lord bishop of Hereford.

Then anno 1664, June 11, went into France. Oct. . . .
returned. Then Joan Sumner.

" i.e. my character throughout my
life was that I discharged the function
of a whetstone.

^ Perhaps sell. ' others.' He set
other people to work to record
matters and so rescued them from
oblivion.

The people he set to work.

i. e. her portion was to be more

than ;^2ooo, and her husband was to
be guardian of her brother's estate
(during minority?) which was worth
£1000 a year.

» Subst. for ' my.'

f Dupl. with ' was procatractique
cause ' (of my ruine).

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 4.

40

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

* Memorandum. J. Aubrey in the yeare 1666, wayting
then upon Joane Sumner to her brother at Seen in Wilts,
there made a discovery of a chalybiate waters and those
more impregnated than any waters yet heard of in
England. I sent some bottles to the Royal Society in
June 1667, which were tryed with galles before a great
assembly there. It turnes so black that you may write
legibly with it, and did there, after so long a carriage,
turne as deepe as a deepe claret. The physitians were
wonderfully surprized at it, and spake to me to recommend
it to the doctors of the Bath (from whence it is but about
10 miles) for that in some cases 'tis best to begin with
such waters and end wath the Bath, and in some vice versa.
I wrote severall times, but to no purpose, for at last I found
that, though they were satisfied of the excellency of the
waters and what the London doctors sayd was true, they
did not care to have company goe from the Bath. So
I inserted it last yeare in Mr. Lilly's almanac, and towards
the later end of summer there came so much company
that the village could not containe them, and they are now
preparing for building of houses against the next summer.
Jo(hn) Sumner sayth (whose well is the best) that it will
be worth to him 200 li. per annum. Dr. (Nehemiah)
Grew in his History of the Repository of the Royal Society
mentions this discovery, as also of the iron oare there not

taken notice of before 'tis in part iii, cap. 2, pag. 331.

** Then lawe-suite with her*. Then sold Easton-
Peirse and the farme at Broad Chalke. Lost 500 li.
(Fr. H.) + 200 //. + goods + timber. Absconded as a
banishd man.

I was in as much afiliction as a mortall could bee, and
never quiet till all was gone, (and I) wholly cast myselfe
on God's providence.

Then

In monte Dei videbitur

" Joan Sumner.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5".
** MS. Aubr. 7, fol.V

' Gen. xxii. 14.
Dnpl. with ' submitted myselfe to
God's will.'

John Aubrey

41

Monastery ^

I wished monastrys had not been putt downe, that the
reformers would have been more moderate as to that
point. Nay, the Turkes have monasteries. Why should
our reformers be so severe ? Convenience of religious
houses — Sir Christopher Wren — fitt there should be re-
ceptacles and provision for contemplative men ; if of 500,
but one or t\vo\ 'Tis compensated". What a pleasure
'twould have been to have travelled from monastery to
monastery. The reformers in the Lutheran countrys were
more prudent then to destroy them (e. g. in Holsatia, etc.) ;
(they) only altered the religion.

But notwithstanding all these embarasments I did plan
pimto (as they occur'd) take notes of antiquity ; and
having a quick draught, have drawne landskips on horse-
back symbolically, e. g. (on my) journey to Ireland in
July, Anno Domini 166-.

(The) earl of Thanet" (gave me) otinni at Hethe-
field.

(I^ had) never quiett, nor anything of happinesse till*
divested of all, 1670, 1671^^: at what time providence
raysed me (unexpectedly) good friends — the right honour-
able Nicholas, earl of Thanet, with whom I was delites-
cent at Hethfield in Kent^" neer a yeare, and then was
invited . . . ; anno . . . , Sarney ; Sir Christopher Wren ;
Mr. Ogilby ; then Edmund Wyld, esq., R(egiae) S(ocie-
tatis) S(ocius), of Glasely-hall, Salop (sed in margine),
tooke me into his armes, with whom I most commonly take
my diet and sweet otiiiiii's.

Anno 1671, having sold all and disappointed as afore-

" i. e. Aubrey then wished he could
have withdrawn into a monastery,
i. e. had been left.
?i.e. the advantages of the Re-
formation in England have drawbacks
in the disadvantages of losing monas-
teries.

^ 'tooke' in MS.

» Nicholas Tufton, 3rd earl. In

MS. Ballard 14, fol. 99, April 23,
1674, Aubrey mentions a project for
his advantage : — ' The earl of Thanct
would have me goe to his estate in the
Bermudas.'

' The paragraphs following repeat,
with some enlargement, the statements
already made.

e Dupl. with ' till all was sold.'

42

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

said of moneys I received, I had so strong an impulse
to (in good part) finish my"" Description of Wilis, two
volumes in folio, that I could not be quiet till I had donne
it, and that with danger enough, tanquam canis e Nilo,

for feare of the crocodiles, i. e. catchpolls. And indeed

all that I have donne and that little that I have studied
have been just after that fashion, so that had I not lived
long my want of leisure would have afforded but a slender
harvest of . . .

A man's spirit rises and falls with his ^ : makes me
lethargique.

* (My) stomach (was) so tender that I could not
t Once at dnnkc claret without sugar, nor white wine,
S'sco^ndin-r'"^ but would disgorge. (It was) not well ordered

Oct. anno . . . ; ,

at Weston' '■^'■'^ lU/U.

rs"oigotmy A Strange fate that I have laboured

olilhtre'd in my Under ncvcr ^ in my life to enjoy one entire
some's'iirforma- monctlie f or 6 wcckes oHtim for contemplation.
EdwarT My studies (geometry) were on horse back %,

S^GmfngiiSn^ ' and (in) the house of office: (my father
Dorset. discouraged me). My head was alwaies working;

never idle, and even travelling (which from 1649 till 1670
was never off my horsback) did gleane som observations,
of which I have a collection in folio of 2 quiers of paper 4- a
dust basket, some wherof are to be valued.
His ^ chiefe vertue, gratitude.

Tacit, lib. IV § xx : — Cneus Lentulus outre 1' honneur
du consulat et le triumphes de Getules, avoit la gloire
d'avoir vescu sans reproche dans sa pauverte, et sans

" Dupl. with ' great.'

^ Aubrey adds a reference : — ' vide
Camden's divinum instr.'

One volume is now MS. Aubr. 3 ;
the second is lost.

Aubrey's symbol for ' fortune '
or ' wealth.'

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 4'.

» The marginal note names two
exceptions.

' i.e. Ralph Sheldon's (Anthony
Wood's friend) : Aubrey was there in
1678, Clark's Wood's Life and Times,
iii. 420.

e Dupl. with 'a little.'

•> In these paragraphs Aubrey jots
down his opinions as to his own
character.

' Tac. Ann. iv. 44.

John Aubrey

43

orgueil dans son opulence ou il estoit parvenu de puis par
de voyes legitimes.

(I was) never riotous or prodigall ; but (as Sir E. Leech
said) sloath and carelesnesse (are) equivalent to all
other vices.

My fancy lay most to geometric. If ever I had been
good for anything, 'twould have been a painter, I could
fancy a thing so strongly and had so cleare an idaea
of it.

When a boy, he did ever love to converse with old men,
as living histories. He cared not for play, but on play-
dayes he gave himselfe to drawing and painting. At 9,
a pourtraiter " ; and soon was . . .

Reall character, (things ^ that) lay dead, I caused to
revive by engaging 6 or 7 . . . fimgor vice coiis, etc.

Wheras very sickly in youth ; Deo gratias, healthy
from t6.

Amici.

A(nthony) Ettrick, Trin. Coll.
M. T. John Lydall.
Fr(ancis) Potter, of 666 C lettres°'.
Sir J(ohn) Hoskyns, baronet.

Ed(mund) Wyld, esq. of Glasley Hall, quem summae

gratitudinis ergo nomino.
Mr. Robert Hooke, Gresham College.
Mr. (Thomas) Hobbes, 165 — .
A(nthony) Wood, 1665.

Sir William Petty, my singular friend.
Sir James Long, baronet, of Draycot, xpovoypacpCa etc.
Mr. Ch(arles) Seymour, father'' of the d(uke) of

S(omerset).

* Dupl. with ' negligence (^lachesse).'

' i.e. school holidays.

' Subst. for ' drawer.' See supra,
p. 36.

See supra, p. 39.

® ? acquaintance begun at the Middle
Temple.

' i.e. who discovered (in his own
opinion) ' the number of the beast.'

6 i. e. Aubrey had a hundred letters
of his.

' Father ' is written, as frequently
in Aubrey, in a symbol, viz. ^

44 Aubreys 'Brie/ Lives'

Sir Jo<hn) Stawell, M.T. *
Bishop of Sarum (Seth Ward).
Dr. \V(illiam) Holder.

Scripsit ^.

'The= Naturall History of Wiltshire.'
These ' Lives ' (pro AV ^ i6|^).

' Idea® of education of the noblesse,' in Mr. Ashmole's
hands.

item, ' Remaynders of Gentiiisme,' being observations

on Ovid s Fastoriivi.
inemorandiim, ' Villare Anglicamnn interpreted.'
item, Faber Foi-tunae (for his own private use).

I. A. lived most at Broad-chalke in com. Wilts ; some-
times at Easton Piers ; at London every terme. Much of
his time spent in journeying to South Wales (entaile*^)
and Hereff<ordshire). I now indulge my genius with my
friends and pray for the young angels. Rest at Mris More's
neer Gresham College (Mrs More's in Hammond Alley
in Bishopgate Street farthest house old Jairer (?)
taverne).

(I) expect preferment (through) Sir LI. Jenkins''.

* It was I. A. that did putt Mr. Hobbes upon writing his
treatise De Legibus^ which is bound up with his Rhctoriqiie
that one cannot find it but by chance ; no mention of it
in the first title.

** I have writt ' an Idea of the education of the Noblesse
from the age of lo (or 1 1) till i 8 ' : left with Elias Ashmole,
esquire.

*** 1673', die Jovis^ 5" Martii, 9'' 15' + ?. M. J. A.

* See note on p. 43.

*■ See Clark's Wood's Life and
Times, iv. 191.

<= Now MS. Aubr. i and 2.

The monogram of Anthony
Wood.

« This is now M.S. Aubr. 10.
' i.e. on business of the suit con-
cerning the entail : supra, p 39.

6 This symbol is for ' opposite to.'

^ Sir Llewelyn {or Leoline, from
the Latin form) Jenkins, Secretary of
State 1 680-1 684.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5.

** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5'.

*** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 97'.

' 167I.

' i.e. Thursday.

John Aubrey

45

arrested (by) . . . Gardiner, serjeant, a lusty faire-haired
solar fellow, prowd, insolent, et omnia id genus.

* March 25, 1675, my nose bled at the left nostrill
about 4^ P. M. I doe not remember any event

** July 31, 1677, I sold my bokes to Mr. Littlebury,
scilicet when my impostume in my heade did breake.

About 50 annos (aetatis) (I had) impostume in
capite.

*** Captain . . . Poyntz (for service that I did him to
the earle of Pembroke and the earl of Abingdon did very
kindly make me a grant of a thousand acres of land in the
island of Tobago, anno Domini i68i, Febr. 1^. He advised
me to send over people to plant and to gett subscribers
to come in for a share of these 1000 acres, for 200 acres
he sayes would be enough for me. In this delicate island
is lac hiiiae (the mother of silver).

William Penn, Lord Proprietor of Pennsylvania, did, ex
mero motu et ex gratia speciali, give me, (16 — ) a graunt,
under his scale, of six hundred acres in Pennsylvania
without my seeking or dreaming of it. He adviseth me to
plant it with French protestants for seaven yeares gratis
and afterwards (they are) to pay such a rent. Also he
tells me, for 200 acres ten pounds per annum rent for ever,
after three yeares.

**** John Aubrey March 20, 169^, about 11 at night
robbed and 15 wounds in my head.

January 5"^, 1695, an apoplectick fitt, circiter 4''. I'. M.

***** Accidents of John Aubrey^^.

Borne at Easton-Piers, March 12, i62f, about sun-rising :
very weake and like to dye, and therfore Christned that
morning before Prayer. I thinke I have heard my mother
say I had an ague shortly after I was borne.

1629: about 3 or 4 yeares old, I had a grievous ague.

* M.S. Aubr. 23, fol. 2. **** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 103".

** MS. Aubr. 23, a slip at fol. ***** Aubrey in MS. Ravvl. J. fol.
103^. 6 (No. 15041 in Summary Catal. of

*** MS. Aubr. 36, pp. 9, 10. Bodl. MSS.), fol. 30.

46 Aubrey's 'Bn'e/ Lives'

I can remember it. I gott not health till 11, or 12: but
had sicknesse of vomiting for 13 howres every fortnight for
. . . yeares ; then, it came monethly for . . . ; then,
quarterly; and then, halfe-yearly ; the last was in June
1642. This sicknesse nipt my strength in the bud.

1633 : 8 j'eares old, I had an issue (naturall) in the
coronall suture of my head, which continued running
till 21.

1634: October*: I had a violent fever that was like to
have carried me off. 'Twas the most dangerous sicknesse
that ever I had.

About 1639 (or 1640) I had the measills, but that was
nothing : I was hardly sick.

1639: Monday after Easter weeke my uncle's nag ranne
away with me, and gave a very dangerous fall.

1642 : May 3, entred at Trinity College, Oxon.

1643: April and May, the small-pox at Oxon; and
shortly after, left that ingeniouse place ; and for three
yeares led a sad life in the countrey.

1646 : April , admitted of the Middle Temple. But

my father's sicknesse, and businesses never permitted me
to make any settlement to my studie.

1651 : about the 16 or 18 of April, I sawe that incom-
parable good conditioned gentlewoman, Mris M. Wiseman,
with whom at first sight I was in love — haeret lateri

1652 : October 21 : my father died.

1655: (I thinke) June 14, I had a fall at Epsam, and
brake one of my ribbes and was afrayd it might cause an
apostumation.

1656 : September 1655, or rather (I thinke) 1656, I
began my chargeable and taedious lawe-suite about the
entaile in Brecknockshire and Alonmouthshire.

This yeare. and the last, was a strange year to me, and''
of contradictions ; — scilicet love M. W.'^ and lawe-suites.

1656: December: Veneris morbus.

" Subst. for ' Mich: ' (aelmastide).
*" Letalis arundo : Verg.//««. iv. 73.

i. e. a year.

i.e. ^Viseman, ut supra.

John Aubrey

47

* 1657: Novemb. 27, obiit domina Kathcrina Ryves,
with whom I was to marry ; to my great losse.
1658: ...»

1659: March or Aprill, hke to breake my neck in Ely
minster, and the next day, riding a gallop there, my horse
tumbled over and over, and yet (I thanke God) no hurt,

1660: July, August, I accompanied A. Ettrick into
Ireland for a moneth ; and returning were like to be ship-
wrackt at Holy-head, but no liurt donne.

1661, 1662, 1663 : about these yeares I sold my estate
in Herefordshire.

. . y : Janu., had the honour to be elected fellow of the
Royal Society.

1664: June II, landed at Calais. In August following,
had a terrible fit of the spleen, and piles, at Orleans. I
returned in October.

1664, or 1665 : Munday after Christmas, was in danger
to be spoiled by my horse, and the same day received
laesio in testiculo which was like to have been fatall.
Quaere R. Wiseman quando — I beleeve 1664.

1665: November i ; I made my first addrcsse (in an ill
howre) to Joane Sumner.

1666: this yeare all my businesses and affaires ran
kim kam. Nothing tooke effect, as if I had been under
an ill tongue. Treacheries and enmities in abundance
against me.

1667: December — : arrested in Chancery lane, at Mrs.
Sumner's suite.

(j66|-) : Febr. 24, a.m. about 8 or 9, triall with her at
Sarum. Victory and 600 li. dammage, though divelish
opposition against me.

1668: July 6, was arrested by Peter Gale's malicious
contrivance, the day before I was to goe to Winton for my
second triall, but it did not retain me above two hovvres;
but did not then goe to triall.

1669'=: March 5, was my triall at Winton, from 8 to 9,

* Ibid., fol. 30'. " ? i66|.

* Two initials obliterated. <^ i.e. 16^3.

48

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

the judge being exceedingly made against me, by my lady
Hungerford. But 4 of the Venue (?) appearing, and with
much adoe, gott the moeity of Sarum, verdict viz. 300 li.

1669 and 1670 : I sold all my estate in Wilts.

From 1670, to this very day (I thanke God), I have
enjoyed a happy delitescency.

1671 : danger of arrests.

1677 : later end of June, an imposthume brake in my
head.

Laus Deo.

* Memorandum :— St. John's night, 1673, in danger of
being run through with a sword by a young . . at Mr.
Burges' chamber in the Middle Temple.

Quaere the yeare'' that I lay at Mris Neve's: for that
time I was in great danger of being killed by a drunkard
in the street opposite Grayes-Inne gate — a gentleman
whom I never sawe before, but (Deo gratias) one of his
companions hindred his thrust. (Memorandum : horo-
scope . . .'^)

Danger of being killed by William, earl of Pembroke,
then lord Herbert, at the election of Sir William Salkeld
for New Sarum.

I see Mars in . . . threatnes danger to me from falls.

I have been twice in danger of drowning.

Notes.

' This beginning of Aubrey's autobiography is explained by Henry Coley's
judgment on his nativity, found in MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 104, on the scheme 'J. A.
natus l62f, March ilth, 17'' 14' 44" p.m., sub latitudine 51° 30'.'

'The nativity,' Coley says, 'is a most remarkable opposition, and 'tis much
pitty the starres were not more favourable to the native.' Coley goes on to
state that the stars ' threaten ruin to land and estate ; give superlative vexations
in matters relating to marriag, and wondrous contests in law-suits — of all which
vexations I suppose the native hath had a greater portion than ever was desired.'
Aubrey must have been only too glad to have authority for attributing his
failure in life to the stars, and not to his own ill-conduct.

* Ibid., fol. 31. Aubrey adds: 'vide Almanac:

» "l"^ ; a symbol I have not found 'twas that yeare I went to Heth-

elsewhere in Aubrey, as indicating field.'

a person. " Some astrological symbols follow.

John Aubrey

49

^ In MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 3, in jottings at the side of his horoscope, Aubrey
suggests that his failure in this respect was due to defects of his upbringing, not
of natural ability.

' 'Eif (piKofjiaOTjs, (art noXv/JXiOris. By />ian piano I might have ^attained
to learning) ; though (my) memory (was) not tenacious, {yet I had) zeale to

learning, and ..." extraordinary, {but I was) bred ignorant at

Eston. '

^ Henry Coley, in his 'Observations upon the geniture ' of Aubrey, MS.
Aubr. 23, fol. 105', finds that the stars show that he 'will be in great danger
between the years of 40 and 50.' — On this Aubrey remarks : —

' Much about that time the native was several times in danger of expiration,

as,

first, by the e(arl) of P(embroke) ;

2, a bruise of the left side ;

3, a narrow escape of falling downe stayres ; and,
lastly, as dangerous a fall from a horse ;
besides the accident of sowneing, cum multis aliis.

1668 : the native was in no small trouble, at least received disparagement,
by an arrest, and other untoward transactions.'

* In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 62 sqq., is a notice of Aubrey's family and of Kington
St. Michael.

The pedigree is : —

William Aubrey, LL.D.

John Aubrey (3rd son)

Richard Aubrey m. Deborah,

(only son)

daughter of
Isaac Lyte

John William Thomas

(our author)

See in ' Wiltshire : the Topographical Collections of John Aubrey, corrected
and enlarged by John Edward Jackson,' Devizes, 1862.

In MS. Aubr. 23, on a slip at fol. 47, Aubrey notes his father's christening : —
'Richard Aubrey, July 26, St. Anne's day, christened A.D. 1603.'

MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 83, notices Aubrey's brother William: — 'My brother
William Aubrey's scheme by Henry Coley. — Natus Mr. W. A. March 20,
164I, at 30' P.M.'

MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 119", is the back of an envelope (seal, a pelican feeding
her young) addressed to Aubrey's third brother : — ' to his very loving freind
Mr. Thomas Awbrey at Broad Chalke give these.'

' In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 8, Aubrey notes: —

' John Aubrey (was) borne in the chamber where are on the chimney painted
the armes of Isaac Lyte and Israel Browne.'

MS. Aubr. 17 contains several of Aubrey's drawings, in pencil and water-
colours, of the house and grounds at Easton-Piers.

In MS. Aubr. 3 (his ' Hypomnemata Antiquaria'), fol. 55 sqq., is Aubrey's

One word I cannot decipher. Two words I cannot decipher.

I. E

50 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

description of Easton-Piers. It is printed in J. E. Jackson's Aubrey's Wiltshire
Collections (Devizes, 1862), pp. 235 sqq.

* In MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 8, Aubrey notes: — 'ex registro Kington St. Michael
in com. Wilts : June 15, Richard Aubrey and Debora Lyght maried, 1625.'

' Aubrey in a marginal note seeks to bring his birth-day into connexion
with the Roman Quinquatria (March 19). The note is: ' Qninquatria : feast
dedicated to Minerva' (dupl. with 'Pallas').

' In MS. Aubr. 23 (his ' Collectio geniturarum '), fol. 116, 117, are letters
from Charles Snell about Aubrey's nativity and accidents. Snell there
enumerates Aubrey's : —

' Sicknesse att birth ; ague .and vomittings aboute 5 or 6 yeares old ; issue in
his head ; small-pox ; amours with madam Wiseman " ; selling away the
manner of Stratford, etc. ; haesitating in his speech.'

Snell gives this advice : —

' If the haesitation in your speech doth hinder, gett a parsonage of 4 or 500 li.
per annum, and give a curat 100 li. per annum to officiate for you.'

The letter is dated from ' Fordingbridge ; 12 August, 1676.'

Aubrey, in his letters to Anthony Wood, several times touches on the idea
of his taking Orders. MS. Ballard 14, fol. 98 : — ' I am like to be spirited away
to Jamaica by my lord (John) Vaughan, who is newly made governor there,
and mighty earnest to have me goe with him and will looke out some em-
ployment worthy a gentleman for me. Fough ! the cassock stinkes : it would
be ridiculous.' — April 9, 1674. MS. Ballard 14, fol. 119: — ' I am stormed by
my chiefest friends afresh, viz. Baron Bertie'', Sir William Petty, Sir John
Hoskyns, bishop of Sarum'', etc., to turne ecclesiastique ; "but the king of
France growes stronger and stronger, and what if the Roman religion should
come-in againe?" '"Why then!" say they, " cannot you turtle too?^' You,

1 say, know well that I am no puritan, nor an enimy to the old gentle-
man on the other side of the Alpes. Truly, if I had a good parsonage of

2 or 300/2. per annum, (as you told me) it would be a shrewd temptation.' —
Aug. 29. 1676.

' Aubrey notes in the margin, (l) ' T. H.' (in a monogram), i. e. that this
Latimer had been schoolmaster to Thomas Hobbes, and (2), 'delicate little
horse,' to indicate that he did not walk the mile to Leigh-de-la-mere like a poor
boy, but rode his pony there like a fine gentleman. John Britton has mis-read
the note, and made it a description of Mr. Latimer's appearance, 'delicate little
person^

In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 109, Aubrey gives this inscription as on a stone 'under
the communion-table' in the church of Leigh-de-la-mere : —

' Here lieth Mr. Robert Latymer, sometime rector and pastor of this church,
who deceased this life the second day of November, anno domini 1634.'

And then Aubrey notes : —

'This Mr. Latimer was schoolmaster at Malmsbury"* to Mr. Thomas Hobbes.

* See infra, p. 52.
Vere Bertie, Baron of the Ex-
chequer, 1675-78.
" Seth Ward.

^ ' At Malmsbnry ' is scored out,

and the following substituted : — ' In
a private schoole at Westport, next to
the Smyth's shop as is (now, 1666)
opposite to the . . . (an inne).'

John Aubrey

51

He afterwards taught children here". He entred me into my accedence.
Before Mr. Latimer, one Mr. Taverner was rector here, who was the parson
that maried my grand-father and grandmother Lyte.'

In a marginal note (MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 3), Aubrey excuses his father's
neglect of his education on the plea that he himself grew up illiterate. The
note is : —

' My grandfather A(ubrey) dyed, leaving my father, who was not educated
to learning, but to hawking.' See in the life of Alderman John Whitson.
" In the margin Aubrey notes : —

: strong impulse to fi .' This means I suppose that the position of Saturn

at his nativity gave him a bias to the study of antiquities.

This means, I suppose, that the copies he made sufficiently resembled the
pictures on the parlour wall. A note in MS. Aiibr. 8, fol. 6", perhaps refers to
his own skill in drawing, 'As Mr. Walter Waller's picture drawne after his
death ; e contra, I have done severall by the life.' Walter Waller was vicar of
Chalk, where Aubrey lived : see in the life of Edmund Waller.

Possibly ' The mysteries of nature and art, viz. . . . drawing, colour-
ing . . . ," by J[ohn] B[ate], Lend. 1634, 410.

Here (fol. 3") in the margin is written : — ' Vide Pond,' referring perhaps
to a pocket almanac, in which Aubrey had marked the date of his going up to
Oxford. See Clark's Wood's Life and Times, i. 11, 12. In a letter from
Aubrey to Anthony Wood, of date Feb. 21, i6|f, in MS. Ballard 14, fol. 127,
is this interesting note : — ' At Trinity College we writt our names in the
Buttery-booke, when we were entred.'

Aubrey cites in the margin (MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 3') : — ' Horat. Epist. 2''.'
(i.e. Epist. ii. 2. 45) : —

In MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 183, Aubrey, writing on Oct. 19, 1672, tells
Anthony Wood, ' you must not forgett that I have 3 other faces or prospects
of Osney abbey, as good as that now in the Monasticon. They are in my
trunke yet at Easton Piers.' Ibid., fol. 190', on Oct. 22, 1672, he says,
' I will bring you about March my two other draughts ' of Osney mines,
one by Mr. Dobson himselfe, the other by his man, one Mr. Hesketh, but
was a priest.'

Note that in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 200, is a drawing (from memory) by
Aubrey of the stone-work which crowned the great earth-mound of Oxford
Castle.

" In a slip at the end of MS. Aubr. 26 (Aubrey's Faber Fortunae, in
which he entered schemes by which he hoped to 'make his fortune'),
is this note : —

' I have the deed of entaile of the lands in South Wales, Brecon, and Mon-
mouthshire, by my grandfather, William Aubrey LL. D., which lands now of right
belong to me. Memorandum: — Mr. David Powell, who liveth at . . . neer
Llanverarbrin neer Llandvery, as I remember), can helpe me to the counterpart
of this deed of entaile in Wales — quod N. B.'

' Atque inter sylvas Academi quaerere verum.
Dura sed emovere loco me tempora grato.'

» i. e. at Leigh-de-la-mere.
E a

52

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

" In MS. Aubr. 21, at fol. 75 is part of a draft of a will by Aubrey, probably
the one mentioned here (Ralph Kathurst became 'Dr.' in 1654) : —

' Item, my will is that my executors buy for Trinity Colledge in Oxon
a colledge pott of the value of ten pounds, with my arraes theron inscribed ;
and ten pounds which I shall desire my honoured friends Mr. Ralph Bathurst
of Trinity College and Mr. John Lydall to lay out upon mathematicall and
philosophicall books.

Item, I give to the library of Jesus Colledge in Oxon my Greeke Crysostomus,
Bede's 2 tomes, and all the rest of my bookes that are fitt for a library, as
Mr. Anthony Ettrick" or Mr. John Lydall shall think fitt, excepting those
bookes that were my father's which I bequeath to my heire.

Item, I bequeath to John Davenant of the Middle Temple, esq., a ring of
the value of 50^., with a stone in it.

Item, to Mr. William Hawes of Trinity College aforsaid a ring of tlie like
value.

Item, to Mr. John Lydall " of the Colledge aforesaid a ring of the like value.
Item, to Mr. Ralf Bathurst ^ of Trinity College aforesaid a ring of the like
value.

Item, to Mris Mary Wiseman of Westminster, my best diamond ring.'

On a slip at fol. 101 of MS. Aubr. 23 is the jotting : — ' Eston-pierse :
possession given, 25 March, 1671, P. M."

In his retirement during this year at Chalk, Aubrey tried his hand at
play-making. Writing to Anthony Wood on Oct. 26, 1671, MS. Wood,
F. 39, fol. 141', he says: —

' I am writing a comedy for Thomas Shadwell, which I have now almost
finished since I came here, et quorum pars magna fui. And I shall fit him
with another, The Coiuitrey Revell, both humours untoucht, but of this, mum !
for 'tis very satyricall against some of my mischievous enemies which I in my
tumbling up and downe have collected.'

Of the first of these comedies, the autobiographical one, I have found no
trace : of the second, satirizing the men and manners of Wiltshire, a very rude
draft is found in MS. Aubr. 21.

^" In MS. Aubr. 23, fol. IT3 is a note (dated 167!) from Henry Coley,
addressed : —

' For his much honoured friend Mr. John Aubrey, at the right honourable the
earle of Thanet's house at Hethfield in Kent, these present.'

The letter states that the writer has forwarded letters to and from Aubrey ;
and concludes: 'you are much wanted at London, and dayly expected, and
therefore I hope you will not be long absent. Interest calls for your ap-
pearance.'

" i. e. which followed after this bleeding. Bleeding at the nose was t'nought
ominous : see Clark's Wood's Life and Times, iii. 289, note i.

* Anthony Ettrick, ' of Berford, co.
Dorset ' : matric. at Trinity College
in 1640, and was afterwards called at
the Middle Temple.

William Ha\ves,ofByssam, Berks,
aged 16, was elected .Scholar of Trinity
College, Oxford, June 5, (Trinity

Monday) 1640 ; President in 1658.

Of Uxmore, Oxon, aged 15, elected
Scholnr of Trinity, June 4, 1640.

Of Hoothorpe, Northants. , elected
Scholar of Trinity, June 5, 1637 ;
Fellow, June 4, 1640 ; President,
1664.

John Aubrey. William Aubrey 53

^' In MS. Aubr. 26, p. 17 is this note: — 'The earle of Abington to buy
of Captain Poyntz the propriety of the island of Tobago, now regnante
Gulielmo III.'

Aubrey before this time had planned to retrieve his ruined fortunes by
colonial schemes : e g., MS. Aubr. 26, p. 46 : — ' 1676 : from Sir William Petty —
(in) Jamaica 500//. gives 100 per annum : take a chymist with me, for brandy,
suger, e tc., and goe halfe with him.'

In consequence of this grant, Aubrey seriously thought of emigrating.
MS. Aubr. 26, p. 14: —

' Mr. Robert Welsted, goldsmith and banquier, saies that Mr. John Evelyn's
bookes are the most proper for a plantation. Also Markham's husbandry and
huswifry, etc. This is in order for Mr. \V. Penn and myselfe. — Also let him
carry with him Mr. Haines booke of Cydar Royall, which method will likewise
serve for other fruites — it is by distillation. Quaere of Mr. Tyndale's at
Bunhill, who makes severall sorts of English wines and cydars. Memorandum
the great knack and criticism is to know when it comes to its sowrenesse ; it
must not be vinegar for then nothing will come — quod N. B.'

This is noticed on a slip f fragment of a letter, '8 March, i69f from
Edward Harley) at fol. 113 of MS. Aubr. 23 : — ' J. A. vulneratus die 20 Martii
inter 10 et 11 horas Londini. Deo gratias.'

This paper was acquired by Rawlinson in July . . . 1746 (ibid. fol. 31").
There is an inaccur te copy of it in MS. Ballard 14, foil. 158, 159, which has
the note: — '1754, June 11, transcribed from a MS. in Mr. Aubrey's own
writing in the possession of Dr. Richard Rawlinson.'

William Aubrey (1529-1595).

* William Aubrey ^, Doctor of Lawes : — extracted from
a MS. ^ of funeralls, and other good notes, in the hands
of Sir Henry St. George, . . .^ marked thus ^. I guesse
it to be the hand-writing of Sir Daniel Dun, knight, LL.
Dr., who maried Joane, third daughter of Dr. William
Aubrey : —

William Aubrey (the second son of Thomas Aubrey,
the 4th son of Hopkin Aubrey, of Abercunvrig in the
countie of Brecon, esqre) in the 66th yeare of his age or
thereabouts, and on the 25th of June, in the yeare of
our Lord 1595, departed this life, and was buried in the
Cathedrall-church of St. Paul in London, on the north
side of the chancell, over against the tombe of Sir John
Mason, knight, at the base or foot of a great pillar
standing upon the highest step of certain degrees or

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 19^.

" The blank is left for his official title, viz. Clarencieux King of Arms.

54

Aiibrey^s 'Brief Lives'

staires rising into the quire eastward from the same
pillar towards the tombe of the right honble the lord
William, carle of Pembroke, and his funeralls were per-
formed the 23d of July, 1595. This gentleman in his
tender yeares learned the first grounds of grammar in
the College of Brecon, in Brecknock towne, and from
thence about his age of fourteen yeares he was sent by
his parents to the University of Oxford, where, under the
tuition and instruction of one Mr. Morgan, a great learned
man, in a few yeares he so much profited in humanity
and other recommendable knowledge, especially in
Rhetorique and Histories, as that he was found to be
fitt for the studie of the Civill Law, and thereupon was
also elected into the fellowship* of All-soules Colledge
in Oxford (where the same Lawe'' hath alwayes much
flourished). In which Colledge he ernestly studied and
diligently applied himselfe to the lectures and exercise of
the house, as that he there attained the degree of a Doctor
of the Law Civill at his age of 25 yeares, and immediately
after, he had bestowed on him the Queen's Publique
Lecture of Law in the university, the which he read with
so great a commendation as that his fame for learning
and knowledge was spred far abroad and he also es-
teemed worthy to be called to action in the common-
wealth. Wherefor, shortly after, he was made Judge
Marshall of the Queen's armies at St. Quintins in France.
Which warrs finished, he returned into England, and
determining with himselfe, in more peaceable manner
and according to his former education, to passe on the
course of his hfe in the exercise of law, he became an
advocate of the Arches, and so rested many yeares, but
with such fame and credit as well for his rare skill and
science in the* law, as also for his sound judgment and
good experience therein, as that, of men of best judgment,
he was generally accounted peerlesse in that facultie.

' William Aubre was elected into a Fellowships were set aside for ' legists,'
Law Fellowship at All Souls in 1547. i.e. students of Civil Law.
''i.e. a number of the All Souls * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 20.

IVilltam Aubrey

55

Wherupon, as occasion fell out for imployment of a civilian,
his service was often used as well within the realme as in
forrein countries. In which imployments, he alwaies used
such care and diligence and good circumspection, as that
his valour and vertues dayly more appearing ministred
means to his further advancement. In soe much that he
was preferred to be one of the Councell of the Marches of
Wales, and shortly after placed Master of the Chancery,
and the appointed Judge of the Audience, and constituted
Vicar Generall to the Lord Archbishop of (Canterbury)
through the whole province, and last, by the especiall
grace of the queene's most excellent majestic, queen
Elizabeth, he was taken to her highnesse nearer service
and made one of the Masters of Request in ordinarie. All
which titles and offices (the Mastership of Chancery,
which seemed not competible with the office of Master of
Requestes, only excepted) he by her princely favour pos-
sessed and enjoyed until! the time of his death. Besides
the great learning and wisdome that this gentleman was
plentifully endowed withal), Nature had also framed him
so courteous of disposition and affable of speech, so sweet
of conversation and amiable behaviour, that there was
never any in his place better beloved all his life, nor he
himselfe more especially favoured of her majestie and the
greatest personages in the realme in any part of his life
then he was when he drew nearest his death. He was of
stature not taull, nor yet over-low ; not grosse in bodie,
and yet of good habit ; somewhat inclining to fatnesse of
visage in his youth ; round, well favoured, well coloured
and lovely ; and albeit in his latter yeares sicknesse had
much* impaired his strength and the freshnesse of his hew,
yet there remained there still to the last in his countenance
such comely and decent gravity, as that the change rather
added unto them then ought diminished his former dignitie.
He left behind him when he died, by a vertuouse gentle-
woman Wilgiford his wife (the first daughter of Mr. John
Williams of Tainton in the countie of Oxford, whom he

* MS. Anbr. 6, fol. 20'.

56

Aitbrey^s 'Brief Lives'

maried very young a maiden, and enjoyed to his death,
that both having lived together in great love and kindnesse
by the space of 40 yeares) three sons and six daughters,
t Vide pedeere. ^11 of them marfed, and having issue, as
irchWshop of'^'' followeth f.

hirguar"imn?^^ His eldest son Edward, maried unto Joane,
^reat Vi "nd""^ I daughter and one of the heires of William
grandmother Havard, in the countie of Brecon, esqre.
husband told her His sccond son Thomas maried Mary the
kept a'noMe^ daughter and heire of Anthony Maunsell of

house, and that . , , . , r /—i

with admirable Llantnthcd, m the com. of Glamorgan, esqre.
oeconomie ; and His ^d son Tohn, t bcinp then of the age

that there was o / \ •

not one woman of 1 8 ycarcs (or much thereabouts), was maried

in the family. — ^ '

Vide the arch- to Rachcl, onc of the daughters of Richard

bishop of Can- °

terburyscase Danvcrs of Tockcnham, in com. Wilts, esqre.

in Sir Edward '

Cooke's eldest daughter Elizabeth, maried to

Reportes where '

he is mentioned. Jhomas Norton of Nomood in the countie of
Kent, esqre.

His 2d daughter Mary maried William Herbert of
Krickhowell, in the countie of Brecknock, esqre.

His 3d daughter Joane maried with Sir Daniel Dun,
knight, and Doctor of the Civill Lawe.

His 4th daughter Wilgiford maried to Rise Kemis of
Llanvay, in the county of Monmouth, esqre.

His 5th daughter Lucie maried to Hugh Powell, gent.

His 6th and youngest daughter Anne, maried to John
Partridge, of Wishanger, in the countie of Glocester, esqre.

Of every of the which since his death there hath pro-
ceeded a plentifull issue.

(^Additions by Aubrey.')

Memorandum : — he was one of the delegates (together
with Dr. Dale, &c.) for the tryall of Mary, queen of Scots, and
was a great stickler for the saving of her life, which kind-
nesse was remembred by King James att his comeing-in
to England, who asked after* him, and probably would

" Dupl. with ' for.' *■ Dupl. with ' some thought.'

William Aubrey

57

have made him Lord Keeper, but he dyed, as appeares,
a little''' before that good opportunity happened. His
majestie sent for his sonnes'', and knighted the two eldest,
and invited them to court, which they modestly and
perhaps prudently, declined. They preferred a country
life.

You may find him mentioned in the History of Mary,
queen of Scotts, 8vo, written, I thinke, by (John) Hayward ;
as also in Thuanus's Annalcs, which be pleased to see^ and
insert his words here in honour to the Doctor's Manes.
Dr. . . . Zouch mentions him with respect in his De
Jure Faeciali, pag. . . . ; and as I remember, he is quoted
by Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice of the King's
memorandum: Bcnch, In his Rcports, about the legitimacy
^rocfortoidme ^hc carlc of Hcrtford.f Quaere if it was
ippeat^i"o''°' Edward the father*, or els his son William,
faTeo?Han-"'' about the mariage with the ladie Arbella

ford's suite, Qf-.j^rt?
tempore regmae "-JLuctic.

* [Johannes'' David Rhesus M.D. makes an
honourable mention of him in his Welsh grammar in
folio, pag. . . . ; as also in his preface.]

** \Lingtiae Cytnraccae instihttiones accuratae, J. David
Rhoesus, folioj London, 1593, pag. 182 (quaere if he is
not mentioned in the Welsh preface) : —

Caeterum nunc et propter eorum authoritatem et quod huic loco
inter alia maxima quadrent, non pigebit antiquissima Taliessini '
Cambrobrytannica carmina subjungere, furtim (quae mea est audacia)
et eo nesciente, a me surrepta, et clanculum calamo commissa, ex ore,
vesper! fortuito juxta proprium ignem pro solito in sua cathedra con-
sidentis, et haec una cum aliis carminibus memoriter, et non sine
delectatione quadam decora, proferentis, ornatissimi et doctissimi viri
domini Gulielmi Aubraei, Cambrobrytanni ab illustrissima Aubraeo-
rum familia oriundi, linguae Cambrobrytannicae peritissimi eximiique
patriae suae decoris et ornamenti, Juris utriusque Doctoris celeberrimi,
ac regiae majestati k Supplicum Libellis constituti Domini, et amici

" He died more than seven years fol. 21 ; perhaps that the following

before James's accession. paragraph, on fol. 21", may be

'2 eldest' is written over as a inserted,

correction. * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 21.

This sentence is scored out on ** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 21".

58

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

optimi perpetuoque colendi, nobisque amicis jam strenuas et auxiliatrices
manus porrigentis, qua citius et magis prospere elucubrationes hae ad
nostratium et aliorum utilitatem proelo committebantur.
Carmina vero sunt hujusmodi.

* Memorandum :— old Judge Atkins'' (the father) told
me that the Portugall ambassador was tryed for his life for
killing Mr. Greenway in the New Exchange (Oliver's time),
upon the precedent of the bishop of Rosse (Scotch) by
Dr. W. Aubrey's advice. Memorandum: — Dr. Cruzo*^ of
Doctors Commons hath the MSS. of this bishop's tryall.

De legaii deliquentis jiidice competetite dissertation
autore Richardo Zoucheo, Juris Civilis professore Oxoniae,
Oxon 1657, 12™°, pag. 89 : —

Quarto, quod cum episcopus Rossensis, legatus reginae Scotorum,
multa turbulenter in Anglia fecisset ad rebellionem excitandam et ad
Anglos in Belgio profugos ad Angliam invadendam inducendos,
Davidi Lewiso, Valentino Dalo, Gulielmo Drurio, Gulielmo Awbreio,
et Henrico Jones, Juris Caesarei consultissimis, quaestio proposita fuit
An legatus, qui rebellionem contra principetn ad quern legatus est
concitat, legati privilegiis gaudeat et An, ut hostis, poenae subjacent,
eidem responderunt, ejusmodi legatum, jure gentium et civili Romano-
rum, omnibus legati privilegiis excidisse et poenae subjiciendum.

*** He was a good statesman ; and queen Elizabeth
loved him and was wont to call him ' her little Doctor.'
Sir Joseph Williamson, Principall Secretary of Estate (first,
Under-Secretary), haz told me that in the Letter-office are
a great many letters of his to the queen and councell

He sate many times as Lord Keeper, durante bene
placito, and made"^ many decrees, which Mr. Shuter, etc.,
told me they had seen.

Vide Anthony Wood's Hist, ct Antiq. : he was principal
of New Inne.

Memorandum : — the Petikenol, i.e. chiefe of the family,

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 20^.

" Sir Edward Atkins, Puisne Justice
of the Common Pleas, 1649.

'' John Craso, LL.D., Caius Coll.,
Cambr. 1652.

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 22.

*** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 21.

" Here followed, ' which Mr. Shuter
etc. told me they had seen ' : scored
out, as belonging infra.

^ Subst. for ' gave.'

Wt'lliaju Aubrey

59

is my cosen Aubrey of Llannelly in Brecknockshire, of
about 60 or 80 li. per annum inheritance ; and the Doctor
should have given a distinction ; for want of which in a
badge on one of his servants' blew-coates, his cosen
Wilh'am Aubrey ^ also LL. Dr., who was the chiefe,
plucked it off.

The learned John Dee was his great friend and kins-
man, as I find by letters between them in the custody of
Elias Ashmole, esqre, viz., John Dee wrote a booke The
Soveraignty of the Sea, dedicated to queen Elizabeth, which
was printed, in folio. Mr. Ashmole hath it, and also the
originall copie of John Dee's hand writing, and annexed
to it is a lettre of his cosen Dr. William Aubrey ^ whose
advise he desired in his writing on that subject.

He purchased Abercunvrig (the ancient seate of the
family) of his cosen Aubrey. He built the great house at
Brecknock, his studie lookes on the river Uske. He could
ride nine miles together in his owne land in Breconshire.
In Wales and England he left 2500 //. per annum wherof
there is now none left in the family. He made one Hugh
George (his chiefe dark) his executor, who ran away into
Ireland and cosened all the legatees, and among others my
grandfather (his youngest son) for the addition of whose
estate he had contracted with .... for Pembridge castle
in the com. of Hereford, which appeares by his will, and
for which his executor was to have payed. He made
a deed of entaile (36 Eliz., 1 5(94)) which is also mentioned
in his will, wherby he entailes the Brecon estate on the
issue male of his eldest son, and in defailer, to skip the
2d son (for whom he had well provided, and had maried
a great fortune) and to come to the third. Edward the
eldest had seaven sonnes ; and his eldest son, Sir William,
had also seaven sonnes ; and so I am heire, being the 18th
man in remainder, which putts me in mind of Dr. Donne,
For what doeth it availe
To be the twentieth man in an entaile ?

" William Aubrey, Student of Ch. Ch. in 1580; D.C.L. 1597.
See infra, p. 61.

6o

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Old Judge Sir (Edward) Atkins remembred Dr. A.
when he was a boy ; he lay at his father's house in
Glocestershire : he kept his coach, which was rare in
those dayes. The Judge told me they then (vulgarly)
called it a Quitch. I have his originall picture. He had
a delicate, quick, lively and piercing black eie, fresh
complexion, and a severe eie browe. The figure in his
monument at St. Paules is not like him, it is too big.

Hcrouvi filii noxae : he engrossed all the witt of the
family, so that none descended from him can pretend to
any. 'Twas pitty that Dr. Fuller had not mentioned
him amongst his Worthys in that countie.

When he lay dyeing, he desired them to send for a
goodman ; they thought he meant Dr. Goodman, deane
of St. Paules, but he meant a priest, as I have heard my
cosen John Madock say. Capt. Pugh was wont to say
that civilians (as most learned an(d) gent.) naturally
incline to the church of Rome; and the common lawyers,
as more ignorant and clownish, to the church of Geneva.

Wilgiford, his relict, maried Browne, of Willey,

in com. Surrey.

The inscription on his monument in St. Paul's church : —

Gulielmo Aubreo clara familia in Breconia orto, LL. in Oxonia
Doctori, ac Regio Professori, Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis causarum
Auditor! et Vicario in spiritualibus General!, Exercitus Regii ad St.
Quentin Supremo Juridico, in Limitaneum Walliae Consilium adscito,
Cancellariae Magistro, et Reginae Elizabethae k supplicum libellis :
Viro exquisita eruditione, singular! prudentia, et moribus suavissimis
qui (tribus filiis, et sex filiabus e Wilgiforda uxore susceptis), aeternam
in Christo vitam expectans, animam Deo xxiii Julii 1595, aetatis suae
66, placid^ reddidit ;

Optimo patri Edvardus et Thomas, milites, ac Johannes, armiger,
filii moestissimi, posuerunt.

* This Dr. W. Aubrey was related to the first William,
earl of Pembroke, two wayes (as appeares by comparing
the old pedcgre at Wilton with that of the Aubreys) ; by
Melin and Philip ap Elider (the Welsh men are all kinne);

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 2i\

William Aubrey

6i

and it is exceeding probable that the earle was instru-
mental! in his rise. When the earl of Pembroke was
generall at St. Quintins in France, Dr. Aubrey was his
judge advocat. In the Doctor's will is mention of a great
piece of silver plate, the bequest of the right hon'''^ the
earle of Pembroke.

.... Stephens, the clarke of St. Benets, Paules Wharfe,
tells me that Dr. W. Aubrey gave xx.y. per annum for ever
to that parish.

* Vide the register of St. Benet's, Paule's Wharfe —
quaere. Stephens, the dark, sayeth that he gave xx.y. per
annum to the parish of St. Benet's, Paule's wharfe, for
ever : quaere.

** Sir Andrew Joyner of Bigods in Much Dunmow
parish in Essex hath two folios, stitcht, of manuscript letters
of state, wherin are two letters of Dr. William Aubrey's to
secretary Walsingham, and also lettres of queen Elizabeth's
owne handwriting to Cecill ; also Liber Si"^ Marine de
Reding, a MS. ; and other MSS., — a long shelfe of them —
one of them writt tempore Henr. IV. This I had from
Mr. Andrew Paschal, rector of Chedzoy, Somerset.

(^Letter by Dr. IV. Aubrey : supra, p. 59.)

*** My good coosen,

I HAVE sente unto you again my yonge coosen *
inclosede in a bagge, as my wyffe cariethe yet one of
myne ; trustinge in God, that shortly both, in theyr scverall
kyndes, shall come to lyght and live long, and your's
having gcnittin, for ever. I knowe not, for lack of suffici-
encie of witte and learninge, how to judge of it at all. But
in that shadowe of judgemente that I have, truste me
beinge vearie farre from meanynge to yelde any thyng,
to your owne eares, of yourselfe. The matter dothe so
strive with the manner of the handlinge that I am in
dowpte whyther I shall preferre the matter for the sub-

* MS. Aiibr. 8, fol. i9\ 0- i.e. John Dee's book, the 'child

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 1'. of his invention.'

*•** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 23.

62

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

stance, weyght, and pythines of the multitude of argumentes
and reasones, or the manner for the methode, order, per-
spicuitie, and elocution, in that height and loftynesse that
I did nott beleve our tonge (I meane the Englyshe) to be
capable of. Marie, our Brittishe, for the riches of the
tonge, in my affectionate opinion, is more copious and more
advawntageable to utter any thinge by a skillfull artificer.
This navie which you aptlie, accordinge to the nature and
meaninge of your platt, call pettie, is so sette furthe by
you, thos principall and royall navies of the Grecianes and
Trojanes described by Homer and Vergill are no more
bownde to them, then it is to you.

You argue or rather thoondre so thicke and so strong
for the necessitie and commoditie of your navie, that you
leade or rather drawe me obtorto collo to be of opinion with
you, the benefitte therofe to be suche as it wilbe a brydle
and restrcynte for conspiracies of foreyne nationes, and of
owre owne a salfegarde to merchants from infestationes
of pyrates ; a readie meane to breed and augmente
noombers of skillfull marryners and sowldiers for the
sea, a mayntynawnce in proces of tyme for multitudes
of woorthie men that otherwise wolde be ydle. Who
can denie, as you handle the matter, and as it is in trothe,
but that it will be a terror to all princes for attemptinge
of any soodeyne invasions,* and hable readilie to with-
stande any attempte foreyne or domesticall by sea? And
where this noble realme hath ben long defamede for
sufifringe of pyrates disturbers of the common traffyke
upon these seas, yt will, as you trulye prove, utterlie
extingwishe the incorrigible, and occupie the reformed
in that honourable service.

The indignitie that this realme hath long borne in the
fyshinge rownde aboute yt, with the intolerable injuries that
owre nation hath indurede and doe still, at strangers
handes, besides the greatnes of the commoditie that they
take owte of our mowthes, hath ben, and is suche, that the
same almoste alone were cause sufficiente to furnishe your

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 23^

IVilliam Aubrey

63

navie if it may have that successe and consideration that it
deserveth, it will be a better wache for the securitie of the
state than all the intelligencers or becones that may be
devisede : and a stronger wall and bulwarke than either
Galleys was, or a brase of such townes placed in the most
convenient parte of any continente of France, or the Lowe-
countrey. As her majestic of right is totins orbis Britannici
domina, et lex maris, whiche is given in the reste of the
worlde by Labro in our learning to Antoninus the Emperor,
so she showlde have the execution and effect therof in
our worlde, yf your navie were as well setled as you have
plottede it. But what doe I by this bare recitall deface
your reasones so eloquentlie garnishede by you with the
furniture of so much and so sundrie lernynge? I will of
purpose omitt howe fully and howe substantially you
confute the stronge objectiones and argumentes that you
inforce and presse againste your selfe. I wolde God all
men wolde as willinglie beare the light burdynes that you
lay upon them for the supportation of the chardges as you
have wiselie and reasonablie devisede the same. And so
the dearthe and scarsitie that curiouse or covetouse men
may pretende to * feare, you so sowndlie satisfie, that it is
harde with any probabilitie to replie. As for the sincere
handlinge and govermente it is not to be disperede yf the
charge shall be with good ordinawnces and instructiones
placede carefullie in chosen persones of good credite and
integritie. See howe boldlie upon one soodeyne readinge
I powre my opinion to your bosome of this your notable
and strange discowrse. And yet I will make bold to
censure it also as he dyd in the poore slipper when he was
nott able to fynd any faulte in any one parte of the
workemanship of the noble picture of that goddes. I
pray you, Sir, seyinge you meane that your navie shall
contynewe in time of peace furnishede with your noombre
of men, what provision or ordre make you, howe they shall
occupie and exercise themselves all the while ? Assure
your selfe those whelpes of yours neyther can nor will be

* MS. Anbr. 6, fol. 24.

64

Attbrey's 'Brief Lives'

ydle, and excepte it may please you to prescribe unto
them some good occupation and exercise, they will occupie
themselves in occupationes of their owne choice, wherof
few shall be to your lykinge or meanynge. Peradventure
you meane of purpose to reserve that to the consideration
of the state. And where you in vearie good proportion,
lawierlike, share goodes taken by pyrates amonge sundrie
persones of your navie, and some portion to itselfe, reserv-
inge the moytie to the prince, you are to remembre that
the same are challenged holly to belong to her highnesse
by prerogative. Let me be also bold to offer to your
consideration whether it be expedient for you so freely
to deale with the carryinge of ordinawnces out of the
realm.e beinge a matter lately pecuted ^ by the knowledge
et convenicntia of, etc. You doe, to veary great purpose
inserte the two orationes of Georgius Gemistus Plethon,
the one to Emanuel by fragments, and the other to his
Sonne Theodore ad vei'btim, for the worthynes and varietye
of many wise and sownd advises given by him to those
princes in a hard tyme, when they were in feare of that
Turkish conquest, that did after followe to the ruine of
that empire of Constantinople. However well doeth he
handle the differences and rates of customes and tributes,
the moderate and sober use of apparell in ipsis principibus !
How wisely doethe* he condemne the takeinge up of all
the newe attires and apparell of strange nations, as though
he had written to us at this tyme, who doe offende as
deepely therein as the Greekes then dyd ! How franke
is he to his prince in useinge the comparisone between
the Eagle that hath no varietie of colours of feathers,
and yet of a princelie nature and estimation, and the
Peocock, a bird of no regall propertie nor credit yet
glisteringe angelically with varietie of feathers of all
lively colours. There is one sentence in the later oration
which I have thought to note because in apparence it
dothe oppugne in a maner your treatise. The wordes

" Anthony Wood has put dots under this word, and noted in the margin ' sic'
* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 24^

IVilh'am Aubrey

65

are these, Prestat longc terrestrihits copiis ac miliUivi ct
diiaini virtute, qiictin nautanini et similium koinitiuin vilitiin
arte, fidnciam poncre.

Good coosen, pardon my boldnes. I doe this bicause
you may understande that I have roone over it. And yet
was I abrode all the fowle day yesterday. I pray you
pardon me agayne for nott sendinge of it to you accord inge
to promisse. And for that your man is come, and for that
I have spente all my paper, I will no longer trowble you at
this tyme, savinge with my right heartie commendations to
your selfe and to my coosen your good mother from me
and from my woman. From Kewe this Soonday in the
morninge, the of July.

Yours assuredlie at commawndement,

W. Aubrey.

To his verie lovinge coosen and assured
freende Mr. John Dee, at Mortelake.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' in the I and 6, gules", a chevron between
3 eagles heads .erased or [Aubrey] ; in the 2, . . ., a lion rampant . . . ; in the
3, . . ., a chevron between 3 (lions' ?) paws . . . ; in the 4, . . ., three cocks
gules ; and in the 5, parted per pale . . . and . . ., 3 fleur-de-lys counter-changed.'
The crest is ' an eagle's head erased or [Aubrey].'

^ In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7, is the memorandum : — 'Insert to Liber B.' —
' Liber B.' was a volume of antiquarian notes, collected by Aubrey, now lost
(Macray's Annals of the Bodleian, p. 367). Aubrey wanted to copy into it
something from this MS. ^ . Two other memoranda in the same place are : —
(fl) 'William Aubrey, LL.D. : extract out of De jure feciali, and De legati deli-
quentis judice coinpetente, by Dr. Zouch,' as is done supra, p. 58 ; [l>) ' Memor-
andum the XX s. per annum bread at St. Benet's, Paul's wharf ; see supra, p. 61.

Aubrey, in MS Ballard 14, fol. 119, writing to Anthony \Vood on Aug. 29,
1676, says : — ' This day accidentally Mr. St. George shewed me my grandlather,
Dr. William Aubrey's, life in their office' (i.e. the College of Arms), ' written,
I suppose, by Sir Daniel Dun, his son-in-lawe. He came to Oxon at 14, and
was LL. Dr. at 25.'

' Aubrey was very enthusiastic about these notices of his grandfather.
Writing to Anthony Wood, on May 19, 1668 (MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 118), he
says: — ' My grandfather Dr. William Aubrey — Thuanus in his Annales makes
an honourable mention of him, and also it is set downe in the life of Mary,
queen of Scotts (he being one of the commissioners) that he was very jealous of
her being putt to death— which the chroniclers mention too I'me sure, and Stow.
If yon would be pleased to turne to Thuanus and the life aforesaid you (would)
very much oblige me, and you shall have a payre of gloves, for his sake.'

» It should be ' azure.'
I. F

66

Atibrey^s 'Brief Lives'

* Edward Seymour, created earl of Hertford in 1559, had in 1553 married
secretly Katharine, daughter of Henry Grey, duke of Suffolk. In 1561
Elizabtth sent thtm prisoners to the Tower, and the marriage was disputed
in the law-courts. William Seymour, his grandson, who succeeded as 2nd
earl in J621, married in 1610 Arabella Stuart. She was sent prisoner to the
Tower by James I : but Dr. W. Aubrey had died in 1595.

' Aubrey, in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6'''. has a note: — " Meredith Lloyd respondet
that Telesinus (Teliessen) was a British priest to whom Gildas writes.'

Francis Bacon (1561-1626).
(^His coat of arms.')

* Quarterly, on the i and 4, gules on a chief argent
two mullets sable [Bacon], on the 2 and 3, barry of six
or and azure, over all a bend gules [...]. a crescent on
the fesse point for difference ; impaling, sable, a cross
engrailed between 4 crescents argent, a crescent sable on
the fesse point [Barnham].

(^Miscellaneous Notes.y

** Chancellor Bacon : — The learned and great cardinal
Richelieu was a great admirer of the lord Bacon.

So was Monsieur Balzac : e.g. Ics Oenvrcs diverses. disser-
tation sur un tragedie. a Monsieur Huygens de Zuylichen,
p. 1 5(S — ' Croyons, pour I'amour du chancilier Bacon, que
toutes les folies des anciens sont sages et tous leur songes
mysteries.'

Quaere if I have inserted'^ his irrigation in the spring
showres.

Vide Court of King James by Sir Anthony Welden,
where is an account of his being viceroy here when the
king was in Scotland, and gave audience to ambassadors
in the banquetting-house.

*** Lord Chancellor Bacon : — IMemorandum, this Oct.
16H1, it rang over all St. Albans that Sir Harbottle Grim-
ston. Master of the Rolles, had removed the coffin of this
most renowned Lord Chancellour to make roome for his
owne to lye-in in the vault there at St. Michael's church.

**** Sir Francis Bacon, knight, baron of Verulam and

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 67. see infra, p. 84.

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 15^. *** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 16^.

" i. e. in the life in MS. Aubr. 6 ; **** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 67.

Francis Bacon

67

viscount of St. Albans, and Lord High Chancellor of
England : — vide his life writt by Dr. William Rawley
before Baconi Rcsuscitatio, in folio.

(^His admirers and acquaintances.^

It appeares by this following inscription that Mr. Jeremiah
Betenham of Graye's Inne was his lordship's intimate
and dearely beloved friend. This inscription is on the
freeze of the summer house on the mount in the upper
garden of Grayes Inne, built by the Lord Chancellor
Bacon. The north side of the inscription is now perished
The fane was a Cupid drawing his bowe.

Franciscus Bacon, Regis Solicitator Generalis, executor testamenti
Jeremie Betenham nuper lectoris hujus hospitii, viri innocentis et
abstinentis et contemplativi, banc sedem in memoriam ejusdem Jeremie
extru.xit, anno Domini, 1609.

In his lordship's prosperity Sir Fulke Grevil, lord
Brookes, was his great friend and acquaintance ; but when
he was in disgrace and want, he was so unworthy as to
forbid his butler to let him have any more small beer, which
he had often sent for, his stomach being nice, and the small
beere of Grayes Inne not liking his pallet. This has donne
his memorie more dishonour then Sir Philip Sydney's friend-
ship engraven on his monument hath donne him honour.
Vide . . . History, and (I thinke) Sir Anthony Weldon.

. . . Faucet, of Marybon in the county of Middlesex,
esqr., was his friend and acquaintance, as appeares by this
letter which I copied from his ovvne handwriting (an elegant
Roman hand). 'Tisin the hands of Walter Charlton, M.D.,
who begged it not long since of Mr. Faucet's grandsonne.

* Richard earle of Dorset, was a great admirer and
friend of the lord chancellor Bacon, and was wont to have
Sir Thomas Billingsley'' along with him to remember and
to putt-down in writing my lord's sayings at table.

" Dupl. with ' lost.' Richard S.ickville, 3rd earl, ub.

Part of the paye left blank for 1624.
insertion of the letter. See infra, sub nomine.

* MS. Aubi. 6, ful. 67\

F %

68

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Edward, lord Herbert of Cherbery.
John Dun% dean of Paul's.
George Herbert.

Mr. Ben: Johnson was one of his friends and acquaintance,
as doeth appeare by his excellent verses on his lordship's
birth-day in his second volume, and in his Undcrzvoods,
where he gives him a character and concludes that " about
his time, and within his view were borne all the witts that
could honour a nation or help studie.'

* Lord Bacon's birth-day: Underwoods, p. 222.

Haile, happy genius of this ancient pile,

How comes it all things so about thee smile ?

The fire, the wine, the men ! and in the midst

Thou stand'st as if some mysterie thou didst !

Pardon, I read it in thy face, the day,

For whose retumes, and many, all these pray :

And so doe I. This is the sixtieth yeare

Since Bacon, and my lord, was borne, and here,

Sonne to the grave wise Keeper of the Scale,

Fame and foundation of the English weale.

What then his father was, that since is he.

Now with a title more to the degree,

England's High Chancellour, the destin'd heir

In his soft cradle of his father's chaire.

Whose even thred the Fates spinne round and full

Out of their choysest and their whitest wooll.

'Tis a brave cause of joy ; let it be knowne,
For 'twere a narrow gladnesse, kept thine owne.
Give me a deep-crown'd bowle, that I may sing
In raysing him the wisdome of my king.

Discoveries, p. loi.
Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker t who was full
t Dominus gravity in his speaking. His language (where he could
Verulanus. spare or passe-by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man
ever** spake more neatly, more pres{ent)ly, more weightily, or suffered
lesse emptinesse, lesse idlenesse, in what he utter' d. No member of his
speech but consisted of the owne graces : his hearers could not cough,
or looke aside from him, without losse. He commanded where he
spoke ; and had his judges angry, and pleased, at his devotion. No

" Donne.

» MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 69.

** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 69'.

Francis Bacon

69

man had their affections more in his power. The feare of every man
that heard him was lest he should make an end.

Cicero is sayd to be the only wit that the peop'e of Rome had,
equall'd to their empire, iiigeniuiii par impcrio. We had many, and in
their severall ages (to take in but the former seciiluin) Sir Thomas
Moore, the elder Wiat, Henry, earle of Surrey, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot,
bishop Gardiner, were for their times admirable ; Sir Nicholas Bacon
was singular and almost alone in the beginning of queen Elizabeth's
times; Sir Philip Sydney and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew
great masters of wit and language and in whom all vigour of invention
and strength of judgment met ; the earle of Essex, noble and high ;
and Sir Walter Rawleigh, not to be contemn'd either for judgement or
stile ; Sir Henry Savile, grave and truly letter'd ; Sir Edwin Sandys,
excellent in both ; lord Egerton, the Chancellour, a grave and great
orator, and best when he was provoked ; but his learned and able
(though unfortunate) successor is he who hath fill'd up all numbers,
and performed that in our tongue which may be compar'd or preferred
either to insolent Greece or haughty Rome. In short, within his view,
and about his times, were all the wits borne that could honour
a language or helpe study. Now things dayly fall, wits grow downe-
ward and eloquence growes backward, so that he may be nam'd and
stand as the marke and aK\ir\ of our language.

I have ever observ'd it to have been the office of a wise patriot
among the greatest affaires of the state to take care of the common-
wealth of learning *, for schooles they are the seminaries of state and
nothing is wurthier the study of a statesman then that part of the
republick which wee call the advancement of letters. Witnesse the care
of Julius Caesar, who in the heate of the civill warre writ his bookes of
analogie and dedicated them to Tully. This made the lord St. Albans
entitle his worke Novum Organiim, which though by the most of
superficia 1 men who cannot gett beyond the title of nominalls, it is
not penetrated nor understood, it really openeth all defects of learning
whatsoever, and is a booke

Qui longum noto scriptori porriget aevum'^.

My conceit of his person was never increased towards him by his
place or honour, but I have and doe reverence him for the greatnesse
that was only proper to himselfe in that he seem'd to me ever by his
worke one of the greatest men and most worthy of admiration that
have been in many ages. In his adversity I ever prayed that God
would give him strength ; for greatnes he could not want. Neither
could I condole in a word or syllable for him, as knowing no accident
could doe harme to vertue but rather helpe to make it manifest.

» M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 70.

" HoRAT., Ari Poet. 34'''.

70

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

* He came often to Sir John Danvers at Chelsey.
Sir John told me that when his lordship had wrote the
History of Henry 7, he sent the manuscript copie to him
to desire his opinion of it before 'twas printed. Qd. Sir
John ' Your lordship knowes that I am no scholar.' ' 'Tis
no matter ' said my lord, ' I know what a schoUar can say ;
I would know what you can"* say.' Sir John read it, and
gave his opinion what he misliked which Tacitus did not
omitt (which I am sorry I have forgott) which my lord
acknowledged to be true, and mended it : ' Why,' said he,
' a scholar would never have told me this.'

Mr. Thomas Hobbes (Malmesburiensis) was beloved by
his lordship who was wont to have him walke with him
in his delicate groves where he did meditate : and when
a notion darted into his mind Mr. Hobbs was presently
to write it downe, and his lordship was wont to say that
he did it better then any one els about him : for that
many times, when he read their notes he scarce under-
stood what they writt, because they understood it not
clearly themselves.

In short, all that were great and good lowed and honoured
him.

Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chiefe Justice, alwayes envyed
him, and would be undervalueing his lawe, as you may
find in my lord s lettres, and I knew old lawyers that
rcmembred it.

{ Personal characteristics. )

He was Lord Protector during King James's progresse
into Scotland, and gave audience in great state to am-
bassadors in the banquetting-house at Whitehall.

His lordship would many times have musique in the
next roorae where he meditated.

The aviary at Yorke-house was built by his lordship ;
it did cost 300//.

At every meale, according to the season of the yeare,

.MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 67'.

» Sulist. for • will.

Francis Bacon

71

he had his table strewed with sweet herbes and flowers,
which he sayd did refresh his spirits and memorie.

When his lordship was at his country house at Gor-
hambery, St. Albans seemed as if the court were ^ there,
so nobly did he live. His servants had liveries with his
crest (a boare . . . ) ; his watermen were more imployed
by gentlemen then any other, even the king's.

King James sent a buck to him, and he gave the keeper
fifty pounds.

He was wont to say to his servant Hunt, (who was
a notable thrifty man, and loved this world, and the only
servant he had that he could never gett to become bound for
him) • The world was made for man, Hunt ; and not man
for the world.' Hunt left an estate of 1000//. per annum
in Somerset.

None of his servants durst appeare before him without
Spanish leather bootes : for he would smell the neates-
leather, which offended him.

The East India merchants presented his lordship with
a cabinet of Jewells, which his page, Mr. Cockaine, recieved,
and decieved his lord.

Three of his lordship's servantsf kept their

+ Sir Thomas , , , ,

Meautys, coachcs, and some kept race-horses — vide Sir

Busheii, M^n ! . . Anthony Welden's Cotcrt of King James.

* He was a 7rat6epao-T?/s. His Ganimeds
and favourites tooke bribes ; but his lordship alwayes gave
judgement seciindwn aeqinnn et boinim. His decrees in
Chancery stand firme, i.e. there are fewer of his decrees
reverst then of any other Chancellor.

His dowager marled her gentleman-usher, Sir (Thomas,
I thinke) Underbill, whom she made deafe and blind with
too much of Venus. She was living since the be-

heading of the late King. — Quaere where and when she
died.

" Subst. for ' had been.'
* MS. Aiibr. 6, fol. 68.
His brother-in-law, Mervyn Tou-
chet, second earl of Castleliaven, was

executed on this charge, May 14,
1631.

^' Alice, daughter and co-heir of
Bennet Barnham.

72

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

He had a delicate*, lively hazel eie ; Dr. Harvey told me
it was like the eie of a viper.

I have now forgott what Mr. Bushel! sayd, whether his
lordship enjoyed his Muse best at night, or in the morning.

(J^/is pocms^.

His lordship was a good poet, but conceal d, as appeares
by his letters. See excellent verses of his lordship's which
Mr. Farnaby tran>lated into Greeke, and printed both'' in
his ^ kvQo\oyia. scil.

The world's a bubble, and the life of man
Less then a span, etc.

* \KvQo\oy'\.a : Florilegium epigrammatum selectorum ;
Thomas Farnaby, London, 1629, pag. 8. — ' Hue elegantem
viri clarissimi domini Verulamii -ap^^hiav adjicere ad-
lubuit' — opposit to it on the other page — ' quam -apuihiav
e nostrati bona nos Graecam qualemcunque sic fecimus, et
rhythmice.'

The world's a bubble, and the life of man

Lesse then a span ;
In his conception wretched, from the wombe

So to the tombe :
Curst from his cradle, and brought up to yeares

With cares and feares.
Who then to fraile mortality shall trust
But limmes in water or but writes in dust.

Yet since with sorrow here we live opprest,

What life is best ?
Courts are but onely superficiall scholes

To dandle fooles :
The rurall parts are turn'd into a den

Of savage men ;
And wher's a city from all vice so free,
But may be term'd the worst of all the three?

" Over 'delicate,' Aubrey has written were ' hazell ' and ' ful of life.'
' T. Hobbes,' either as his authority i.e. the original, and the Greek

for the statement, or comfaring version.
Bacon's eyes with Hobbes', which * M.S. Auhr. 6, fol. 71^^.

Francis Bacon

73

Domestick cares afflict the husband's bed

Or paines his bed ;
Those that live single take it for a curse,

Or doe things* worse;
Some would have children ; those that have them mone,

Or wish them gone.
What is it then to have, or have no wife,
But single thraldome or a double strife ?

Our owne affections still at home to please

Is a disease ;
To crosse the sea to any foreine soyle,

Perills and toyle;
Warres with their noise affright us ; when they cease

Ware worse in peace.
What then remaines ? but that we still should cry
Not to be borne, or, being borne, to dye.

{His writings .y
* His reading of Treason.
His reading of Usurie.
Decrees in Chancery.

Cogitata et Visa : printed in Holland by Sir William
Boswell, Resident there : who also there printed Dr. Gilbert's
Magnetique Philosophie.

Speech in Parliament of naturalization of the Scottish
nation : printed 1641.

His apothegmes, Xvo.

Essaies ! l : l i l

Advancement of learning.
History of King Henry the 7th.

Novum Organon. — At the end of his Novum Organoii
Hugh Holland wrote these verses : —

Hie liber est qualis potuit non scribere Stultus,
Ncc voluit Sapiens : sic cogitavit Hugo.

'doe things' sulist. for 'live much.'

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 74.

74

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Naturall Historic.

Of ambassadors : published by Francis Th}-nne out
of Sir Robert Cotton's library, 1650.

Speech touching duells, in the Starre-chamber : in the
Bodleian library at Oxford. Reprint it.

All the rest of his lordship s workes you will find in
Dr. William Rawley's Resascitatio.

A piece of philosophy halfe as thick as the grammar
set forth by Dr. Rawley, 1660.

. . . . , 167-.

* Apothegniata.

His lordship being in Yorke-house garden lookeing on
fishers as they were throwing their nett, asked them what
they would take for their draught : they answered so miicJi :
his lordship would offer them no more but so much. They
drevv-up their nett. and (in) it were only 2 or 3 little
fishes : his lordship then told them it had been better for
them to have taken his offer. They replied, they hoped
to have had a better draught ; ' but' sayd his lordship,
' Hope is a good breakfast, but an ill supper.'

When his lordship was in dis-favour, his neighbours
hearing how much he was indebted, came to him with
a motion to buy Oake-wood of him. His lordship told
them. 'He would not sell his feathers'

The earle of Manchester being removed from his place
of Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas to be Lord
President of the Councell, told my lord (upon his fall)
that he was sorry to see him made such an example.
Lord Bacon replied ' It did not trouble him since he was
made a President.'

The bishop of London did cutt-downe a noble clowd
of trees at Fulham. The Lord Chancellor told him that
he was a good expounder of darke places.

L'pon his being in dis-favour his servants suddenly went

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 6S.

" Reclius, of the King's Bench.

Francis Bacon

75

away ; he compared them to the flying of the vermin when
the howse was falling.

One told his Lordship it was now time to looke about
him. He replyed, ' I doe not looke about me, I looke
above me.'

Sir Julius Caesar (Master of the Rolles) sent to his
+ Most of these lordship in his necessity a hundred pounds for
have'from°si/ ^ prcsciit f i quacre + dc hoc of Michael Malet.
John Darners. p^jg Lordship would oftcn driokc a good
draught of strong beer (March beer) to-bedwards, to lay
his working fancy asleep : which otherwise would keepe
him from sleeping great part of the night.

I remember Sir John Danvers told me. that his lordship
much delighted in his curious garden at Chelsey, and as
he was walking there one time, he fell downe in a dead-
sowne. My lady Danvers rubbed his face, temples, etc.
and gave him cordiall water: as soon as he came to
himselfe, sayd he, ' Madam, I am no good footman.'

(^His death and burial.')

* Mr. Hobbs told me that the cause of his lordship's
death was trying an experiment : viz., as he was taking
the aire in a coach with Dr. Witherborne (a Scotchman,
Physitian to the King) towards High-gate, snow lay on
the ground, and it came into my lord's thoughts, why
flesh might not be preserved in snow, as in salt. They
were resolved they would try the experiment presently.
They ** alighted out of the coach, and went into a poore
woman's howse at the bottome of Highgate hill, and
bought a hen, and made the woman exenterate it, and
then stuffed the bodie with snow, and my lord did help
to doe it himselfe. The snow so chilled him, that he
immediately fell so extremely ill, that he could not returne
to his lodgings (I suppose then at Graye's Innc), but
went to the earle of Arundell's house at High-gate, where
they putt him into a good bed warmed with a panne, but

Dupl. with ' pretty.' * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 68.

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 68v.

76

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

it was a damp bed that had not been layn-in in about
a yeare before, which gave him such a cold tliat in 2 or 3
dayes. as I remember he * told me, he dyed of suffocation.

Mr. George Herbert, Orator of the University of
Cambridge, haz made excellent verses on this great
man. So haz Mr. Abraham Cowley in his Pindariques.
Mr. Thomas Randolph of Trin. Coll. in Cambr. haz
in his poems verses on him.

* In the north side of the chancell of St. Michael's
church (which, as I remember, is within the walles of
Verulam) is the Lord Chancellor Bacon s monument in
white marble in a niech, as big as the life, sitting in his
chaire in his gowne and hatt cock't, leaning his head on
his right hand. Underneath is this inscription which they
say was made by his friend Sir Hemy- Wotton.

Frarsciscus Bacon, Baro de Verulam,
Sti Albani Vicecomes. seu. notioribus titulis,
Scientiarum Lumen. Facundiae Lex,
sic sedebat.
Qui postquam omnia Xaturalis sapientiae
at Civilis arcana evohnsset,
Naturae decreium explevit

' Composita solvantur,'
Anno Domini MDCXXVI
aetatis LXVL
Tanti viri
mem.

t His lordship's Thomas Meauts's t '

secretane, woo

maricd a kins- SUperStitls CultOr,

woman Anne ) j ii • j • ^

Bacon), who is defunai admirator,

now the wife of T4 P

SirHaibottle ^■
Grimstoo,

Master of the / U' is' \

Roiies. {His relatives.)

X His mothta-

vvas<Anne> ** had a Uterine! brother AxTHONV

Cooke, sister or

w if^^f"^ BacOX, who was a verv ^reat statesman and

Giddy-hall in ' - t>

i"'' much bevond his brother Francis for the

wnfe to Sir

Nicholas Bacon. poUtiques, a lamc man, he was a pensioner
to, and lived with . . . earle of Essex. And to him he

'i.e. Hobbes. * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 71.

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 6S'.

Francis Bacon 77

dedicates the first edition of his Essayes, a little booke no
bigger then a primer, which I have seen in the Bodlyan
Library.

His sisters were ingenlose and well-bred ; they well
understood the use of the globes, as you may find in the
preface of Mr. Blundevill of the Sphaere : see if it is not
dedicated to them. One of them was maried to Sir John
Cunstable of Yorkshire. To this brother in lawe he
dedicates his second edition of his Essayes, in 8vo ; his
last, in 4to, to the duke of Bucks.

* Blundevill's Exercises, preface : — ' I began this arithmetique
more then seven yeares since for that vertuous gentlewoman Mris
Elizabeth Bacon, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, knight (a man
of most excellent witt and of a most deep judgement and sometimes
Lord Keeper of the great seale of England), and lately the loving and
faithfull wife of my worshipfull friend Mr. Justice Windham, who for
his integrity of life and for his wisdome and justice dayly shewed in
government and also for his good hospitalitie deserved great com-
mendation ; and though at her request I had made this arithmetique
so plaine and easie as was possible (as to my seeming) yet her continuall
sicknesse would not suffer her to e.xercise herself therin.'

(^His residences.)

** I will write something of Vcrulam, and his house at
Gorhambery.

At Verulam is to be seen, in some few places, some
t Veroiamiun,, »'emaines of the wall of this citie f ; which
cL^hd'aiu' ^^'^^ compass about . . . miles. This mag-
oppidum. nanimous Lord Chancellor had a great mind
to have made it a citie again : and he had designed it,
to be built with great uniformity : but Fortune denyed
it him, though she proved kinder (to) the great Cardinal
Richelieu, who lived both to designe and finish that
specious towne of Richelieu, where he was borne ; before,
an obscure and small vilage. (The ichnographie, etc.,
of this towne and palais is nobly engraved).

Within the bounds of the walls of this old citie of
Verulam (his lordship's Baronry) was Vcrulam howse,

* MS. Anbr. 6, fol. 70'. ** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 68'.

78 Aiibi^ey's 'Brief Lives'

about \ a mile from St. Albans : which his Lordship built,
the most ingeniosely contrived little pile f,
measurtMm^t that cvcr I sawc. No qucstioH but his lordship
i.read'th; but I was thc chiefcst architect ; but he had for his

little suspected . . . ri'/<-.Aii \

it would be assistant a la .ourite 01 his (a St. Albans man)

pulleii doune _ t>. i / i i ^ • i

for the sale of Mr. . . . Dobson (who was his lordships rifjht

the materialls. . . r ,

hand) a very ingeniose person (Master of the
Alienation Office) ; but he spending his estate upon
woemen% necessity forced his son William Dobson to
be the most excellent painter that England hath yet bred,
qui obiit Oct. 164H ; sepult. S. Martin's in the fields *.

** The view of this howse from the entrance into the
gate by the high-way is thus. The parallel sides answer
one another. I doe not well remember if on the east side
were bay windowes, which his lordship much affected, as
may be seen in his essay Of BuUding. Quaere whether
the number of windowes on the east side were 5 or 7 :
to my best remembrance but 5. This model I drew
by memorie, 1656.

Verulam Howse

This howse did cost nine or ten thousand the building,
and was sold about 1665 or 1666 by Sir Harbottle
Grimston, baronet, (now Master of the Rolles) to two
carpenters for fower hundred poundes ; of which they
made eight hundred poundes. Memorandum : — there were
good chimney-pieces ; the roomes very loftie, and all
were very well wainscotted. Memorandum : — there were
two bathing-roomes or stuffes, whither his Lordship retired
afternoons as he sawe cause. All the tunnclls of the
chimneys were carried into the middle of the howse, as
in this draught ; and round about them were seates. The
top of the howse was well leaded. From the leads was
a lovely prospect to the ponds, which were opposite to the

" Dupl. with ' luxuriously.'
* Explicit MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 68^
** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 72.
•> Dupl. with ' respective.'

^ Aubrey's drawing will be found
among the facsiniiks at the end of
this volume.

Francis Bacon

79

east side of the howse, and were on the other side of the
stately walke of trees that leades to Gorhambery-howse :
and also over that long walke of trees, whose topps afford
a most pleasant * variegated verdure, resembling the
workes in Irish-stitch. The kitchin, larder, cellars, &c.,
are under ground. In the middle of this howse was
a delicate staire-case of wood, which was curiously carved,
and on the posts of every interstice was some prettie
figure, as of a grave divine with his booke and spectacles,
a mendicant friar, &c. — (not one thing twice). Memo-
randum : — on the dores of the upper storie on the outside
(which were painted darke umber) were the figures of the
gods of the Gentiles (viz. on the south dore, 2d storie,
was Apollo ; on another, Jupiter with his thunderbolt,
etc.) bigger then the life and donne by an excellent hand ;
the heightnings were of hatchings of gold, which when the
sun shone on them made a most glorious shew.

Memorandum : — the upper part of the uppermost dore,
on the east side, had inserted into it a large looking-glasse,
with which the stranger was very gratefully decieved, for
(after he had been entertained a pretty while, with the
prospects of the ponds, walks, and countrey, which this
dore faced) when you were about to returne into the
roome*. one would have sworn prima iiititiiu, that he had
beheld another prospect through the howse : for, as soon
as the stranger was landed on the balconie, the conscrge ''
that shewed the howse would shutt the dore to putt this
fallacy on him with the looking-glasse. This was his
lordship's summer-howse : for he sayes (in his essay) one
should have .seates for summer and winter as well as
cloathes.

From hence to Gorhambery is about a little mile, the
way easily ascending, hardly so acclive as a deske.

From hence to Gorambury in a straite line Icade three
parallell walkes : in the middlemost three coaches may
passe abreast : in the wing-walkes two may. They consist

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 72'. shutt the dore' : scored out.

" Here followed 'the servant would ^ French ' concierge.'

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

of severall stately trees of the like groweth and heighth,
viz. elme, chesnut, beach, hornebeame, Spanish-ash, cervice-
tree, &c., whose topps (as aforesaid) doe afford from the
walke on the howse the finest shew that I have seen, and
I sawe it about Michaelmas, at which time of the yeare
the colour of leaves are most varied. The manner of the
walke is thus : —

u

u

u

u

t

t

t

t

s

s

s

s

r

r

r

r

o

o

o

0

n

n

n

n

in

m

m

m

X

X

X

X

^

^

t

t

t

t

s

S

s

s

r

r

r

r

o

o

o

0

n

n

n

n

m

m

m

m

X

X

X

X

u

u

u

u

t

t

t

t

s

s

s

s

r

r

r

r

o

o

o

0

n

n

n

n

m

m

tn

m

* The figures of the ponds were thus : they were
pitched at the bottomes with pebbles of severall colours,
which were work't in to severall figures, as of fishes, &c.
which in his lordship's time were plainly to be seen
through the cleare water, now over-grown with flagges
and rushe

If a poor bodie had brought his lordship halfe a dozen
pebbles of a curious colour, he would give them a shilling,
so curious was he in perfecting his fish-ponds, which
I guesse doe containe four acres. In the middle of the

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 73.

Francis Bacon

8i

middlemost pond, in the island, is a curious banquetting-
house of Roman architecture, paved with black and white
marble; covered with Cornish slatt, and neatly wainscotted.
(rt) = cutt hedge about the island.

(/;] = walke between the hedge and banquetting-howse.

Memorandum : — about the mid-way from Verolam-house
to Gorambery, on the right hand, on the side of a hill
which faces the passer-by, arc sett in artificiall manner
the afore-named trees, whose diversity of greens on the
side of the hill are exceeding pleasant. These delicate
walkes and prospects entertaine the eie to Gorambery-
howse, which is a large, well-built Gothique hovvsc, built
(I thinke) by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, father to
this Lord Chancellor, to whom it descended by the death
of Anthony Bacon, his middle brother, who died sans
issue. * The Lord Chancellor made an addition of

I.

* MS. Aubr. 6, lul. 73'.
G

82

A ubrey s 'Brief Lives '

a noble portico, which fronts the garden to the south :
opposite to every arch of this portico, and as big as the
arch, are drawen, by an excellent hand (but the mischief
of it is, in water-colours), curious pictures, all emble-
matical], with mottos under each : for example, one
I remember is a ship tossed in a storme, the motto, Alter
crii turn TipJiys. Enquire for the rest.

Over this portico is a stately gallerie, whose glasse-
windowes are all painted ; and every pane with severall
figures of beast, bird, or flower: perhaps his lordship might
use them as topiques for locall memory. The windowes
looke into the garden, the side opposite to them no
window, but that side is hung all with pictures at length,
as of King James, his lordship, and severall illustrious
persons of his time. At the end you enter is no windowe,
but there is a very large picture, thus : — in the middle on
a rock in the sea stands King James in armour, with his
regall ornaments ; on his right hand stands (but whither or
no on a rock I have forgott), King Henry 4 of France, in
armour ; and on his left hand, the King of Spaine, in like
manner. These figures are (at least) as big as the life,
they are donne only with umbre and shell gold : all the
heightning and illuminated part being burnisht gold, and
the shadowed umbre, as in the pictures of the gods on the
dores of Verolam-house. The roofe of this gallerie is
semi-cylindrique, and painted by the same hand and same
manner, with heads and busts of Greek and Roman
emperours and heroes. '

In the hall (which is of the auncient building) is a large
storie very well painted of the feastes of the gods, where
Mars is caught in a nett by Vulcan. On the wall, over
the chimney, is painted an oake with akornes falling from it ;
the word, Nisi quid potiiis. And on the wall, over the table,
is painted Ceres teaching the soweing of corne ; the word,
Moniti ineliora.

The garden is large, which was (no doubt) rarely planted
and kept in his lordship's time: vide vitam Peireskii de
domino Bacon. Here is a handsome dore, which opens

Francis Bacon

83

into Oake-wood ; over this dore in golden letters on
blew are these six verses

* The oakes of this wood are very great and shadie.
His lordship much delighted himselfe here: under every
tree he planted some fine flower, or flowers, some wherof
are there still (1656), viz. paeonies, tulips, . . .

From this wood a dore opens into . . . , a place as big as
an ordinary parke, the west part wherof is coppice-wood,
where are walkes cutt-out as straight as a line, and broade
enoug for a coach, a quarter of a mile long or better. — Here
his lordship much'' meditated, his servant Mr. Bushell
attending him with his pen and inke horne to sett downe
his present notions. — Mr. Thomas Hobbes told me, that
his lordship would employ him often in this service
whilest he was there, and was better pleased with his
minnics, or notes sett downe by him, then by others who
did not well understand his lordship. He told me that he
was employed in translating part of the Essayes, viz. three
of them, one wherof was that of the Greatnesse of Cities,
the other two I have now forgott.

The east of this parquet (which extends to Veralam-
howse) was heretofore, in his lordship's prosperitie, a
paradise; now is a large ploughed field. This eastern
division consisted of severall parts ; some thicketts of
plumme-trees with delicate walkes ; some of rasberies.
Here was all manner of fruit-trees that would grow in
England ; and a great number of choice forest-trees ; as the
whitti-tree, sorbe-, cervice-, etc., eugh ''. The walke(s), both
in the coppices and other boscages, were most ingenioscly
designed: at severall good viewes'', were erected elegant
sommer-howscs well built of Roman architecture, well
wainscotted and cieled ; yet standing, but defaced, so
that one would have thought the Barbarians had made
a conquest here. This place in his lordship's time was

" A blank space is left in the MS. i. e. yew.

for their insertion. ' Belvideri ' is written over ' good

* M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 74. viewes,' as an alternative.
^ Siibst. for ' was wont {to meditate).

r; 2

84

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

a sanctuary for phesaiits, partridges, etc. birds of severall
kinds and countries, as white, speckled etc.. partridges. In
April, and the springtime, his lordship would, when it rayned,
take his coach (open) to recieve the benefit of irrigation,
which he was w^ont to say was very wholsome because of
the nitre in the aire and the 7tiiivcrsall spirit of the world.

His lordship was wont to sd.y, I will lay my viaiinor of
Gorambery on't, to which Judge .... made a spightfull
reply, saying he would not hold a wager against that, but
against any otJter mannour of his lordship s he would.
Now this illustrious Lord Chancellor had only this mannor
of Gorambery.

Eoger Bacon (i 214-1294).

* Roger Bacon, friar ordinis (S. Francisci) : — Memo-
randum, in Mr. Selden's learned verses before Hopton's
Concordance of y cares, he speakes of friar Bacon, and sayes
that he was a Dorsetshire gentleman. There are yet of
that name in that countie. and some of pretty good estate.
I find by . . . (which booke I have) that he understood the
making of optique glasses ; where he also gives a perfect
account of the making of gunpowder, vide pag. . . .
ejusdem libri.

** Friar Roger Bacon : — Dr. Gerard Langbain had a
Catalogue^ of all his workes, which Catalogue Dr. (Thomas)
Gale, schoolmaster of Paule's, haz now.

Note.

" The reference is probably to a list of pieces by Roger Bacon which were
found among Thomas Allen's MSS. Langbaine's draft of it is found in MS.
Langbaine 7, p. 393 : see Clark's Wood's Life and Times, iv. 253.

Thomas Badd. (1607-1683).

*** The . . . happinesse a shoemaker haz in drawing on
a fair lady's shoe. ... I know one that it was the hight of
his ambition to be prentice to his mris('s) shoemaker
upon that condicion.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 6'. ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9'.

*** MS. Aubr. 21. p. II.

Edward Bagshaw

85

Sir Thomas Bad s^ father, a shoemaker, married the
brewer's widow of Portsmouth, worth 20^000 //.

Edward Bagshaw (1629-1671).

* Edward Bagshaw was borne at Broughton in North-
amptonshire ; 42 when he dyed — from his widowe ^.

** My old acquaintance, Mr. Edward Bagshawe, B.D.,
3rd son of Edward Bagshawe, esq., a bencher of the Middle
Temple, was borne (the day nor moneth certaine to be
knowne) November or December at Broughton in
Northamptonshire, where Mr. Boldon '', quondam Coll.
Aeneinas., was parson.

He was a king's scholar at Westminster schole, then
student of Christ Church. Scripsit severall treatises.

Obiit on St. Innocents day, 28 Dec, 1671, in Tuttle
street, Westminster, a prisoner to Newgate 22 weekes
for running into a praemunire for refusing to take the
oath of allegiance (he boggled at the word ' willingly "
in the oath) : aetatis 42. Sepult., Ncwyeares day, in the
fanatique burying-place by the Artillery-ground in Moor-
fields, where his sorrowfull widdowe will place his epitaph.

1500 or 20CO people were at his funerall.

*** 'Here'' lyes interred | the body of | Mr. Edward
Bagshaw | minister of the Gospell | who recieved from
God I faith to embrace it | courage to defend it | and
patience to suffer for it | when by most despised and
by many persecuted | esteeming the advantages of birth,
education, and learning | as things of worth to be accounted
losse for the knowledge | of Christ. ] P"rom the reproaches
of pretended friends | and persecutions of professed adver-
saries I he I took sanctuary | by the will of God | in
eternall rest.'

* .Sir Thomas Badd, of Games
Oysells, created a baronet in 1642.

* Aubrey, in MS. Wood, F. 39,
fol. 319'.

** Idem, ibid., fol. 163': Jan. 27,
167'.

Robert Bolton, obiit 1631.

*** Cited by Aubrey, in MS. Wood,
F. 39, fol. 175'.

<^ Anthony Wood notes ' made,
they say, by Dr. (John) Owen,'
I'liritan dean of Christ Church, Oxford.

86

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

A'ote.

' MS. Aubr. 27 : — ' A review and conclusion of the Antidote against
Mr. Baxter's palliated cure of Church Divisions,' by Edward Bagshaw, Lend.
i67i,has the note ' donum Margaretae, viduae autoris : Jan. 27, 1671 (i.e. -').
Jo. Awbrey.'

Jean Louis Guez de Balzac (1594-1655).

* Monsieur de Balzac ended his dayes in a Cappucine's
cell, and was munificent to them : vide Entreticns de
monsieur de Balzac, printed above 20 yeares since,

Richard Bancroft (1544-16 10).
In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 119'", is this jotting: —

' Dr. Mat Skinner. Resp. 'tis archbishop Bancroft's picture— quod
N.B., and inscribe.'

This is probably to be interpreted as meaning—' Enquire whether
the portrait,' in a certain place, ' is that of Dr. ]\Iatthew Skinner.'
Finding that it is the portrait of Richard Bancroft, 'see that the name
is inscribed on it,' for future identification.

John Barclay (1582-162 1).
Robert Barclay (1648-1690).

*'*' Johannes Barclaius, Scoto-Britannus: — from Sam.
Butler — was in England some time tempore regis Jacobi.
He was then an old man, white beard ; and wore a hatt
and a feather, which gave some severe people offence.

Dr. John Pell tells me, that his last employment was
Library-Keeper of the Vatican, and that he was there
poysoned.

Memorandum : — this John Barclay haz a sonne*. now
(1688) an old man, and a learned quaker, who wrote
a Systeme of the Quakers' - Doctrine in Latine ''. dedi-
cated to King Charles II. now (to) King James II; now

translated by him into English, in The Quakers

mightily value him. The booke is common.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 2.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 5.^.
" Robert Barclay was not son of
John Barclay ; see the dates supia.

Theologiae verae Chiistianae
apologia, Ainstel. 1676 The English
version appeared in 167S.

Isaac Barrow

87

Isaac Barrow (1630-1677).

* Isaac Barrow, D.D. — from his father, (who was borne
Aprill 22, 1600, \ a yeare older then King Charles 1st),
May 17, 1682.

His father, Thomas Barrow, was the second son of Isaac
Barrow of Spinney Abbey in the countie of Cambridge,
esq., who was a Justice of the Peace there above fourtie
yeares. The father of Thomas never designed him for
a tradesman, but he was so severe to him (that) he could
not endure to live with him and so came to London and
was apprentice to a liiinen-draper. He kept shop at the
signe of the White-horse in Forster lane near St. Forster's
church in St. Leonard's parish; and (his son*) was
christened at St. John Zacharie's in Forster lane, for
at that time St. Leonard's church was pulled downe to
be re-edified. He was borne anno Dni 1630 in October''
after King Charles 11'"^. Dr. Isaac Barrow had the exact
day and hower of his father, which may be found amongst
his papers. His father sett it downe in his English bible,
a faire one, which they used at the king's chapeli when he
was in France and he could not get it again. His father
travelled with the King, Charles 2°*^, wliere ever he went ;
he was sealer to the Lord Chancellor beyond sea, and
.so when he came into England. Amongst Dr. Barrowe's
papers it may be found. Dr. Tillotson has all his papers —
quaere for it, and for the names of all writings both in
print and MSS.

He went to schoolc, first to Mr. Brookes at Charterhouse
two yeares. His father gave to Mr. Brookes 4//. per
annum, wheras his pay was but 2 //., to be carefull of him ;
but Mr. Brokes was negligent of him, which the captain
of the school acquainted his father (his kinsman) and sayd
that he would not have him stay there any longer than
he"' did, for that he*-" instructed him.

Afterwards to one Mr. Holbitch, about fower years, at

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 99. Subst. for ' November.'

" Isaac Bariow. ' i. e. this " captain of the school.'

88

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Felton^ in Essex ; from whence he was admitted of Peter-
house College in Cambridge first, and went to schoole
a yeare after. Then he was admitted of Trinity College
in Cambridge at 13 yearcs old.

Quaere whose daughter his mother was.

His mother was Anne, daughter of William Buggin of
North Cray in Kent, esq. She died when her sonne Isaac
was about fower yeares old.

Anno Domini ... he travelled, and returned, anno
Domini . . .

He wrote What MSS. ? — -quaere Dr. Tillotson,

and quaere Mr. Brabazon Aylmer, bookseller, nere Ex-
change Alley.

His humour when a boy and after : — merry and cheerfuU
and beloved where ever he came. His grandfather kept
him till he was 7 years old : his father was faine to force
him away, for there he would have been good for nothing
there.

A good poet, English and Latin. He spake 8 severall
languages.

* His father dealt in his trade to Ireland Avhcre he
had a great losse, neer looc//. ; upon which he wrote to
Mr. Holbitch, a Puritan, to be pleased to take a little
paines more than ordinarj^ with him, because the times
growing so bad, and such a losse then received, that he
did not knowe how he might be able to provide for him,
and so Mr. Holbitch tooke him away from the howse where
he was boarded to his owne howse, and made him tutor
to my lord viscount Fairfax, ward to the lord viscount
Say and Scale, where he continued so long as my lord
continued.

This viscount Fairfax'' died a young man. This viscount
Fairfax, being a schooleboy, maried a gentleman's daughter

" sic, for Felsted.

* MS. Aiibr. 8. fol. 99^^.

William Fairfax, born June 6.
1630, succeeded as 3rd viscount Fairfax
of Emley. Sept. 1641, married iiliza-

beth. daughter of Alexander .Smith of
Slulton CO. Suffolk, and died 1648.
His son Thomas. 4th viscount, died
165?.

Isaac Barrozv

89

in the towne there, who had but a thoLisand pounds. So
leaving the schoole, would needs have Mr. Isaac Barrow
with him, and told him he would maintaine him. But
the lord Say was so cruel to him that he would not allow
anything that 'tis thought he dyed for want. The looo//.
could not serve him long.

During this time old Mr. Thomas Barrow was shutt-up
at Oxford and could not heare of his sonne. But young
Isaac s master, Holbitch, found him out in London and
courted him to come to his schoole and that he would make
him his heire. But he did not care to goe to schoole again.

When my lord Fairfax faild and that he sawe he grew
heavy upon him, he went to see one of his schoolfellowes,
one Mr. Walpole, a Norfolke gent., who asked him ' What
he would doe ? ' He replyed he ' knew not what to doe :
he could not goe to his father at Oxford.' Mr. Walpole
then told him ' I am goeing to Cambridge to Trinity College
and I will maintaine you there ' ; and so he did for halfe
a yeare till the surrender of Oxford ; and then his father
enquired after him and found him at Cambridge. And
the very next day after old Mr. Barrow came to Cambridge,
Mr. Walpole was leaving the University and (hearing
nothing of Isaac's father) resolved to take Isaac along with
him to his howse. His father then asked him what pro-
fession he would be of, a merchant or etc. ? He begd
of his father to lett him continue in the University. His
father then asked what would maintain him. He told
him 20//. per annum: 'I warrant you,' .sayd he, 'I will
maintaine myselfe with it.' His father replyed 'l ie make
a shift to allow you that.' So his father then went to his
tutor and acquainted him of, etc. His tutor, Dr. Duport,
told him that he would take nothing for his reading to
him, for that he was likely to make a brave scholar, and
he would helpe him to halfe a chamber for nothing. And
the next newes his father heard of him was that he was
chosen in to the howse. * Dr. Hill " was then master of

* MS. Auhr S, fol. 100.

° Thomas Hill, intnidetl Master by the Parliamentary Visitors, 1^45-1653.

90

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

the college. He mctt Isaac" one day and layd his hand
upon his head and sayd ' thou art a good boy ; 'tis pitty
that thou art a cavalier.'

He was a strong and a stowt man and feared not any man.
He would fight with the butchers' boyes in St. Nicholas'
shambles, and be hard enough for any of them.

He went to travell 3 or 4 yeares after the king was
beheaded, upon the colledgc account ''. He was a candidate
for the Greeke professor s place, and had the consent of
the University but Oliver Cromwell putt in Dr. Widrington'' ;
and then he travelled.

He was abroad 5 yeares viz. in Italic, France. Germany,
Constantinople.

As he went to Constantinople, two men of warre
(Turkish shippes) attacqued the vessell wherin he was.
In which engagement he shewed much valour in defending
the vessell ; which the men that were in that engagement
often testifye, for he never told his father of it himsclfc.

Upon his returne, he came in (a) ship to Venice, which
was stowed with cotton-wooll, and as soon as ever they
came on shore the ship fell on fire, and was utterly con-
sumed, and not a man lost, but not any goods saved —
a wonderfull preservation.

His personall valour — At Constantinople, being in com-
pany with the English mtrchants,therewasa Rhadamontade
that would fight with any man and bragged of his valour,
and dared any man there to try him. So no man accepting
liis challenge, said Isaac (not then a divine), ' Wh^, if none
els will try you I will': and fell upon him and chastised
him handsomely that he vaunted no more amongst them.

After he had been 3 years beyond sea, his correspondent
dyed, so that he had no more supply; yet he was so well
beloved that he never wanted.

At Constantinople he wayted on the consul Sir Thomas
Bendish, who made him stay with him and kept him there
a ycare and a halfe, whether he would or no.

" I )upl. v\ itli ■ the boy.' Ralph Widdrington, Is-cg. Piof.

• i. e. receiving his fellowship. Greek, 1654-1660. 1655-59.

Isaac Barroiv

91

At Constantinople. Mr. Dawes (afterwards Sir Jonathan
Dawes, who dyed sherif of London), a Turkey merchant,
desired Mr. Barrow to stay but such a time and he would
returne with him, but when that time came he could not
goe, some businesse stayd him. Mr. Barrow could stay
no longer ; so Mr. Dawes would have had Mr. Barrow have
C " pistolles. ' No,' said Mr. Barrow, ' I know not whether
I shall be able to pay you.' ''Tis no matter,' said
Mr. Dawes. To be short, forced him to take fifty pistolls,
which at his returne he payd him again.

* Memorandum, his pill (an opiate, possibly Matthews
his pil), which he was wont to take in Turkey, which was
wont to doe him good, but he tooke it preposterously at
Mr. Wilson's, the sadler's, neer Sufifolke-house, where he
was wont to lye and where he dyed, and 'twas the cause of
his death — quaere + de hoc there.

As he lay expiring*' in the agonie of death, the standers-
by could heare him say softly ' I have .seen the glories of
the world' — (from) Mr. Wilson.

I have heard Mr. Wilson say that when he was at study,
was so intent at it that when the bed was made, or so. he
heeded it not nor perceived it, was so totiis in Iioc : and
would sometimes be goeing out without his hatt on.

He was by no meanes a spruce man*^, but most negligent
in his dresse. As he was walking one day in St. James's
parkc, looking . . . , his hatt up. his cloake halfe on and
halfe off, a gent, came behind him and clapt him on the
shoulder and sayd ' Well, goe thy wayes for the veriest
scholar that ever I mett with.'

He was a strong man but pale as the candle he
.studyed by.

His stature was . . .

The first booke he printed was Euclid's Elements in
Latin, printed at Cambridge, impensis Gulielmi Nealand,
bibliopolae, Anno Domini MDCLV.

" i.e. 100. Dupl. with 'he was not a Dr.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 100'. Smirkc ' — in Andrew Maivell's satire.
Dupl. with • uuravcllini^.' .Subst. lor " I sawe.'

92

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Euclidis data succincte demonstrata, printed at Cam-
bridge ex officina Joannis Field, impensis Gulielmi Nealand,
bibliopolae, anno Domini 1657.

Euclid's Elements in English.

Euclid's Elements in Latin — in the last impressions of this
is an appendix about the sphaere itselfe, it's segments and
their surfaces, most admirably derived and demonstrated
by the doctrine of infinite arithmetique and indivisibles.

* Lectiones XVIII Cantabrigiae in scholis publicis
habitae in quibus opticorum phaenomenwn genuinae rationes
invcstigantur ac exponuntur. Annexae sunt lectiones
aliquot geometricae. Londini, prostant venales apud
Johannem Dunmore et Octavianum Pulleyn. MDCLXIX.

Archimedes.

Apollonius.

Theodosius.

Now printing, 22 initiating lectures about mathematics"*,
to which will be subjoined some lectures that he read about
Archimedes, proving that he was an algebraist, and giving
his owne thoughts by what method Archimedes came to
fall on his theoremes.

Bookes writ by the learned Dr. Isaac Barrow and printed
for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pidgeons over against
the Royall Exchange in Cornhill : —

12 Sermons preached upon several! occasions; in 8vo,
being the first volume.

10 Sermons against evil speaking; in 8vo, being the
second volume.

8 Sermons of the love of God and our neighbour ; in
8vo, being the third volume.

The duty and reward of bounty to the poor, in a sermon,
much enlarged, preached at the Spittall upon Wednesday
in Easter weeke anno Domini 1671, in 8vo.

A sermon upon the Passion of our blessed Saviour
preached at Guildhall chapcU on Good PVyday the 13th
day of April 1677, in 8vo.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 101.

* ' In geometric' is written over 'about mathematics' in explanation.

Isaac Barrow

93

A learned treatise of the Pope's supremacy, to which is
added a discourse concerning the unity of the church ; in 4to.

The sayd discourse concerning the Unity of the Church
is also printed alone in 8vo.

An exposition of the Lord's Prayer, of the Ten Com-
mandments, of the doctrine of the Sacraments ; in Hvo.

All the sayd books of the learned Dr. Isaac Barrow
(except the sermon of bounty to the poor) are since the
author's death published by Dr. Tillotson, dcane of
Canterbury.

'The true and lively effigies of Dr. Isaac Barrow' in
a large print, ingraven from the life by the excellent artist
D. Loggan ; price, without frame, Gd.

* Thomas Barrow, (father of Isaac, S.T.D.) was brother
to Isaac Barrow late lord bishop of St. Asaph, and sonne
of Isaac Barrow of Spiney Abbey, who was sonne of
Philip Barrow^, who hath in print a method of Physick,
and he had a brother Isaac Barrow, a Dr. of Physick, who
was a benefactor to Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, and
was there tutor to Robert Cecill that was earle of Salisbury
and Lord Treasurer.

** Isaac Barrow, D.D., ((a) Cambridge (man), borne
in Essex), is buried in the south crosse aisle of \\'estminstcr
Abbey with this inscription : —

Isaacus Barrow
S.T.P. Regi Carolo II" a sacris
Vir prope divinus et vere magnus si quid magna habent
Pietas, probitas, fides, summa eruditio, par modestia,
Mores sanctissimi undiquaque et suavissimi.
Geometriae professor Londini Greshamcnsis,
Graecae linguae et Matheseos apud Cantabrigienses suos,
Cathedras omnes, ccclesiam, gentem ornavit.
Collegium SS. Trinitatis praeses illustravit,
Jactis bibliothecae vere regiae fundamentis auxit.

* M.S. Aut)r. 8, fol. loP'.

' See Cooper's Athenae Cant. ii. 96.

♦* MS. .Aubr. 6. fol. 51. Aubrey
gives in trick the coat: — 'sable, two
swoids in s.nltire between four flcur-

de-Iys . . .'

Anthony W ood notes : — ' This
was made for Dr. Barrow, \'icechan-
cellor of Canihridgc. vide part iii,' i. c.
MS. Aubi. 8, tit supra.

94

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

Opes, honores, et universum vitae ambitum,
Ad majora natus, non contempsit sed reliquit seculo.
Deum quern a teneris coluit cum primis imitatus est,
Paucissimis egendo, beneficiendo quam plurimis,
Etiam posteris quibus vel mortuus concionari non desinit.
Caetera et poene majora ex scriptis peti possunt.
Abi lector et aemulare.
Obiit IVto die Maii anno Domini MDCLXXVII
setatis suae XLVII.
Monumentum hoc Amici posuere.

This epitaph was contrived by Dr. John Mapletofi and
perfected by Dr. (Thomas) Gale.

He was the . . . son of . . . Barrow, (who) was a
brewer at Lambith ; a King's Scholar at Westminster.

Anno 1655 he printed at Cambridge Euclidis Elemcn-
torum libri XV breviter demonstrati.

Anno . . . , he travelled ; was at Constantinople ; sawe
part of Graece, Italic, France.

He was a good poet, of great modestie and humanity,
careles of his dresse.

. . . Barrow (16..- 168.).

* Dr, . . . Barrow, M.D., secretary to the lord gcnerall
Monke in Scotland, and who wrote the life or history of
the generall, was cosen-german to Thomas (father of Isaac,
D.D.). He was a very good-humoured man. He much
resembled and spake like Dr. Ezerel Tong. Obiit 2 yeares
since : quaere ubi.

Thomas Batcheroft (15 .. -1670).

** Memorandum : in Sir Charles Scarborough's time
(he was of Caius College) Dr. . . . (the head of that
house) would visit the boyes' chambers, and see what
they were studying ; and Charles Scarborough's genius let
him to the mathematics, and he was wont to be reading
of Clavius upon Euclid. The old Dr. had found in the
title ' , e Socictatc Jcsii^ and was much scandalized

* M.S. Aiibr. 8, fol. loo". Batcheroft was Master of Gonville nnd

♦•■^ MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6o». Thomas Cains College, 1625-49, 1O60-1670.

Francis Beaumont

95

at it. Sayd he, ' By all nieanes leave-off this author, and
read Protestant mathematicall bookcs.'

One sent this Doctor a pidgcon-pye from New-market or
thereabout, and he askt the bearer whither 'twas hott,
or cold ? He did out-doe Dr. Kettle.

George Bate (1608-1668).
* Kingston super Thames ; north aisle chap(el).

Spe resurrectionis felicis
heic juxta sita est

Elizabetha
conjux lectissima
Georgii Bate, M.D.,
Car. 2 inedici primarii,
Qui cineres suos adjacere curavit

ut qui unanimes convixerant
quasi unicorpores condormientes
una resurgant.
Mortem obiit 17 -Apr., 1667, aet. 46
ex hydro-pulmon.,
funesta Londini conflagratione
acceleratam.
Obiit ille 19 Apr., 1668
aetatis suae 60.

Francis Beaumont (1584-1616).

** Mr. Francis Beaumont was the son of Judge Beau-
mont ^ There was a wondcrfull consimility

t Utrumqnp nostrum'' r ^ .l i

increciibili moiio oi phanscy J bctwccn him and Mr. John

Consentit astrum. i i i • i

Horace, lib. 2, Flctcher, whicli causcd that dearnesse of

O'le 17.

frendship between them.
I thinke they were both of Queen's College in Cambridge.
I have heard Dr. John Earles (since bishop of Sarum).

* Note in pencil (partly inked
over) by Aubrey at end of M.S. Rawl.
766. The slip is addressed (not by
Aubrey) 'To Mr. Thomas Awbrey at
Broad Chalke — , to be left at the
Lambe in *Katherine Streete in Salis-
bury.' The seal is ' party per chevron,
. . . and or r?\ in chief 2 eagles (or
falcons rising, a mullet for differe:ice,'

a coat for Stephens. Aubrey gives in
trick, as on the monument, 'sable, a
fesse engrailed argent, between 3 dexter
hands coiiped bendways or.'

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 116".

" Francis Keaumont, Justice of the
Common Pleas, 159.^
Subit. for ' illorum.'

96 Aubreys 'Brief Lives*

who knew them, say that his maine businesse was to correct
the overflowings * of Mr. Fletcher's witt.

They lived together on the Banke side, not far from
the Play-house, both batchelors ; lay together — from Sir
James Hales, etc. ; had one wench in the house between
them, which they did so admire ; the same cloathes and
cloake, &c., betweene them.

He writt (amongst many other) an admirable elegie on
the countesse of Rutland, which is printed with verses
before Sir Thomas Overburie's Characters. John Earles.
in his verses on him, speaking of them,

'A monument that will then lasting bee.
WTien all her marble is more dust then shee."

Ex registro : — he was bur\-ed at the entrance of
St. Benedict's chapell where (is) the earl of Middlesex"
«Meiiiorai>- monum.ent, in Westminster Abbey, March 9,

dam : — Isaac j fy | s.^"
Casanboa «as ^

^^^^^^ I searched, severall \-eares since, in the
H^i^y^ s. Register-booke of St Mar>^ Overies. for the
obiit of Mr. John Fletcher, which I sent to
Mr. Anthony a Wood.

He hath a ver\- good prefatorj^ letter before Mr. Sp^ht's
edition of Sir Geofrey Chaucer's Workes printed by
Adam Islip, 1602, London, where he haz judicious ob-
servations of his writing.

William Bedwell 1 15.. -1632*.

* . . . BedweU, professor of ... at Gresham College,
translated into English Pitisci TrigontsiuA-ia. Published
T/u turiianicut of Toinam. He was an Essex man — from
his grand-niece.

William Eeeston 16.. -1682).
Did I tell j'ou that I have mett with old Mr. . . .
who knew all the old English poets, whose hves I am

* • Super ' is wriltei above • over." foL 357 : written Sept. i, 1681.

* MS. K\Ax. J, fol. 6. * Blank in MS, AtArev forgettimi
** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, the name at the moment.

Richard Benese

97

taking from him : his father was master of the . . . play-
house.

* The more to be admired, quaere — he was not
a company keeper ; lived in Shorditch ; would not be
debauched ; and if invited to court, was in paine.

W. SJiakespeare — quaere Mr. Beeston, who knowes most
of him from Mr. Lacy. He lives in Shoreditch at Hoglane
within 6 dores north of Folgate. Quaere etiam for Ben
Jonsofi.

** Old Mr. Beeston, whom Mr. (John) Dreyden
calles 'the chronicle of the stage,' died at his house in
Bishopsgate street without, about Bartholomew-tyde, 1682.
Mr. Shipey in Somerset-house hath his papers.

Richard. Benese (14.. -1546).

*** I did see, many yeares since, in a countrey-man's
house, a little booke in 8vo in English, called

Arsmetric, or the Art of numbring:

printed in an old black letter about Henry VHI. The
author's name I doe not remember — quaere in Duck lane.

The next old mathematicall booke in English that I have
seen hath this title, viz : —

This booke sheweth the manner of measurinrr of all
manner of land, as well of woodland as of lande in the
felde, and comptinge the true nombre of acres of the same.

Newlye invented and compiled by Syr Rycharde Benese,
chanon of Marton Abbay besyde London.

^ Printed in Southwarkc in Saint Thomas hospital
by me James Nicolson.

'Tis a quarto.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 45'. The first a note of questions to be put to hiiu.
part of the note seems to be a char- ♦* M.S. Aubr. 7, fol. 6.
acter of Beeston ; the second part is *** MS. Aubr. 8, ful. 71.

I. H

98

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

* This Sir Richard Benese was also author of a little
booke, in Hvo, called ....

: quaere Absolom Leech for it — ' tis about physick.

Berkeley.

** Mris . . . Barckley, sister of the late lord Fitz-
Harding", was cosen german to Mr. Sydney Godolphin,
and also his niistresse. He loved her exceedingly. After
Mr. Godolphin's death she maried one Mr. Davys who
I thinke is now ^ dead, and she lives at Twicknam — from
Philip Packer, esq.

Willoughby Bertie. 3rd earl of Abingdon (1692-1760).

*** (Willoughby) Bertie, filius primus Jacobi Bertie,
2"*^' filii Jacobi, comitis de Abington, natus Westmonast.
28 die Novembris, 2^. P.M. 1692. — The child is yet living,
notwithstanding the S**" house " : mend the figure, but the
time is right.

**** I know not how to retreive the fashion or shape of
the old engine of the batiering-ravime, but from the coate
of the Bertyes, which is ' or, 3 battering rammes barrewise,'
as in the margent, the timber is proper, the head azure,
the homes and ironworke gilded.

***** Memorandum : — the battering ramme, the armes

of Bertie, hung in equilibrio in an engine they call the

* M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 70'. ' January i6&|.'

** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 6. *** M.S. Aubr. 23, fol. 90.

*■ Charles Berkeley, created viscount i. e. in the scheme of the nativity,

Fitz-hardinge 1663, killed in the sea- -which portended immediate death,
fight, June 3, 1665. **** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 11.

»> MS. Aubr. 7 (fol. 5) is dated ***** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 5.

Henry Billingsley

99

triangles— from Mr. Nicolas Mercator : vide Bcrtie"s
coate in primo volumine'*. See'' the old
glasse windowes in Aldersgate street — -from Mr.
( Edward ) Bagshawe.

Henry Billingsley (15.. -1606).

* Sir Henry Billingsley', knight. — On the north side
of the chancell of St. Katharine Coleman church London
at the upper end is this inscription, viz : —

Here lieth buried the body of Elizabeth, late the wife of Henry
Hillingsley, one of the Queene's majestie's customers of her port of
London, who dyed the 29th day of July in the yeare of our Lord God
1577-

In obititin ejus.

Stat sua cuique dies atque ultima funeris hora

Cum Deus hinc et mors invidiosa vocant ;
Nec tibi nec pietas tua vel forma, Elizabetha,

Praesidium leto"^ ne trahereris erat.
Occidis exactis ternis cum conjuge lustris,

At septem vitae lustra fuere tuae.
Fecerat et proles jam te numerosa parentem,

Filiolae trinae, caetera turba mares.
Undecimo partu cum mors accessit et una

Matrem te et partum sustulit undecimum —
Scilicet ex mundo, terrena ex fece, malisque,

Sustulit ; at superis reddidit atque Deo.
Est testis sincera fides, testis tua virtus.

Grata viro virtus, grata fidesque Deo.

Quem posuit tumulum tibi conjux charus, eodem
In tumulo condi mortuus ipse petit.

(Vide) the Register book (of the church).

Memorandum : — Billingsley (a village) is in the countic
of Salop. 'Tis a Shropshire familie ; but the village now
is one Mr. Norton's.

This Sir Henry Billingsley was one of the learncdst

" i. e. in MS. Aubr. 6, ut supra.

This sentence possibly refers to some other topic th.in the jireceding.
* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 35\ " MS. ' laeto.'

H 2

lOO

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives*

citizens that London has bred. This was he that putt forth
all Euclid's Elements in English with learned notes and
preface of Mr. John Dee, and learned men say 'tis the best
Euclid. He had been sheriff and Lord Mayor of the
city of London. His howse was the fairc hovvse in Fen-
church street where now Jacob Luce lives, a merchant, of
of whom quaere + . Vide in Fuller's Worthies and Stowe's
Survey. His Euclid was printed at London by John
Day, 1570.

' The Translator to the Reader — Wherfore considering
the want and lack of such good authors hitherto in our
l^nglish tongue, lamenting also the negligence and lacke
of zeale to their countrey in those of our nation to whom
God hath given both knowledge and also abilitie to translate
into our tongue and to publish abroad such good authors
and bookes : Seeing moreover that many good witts, both
of gentlemen and others of all degrees, much desirous and
studious of these artes, — I have for their sakes with some
chardge and great travaile faithfully translated into our
vulgar tounge and set abroad in print this booke of Euclid
wherunto I have added plaine declarations and examples,
manifold additions, scholies, annotations, and inventions
which I have gathered.' — He promises (here) some more
translations and sayes that in religion he hath alreadie
don, quaere.

Memorandum P. Ramus in his Scholia's sayes that the
reason why mathematiques did most flourish in Germanie
was that the best authors were rendred into their mother
tongue, and that publique lectures of it were also read in
their owne tongue — quod nota bene.

Memorandum when I was a boy, one Sir . . . Billingsley
had a very pleasant seate with a faire * oake-wood ad-
joyning to it, about a mile i '' east of Bristoll — quaere if'', etc.

Vide de Sir Thomas Billingsley, pag. (44 b)"*; who was
gentleman of the horse to Richard, earl of Dorset. He

* ' faire ' is scored out. Henry Billingsley.

i.e. 1 1 mile. ^ i. e. MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 67' — in

' i. e. if descended from Alderman Francis Bacon's life.

Henry Billingsley

lor

managed the great horse best of any man in England. He
taught the Prince Elector and brothers to ride. Quaere if
descended hence.

In those dayes'^ merchants travelled much abroad into
Italic, Spaine, etc. Quaere Mr. Abraham Hill of v.'hat
company he was. Probably good memorialls may be there
found of his generous and publique spirit. Respondct: —
He was of the Goldsmiths' Company, where is a good
picture of him.

R. B., i.e. Robert Billingsley, teaches Arithmetique
and Mathematiques at ... in ... . He hath printed a very
pretty little booke of arithmetique and algebra, London
(scilicet, {They Idea of AritJimetic) : was Sir Henry's great
grandson — from Mr. Abraham Hill.Regiae Societatis Socius.

* In the table of benefactors in the church of St. Catherine

Colman, viz. —

, , (■ Dame Elizabeth i , ,. , .,,

' 100^5 ■ „. ) Bilhngsley did will to the

^ { Sir Henry J ^ ^

poor \s. per weeke for ever and 200//. which their heires

etc. have not payd ' —

The minister here, Mr. Dodson, sayts that it was not
payd because the parish did not find-out in due time land
to make a purchase of.

Many yeares since Mr. Abraham Hill, Regiae Societatis
Socius, citizen, told me that .Sir Henry Billingsley was
of the Goldsmiths' Company, and that his picture was
in Goldsmiths' Hall, which I went lately to see. No
picture of him, and besides the clarke of the Company
told me that he is sure he was never of that Company.
But Mr. Hill tells me since that in Stowe's Survey you
may see of what Company all the Lord Mayers were,
which see'^' and tell me.

** Sir H. Billingsley — Mr. Leeke, mathematician, saith
that he was of the company of goldsmiths, quaere. Quaere

" i.e. Henry Billingsley'^, to whom <^ This injunction was ad<lresst<l to

in this paragraph Aubrey harks back. Anthony Wood.

^ ' Richard,' infra, p. 103. ** MS. Anbr. 8, fol. 18.
* M.S. Aubr. 7, fol. 9.

I02

Aubi'eys 'Brief Lives '

the clarke of the company : vide register booke. Vide
Heralds" Office (Salop, and neer Bristowe). Vide Fuller s
Worthyes where he mentions the Lord Mayers.

* Ex registro (of St. Catherine Coleman) : — Sir Henrj-
Hillingsley, knight, buried in the vault under his pewe in
the church of St. Catherine Coleman, London, December
the iSth, 1606. I find b\' the register that he had two
more wives besides Elizabeth mentioned in the inscription ;
his second was the lady Trapps ; third, . . .

Memorandum his house (which is a very faire one),
which is neer the church, is still remayning untoucht b\-
the fire. In the parlour windowe are scutchions of his
family, which gett. There now lives Mr. Lucy^ a great
merchant.

He was sheriff of the citie of London anno Domini
( 1584). reginae Elizabethae a6 : he was Lord Mayor of
the city of London anno Domini (1.596), reginae Eliza-
bethae 38 — Sir Thomas Skinner served one part and
Sir Henry Billingsley the other :— Baker's Chronicle,
reigne queen Elizabeth.

** Out of the visitation in the great booke ^ of Wilts,
Dorset, and Somerset : —

Sir Henrj' Billingsley, maried . . .
Lord Mayer j

I. Sir Henr%- Biliingsley,
of Sysam in Glo-
cestershire, filius
et haeres.

2. William BiLingsley, /«. . . .

3. Thomas^

I. Henr)- Billingsley, w. . . .
of Graye's Inne 1

2. Thomas

I. Blanch

2. Elizabeth

» MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 90.

of Arms.

* Anthony Wood notes ' Luce, in

Aubrey notes here : — ' Quaere if
this Thomas was not Sir Thoraa.>
Billingsle}-, the femous horseman?':
see supra, p. loo.

vol. i, p. . . .' i.e. MS. Aubr. 6, fol.

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 89'.

'' Ja the librarj- of the College

Martin Billingsley. Thomas Billingsley 103

* Sir Henry Billingsley('s life is) already donne".
Friar Whitehead of Austin Friars (now Wadham College),
did instruct him. He kept him at his house and there
I thinke he dyed.

jVo/es.

' Aubrey gives in colour this very elaborate coat : — ' quartei ly in the i and 4,
gules, a fleur-de-lys or, a canton of the second ; in the 2, . . ., on a cross
belwetn four lions rampant 5 mullets . . .; in the 3, per saltire or and azure
two birds (? martlets); impaling, quarterly, in the i and 4, azure 2 lions
passant in pale or; in the 2, or, a fess sable, 2 mullets in chief gules; in the
3, barry of six argent and gules a bend sable and a canton gules.'

- See Clark's Wood's City of Oxford, ii. 454, 471. It is suggested that
Billingsley in his Euclid published Whitehead's papers as his own.

Martin Billingsley.

Mr. Martin Billingsley (captain (Edward) Shirburne
knew him) was a writing master in London. He printed an
excellent copie-booke (quaere if he descended from this'') :
vide his scutcheon " above his picture before his booke.

*** Martin Billingsley, who made the copie booke, 162^^,
port. ^ ut in margine, ' . . . ,a cross between 4 lions rampant
. . . , 5 mullets ... on the cross.'

Richard Billingsley.

**** Richard Billingsley'' scripsit : —

'An Idea of Arithmetick, at first designed for the use
of the free-schoole at Thurlow in Suffolk, by R. B. school-
master there': stitch't Hvo, 3 sheetes, London, 'printed
by J. Flesher, and are to be sold by W. Morden booke-
seller in Cambridge. 165",.'

Thomas Billingsley (obiit 167..).

***** Sir Thomas Billingsley was the best horseman in
England, and out of England no man e.xccedcd him.

* MS Aubr. 8 Aubrey's volume of
Lives of the English Mathematicians <,
lol. 76.

" i. e. written ; viz. in M.S. Aubr.
6. ut supra.

MS. Aubr, 6, fol. 35'.
i.e. frcin Sir Henry Billingsley.

<^ As given in next paragraph.
M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 18.
' Portavit,' bore to his arms.
**** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. iS.
o Called ' Robert,' supra, \>. loi.
*"*♦* M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 67'.

I04

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

He taught this* earle (of Dorset) and his 30 gentlemen
to ride the great horse. He taught this** Prince Elector
Palatine of the Rhine and his brothers.

He ended his dayes at the countesse of Thanet's
(daughter and co-heire of Richard, earl of Dorset) . . .
167- ; d3'ed praying on his knees.

John Birkenhead. (16 15-1679).

* Sir John Birkenhead, knight, was borne at Xantwych
in Cheshire. His father was a sadler there, and he had a
brother a sadler, a trooper in Sir Thomas Ashton's regiment,
who was quartered at my father's, who told me so.

He went to Oxford university at . . . old, and was
first a servitor of Oriall colledge : vide Antiq. Oxoii.^
!Mr. Gwin minister of Wilton, was his contemporary
there, who told me he wrote an excellent hand, and. in
i63[7 or H] when William Laud, archbishop of Canterbury,
was last there, he had occasion to have some things well
transcribed, and this Birkenhead was recommended to him.
who performed ^ his businesse so well, that the archbishop
recommended him to All Soules" college to be a fellow,
and he was accordingly elected?. He was scholar enough,
and a poet.

After Edgehill fight, when King Charles I first had his
court at Oxford, he was pitched upon as one fitt to write
the Newes, which Oxford Newes was called Ulcrcurius
Aulicits. which he writt wittily enough, till the surrender
of the towne (which was June 24, 1646). He left a
collection of all his Mcrcurius Aidicus's and all his other
pamphletts, which his executors (Sir Richard Mason and
Sir Muddiford Bramston) were ordered by the king to
giv'e to the Archbishop of Canterbury's library.

■'' i.e. Richard Sackville, fth earl; i.e. Anthony Wood's Hist. €t

obiit 1677. Ajitiq. Univ. Oxon., 1674. Birken-

i.e. Charles Louis, Elector Pala- head became servitor at Oriel in 1632,

line 1648-80; his brothers were aged 15.

Prince Rnpert and Prince Maurice. <" Philip Gwyn, matr. at Oriel in

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 85. 1634.

« Anthony Wood corrects this to ' Subst. for ' dischardged.'

' Xorthwich.' * ^ In 1639.

John Birkenhead

After the surrender of Oxford, he was putt out of his
fellowship by the Visitors, and was faine to shift for him-
selfe as well as he could. Most part of his time he spent
at London, where he mett with severall persons of quality
that loved his company, and made much of him.

He went over into France, where he stayed some time,
I thinke not long. He received grace there from the
dutches of Newcastle, I remember he tolde me.

He gott many a fourty shillings (I beleeve) by pamphletts,
such as that of ' Col. Pride,' and ' The Last Will and Tes-
tament of Philip carle of Pembroke,' &c.

At the restauration of his majestic he was made Master
of the Facultees, and afterwards one of the Masters of
Requests. He was exceedingly confident % witty, not very
gratefull to his benefactors, would lye damnably. He was
of midling stature, great goggli eies, not of a sweet aspect.

He was chosen a burghes of Parliament at Wilton in
Wiltshire, anno Domini i66(i), i.e. of the King's long
parliament. Anno 167(9) upon the choosing of tJiis
Parliament '', he went downe to be elected, and at Salisbury
heard * how he was scorned and mocked at Wilton (whither
he was goeing) and called Pensioner, etc.—

[Vendidit hie auro patriam, dominumque potentem

Imposuit; leges fixit pretio atque refixit.

ViRG. Aeneid, lib. vi. 621.
— This was Curio : vide Servium de hoc] — he went not
t quaere to the borough where he intended to stand ;

Anthony Wood , 1x1 1 1 •

to whom I writt but rctumed to London, and tooke it so to
<klth%hich as heart that he insensibly decayed and pined

I remember was 1 t-\ 1 j_ 1

the same day avvav : and SO, December . . . t, J 070, dyed at

that Mr. Hobbes .. . ,,

die<i. his lodgeings in Whitehall, and was buried

J His rea<ion y •« >

was because he Saturday, December 6, in St. Martyn s church-
say d they

removed the yard t in-thc- F"ields, neer the church, according

bodies out of the ^ '

church. to his will and testament. His executors intend

to sett up an inscription for him against the church wall.

» Subsl. for ' bold': Aubrey wiites Feb.
here icvvtuvris, in explanation. * M.S. Aiibr. 6, fol. 85'.

^ M.S. Aubr. 6 was written in For choosing a grave in the

ro6

He had the art of locall memory ; and his topiques were
the chambers, &c., in All Soules colledge (about lOo), so
that for IOC errands, &c., he would easily remember.

He was created Dr. of LL. ; had been with the king-'.

His library was sold to Sir Robert Atkins for 200 //.
His MSS. (chiefly copies of records) for 900//.

Henry Birkhead. (1617-1696).

** My old acquaintance, Dr. Henry Birkhed, formerly
fellow of your college (but first was commoner of Trinity
College Oxon) was an universally <belove)d man.

He had his schoole education under Mr. Farnary'' and
(was his) beloved disciple.

He died at the Bird-cage (at his sister's, Mris Knight,
the famous singer) in St. James's parke, (on) Michaelmas-
eve 1696, aged about 80.

He was borne in London (at the) Paul-head tavern
(which his father kept) in Paule's chaine (in) St. Paul's
church-yard anno 1617, baptized the 25 of September.
John Gadbury haz his nativity from him.

I will aske his sister (Mris Knight) for a very ingeniose
diatribe that he wrote on Martialis epigram, lib. (xi. 94. 8),

jura, verpe, per Anchialum,
which he haz cleared beyond his master Farnaby, Scaliger,
or any other. ' Scaliger,' he sayd. ' speakes the truth, but
not the whole truth.' Tis pity it should be lost, and I would
reposit it in the Museum.

I gave my Holyoke's dictionary to the Museum. Pray
looke on the blank leaves at the end of it, and you will
find a thundering copie of verses that he gave me, in the'
praise of this king of France. Now he is dead, it may be
lookt-upon.

churchyard, and not, as was usual mending him for D.C.L.

with persons of substance, in the ** Aubrey in MS. Tanner J4, fol.

church. IS9: Nov.'2i, 1696.

* MS. .Aubr. 6, fol. 85. ^ i. e. All Souls : the letter is

" These words, added i? by Wood) written to Thomas Tanner.

in pencil, probably give the reason Thomas Farnaby, «/ infra.

assigned in the royal mandate recom- Louis Xl\'.

Richard Blackbourne. Robert Blake 107

Richard Blackbourne (1652-1 7 . ■ ?)•

* Richard Blackbiirne, Londineiisis, was of Trinity
College, Cambridge, M.A. Tooke his M.D. degree at
Leyden about 5 or 6 yeares since. He practises but
little ; studies much. A generall scholar, prodigious
memorie, sound judgment : but 30 yeares old now.

John Blagrave (1550-1611).

In MS. Aubr. 8 (.Aubrey's Lives of English Mathematic ans), fol. 76,
' Mr. John Blagrave of Reding' is noted as a life to be written, and
the coat is given in trick ' or, on a bend sable, 3 greaves argent.' In
the Index (fol. 8) at the beginning of the same volume he is noted : —
John Blagrave of Reding, vide his will, quaere Mr. Morden."

Robert Blake (1599-1657).

** . . . Blake, admirall, was borne at .... in com. Somer-
set ; was" of Albon-hall, in Oxford. He was there a young
man of strong body, and good parts. He was an early riser
and studyed well, but also tooke his robust pleasures of
fishing, fowling, &c. He would steale swiinncs — from
H. Norborne, B.D., his contemporary there''.

He served in the House of Commons for . . . Anno
Domini (1649) he was made admirall. He did the
greatest actions at sea that ever were done, viz., . . .

. . . Blake obiit anno Domini (1657) and was buried in
King Henry jth's chapell ; but upon the returne of the
king, his body was taken up again and removed by
Mr. Wells' occasion, and where it is now, I know not.
Quaere Mr. Wells of Bridgewater.

Vide Diurnalls, and Rushworth's History; vide Anthon\'
Wood's Hist, {et Antiq. Oxon.').

* Aubrey in MS. Wood, F. 39, ful.
354' : June 21, 1681.

M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 33.

" Matric. at St. Alban Hall Jan.
if', l6i|, aged 17; touk 1!..\. from

Wadham Feb. 10, 161

^ At .St. Alban Hall. Norborne
matric. in Oct. iftio; and took li.I). in

lirid^Lwater, 1O40.

io8

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Sir Henry Blount (1602-1682).

* Sir Henry Blount, Tittinghanger, natus Dec. 1,5,
1602, 9*^ P.M.

** Sir Henry Blount obiit 9th Oct. last ^ in the morning.

*** Sir Henry Blount \ knight: — he was borne (I
presume) at Tittinghanger in the countie of Hertford.
It was heretofore the summer seate of the Lord Abbot
of St. Alban's.

He was of Trinity College in Oxford where was
a great acquaintance'' between him and Mr. Francis
Potter. He stayed there about (four) yeares. From
thence he went to Grayes Inne, where he stayd . . . .
and then sold his chamber there to Mr. Thomas Bonham -
(the poet) and travelled — voyage into the Levant. May 7,
1634, he embarqued at Venice for Constantinople: vide
his Voyage into tlic Levant, printed London 16 — , in 4to.
He returned . . .

He was pretty wild when young, especially addicted to
common wenches. He was a 2d brother.

He was a gentleman pensioner to King Charles I, on
whom he wayted (as it was his turne) to Yorke (when the
King deserted the Parliament) ; was with him at Edge-hill
fight ; came with him to Oxford ; and so returned to
London ; walkt ^ into Westminster hall with his sword by
his side ; the Parliamentarians all stared upon him as
a Cavaleer, knowing that he had been with the King :
was called before the House of Commons, where he
remonstrated to them he did but his duty, and so they
acquitted him.

In these dayes he dined most commonly at the Hey-
cock's" ordinary, neer the Pallzgrave-head taverne, in the
Strand, which was much frequented by Parliament-men
and gallants. One time colonel Betridge being there

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121.

** MS. Aubr. 23, a slip at fol. 103''.

" i.e. Oct. 1682.

*** M.S. Aubr. G, fol. 102.

^ Matric. June 30, 161 5 ; B.A. June

18, 1618.

Subst. for ' friendship.'
Dupl. with ' came.'
* Dupl. with ' combe-makers.'

Sir Henry Blount

(one* of the handsomest men about the towne) and
bragged much how the woemen loved him; Sir H. Blount
did lay a wager of ... . with him that let them two goe
together to a bordello ; he only (without money) with his
handsome person, and Sir Henry with a xx^. piece on his
bald crowne, that the wenches should choose Sir Henr)-
before Betridge ; and Sir H. won the wager. E(dmund)
V\'(yld), esq., was one of the witnesses.

Memorandum : — there was about 164 . . a pamphlet
(writt by Henry Nevill, esq., avovv\i.S}^) called The Parlia-
ment of Ladies, 3 or 4 sheets in 4to, wherin Sir
Henry Blount was first to be called to the barre for
spreading abroad that abominable and dangerous doctrine
that it was far cheaper and safer to lye with common
wenches'" then with ladies of quality

His estate left him by his father was 500 //. per
annum, which he sold to ... . (quaere) for an annuitie
of 1000//. per annum in anno Domini 16..; and since
his elder brother dyed.

Anno Domini 165(5) he was made one of the comittee
for regulating the lawes. He was severe against tythes,
and for the abolishing them, and that every minister
.should have icq//, per annum and no more.

Since he was . . . year old he dranke nothing but
water or coffee. 1647 or therabout, he maryed to Mris
[Hester"*] Wase, [daughter of Christopher Wase**], wht)
dyed 1679 ; by whom he haz two sonnes, ingeniose young
gentlemen. Charles Blount (his second son) hath writt
Aniina Mtmdi, 8vo, 167(9) (burnt by order of the bishop
of London) and of Sacrifices, Svo.

I remember twenty yeares since he inveighed mucli
against sending youths to the universities — quaere if his
sons there — because they learnt there to be debaucht ; and
that the learning that they learned there * they were to

■ Diipl. with ' who was an extra-
ordinary handsome man.'
*" Subst. for ' whores.'
Dupl. with ' honour.'

^ The words in square brackets are
insertions by Anthony Wood.
* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 102'.

no

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

unlearne againe, as a man that is buttond or laced too hard,
must unbutton before he can be at his ease. Drunken-
nes?e he much exclaimed against, but he allowed wenching.
When coffee first came-in he was a great upholder of it.
and hath ever since been a constant frequenter of coffee
houses, especially Mr. . . . Farre at the Rainbowe by Inner
Temple Gate. and lately John s coffeehouse in Fuller's rents.

The first coffee house in London t

♦ .And tbe next . ir-i i- »•! • i-ii

was Mr. Fair's was in bt. Michaci s Alley m Lomehill.

a bajb<-r. wS.ich . i /-i i i . i' i

was set Qp in opposite to the Lhurch : which was sett up bv
one . . . Bowman (coachman to Mr. Hodges,
a Turkey merchant, who putt him upon it) in or about
the yeare 1652. 'Twas about 4 yeares before any other
was sett up. and that was by Mr. Far. Jonathan Paynter,
opposite to St. Michael s Church, was the first apprentice
to the trade, \-iz. to Bowman. Memorandum : — the Bagneo.
in Newgate Street, was built and first opened in Decemb.
1679: built by ... . (Turkish merchants).

He is a gentleman of a ven,* clear judgement, great
experience, much contemplation, not of verj- much reading,
of great foresight into government. His conversation is
admirable. When he was young, he was a great collector
of bookes, as his sonne is now.

He was heretofore a great shammer, i. e. one that tells
falsities not to doe any body any injur\', but to impose
on their vmderstanding : — e. g. at Mr. Farre's ; that at an
inne (nameing the signe) in St. Alban s, the inkeeper had
made a hogs-trough of a free-stone coffin ; but the pigges,
after that, grew leane, dancing and skipping, and would
run up on the topps of the houses like goates. Two
young gentlemen that heard Sir H. tell this s/iam so
gravely, rode the next day to St Alban's to enquire :
coraeing there, nobody had heard of any such thing, "twas
altogether false. The next night as soon as the(y)
allighted. they came to the Rainbowe and found Sir H.,
looked louringly on him, and told him they wonderd he
was not ashamed to tell such storj-s as, &c., ' Why,
gentlemen,' (say d Sir H. ■ - have you been there to make

Edmund Bonner

III

enquiry ? ' ' Yea,' sayd they. ' Why truly, gentlemen,'
sayd Sir H. ' I heard you tell strange things that I knew
to be false. I would not have gonne over the threshold
of the dore to have found you in a lye: ' at which all the
company laught at the two young gentlemen.

He was wont to say that he did not care to have his
servants goe to church, for there servants infected one
another to goe to the alehouse and Icarne debauchery ;
but he did bid them goe to see the executions at Tj'burne.
which worke more upon them then all the oratory in the
sermons.

His motto over his printed picture is that which I have
many yeares ago heard him speake of, viz. : — Loqiicndnui
est cum vttlgo, sentieiidtnn cum sapicntibus.

He is now (1680) neer or altogether 80 yeares, his
intellectualls good still, and body prettj- strong.

This last vveeke * of Sept. 1682. he was taken very ill at
London, and his feet swelled ; and removed to Titting-
hanger.

A'o/es.

' Aubrey gives in colours the coats: — 'or, 2 bars nebule sable [lilouiul';
and ' or, 2 bars nebule sable [Blount] ; im])aling, barry of six or and gules
[VVase].' ."Mso the references (a'l ' vide Anthony Wood's {//is/, el') Antiq.
Oxon.^ \ 'vide Heralds' Office.' Aubrey, in M.S. Wood F. 39, writing on
.•Vprii 7, 1673, says of Blount, 'His father was Sir Thomas Pope Blount, and
his grandmother (as I remember I have heard Dr. Hannibal Potter say) was
our founder's daughter.'

' Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 199, speaks of him as 'Tom Bonham,
of Essex, that haz made many a good song and epitaph —

When the shrill scirocco blowes.'

Edmund Bonner (i 495-1 569).

* Mr. Steevens^. . .whom I mett lately accidentally,
informed me thus: — that bishop Bonner was of Broadgates
hal! : that he came thither a poor boy, and was at first
a skuUion boy in the kitchin, afterwards became a servitor,
and so by his industry raysed to what he was.

* A note added after the preceding 273'': May 30, 1674.

life had been written. *> See i«^«o;«/«^,Thomas Stephens.

* Aubrey in MS. Wood, F. 39, fol.

1 12

When he came to his greatnes, in acknowledgement
from whence he had his rise, he gave ^ to the kitchin there
a great brassc-pott, called Bonner's pott, which was taken
away in the parliament time. He has shewed the pott
to me, I remember. It was the biggest, perhaps, in
Oxford : quaere the old cooke how much it contayned.

John Booker (160^-1667).
* John Booker, astrologer, natus Manchester, March 23,
1601, 20'' 10' P. M.

James Bovey (1622-16..).

** James Bovey ^ borne at London May 7th, 1622,
6 a clock in the morning''.

James Bovey, esq., was the youngest son of Andrew
Bovey, merchant, cash-keeper to Sir Peter Vanore, in
London.

He was borne in the middle of Mincing Lane, in the
parish of Saint Dunstan's in the East, London, anno 1622,
May 7th, at six a clock in the morning. Went to schoole
at Mercers Chapell, under Mr. Augur. At 9 sent into the
Lowe Countreys ; then returned, and perfected himselfe
in the Latin and Greeke. (At) 14, travelled into France
and Italie, Switzerland, Germany, and the Lowe Countreys.
Returned into England at 19; then lived with one Hoste,
a banquier, 8 yeares, was his cashier 8 or 9 yeares. Then
traded for himselfe (27) till he was 31 ; then maried the
only daughter of William de Vischer, a merchant ; lived
18 yeares with her, then continued single. Left off trade
at 32, and retired to a countrey life, by reason of his
indisposition, the ayre of the citie not agreing with him.
Then in these retirements he wrote Active " PhilosopJiy,
(a thing not donne before) wherin are enumerated all the
Arts and Tricks practised in Negotiation, and how they
were to be ballanced by counter-prudentiall rules.

» Anthony Wood notes here, ' false' ; * MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121.

i.e. having inquired at Pembroke (in ** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 12.
1674), he found no trace of this The horoscope is 1. ft blnnk.

tradition. " Diipl. with ^ Negotiative.'

James Bovey

Whilest he lived with Mr. Hoste, he kept the cash of
the ambassadors of Spaine that were here ; and of the
farmers, called by them Assaitistes, that did furnish the
Spanish and Impcriall armies of the Low-Countreys and
Germany ; and also many other great cashes, as of
Sir Theodore Mayern, etc. ; his dealing being altogether
in money-matters: by which meanes he became acquainted
with the ministers of state both here and abroad.

When he was abroad, his cliiefe employment was to
observe the affaires of state and their judicatures, and
to take the politique surveys in the countreys he travelled
thorough, more especially in relation to trade. He
speakes* the Low-Dutch, High-Dutch, French, Italian,
Spanish and Lingua Franco, and Latin, besides his owne.

When he retired from businesse he studied the Lawe-
Merchant, and admitted himselfe of the Inner Temple,
London, about 1660. His judgment haz been taken in
most of the great causes of his time in points concerning
the Lawe-Merchant. As to his person he is about 5 foot
high, slender'', strait, haire exceeding black and curling
at the end, a dark hazell'' eie, of a midling size, but the
most sprightly that I have beheld. Browes and beard
of the colour as his haire. A person of great temper-
ance, and deepe thoughts, and a working head, never
idle. From** 14 he had a candle burning by him all
night, with pen, inke, and paper, to write downe thoughts
as they came into his head ; that so he might not loose
a thought. Was ever a great lover of Naturall Philosophie.
His whole life has been perplex't in lawe-suites, (which haz
made him expert in humane affaires), in which he alvvaies
over-came. He had many lawe-suites with powerfull
adversaries; one lasted 18 ycares. Red-haired men never
had any kindnesse for him. He used to say : —

In rufa pelle non est animus .sine felle.
In all his travells he was never robbed.

" Subst. for ' understands.'
Subst. for ' spare body.'

I.

" Subst. for ■ a y^x^ black eie.'
Dupl. witli ' From his youtii lie.'

I

114

Aith'eys 'Brief Lives'

He has one son, and one daughter who resembles him.

From 14 he began to take notice of all prudential! rules
as came in his way, and wrote them downe, and so con-
tinued till this day, Sept. 28, 1680, being now in his
59th yeare.

For his health he never had it very well, but indififerently,
alvvaies a weake stomach, which proceeded from the
agitation of the braine. His dyet was alwayes fine diet :
much chicken

He wrote a Table of all the Exchanges in Europe.

* He hath writt (which is in his custodie, and which
I have seen, and many of them read) these treatises, viz.

I. The Characters, or Index Rerum (etc.'')

** A Catalogue of the treatises written of Active
Philosophy by James Bovey, of the Inner Temple,
esquire, 1677.

1. The Characters, or Index Rerum : in 4 tomes.

2. The Introduction to Active Philosophy.

3. The Art of Building a Man : or Education.

4. The Art of Conversation.

5. The Art of Complyance.

6. The Art of Governing the Tongue.

7. The Art of Governing the Penn.

8. The Government of Action.

9. The Government of Resolution.
10. The Government of Reputation.

II. The Government of Power: in 2 tomes.
J 2. The Government of Servients.

13. The Government of Subserviency.

14. The Government of Friendshipp.

15. The Government of Enmities.

16. The Government of Law-suites.

17. The Art of Gaining Wealth.

* Dupl. with ' fowle.'

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 1 2'.

^ Aubrey, on fol. 12% gives the full
list of 32 titles copied (with some

slight changes of spelling, etc.) from
Bovey's own list, given infra.

** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 13', Bovey's
autograph.

Richard Boyle

1 8. The Art of Buying and Selling*.

19. The Art of Preserving Wealth.

20. The Art of Expending Wealth.

21. The Government of Secresy.

22. The Government of Amor Conjugalis : in 3 tomes.

23. Of Amor Concupiscentiae.

24. The Government of Felicity.

25. The Lives of Atticus, Sejanus, Augustus.

26. The Causes of the Diseases of the Mind.

27. The Cures of the Mind, viz*. Passions, Diseases,
Vices, Errours, Defects.

28. The Art of Discerning of Men.

29. The Art of Discerning a Man's selfe.

30. Religion from Reason : in 3 tomes.

31. The Life of Cum-fu-zu, soe farr wrote by J. B.

32. The Life of Mahomett, wrot by Sir Walter Raleigh's
papers, with some small addition for methodizing the same.

* I have desired him to give these MSS. to the library
of the Royal Society.

He made it his businesse'' to advance the trade of
England, and many men have printed his conceptions.

Note.

^ Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' ermine, on a bend sable cottised gules,
five besants, between 2 eagles proper; ' and an impression of Bovey's seal with
the same coat.

Richard Boyle, earl of Cork (1566-1643).

** Earl of Corke : — vide countesse of Warwick's funerall
sermon, 2 or 3 shops'' within Paul's churchyard.

*** Earl of Corke ^ — Thomas, earl of Strafford made
him disgorge 1500 //. per annum, which he restored to
the church— (from) Mr. . . . Anderson.

Earl of Corke bought of captaine Horsey fottrtic plougli-

" No. 18 is no. 19 in Aubrey's copy ; i.e. A ubrt y remembered seeing the

no. 19 is no. 18 in Aubrey's copy. sermon in a shop there. He went

* M.S. Aubr. 7, fol. 12". and foimd it, and has excerpts infra,
*" 'From a child' followed : scored p. 116.

out. *** MS. Aubr. 8 fol. 1 2.

** M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. \\\

I 2

ii6

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

lands in Ireland for fourtie pounds. (A. Ettrick assures
me, ' I say againe fourtie ploughlands. )

The queen gave Lismore to Sir Walter Raleigh, and
. . . to Sir John Anderson, etc. to etc.. ea intentione to
plant them, which they did not : and were not planted till
since the last rebellion — quaere Mr. Anderson, who sayes
that Ireland could not be secure till it was enough peopled
with English.

My lady Petty sayes he had a wife or two before, and
that he maried Mris. Fenton- without her father's consent —
(quaere Secretary Fenton s Christian name ^).

* . . . Boyle, the first earle of Corke : — the countesse
of Thanet, his great-grand-daughter, daughter to this earle
of Corke and Burlington, haz told me that her father has
a booke in folio — thick — of her grandfather's writing,
(giving) the place, day, and hour of birth, and by what
steps, waye.s, and degrees he came to his greatnes. Which
she will doe her endeavour to gett me an extract of it, but
it is in Ireland and (I thinke) must be kept there, and is
an heir-loome to the family.

(^Excerpts from Aiitho7iy Walkers Sermon.^

** Of Richard Boyle, first earl of Corke, and his seventh
daughter, Mary, countess of Warwick.

'The Virtuous Woman found: Being a Sermon
preached at Felsted, in Essex, at the Funerall of the most
excellent and religious lady, the Right honourable MARY
Countesse Dowager of Warwick. By Anthony Walker, D.D.
rector of Fyfield, in the sayd countie. The 2d Edition
corrected. Printed at London, for Nath. Ranew, at the
King's Arms, in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1680.' (The
Epistle dedicatory is dated May 27, 1678.)

Pag. 44.— ' She was truly excellent and great in ail respects: great in
the honour of her birth, being bom a lady and a virtuosa both ; seventh
daughter of that eminently honourable, Richard, the first earle of Cork ;
who being born a private gentleman, and younger brother of a younger

* MS. Ballard 14, fol. 127, a letter date Feb. 21, i6|f.

trom Aubrey to Anthony Wood of ** MS. Aubr. 7. fol. 10.

Richard Boyle

117

brother, to no other heritage than is expressed in the device and motto,
which his humble gratitude inscribed on all the palaces he built,

GiyiT s Providence, mine Inheritance ;
by that Providence, and his diligent and wise industry, raised such an
honour and estate, and left such a familie, as never any subject of these
three kingdomes did. and that with so uns-:otted a reputation of
integrity that the most invidious scrutiny could find no blott, though
it winnowed all the methods of his rising most severely, which our
good lady hath often told me with great content and satisfaction.

This noble lord, by his prudent and pious consort, no lesse an
ornament and honour to their descendants than himself, was blessed
with five sonnes, (of which he lived to see four lords and peeres of the
kingdome of Ireland, * and a fifth, more than these titles speak,
a soveraigne and peerlesse in a larger province, — that of universal!
nature, subdued and made obsequious to his inquisitive mind), and
eight daughters. And that you may remark how all things were
extraordinary in this great personage, it will, I hope, be neither
unpleasant, nor impertinent, to add a short story I had from our lady's
own mouth : — Master Boyl, after earle of Cork (who was then a
widdovver), came one morning to waite on Sir Jeofry Fenton, at that
time a great ofiRcert of state in that kingdome of
* ^Esta'tc'^ °^ Ireland, who being ingaged in business, and not knowing
who it was who desired to speake with him, a while
delayed him access ; which time he spent pleasantly with his young
daughter in her nurse's arms. But when Sir Jeofifry came, and saw
whom he had made stay somewhat too long, he civilly excused
it. But master Boyl replied, he had been very well entertayned ;
and spent his time much to his satisfaction, in courting his daughter,
if he might obtaine the honour to be accepted for his son-in-lawe.
At which Sir Jeoffry, smiling (to hear one who had been formerly
married, move for a wife carried in arms, and under two years old, 1
asked him if he would stay for her ? To which he frankly answered
him he would, and Sir Jeofifry as generously promised him he should
then have his consent. And they both kept their words honourably.
And by this virtuous lady he had thirteen children, ten of which he
lived to see honourably married, and died a grandfather by the
youngest of them.

Nor did she derive less honour from the collateral, than the descend
ing line, being sister by soul and genius, as well as bloud, to these
great personages, whose illustrious, unspotted, and resplendent honour
and virtue, and whose useful! learning and accurate pens, may attone
and ** expiate, as well as shame, the scandalous blemishes of a de-
bauched, and the many impertinencies of a scribling, age : —

* M.S. Aiibr 7, fol. loV

** M.S. Aubr. 7, fol. II.

ii8 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

(1) , Richard, the truly right honourable, loyal, wise, and virtuous,
earl of Burlington and Cork, whose life is his fairest and most laudable
character ;

(2) , the right honourable Roger earle of Orer>', that great poet, great
statesman, great soldier, and great every-thing which merits the name
of great or good ;

(3) , Francis lord Shannon, whose Pocket Pistol, as he stiles his
book, may make as wide breaches in the walls of the Capitol, as many
canons ;

(4) , and that honourable and well known name Robert Boyl, esquier,
tiiat profound philosopher, accomplished humanist, and excellent
t \\ In does he divine, I had almost sayd lay-bishop, as one hath stiled
iu>t mention . Sir Henry Savil : whose works alone may make a

lord Killimeke*; . .

«iio was slain at librarie +-

otVfskarrnt"in" The female branches also (if it be lawful! so to call
irt-fand.' them whose virtues were so masculine, souls knowing

no difference of sex) by their honours and graces (by mutuall reflec-
tions) gave, and received lustre, to, and from, her : —

the eldest of which, the lady Alice, was married to the lord Baramore ;

the second, the lady Sarah, to the lord Digby, of Ireland ;

the third, the lady Laetitia, to the eldest son of the lord Goring,
who died earle of Norwich ;

the fourth, the lady Joan, to the earle of Kildare, not only primier
earle of Ireland, but the ancientest house in Christendome of that
degree, the present earle being the six and twentieth, or the seaven
and twentieth, of lineal descent : and, as I have heard, it was that
great antiquary King Charles the First his observation, that the three
ancientest families of Europe for nobility, were the Veres in England,
earls of Oxford, and the Fitz-Geralds in Ireland, earls of Kildare, and
Momorancy in France : 'tis observable * that the present earle of
Kildare is a mixture of blood of Fitz-Geralds and Veres :

the hfth, the lady Katharine, who was married to the lord viscount
Ranelaugh J, and mother to the present generous earle

' ^Jonti"^^ Ranelaugh, of which family I could have added an

eminent remark, I meet with in Fuller's " Worthies ; "
this lady's character is so signalized by her known merit among
all persons of honour, that as I need not, so I dare not, attempt
beyond this one word^she was our lady's Friend-Sister ;

the sixth, the lady Dorothy Loftus ;

the seaventh, (the number of perfection) which shutt-up and crown'd
this noble train (for the eighth, the lady Margaret, died unmariedi,
was our exceUent lady Mar)-, married to Charles, earle of Warwick ; of
whom, if I should use the language of my text, I should neither

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. ir.

Richard Boyle

119

despair their pardon, nor fear the reproach of rudeness— iT/rfw/
daughter';^ all his daughters, did virtuously but thou — Prov. xxxi. 29,
30, 31-

But shee t needed neither borrowed shades, nor reflexive

lights, to set her off, being personally great in all naturall
* ^f'vJ'arw^ck^^^ endowments and accomplishments of soul and body,
wisdome, beautie, favour, and virtue ;
great by her tongue, for never woman used one better, speaking
so gracefully, promptly, discreetly, pertinently, holily, that I have
often admired the edifying words that proceeded from her mouth ;
great by her pen, as you may {ex pede Herculeni) discover by that
little t tast of it the world hath been happy in, the hasty

t Her lady-^hip's ^ . ^ . . - r

Pious Medi- fruit of one or two interrupted houres after supper,
laiions. which shc professed to me, with a little regret, when

she was surprised with it's sliding into the world without her know-
ledge, or allowance, and wholly beside her expectation ;

great by being the greatest mistresse and promotress, not to say the
foundress and inventress, of a new science — the art of obliging ; in
which she attain'd that sovereign perfection, that she reigned over all
their hearts with whom she did converse ;

great in her nobleness of living and hospitality ;

great in the unparallelld sincerity of constant, faithfull, condescending
friendship, and for that law of kindness which dwelt in her lips and
heart ;

great in her dexterity of management ;

great in her quick apprehension of the difficulties of her affaires,
and where the stress and pinch lay, to untie the knot, and loose and
ease them ;

great in the conquest of herselfe ;

great in a thousand things beside, which the world admires as
such : but she despised them all, and counted them but loss and dung
in comparison of the feare of God, and the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus.'

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' per btnd crenellee argent and gules
[Boyle]; impaling, . . ., a cross vert between 4 fleur de lys . . . [Fenton],'
surmounted by an earl's coronet.

A leaf containing an earlier draft of this life (as shown by the coat tiicked in
the ini.er marginj has been cut out belween fol. 14 aiid fol. 15 of M.S. Anbr. (■>.
The excision was made by Aubrey himself, a line being drawn by him across the
excision from fol. 14' to fol. 15, to mark the transposition of a passage. The
reason for the cutting out of this leaf is suggested in a letter of Aubrey to
Anthony Wood (.MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 360, July 14, 1681), where he says his
' Lives' contain 'severe touches on the earl of Corke, Dr. Wallis, etc' In the
margin of the excised leaf a note, given on the authority of ' Mr. A. E.' i. e.
Anthony Ettrick, seems to speak of amours and bastards of the earl.

I20

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

* Catherine Fenton, daughter of Sir Geoffrey Fenton, Secretary of State for
Ireland 1581-1603.

^ Anthony Wood, in answer to this query, suggests : — ' Jeffrey, quaere.'
' Lewis Boyle, second son of Kichard, first earl of Cork, created viscount
Boyle of Kynalmeaky, 162^.

Robert Boyle (i62?-i6yi).

* Mr. Robert Boyle; — vide Oliver Hill's • . . , where
he is accused of grosse plagiarisme. Dr. (Robert) Wood
went to schoole with him at Eaton Colledge.

** Mr. R. Boyle, when a boy at Eaton (was) verie
sickly and pale — from Dr. (Robert) Wood, who was his
schoole-fellow.

*** The honourable Robert Boyle ^ esq, the (fifth)
son of Richard Boyle, the first earle of Corke, was borne at
Lismorf in the county of Corke, the (25) day
Indentiyan of (January) anno (i62f).
a ?rea?tovvne"or Hc was nurscd by an Irish nurse, after the
twenty churches. Irisli manner, wher they putt the child into a

'Twas tlie seate , , in/- i r ii • • i

of king John - pcndulous .satcliell (msted of a cradle', with

From Elizabeth, ,. ^ ,

countesse of a slitt lor the child s head to peepe out.

Thanet. tti -i-t- -itt ,

He learn t his Latin W ent to the

university of Leyden. Travelled France. Italy, Switzerland.
I have oftentimes heard him say that after he had seen the
antiquities and architecture of Rome, he esteemed none^
any where els.

He speakes Latin very well, and very readily, as most
men I have mett w^ith. I have heard him say that when
he was young, he read over Cowper s dictionary : wherin
I thinke he did very well, and I beleeve he is much be-
holding to him lor his mastership of that language.

His father in his will, when he comes to the settlement
and provision for his son Robert, thus, —

Item, to my son Robert, whi m I beseech God to blesse
with a particular blessing, I bequeath, &r'c.

Mr. R. H.'', who has seen the rentall, sayes it was 3000 //.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 1 2'. • Siibst. for ' cared not for.'

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6". ^ Probably Robert Hooke.

*** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 16'.

William Brereton

12 1

per annum : the greatst part is in Ireland. His father left
him the mannor of Stalbridge in com. Dorset, where is
a great freestone house : it was forfeited by the earle of
Castlehaven.

He is very tall (about six foot high) and streight, very
temperate, and vertuouse, and frugall : a batcheler ; keepes
a coach ; sojournes with his sister, the lady Ranulagh. His
greatest delight is chymistrey. He haz at his sister's
a noble laboratory, and severall servants (prentices to him)
to looke to it. He is charitable to ingeniose men that
are in want, and foreigne chymi.sts have had large proofe
of his bountie, for he will not spare for cost to gett any
rare secret. At his owne costs and chardges he gott
translated and printed the New Testament in Arabique"-,
to send into the Mahometan countreys. He has not
only a high renowne in England, but abroad ; and when
foreigners come to hither, 'tis one of their curiosities
to make him a visit.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in colours the Boyle coat {supra, p. 1 19), with a mullet guli s
for difference. Anthony Wood adds the reference: — 'see in the first sheet of
the second part,' i. e. of MS. Aubr. 7, viz. the excerpts supra from Antho.'iv
Walker's sermon.

^ The Gospels and Acts in Malay (in Arabic character^ Oxford, 1677.

William Brereton, 3rd baron, (1631 -1680).

* William, lord Brereton, obiit March 17, 1680*; buried
at St. Martin's-in-the-fields : scripsit Origmes Moriens in
Latin verse.

** William, lord Brereton^ of (Leighlin) : — this vertuous
and learned lord (who was my most honoured and
obligeing friend) was educated at Breda, by John Pell,
D.D., then Math. Professor there of the Prince of Orange's
'ilustrious schoole.' Sir George Goring, earl of Norwich
(who was my lord's grandfather), did send for him over,
where the (Doctor) (then Mr. John Pell) tooke great care
of him, and made him a very good Algcbrist.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5. " i6|g, in this case.

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 33.

122

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives''

He hath wrote a poem called Origines Morietts,
a MS.

Obiit March 17, 164^, London, and is buried at
St. Martin's church in the fields.

He was an excellent musitian, and also a good composer.

Xote.

' Anthony Wood adds the reference ' quaere in Coll. Exon.' Wood seems
to have thought that .'>ir William Brereton of Honford in Cheshire (an officer
in the Parliamentary army, mentioned in the Athenae) might be found among
the Exeter College matriculations and might be connected with this peer's
family.

Edward Brerewood (1565-16 13).

* Mr. Edward Brerewood ^ w as borne . . .

He was of Brasen-nose College in Oxon. My old cosen
Whitney fellow there long since, told me, as I remember,
that his father was a citizen of W(est) Chester ; that
(I have now forgot on what occasion, whether he had
outrun the exhibition from his father, or what), but he
was for some time in straightes in the College : that he
went not out of the College gates in a good while, nor
(I thinke) out of his chamber, but was in slip-shoes, and
wore out his gowne and cloathes on the bord and benches
of his chamber, but profited in knowledge wonderfully.

He writ his Logica, and . . ., de meteoris. de ponderibiis
et minimis (which he dedicates to his countryman. Lord
Chancellor Egerton, who was no doubt his patron).

He was astronomic professor at Gresham College,
London, where he died anno 1613, and was buried in
Great Saint Helen's chancell : so Hist, and Antiq.of Oxon.,
lib. 2. pag. 219 b.

'Tis pity I can pick-up no more of him.

Xotes.

' Anthony Wood added the reference 'vide A. W.'s (^Hist. el") Antiq. '; but
scored it out, finding himself anticipated in the text of the notice.

' James Whitney, matric. April 19, i6li at St. Marj' Hall, but took his
degrees from Brasenose (Clark's Reg. Univ. Oxon. II. iii. 334).

* MS. Aiibr. 6, fol. 33'.

Arthur Brett. Henry Bri'ggs 123

Arthur Brett (16 . . -1677).

(In MS. Aubr. 22 (Aubrey's Collection of Grammars; is a tract
of 6 pp.

'A demonstration how the Latine tonge may be learn t ' ; Lond. 1669 ;
'by Arthur Bret, M.A. of Ch. Ch. in Oxford and of Westminster
Schoole.')

Henry Briggs (1556-163^).

* Henry Briggs was borne at . . . (vide Anthony
Wood's 0x011. Antiqjiit.: quaere his nephew who is beadle
to Stationers' Hall ; quaere Vaticinium Carolinnm. an
English poem).

He was first of St. John's College in Cambridge.
Sir Henry Savill sent for him and made him his geometric
professor. He lived at Merton College in Oxon, where he
made the dialls at the buttresses of the east end of the
chapell with a bullet for the axis.

He travelled into Scotland to comune with the honoiu'-
able . . . lord Nepier ^ of Marcheston about making the
logarithmicall tables.

Looking one time on the mappe of England he
observed that the " two rivers, the Thames and that Avon
which runnes to Bathe and so to Bristowe, were not far
distant, scilicet, about 3 miles — vide the mappe. He
sees 'twas but about 25 miles from Oxford ; getts a horse
and viewes it and found it to be a levell ground and ^ easie
to be digged. Tiien he considered the chardgc of cutting
between them and the convenience of making a manage
between those rivers which would be of great consequence
for cheape and safe carrying of goods between London
and Bristovv, and though the boates goe slowly and with
meanders, yet considering they goc day and night they
would be at their journey's end almost as soon as the
waggons, which often are overthrowne and liquours spilt
and other goods broken. Not long after this he dyed and

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 47'. Dupl. with ' and saj'pable.'

" Siibst. for ' that the befiiniiings of <^ Dupl. with ' the Bylanders.'
the Thames and Avon.'

124 Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

the civill wanes brake-out. It happened by good luck
that one Mr. Mattheues of Dorset had some acquaintance
with this Mr. * Briggs and had heard him discourse of
it. He was an honest simple man, and had runne out of
his estate and this project did much run in his head. He
would revive it (or els it had been lost and forgott) and
went into the country to make an ill survey of it (which
he printed) about anno . . ., but with no great encourage-
ment of the countre}' or others. Upon the restauration
of King Charles H he renewed his designe and applyed
himselfe to the king and counsell. His majestic espoused
it more (he told me) then any one els. In short, for want
of management and his non-ability, it came to nothing,
and he is now dead of old age. But Sir Jonas Moore
(7|:;5=* an expert mathematician and a practicall man), being
sent to sur\'ey the manner of Dantesej- in Wilts (which
was forfeited to the crowne by Sir John Danvers his
foolery), went to see these streames and distances. He
told me the streames were too small unlesse in winter :
but if some prince or the Parliament would rayse money
to cutt through the hill by Wotton-Basset which is not
very high, then there would be water enough and streames
big enough. He computed the chardge, which I have
forgott, but I thinke it was about 200,00c li.

Insert his letter to Dr. John Pell dc logarithviis written
anno Dni 1628.

Mr. William Oughtred calls him the Plnglish Archimedes
in ... .

An epitaph on H. Briggs among H. Burched's poems ^
** Mr. Briggs — vide and quaere Dr. Whitchcot, behind

St. Lawrence Church ; he knew him. Respondet

quod non.

*** Mr. Norwood to the reader, before his Trigono-
metric : — ' of the construction and divers applications of
Logarithmes Mr. Brigs hath written a booke called
Aritlnnetica Logarithniica, and since again began another

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 49. *' M.S. Anbr. 8, fol. 8.

»*» MS. Aul.r. 8, fol. 79.

Thomas Brightman 125

excellent worke of like nature entitulcd Trigonovietria
Britatmica. I have onely seen (in the hands of a friend
of his) a printed copie of so much as he had done, namely
the tables : but whilest he was in hand with the rest, he
departed this life. It was writ in Latin.'

N^oles.

' John Napier, of Merthiston, hom 1550, died 1617. His on Alexander
was created baron Napier in 1627.

- MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 48 is two leaves, pp. 49-52, sign. I. of a printed book,
a miscellany of Greek and Latin verses. The first piece on p. 49 is six Greek
lines ' Epitapl.ium D. Henrici Briggi ob mathesin et pietatem faniigerati, denali
1631. Januar. ult.' The second piece is 32 Latin verses ' in bibliothccain
Oxonienseni teitio amplificatnm MDCXXXVL'

Thomas Brightman (1562-1607).

(^A Letter from Edward Gibson about Thomas
Brightman

c- * Hawnes, Dec. 21, (16)81.

Since you have desired and have been put into an
expectation of receiving some information concerning
Mr. Brightman, tho I have litlc or nothing to serve you
and your freind with, I send this to let you know that
I find nothing of his arms ; that upon the stone is
engraven

' Here lyeth the body of Thomas Brightman, deceased, minister of
this parish, who dyed Aug. 24, 1607.'

Over his head are these sad rimes (I hope they are
Oxford, tho not much for the honour of it). —

Christ cals his churches candlestiks of old,
Altho the candlesticks but the candles hold.
The lights on them hee calleth angels pure,
Not barely candles, for those must endure.
Candles when burn't out are soon forgott.
But ministers, as angels, must not rot.

» MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 49.

126

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Sith God doth ministers so eternize,
Let not us mortals give them lower prize.
And specially to Brightman's recommendacion
And bee entomed a light to th' revelation
Wee must, wee ought, to make such saints last
In whom wee know the times to come and past.

I am, Sir, Yours to serve you,

Edw. Gibson.

Dr. Fuller, amongst his Worthies, hath something of
Mr. Brightman.

* For Mr. John Aubrey : leave this at Mr. Hooke's
lodging in Gresham College.

Note.

' In MS. Aubr. S, fol. 3, Anthony Wood has jotted down 'quaere Mr. Aubrey
of Thomas Brijjhtman, Dr. (William) Butler, Henry Billingsley, Sir George
Wharton' — Aubrey's notes, so far, about these four having been scnnty.

In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 48", opposite Gibson's letter Wood notes an odd
omission in it : — ' Quaere in what church Mr. Thomas Brighlman was
buried ? '

Alexander Brome (1620-1666).

** H. Brome assured me that his brother Alexander
was in his accedence at 4 yeares old and a quarter \

Note.

' This is a marginal note opposite the life of Katberine Philips, and is
intended to be a parallel instance of precocious reading, the boy being taken,
first, through the Psalter, and then through the Bible, before beginning his
' accidence '(i.e. Latin Grammar) : cp. the course of Anthony Wood's education,
Clark's Wood's Life and Times, i. 46, 4", 48. Henry Brome was a London
bookseller.

Christopher Brookes (16 . . -7665).

*** Christopher Brookes, of Oxford, a mathematical
instrument maker. He was sometime manciple of
Wadham College : his widowe lived over against the
Theatre.

This C. B. printed* 1649 an 8vo of about 2 sheetes,

» MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 48.

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 38'.

*** MS. Aubr. 7, a slip at fol. 8'.

" Clark's Wood's Life and Times,
ii. 237.

Elizabeth Broiighton

127

scil. ' A new quadrant of more natural easie and manifold
performance than any other heretofore extant ' : but it
was his father-in-Iawe's* invention. I had it from his
widow about 1665.

Elizabeth Broughton.
* In the Heralds' Office — Heref(ordshire) —

Edward Broughton, m. Isabell, daughter of

of Kington, eldest
son, 1634

Rafe Beeston, of
Warwickshire.

Elizabeth.

(Arms'": — ) 'argent, 2 bars gules, on a canton of the
second a cross of the field, a martlet or for difference.'

Mris. Elizabeth Broughton was daughter of . . .
Broughton of . . . in Herefordshire, an ancient family.
Her father lived at the mannour-house at Canon- Peon.
Whether she was borne there or no, I know not : but
there she lost her mayden-head to a poor young fellow,
then I beleeve handsome, but, in 1660, a pittifull poor
old weaver, clarke of the parish. He had fine curled
haire, but gray. Her father at length discoverd her
inclinations and locked her up in the turret of the house,
but she (like a . . . ) getts downe by a rope ; and away she
gott to London, and did sett-up for her selfe.

She was a most exquisite beautie, as finely shaped as
nature could frame; and had a delicate witt. She was
soon taken notice of at London, and her price was very
deare— a second Thais. Richard, earle of Dorset, kept
her (whether before or after Venetia'', I know not, but
I guesse before). At last she grew common and infamous
and gott*' the pox, of which she died.

I remember thus much of an old song of those daye.s,

• William Onghtred. *■ Given by .^tlbrey in colours in

* MS. Anbr. 6, fol. ioi\ a lozenge.

Venetia Stanley. Dupl. with ' had.'

<

128

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives*

which I have seen in a collection— 'twas by way of litanie
— viz. : —

From the watch at twelve a clock,
And from Bess Broughton's buttond " smock,
Libera uos, Domine.

In Ben Johnson's execrations against Vulcan, he con-
cludes thus : —

Pox take thee, Vulcan ! May Pandora's pox
And all the ills that flew out of her box
Light on thee. And if those plagues will not dee
Thy wive's pox take thee, and Bess Broiightofis too.

— In the first edition in 8vo her name is thus at
length.

I see that there have been famous wocmen before our
times.

Vixere foites ante Agamemnona
Multi, etc

HuRACE, lib. 4, oi!e 9.

I doe remember her father (1646), neer 80, the hand-
somest shaped man that ever my eies beheld, a very wise
man and of an admirable elocution. He was a com-
mittee-man in Herefordshire and Glocestershire. He was
commissary to colonel Massey. He was of the Puritan
party heretofore ; had a great guift in praying, etc. His
wife (I have heard my grandmother say, who was her
neighbor) had as great parts as he. He was the first that
used the improvement of land by soape-ashes when he
lived at Bristowe, where they then threw it away.

William Brouncker, 2nd viscount (1620-1684),

* William, lord viscount Brouncker of Lions in Ireland :
he lived in Oxford when 'twas a garrison for the King :
but he was of no university, he told me. He addicted

* Aubrey notes in the margin : senipstresse helped to woike it.'
— ' JJarbaia C.C. (i.e. countess of * MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 18.
Castlcmainc) had such a one: nay

William Broitncker

himselfe only to the study of the mathematicks, and was
a very great artist in that learning.

His mother was an extraordinary great gamester, and
playd all, gold play ; she kept the box herselfe. Mr. . . .
Arundall (brother of the lord Wardour) made a song in
characters of the nobility. Among others, I remember this,

Here's a health to my lady Brouncker and the best

card in her hand,
And a health to my lord her husband, with ne're a foot

of land.

He was president of the Royall Society about 15
yeares ^.

He was .... of the Navy office ^.

He dyed April the 5th, 1684 ; buried the 14th following
in the vault which he caused to be made (8 foot long,
4 foot broad, and about 4 foot high) in the middle of the
quire of Saint Katharine's, neer the Tower, of which
convent he was governour. He gave a fine organ to this
church a little before his death ; and whereas it was
a noble and large choire, he divided (it) in the middle
with a good skreen (at his owne chardge), which haz
spoiled (it).

(^A note ivritten by hivi ^.)

* Sir,

These are to give notice that on Friday next the
thirtieth day of this instant November, 1677, being
St. Andrew's day, the council and officers of the Royal
Society are to be elected for the year ensuing. At which
election your presence is expected in Gresham Colledge
at nine of the clock in the forenoon precisely.

(For John Aubrey, esq.) Brouncker, P. R. S.

N'otes.

' He was President, 1663, from the incorporation of the Royal Society, to 1677.
He was a Lord of the Admiralty in 1680, and again in 1682.

' The signature is in long sloping letters, like the children's puzzles of thirty
years' back, which could be read only when the paper was held edgeways. It
has beaten Anthony Wood, who notes at the side: — 'What this name is
I know not.'

* MS. Aubr. 23, fob 26.
I. K

Aubrey s 'Brief Lives'

William Browne (1591-1645).

* The earle of Carnan'on does not remember Mr. Brown ^,
and I ask't his lordship lately again if any of his servants
doe : he assures me no.

yote.

' The inqaiiy was made of Chailes Dormer, second earl of Carnarvon.
William Browne, author of Briiaiinia's Pastorals, had been tutor in 1624 to
Robert Dormer ^created earl of Carnarvon in 162S) in Exeter College.

Robert Burton (i57t-i6|o).

** Memorandum. Mr. Robert Hooke of Gresham CoU^e
told me that he lay in the chamber in Christ Church that
was Mr. Burton's, of whom 'tis whispered that. 7io)i obstante
all his astrologie and his booke of Melancholic, he ended
his daj-es in that chamber by hanging him selfe.

Thomas Bushell (i 594-1 674).

*** Mr. Thomas Bushell was an . . . shire man, borne
. . . : quaere Thomas ]\Iariet, esq, [He* was borne at
Marston in . . . shire, neer him.]

He was one of the gentlemen that way ted on the Lord
Chancellour Bacon. 'Twas the fashion in those dayes for
gentlemen to ha\ e their suites of clothes garnished with
buttons. My Lord Bacon was then in disgrace, and his
man Bushell having more buttons then usuall on his
cloake, etc., they sayd that his lord's breech made buttons
and Bushell wore them — from whence he was called
buttotid BiisJull.

He was only an English scholar, but had a good witt
and a working and contemplative head. His lord much
loved him.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 9. he writt the Melanchtly.^

** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 29, a note *** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 97^
appended to ' the scheme of the • The words in square brackets
natinty of Derrwcriius Jtmior on his are the answer to the inquiry, added
mcMiiuneDt at Christ Chtuch in Oxon : later.

Thomas Biishell

His genius lay most towards naturall philosophy, and
particularly towards the discovery, drayning, and im-
provement of the silver mines in Cardiganshire % etc.

He had the strangest bewitching way to drawe-in
people (yea, discreet and wary men) into his projects
that ever I heard of. His tongue was a chaine and drewe
in so many to be bound for him and to be ingaged in his
designes that he ruined a number. Mr. Goodyere of . . .
in Oxfordshire was undon by him among others ; see
part iii. pag. 6 b.

He was master of the art of running in debt, and lived
so long that his depts were forgott, so that they were the
great-grandchildren of the creditors.

He wrote a stich't treatise of mines and improving of
the adits to them and bellowes to drive-in wind, which
Sir John Danvers, his acquaintance, had, and nayled
it^ to his parlor-wall at Chelsey, with some scheme, and
I beleeve is there yet : I sawe it there about lo yeares
since.

During the time of the civill warres, he lived in Lundy
island.

Anno 1647 or 8, he came over into England; and when
he landed at Chester, and had but one Spanish threepence
(this I had then from .... of Great Tew, to whom he
told it), and, sayd he, could have been contented to have
begged a penny, like a poor man.' At that time he sayd
he owed, I forgett whether it was 50 or sixty thousand
pounds : but he was like Sir Kenelm Digby, if he had
not 4rt^., wherever he came he would find respect and
credit.

©:^"Memorandum, after his master the lord chancellor dyed,
he marled . . . , and lived at Enston, Oxon ; where having
some land lyeing on the hanging of a hill faceing the south,
at the foot wherof runnes a fine cleare stream which petrifies,
and where is a pleasant solitude, he spake to his servant

' Dupl. with ' Wales.' " Dupl. with ' I could have con-

The reference is to MS. Aulir. 8, tentedly begged, like a poor man.'
(^Lives, part iii.) : see infra, p. 134.

K 2

132

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Jack t Sydenham to gett a labourer to cleare some boscage
<jack which grew on the side of the hill, and also

before wiTh^sir'^ to dig ^ a cavity in the hill to sitt, and read or
Ki'ngton^sr" ^' Contemplate. The workman had not workt an
waI*'wont t ""^ hower before he discovers not only a rock, but
armesTa'"ra'cc- ^ ''^ck of an unusuall figurc with pendants
^ve™his^' like icecles as at Wokey hole (Somerset), which
account. ^■^^ occasion of making that delicate grotto

and those fine walkes.

Here in fine weather he would walke all night. Jack
Sydenham sang rarely : so did his other servant, Mr. Batty.
They went very gent, in cloathes, and he loved them as
his children.

He did not encumber him selfe with his wife, but here
enjoyed himselfe thus in this paradise till the war brake
out, and then retired to Lundy isle.

He had donne something (I have forgott what) that made
him obnoxious to the Parliament or Oliver Cromw^ell, about
1650; would have been hangd if taken; printed severall
letters to the Parliament, etc., dated from beyond sea, and
all that time lay privately in his howse in Lambeth marsh
where the^' pointed pyramis is. In the garret there, is
a long gallery, which he hung all with black, and had
some death's heads and bones painted. At the end where
his couch was, was in an old Gothique nich (like an old
monument) painted a skeleton incumbent on a matt. At
the other end where was his pallet-bed was an emaciated
dead man stretched out. Here he had severall mortifying
and divine motto"s (he imitated his lord ® as much as he
could), and out of his windowes a very pleasant prospect.
At night he walkt in the garden and orchard. Only Mr.
Sydenham, and an old trusty woman, was privy to his
being in England.

He dyed about 1676 or 1677 — quaere w^here — he was
Ho yeares of age. [He ^ dyed in Scotland yard neer

* Dupl. with 'make.' Subst. for 'stretched.'

Dupl. with ' the turret.' ® Bacon.

' Subst. for ' painted with.' ' Added later.

Thomas Biishell

133

Whitehall about 1675 or 1677 ; Mr. Beach the quaker can
tell me exactly.]

His entertainment to Queen Henrietta Marie at Enston
was in anno 163(6, 23 August). Insert, i.e. sowe * my
book (which J. S.** gave my grandfather Isaac Lyte) in this
place. . . . Goodall ^, of Ch. Ch. Oxon, composed the
musique ; I remember the student of Ch. Ch. which
sang the songs ((I) now forgett his name).

* Mr. Bushell had a daughter maried to a merchant . . .
in Bristowe.

He was a handsome proper gentleman when I sawe him
at his house aforesayd at Lambith. He was about 70
but I should have not guessed him hardly 60. He had
a perfect healthy constitution ; fresh, ruddy face ; hawke-
nosed, and was temperate.

As he had the art of running in dept, so sometimes he
was attacqued and throwen into prison ; but he would
extricate him selfe again straingely.

He'' died about 3 yeares since ((from) Sir William
Dugdale), i.e. about 1677; and was buried at . . .

Memorandum : — in the time of the civill warres his ^
hermitage over the rocks at Enston were hung with black-
bayes ; his bed had black curtaines, etc., but it had no
bed-postes but hung by 4 cordes (covered with black-
bayes) instead of bed postes. When the queen-mother
came to Oxon to the king, she either brought (as I thinke)
or somebody gave her an entire mummie from Egypt,
a great raritie, which her majestic gave to Mr. Bushel!, but
I beleeve long ere this time the dampnesse of the place haz
spoyled it with mouldinesse.

Memorandum: — the grotto belowe lookes just south;
so that when it artificially raineth, upon the turning of
a cock, you are enterteined with a rainebowe. In a very

" i.e. sew in. now perfectly remember ; but he did,

Jack Sydenham, supra, p. 132. or neer it: and (I thinke) dyed in

lJupl. with ' did sett.' London. Quaere Mr.Watts the taylcir.'

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 98. » Dupl. with ' his pretty house al

^ .Subst. for ' whether he lived to the.'
see the king's restanration I cannot ' Snbst. for ' rock.'

134

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

little pond (no bigger then a basin) opposite to the rock,
and hard by, stood (1643, Aug. 8) a Neptune, neatly cutt
in wood, holding his trident in his hand, and ayming with
it at a duck which perpetually turned round with him, and
a spanniel swimming after her — which was very pretty, but
long since spoyled. I heare that . . . earl of Rochester,
in whose possession it now is, doeth keepe it very well in
order.

* Mr. Bushel] was the greatest arts-master to runne in
dept (perhaps) in the world. He died one hundred and
twenty thousand pounds in dept. He had so delicate a way
of making his projects alluring and feazible, profitable, that
he drewe to his baites not only rich men of no designe, but
also the craftiest knaves in the countrey, such who had
cosened and undon others : e. g. Mr. Goodyeere, who undid
Mr. Nicholas Mees's father, etc.

Vide Pica for Irish cattle.

Vide ^ p. 148, Bushell's rocks.

Quaere his servant John Sydenham for the collection
of remarques of severall partes of England, by the said
Mr. Bushell.

** Memorandum : — his ingeniose invention of aditiis
with bellowes to bring fresh aire into the mines : quaere
Mr. Beech (quaker) if he hath his printed booke or where
it may be had. He gave one to Sir John Danvers, which
was nayled in the parlour to the wainscot : 'twas but about
8 sheetes.

Quaere Dr. Plott ((author of) Antiquities of Oxonshire)
of the booke I gave him some yeares since of the songs and
entertainment of Mr. Bushell to queen Henrietta Marie at
his rocks. If he had it not, perhaps Anthony Wood had it.
Mr. E(dmund> W(yld) sayes that he tap't the mountaine
of Snowdon in ... in Wales, which was like to have drowned
all the countrey ; and they were like to knock him and his
men in the head.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. I2\ also quotes a MS. with this symbol.

" The MS. with this symbol I ** MS. Aubr. 8, slips at fol.
have not identified. Anthony Wood 13.

Samuel Butler

135

Mr. Thomas Bushell lay some time (perhaps yeares) at
Capt. Norton's, in the gate at Scotland-yard, where he
dyed seven yeares since (now, 1684), about 80 aetat.

Buried in the little cloysters at Westminster

t Now, 1687, ^

^aved^" ""^'^ Abbey : vide the Register. Somebody putt "
B. B. upon the stone f . — From Mr. Beech the

quaker.

Notes.

* ' Nailed,' I suppose, after the fashion of nailing counterfeit coins to the
counter, or vermin to the stable door. Sir John Danvers had probably lost
money in the ' scheme.'

'■' Stephen Goodall, chaplain of Ch. Ch., died in Oxford, in Sept. 1637. —
Griffiths' Index to Wills . . . at Oxford, p. 24.

Anthony Wood says the music was composed by Samuel Ives. Aubrey's
copy of these poems is now among Anthony Wood's books in the Bodleian.

Samuel Butler (i6if-i68o).

* Mr. Samuel Butler was borne % at Pershore in Wor-

cestershire, as we suppose : his brother lives

t He was born ,

in Worcester- thcrC.

shire, hard by

Barbon-bri.ige, He Went to schoole at Worcester — from

i a mile from tt-ii

Worcester, in Mr. Hill,
the parish of St.

John, Mr. Hill His father {was) a man but of slender

thinkes, who ^

went to schoole fortune, and to breed him at schoole was as

with him.

much education as he was able to reach to.
When° but a boy he would make observations and reflec-
tions on every thing one sayd or did, and censure it to be
either well or ill. He never was at the university, for
the reason alledged.

He came when a young man to be a servant to the
countesse of Kent, whom he served severall yeares. Here,
besides his study, he employed his time much in painting
and drawing, and also in musiquc. He was thinking once
to have made painting his profession — from Dr. Duke.
His love to and skill in painting made a great friendship

" Sic in MS. : either a slip of the Suhst. for ' was borne at Powyk,

stone-cutter for T. B., or a heartless neer Worcester (where he went to

recalling of his nick-name {supra, schoole).'

p. 1 30). • Subst. for ' when he was a boy.'

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 114'.

136 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

between him and Mr. Samuel Cowper (the prince of limners
of this age).

He then studyed the Common Lawes of England, but
did not practise. He maried a good jointuresse, the relict
of ... . Morgan, by which meanes he lives comfortably.

After the restauration of his majestic when the court at
Ludlowe was againe sett-up, he was then the king's steward
at the castle there.

He printed a witty Poeme called Hudidras, the first part
anno 166. . which tooke extremely*; so that the king and
t The Lord Lord ChanccUor Hyde f would have him
Hyde'^h!!rhis ^^^^ ^'^^> accordingly he was sent for.

libr'a^y over^the They both promiscd him great matters, but
chimney. ^j^jg j^^ g^j. employment, only

the king gave him . . . //.

He is of a middle stature, strong sett, high coloured,

a head of sorrell haire, a severe and sound judgement :

a good fellowe. He haz often sayd that way (e.g. Mr.

Edmund Waller's) of quibling with sence will hereafter

growe as much out of fashion and be as ridicule as quibling

with words — quod N.B. He haz been much troubled with

the gowt, and particularly 1679, he stirred not out of his

chamber from October till Easter.

/-^u••i. A (Domini 1680)
Obnt Anno^ . . } .

(circiter 70. )

He dyed of a consumption September 25 ; and buried

27, according to his appointment'', in the churchyard of

Convent Garden ; scil. in the north part next the church

at the east end. His feet touch the wall. His grave, 2

yards distant from the pillaster of the dore, (by his desire)

6 foot deepe.

About 25 of his old acquaintance at his funerall.
I myself being one [of <^ the eldest, helped to carry ^ the
pall with Tom Shadwell, at the foot, Sir Robert Thomas

* Subst. for ' which tooke, nothing struck out, apparently only because

so much ! ' Aubrey thought they went too much

Subst. for ' desire.' Persons of into detail,

position were usually buried in church. ^ Subst. for ' beare.'

' The words in square brackets are

Samuel Butler 137

and Mr. Saunders, esq., at the head ; Dr. Cole and Dr.
Davenant, middle]. His coffin covered with black bayes ;

S. B. i68o\

* Insert in vita Sam. Butler his verses of the Jesuites,
not printed, which I gave to you^ about 12 or 14.

** Htidibras imprinted.

No Jesuite ever took in hand,

To plant a church in barren land ;

Or ever thought it worth his while

A Swede or Russe to reconcile ;

For where there is not store of wealth,

Souls are not worth the charge of health

Spaine and ^ America had two designes

To sell their Ghospell for their mines ;

For had the Mexicans been poore,

No Spaniard twice had landed on their shore.

'Twas gold the Catholick Religion planted,

Which, had they wanted gold, they still had wanted.

He had made very sharp reflexions upon the court in his
last part ^ : —

Did not the learned Glynne and Maynard
To prove true subjects traytors straine hard ?

*** Mr. Saunders (the countesse of Kent's kinsman) sayd
that Mr. John Selden much esteemed him for his partes,
and would sometimes employ him to write letters for him
beyond sea, and to translate for him. He was secretarie to
the duke of Bucks, when he was Chancellor of Cambridge.
He might have had preferments at first ; but he would not
accept any but very good ones, so at last he had none at
all, and dyed in want.

* The inscription on the coffin.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5'.
Anthony Wood, in obedience to

this injunction, inserted the leaf which
is now fol. 115 of MS. Aubr. 6.
** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 115.

' Subst. for ' the charges of their
health.'

Read, perhaps, ' on,' ' her.'

0 See Clark's Wood's Life and
Times, i. 1S6, note 2.

*** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 114',

138

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

He painted well and made it (sometime) his profession.

He wayted some yeares on the countess of Kent : she
gave her gentlemen 2o/z. per annum a-piece. Mr. John
Selden tooke notice of his partes and would many times
make him write or translate for him.

Obiit sine prole.

* Samuel Butler writt my lord [John ''J Rosse's Answer
to [Robert the marquesse of Dorchester.

iNIemorandum : — satyricall witts disoblige whom they
converse with, etc. ; and consequently make to themselves
many enemies and few friends ; and this was his manner
and case. He was of a leonine-coloured haire, sanguino-
cholerique, middle sized, strong.

William Butler (1535-161I).

Butler, physitian ; he was of Clare-hall in
Cambridge, never tooke the degree of Doctor, though he
was the greatest physitian of his time.

The occasion of his being first taken notice of

was thus t : — About the comeing-in of king
w^UeT.esqTe"'^ Jamcs, tlicrc was a minister of . . . (a few miles

from Cambridge), that was to preach before
his majestic at New-market. The parson heard that
the king was a great scholar, and studyed so ex-
cessively that he could not sleep, so somebody gave
him some opium, which had made him sleep his last,
had not Dr. Butler^ used this following remedy. He
was sent for by the parson's wife. \\'hen he came and
sawe the parson, and asked what they had donne, he
told her that she was in danger to be hanged for killing
her husband, and so in great choler left her. It was at
that time when the cowes came into the backside to be

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7.

' Inserted by Anthony Wood.

* Inserted by Wood, who wrote
' Henry ' and then changed it to
' Robert.'

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 26'.

Anthony Wood inserts the Chris-
tian name " William.'

^ Subst. for ' Upon the first of King
James.'

0 Dupl. with ' this physitian.'

William Butler

139

milk't. He turnes back, and asked whose cowes those
were. She sayd (her) husband's Sayd he, ' will you
give one of these cowes to fetch your husband to life
again?' That she would, with all her heart. He then
causes one presently to be killed and opened, and the
parson f to be taken out of his bed and putt
E.^!o?Gaie, into the cowes warme belly, which after some
time brought him to life, or els he had
infallibly dyed.

Memorandum : — there is a parallell storie to this in
Machiavell's Florentiac History, where 'tis sayd that one
of the Cosmo's being poysoned was putt into a mule's
belly, sowed up, with a place only for his head to come out.

He was a humorist One time king James sent for
him to New-market, and when he was gon halfe way
(he) left the messenger and turned back ; so then the
messenger made him ride before him.

I thinke he was never maried. He lived in an apothecary's
shop, in Cambridge, (John) Crane, to whom he left his
estate; and he in gratitude erected the monument for him,
at his owne chardge, in the fashion ^ he used. He was not
greedy of money, except choice pieces of gold or rarities.

He would many times (I have heard say) sitt among the
boyes at St. Maries church in Cambridge {^j^ and just
so would the famous attorney-generall Noy, in Lincoln's
Inne, who had many such froliques and humours).

I remember Mr. Wodenoth, of King's College, told me,

that being sent for to he told him that his

disease was not to be found in Galen or Hippocrates,
but in Tullie's Epistles, Cum non sis tibi fneris, no7i est air
veils vivere.

I thinke he left his estate to the apothecarle. He gave
to the chapell of Clare-hall, a bowle for the communion,
of gold (cost, I thinke, 2 or 300 li.), on which is engraved

" ' Husband's' subst. for ' hers.'
No doubt Edmund Waller, supra;
and Thomas Gale, infra.

' Dupl. with ' a man of great

moodes.' infra, p. 142.

e Subst. for ' habit.'
' Subst. for ' plate.'

I40

Aubrey s 'Brief Lives*

a pelican feeding her young with the bloud from her breast
(an embleme of the passion of Christ), no motto, for the
embleme explained it selfe.

He lies buried in the south side of St. Marie's chancell,
in Cambridge, wher is a decent monument, with his body
halfe way, and an inscription, which gett.

He was much addicted to his humours, and would suffer
persons of quality to wayte sometimes some houres at his
dore, with coaches, before he would recieve them. Once,
on the rode from Cambridge to London, he tooke a fancy
to a chamberlayn or tapster in his inne, and tooke him
with him, and made him his favourite, by whom only
accession was to be had to him, and thus enriched him.
Dr. Gale of Paul's schoole, assures me that a French
man came one time from London to Cambridge, purposely
to see him, whom he made stay two howres for him in
his gallery, and then he came out to him in an old blew
gowne ; the French gentleman makes him 2 or 3 very
lowe bowes downe to the ground ; Dr. Butler whippes
his legge over his head, and away goes into his chamber,
and did not speake with him.

He kept an old mayd whose name was Nell. Dr. Butler
would many times goe to the taverne, but drinke by him-
selfe. About 9 or 10 at night old Xell comes for him
with a candle and lanthorne, and sayes • Come you home,
you drunken beast.' By and by Nell would stumble :
then her master calls her ' drunken beast ' ; and so they
did drunken beast one another all the way till they came
home.

* A ser\-ing man brought his master's water to doctor
Butler, being then in his studie (with turn'd barres) but
would not bee spoken with. After much fruitlesse impor-
tunity, the man told the doctor he was resolved he should
see his master's water : he would not be turned away —
threw it on the Dr's. head. This humour pleased the
Dr. and he went to the gent, and cured him — (from)
Mr. R, Hooke.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 22.

William Butler

141

A gent, lying a-dyeing, sent his servant with a horse
for the doctor. The horse being exceeding dry, ducks
dovvne his head strongly into the water, and plucks downe
the Dr. over his head, who was plunged in the water over
head and cares. The Dr. was madded, and would returne
home. The man swore he should not ; drew his sword,
and gave him ever and anon (when he would returne)
a little prick, and so drove him before him — (from)
Mr. . . . Godfrey.

* Some instances of Dr. Butler's cures : — from Mr. James
Bovey. — The Dr. lyeing at the Savoy in London, next the
water side, where was a balcony look't into the Thames,
a patient came to him that was grievously tormented with
an ague. The Dr. orders a boate to be in readinesse
under his windowe, and discoursed with the patient (a
gentleman) in the balcony, when on a signall given, 2 or 3
lusty fellowes came behind the gentleman and threw him
a matter of 20 feete into the Thames. This surprize
absolutely cured him.

A gentleman with a red, ugly, pumpled face came to
him for a cure. Said the Dr., ' / must hang you! So
presently he had a device made ready to hang him from
a beame in the roome ; and when he was e'en almost dead,
he cutts the veines that fed these pumples, and lett-out the
black ugly bloud, and cured him.

Another time one came to him for the cure of a cancer

(or ulcer) in the bowells. Said the Dr., ' can ye ? '

' Yes,' said the patient. So the Dr. ordered a bason for
him to , and when he had so donne the Dr. com-
manded him to eate it up. This did the cure.

** Inscription on his nionunicfit^.

This inscription was sent to me by my learned and
honoured friend, Dr. Henry More, of Cambridge.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 24.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 23. The in-
scription is Henry More's autograph.

" Anthony Wood queries ' Where is
this monument ? ' having forgotten
MS. Aubr. 6 : supra, p. 1 40.

142

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Gulielmus Butlerus, Clarensis Aulae
quondam Socius, Medicorum omnium
quos praesens aetas vidit facile princeps,
hoc sub marmore secundum Christi ad-
ventum expectat, et monumentum hoc
privata pietas statuit, quod debuit
publica. Abi, viator, et ad tuos reversus,
narra te vidisse locum in quo salus
jacet.

Nil proh ! marmor agis, Butlerum dum tegis, ullum
[_ Si splendore tuo nomen habere putas. ^

^ Ille tibi monumentum est, tu diceris ab illo : c

to . . . t_i

O Butlen vivis munere, marmor iners. M

Sic homines vivos, mira sic mortuus arte, ^
Phoebo chare senex, vivere saxa facis.

Butlero Heroum hoc posuere dolorque fidesque.

Hei ! quid agam, exclamas et palles, Lector ? At unum

Quod miseris superesse potest, locus hie monet : ora.

* A scholar made this drolling epitaph : —

Here lies Mr. Butler who never was Doctor,

Who dyed in the yeare that the Devill was Proctor^.

Memorandum : — There is now in use ^ in London a sort

of ale called Dr. Butler s ale.

** Dr. Butler : — This inscription I recieved from Dr.

Henry Moore of . . . Cambridge. Quaere if his coat of

arms is not there, and what ? Quaere his coat of arms ^
From Dr. H. More: — More's father was a very strong

bodyed man. 'Twas forty stooles he gave his father ; he

Obiit CIDI3CXVII. Janua. XXix.
Aeta. suae Lxxxiii.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 26^
" Dupl. with ' fashion.'
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25.

•> For the answer to this query,
see itifra.

Cecil Calvert

143

had almost killed him. Told him he would be the better
for't as long as he lived.

That he was chymical I know by this token that his
mayd came running-in to him one time, like a slutt and
a furie, with her haire about her eares, and cries*, ' Butler !
come and looke to your Devills yourselfe, and you will : the
stills are all blowne up ! ' She tended them, and it seemes
gave too great a heate. Old Dr. Ridgely^ knew him, and
I thinke was at that time with him. — From this Dr. Ridgely
his Sonne.

* Dr. Butler of Cambridge : — {Arms : — ) ' azure, three
lozenges in fess between 3 covered cups or. — This is the
coate of armes on his monument. By reason of time and
the ill colours I cannot positively say whether the field is
azure or vert, but I beleeve 'tis the former.' — This informa-
tion I had from Mr. Vere Philips, fellow of King's College,
Cambridge.

Azotes.

' Thomas Gale, Head Master of St. Paul's School 167 2-1 697, D.D. Trin.
Coll. Cambr. 1675.

' Aubrey does not explain this ' drollery.' I can see nothing Satanic in the
names of the Cambridge proctors for 1617-18, John Smithson and Alexander
Read.

^ Thomas Ridgley (Rugeley), M.D., St. John's, Cambr. 1608 ; his son Luke
Ridgely, M.D., Christ's, Cambr.

Cecil Calvert, 2nd baron Baltimore (i 606-1 675).

** Cecil Calvert, lord Baltemore, absolute lord and
proprietary of Maryland and Avalon in America, son to
(George) Calvert (secretary of estate to king James),
was gentleman-commoner of Trinity College, Oxon, con-
temporary with Mr. Francis Potter, B.D.

*** Now if I would be rich, I could be a prince. I could
goe into Maryland, which is one of the finest countrys
of the world ; same climate with France ; between Virginia
and New England. I can have all the favour of my lord

" Dupl. with ' said.' ** Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39,

' Dupl. with ' then.' fol. 138 : Sept. 2, 1671.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 22. *** Ibid., fol. 141^: Oa. 27, 1671.

144

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Baltemore I could wish. — His brother is his lieutenant there ;
and a very good natured gentleman.' — Plenty of all things :
ground there is 2000 miles westwards.

I could be able I believe to carry a colony of rogues ;
another, of ingeniose artificers ; and I doubt not one
might make a shift to have 5 or 6 ingeniose companions,
which is enough,

William Camden (1551-1623).

* Mr. William Camden, Clarencieux — vide Fuller's Holy
State where is something of his life and birth, etc. : vide
Englaiid's Worthies: quaere at the Heralds' Office when
he was made Clarencieux.

Mr. Edward Bagshawe (who had been second schoole-
master of Westminster schoole) haz told me that Mr. Cam-
den had first his place and his lodgeings (which is the gate-
house by the Queen's Scholars' chamber in Deanes-yard),
and was after made the head schoole-master of that
schoole, where he writt and taught Instittitio Grcscae
Grannnaticcs Compendiaria : in nsitin Regiae Scholae
Westmonastcriensis, which is now the common Greeke
grammar of England, but his name is not sett to it.
Before, they learned the prolix Greeke Grammar of
Cleonard.

He writt his Britannia first in a large 8°.
Annales reg. Elizabethae.

There is a little booke in i6mo. of his printed, viz.:
A Collection of all the Inscriptions then on the Tombes
in Westminster Abbey.

'Tis reported, that he had bad eies ^ (I guesse lippitude)
which was a great inconvenience to an antiquary.

Mr. Nicholas Mercator has Stadius's Ephemerides, which
had been one of Mr. Camden's ; his name is there (I knowe
his hand) and there are some notes by which I find he was
astrologically given.

* MS. Anbr. 6, fol. 1 1 9. Aubrey fitchee sable.'

gives in trick the coat : — ' or, a fess ° Subst. for ' was short- (sighted).'
engrailed between 6 cross crosslets

William Camden

145

In his Briianiiia he haz a remarkable astrologicall
observation, that when Saturn is in Capricornus a great
plague is certainly in London. He had observed it all. his
time, and setts downe the like made by others before
his time. Saturn was so posited in the great plague 1625.
and also in the last great plague 1665. He likewise

delivers that when an eclipse happens in that

'tis fatall to the towne of Shrewsbury, for . . .

He was basted by a courtier of the queene^s in the
cloysters at Westminster for . . . queen Elizabeth in his
history — from Dr. John Earle, dean of Westminster.

My honoured and learned friend, Thomas Fludd, esq.,
a Kentish gentleman, ((aged) 75, 1680) was neighbour
and an acquaintance to Sir Robert Filmore, in Kent,
who was very intimately acquainted with Mr. Camden,
who told Sir Robert that he was not suffered to print
many things in his Elizabetlia, which he sent over to
his acquaintance and correspondent Thuanus, who printed
it all faithfully in his Annalls without altering a word —
quod N. B.

He lies buried in the South cross-aisle of Westminster
Abbey, his effigies \ on an altar, with this inscription : —

Qui fide antiqua et opera assidua
Britannicam antiquitatem indagavit
Simplicitatem innatam
honestis studiis excoluit
Animi solertiam candore illustravit
Gulielmus Camdenius
ab Elizabetha regina ad regis armorum
(Clarentii titulo) dignitatem evocatus
Hie

Spe certa resurgendi in Christo
S.E.

Qui obiit anno Domini 1623, 9 Novembris,
Aetatis suae 74:

in his hand a booke, on the leaves wherof is writt
BRITANNIA.

Mr. Camden much studied the Welsh language, and

I. L

146

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

kept a Welsh servant to improve him (in) that language,
for the better understanding of our antiquities.— From
Mr. Samuel Butler.

* Sir William Dugdale tells me that he haz minutes
of King James's life to a moneth and a day, written by
Mr. William Camden ; as also his owne life, according to
yeares and daye, which is very briefe, but 2 sheetes,
Mr. Camden's owne hand writing. Sir William Dugdale
had it from (John) Hacket f, bishop of Coventry and
. _ „ Lichfield, who did filch it from Mr. Camden

♦ »^ Quaere '

Sug'^aie.^'vide he lay a dyeing.

HTckefcame ** Quacre Mr. Ashmole to retrive and looke
•'HeiDrTh.) ^'^^ Camdcn's minutes (memorandums) of
uugllL^so'.'wh'o King James I from his entrance into England,
..iJmeofit. ThorndykeJ filched from him as

he lay a dyeing. 'Tis not above 6 or 8 sheetes of paper,
as I remember. Those memoires were continued within
a fortnight of his death.

*** Quaere Dr. Buzby if Mr. Camden ever resigned the
schoolmaster's place*.? And if he did not dye at West-
minster at the schoole house — vide bishop Hackett's life,
which is printed before his sermons.

**** Memorandum : — Mr. Camden's nativity is in his
Memoires of King James, Avhich gett.

***** William Camden : quaere Sir William Dugdale
who haz his papers ?

Anthony Wood's lettre sayth that some of them are
in Sir Henry St. George's hands ^, ' written and tricked
with Mr. Camden's owne hand ' : ergo quaere ibidem.

****** When my grandfather'' went to schoole at Yatton-
Keynell (neer Easton-Piers) Mr. Camden came to see the

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 119'.

** MS. Anbr. 6, a slip pasted on to
fol. 119.

*** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 119'.

* ' Non ' is added by Anthony
Wood in red ink, in answer to this
inquiry.

»*** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 119.

***** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 18.
See Clark's Wood's Life and
Times, ii. 268.

****** MS. Ballard 14, fol. 133;
a letter from Aubrey to Anthony
Wood, dated July 15, 1681.

* Isaac Lyte.

William Canynges

147

church, and particularly tooke notice of a little painted-
glasse-windowe in the chancell, which (ever since my re-
membrance) haz been vvalled-up, to save the parson the
chardge of glazing it.

William Canynges (i 399-1474).

* The antiquities of the city of Bristowe doe very
well deserve some antiquarie's paines (and the like for
Gloucester). Here were a great many religious houses. The
collegiate church (priorie of Augustines) is very good build-
ing, especially the gate-house. The best built churches
of any city in England, before these new ones at London
since the conflagration. Sevcrall monuments and in-
scriptions.

Ratliff church (which was intended " for a chapel) is
an admirable piece of architecture of about Henry VH's
time. It was built by alderman . . . Canning, who had
fifteen shippes of his owne (or 16). He gott his estate
chiefly by carrying of pilgrims to St. Jago of Compostella.
He had a fair house in Ratliff Street that lookes towards
the water side, ancient Gothique building, a large house
that, 1656, was converted to a glasse-house. See the anno-
tations on Norton's Ordinall in TJieatrnm C/u inicitm, where
'tis sayd that Thomas Norton of Bristow got the secret
of the philosopher's stone from alderman Canning's widow.

This alderman Canning did also build and well endow
the religious house at Westbury or Henbury (vide Speede's
mappe and chronicle) ; 'tis about two or three miles from
Bristowe in the rode to Aust-passage.

In his old age he retired to this house and entred into
that order. He built his owne monument at his church at
Ratcliff where is an inscription, which gett ^ ; but he
was not interred there but at Westbury.

Ac/e.

' See J. Button's Historical and Architectural essay relating to Redcliffe
( liurch, Bristol, with plans, views, account of its monuments, &c. 1813,

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 105. " Subst. for 'built.'

L 2

148

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

William Cartwright (1611 -1643).

* William Cartwright. M.A., Aedis Christi, Oxon., natus
juxta Teuxbury in com. Glocestriae. September, 161 1 ;
baptizatus* 26 Sept.

** Glocestershire is famous for the birth of William
Cartwright at a place called Northway neer Tewksbury.
Were he alive now he would be sixty-one.

He writt a treatise of metaphysique — quaere Dr.
(Thomas) Barlowe. etc.. de hoc: as also of his sermons,
particularly the sermon that by the king's command he
preached at his returne from Edge-hill fight.

'Tis not to be forgott that king Charles ist dropt a teare
at the newes of his death.

William Cartwright was buried in the south aisle in
Christ Church, Oxon. Pitty "tis so famous a bard should
lye without an inscription.

*** William Cartwright was borne at Northway neer
Tewksbury, Gloucestershire— this I have from his brother,
who lives not far from me ^ and from his sisters whom
I called upon in Glocestershire at Leckhamton. His sister
Howes was 57 yeares old the 10 March last: her brother
William w'as 4 yeares older.

His father was a gentleman of 300//. per annum. He
kept his inne at Cirencester, but a year or therabout,
where he declined and lost by it too. He had by his
wife ICO per annum, in Wiltshire, an impropriation,
which his son has now [hut having many children, lives
not handsomely and haz lost his learning : he was by
the second wife, whose estate this was). Old Mr. Cart-
wright lived sometime at Leckhampton, Gloc, wher his
daughters now live.

* MS. Anbr. 8, fol. 4'. *** Anbrey in MS. Wood F. 39,

• 'At Northway': so his baptismal fol. 141 : Oct. 27, 1671.
certificate in MS. Wood F. 49, fol. 25. *■ Aubrey, at this date, was in

** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, hiding at Broad Chalk,
fol. 138': Sept. 2, 1 67 1.

Lucius Gary

149

Lucius Gary, viscount Falkland (i 610- 1643).

* Lucius Carey', second lord Falkland, was the eldest
son of Sir Henry Carey, Lord Lievetenant of Ireland, the
first viscount Falkland.

His mother was daughter and heir of Sir (Laurence)
Tanfield, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, by whom
he had Great Tue. in Oxfordshire (formerly the Raines-
fords), and the Priory of Burford, in Oxfordshire, which
he sold to (William) Lenthall, the Speaker of the Long
Parliament.

He was borne . . . (quaere) ; had his University educa-
tion at the Univ'ersity of Dublin, in Ireland. He travelled,
and had one Mr. ... (a very discreet gentleman) to be
his governor whom he respected to his dyeing day.

He maried Letice, the daughter of Sir (Richard)
Morison, by whom he had two sonnes : the eldest lived
to be a man, died sine prole ; the second was father to
this lord Falkland now living.

This lady Letice was a good and pious lady, as you
may see by her life writt about 1649. or 50, by . . .
Duncomb, D.D. But I will tell you a pretty story from
William Havves, of Trin. Coll., who was well acquainted
with the governor aforesaid, who told him that my lady
was (after the manner of woemen) much governed by,
and indulgent to, the nursery ; when she had a mind to
beg any thing of my lord for one of her woemen* (nurses,
or &c.) ; she would not doe it by herselfe (if she could
helpe it), but putt this gentleman upon it, to move it to
my lord. My lord had but a small estate for his title ;
and the old gentleman would say, ' Madam, this is so
unreasonable a motion to propose to my lord, that I am
certaine he will never graunt it'; — e.g. one time to lett
a farme** twenty pound per annum under value. At
length, when she could not prevaile on him, she would
say that, * I warrant you, for all this, I will obtaine it of

* MS. Aubr. 6, f«l. 93. " Dupl. with ' mayd?.'

"* Dupl. with ' bar^aine.'

150 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

my lord ; it will cost me but the expence of a feiv teares.'
Now she would make her words good ; and this great
witt, the greatest master of reason and judgement of his
time, at the long runne, being storm d by her teares (I pre-
sume there were kisses and secret embraces that were also
ingredients), would this pious lady obtain her unreasonable
desires of her poor lord.

Haec verba, me hercule, una falsa lacrumula,
Quam, oculos terendo misere, vix vi expresserit,
Restinguet.

Terent. Eunuch. Act i, Scene i.

N B. : — my lord in his youth was very wild, and also
mischievous, as being apt to stabbe and doe bloudy mis-
chiefs ; but 'twas not long before he tooke-up to be
serious, and then grew to be an extraordinary hard
♦ Amaydthat studcnt. I havc heard Dr, Ralph Bathurst t
lord^ii^ed wixh say that, when he was a boy, my lord lived
•'xhereTs ' at Covcutrcy (where he had then a house),
Harmoniques and that hc would sctt up very late at nights

written with , . , , . ,

Philemon Hoi- at his study, and many times came to the

land's owne , , 1 1 * 1

hand, in a library at the schoole J there.

curious Greeke . ^ , .

character; he The studics in fashion m those daycs (m

was school-
master here. England) were poetry, and controversie with

the church of Rome. My lord s mother was a zealous

papist, who being very earnest to have her son of her

religion, and her son upon that occasion, labouring hard

to find the * trueth, was so far at last from setling

on the Romish church, that he setled and rested in

the Polish (I meane Socinianisme). He was the first

Socinian in England; and Dr. (Hugh) Cre.scy, of Merton

Coll. (^dean of (Leighlin) in Ireland, afterwards a Bene-

dictin monke), a great acquaintance of my lord's in those

da> es (anno . . . ), told me, at Samuel Cowper's (1669),

that he himselfe was the first that brought Socinus's bookes

(anno ... ) ; shortly after, my lord comeing to him, and

casting his eic on them, would needs presently borrow

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 93V

Lucius Caiy

them, to peruse ; and was so extremely taken and satisfied
with them, that from that time was his conversion.

My lord much lived at Tue, which is a pleasant scat,
and about 12 miles from Oxford ; his lordship was ac-
quainted with the best witts of that University, and his
house was like a Colledge, full of learned men*. Mr.
William Chillingworth, of Trinity College in Oxford (after-
wards D.D.), was his most intimate and beloved favourite,
and was most commonly with my lord ; next I may reckon
(if not equall) Mr. John Earles, of Merton College (who
wrote the Characters) ; Dr. (George) Eglionby, of Ch. Ch.,
was also much in esteem with his lordship. His chaplaine.
Charles Gataker, (filius (Thomae) Gataker of Redriff. a
writer), was an ingeniose young gentleman, but no writer ''.
For learned gentlemen of the country, his acquaintance
was Sir H. Rainesford. of . . . neer Stratford-upon-Avon,
now .... (quaere Tom Mariet) ; Sir Francis Wenman
of Caswell, in Witney parish ; Mr. . . . Sandys, the traveller
and translator (who was uncle to my lady Wenman) ;
Ben. Johnson (vide Johnsonus Virbius, where he haz
verses, and 'twas his lordship, Charles Gattaker told
me, that gave the name to it) ; Edmund Waller, esq. ;
Mr. Thomas Hobbes, and all the excellent of that
peaceable time.

In the civill warres he adhered to King Charles I, who
after Edge-hill fight made him Principall Secretary of
Estate (with Sir Edward Nicholas), which he dischardged
with a great deale of witt and prudence, only his advice
was very unlucky to his Majestic, in perswading him
(after the victory*' at Rowndway-downe, and the taking
of Bristowe), to sitt-dovvne before Glocester, which was
so bravely defended by that incomparably vigilant governor
coll. . . . Massey, and the diligent and careful soldiers
and citizens (men and woemen), that it so broke and

* Anthony Wood notes in the mar- .Subst. for ' Wayneman.'

gin ' Jo(hn) Triplett.' '' ' excellent' written over ' witts," as

Charles Gataker was author of .th alternative,
several pamphlets. » Dupl. with 'victorybythe Devizes.'

'52

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

weakned the king's army, that 'twas the procatractique
cause of his ruine : vide Mr. Hobbes. After this, all
the King's matters went worse and worse. Anno domini
164(3) the .... fight (quaere which) at Newbery, my
lord Falkland being there, and having nothing to doe to
chardge ; as the 2 armies were engageing, rode in like
a mad-man (as he was) between them, and was (as he
needs must be) shott. Some that* were your superfine
discoursing politicians and fine gentlemen, would needs
have the reason of this mad action of throwing away
his life so, to be his discontent for the unfortunate advice
given to his master as aforesaid ; but, 1 have been
well enformed, by those that best knew him, and
* knew the intrigues behind the curtaine (as they say),
that it was the griefe of the death of Mris . , . Moray,
a handsome lady at court, who was his mistresse, and
whom he loved above all creatures, was the true cause
of his being so madly guilty of his own death, as afore
mentioned : [lutlluin viagiiiiin ingeniiini sine mixtura de-
men tiae).

The next day, when they went to bury the dead, they
could not find his lordship's body, it was stript, trod-upon,
and mangled ; so there was one that had wayted on him
in his chamber would undertake to know it from all other
bodyes, by a certaine mole his lordship had in his neck,
and by that marke did find it. He lies interred in the

at Great Tue aforesaid, but, 1 thinke, yet without

any monument ; quaere if any inscription.

In the dining roome there is a picture of his at length,
and like him ('twas donne by Jacob de Valke, who taught
me to paint). He was but a little man, and of no great
strength of body ; he had blackish haire, something flaggy,
and I thinke his eies black. Dr. Earles would not allow
him to be a good poet, though a great witt ; he writt
not a smoth verse, but a greate deal of sense. He hath
writt

Snbst. for ' Some now thai.'

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 94.

Sir Charles Cavendish 153

He had an estate in Hertfordshire, at , which

came by Morrison (as I take it) ; sold not long before
the late civill warres.

Azotes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat ' argent, on a bend sable, 3 roses of the
tield [Gary],' surmounted with a viscount's coronet and wreathed with laurel
for a poet.

* A pencil note in the margin says : 'quaere Baron Berty' ; perhaps Vere
Bertie, Puisne Baron of the Exchequer, 1675. '^^^ query would be for the
name of the tutor on the foreign tour.

' i.e. a maid, formerly in Lucius, lord Falkland's service, came into service
with Dr. Bathurst's father, and told of his lordship's late studies.

Sir Charles Cavendish ( 1 6. . -1652 ?).

* (From Mr. John Collins, mathematician : — ) Sir Charles
Cavendish ^ was borne at ... , the younger brother to
William, duke of Newcastle. He was a little, weake,
crooked man, and nature having not adapted him for
the court nor campe, he betookc himselfe to the study
of the mathematiqucs, wherin he became a great master.
His father left him a good estate, the revenue wherof he
expended on bookes and on learned men.

He had collected in Italic, France, &c., with no small
chardge, as many manuscript mathematicall bookes as
filled a hoggeshead, which he intended to have printed ;
which if he had live(d) to have donne, the growth of
mathematicall learning had been 30 yeares or more for-
warder then 'tis. But he died of the scurvey, contracted
by hard study, about 1652 (quaere), and left one Mr.
. . . . , an attorney of Clifford's Inne, his executor, who
shortly after died, and left his wife executrix, who sold
this incomparable collection aforesaid by weight to the
past-board makers for wast paper, A good caution

foi those that have good MSS. to take care to see them
printed in their life-times.

He dyed .... and was buried in the vault of the
family of the duke of Newcastle, at Bolsover, in the
countie of (Derby).

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 29.

154 Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

He is mentioned by Mersennus. Dr. John Pell (who
knew him. and made him one of his xil jui^'men contra
Longomontanum) tells me that he writt severall things
in mathematiques for his owne pleasure.

Sole.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat :— ' sable, 3 bucks' heads caboshed argent
[Cavendish] ; quartering, argent, a fess between 3 crescents gules [Ogle],
a crescent on the fess point for difference,' with the motto Cavendo tutus.

Charles Cavendish. Colonel, (i 620-1643).

* Charles Cavendish, colonel, was second son to the
right honourable (William, 2nd) earle of Devonshire,
brother to this present earle, William.

He was borne at anno .... He was well

educated, and then travelled into France. Italic, &c. : but
was so extremely delighted in travelling, that he went
into Greece, all over : and that would not serve his turne
but he would goe to Babylon, and then his governour
would not adventure to goe any further with him ; but to
see Babylon he was to march in the Turks' armie. This
account I had many yeares since, scilicet J 642, from my
cosen Edmund Lyte, who was then gentleman usher to
his mother the countesse dowager.

Mr. Thomas Hobbes told me that this Mr. Cavendish told
him that the Greekes doe sing their Greeke. — In Hereford-
shire they have a touch of this singing ; our old divines
had. Our old vicar of Kington St. Michael, Mr. Hynd.
did sing his sermons rather then reade them. You may
find in Erasmus that the monkes used this fashion, who
mocks them, that sometimes they would be very lowe,
and by and b\- they would be mighty high, quando nihil
opus est. — Anno ]66c comeing one morning to ^Ir. Hobbes,
his Greeke Xenophon lay open on the board : sayd he.
' Had you come but a little sooner you had found a Greeke
here that came to see me, who understands the old Greeke :
I spake to him to read here in this booke. and he sang

* MS. Aul)r. 6, ful. 29 : Aubrey repeats the coat given supra.

Charles Cavendish

155

it ; which putt me in mind of what Mr. Charles Cavendish
told me ' (as before) ; ' the first word is "Evvoia, he pro-
nounced it ennia' The better way to explaine it is by
prick-song,

* Upon his returne into England the civill warres
brake-out, and he tooke a comission of a colonel in his
majestie's cause, wherin he did his majestic great service,
and gave signall proofes of his valour ; — e. g. out of
Af crcurii A itlici —

Grantham, in Lincolnshire, taken by col. Cavendish for the king,
23 March, 164I, and after demolished. — Young Hotham routed at
Ancaster by col. Cavendish, 11 Apr. 1643. — Parliament forces routed
or defeated at Dunnington by col. Cavendish, 13 June, 1643.

Mercurms Au/icus, Tuesday, Aug. i, 1643; 'It was advertised
from Newarke that his majestie's forces having planted themselves
at the siege of Gainsborough in com. Line, were sett upon by the
united powers of Cromwell, Nottingham, and Lincolne, the garrisons
of these townes being almost totally drawn-out to make-up this army,
which consisted of 24 troupes of horse and dragoons. Against this
force, col. Cavendish having the command of 30 troupes of horse and
dragoons, drawes out 16 only, and leaving all the rest for a reserve,
advanced towards them, and engaged himselfe with this small partie
against all their strength. Vi'hich being observed by the rebells, they
gott between him and his reserve, routed his 16 troupes, being fore-
spent with often watches, killed lievetenant-colonel Markam, most
valiantly fighting in defence of his king andcountrey. The most noble
and gallant colonel himselfe, whilest he omitted no part of a brave
commander, being cutt most dangerously in the head, was struck-ofi'
his horse, and so unfortunately shott with a brace of bullets after
he was on the ground, whose life was most pretious to all noble and
valiant gentlemen. Wherupon the reserve coming, routed and cutt
downe the partie.'

This was donnc either the 2H or 29 of July, 1643, for
upon this terrible rout, the lord Willoughby of Parham

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 29'.

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

forthwith yealded Gainsborough to the king's partie,
July 30; the earle of Newcastle being then generall of
that partie.

His body was first buried at . . . , f but

♦ Quaere if at , ^

Gau.sbor.ugii by ordcr of his mothers will, when she was

or Newark ? ^

as I remember buricd at Darby (wliere she has erected a

'twas Newarkii.

noble monument for herselfe and lord) she
ordered her Sonne's body to be removed, and both to
be layd in the vault there together, which was Feb. 18,
1674.

Funerall Sermon, by William Naylour. her chaplain,
preached at Darby, Feb, 18, 1674. Lond. for Henry
Broome. Texte, 2 Sam. iii. 38th verse. — page 16 :

' He was the souldiers' mignion, and his majestie's darling, designed
by him generall of the northern horse (and his commission was given
him), a great marke of honour for one of about five and twenty :
'■ thus shall it be donne to the man whom the king delights to
honour."

' Col. Cavendish was a princely person, and all his actions were
agreable to that character : he had in an eminent degree that which
the Greekes call u^os a^iov TvpavvlSos. the semblance and appearance
of a man made to go\ erne. Methinkes he gave cleare this indication,
the king's cause lived with him, the king's cause died with him — when
Cromwell heard that he was slaine, he cried upon it IVe have donne
our bttsinesse.

'And yet two things (I must confess) this commander knew not,
pardon his ignorance, — he knew not to flie away — he knew not how to
aske quarter — though an older did, I meane . . . Henderson; for when
this bold person entred Grantham on the one side, that wary gentle-
man, who should have attaqued it, fled away on the other. If Cato
thought it usurpation in Caesar to give him his life. Cavendish thought
it a greater for traytors and rebells of a common size to give him his.
This brave hero might be opprest, (as he was at last by numbers) but
he could not be conquered ; the dying words of Epaminondas will fitt
him, Satis vixi, invictiis etiam morior.

* ' What wonders might have been expected from a commander
so vigilant, so loyall, so constant, had he not dropt downe in his
blooming age? But though he fell in his green yeares, he" fell a
prince, and a great one too, in this respect greater then Abner; for

* MS. Aubr. 8, ful. 39.

" Anthony Wood notes 'col. Charles Cavendish.'

Charles Cavendish

157

Abner, that son of Mars, deserved his father's epithite, uWonpwtiKKm,
one of both sides, first he setts-up Isbosheth, and then deserts him.
Whereas Cavendish merited such a statue as the Roman senate
decreed L. Vitellius, and the same inscription, Pietatis imtnobilis
erga Principein, one whose loyaltie to his great master nothing
could shake.

'Secondly, consider the noble Charles Cavendish in his extraction,
and so he is a branch of that family, of which some
descended that are kings of Scotland : this the word
Fitivius joyned to his matemall t coate does plainly
point at — not to urge at this time his descent by the
father's side from one of the noblest families in England.
An high extraction to s6me persons is like the dropsie,
the greatnesse of the man is his disease, and renders
him unweildie ; but here is a person of great extract
free from the swelling of greatness, as brisk and active
as the lightest horseman that fought under him. ]n
some parts of India, they tell us, that a nobleman
accounts himselfe polluted if a plebeian touch him ;
but here is a person of that rank who used the same
familiaritie + and frankness amongst the meanest of his
souldiers, the poorest miner, and amongst his equalls ;
and by stooping so low. he rose the higher in the
common account, and was valued accordingly as a
prince*, and a great one; thus Abner and Cavendish
run parallell in their titles and appellations.

' Consider Abner in the manner of his fall, that was
by a treacherous hand, and so fell Cavendish. II Sam.
iii. 27, " And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab
tooke him aside in the gate to speake with him quietly,
and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died,
for the bloud of Asahel * his brother." Thus fell Abner ; and thus
Cavendish, — the colonell's horse being mired in a bog at the fight
before Gainsborough, 1643, ^he rebels surround him, and take him
prisoner; and after he was so, a base laskall comes behind him, and
runs him through. Thus fell two great men by treacherous handes.

'Thirdly and lastly, the place of his lall, that was in Israel . . . Here
Abner fell in his, and Cavendish fell in our Israel— the Church of
England. ... In this Church brave ("avendish fell, and what is more
then that, in this Churches quarrel. . . .

'Thus I have compared colonel Cavendish with Abner, a fighting
and a famous man in Israel ; you see how he does equal, how he does
exceed him.'

* M.S. .\ubr. 8, ft)l. 39'. » ' Abner' in MS. by a slip.

t His mother
^ as tlaughter
til the lord
Bnicp. whose
ancestors had
been kings of
Scotlana!
t Sir Robert
Harley (son), an
iTigeniose g^nt.
and expert sol-
dier, liaz often
sayfl, that
(generally! the
rommanders of
the king's army
would never be
arquainted with
their soldiers,
which was an
extraordinary

1)rejudice to the
ting's cause.
A captaine's
good look, or
good word (some
times), floes
infinitely winne
them, and
oblige them ;
and he would
say 'twa to
admiration how
souldiers will
venture their
lives for an
obligeing officer.
— quod N. B.

158 Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

John Cecil, 4th earl of Exeter (1628-1678).

* . . . Cecil, earl of Exeter (quaere my lord chief
baron Montagu * de nomine Christiano earle of Exeter,
translated monsieur Balsac's letters, as appeares by his
c[nstle to my lord in the first volumnc, lib. V, Icttre V, and
Vol. 2'', lib. V, lettre VI — ' et je suis sans doute beaucoup
plus honneste homme en Angleterre qu'en France, puisque
j'y parle par vostre bouche.'

William Cecil, lord Burghley (1520-1598).

** Cecil, lord Burleigh : — Memorandum, the true name
is Sitsilt, and is an ancient Monmouthshire family, but
now come to be about the size ^ of yeomanry. In the
church at Monmouth, I remember in a south windowe
an ancient scutcheon of the family, the same that this
family beares. 'Tis strange that they should be so vaine
to leave off an old British name for a Romancy one, which
I beleeve Mr. Verstegan did putt into their heads, telling
his lordship, in his booke, that they were derived from
the ancient Roman Cccilii.

The first lord Burley (who was Secretary of Estate)
was at first but (a) country-schoole- master, and (I
thinke Dr. Thomas Fuller sayes, vide Holy State) borne
in Wales.

I remember (when I was a schooleboy at Blandford)
Mr. Basket, a reverend divine, who was wont to beg us
play-dayes, would alwayes be** uncovered, and sayd that
' 'twas the lord Burleigh's custome./(?r (said he) here is my
Lord ChanccUcr, my Lord Treasurer, my Lord Chief Justice,
&c., predestinated!

'He made Cicero's Epistles his glasse, his rule, his
oracle, and ordinarie pocket-booke ' (Dr. J. Web in pre-
face of his translation of Cicero's Familiar Epistles).

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 59^

* Sir\Villiam Montagu, Chief Baron
of ihe Exchequer 1676-1686.

'' John Ctcil, succeeded as fourth

earl in 1^43.

** MS. Anbr. 8, fol. 60.

Dupl. with ' degree.'
<* Subat. for ' keepe.'

Thomas Chaloner

159

Thomas Chaloner (1595-1661).

* Thomas Chaloner ^, esq., [bred ^ up in Oxon], was the
(third) son of Dr (Thomas) Chaloner, who was tutor (i.e.
infurinator^) to prince Henry (or prince Charles — vide
bishop Hall's Letters de hoc).

He was a well-bred gentleman, and of very good naturall
parts, and of an agreable humour. He had the accomplish-
ments of studies at home, and travells in France, Italic,
and Germanic.

About anno . . . (quaere John Collins) riding a hunting
in Yorkeshire (where the allum workes now are), on
a common, he tooke notice of the soylc and herbage, and
tasted the water, and found it to be like that where he
had seen the allum workes in Germanic. Wherupon he
gott a patent of the king (Charles I) for an allum worke
(which was the first that ever was in England), which was
worth to him two thousand pounds per annum, or better :
but tempore Caroli I""' some courtiers did thinke the
profitt too much for him, and prevailed so with the king,
that, notwithstanding the patent aforesayd, he graunted
a moeitie, or more, to another (a courtier), which was the
reason that made Mr. Chaloner so interest himselfe for
the Parliament-cause, and, in revenge, to be one of the
king's judges.

He was as far from a puritan as the East from the
West. He was of the naturall religion, and of Henry
Martyn's gang, and one who loved to enjoy the pleasures
of this life. He was (they say) a good scholar, but he
wrote nothing that I hearc of, onely an anonymous pam-
phlett, 8vo, scil. An account of the Discovery of Moysess
Tombe; which was written very wittily. It was about
1652. It did sett the witts of all the Rabbis of the

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 19.

" The words in sqii.Tre biackets
are added by Anthony Wood. Chalo-
ner matriculated at Exeter Collejje,

June 7, 161 1.

i. e. ' tutor,' in the sense of
instructor (not, of comptroller of the
household).

i6o

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Assembly then to worke, and 'twas a pretty while before

the shamme was detected, which was by

He had a trick sometimes to goe into Westminster hall
in a morning in Terme time, and tell some strange story*
(sham), and would come thither again about 1 1 or 12
to have the pleasure to heare how it spred : and sometimes
it would be altered, with additions, he could scarce knowe
it to be his owne. He was neither proud nor covetous,
nor a hypocrite : not apt to doe injustice, but apt to
revenge.

After the restauration of King Charles the Second, he ^
kept the castle at the Isle of Man f, where he
had a prettie wench that was his concubine :
* where when newes was brought him that there
were some come to the castle to demaund it
for his majestic, he spake to his girle to make
him a posset, into which he putt, out of a paper
he had, some poyson, which did, in a very short
time, make him fall a vomiting exceedingly ;
and after some time vomited nothing but bloud.
His retchings were so violent that the standers
by were much grieved to behold it. Within
three howres he dyed. The demandants of the
castle came and sawe him dead ; he was swoln
so extremely that they could not see any eie he had, and
no more of his nose then the tip of it, which shewed like
a wart, and his coddes were swoln as big as one's head.
This account I had from George Estcourt, D.D., whose
brother-in-lawe, . . . Hotham, was one of those that sawe
him.

Aoles.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat ' azure, 3 cherubs' heads or.' In MS. Aubr.
8, fol. 6', is a note : — ' Is Chaloner's shield cum vel sine chevron. Resp. —
cum chevron, pront per scale.'

Anthony Wood assigns the discovery, and first working, of the alum-reine
to Thomas Chaloner the father, towards the end of Elizabeth's reign.

^ Anthony Wood says that James Chaloner, brother of Thomas, poisoned
himself in 1660 at Peel Castle. Thomas died in 1661 at Middleburg in
Zeeland.

t This is a
mistalce.
K( dmund )
W( yld ) esq.
assures me tliat
'twas James
Chaloner that
dveH in the Isle
of' Man : and
that Thomas
Chalo.ver
dyed or went
beyond the sea ;
but which of
them was the
eldest brother he
knowes not, but
he ghesses
James to be the
elder, because he
had 1500 //. per
annum (circiter),
which Thom.\s
had not.

* Dnpl. with ' false,' i.e. falsehood.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 19'

George Chapman. Walter Charleton i6i

George Chapman (15,57-1634).

* On the south side of St. Giles church in the church-
yard by the wall, one entire Portland stone \ a yard and
\ high fei^e, thickness half a yard.

D. O. M,

Georgius Chapmannus
Poeta Homericus Philosophus

o (etsi Christianus

otus) per quam celeriter

... V: LXXVII fatis concessit
. . . die Maii anno Salutis
Humanae M D C XXXIV

H. S. E.
Ignatius Jones architectus
regius ob honorem bonarum
literarum familiari suo
hoc monumentum
D. S. P. F. C.

Note.

' In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 61'', Aubrey gives a rough drawing of the monument.
The lower part is an oblong block, ' thicknes | yard : one entire Portland
stone ' with the inscription on the front. Above is a laurel wreath carved in
stone. Behind is what seems to be a mural tablet.

In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6", Aubrey asks, 'quaere if . . . Chapman is in the first
part ?' i.e. in MS. Aubr. 6 (Lives, Part i.) : but no life of Chapman is found in
that volume.

Walter Charleton (161^-1707).

** Walter Charleton, M.D., borne at Shepton-Malet * in
com. Somerset, Feb. 2**, 1619, about 6 h. P.M., his mother
being then at supper.

*** ' Dom. G. Charleton, D. M. : nascitur die Mercurii **
Febr., aerae Christi \6\~, hor. 12, mom. 18 P.M.' — this*^ is
my lord William Brounckar's doeing and is his ovvne hand-
writing.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 61. Aubrey Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.
has been unable to make out the T44.

whole inscription. *** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 54.

** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 53', and a slip •> Wednesday,
at fol. loo". ' i.e. the horoscope which Aubrey

" ' His father was minister there' : has there.

I. M

Aitbreys 'Brief Lives'

Thomas Charnock (1526-1581).

* Mr. (Andrew) Paschal, rector of Chedzoy, hath the
originall scroll of Mr. Charnock, scilicet, of the philoso-
pher's stone.

** Mr. Charnock, the chymist, mentioned in < Ashmole's)
Theati'um Chymimm, was buryed in Otterhampton neer
Bridgewater, anno 1581 ^, April 21, aged 55 yeares —
(from) Mr. Paschal : vide Mr. Paschal's lettre, here inserted
before (the life of) Nicholas Mercator, p. 32.

*** Concerning Mr. CJiarnocke,

Sir,

Mr. Wells of Bridgewater performed his promise. He
writes that the house was lately pulled down, and is new
built from the ground, all except the wall at the east end.
He could make nothing of what was only left over the
chimney ; but he found the little dore that led out of the
lodging-chamber into the little AtJianor roome. Of that
you have an account in the enclosed draught.

The two roses I take to be the white and red, termes
common with Charnocke for the two magisteries. The
two animals over them I suppose are wolves, denoting
the J abounding with a volatile ^ 0 and used for pre-
paring and purifying one of the principal ingredients into
the worke. Out of it growes (if those authors may be
credited) most precious fruits.

I obliged a painter to goe over soon after I had been
there and take all he could find exactly. He was there,
but I could never get anything from him : an ingeniose
man, but egregiously carelesse.

Looking back I find this noted by me — June 22, 1681 ;
the place in the Athaiior roome in which he kept his

* MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 77.

** MS. Aiibr. 8, fol. 9'.

» Anthony Wood noted here ' rather
1 680 ; if you menne Stephen Charnock,
the divine ' : but saw his error and
erased the note.

i. e. as fol. 56-58 of MS. Aubr. 8.

*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 58"; the
heading is by Aubrey; the letter is
the original.

« Earth.

d Salt.

Thomas Charnock

163

lampe was stone-work about 15 inches deep and so much
square in the clear from side to side. Over it a wooden
collar with a rabit* as to lett-in a cover close. No place
to come into the square but by the collar, contrived probably
after the accident of burning his tabernacle mentioned in
his printed pieces.

I find this added: — 'Twas painted about the chimney
thus : — on the left side of the chimney proceeded from
a red stalk streaked with white, first, a paire of red branches,
then a paire of white, then of red, then one of white to
the top ; something like a rabbit's head painted looking
from the chimney to the foot of the sayd stalk. — The next
picture separated as by a pillar on the chimney :— from
one stalke, two white branches, of either side one ; then
two red, above; then two white; then at the top this

the balls of a dusky yellow. — The next picture is

also distinguished by a pillar on the chimney to the
right side: this (is) quite obscured by smoake.

In the left corner of the roome another picture described,
with double branches, white, then red, then white, then one
on the top red.

This is all I can say of that place, of which I wish I were
capable of sending a better account.

The other side of Mr. Wells's paper gives you one of
the schemes in the middle of the roll, which is now by me.

The transcription of the thing, said to be Ripley's,
should cost Mr. Ashmole nothing, were I not under an
obligation not to impart it to any. It may be greatly to
his losse who did communicate it to me, if the owner
should know I have it. If I can contrive a way to send
it with leave I shall be ambitious to gratify that worthy
person.

your etc.

And. Paschall.

* Rabbet = ' a groove cut along the edge of another board, required to fit
edge of a board ... to receive a it.' — Century Dictionary.
corresponding projection cut on the

M 2

164

Aubreys 'Brie/ Lives'

* To his much honoured friend John Aubrey, esqre.,
these present, at Mr. Hooke s lodgeings in Gresham College,
London.

** Sir,

I received and returne thankes for yours.

Since my last I got leave to transcribe w^hat Mr. Char-
nocke v^^rote on the backside of the rolle, w^hich I heer
send you. I kept as neare as I could to the very errours
of his pen, by which it may in part be seen that he was,
as he professes, an itnlettcrcd scholar. The inside of the rolle
(which is all in Latine, and perhaps the same with the
scrowle mentioned in Thcntriim CJieuiicuvi, p. 375) was
composed by a great master in the Hermetic philosophy
and written by a master of his pen. Some notes written
in void spaces of it by Mr. Charnocke's hand shew he did
not (at least throughly) understand it. But it seemes to
me that this rolle was a kind of Vade ineaim or manuall
that the students in that wisdome carryed about with
them. I presume 'twas drawn out of Raymund LuUy, of
which I shall be able to gaine fuller satisfaction when
I have his workes come down.

I was also, since my last, at Mr. Charnocke's house in
Comag, where the rolle was found ; and saw the place
where 'twas hid. I saw the litle roome and contrivance
he had for keeping his worke, and found it ingeniosely
ordered so as to prevent a like accident to that which
befell him New Yeare's day, 1 555 ; and this pretty place
joining as a closet to his chamber was to make a servant
needlesse and the worke of giving attendance more easy
to himselfe. I have also a litle iron instrument found
there which he made use of about his fire. I sawe on the
doore of his little Athaiwr-xoom, if I may so call it, drawn
by his own hand, with course colours and work, but in-
geniously, an embleme of his worke, at which I gave some
guesses, and so about the walls of his chamber. I thinke

* Address, on MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 53. ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 57. The letter
Postage is marked as ' 6(/.' is the original.

Thomas Chaniock

there was in all 5 panes of this worke, all somewhat differing
from each other, some very obscure and almost worne out.
They told me that people had been unwilling to dwell in
that house, because reputed troublesome, — I presume from
some traditionall storyes of this person, who was looked
on by his neighbours as no better than a conjurer.

As I was taking horse to come home from this pleasant
entertainment, I see a pretty ancient man come forth of
the next doore. I asked him how long he had lived there.
Finding that it was the place of his birth, I inquired if he
had ever heard anything of that Mr. Charnocke. He told
me he had heard his mother (who dyed about 13 or 14
yeares since and was 80 yeares of age at her decease) often
speake of him ; that he kept a fire in, divers yeares ; that
his daughter hved with him ; that once he was gone forth,
and by her neglect (whome he trusted it with in his
absence) the fire went out and so all his worke was lost ;
the brazen head was very neare comeing to speake, but
so was he disappointed.

I suppose the pleasant-humoured man — for that he was
so appeares by his breviary — alludeing to Frier Bacon's
story, did so put off the inquisitivenes of his simple neigh-
bours, and thence it is come down there by tradition
till now.

Indeed it appeares by the inclosed lines that when he
wrote the rolle he had attained but to the white stone,
which is perhaps not half the way to the red,

(' Put me to my sister Mercury, I congeale into silver ') ;
and, if the old woman's tale were true, he might after-
wards be going on and be come neare to the red and then
that vexing accident might befall him ; and this might
be, notwithstanding what is sayd in the fragment, re-
ferred to the yeare 1574, for (being so neare the red
as the traditionall story saycs he was) he might see
in that 50th yeare of his age that the white was ferment
to the red.

You may observe my calculation differs in one thing
from Mr. Ashmole's in his notes upon T/ieatruin Chemiami,

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

p. 478 : for he makes ' the presse ' to have been (out of
Stowe) 15,58, but I (out of Dr. Burnet's History) 1557;
and consequently he supposes the presse to have been
after the finishing of the Breviary, but I presume he set
on the Breviary after he was pressed. So indeed he him-
selfe plainly averres in the 4 last lines of chapter 4 of his
Breviary {Tlieairiivi Chcmicinn, p. 296). I mention this
to give a reason for my dissenting from your worthy friend,
to whome I must intreat you to communicate these in-
formations that I have had opportunity to gather, and
also present my humble service.

Sir,

I thought when I set pen to paper to have given
you an account of some conversation I have had with a person
who is a zealous friend and admirer of this sort of know-
ledge, but I see I have already gone beyound bounds.
I shal onely say he hath almost convinced me that it is
not so hidden and obscure, so difficult and unaccountable,
as men commonly seeme to beleeve. I am in hopes to
receive, by Mr. Hooke's and Mr. Lodwick's favour, the
lamp for which he was pleased to give directions some
time since.

I have not yet seen my miller and his invention, though he
promised to bring it to me ; I presume 'tis not yet ready.
I expect him dayly.

Pray give my humble service to our worthy friend, and
to Mr. Pigott.

I am sure I now need the ^ . . . .

* I shall be glad to heare of a new edition of the
Theatruni ^ and that you will speed the printing of your
MS. of Raymund Lullye's. If it doe not goe soon to
the presse, how joyfuU should I be to have the perusall
of it ! 'Tis the onely grievous thing I suffer in this solitude
that I may not see good bookes and good men, but
I must be content.

* Line frayed off.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 56''.

Elias Ashmolc's Theatritin Chemi-
cum BritannicMH, 1652.

Thomas Charnock

16']

* The first thing written on the back side is as followes

At Stockeland, Bristowe, iiii myles from Brigewater, 1566.

The principall rules of naturall philosophy figuratively set fourth to
the obtayning of the philosopher's stone, collectyd out of xl auctors by
the unletteryd scholer Thomas Chamocke, studient in the sciencis off
astronomic, physick, and naturall philosophic, the same year that he
dedicatyd a booke off the science to queene Elizabeth of Englande
which was Anno Domini 1566, and the viii yere off her raigne.

{MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 56^, gives the rest of the writing on the back of
the roll ; but the outer edge of the leaf is torn off, and the writing
consequently imperfect)

** his pose

on the white and red rose

. . . . black appere sartayne

. . . XX or it wax bright

. . . Ix after to black againe

. . . XX or it be perfet'' white

. . . it or all quick things be dedd

or this rose be redd

Thomas Chamocke [in red letters]
1572.

This is the philosopher's dragon which eateth upp his one tayle
Beinge famisshed in a doungen of glas and all for my prevayle
(Ma)ny yeres I keapt this dragon in pryson strounge.
(Bef)ore I coulde mortiffy him I thought it lounge
(But) at the lenght by God's grace yff ye beleve my worde
(I) vanquished him wythe a fyrie sword.

[Then ^ followes the picture of a dragon with a black
stone under his foot, with a white stone neare his breast,
with a red stone over his head : his tayle is turned to his
gapeing mouth.]

The dragon speketh : —

. . . . souldiers in armoure bright

. . . (n)ot have kylled me in fyelde in fighte

. . . (Cha)mock nother for all his philosophic

. . . (pr)yson and famyne he had not famysshed me

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 56.
° i. e. of the roll mentioned, supra,
p. 164.

** M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 56'.
b < Perfet ' is scored through.

A note added ia the text by
Paschall.

A description by Paschall of a
drawing on the roll, after the above
verses.

t68

Aitbreys 'Brief Lives'

(Guy of \V)arwicke nor Bevys of Southehampton

. . . . such a venomous dragon

. . . . fowght with PHdra the serpent

e cowlde not have his intent

. . . . n the wyse inc'.ose too in a toonne off brasse

. . . . d shutt up in a doungeon of glasse

. . . . lyffe was so quick and my poyson so strounge

• . . . e cowlde kyll me it was full lounge

. . . . he hyld me in prison day and nyght

. . (k)eapt me from sustenance to mynishe me myght

. . . When I saw none other remedye

. . . very hunger I eate myne one bodye

by corruption I became black and dedd

(Th)at precious stone which is in my hedd

. . . be worth a M'' to him that hath skyll

(F)or that stone's sake he wysely dyd me kyll

(In d)eath I dyd hym forgyve even at the very hower

(Se>inge that he wylbe beneficiall unto the poore

When I was alyve I was but stronge poyson

Profittable for few things in conclusion

(Now th)at I ame now dying in myne owTie blood

(N)ow I do excell all other wordeley good

(A) new name is given me of those that be wysse

(No)w I ame named the elixer off great price

(If y)ou wyll make prouff, put to me my sister mercury

(I will co)ngoyle hir into sylver in the twinkling off an eye

qualites I have many mo

. . . (foo)lyshe and ingenorant shall never kno
Few prelates and Masters of art within this reame
Do knowe aryght what I do meane

My great grawnt-father was killyd by Ravnde LuUi, knight of Spayne
And my g(r)awnt-father by Syr Gorge Rippley, a chanon of

Yenglande sartayne
And my father by a chanon of Lechefelde was kylled truly
Who gave hym to his man Thomas Davton when he dyd dye
And my mother by Mr. Thomas Norton off Bristow slayn was
And each of these were able to make or D in a glasse
And now I ame made the great and riche elixer allso
That my master shall never lack whether he ryde or go
But he and all other must have great feare and aye
As secrettely as they can to exchaunge my increase awaye.

Here Chamock changeth to a better cheere

For the sorrow that he hath sufferj'd many a yere

" The symbols for sun and moon = gold and silver.

Thomas C ha mock

169

Or that he could accomplish the regiment of his fyre

'^or he saw his desier

Wherefore in thy hartt now prease God allway
And do good deeds with it whatsoever thou may
Therefore thy god gave this science unto thee
To be bis stuarde and refresh the poore and needie.

Anno D. 1526 — Thomas Charnocke borne at Feversham
in Kent.

He travailed all England over to gain his knowledge.
155I — He attained the secret from his master of Salisbury

close, who dying left his worke with him.
He lost it by fireing his tabernacle on a New

Yeare's day.

About this time being 28 yeares of age, he learned

the secret againe of the prior of Bathe.
He began anew with a servant, and againe by him-

selfe alone without a servant.
He continued it nine monthes ; was within a month

of his reckoning ; the crowe's head began to

appear black.

1 557 — He, pressed on a warre proclaimed against the
French (Burnet's History, part 2, p. 35,5), broke
and cast all away. January i, he began ; July 20,
he ended, his Breviary.

1562 — He marryed Agnes Norden at Stockland, Bristoll.

1563 — He buryed Absolon his son.

1566 — He dedicated a booke to Queen Elizabeth 9 yeares
after the Breviary was penned.
He dated the rolle at Stockland.
1572 — He wrote the posy on the rolle.

He wrote his aenigma ad Alchimiam'' and de
Alchimia

3573 — the fragment'! of ' knocke the child on the head.'
1 574 — that he never saw the white ferment to the red till
that jCth yeare of his age.

* Half a line which Paschall could not read.
Printed in Ashmole's Thealrum Chemictim.
^ Printed ibid. Printed ibid.

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

1576 — the difficulty of the philosophick number in the roll.

J581 — Buryed at Otterhampton neare Stockland out of
his house at Comage where he kept his worke.

1587 — Bridget Charnock (probably his daughter that kept
his house when his fire was sayd to go out),
marryed to one . . . Thatcher in Stockland.

Collected out of the Roll, the register, and T/ieatruin
Chcviicinn.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1328-1400).

* Sir Geffrey Chaucer : memorandum — Sir Hamond
L' Estrange, of . . . , in . . . had his Workes in MS.,
a most curious piece, most rarely writt and illumined,
which he valued at 100//. His grandson and heire still
haz it. — From Mr. Roger L'Estrange.

He taught his sonne the use of (the) astrolabe at 10 ;
prout per his treatise of the Astrolabe.

Dunnington Castle, neer Newbury, was his ; a noble
seate and strong castle, which was held by the King
(Charles P*) (who governour ?) but since dismanteled.

Memorandum : — neer this castle was an oake, under
which Sir Jeofrey was wont to sitt, called Chaucer' s-oake,

which was cutt downe by tempore Caroli I™' : and

so it was, that was called into the starre chamber,

and was fined for it. . . . Judge Richardson * harangued
against him long, and like an orator, had topiques from
the Druides, etc. This information I had from ... an
able attorney that was at the hearing.

His picture is at his old howse at Woodstock (neer the
parke-gate), a foot high, halfe way : has passed from
proprietor to proprietor.

** One Mr. Goresuch of Woodstock dined with us at
Rumney marsh, who told me that at the old Gothique-
built howse neer the parke-gate at Woodstock, which was
the howse of Sir Jeffrey Chaucer, that there is his picture,

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 27. ** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39,
■ Sir Thomas Richardson, Chief fol. 200: April 7, 1673.

Tuslice of the King's Bench, 1631.

IVilltam Chillingworth 171

which goes with the howse from one to another —
which see.

William Chillingworth (1602-164I).

* WiUiam Chillingworth^ D. D., — vide Anthony Wood's
Antiq. Oxon. in Trinity College — was borne in Oxford.
His father was a brewer.

About anno ... he was acquainted with one . . . who
drew him and some other scholars over to Doway, where
he was not so well entertained as he thought he merited
for his great disputative witt. They made him the porter
(which was to trye his temper, and exercise his obedience) :
so he stole over and came to Trinity College againe,
where he was fellowe.

William Laud, A. B. C.%was his godfather and great
friend. He sent his grace weekly intelligence of what
passed in the university-. Sir William Davenant (poet
laureat) told me that notwithstanding this doctor's great
reason, he was guiltie of the detestable crime of treachery.
Dr. Gill filius D"' Gill (schoolmaster of Paules schoole),
and Chillingworth held weekely intelligence one with
another for some yeares, wherein they used to nibble at
states-matters. Dr. Gill in one of his letters calles King
James and his sonne, the old foole and the young one,
which letter Chillingworth communicates to W. Laud,
A. B. Cant. The poore young Dr. Gill was seised, and
a terrible storme pointed towards him, which, by the
eloquent intercession and advocation of Edward, earle of
Dorset, together with the teares of the poore old Doctor
his father, and supplication on his knees to his majestic,
were blowne-over. I am sorry so great a witt should have
such a naeve.

Absentem qui rodit amicuni.
Qui non defendit alio culpante, solutos
Qui capiat risus hominum famamque dicacis,
Fingere qui non visa potest, commissa tacere
Qui nequit : hie niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto.

HORAT. lib. I, sat. iv.

* MS. Aubr. 6, ful. 12^

i. e. Arch Bishop of Canterbury.

172

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

He was a little man, blackish haire, of a saturnine
complexion.

The lord Falkland (vide (life of) lord Falkland) and he
had such extraordinary clear reasons, that they were wont
to say at Oxon that if the great Turke were to be
converted by naturall reason, these two were the persons
to convert him.

He lies buried in the south side of the cloysters at
Chichester, where he dyed of the morbus castrensis after
the taking of Arundel castle by the parliament : wherin
he was very much blamed by the king's soldiers for his
advice in military affaires there, and they curst that little
priest and imputed the losse of the castle to his advice.
In his sicknesse he was inhumanely treated by Dr. Chey-
nell who, when he was to be buryed, threw his booke
into the grave with him, saying, ' Rott with the rotten ;
let the dead bury the dead.' Vide a pamphlet of about
6 sheets writt by Dr. Cheynell (maliciously enough) where
he gives an account of his life.

This following inscription was made and set-up by
Mr. Oliver Whitby ^ his fellowe-collegiate at Trinity
College and now one of the prebendarys of this church :

Virtuti sacrum.
Spe certissimae resurrectionis
Hie reducem expectat animam
GUUELMVS ChILLINGWORTH,
S. T. p.
Oxonii natus et educatus,
Collegii S**^ Trinitatis olim
Socius, Decus et Gloria.
Omni Literarum genere celeberrimus,
Ecclesiae Anglicanae adversus Romano-Catholicam

Propugnator invictissimus,
Ecclesiae Sarisburiensis Praecentor t dignissimus ;
Sine Exequiis,
Furentis cujusdam Theologastri,

Doctoris Cheynell +,
Diris et maledictione sepultus :
Honoris et Amicitiae ergo,
Ab Olivero Whitby,

t This is a
mistake ; he was
not Chantor of
the Church,
but Chancellor
of the Church of
S.arum, whose
office was
antiently to read
a lecture in
Latin, quarterlj',
in the pulpit in
the library,
either in
Theologie or
the Canon
Lawe. Since
the Reformation
'twas commuted
into preaching
on the Holy-
dayes. He
ne\ er swore to
all the points of
the Church of
England.
J Minister of
Petworth.

IVi'lliam Chillingzvorth

173

Brevi hoc monimento,
Posterorum memoriae consecratus,
Anno Salutis,
1672 a

My tutor, W. Browne haz told me, that Dr. Chilling-
worth studied not much, but when he did, he did much in
a little time. He much delighted in Sextus Empeiricus.
He did walke much in the College grove, and there
contemplate, and meet with some cod's-licad or other, and
dispute with him and baffle him. He thus prepared
himselfe before-hand. He would alwayes be disputing;
so would my tutor. I thinke it was an epidemick evill
of that time, which I thinke now is growne out of fashion,
as unmannerly and boyish. He was the readiest and
nimblest disputant of his time in the university, perhaps
none haz equalled him since.

I have heard Mr. Thomas Hobbes, Malmesb. (who
knew him), say, tliat lie was like a lusty fighting fellow that
did drive his enimics before him, but tvotild often give his
oivne party stnart ^ back-bloives.

When Doctor Kettle, (the president of Trin. Coll.
Oxon.) dyed'', which was in anno (1643) Dr. Chillingworth
was competitor for the presidentship, with Dr. Hannibal
Potter and Dr. Roberts. Dr. Han. Potter had been
formerly chaplain to the bishop of Winton, who was so
much Dr. Potter s friend, that though (as Will Hawes haz
told me) Dr. Potter was not lawfully elected, upon
referring themselves to their visitor (bishop of Winton),
the bishop (Curie) ordered Dr. Potter possession ; and
let the fellowes gett him out if they could. This was
shortly after the lord Falkland was slaine, who had he
lived, Dr. Chillingworth assured Will Hawes, no man
should have carried it against him : and that he was so
extremely discomposed and wept bitterly for the losse
of his deare friend, yet notwithstanding he doubted not
to have an astergance ^ for it.

" 1642, in MS.

Dupl. with ' terrible.'

174

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Azotes.

' William Chillingworth was elected Scholar of Trinity June 2, 1618 (then
of St. Martin's parish, Oxon, aged 19), and Fellow, June 10, 1628.

■ For another instance of reports sent to Laud (who was Chancellor of
Oxford 1630-41) about Oxford matters, see Clark's Wood's Life and Times,
ii. 238.

Alexander Gill matr. at Trinity College, June 26, 161 2, was Clerk at
Wadham College, April 20, 1613, but rejoined Trinity and from thence took
his D.D., March 9, 163I. He was usher to his father in St. Paul's School
1621-28, being removed for the offence here related.

* Francis Cheynell, a native of Oxford (like Chillingworth), Fellow of Merton
1629, D.D. July 24, 1649.

' Oliver Whitby, matr. at Trinity, Oct. 15, 1619; Archdeacon of Chichester,
Dec. 23, 1672.

" W'illiam Browne, of Blandford St. Mary, Dorset, aged 16, elected Scholar
of Trinity May 28, 1635, M.A. March 18, 164I.

' Anthony Wood, in a marginal note, objects — ' This cannot be : Dr. Kettle
died after Chillingworth.' But Wood is wrong. Keltell died in July 1643;
Chillingworth in January, 164I ; Potter was admitted President August 8,
1643.

* ' Astergance,' apparently an Aubrey form for ' abstergence,' i. e. consolation.
The meaning perhaps is : — although Chillingworth was grieved for Falkland's
(or Kettell's) death, he had looked for the consolation of being promoted to the
Presidentship of his College.

John Clavell (1601-1642).

* John Clavell, the famous thiefe, borne May ii, 1601,
1 1'' 30' P.M.

Jolin Cleveland (16 13-1658).

** John Cleveland was borne at . . . (quaere Mr. Nayler)
in Warwickshire. He was a fellow of St. John's Colledge
in Cambridge, where he was more taken notice of for his
being an eminent disputant, then a good poet. Being
turned out of his fellowship for a malignant he came to
Oxford, where the king's army was, and was much caressed
by them. He went thence to the garrison at Newark
upon Trent, where upon some occasion of drawing of
articles, or some writing, he would needs add a short
conclusion, viz. ' and hereunto we annex our lives, as
a labell to our trust.' After the king was beaten out
of the field, he came to London, and retired in Grayes

♦ MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121".

** MS. Aubr. 6. fol. 6-. ^

George Clifford

175

Inne. He, and Sam. Butler, &c. of Grayes Inne, had"
a clubb every night. He was a comely plump man,
good curled haire, darke browne. Dyed of the scurvy,
and lies buried in St. Andrew's church, in Holborne,
anno Domini 165.. (quaere Mr. Nayler'', of . . . ).

George Clifford, earl of Cumberland (i 558-1 605).

*Henry, earl of :
Cumberland ; obiit
12 Eliz. ( 1570 ).

Anne, daughter of William,
lord Dacres of Giilesland.

George, earl of m. Marg< aret > daughter

Cumberland
obiit 3 Jacobi
<i6o5>.

( of Francis, earl
of Bedford).

Francis, m. Grisold, daughter

earl of Cum-
berland,
obiit 1641.

(i) Richard, m. Anne, »/. (2) Philip, earl of

earl of
Dorset

daughter
and neir

Pembroke and
Montgomery.

Margaret, m. John, earl
of Thanet,

ISABELL m. James, earl
of North-
ampton.

Nicholas, earl of
Thanet, my hon-
oured lord ; obiit

November 27,
1679, ^^"^ issue.

. Elizabeth,
daughter of
Richard, earl
of Corke and
Burlington.

John,
obiit
sine
prole.

Richard,
now
earle.

of Thomas Hughes
of Uxbridge, esq.

Henry, earl m
of Cumber-
land, obiit
1643. Henry,
earl of Cum-
berland, was
a poet. His
daughter (the
countesse of
Corke and
Burlington)
hath several 1 ^'
copies of his
making.
Elizabeth

Frances,
daughter
of Robert
Cecill,
earl of
Saruin.

m. Richard
< Boyle >.

earl of
Cork and
Burling-
ton.

t This George, earl of Cumberland, built the
greatest fleet of shipping that ever any subject
did. He had a vast estate, and could then ride
in his ovvne lands from Yorkeshire to West-
He had . . . castles.
The best account of his expedition with his fleet to
America is to be found in Purchas's Pilgrim. He tooke
from the Spaniards to the value of seaven or 8 hundred
thousand poundes. When he returned with this riche

t From
Elt'cahel/t,
countesse of
Thanet.

morland.

' MS. has 'did had,' i.e., Aubrey * Aubrey, in MS. Rawl. D.

at first thought of writing 'did have.' fol. 96*.

Perhaps John Nayler, fellow of <= Subst. for ' a great many.'
St. John's College, Cambridge.

176

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

cargo (the richest without doubt that ever subject brought),
the queene's councell (where he had some that envyed

^'"^ Virtntis comes Invidid)

layed their heads together and concluded 'twas too much
for a subject to have, and confiscated it all to the queen,
even shippes and all, and to make restauration to the
Spaniard, that he was forced to sell fifteene thousand
pounds per annum. My lady Thanet told me she sawe
the accounts in writing. The armada of the Argonautes
was but a trifle to this.

As I take it. Sir Walter Ralegh went this brave voyage
with his lordship ; and Mr. Edmund Wright, the excellent
navigator ; and, not unlikely, Mr. Harriot too.

This was the breaking of that ancient and noble family ;
but Robert, earl of Salisbury (who was the chiefest enemie)
afterwards maried his daughter, as above, as he might
well be touch't in conscience, to make some recompence
after he had donne so much mischiefe.

That he was an acquaintance of Sir Walter Raleigh,
I remember by this token, that Sir James Long told me
that one time he came to Draycot with Sir Walter Raleigh
from Bathe, and, hunting a buck in the parke there, his
horse made a false step in a conie-borough and threw him
and brake the kennell-bone of his shoulder.

Henry Clifford, earl of Cumberland (1591-1643).

* From the pedigree of the carles of Cumberland ^ in
the hands of Elizabeth, countesse of Thanet, daughter of
the earle of Burlington and Corke.

George, (third) earl of Cumberland, had seaven f castles
in the north. He was buryed with his ances-
ca?teiir..''"°' tors at Skippon Castle. Obiit about the
beginning of King James's raigne.
Vide epistle to George, earl of Cumberland, before the
History of the Massacre.

* M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 28.

" The number was doubtful, see supra, p. 175.

Henry Clifford

^11

(fifth) carl of Cumberland, was a poet; the
of Corke and Burlington haz still his verses,
of Christ Church, Oxon Nicholas, earl of
as wont to say that the mare of Fountaines-
dash, meaning that since they gott that estate
the church) they did never thrive but still

Henry, lord Clifford, first earl of Cumberland,
obiit 34 Henry VIII { 1542); sepult. in ecclesia
Skippon. Knight of the Garter.

Henry, lord Clifford, second earle of Cum- m. .Anne, daughter of William, lord Uacres of

Henry,
countesse
He was
Thanet, w
abbey did
(given to
declined.

berland, obiit 12 Eliz , 8 januarn 1570
(i.e. rl). He was knight of the most
noble order of the Garter, and lord of
Westmorland and Vesse. Buried in
skippon Church.

Gillesland, his second wife. She died in
Skipton Castle in July 1581, and was
buryed in the vault of that Church.

I . George, third earl of m. Margaret,
Cumberland, knight of I daughter
the Garter, that made of Francis,
the famous expedition earl of

to America. Obiit 1605 Bedford,
in the Savoy at London.
Sepult. in Skippon
Church.

Richard, earle m. Lady Anne ?«. Philip.

of Dorset. j Clifford earl of

Obiit at Dorset (quaere obiit). Pembroke,
house, 28 etc.
March, 1624.

had issue only
two daughters.

2. Francis, m. Mris Grizell
erearl of Hughes of

Cumber- Uxbridge,
land. widow to

Thomas •
Nevill, lord
Abergavenny.

Henry, lord »/. Frances CcciU,
Clifford : last onlv daughter of
Robert, earl of

earl of Cum-
berland of
that line.
Obiit in
Yorke, 1643.

Salisbury, Lord
High Treasurer.
Obiit 14 Feb.
•643-

Elizabeth Clifford, mar t'ed (i6t,'0 'Richard
borne in Skipton Boyle, earle of

Castle, 1613. Corke and

Burlington.

* Henry, the last earle of Cumberland, was an ingeniose
gentleman for those times and a great acquaintance of the
Lord Chancellor Bacon's ; and often writt to one another,
which lettres the countesse of Corke and Burlington, my
lady Thanet's mother, daughter and heir of that family,
keepes as reliques ; and a poeme in English that her father
wrott upon the Psalmes and many other subjects, and very
well, but the language being now something out of fashion,
like Sir Philip Sydney's, they will not print it.

NoUs.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' checquy or and .nzure, a fess gules
[Clifford],' surmounted by an earl's coronet. Anthony Wood has a note
here:— ' George, earl of Cumberland, A.M. 1502: A ll. Aed. Christi, 1608,
quaere '—this latter degree belongs to Henry, fifth carl.
Matric. Jan. 30, 160^: took B.A. Feb. 16, l6o».

" ' Thomas,' is in error for Edward.
* Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 208 : May 17, 1673.
I. N

178

Aiibrey^s 'Brief Lives'

Sir Edward Coke (1502-1633).

* Vide his life by ... : quaere his nephew or sonne * Roger
Coke. Sir Edward Coke ^, knight, Lord Chiefe Justice of
the King's Bench, was borne at ... in Norfolke. I heard
an old lawyer ( . . . Dunstable) of the Middle Temple,
1646, who was his country-man, say that he was borne to
300 //. land per annum ^, and I have heard some of his
country say again that he was borne but to 40 li. per
annum. What shall one beleeve ?

Quaere Roger Coke of what house he was in Cambridge,
or if ever at the University.

Old John Tussell (that was my attorney) haz told me
that he gott a hundred thousand pounds in one yeare, viz.
1° Jacobi. being then attomey-generall. His advice was
that every man of estate (right or wrong) should sue-out
his pardon, which cost 5 li. which'' was his fee.

He left an estate of eleaven thousand pounds per annum.
Sir John Danvers ^, who knew him, told me that when one
told him his sonnes would spend the estate faster then he
gott it. he replyed ' they cannot take more delight in
spending of it then I did in the getting of it.'

He was chamber-fellow to the Lord Chiefe Baron Wyld's
father (Serjeant Wyld ^). He built the black buildings
at the Inner Temple (now burn't) which were above the
walke toward the west end, called then ' Coke's buildings.'

After he was putt out of his place of Lord Chief Justice
of the King's Bench to spite him, they made him sheriff
of Buckinghamshire, anno Dni . . . ; at which time he
caused the sheriff's oath to be altered, which till that time
was, amongst other things, to enquire after and apprehend
all Lollards. He was also chosen, after he was displaced,
a burghesse to sitt in Parliament.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 28.
" ' Or Sonne ' is scored out.

Dupl. with ' which belonged to
him." <= Nov. 15, 1616.

Sir Edward Coke

179

yeares of age. He was a very handsome proper man and
of a curious complexion, as appeares by his picture at
the Inner Temple, which his grandson gave them about
1668, at length, in his atturney-generall's fusted gowne,
which the house haz turned into judge's robes.

He maried, his second wife, . . ., the relickt of Sir . . .
Hatton, who was with child when he maried her\ — (from)
(Elizabeth) lady Purbec ; vide B. Johnson's masque of
the Gipsies.

He dyed at Stoke-poges in com. Bucks . . . 1638''
(quaere), but is buryed at ... in Norfolk.
For his moralls, see Sir W . Raleigh's Tiyall.
He shewed himselfe too clownish and bitter in his
carriage to Sir Walter Ralegh at his triall, where he sayes
' Thou tray tor,' at every word, and ' thou lyest like a tray tor.
See it in Sir Walter Ralegh's life, Lond. 1678, 8vo.
His rule : —

Sex horas somno, totidem des legibus acquis,

Quatuor orabis, des epulisque duas,
Quod reliquum est tempus sacris largire Camenis.

He playes with his case as a cat would with a mouse,
and be so fulsomely pedantique that a school boy would
nauseate it. But when he comes to matter of lawe, all
acknowledge him to be admirable. When Mr. Cuff**,
secretary to the earle of Essex, was arraigned, he would
dispute with him in syllogismes, till at last one of his
brethern said, ' Prithee, brother, leave off : thou doest
dispute scurvily.' Cuff was a smart man and a great
scholar and baffeld him. Said Cooke

' Dominum cognoscite vestrum ' ;
Cuff replied, ' My lord, you leave out the former part of the
verse®, which you should have repeated,
Actcon ego sum ' —
reflecting on his being a cuckold.

" Three lines of the text are sup- Henry Cuff : Clark's Wood's Liff

pressed here. and Times, i. 424.

Sept. 3, 1633. o Ovid, Metam. iii. 230

" Subst. for ' will play.'

N a

i8o

Aubrey's

'Brief Lives'

* The world expected from him a commentary on
Littleton's Tenures ; and he left them his Common-place
book, which is now so much made use of.

Sir Edward Coke did envie* Sir Francis Bacon, and
was wont to undervalue his lawe : vide de hoc in the lord
Bacon's lettres, where he expostulates this thing with Sir
Edward Coke, and tells him that he may grow when that
others doe stand at a stay.

Memorandum : — he was of Clifford's Inne before he was
of the Inner Temple, as the fashion then was first to be of
an Inne of Chancery.

Memorandum: — when the play called Ignoramus (made
by one Ruggle of Clare-hall) was acted with great applause
before King James, they dressed Sir Ignoramus like Chief
Justice Coke and cutt his beard like him and feigned his
voyce. Mr. Peyton, our vicar of Chalke, was then a
scholar at Kings College and sawe it. This drollery did
ducere in seria mala : it sett all the lawyers against the
clergie, and shortly upon this Mr. Selden wrote of Tythes
not jure divino.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' . . 3 eagles displayed . . .'

* In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 97', Aubrey has this note : — ' Sir Edward Coke, Lord
Chief Justice — when I was first of the Middle Temple, I heard an old (80 (years
old)) Norfolke gentleman of the (name of) Dunstable affirme that Sir Edward
Coke was borne but to 300 //. a yeare land.'

^ This story is repeated at the foot of the leaf: — 'Sir John Danvers told me
that he had heard one say to him, reflecting on his great scraping of wealth,
that his sonnes would spend his estate faster then he gott it. He replied, they
cannot take more delight in the spending of it then I did in the getting of it.'

* George Wilde, Serjeant at Law, 1614; father of Sir John Wilde, Chief
liaron of the Exchequer, 1648.

** Monsieur . . . Colbert was a merchant and an excellent
accomptant, i. e. for Debtor and Creditor. He is of Scotish
extraction and that obscure enough, his grandfather being
a Scotish bag-piper to the Scotch regiment.

Notes.

Jean Baptiste Colbert (16 19-1683).

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 27'.

* Subst. for ' envyed.'

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 5. Aubrey

gives in trick the coat ' . . a serpent
in pale vert.'

JoJin Colet. Henry Coley i8i

Cardinal Mezarin found that his stables were very chardgc-
able to him, and was imposed upon in accompts. He
hearing of this merchant Colbert to be a great master
in this art, sends for him and desires him to make inspection
into his accounts and putt him into a better method to
avoyd being abused. Which he did, and that so well that
he imployed him in ordering the accounts of all his estate
and found him so usefull that he also made use of him to
methodize and settle the accompts of the king. This was
his rise. — From Dr. John Pell.

John Colet (1466-1519),

* John Colet, D.D., deane of St. Paule's, London — vide
Sir William Dugdale's Historic of Paule's church. After
the conflagration his monument being broken, his coftin,
which was lead, was full of a liquour which conserved the
body. Mr. Wyld and Ralph Greatorex tasted it and 'twas
of a kind of insipid tast, something of an ironish tast. The
body felt, to the probe of a stick which they thrust into
a chinke, like brawne. The coffin was of lead and layd in
the wall about 2 foot 2 above the surface of the floore.

Henry Coley (1633-1695?).

** My friend Mr. Henry Coley was borne in Magdalen
parish in the city of Oxon, Octob, 1 8, 1633. His father was
a joyner over against the Theater.

He is a tayler in Graies Inne lane.

He hath published an ingeniose discourse called Clavis
Astrologiae, in English, 1669.

He is a man of admirable parts, and more to be expected
from him every day: and as good a natured man as can be.
And comes by his learning meerly by the strong impulse
of his genius. He understands Latin and French : yet
never learned out his grammar.

*** Henry Coley ^ natus Oxon, neer Kettle-hall, Octob.
18, hora 2. 15' 4" P.M. — his father a joyner.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 60". fol. 131 : June 14, 1671.

** Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, *♦* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 86.

Atibrey*s 'Brief Lives'

He was a woman's tayler : tooke to the love of astrologie,
in which he grew in a short time a good proficient ; and in
Mr. W. Lilly's later time, when his sight grew dimme, was
his amanuensis.

He hath great practise in astrologie, and teacheth mathe-
matiques. He hath published Clavis Astrologiae, 1675,
a thick octavo, the second edition, wherein he has compiled
clearly the whole science out of the best authors.

A'ote.

■ Aubrey gives ' ab Astronomia Britannica,' Coley's nativity and the ' latitude
planetaruiD ' at his birth, on the scheme

' Henry Coley, astrologer, bom at Oxon, 1633, October 18, 2'' 15' 4" P.M.,
latit. f 1° 42'.'

Jolin Collins (162I-1683).

* John Collins, accomptant, was borne at Wood-eaton
neer Oxford, March the 5th, i62|, about half an houre after
5 at night (Saturday night) : this I had from himselfe.

** John Collins obiit London, November 10, 1683.

*** John Collins : — adde his sheet Of interest, and Plea
for Irish cattle : all the rest are set downe, but not when
printed. And also his Historie of salt and fisheries, 1682,
printed by A. Godbid, 4to.

**** John Collins, a learned mathematician, fellow of the
Royal Society : scripsit plurima : he was not an University
man, but was first prentice to (Thomas) AUam the booke-
binder. ■

Anthony Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury (1621-168I).
***** Anthony, earl of Shaftesbury : — Memoires relating
the principall passages of his life, in folio, stitcht, printed
by Samuel Lee, 1681.

Samuel Cooper (1609-1672).
****** Samuel Cowper, his majesties alluminer and my
honord friend, obiit May . . ., 1672 : sepultus in Pancrace

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 28. **** Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39,
** MS. Anbr. 7, fol. 5. fol. 316: April 9, 1679.

*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25. ***** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 16'.

" See Clark's Wood's Life and ****** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 2.
Times, iii- 24.

Thomas Cooper. Richard Corbet 183

chancell, next grave to father . . . Symonds, e societate
Jesu — their coffins touch. Aetat. circiter 6 — .

Thomas Cooper (151 7 ?-i594).

* Thomas Cooper, Magdalenensis - vide Anthony Wood's
Antiq. Oxon. : quaere if he was not schoolmaster at
Winchester Colledge ?

Dr. Edward Davenant told me that this learned man had
a shrew to his wife, who was irreconcileably angrie with him
for sitting-up late at night so, compileing " his Dictionarie,
{lliesau7'us linguae Ronianae et Britantiicae, Londini, 1584 ;
dedicated to Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester,and Chancellor
of Oxford). When he had halfe-donne it, she had the
opportunity to gett into his studie, tooke all his paines out
in her lap, and threw it into the fire, and burnt it. Well,
for all that, that good man had so great a zeale for the
advancement of learning, that he began it again, and went
through with it to that perfection that he hath left it to us,
a most usefuU worke. He was afterwards made bishop of
Winton.

He dyed (29 Apr. 1594).

In Thesanru7n Thomae Cooper, Magdalenensis, hexasticon Richardi
Siephani.

Vilescat rutila dives Pactolus arena,

Hermus, et auriferi nobilis unda Tagi,
Vilescant Croesi gemmae Midaeque talenta,
t Versteean Major apud Britones + eruta gaza patet :

deservedly . o j.

blames him for Hoc, Wainflete, tuo gens Anglica debet alumno,
that expression. vigili Hobis tanta labore dedit.

** Mr. Pulleyn tells me that Cowper who wrot the
Dictionary was not bishop of Winton but of Lincoln : vide
and mend it".

Richard Corbet (1583-1635).
*** Epitaph on master Vincent Corbet, gardiner, father
of the bishop: B. J(onson's) Underwoods, p. 177.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 91". Magdalen Hall.

" Subst. for ' about.' 'Anthony Wood notes after-

** MS. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 4. wards of Winton.'

Josias PuUen, Vice-Principal of *** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 69.

184

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

* Richard Corbet, episcopus (ex last edition of his
poemes. in preface sc. p. i6)\vas made deaneof Christ Church,
1620; bishop of Oxon, 1628; bishop of Norwich, 1632. Vide
Anthony Wood's Antiq. Oxo7i.

** Richard Corbet^ D.D., was the son of Vincent
Corbet — vide his poem —

' better * known
By Poynter's name then by his owne
Here Hes engaged till the day
Of raysing bones and quickning clay :
No wonder, reader, that he hath
Two sirnames in one epitaph,
For this one doth comprehend
All that both families could lend —

who was a gardner at Twicknam, as I have heard my old
cosen Whitney say. Vide in B. Johnson's Underwoods an
epitaph on this Vincent Corbet, w^here he speakes of his
nurseries etc.. p. 177.

He was a Westminster scholar ; old parson Bussey, of
Alscott in Warwickshire, went to schoole with him — he
would say that he was a very handsome man, but something
apt to abuse, and a coward.

He was a student (vide Anthony Wood's Antiq. Oxon.)
of Christ-church in Oxford. He was very facetious, and
a good fellowe. One time he and some of his acquaintance
being merry at Fryar Bacon's study (where was good liquor
sold), they were drinking on the leads of the house, and
one of the scholars was asleepe, and had a paire of good
silke stockings on. Dr. Corbet (then M.A., if not B.D.)
gott a paire of cizers and cutt them full of little holes, but
when the other awaked, and percieved how and by whom he
was abused, he did chastise him, and made him pay for
them.

After he was D. of Divinity, he sang ballads at the
Crosse at Abingdon on a market-day. He and some of

» M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 15'. ** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. ic6.

» Subst. for ' farther.'

Richard Corbet

185

his camerades were at the taverne by the crosse,t (which
t Twas after '"'X thcii the finest of England ;

the. fashion of J remember it when I was a freshman: it

the crosse in

Brfstowe!bu't" ^^as admirable curious Gothique architecture,
worke'^'^Quaere ^nd fine figures in the niches : 'twas one of those
if not marble? j^^^jj^ ^w^^ . . . for his quccn : vide Chronicle).
The ballad singer complaynd, he had no custome, he could
not putt-off his ballades. The jolly Doctor putts-off his
gowne, and putts-on the ballad singer's leathern jacket,
and being a handsome man, and had a rare full voice,
he presently vended a great many, and had a great
audience.

After the death of Dr. (William Goodwyn), he was made
deane of Christ-church (quaere if ever canon); vide* part
iii, pag. 7 b.

He had a good interest with great men, as you may find
in his poems, and with the then great favourite, the duke of
Bucks ; his excellent witt was lettres of recommendation to
him. I have forgott the story, but at the same time that
Dr. (Samuel) Fell thought to have carried it, Dr. Corbet
putt a pretty trick on (him) to lett him take a journey
on purpose to London for it, when he had already the
graunt of it.

He preacht a sermon before the king at Woodstock
(I suppose king James, quaere) and no doubt with a very
good grace ; but it happened that he was out, on which
occasion there were made these verses : —

A reverend deane,

With his band starch't cleane.

Did preach before the King ;
In his band string was spied
A ring that was tied ^,

Was not that a pretty thing?
If then without doubt,
In his text he was out
next,

» i. e. MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 15', ztt supra. lie was never Canon of Ch. Ch.
Dupl. with 'ruffe.'

i86

Aubrey^s 'Brief Lives'

The ring without doubt
Was the thing putt him out,
For all that were there,
On my conscience, dare sweare,

That he handled it more than his text : —

vide the verses.

* His conversation* was extreme pleasant. Dr. Stubbins^
was one of his cronies ; he was a jolly fatt Dr. and a very
good house-keeper; parson of ( Ambrosden) in Oxfordshire.
As Dr. Corbet and he were riding in Lob-lane, in wett
weather, ('tis an extraordinary deepe dirty lane) the
coach fell ; and Dr. Corbet sayd that Dr. Stubbins was
up to the elbowes in mud, he was up to the elbowes in
Stubbins.

Anno Domini (162S) he was made bishop of Oxford, and
I have heard that he had an admirable, grave, and venerable
aspect.

One time, as he was confirming, the country people
pressing in to see** the ceremonie, sayd he, ' Bear e-off there ^
or rie confirme yee with my staffed Another time being to
lay his hand on the head of a man very bald, he turns to
his chaplaine (Lushington) and sayd,'5<?;«^' dust, Lttshington^
(to keepe his hand from slipping). There was a man with
a great venerable beard ; sayd the bishop, ' Yoti, behind the
beard.'

His chaplain, Dr. Lushington*. was a very learned and
ingeniose man, and they loved one another. The bishop
sometimes would take the key of the wine-cellar, and he and
his chaplaine would goe and lock themselves in and be merry.
Then first he layes downe his episcopall hat, — ' There lyes
the Dr.' Then he putts of his gowne, — ' There lyes the
Bishop.' Then 'twas, — ' Here's to thee, Corbet,' and ' Hei'e's
to thee, Lushington'. — From Josias Howe, B.D., Trin.
Coll. Oxon.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 106'.

» Subst. for ' company.'

^ Subst. for 'pressing upon the.'

Richard Corbet

187

He built a pretty house (quaere) neer the cawsey beyond
Friar Bacon's studie.

He married ^ . . . , whom 'twas sayd he begott. She
was a very beautifull woman, and so was her mother. He
had a son (I think Vincent) that went to schoole at West-
minster, with Ned Bagshawe ; a very handsome youth, but
he is run out of all, and goes begging up and downe to
gentlemen.

He was made bishop of Norwich, Anno Domini (1632).
He dyed (28 July, 1635). The last words he sayd were,
' Good night, Liishington.' He lyes buried in the upper end
of the choire at Norwich, [on the south side of the monu-
ment of bishop Herbert, the founder, under a faire grave-
stone of free-stone, from whence the inscription ^ and
scutcheon of brasse are stollen*].

His poems are pure naturall witt, delightfull and easie.

Quaere what he hath writt besides his poems : vide part
iii, p. 7 b.

It appeares by his verses to Master Ailesbury Dec. 9,
1 61 8, that he had knowledge of analyticall learning, being
so well acquainted with him and the learned Mr. Thomas
Harriot.

* I have not seen the date of his Iter Boreale ; but it
ends thus : —

We return d, but just with so much ore,
As Rauleigh from his voyage, and no more.

** Memorandum : — his antagonist Dr. (Daniel) Price, the
anniversarist, was made deane of the church at Hereford.
Dr. (William) Watts, canon of that church, told me, 1656,
that this deane was a mighty pontificall proud man, and
that one time when they went in procession about the
cathedrall church, he would not doe it the usually way in
his surplice, hood, etc., on foot, but rode on a mare, thus
habited, with the Common-Prayer booke in his hand,

* The words in square brackets are infra.

substituted for ' with this inscription * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 106.
. . . (vide).' ** MS. Aubr, 6, fol. io6*.

^ i.e. MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 15', ut

i88

Aitbrey^s ^ Brief Lives'

reading. A stone-horse happend to breake loose * ... he
would never ride in procession afterwards.

* In the cathedral church of Norwich, upper end of the
choeur, towards the steppes to the altar, in the middle is
a little altar-tombe of bishop Herbert the founder ; south
of which tombe is a faire freestone gravestone of bishop
Corbet, the inscription and shield of brasse are stollen. Vide
A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon. (His) son (is a) fainiant.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in colours the coat, 'or, a raven sable [Corbet],* wreathed with
laurel.

' An alternative reading is given : —

'A ring he espyed
In his band-string tyed.'
^ John Stubbinge, D.D., Ch. Ch., 1630: vicar of Ambrosden, co. Oxon.,

' Thomas Lushington, D.D., Pembr., June 22, 1632, obiit Dec. 22, 1661.
Notes of his life are found in Wood MS. Y. 39, fol. 203', 204, 259.

^ Alice, daughter of Leonard Hutton, sometime Student of Christ Church,
Canon of St. Paul's 1 609-1632.

" In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9, Aubrey has a note, ' bishop Richard Corbet : vide
memorandum 167 1 in libro B pro reliquiis inscriptionis.' A copy of what was
still legible of the inscription is found in a lettt-r from Aubrey to Wood in
Wood MS. F. 39.

' Sir Thomas Aylesbury, 1576-1657, Master of the Requests. He had been
of Christ Church, Oxford.

Tom Coryat (1577-161 7).

** Old major Cosh was quartered (Sept. 18, 1642) at his
mother's house at Shirburne in Dorsetshire ; her name was
Gertrude.

This was when Sherburne castle was besieged, and when
the fight was at Babell hills, between Sherburn and Yeovill:
the first fight in the civill warres that was considerable.
But the first brush was between the earle of Northampton
(father to Henry, the lord bishop of London) and the lord
Brooke, neer Banbury: which was the later end of July, or
the beginning of August, 1642. I was sent for into the

« Three lines of the text are here ** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 6'.
suppressed. •> Subst. for ' I left Oxford ' : see

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 15'. supra, p. 37.

Abraham Coivley

189

countrey to my great griefe, and departed the 9th of Aug.
'Twas before I went away, I beleeve in Aug. Quaere
de hoc.

But to returne to T. Coryat : had he h'ved to returne into
England, his travells had been most estimable, for though
he was not a wise man, he wrote faithfully matter of fact.

Abraham Cowley (161 8- 1667),

* Mr. Abraham Cowley ^ : he was borne in Fleet-street,
London, neer Chancery-lane ; his father a grocer, at the
signe of . . •

He was secretarie to the earle of St. Alban's (then lord
Jermyn) at Paris. When his majestic returned, the duke of
Buckingham hearing that at Chertsey was a good farme of
about . . . li. per annum, belonging to the queene-mother,
goes to the earl of St. Alban's and the commissioners to^
take a lease of it. They answered that 'twas beneath his
grace to take a lease of them. That was all one, he would
have it, payd for it, and had it, and freely and generously
gave it to his deare and ingcniose friend, Mr. Abraham
Cowley, for whom purposely he bought it.

He lies interred at Westminster Abbey, next to Sir
Jeffrey Chaucer, N., where the duke of Bucks has putt
a neate monument of white marble, viz. a faire pedestall,
wheron the inscription : —

Abrahamus Couleius,
Anglorum Pindarus, Flaccus, jMaro,
Deliciae, Decus, Desiderium aevi sui,
Hie juxta situs est.

Aurea dum volitant late tua scripta per orbem,
Et fama aeternum vivis, divine Poeta,
Hie placida jaceas requie ; custodiat urnam
Cana Fides, vigilentque perenni lampade Musae ;
Sit sacer iste locus. Nec quis temerarius ausit
Sacrilega turbare manu venerabile bustum.
Intacti maneant, maneant per secula, dulcis
Coulei cineres serventque iinmobile saxum.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. ii3\

" Subit. for ' to buy it.'

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Sic vovet,

Votumque suum apud posteros sacratum esse voluit, qui viro in-
comparabili posuit sepulcrale marmor, GEORGIUS dux BUCKING-
HAMIAE.

t His grace the Abraham Cowley excessit e vita anno aetatis suae 49 ;
hekra°tassen of honorifica pompa elatus ex Aedibus Bucking-
thepall. hamianis, viris t illustribus omnium ordinum exequias

celebrantibus, sepultus est die 3 mensis Augusti anno Domini 1667.

Above that a very faire urne, with a kind of ghirland of
ivy about it.

The inscription was made by Dr. (Thomas) Spratt, his
grace's chapellane : the Latin verses were made, or mended,
by Dr. (Thomas) Gale.

On his very noble gravestone, his scutcheon, and

Abrahamus Couleius
H. S. E.
1667.

Memorandum : — this George, duke of Bucks, came to the
earl of St. Albans and told him he would buy such a lease
in Chertsey belonging to the queen mother. Said the earle
to him, ' that is beneath your grace, to take a lease.' ' That
is all one,' qd. he, ' I desire to have the favour to buy it for
my money.' He bought it, and then freely bestowed it on
his beloved Cowley : which ought not to be forgotten.
By Sir J. Denham : —

Had Cowley ne're spoke, nor Th.'' Killigrew writt,
They'd both have made a (very) good witt.

— A. C. discoursed very ill and with hesitation.

He writ when a boy at Westminster . . . poems and
a comedy called Love's Riddle, dedicated to Sir Kenelme
Digby ; printed, London, . . ., 8vo.

* Abraham Cowley: — vide his will, scilicet, for his true
and lasting charity, that is, he settles his estate in such
a manner that every yeare so much is to be payd for the
enlarging of poor prisoners cast into gaole by cruel credi-
tors for some debt. This I had from Mr. Dunning of
London, a scrivener, who is an acquaintance of Dr. Cowley's

* i. e. Tom. * MS. Aubr. 6, a slip at fol. 113'.

Cradock. Robert Dalzell

191

brother. I doe thinke this memorable benefaction is not
mentioned in his life in print before his workes ; and it is
certainly the best method of charity.

Note.

' Aubrey notes that he was of ' Cambridge,' and gives in trick the coat : —
' . . . , a lion rampant . . . , within a bordure engrailed . . . ,' wreathed in
laurel.

. . . Cradock.

* Memorandum: — Mris Smyth* told me of one . . .
Cradock in the west (where Mris Smyth's relations or
birth) from a cratch dyed worth \ 0,000 li. — Quaere de hoc,
eg. (at) Taunton or Warminster.

William Croone (1633-1684).

** . . . Croun, M.D., obiit Sunday Oct. 12, 1684,
London; buried at St. Mildred's in the Poultry. His
funerall sermon is printed. He was fellow of the Physitians'
College and also Regiae Societatis Socius.

. . . Curtin .

*** Madam Curtin, a good fortune of 3000//., daughter
to Sir William Curtin. the great merchant, lately married
her footman, who, not long after marriage, beates her, getts
her money, and ran away.

Robert Dalzell, earl of Carnwarth (15.. -1654).

**** 'Twas the lord Kenwurth that sayd to the earl of
Salisbury Ken you an ape, sir, — from Elizabeth, countesse of
Thanet.

Note.

The Rev. H. E. D. Blakiston, of Trinity College, suggested to me the
transliteration of ' Kenwurth ' to ' Carnwarth.' Robert Dalzell succeeded as
second earl of Camwath in 1639, died 1654. He might be in conflict about
Scotch matters with William Cecil, second earl of Salisbury, commissioner to
treat with the Scots at Ripon, in 1640.

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 36.

" Jane Smyth, see sub nomine.

** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 5^

*** M.S. Aubr. 21, p. II.
*»** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 0\

192

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Sir Charles Danvers (1 568-1 60^).

* Sir Charles Danvers was beheaded on Tower-hill with
Robert, earle of Essex, February the 6th, t6co^. I find in
the register of the Tower chapell only the sepulture of
Robert, earl of Essex, that yeare ; wherfore I am induced
to beleeve that his body was carryed to Dantesey ^ in Wilts
to lye with his ancestors. Vide Stowe's Chronicle, where
is a full account of his and the earle s deportment at their
death on the scaffold.

With all their fa\-lings, Wilts cannot shew two such
brothers.

His familiar acquaintance were . . . " , earl of Oxon ;
Sir Francis and Sir Horace Vere ; Sir Walter Ralegh, etc. —
the heroes of those times.

Quaere my lady viscountesse Purbec and also the lord
Norris for an account of the behaviour and advice of Sir
Charles Danvers in the businesse of the earl of Essex, which
advice had the earle followed he had saved his life.

** Of Sir Charles Danvers, from my lady viscountesse
Purbec : — Sir Charles Danvers advised the earle of Essex,
either to treat with the queen — hostages .... whom Sir
Ferdinando Gorges did let goe ; or to make his way through
the gate at Essex house, and then to hast away to Highgate,
and so to Northumberland (the earl of Northumberland
maried his mother's sister), and from thence to the king of
Scots, and there they might make their peace ; if not, the
queen was old and could not live long. But the earle
followed not his advice, and so they both lost their heads
on Tower-hill.

JVoie.

' In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 46, Aubrey writes, in reference to burials at Dantesey,
' quaere, if Sir Charles DanYers that was beheaded ? — He was burj ed in the
Tower chapell.' Aubrey's description of the burial-place of the Danvers family
(MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 46'. vnth the inscriptions, is printed in J. E. Jackson's
Aubrey's Wiltshire Collections, pp. 223-225 ; the pedigree of Danvers is there
given at p. 216.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25'. and his brother Henrj', earl of Danby.
' i. e. 1605. ' Edward Vere, seventeenth earl of
•> Dupl. with ' shew the like two Oxford.

brothers,' scil. as Sir Charles Danvers ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 26''.

Elizabeth Danvers. Henry Danvers 193

Elizabeth Danvers.

* His ^ mother, an Italian, prodigious parts for a woman.
I have heard my father's mother say that she had Chaucer
at her fingers' ends.

A great pohtician ; great witt and spirit, but revengefull'^.

Knew how to manage her estate as well as any man ;
understood Jewells as well as any jeweller.

Very beautifull, but only short-sighted. To obtain
pardons for her sonnes she maryed Sir Edmund Carey,
cosen-german to queen Elizabeth, but kept him to hard
meate.

Smyth of Smythcotes — Naboth's vineyard — digitus Dei^.
The arcamnn— traditio lampadis ' in the family of
Latimer 3 of poysoning king Henry 8 — from my lady
Purbec.

' i. e. Henry, earl of Danby's. She was Elizabeth, daughter of John Nevill,
the last lord Latimer. ' An Italian ' may mean that she knew that language,
among her other accomplishments. I can make noihing of a note added by
Aubrey here, which seems to read ' . . . Cowley, crop-ear'd.'

" I do not know to what circumstance, in the history of the Danvers family,
Aubrey here applies i Kings xxi. 19.

^ Catherine Parr, last consort of Henry VHI, was widow of John, 3rd lord
Latimer ; and step-mother of John, 4th lord Latimer, the father of this
Elizabeth Danvers, whose grand-daughter (' viscountess Purbeck ') was Aubrey's
informant.

Henry Danvers, carl of Danby (1573-1644).

** Henry Danvers \ earl of Danby; vide his christning
and epitaph in libro- A. in Dantesey church : vide (David)
Lloyd's State-zvortJiies, 8vo, 1679.

Quaere my brother William, and J. Stokes, for the
examination order of the murther ^ at Cosham in North
Wilts. Old L. Shippon, Oxon,

R. Wisdome was then lecturer and preacht that day, and
Henry Long expired in his armes. My great-grandfather,

Notes,

' From Turke and Pope,' etc.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25 .

" Aubrey, in the margin, notes

^ For the murder of Henry Long.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25.
' Dupl. with ' dyed.'

' Anne BuUeyn.'
I.

O

194

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

R. Danvers, was in some trouble about it, his horses and
men being in that action. His servants were hanged and
so . . . Long of Linets. Vide Degory Wheare's Epistles
and John Owen's Epigrams.

Physick Garden (at Oxford) : inscriptions there ; in-
scription at Dantesey.

(He) gave to Sir Thomas Overbury cloath.

(He) perfected his Latin when a man by parson Old-
ham of Dodmerton. (He was a) perfect master of the
French; a historian; tall and spare: temperate; sedate
and solid ; a very great favorite of prince Henry ; lived
most at Cornbury ; a great improver of his estate, to
iioco //. per annum at the least ; sold the 7 Downes, and
turned the* (a) into lease; afterwards bought fee-simple
neer Cirencester.

* Henry, earl of Danby, (was a) great oeconomist. All
his servants (were) sober and wise** in their respective
places. (He) kept . . . gentlemen: (among them) colonel
Legge (governor of Portsmouth) ; and his brother ; Mr.
Arthur Drake (brother of Sir . . . Drake, baronet).

** Earl of Danby — he was page to Sir Philip Sydney —
from my cozen Elizabeth Villers : quaere -f- .

*** Memorandum : — anno Domini, 16 — . regno regis
Caroli primi, Henry, earle of Danby, built an almeshowse in
this parish (Dantesey, co. Wilts) for (six) poore people
and ^ a schoole — quaere the salary * of both.

A'otes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' (gnles), a che\Ton between 3 mullets
^or) [Danby] ; quartering, (gules), a saltire engrailed (argent), an annulet for
difference [Nevill, lord Latimer],' surmounted by an earl's coronet.

" i. e. in MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 46 : set supra, p. 192. The epitaph contains English
verses by George Herbert.

^ Henry, brother of Sir Robert, Long was killed, possibly in fair fight, by
Sir Charle-, brother of this Henr}', Danvers : see the Archaeological Magazine,
i. 306. In consequence, the Danvers brothers had to seek safety in France. In
MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 44', Aubrey notes ' Sommerford magna — the assassination of

° This symbol I cannot explain.
* MS. Aubr. 8, fol.

Dupl. with ' discreet.'
" George Legge, created (1682)

lord Dartmouth.

** MS. Aubr. 3, fol 46.

*** MS. Aiibr. 3, fol. 44'.

^ Over the almshouse : ibid. fol. 45.

Sir John Danvers

195

Hany Long was contrived in the parlour of the parsonage here. Mr. Atwood
was then parson ; he was drown'd comeing home.'

Richard Atwood, M.A. Oxon, 1576 ; another instance of Digitus Dei.'

' See Jackson's Aubrey's Wiltshire Collections, p. 228.

* Sir John Danvers, the father, (was) a most beauti-
ful! and good and even-tempered person. His picture
(is) yet extant — my cosen John Danvers (his son'^) haz
it at ... . Memorandum, George Herbert's verses on the
curtaine.

He was of a mild and peaceable nature, and his sonnes'
sad accident brake his heart.

** By the same" (orator of the University of Cam-
bridge), pinned on the curtaine of the picture of old
Sir John Danvers, who was both a handsome and a good
man : —

Passe not by : search and you may

Find a treasure worth your stay.

What makes a Danvers would you find ?

In a faire bodie, a faire mind.

Sir John Danvers' earthly part

Here is copyed out by art :

But his heavenly and divine

In his progenie doth shine.

Had he only brought them forth,

Know that much had been his worth.

Ther's no monument to a sonne :

Reade him there ^, and I have donne.

Sir John Danvers (1588 ?-i655).

*** Sir John Danvers : — His first wife was the lady ( Mag-
dalen) Herbert, a widowe, mother of the lord Edward

Sir John Danvers (15.. -1 594).

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25'.
" Grandson.

•* Their flight, after the murder of

Herbert's verses on the gravestone of
Henry Danvers.

Henry Long.

** MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 46.

* George Herbert. This note follows

i. e. in his son, Henry, earl of
Danby.

*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. i8^

O %

196 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Herbert of Cherbery and George Herbert, orator. By her
he had no issue ; she was old enough to have been his
mother. He maried her for love of her witt. The earl
of Danby * was greatly displeased with him for this dis-
agreable match.

* Sir John, his sonne, was then'' a child about six. An
ingeniose person, e. g. Chelsey house and garden, and
Lavington garden ^. A great friend of the king's partie
and a patron to distressed and cashiered cavaliers, e. g.
captain Gunter, he served ; Christopher Gibbons (organist);
captain Peters, etc. — Lord Bacon's friend. But to revenge
himselfe of his sister, the l(ady) Garg(rave) to ingra-
tiate himself more with the P(rotector> to null his brother,
earl of Danby 's, will, he, contrary to his owne naturall
inclination, did sitt in the high court of justice at the
king's triall.

Dantesey (2500//. per annum), not entailed, (was)
forfeited and given to the duke of Yorke.

His son. John, by his last wife ((Grace) Hughes), has
500//. per annum (old land) in Oxonshire, which was part
of judge® Danvers' estate tempore Edwardi IV, one of the
judges with Litleton.

Henry, the eldest son of Sir John Danvers, dyed before
his father, and left his two sisters co-heires, viz. Elizabeth ^
(who) married Robert Viliers (only son of viscount Purbec),
and Anne, married to Sir (Henry) Lee of Ditchley.

The Danvers-Villiers family.

(MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 97, gives 'eight coelestiall schemes', being the
nativities of Robert Danvers, esq. (that is, Robert Viliers, son of
the viscount Purbec^), the lady Elizabeth his wife, and their six
children, vid*. foure daughters and two sonnes, diligently calculated

* His elder brother.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25'.

** i. e. at the time of his father's
death, supra, p. 195.

' i. e. the arrangement of these
jjardens proved his good taste.

Dupl. with'tocoUoguewiththeP.'

* Sir Robert Danvers, justice of the

Common Pleas, 1450 ; Sir Thomas
Littelton (the jurist), justice of the
Common Pleas, 1 466.

' This is the ' Elizabeth, viscountess
Purbeck,' who so frequently appears
in these biographies as an informant
of Aubrey.

The Danvers-Villiers family 197

according to art by the Tables of Regiomontanus by W. C This
paper supplies the following dates : — )

* Robert Danvers^, esq., in. the lady Danvers*, born

Mris Frances Danvers, born Friday 12 July 1650, o''
16' P.M.

Mris Elizabeth Danvers, born Monday lo November
1651, 10'' 21' P.M.

Mris Ann Danvers, born Sunday 23 October 1653,
5'' 10' A.M.

Mris Mary Danvers, born Saturday lo November 1655,
7'' 28' A.M.

Mr. Robert Danvers, born Saturday 14 Martii 165?,
30' A.M.

Mr. Edward Danvers, born Thursday 28 Martii 1661,
4'* 9' A.M.

** Memorandum, 1676, July 19, P.M., about 6^ my
lord viscount (Robert) Purbec, filius, was hurt in the neck
by Mr. Fielding* in Fleet Street.

(Ask Elizabeth, viscountess Purbec) the year and day
when her son, the lord Purbfec, was killed in a duel at
Liege ? Respondet : he was killed in a duell at Liege
about a year before the death of King Charles II — I thinke
in the month of Aprill.

' In MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 97", is a note : — ' These,' I suppose the schemes given
on the recto of the leaf, ' were done when he,' Robert Danvers, ' was in Caers-
brooke Castle, prisoner, in the Isle of Wight.'

' In MS. Aubr. 23, on a slip at fol. 121^, is the note :■ — ' Lord . . . Purbec,'
i. e. John Villiers, created viscount Purbeck in 1619, ' natus at Godbee, Sept. 6,
12'' P.M., 1591 : melancholy. His mother saith he was borne Sept. 6, Monday,
P.M., 1591. Mris Toman writeth that it was 2*' 30' P.M.'

' Robert Wright (took the name of Danvers), son of Frances (daughter of
.Sir Edward Coke; wife of John Villiers, of note 2) who eloped in 1621 with
Sir Robert Howard. He styled himself ' viscount Purbeck'; died 1675.

' Robert Fielding (' Beau ' Fielding) afterwards married his widow, Margaret,
daughter of Ulick Burke, marquis of Clanricarde.

born 19 Oct., 1624,
1 1*" 48' P.M.

Tuesday, 7 Aprill, 1629,
^ 26' P.M.

N'otes.

* MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 97. " Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Danvers, ut supra.
** MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 97'.

198

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Michael Dary (16..-] 679).

* Michaell Dary, mathematician^ and a gunner of the
Tower (by profession, a tobacco-cutter), an admirable
algebrician, was buryed in the churchyard neer Bethlem
on May-day 1679. With writing in the frostie weather'*
his fingers rotted and gangraened. He was an old man ;
I guesse about 66 -i- .

Edward Davenant, merchant (15 ..-16..).
** Edward Davenant, merchant : he lies buried behind
the bishop's stall at Sarum with this inscription^: —
Literas, lyceo, rerumque usus, emporio, etc.

*** Memorandum: — Mr. (Edward) Davenant, merchant
in London, eldest brother of John Davenant, bishop of
Sarum, broke (the seas being crosse to him) ; but being
a person of great estimation with the merchants, they
favoured him, and he went into Ireland. He did set up
the trade of pilchard fishing at Wythy Island there, where
he was a Justice of Peace, and in 20 yeares he gott there
about ten thousand pounds, payd his debts, and left his
family well. This account I had from my worthy and
intimate friend, Mr. John Davenant, grandsonne to him.

Edward Davenant, D.D. (16.. -16;^).

**** Edward Davenant \ S. Theol. Dr., was the eldest
son of (Edward) Davenant, merchant of London, who
was elder brother to the right reverend father in God,
the learned John Davenant, bishop of Sarum.

I will first speake of the father, for he was a rare ^ man
in his time, and deserves to be remembred. He was of
a healthy complexion rose at 4 or 5 in the morning, so

* MS. Anbr. 6, fol. i\ *** MS. Aubr. 26, p. 16.

" The winter of 1678-79 was a Whiddy Island, in Bantry Bay.

severe one : Clark's Wood's Life and **** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 43.
Titnes, ii. 426, 432, 439. Subst. for ' an incomparable.'

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 45. » There followed '(except the gout),'

Omitted here, because given, scored out.
p. 199, from fol. 43.

Edward Davenant

199

that he followed his studies till 6 or 7, the time that other
merchants goe about their businesse ; so that, stealing so
much and so quiet time in the morning, he studied as
much as most men. He understood Greeke and Latin
perfectly, and was a better Grecian then the bishop. He
writt a rare Greeke character as ever I sawe. He was
a great mathematician, and understood as much of it as
was knowen in his time. Dr. Davenant, his son, hath
excellent notes of his father's, in mathematiques, as also
in Greeke, and 'twas no small advantage (to) him to have
such a learned father to imbue arithmeticall knowledge
into him when a . boy, night times when he came from
schoole (Merchant Taylors'). He understood trade very
well, was a sober and good menager, but the winds and
seas cross'd him. He had so great losses that he broke,
but his creditors knowing it was no fault of his, and also
that he was a person of great vertue and justice, used not
extremity towards him ; but I thinke gave him more
credit, so that he went into Ireland, and did sett up
a fishery for pilchards at Wythy Island, in Ireland, where
in . . . yeares he gott icooo//. ; satisfied and payd his
creditors ; and over and above left a good estate to his
son. His picture bespeakes him to be a man of judgement,
and parts, and gravity extraordinary. There is written
Expecto. He slipt comeing downe the stone stay res at
the palace at Sarum, which bruise caused his death. He
lyes buried in the south aissle of the choire in Sarum
Cathedral behind the bishop's stall. His son, Dr. Davenant,
sett up and made this inscription for him, which I will
remember as well as I can : —

Literas, lyceo, rerumque usus, emporio,
Nostris edoctus, ingentis hinc prudentiae
Extulit merces insulas ad Hibernicas;
Ubi annos viginti custos pacis publicae
Populum ditavit inopem, emollivit ferum,
Gratus et charus Anglis et Hibernicis.
Musis dilectus Latiis, nec minus Atticis,
Studiisque fratiem, hujus ecclesiac praesulem,

200

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

Sequebatur aemulus. Omnes in illius pectore
Fulserunt Gratiae, sed praenituit Pietas,
Quae in egenos tantum non fuit prodiga.
Post varies casus, in vitae actu ultimo
Cum luctu * bonorum, plausu omnium, exiit.
Quid multis ? Scias hoc, lector : vivus memoria
Pollebat mira, mortuus redolet suavi.

Aetatis suae . . .
Aerae Christianae . . .

Obiit anno

* Dr. Edward Davenant was borne at his father's
hovvse at Croydon in Surrey (the farthest handsome great
howse on the left hand as you ride to Bansted Downes)
anno Domini . . . (vide register). I have heard him say,
he thankt God his father did not know the houre of his
birth ; for that it would have tempted him to have studyed
astrologie, for which he had no esteeme at all.

He went to school at Merchant Taylors' school, from
thence to Queen's CoUedge in Cambridge, of which house
his uncle, John Davenant, (afterwards bishop of Sarum),
was head, where he was fellowe.

When his uncle was preferred to the church of Sarum,
he made his nephew treasurer of the church, which is the
best dignity, and gave him the vicaridge of Gillingham
in com. Dorset, and then Paulsholt parsonage, neer the
Devises, which last in the late troubles he resigned to his
wive's brother (William) Grove.

He was to his dyeing day of great diligence in study,
well versed in all kinds of learning, but his genius did
most strongly encline him to the mathematiques, wherin
he has written (in a hand as legible as print) MSS. in 4to
a foot high at least. I have often heard him say (jestingly)
that he would have a man knockt in the head that should
write any thing in mathematiques that had been written
of before. I have heard Sir Christopher Wren say that he
does beleeve he was the best mathematician in the world
about 30 or 35 + yeares agoe. But being a divine he was

* ' Luctu ' in the copy on fol. 43 ; ' dolore,' in the copy on fol. 45.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 43*. Dupl. with ' where he profited very well.'

Edzvard Davenant

201

unwilling to print, because the world should not know how
he had spent the greatest part of his time.

He very rarely went any farther then the church, which
is hard by his house. His wife was a very discreet and
excellent huswife, that he troubled himselfe about no
mundane affaires, and 'tis a private place, that he was but
little diverted with visitts,

I have writt to his executor, that we may have the
honour and favour to conserve his MSS. in the Library
of the Royal Societie, and to print what is fitt. I hope
I shall obtaine my desire. And the bishop of Exon
((Thomas) Lamplugh) maried the Dr's second daughter
Katherine. and he was tutor to Sir Joseph Williamson,
our President. He had a noble library, which was the
aggregate of his father s, the bishop's, and his owne.

He was of middling stature, something spare ; and
weake, feeble leggs ; he had sometimes the goute; was
of great temperance, he alwayes dranke his beer at meales
with a toast, winter and summer, and sayd it made the
beer the better.

He was not only a man of vast learning, but of great
goodnes and charity ; the parish and all his friends will have
a great losse in him. He tooke no use for money upon
bond. He was my singular good friend, and to whom
I have been more beholding then to any one beside ; for
I borrowed fave hundred pounds of him for a yeare and
a halfe, and I could not fasten any interest on him.

He was very ready to teach and instruct. He did *
me the favour to informe me first in Algebra. His
daughters were Algebrists.

His most familiar learned acquaintance was Lancelot
Morehouse, parson of Pertwood. I remember when I was
a young Oxford scholar, that he could not endure to hearc
of the Nnv (Cartesian, or &c.) Philosophy ; ' for,' sayd he,
'if a new philosophy is brought-in, a new divinity will
shortly follow ' (or 'come next ') ; and he was right.

He dyed at his house at Gillingham aforesaid, where he

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 44.

202

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

and his predecessor, Dr. (John) Jessop, had been vicars
one hundred and . . . yeares, and lyes buryed in the
chancell there. Obiit March 9th, i6|^§, and was buried the
31 of the same month.

He was heire to his uncle, John Davenant, bishop of
Sarum. Memorandum: — when bishop Coldwell" came to
this bishoprick, he did lett long leases, which were but
newly expired when bishop Davenant came to this sea ;
so that there tumbled into his coffers vast summes. His
predecessor, Dr. Tounson, maried his sister, continued in
the see but a little while, and left severall children un-
provided for, so the king or rather duke of Bucks gave
bishop Davenant the bishoprick out of pure charity ^.
Sir Anthony Weldon sayes (in his Court of King Jaincs),
'twas the only bishoprick that he disposed of without
symony, all others being made merchandise of for the
advancement of his kindred. Bishop Davenant being
invested, maried all his nieces to clergie-men, so he was
at no expence for their preferment. He granted to his
nephew (this Dr.) the lease of the great mannour of
Poterne, worth about 1000 //. per annum ; made him
threasurer of the church of Sarum, of which the corps is
the parsonage of Calne, which was esteemed to be of the
like value. He made severall purchases, all which he
left him ; insomuch as the churchmen of Sarum say, that
he gained more by this church then ever any man did by
the church since the Reformation, and take it very
unkindly that, at his death, he left nothing (or but 50 //.)
to that church which was the source of his estate.
How it happened I know not, or how he might be
workt-on in his old age, but I have heard severall yeares
since, he had sett downe 500 li. in will for the Cathedral
Church of Sarum.

He had 6 sonnes and 4 daughters. There was a good
schoole at Gillingham : at winter nights he taught his
sonnes Arithmetic and Geometric ; his 2 eldest daughters,
especially Mris Ettrick, was a notable Algebrist.

Mcnioria. He had an excellent way of improving

John Daveiiant

203

his children's memories, which was thus : he would make
one of them read a chapter or &c , and then they were
{snr le cJiamp) to repeate what they remembred, which did
exceedingly profitt them ; and so for sermons, he did not
let them write notes (which jaded their memorie), but
gave an account viva voce. When his eldest son, John,
came to Winton-schoole (where the boyes were enjoyned
to write sermon notes) he had not wrote ; the master askt
him for his notes — he had none, but sayd, ' If I doe not
give you as good an account of it as they that doe, I am
much mistaken.'

* Edward Davenant, D.D., obiit 12 of March i6|^^,
and is seated in the north side of the east end of the
chancell at Gillingham, Dorset. — From Anthony Ettrick,
esq.

** By Dr. Edward Davenant, S.T.P., Versus mnc-
monici ad coviputatioiics cossicas. Memorandum : — Dr.
Davenant hath excellent explanations of these verses,
which transcribe : his son James *, at Oriel College Oxon,
hath them.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' gules, between 9 cross-crosslets fitchee
or, 3 escallops ermine [Davenant].'

''■ John Coldwell was consecrated Dec. 26, 1591, and died Oct. 14, 1596.

' Robert Tounson, consecrated July 9, 1620, died May 15, 1621, leaving
a widow and fifteen children. The conge d'elire on behalf of Davenant was
issued May 29, 1621.

* James Davenant, matric. at Oriel, July 23, 1656.

John Davenant (1576-1641).

*** John Davenant, episcopus Sarum : his epitaph made
by bishop Pierson \

He bought the advowson of Newton-tony, Wilts, which
he gave to Quecne's College '', Cambridge — quaere if not
others.

He hung the choire of Sarum with purple velvet, which
was plundered in the sacrilegious times.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 8\
** MS. Aubr. 10, fol. 31.
*** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 44'.

" John Pearson, bishop of Chester
1672-86.

Of which he had been President.

204

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Sir William Davenant (i6of-i668).

* Sir William Davenant \ knight, Poet Laureate, was
borne [about ^ the end of February — vide A. Wood's
Aittiq. Oxon. — baptized 3 of March A.D. i6o|], in . . .
street in the city of Oxford at the Crowne taverne.
t Robert ^ was a His father was John Davenant, a vintner

fellow of St. , 1 • • • 1 •

John's College there, a very grave and discreet citizen : his

in Oxon: then t t n t c

preferred to the mothcr was a vcry beautituJl woman, and 01 a

parsonage of

West Kington Very good witt, and of conversation extremely

by bishop <

Davenant, agfcable. T licy had three sons, viz. i, Robert t ,

whose chaplaine ,

he was. 2, William ; and 3, Nicholas (an attorney) : and

two handsome daughters, one married to Gabriel Bridges
(B.D., fellow of C. C. Coll., beneficed in the Vale of White
Horse), another to Dr. (William) Sherburne (minister of
Pembridge in Hereford, and a canon of that church).

Mr. William Shakespeare was wont togoe into Warwick-
shire once a yeare, and did commonly in his journey lye
at this house in Oxon. where he was exceedingly respected.
[I'' have heard parson Robert (Davenant) say that
Mr. W. Shakespeare haz given him a hundred kisses.] Now
Sir William would sometimes, when he was pleasant over
a glasse of wine with his most intimate friends — e. g. Sam.
Butler (author of Hudibras), &c. — say, that it seemed to
him that he writt with the very spirit that Shakespeare,
and seemd ® contented ^ enough to be thought his son.
[He^ would tell them the story as above, in which way
his mother had a very light report"^.]

He went to schoole at Oxon to Mr. Sylvester (Charles
Whear, filius Degorii W., was his schoolefellowe), but I feare
he was drawne from schoole before he was ripe enough.

* M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 46.

" The words here put in square
brackets are a later insertion : the first
clause is scored out.

Subst. for ' Robert was vicar of
West Kington, chaplain to bishop
Davenant.'

" Aubrey adds ' vide p. 79 (Suck-
ling)'; i.e. fol. 110 of this MS. Aubr. 6,

in the life of Sir John Suckling infra.

The words in square brackets are
scored out.

® Dupl. with ' was.'
' ' Contentended ' in MS.
5 The words in square brackets are
scored out.

Dupl. with ' whereby she was
called a whore ' : also scored out.

Sir William Davenant

205

He was preferred to the first dutches of Richmond to
wayte on her as a page. I remember he told me, she
sent him to a famous apothecary for some Unicornes-horne,
which he was resolved to try with a spider which he
incircled* in it, but without the expected successe ; the
spider would goe over, and thorough and thorough, uncon-
cerned.

He was next a servant (as I remember, a page also)
to Sir Fulke Grevil lord Brookes, with whom he lived to
his death, which was that a servant of his (that had long
wayted on him and his lordship had often told him that
he would doe something for him, but did not but still putt
him off with delayes) as he was trussing up his lord's
pointes comeinge from stoole (for then their breeches were
fastned to the doubletts with points — then came in hookes
and eies — which not to have fastened was in my boy-hood
a great crime) stabbed him. This was at the same time
that the duke of Buckingham was stabbed by Felton, and
the great noise and report of the duke's, Sir William told
me, quite drowned this of his lord's, that 'twas scarce taken
notice of. This Sir Fulke G. was a good witt, and had
been a good poet " in his youth. He wrote a poeme in
folio which he printed not till he was old, and then, (as
Sir W. said) with too much judgment and refining, spoyld
it, which was at first a delicate thing.

He writt a play or playes, and verses, which he did with
so much sweetnesse and grace, that by it he got the love
and friendship of his two Mecaenasses, Mr. Endymion
Porter, and Mr. Henry Jermyn (since earl of St. Albans),
to whom he has dedicated his poem called Madegascar.
Sir John Suckling also was his great and intimate friend.

After the death of Ben Johnson he was made in his
place Poet Laureat.

He gott a terrible clap of a black handsome wench that
lay in Axe-yard, Westminster, whom he thought on when

* Dupl. with ' empaled.'

■> Anthony Wood notes in the margin ' Grevill, lord Brookes.'
<= Wood notes in the margin, ' Sir Fulk Grevill, poet.'

2o6

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

he speakes of Dalga in Gondibert, which cost him his nose,
with which unlucky mischance many witts were to(o)
cruelly bold : e. g. Sir John Menis, Sir John Denham, &c.

* In 1 641, when the troubles began, he was faine to
fly into France, and at Canterbury he was seised on by
the mayor — vide Sir John Menis' verses —

' For Will had in his face the flawes
And markes recieved in countrey's cause :
They flew on him like lyons passant,
And tore his nose as much as was on't,
And call'd him superstitious groome,
And Popish Dog, and Cur of Rome.

'Twas surely the first time

That Will's religion was a crime.'

In the civill warres in England he was in the army of
William, marquess of Newcastle (since duke), where he was
generall of the ordinance. I have heard his brother Robert
say, for that service there was owing to him by King
Charles the First loooc/z. During that warre, 'twas his hap
to have two aldermen of Yorke his prisoners, who were
something stubborne, and would not give the ransome
ordered by the councell of warr. Sir William used them
civilly, and treated them in his tent, and sate them at the
upper end of his table a la mode de France, and having
donne so a good while to his chardge. told them (privately
and friendly) that he was not able to keepe so chargeable
guests, and bad them take an opportunity to escape, which
they did ; but having been gon a little way they considered
with themselves that in gratitude they ought to goe back
and give Sir William their thankes ; which they did, but it
was like to have been to their great danger of being taken
by the soldiers ; but they happened to gett safe to Yorke.

The King's party being overcome, Sir William Davenant
(who received the honour of knighthood from the duke
of Newcastle by commision) went into France ; resided

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 46''.

Sir IVilliam Davenant 207

chiefly in Paris where the Prince of Wales then was. He
then began to write his romance in verse, called Gondibert,
and had not writt above the first booke, but being very
fond of it, prints it (before a quarter finished), with an
epistle of his to Mr. Thomas Hobbes and Mr. Hobbes'
excellent epistle to him printed before it. The courtiers
with the Prince of Wales could never be at quiet about
this piece, which was the occasion of a very witty but
satericall little booke of verses in Hvo. about 4 sheetes, writt
by George, duke of Buckes, Sir John Denham, etc. —

' That thou forsak'st thy sleepe, thy diet,
And which is more then that, otir quiets

This last word Mr. Hobs told me was the occasion of
their writing.

Here he layd an ingeniose designe to carry a consider-
able number of artificers (chiefly weavers) from hence to
Virginia ; and by Mary the queen-mother's meanes, he
got favour from the king of France to goe into the prisons
and pick and choose. So when the poor dammed wretches
understood what the designe was, the(y) cryed Jino ore —
' Tout tisseran i. e. We are all weavers! Will, (took) 36,
as I remember, if not * more, and shipped them ; and *
as he was in his voyage towards Virginia, he and his
tisseran were all taken by the shippes then belonging
to the Parliament of England. The slaves I suppose
they sold, but Sir William was brought prisoner to
England. Whither he was first a prisoner at Cares-
broke-castle in the Isle of Wight, or at the Tower of
London, I have forgott : he was a prisoner at both. His
Gondibert, 4to, was finished at Caresbroke-castle. He
expected no mercy from the Parliament, and had no hopes
of escaping (with) his life. It pleased God that the two
aldermen of Yorke aforesayd hearing that he was taken
and brought to London to be tryed for his life, which
they understood was in extreme danger, they were
touch(cd) with so much generosity and goodnes, as,

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 47. " Subsf. for ' and went with them.'

2o8

Atlbj'ey's 'Brief Lives'

Martvn that
saver! Sir
William
Davenant's life
in the Howse. —
When they \i ere
talking of
sacrificing one,
then said Henry
that ' in
sacrifices they
always offered
pure and
without blemish :
now yee talke
of making a
sacrifice of an
old rotten
rascall." Vide
H. Martj-n's
Life, where by
this very jest,
then * forgot, the
lord Falkland
saved H.
Martyn's Life.

upon their owne accounts and meer motion, to txry what
+ 'TwasHarr)- they could to savc Sir WilHam's life who had
been so civill to them and a meanes to save
theirs, to come to London : and acquainting
the ParHament with it, upon their petition, etc.,
Sir Wilham's life was savedf.

Being freed from imprisonment, (because
playes, scil. Tragedies and Comoedies, were
in those Presbyterian times scandalous) he
contrives to set-up an Opera stylo recitativo,
wherein serjeant Maynard and severall citizens
were engagers. It began at Rutland-house, in
Charter-house-yard ; next, (scil. anno . . . ) at
the Cock-pitt in Drury-lane. where were acted
very well stylo recitativo. Sir Francis Drake s
. . ., and t/te Siege of Rhodes ( ist and ad part). It did affect
the eie and eare extremely. This first brought scenes in
fashion in England ; before, at playes, was only a hanging.
Anno Domini 1660 was the happy restauration of his

majestic Charles II. Then was Sir \Vm. made

; and the Tennis court in Little Lincolnes-

Inne fielde was turn'd into a play-house for the duke of
Yorke's players, where Sir William had lodgeings, and
where he dyed, April the <7th> i66<8> j.

I was at his funerall. He had a coffin of
walnutt-tree ; Sir'' John Denham sayd 'twas
the finest coffin that ever he sawe. * His
carried in a herse from the play-house to
Westminster-Abbey, where, at the great west dore, he was
recieved by the sing(ing) men and choristers,
who sang the service of the church (' I am the
Resurrection, &c.') to his § grave, which is in
the south crosse aisle, on which, on a paving

Robert Morav , , . ..... r ^

lies by him; but stouc of marble, IS wntt, m imitation 01 that on
tion. ^ Ben Johnson, 'O rare Sir Will. Davenant!

J It is now a
Tennis court
again, upon the
building of the
duke's house in
Dorset garden.

body was

§ Which is neer
to the monument
of Dr. Isaac
Barrow. —
Memorandum :
— my honoured
friend Sir

His first lady was Dr.

's daughter, physitian,

* Snbst. for ' then almost forgot.'
" Subst. for ' the best coffin they sayd that.' * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 47'.

John Davenport 209

.... by whom he had a very beautiful! and ingeniose
son that dyed above 20 yeares since. His 2d lady was
the daughter of ... by whom he had severall children :
I sawe some very young ones at the funeral!. Jlis eldest
is Charles Davenant, LL.Dr., who inherits his father's beauty
and phancy ^ He practises at Doctors Commons. He
writt a play called Circe, which haz taken very well.

Sir William hath writt about 25 (quaere) playes ; the
romance called Gondibcrt \ and a little poeme called J/^z<!/rt-
gascar.

His private opinion was that Religion at last, — e.g.
a hundred yeares hence, — would come to settlement, and
that in a kind of ingeniose Quakerisme.

* That sweet swan of Isis, Sir William Davenant, dyed
the seaventh day of April last, and lyes buried amongst
the poets in Westminster abbey ^ by his antagonist,
Mr. Thomas May, whose inscription of whose marble was
taken away by order since the king came in.

Sir William was Poet Laureat ; and Mr. John Dryden
hath his place. But me thought it had been proper that
a laurell should have been sett on his coffin — which was
not donne.

He hath writt above 20 playes ; besides his Gondibert
and Madagascar. ^

' Aubrey gives in trick the Davenant coat, nt supra, p. 203, but wreathed in
laurel : see the facsimile at the end of vol. iv. of Clark's Wood's Life and
Times.

John Davenport (i597~i6?^)'
** Sir John Dugdale told me that he would enquire

about Mr. John Davenport, and send to you. — This was

halfe a yeare since, at least.

*** Sir John Dugdale saith that John Davenport was

a nonconformist ; and he hath enquired of his relations,

" Subst. for 'spirit.' chapel, quaere.'

* Letter from Aubrey to Anthony ** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 9' : a memo.
Wood, of date May 19, 1668; MS. intended for Anthony Wood.

Wood F. 39, fol. 118. *** Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.

Wood queries: — 'in S. Bennet 390: July 15, 1689.

I. P

2IO Aubrey's * Brief Lives'

who know nothing of him. if dead or alive, but they beheve
he is dead. He went over sea — he thinkes to the Bar-
badoes, or some of these plantations*, or to Holland.

John Davys (1550-1605).
* Memorandum : — Mr. Browne, the mathematicall in-
strument maker of the Minories, told me that the sea-
quadrant was invented by Captaine Davy . . . yeares
since, — he that found out the streights called Davys's
Streights.

Arthur Dee (i 579-1651).

** ' Arthur Dee,' (sonne of John Dee), a physitian at
Norwych, 'was born 13 Julii 1579, mane, hora 4. 30' fere
(vel potius, 25 min.) in ipso ortu solis, ut existimo' — Thus
I find it in his father's Epkemerides.

Obiit Norwychi about 1650.

*** (Arthur Dee told Dr. Bathurst and Dr. Wharton)
t Mrs. Dee, 'that (being but a boy) he usedf to play at
MnRowilnd" quoits with the plates of gold made by pro-
Mher'iayThVt''" jcction in the garret of Dr. Dee's lodgings in
Pa'th^often'tSd" Prague. . . . When he was 9 yeares of age and
her the same. Trebona in Germany with his father, he was
design'd to succede Kelly as his father's speculator.'

**** (Arthur Dee) 'has often told Mr. Whitefoot, of
Norwich, who buried him, that he had more than once seen
the philosopher's stone, and he thinks that he has written
some peice on that subject. He was a man of a very
pleasant conversation and had good practice in Norwich :
a great acquaintance of Dr. (Thomas) Browne's.'

John Dee (1527-1608).
***** John Dee: — Mr. Ashmole hath his nativitie.
Resp.^ — 'tis in his Tlieatrian Clumicum. Hee had a very

" Davenport was pastor at New- *** In a letter from Elias Ashmole to

haven in New England. Anthony Wood: MS.Ballardi4,fol.l3.

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 18'. **** In a letter from Dr. John

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 37: also ver- Conant to Anthony Wood, 1683; MS.

batim from the Ephemeiules Stadii, \\ ood F. 49, fol. loi.

in MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 77. ***** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. (i\

John Dee

211

faire cleare rosie complexion : so had the earl of Rochester,
exceeding.

* 'Johannes Dee, natus Londini, 1,527, Julii 13, 4'' 2'
P.M.' — this nativity ^ I copied out of the learned John
lOee's papers in the hands of Elias Ashmole, esq.

** From Elias Ashmole — the father of this John Dee
was a vintner in . . . London.

*** John Dee — from Meredith Lloyd : — Talbot, marying
an inheritresse of the prince of South Wales (who was
descended from Howel Da, i. e. Howelus bonus : the same
family from whom John Dee was descended). — Dr. Trout-
bec hath Raymund LuUy's ... (a chymical tract) with
John Dee's marginall notes.

**** I left about 1674, with Mr. Elias Ashmole, 3 pages
in folio concerning him ^.

Memorandum : — Mr. Meredith Lloyd tells me that his
t J. Dee's father was Roland Dee^, a Radnorshire gen-
vlmneHn^ ^ tlcmau f, and that he hath his pedegree, which
s^gne o"f ^".''tn hc hath promiscd to lend to me. He was
Elias As'iimoie, dcsccndcd from Rees, prince of South Wales,
u fronA'is ''^'^ My great-grandfather, William Aubrey
%^tT™^ (LL.Dr.), and he were cosins, and intimate
Arthur). acquaintance. Mr. Ashmole hath letters between

them, under their owne hands, viz. one of Dr. W. A.
to him'' (ingeniosely and learnedly written) touching the
Sovraignty of the Sea, of which J. D. writt a booke which
he dedicated to queen Elizabeth and desired my great
grandfather's advice upon it. Dr. A.'s countrcy-house was
at Kew, and J. Dee lived at Mortlack, not a mile distant.
I have heard my grandmother say they were often together.

Arthur Dee, M.D., his son, lived and practised at Nor-
wich, an intimate friend of Sir Thomas Browne, M.D.,
who told me that Sir William Boswell, the Dutch ambas-
sador, had all John Dee's MSS. : quaere his executors
for his papers. He ^ lived then somewhere in Kent.

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 78. **** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 37.

** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 77\ » See supra, pp. 61-65.

*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9'. ^ Sir William Boswell.

P 2

212

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

Memorandum : — Sir William Boswell's widowe lives at
Rradburne, neer Swynoke, in Kent. Memorandum: — Mr.
Hake, of the Physitians' Colledge, hath a i\IS. of Mr. John
Dee s, which see or gett.

Quaere A. Wood for the MSS. in the Bodlean librar\- of
Doctor Gwyn, w herein are severall letters between him
and John Dee, and Doctor Davies, of chymistrey and of
magicall secrets, which my worthy friend Mr. Meredith
Lloyd hath seen and read : and he tells me that he haz
been told that Dr. Barlowe gave it to the Prince of
Tuscany''.

Meredith Lloyd sayes that John Dee's printed booke of
Spirits, is not above the third part of what was writt,
which were in Sir Robert Cottons library ; many whereof
were much perished by being buryed, and Sir Robert
Cotton bought the field to digge after it.

Memorandum : — he told me of John Dee, etc., conjuring
t Vide Almanac, at a poolef in Brccknockshirc. and that they

about the poole

in Brecon. found a wcdgc of gold ; and that they were
troubled and indicted as conjurers at the assizes ; that a
mighty storme and tempest wa.s raysed in harvest time,
the countrey people had not knowen the like.

His picture in a wooden cutt is at the end of Billingsley's
Euclid, but Mr. Elias Ashmole hath a very good painted
copie of him from his sonne Arthur. He had a very fair,
clear complexione (as Sir Henry Savile) ; a long beard
as white as milke. A very handsome man.

Investigatio cinerum A
Old goodwife Faldo^ (a natif of Mortlak in Surrey),
So + aetatis (1672*^), did know Dr. Dee, and told me he
dyed at his howse in Mortlack. next to the howse where
the tapistry hangings are made, viz. west of that howse ;
and that he dyed about 60 + , 8 or 9 yeares since (January,
1672), and lies buried in the chancell, and had a stone

» Anthony Wood notes, ' false.'
See Clark's Wood's Life ami
Times, ii. 1 58.

Dupl. with ' sanguine.'
^ ' 1672 ' is added in pencil.

JoJm Dee

213

(marble) upon him. Her mother tended him in his sick-
t A Brief History nessc. Shc told me that he did entertain
Mr. John Milton, the Polonian ambassador at his howse in
pag'i'oo, sc'ii. Mortlak, and dyed not long after: and that

'Dr. Giles , , ' , • , , ,

Fletcher went hc shcwed the cclipse with a darke roome to

ambassador 1 i r^i 1 1 , ,

from the Queen the Said ambassadort. bhe beleeves that he

to Pheodor then

emperour; \vas cipfhtie vears old when he dyed. She

whose relations, o j

bcinjT judicious sayd, he kept a fjreat many stilles croeinsf.

and exact, are -' r o j &

best read That hc layd the storme Sir Everard Ditjby.

entirely by o J

themselves. This fhat thc children dreaded him because he was

emperour. upon

reportofthe accountcd a conjurcr. He recovered the basket

great learning

<of> the Qf cloathes stoUen, when she and his daughter

mathematician, ' o

Mosco wuh ° (both girles) were negligent : she knew this.
[hL'^usand pound He is buried (upon the matter) in the middest

from iPHnre'' of thc chancell, a little towards the south side.

^iousa°nd^ She sayd, he lies buried in the chancell between

hTve'^his' '° Mr. Holt and Mr. Miles, both servants to

fheVmpero^r quccn EHzabcth, and both have brasse inscrip-

honourab^y tioHs ou their marble, and that there was on

accounted as him a marble, but without any inscription.

one of the chief 1*1 ii- t ,1

men in the land, which marblc IS rcmovcd ; on which old marble

All which Dee . . ^ , ,

accepted not.' IS sigue oi two or thrcc brassc pinnes. A
daughter of his (I thinke, Sarah) maried to a flax-dresser,
in Southwarke: quaere nomen.

He dyed within a yeare, if not shortly, after the king of
Denmark was here : vide Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle
and Capt. Wharton's Alinatiac.

* He built the gallery in the church at Mortlak. Goody
Faldo s father was the carpenter that work't it.

A stone was on his grave, which is since removed. At
the upper end of the chancell then were steppes, which in
Oliver's dayes were layd plaine by the minister, and then
'twas removed. The children when they played in thc
church would runne to Dr. Dee's grave-stone. She told
me that he forewarned Q. Elizabeth of Dr. Lopez attempt
against her (the Dr. bewrayed, himselfe).

He used to distill egge-shells, and 'twas from hence

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 38.

214

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

that Ben Johnson had his hint of the alkimist, whom
he meant.

He was a great peace-maker ; if any of the neighbours
fell out, he would never lett them alone till he had made
them friends.

He was tall and slender. He wore a gowne like an
artist's gowne, with hanging sleeves, and a slitt.
A mighty good man he was.

He was sent ambassador for Queen Elizabeth (shee
thinkes) into Poland.

Memorandum : — his regayning of the plate for . . . . 's
butler, who comeing from London by water with a basket of
plate, mistooke another basket that was like his. Mr. J.
Dee bid them goe by water such a day, and looke about,
and he should see the man that had his basket, and he did
so ; but he would not gett the lost horses, though he was
offered severall angells. He told a woman (his neighbour)
that she laboured under the evill tongue of an ill neighbour
(another woman), which came to her howse, who he sayd
was a witch.

In J. David Rhesus ' BrilisJi Grammar, p. 60 : — ' Juxta Crucis amnem
(Nanf y groes), in agro Maessytietiano, apud Cambro-brytannos, erat
olim illustris quaedam Nigrorum familia, unde Joan Dn, id est,
Johannes ille cognomento Niger, Londinensis, sui generis ortum
traxit : vir certe ornatissimus et doctissimus, et omnium hac nostra
aetate tum Philosophorum turn Mathematicorum facile princeps :
monadis illius Hieroglyphicae et Propaedeumatum aphoristicorum de
praestantioribus quibusdam Naturae virtutibus, aliorumque non
paucorum operum insignium autor eximius. Vir praeterea ob tarn
multam experientiani frequenti sua in tot transmarinas regiones
peregrinatione comparatam, rerum quamplurimarum et abditarum
peritissimus.'

Notes.

' In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 36, Aubrey gives the horoscope, with astrological
notes, e. g. th.it there is 'a reception between Saturn and Luna,' that ' Jupiter is
ill his exaltation and lord of the ascendant,' etc.

■-' In MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 6, Aubrey notes : — ' vide the new additions in John
Dee's life.' This perhaps refers to MS. Aubr, 6, foil. 36-38, as being additional
to the paper which he here says he left with Ashmole.

^ In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 37, Aubrey gives in colours thi coat, ' gules, a lion
rampant within a bordure indented or,' adding the note : — ' Memorandum in

Thomas Deere 215

the scutcheon at the beginning of his preface the bordure is engrailed : I believe
that is the truest, for 'twas donne with care— sed quaere.'

In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 36", he gives in trick the coat for Dee's match ' 1578,
Febr. 5,' with Jane Fromundz, viz.: — 'in the i and 6, gules, a lion rampant
vi'ithin a bordure engrailed or [Dee] ; in the 2, or, a lion rampant gules
[...]; in the 3, . . . , a lion rampant crowned sable [...]; in the 4,
azure, a lion rampant . . . [Dun] ; in the 5, argent, on 2 bends gules 6 cross
crosslets or [ . . . ],' as the coat of John Dee ; impaling ' per chevron ermines
and gules, a chevron between 3 fleur de lys or' [Fromundz], for Jane Fromundz.
The motto is 'A Domino factum eit istud.'

* Aubrey's conversation with ' goodwife Faldo,' written down at the time
(Oct. 22, 1672), is found in a letter to Anthony Wood, in M.S. Wood F. 39,
fol. 192.

Thomas Deere (i6|^-i6- . .).

*Thoma.s Deere, natus March 15°, 1639, 15'' 7' P.M., at
New Sarum — John Gadbury's advice, i April, 1676.
** Thomas Deare's letter :- —

' From Stackton in parochia de Fordingbridge, die Jovis%
9 Martii, 1671, 30' P.M.

The Accydents of the native, etc.

In November 1655, aged 15 yeare 8 moneths^ went to
London, to a master, a clerke in the Kinge's Bench.

In November foUowinge, aged 16 yeare 8 moneths, had
the small pox.

In February and March 1658, an ague and feavor.

At the same tyme an uncle (the mother's brother) dyed,
which gave the native a good legacy.

In 1661, purchased an estate.

In August 1662, hee marryed, which was one of the worst
acts that etc.

In July 1663, hee had a sonn born, etc.
In June 1667, another sone.

In the same yeare in September, his father dyed etc., aged
70 etc.

In 1666, a very great feavor; in (16)67, another; in
'68, a surfeite which caused another (fever), etc.

In May '71, another sunn which lived but a fortnight, etc.
Many other accidents there are and remarkeable, but

* MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 96. ** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 7.

" i. e. Thursday.

2l6

Aubrey s 'Brief Lives'

I suppose 3 or 4 or but 2 of these may doe well enough
etc. Yet as to preferrment. etc. — In Aug. 1667, I was
courted by the old earle of Pembrook'' to be his chiefe
steward ; but, hee always vexed with false informations
against me. I left his ymployment.'

* Memorandum : — -Mr. Th. Deer is now (Jan. 167I) in
prison at Fisherton-Anger.

Gideon de Laune (1565 ?-] 659).

** . . . De Laune : — he was apothecary to Mary the
queen mother : came into England . . .

He was a very wise man, and as a signe " of it left an
estate of 8o,cco li.

Sir William Davenant was his great acquaintance and
told me of him, and that after his returne into England he
went to visit him, being then octogenary, and very decrepit
with the gowt, but had his sight and understanding. He
had a place made for him in the kitchen chimney : and, non
obstante he was master of such an estate, Sir William sawe
him sl'ghted not only by his daughter-in-lawe, but by the
cooke-mayd, which much affected him — miser)' of old age.

He wrote a booke of prudentiall advice, in quadrans, 8vo,
in English verse, which I have seen, and there are good
things in it.

Sir John Denham (1615-166I).

*** Sir John-Denham was unpolished with the small-pox :
otherwise a fine complexion.

**** From Anthony Wood : — in the Matriculation booke
he finds it thus written — ' Johannes Denham, Essex, filius
Johannis Denham de Horseley par\-a in com. praed., militis,
aetat. 16, 1631.'

***** Sir John Denham \ Knight of the Bath, was borne
at Dublin in Ireland, anno Domini . . .

* For purposes of testing the astro- ** MS. Anbr. 8, fol. 7''.
logical scheme. Subst. for ' proofe.'

" Philip Herbert, fifth earl, sue- *** MS. Aubr. S, fol 6'.
ceeded 165;, died 1669. **** MS. Anbr. 23, fol. 84.

* MS. Anbr. 23. fol. ',\ ***** MS. Anbr. 6, fol. 105.

Sir John Denham

217

Quaere Dr. Buzby if he was a Westminster schollar —
I have forgot. Anno ... he was admitted of Trinity
Colledge in Oxford, where he stayed ... His tutor there

was I have heard Mr. Josias Howe say that he

was the dreamingst young fellow ; he never expected such
things from him as he haz left the world. When he was
there he would game extremely ; when he had played
away all his money he would play away his fathers wrought
rich gold cappes.

His father was Sir John Denham, one of the Barons of
the Exchequer. He had been one of the Lords Justices in
Ireland: he maried Ellenorf, one of the daughters of Sir
* ci,« , , Garret Moore, knight, lord baron of McUifont,

t one was a ' o ' '

w,f,^ln"'l= in the kingdome of Ireland, whom he maried

WUIIldll, <xS O

mo^'numentat""^ during his scrvicc in Ireland in the place of
f^'nhey%., Chief Justice there.

resembk his From Trinity Colledge he went to Lincolncs-
father. Inuc, whcre (as judge Wadham Windham ',

who was his contemporary, told me) he was as good
a student as any in the house. Was not suspected to be
a witt.

At last, viz. 1640, his play of The Sophy came out, which

1 His play came ^^'^ tak^ extremely: Mr. Edmund Waller sayd
out at that time, ^j^g^ j^jj^^ ^^^^^ bvohe-out like the Irish

Rebellion % — threescore tJioiisand strong, before any body
was aware ''.

§ Vide Justus He \va<5 much rooked by gamesters, and fell

Turcaeus^ae ' ° '

lusuaieae, acquainted with that unsanctified crew, to his

where he proves ^ '

thL^ if proceeds' mine. His father had some suspition of it, and
ai"irtf)at't''he ^^'^^ '^^"^ scvercly, wherupon his son John (only
Xtstn& child) wrot a little essay in 8vo, printed . . . ,
addicted to it. Against \ ganiciiig and to sJiew the vanities and
?6^x",'sepuk'. inconveniences of it, which he presented to his
rnsurreyl father to let him know his detestation of it
But shortly after his father's death H (who left 2,000 or

" Judge of tlie King's Bench, 1660. Subst. for ' Paschalius.'

*' Dupl. with ' when noboby sus- Suhst. for ' most guilty of it.'

pected it.' » i. h. 163I.

2l8

Atibj'ey's 'Brief Lives'

1,500//. in ready money, 2 houses well furnished, and
much plate) the money was played away first, and next
the plate was sold. I remember about 1646 he lost
200 //. one night at New-cutt. Anno ... (I ghesse 1642)
he was high-sheriff of the countie of Surrey.

At the beginning of the civill warre he was made
governor of Farnham-castle for the king, but he was but
a young soldier, and did not keepe it. In 164!, after Edghill
fight, his poeme called Cinvper's Hill was printed at Oxford,
in a sort of browne paper, for then they could gett no better.

164? (quaere) he conveyed, or stole away, the two dukes
of Yorke and Glocester from St. James's (from the tuition
of the earle of Northumberland), and conveyed them into
France to the Prince of Wales and Queen-mother. King
Charles II sent him and the lord Culpepper envoyes to the
king of Poland, . . .

Anno 1652, he returned into England, and being in
some straights was kindly entertayned by the earle of
Pembroke at Wilton, where I had the honour to contract
an acquaintance with him. Here he translated the . . •
* He burlesqued ^ooke of Vergil's ^ticis, and also burlesqu't it f :
hurntif saveing Quacrc Mr. Chrlstopher Wase who was then
ftHti,!iTth"best there, tutor to William % lord Herbert. He
LTaimsed.-'''' was, as I remember, a yeare with my lord of
chrirt^her Pcmbrokc at Wilton and London ; he had
Wase. g^j^ ^jj ^j^g \^^^^ his father had left him.

His first wife was the daughter and heire of . . . Cotton,
of ... in Glocestershire, by whom he had 500//. per
annum, one son and two daughters. *His son did not
patrem sapere. He was of Wadham College in Dr.
Wilkins's time : he d)'ed sine prole, I thinke, there. — One of
his daughters is maried to . . . Morley, of Sussex, esq.;
the other . . .

He was much beloved by King Charles the First, who
much valued him for his ingenuity. He graunted him the
reversion of the surveyor of his majestie's buildings, after

" ' William, lord,' subst. for ' the lord.' * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 105'.

John Denham, fellow-commoner of Wadham, in July 1654.

Sir John DenJiam

219

the decease of Mr, Inigo Jones ; which place, after the
restauration of King Charles II he enjoyed to his death, and
gott seaven thousand pounds, as Sir Christopher Wren told
me of, to his owne knowledge. Sir Christopher Wren was
his deputie.

Anno Domini 166.. he maricd his 3d wife, {Margaret)
Brookes, a very beautifull young lady ; Sir John was ancient
and limping. The duke of Yorke fell deepely in love with
her, though (I have been morally assured) he never had
carnall knowledge of her. This occasioned Sir John's
distemper of madnesse in 166 . . , which first appeared when
he went from London to see the famous free-stone quarries
at Portland in Dorset, and when he came within a mile of
it. turned back to London again, and did" not see it. He
went to Hownslowe, and demanded rents of lands he had
sold many yeares before ; went to the king, and told him
he was the Holy Ghost. But it pleased God that he
was cured of this distemper, and writt excellent verses
(particularly on the death of Mr. Abraham Cowley) after-
wards. His 2d lady had no child ; was poysoned by the
hands of Co. of Roc.'' with chocolatte.

At the coronation of King Charles II he was made
Knight of the Bath.

He dyed (vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon.) at the house
of his office (which he built, as also the brick-buildings next
the street in Scotland-yard), and was buried, anno Domini
i66|, March the 23, in the south crosse aisle of Westminster
Abbey, neer Sir Jeffrey Chaucer's monument, but hitherto
(1680) without any memoriall for him.

Memorandum: — the parsonage-house at Egham (vulgarly
called The Place) was built by baron Denham ; a house
very convenient, not great, but pretty, and pleasantl)-
sciluated, and in which his son. Sir John, (though he
had better seates), did take most delight in. He sold it
to John Thynne, esq. In this parish is a place called
Cammomill-hill, from the camniomill that growes there

° Subst. for ' and then would not.'
Elizabeth Mallet, wife of John Wilmot, second eail of Rochester.

220 Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

naturally ; as also west of it is Prune-well-hill (formerly
part of Sir John's possessions), where was a fine tuft of
trees, a clear spring, and a pleasant prospect to the east,
over the levell of Middlesex and Surrey. Sir John tooke
great delight in this place, and was wont to say (before the
troubles) that he would build there a retiring-place to
entertaine his muses ; but the warres forced him to sell that
as well as the rest. He sold it to Mr. . . . Anstey. In
this parish W. and by N. (above Rtinncy Meade) is Coivpers
Hill, from whence is a noble prospect, which is incomparably
well described by that sweet swan, Sir John Denham ;
printed first at Oxen shortly after Edghill fight, i64§.

Memorandum : — he delighted much in bowles, and did
bowle very well.

He was of the tallest, but a little incurvetting at his
shoulders, not very robust. His haire was but thin and
flaxen, with a moist curie. His gate was slow, and was
rather a stalking (he had long legges), which was wont to
putt me in mind of Horace, De Arte Poetica : —

' Hie. dum sublimes versus ructatur, et errat
Si veluti merulis intentus decidit auceps
In puteum foveamve : '

His eie was a kind of light goose-gray, not big; but it
had a strange piercingness, not as to shining and glory, but
(like a Momus) when he conversed with you he look't into
your very thoughts.

He was generally temperate as to drinking ; but one
time when he was a student of Lincolne's-Inne, having
been merry at the taverne with his camerades, late at night,
a frolick came into his head, to gett a playsterer's brush
and a pott of inke, and blott out all the signes between
Temple-barre and Charing-crosse, which made a strange
confusion the next day, and 'twas in Terme time. But it
happened that they were discovered, and it cost him and
them some monej's. This I had from R. Estcott % esq.,
that carried the inke-pott.

* Richard Escott matr. at Exeter, July 3, 1O12 ; afterwards of Lincoln's Inn.

Ren^ Descartes

22 r

In the time of the civill vvarres, George Withers, the
poet, begged Sir John Denham's estate at Egham of the
Parliament, in whose cause he was a captaine of horse. It
(happened) that G. W. was taken prisoner, and was in
danger of his life, having written severely against the king,
&c. Sir John Denham went to the king, and desired
his majestic not to hang him, for that whilest G. W. lived
he should not be the worst poet in England.

Scripsit the Sophy : Cowpers Hill : Essay against Gauie-
ing: Poems, 8vo, printed anno Domini . . . ; Cato Major
sive De Senectute, translated into English verse, London,
printed by H. Heringman, in the New Exchange, 1669.

Memorandum : — in the verses against Gondibert, most
of them are Sir John's. He was satyricall when he had
a mind to it.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in colours the coat : ' gules, 3 lozenges ermine [Denham],'
surrounded by laurels. He adds the note: — 'this coate is in stone and thus
coloured, on the roofe or vaulting of the cathedral church at Winchester: Sir
John told me his family was originally westeme.' He adds the reference ' vide
A. Wood's Hist. Oxon.'

' Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 193, writing Oct. 22, 1672, says: — ' Sir
John Denham wrolt an essay against gameing, to shew his detestation of it to
his father, printed by N. Brookes, at the Angel in Cornhill. 1 have it, about
3 or 4 sheetes. 8vo. His name is not to it, but I know 'twas his ; and a kinsman
of his. that was one of his father's clarkes, gave the copy to Brookes : and Sir
John Denham owned it to me.'

Rene Descartes (1596-165°).
* Monsieur Renatus Ues Cartes,

' nobilis Gallus, Perroni dominus, summus mathematicus
et philosophus ; natus Hagae Turonum pridie Calendas
Apriles, 1596; denatus Holmiae Calendis Fcbruarii, 1650'
— this inscription I find under his picture graved by C. V.
Dalen.

How he spent his time in his youth, and by what method
he became so knowing, he tells the world in his treatise
entituled Of Method. The Societic of Jesus glorie in that
theyr order had the educating of him. He lived severall

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 33'.

222

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

yeares at Egmont (neer the Hague), from whence he dated
severall of his bookes. He was too wise a man to encomber
himselfe with a wife ; but as he was a man, he had the
desires and appetites of a man ; he therefore kept a good
conditioned hansome woman that he hked, and by whom
he had some children (I thinke 2 or 3). 'Tis pity but
comeing from the braine '' of such a father, they should be
well cultivated. He was so eminently learned that all
learned men made visits to him, and many of them would
desire him to shew them his ... of instruments (in those
dayes mathematicall learning lay much in the knowledge of
instruments, and, as Sir H. S.'' sayd, in doeing of tricks),
he would drawe out a little drawer under his table, and
shew them a paire of compasses with one of the legges
broken ; and then, for his ruler, he used a sheet of paper
folded double. This from Alexander Cowper (brother of
Samuel). limner to Christina, queen of Sweden, who was
familiarly acquainted there with Des Cartes.

* Mr. Hobbes was wont to say that had Des Cartes kepc
himselfe wholy to geometric that he had been the best
geometer in the world. He did very much admire him,
but sayd that he could not pardon him for writing in the
defence of transubstantiation which he knew to bee absolutely
against his judgment — quod N. B.

Robert Devereux, earl of Essex (1567-160^).

** Ex registro capellaeTurris London, scil. 1600'^, 'Robert,
carle of Essex, beheaded, Febr. 6th.'

From my lady Elizabeth, viscountesse Purbec, repeated
by her : —

I. There is none, oh none but you,
Who from me estrange your sight,
Whom mine eyes affect to view
And chained eares heare v/ith delight.

» Dxipl. with ' loines.' .Sir Henry Savile. * M.S. Aubr. 9, fol. S'.

Dupl. with ' opinion,' or ' conscience.'
** MS. Aubr. S, fol. 31. <* i.e. i6cf

Sir Everard Digby

223

2. Others' beauties others move,
In you I all graces find :
Such are the effects of love

To make them happy that are kind.

3. Woemen in fraile beauty trust,
Only seeme you kind to me,
Still be truly kind and just
For that can't dissembled bee.

4. Deare, afford me then your sight,
That surveighing all your lookes
Endlesse volumnes I may write

And fill the world with envyed bookes.

5. Which when after ages view
All shall wonder and despayre,
Women, to find a man so true,
And men, a woeman halfe so faire—

made by Robert, earl of Essex, that was beheaded.

* The tradition is that the bell of Lincoln's-Inne was
brought from Cales (Cadiz), tempore reginae Elizabethae,
plundered in the expedition* under (Robert Devereux),
earl of Essex.

Sir Everard Digby (1578-160I).
** Sir Everard Digby (father of Sir Kenelme) scripsit
libellum Latine cui titulus : —

Everardi Dygbei de duplici methodo —
in 8vo, in dialogues.

I have heard Mr. John Digby say (his grandsonne) that
he was the handsomest man (accounted) in England.

*** Sir Everard Digby was a most gallant gentleman and
one of the handsomest men of his time. He writt some-
thing in Latin de methodo, which I did light upon 23 yeares
ago at a country man's howse in Herefordshire ; and
Mr. Francis Potter told me he writt de arte Jiataudi.

'Twas his ill fate to suffer in the povvder-plott. When

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. I'. » In 1596. ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 10.

*** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 178 : July 6, 1672.

224

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

his heart was pluct out by the executioner (who, secundum
fonnavi, cryed ' Here is the heart of a traytor !'), it is credibly
reported, he replied, 'Thou liest!' This my lord Bacon
speakes of, but not mentioning his name, in his Historia

viiae et mortis.

Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-1665).

* Sir Kenelm Digby \ knight: he was borne at (Gote-
hurst, Bucks) on the eleventh of June ^: see Ben: Johnson,
2d volumne : —

' Witnesse thy actions done at Scanderoon
Upon thy birthday, the eleavcnth of June.'

[Memorandum : — -in the first impression in 8vo it is thus;
but in the folio 'tis my, instead of thy^

Mr. Elias Ashmole assures me, from two or three
nativities by Dr. {Richard) Nepier, that Ben: Johnson was
mistaken and did it for the ryme-sake. — In Dr. Napier's
papers of nativities, with Mr. Ashmole, I find : — 'Sir Kenelme
Digby natus July 11, ^ 40' A.M. 1603, 14 Leo ascending,'
and another scheme gives it at ' 4^ A. M., 26 Cancer as-
cending ' ; and there are two others of Cancer and Leo.

He was the eldest son of Sir Everard Digby, who was
accounted the handsomest gentleman in England. Sir
Everard sufferd as a traytor in the gunpowder-treason ;
but king James restored his estate to his son and heire.
Mr. Francis Potter told me that Sir Everard wrote a booke
De Arte Natandi. I have a Latin booke of his writing in
8vo : — Everardi Dygbei De ditplici methodo libri duo, in
dialogues ' inter Aristotelicum et Ramistam,' in 8vo : the
title page is torne out. — His second son was Sir John Digby,
as valiant a gentleman and as good a swordman
*eirne"if you^ as was in England, who dyed (or was killed f)
in the king's cause at Bridgewater, about 1644.

It happened in 1647 that a grave was opened next to

* MS. Aiibr. 6, fol. 99. i.e. if Anthony Wood wants to

* This title is substituted in the mar- know which of the suggestions is
gin. The text had ' de fallaciis,' scored correct, Aubrey can find out.

out, and ' vide margent' written over.

Sir Kenelm Digby

225

Sir John Digby's (who was buried in summer time, it
seemes), and the flowers on his coffin were found fresh, as
I heard Mr, Harcourt (that was executed) attest that very
yeare. Sir John died a batchelour.

Sir Kenelme Digby was held to be the most accomph'shed
cavalier of his time. He went to Glocester hall in Oxon,
anno (1618) (vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon.). The learned
Mr. Thomas Allen (then of that house) was wont to say
that he was the Mirandula of his age. He did not weare
a gowne there % as I have heard my cosen Whitney say.

There was a great friendship between him and Mr. Thomas
Allen ; whether he was his scholar I know not. Mr. Allen
was one of the learnedest men of this nation in his time,
and a great collector of good bookes, which collection Sir
Kenelme bought (Mr. Allen enjoyeing the use of them for
his life) to give to the Bodlean Library, after Mr. Allen's
decease, where they now are.

He was a great traveller, and understood 10 or 12
languages. He was not only master of a good and grace-
full judicious stile, but he also wrote a delicate hand,
both fast-hand and Roman. I have seen lettres of his
writing to the father of this earle of Pembroke, who much
respected'' him.

He was such a goodly handsome person, gigantique and
great voice, and had so gracefuU elocution and noble
addresse, etc., that had he been drop't out of the clowdes
* in any part of the world, he would have made himselfe
respected. But the Jesuites spake spitefully, and sayd
'twas true, but then he must not stay there above six
weekes. He was envoye from Henrietta Maria (then
Queen-mother) to Pope (Innocent X> where at first he was
mightily admired ; but after some time he grew high, and

" i.e. although in Glocester Hall, i.e. to Philip Herbert, fifth earl

hedid not matricnlate in the University. of Pembroke, obiit 1669; father of

This was by no means infrequent all William, sixth earl, obiit 1674, and

through the seventeenth century, and Philip, seventh earl, obiit 1683. MS.

was especially common with students Aubr. 6 was written in 1680.

of Roman Catholic families. Snbst. for 'loved.'

" Subst. for ' they remain.' * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 99^

I. O

226

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

hectored with his holinesse, and gave him the lye. The
pope sayd he was mad.

He was well versed in all kinds of learning. And he
had also this vertue'', that no man knciu better Jioiv to abound,
and to be abased, and either was indifferent to him. No
man became grandeur better**; sometimes again he would
live only with a lackey, and horse with a foote-cloath.

He was very generous, and liberall to deserving persons.
When Abraham Cowley was but 13 yeares old, he dedicated
to him a comedy called Love's Riddle, and concludes in
his epistle"* — 'The Birch that whip't him then would prove
a Bay.' Sir K. was very kind to him.

When he was at Rome one time, (I thinke he was envoye
from Mary the Queen-mother to Pope (Innocent X)) he
contrasted ® with his holinesse.

Anno . . . (quaere the countesse of Thanet) much against
his mother's, etc., consent, he marled that celebrated beautie
and courtezane, Mrs. Venetia Stanley, whom Richard earle of
Dorset kept as his concubine, had children by her, and setled
on her an annuity of 500//. per annum ; which after Sir K. D.
maried was unpayd by the earle ; and for which annuity
Sir Kenelme sued the earle, after mariage, and recovered it.
He would say that a handsome lusty man that was discreet
might make a vertuose wife out of a brothell-house. This
lady carried herselfe blamelessly, yet (they say) he was
t Richard earle j^^^'^^s of her f. She dycd suddenly, and
of Dorset invited hard-hcartcd woemen ^ would censure him

her and her

husband once a SCVerelv
yeare, when, J '

and ^ssionTe'"" ^^^er hcr death, to avoyd envy and scandall,
oni'y kissid her"* ^c retired in to Gresham Colledge at London,
Ke"nd'me'being whcre hc diverted himselfe with his chymistry,
and the professors' good conversation. He
wore there a long mourning cloake, a high crowned hatt,
his beard unshorne, look't like a hermite, as signes of

" Dupl. with ' excellency.' ® A pen-slip for 'contested': see

Subst. for ' more.' supra.
' Dupl. with 'play.' ' Dupl. with 'people.'

^ Subst. for 'dedication.'

Sir Kenelm Digby

227

sorrowe for his beloved wife, to whose memory he erected
a sumptuouse monument, now quite destroyed by the
great conflagration. He stayed at the coUedge two or
3 yea res.

The faire howses in Holbourne, between King's street
and Southampton street, (which brake-ofif the continuance
of them) were, about 1633, built by Sir Kenelme ; where he
lived before the civill warres. Since the restauration of
Charles II he lived in the last faire house westward in the
north portico of Convent garden, where my lord Denzill
Mollis lived since. He had a laboratory there. I thinke he
dyed in this house — sed quaere.

He was, 164 .. , prisoner for the king (Charles I) at
Winchester-house, where he practised chymistry'', and
wrote his booke of ° Bodies and Soule, which he dedicated
to his eldest son, Kenelme, who was slaine (as I take it) in
the earle of Holland's riseing*^.

Anno 163 .. . tempore Caroli I™' he received the sacrament
in the chapell at Whitehall, and professed the Protestant
religion, which gave great scandal to the Roman Catho-
liques ; but afterwards he looked back.

He was a person of very extraordinary strength. I re-
member one at * Shirburne (relating to the earl of Bristoll)
protested to us, that as he, being a midling man, being sett
in {a) chaire, Sir Kenelme tooke up him, chaire and all, with
one arme.

He was of an undaunted courage, yet not apt in the
least to give offence. His conversation was both ingeniose
and innocent.

Mr. Thomas White, who wrote de Mwido, 1641®, and
Mr. . . . Hall of Leige, e societate Jesu, were two of his
great friends.

As for that great action of his at Scanderoon, see the

* Dupl. with 'he was here two.' July 1648.

*" Subst. for 'studyed chymistry': * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 100.

' made artificiall stones ' is written over » '2' is written over the ' I,'

as an alternative. perhaps as a correction.

' Subst. for ' de Corpore.'

Q 2

228

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Turkish Historic. Sir (Edward) Stradling, of Glamorgan-
shire, was then his vice-admirall, at whose house is an
excellent picture of his, as he was at that time : by him
is drawen an armillary sphaere broken, and undernethe is
writt IMPAVIDUM FERIENT (Horace). See excellent
verses of Ben: Johnson (to who me he was a great patrone)
in his 2d volumne.

There is in print in French, and also in English (trans-
lated by ]\Ir. James Howell), a speech that he made at
a philosophicall assembly at Montpelier, 165 . . Of the
synipathetique powder — see it^. He made a speech at the
beginning of the meeting of the Royall Society Of the
vegetation of plants.

He was borne to three thousand pounds per annum.
His ancient seat (I thinke) is Gote-herst in Buckingham-
shire. He had a fair estate also in Rutlandshire. What
by reason of the civil warres, and his generous mind, he
contracted great debts, and I know not how (there being
a great falling out between him and his then only son,
t He married Jo^nf) hc Settled his cstatc upon . . . Corn-
preinrHenry walleys. a subtilc sollicitor and also a member
N'orfo'ike no Housc of Commous, who did putt

h^r^Hu^d^ Mr. John Digby to much charge in lawe :
Fort.^5cue, by quacrc what became of it ?
Qurrethe^'" Mr. J. D. had a good estate of his owne,
'^'"■^ ' and lived handsomely then at what time I

went to him two or 3 times in order to your Oxon.
Antiqu. ; and he then brought me a great book, as
big as the biggest Church Bible that ever I sawe, and
the richliest bound, bossed with silver, engraven with
scutchions and crest (an ostrich) ; it was a curious
velame". It was the history of the family of the Digbyes,
which Sir Kenelme either did, or ordered to be donne.
There was inserted all that was to be found any where
relating to them, out of records of the Tower, rolles,
&c. All ancient church monuments were most exquisitely

* Afterwards Aubrey added ' I hare seen.'
Subst. for ' a lawyer.' i. e. vellum.

Venetia Di'gby

229

limmed by some rare artist. He told me that the com-
pileing of it did cost his father a thousand pound. Sir
Jo. Fortescue sayd he did beleeve 'twas more. When Mr.
John Digby did me the favour to shew me this rare MS.,
' This booke,' sayd he, ' is all that I have left me of all the
estate that was my father's ! ' He was almost as tall and
as big as his father: he had something^ of the sweetnesse
of his mother's face. He was bred by the Jesuites, and
was a good scholar. He dyed at . . .

Vide in . . . Lives when Sir Kenelme dyed.

Sir John Hoskyns enformes me that Sir Kenelme Digby
did translate Petronius Arbiter into English.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' azure, a flenr de lys argent [Digby] ;
impaling, argent on a bend azure 3 bucks' heads caboshed or [Stanley] ' ; and
adds the reference ' vide his life in ... ' some book, presumably, whose title
he had forgot.

^ ' June ' was written ; but Aubrey noted in the margin ' Quaere Mr. Ashmole
pro nativitate by Dr. (Richard) Nepier.' The answer to this query is found in
MS. Aubr. 23, a slip at fol. 121", ' Sir Kenelm Digby natus July 11,5'' 40' a.m.
1603 ; another scheme gives it at 4'' a.m.' Having got this information,
Aubrey then struck out 'June ' in the text, and substituted 'July'; and added
the paragraph which follows.

Venetia Digby (1600-1633).

* Venetia Stanley ^ was daughter of Sir . . . Stanley.
She was a most beautifuU desireable creature ; and being

matura viro was left by her father to live with a tenant and
+ At the west servants at Enston-abbey f (his land, or the earl
end of the Qf Derby's) in Oxfordshire 1 but as private as

church here- ^ / ' ^

'^■e^^^:«?\.o^exs place was, it seemes her beautie could

as at Welles or c '

STbe^^l'whfch "o*^ The young eagles had espied

tiTraboutles^. sanguine and tractable, and

SieVXy^were much suEvity (which to abuse was greate

richly wains- nift-iV^

cotted, both pitne;.

sides and roofe. ^^^^^ j^^^^ Richard, Carle of Dorset

(eldest son and heire to the Lord Treasurer, vide pedegree)

" Subst. for ' much.' second earl, died in 1609, a year

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. loi". after his father, Thomas Sackville,

* Grandson ; his father Robert, first earl.

230 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

lived in the greatest splendor of any nobleman of England.
Among other pleasures that he enjoyed, Venus was not the
t Sam Daniel ■ '^^.st. f This pretty creature's fame quickly
R^s^'^i^ock's'^of came to his Lordship's eares, who made no
emprisiiS^in a delay to catcli at such an opportunity,
chamber 1 etc. J have now forgott who first brought her to
towne, but I have heard my uncle Danvers ^ say (who was
her contemporary) that she was so commonly courted, and
that by grandees, that 'twas written over her lodging one
night in Uteris uncialibus,

PRAY COME NOT NEER,
FOR DAME VENETIA STANLEY LODGETH HERE.

The earle of Dorset, aforesayd, was her greatest gallant,
who was extremely enamoured of her, and had one if not
more children by her. He setled on her an annuity of
500//. per annum.

Among other young sparkes of that time. Sir Kenelme
Digby grew acquainted with her, and fell so much in love
with her that he married her, much against the good will
of his mother ; but he would say that ' a wise man, and
lusty, could make an honest woman out of a brothell-house.'
t Venetia Edmund Wyld had her pictured (and you

pkta'r7iL"atYhe imagine was very familiar with her), which

Rutland's at picture is now (vide) at Droitwytch, in Worces-
myco'^7^™'" tershire, at an inne, where now the towne
Ms"Afbr.'8^ kccpe their meetings. Also at Mr. Rose's, a
jeweller in Henrietta-street in Convent garden,
is an excellent piece of hers, drawne after she was newly
dead.

She had a most lovely and sweet-turn'd face, delicate
darke-browne haire. She had a perfect healthy constitution ;
strong ; good skin ; well proportioned ; much enclining to
a Bona Roba (near altogether). Her face, a short ovall ;
darke-browne eie-browe, about which much sweetness, as
also in the opening of her eie-lidds. The colour of her

" Joha Danvers, p. 196, sttpra.

^ Subst. for ' had some children.'

Venetia Digby

231

cheekes was just that of the damaske rose, which is

the daughter ... .....

andheireof^ live in poctrcy, in his drawing of her both

Abermarie's. body and mind : —

' Sitting, and ready to be drawne,
What makes these tiffany, silkes, and lawne,
Embroideries, feathers, fringes, lace.
When every limbe takes Hke a face ! ' — &c.

* When these verses were made she had three children
by Sir Kenelme, who are there mentioned, viz. Kenelme,
George, and John.

She dyed in her bed suddenly. Some suspected that
she was poysoned. When her head'' was opened there was
found but little braine, which her husband imputed to her
drinking of viper-wine ; but spitefull woemen would say
'twas a viper-husband who was jealous of her that she
would steale a leape. I have heard some say, — e. g. my
cosen Elizabeth Falkner, — -that after her manage she
redeemed her honour by her strick't living. Once a yeare
the earle of Dorset invited her and Sir Kenelme to
dinner, where the earle would
behold her with much passion,
and only kisse her hand. ^ ^

end of the south aisle, where

her bodie lyes in a vault of brick-worke, over which are

Aubrey gives (MS. Aubr. 6, fol. ' Christ Church,' as an alternative.

Abermarleys, in

Sir Kenelme erected to her
memorie a sumptuouse and
stately monumenf^at . . . Fryars''
(neer Newgate-street) in the east

" Dupl. with ' good.'
* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. loi.
.Subst. for ' braine.'

lol) a drawing of this monument here
given in facsimile.

Fryars ' is written over

232

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

three steps of black marble, on which was a stately-
altar of black marble with 4 inscriptions in copper gilt
affixed to it : upon this altar her bust of copper gilt, all
which (unlesse the vault, which was onely opened a little
by the fall) is utterly destroyed by the great conflagration.
Among the monuments in the booke mentioned in Sir
Kenelm Digby's life, is to be seen a curious draught of
this monument, with copies of the severall inscriptions.

About 1676 or 5, as I was walking through Newgate-
street, I sawe Dame Venetia's bust standing at a stall at
the Golden Crosse, a brasier's shop. I perfectly remembred
it, but the fire had gott-off the guilding : but taking notice
of it to one that was with me, I could never see it afterwards
exposed to the street. They melted it downe. How these
curiosities would be quite forgott, did not such idle fellowes
as I am putt them downe !

Memorandum : — at Goathurst, in Bucks ^, is a rare
originall picture of Sir Kenelme Digby and his lady Venetia,
in one piece, by the hand of Sir Anthony van Dyke. In
Ben. Johnson's 2d volumne is a poeme called ' Eupheme
left to posteritie, of the noble lady, the ladie Venetia Digby,
late wife of Sir Kenelme Digby, knight, a gentleman
absolute in all numbers : consisting of these ten pieces, viz.
Dedication of her Cradle ; Song of her Descent ; Picture
of her Bodie ; Picture of her Mind ; Her being chose
a Muse ; Her faire Offices ; Her happy Match ; Her
hopefuU Issue; Her 'AnO0Ei22I2, or Relation to the
Saints ; Her Inscription, or Crowne.'

Her picture drawn by Sir Anthony Vandyke hangs in
the queene's draweing-roome, at Windsor-castle, over the
chimney.

Venetia Stanley was (first) a miss to Sir Edmund Wyld ;
who had her picture, which after his death, serjeant Wyld
(his executor) had ; and since the Serjeant's death hangs
now in an entertayning-roome at Droitwich in Worcester-
shire. The Serjeant lived at Droitwich.

" Dupl. with ' degrees.'
* Or Bedfordshire' followed, scored out.

Leonard Digges

233

Azotes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' argent on a bend azure 3 bucks' heads
caboshed or [Stanley, earl of Derby].' Another hand has enlarged this first
sentence to ' daughter of Sir Edward Stanley of Eynstonn in com. Oxon, son
of Sir Thomas Stanley, knight, younger son to Edward, earl of Derby.' A note
by ' E. M.' (? Edmund Malone) says, ' This is Anthony Wood's handwriting.'
It is certainly not ; but it very probably is Sir William Dugdale's, which is
sometimes mistaken for Wood's.

^ Einsham abbey is the place meant. See the facsimile in Clark's Wood's
Life and Times, i. 228.

In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 70' also, this is quoted, but there scored out, as
' Eupheme, being a poem left to posterity,' &c. There, for 'a Muse,' Aubrey
reads ' his Muse.'

Leonard Digges (15 . . -1571 ?),

*Jacobus Digges de m. Philippa Clia Johannis Engeham
Berhara, armig. | de Chart, uxor a""*.

Leonard Diggs, m. Sara, filia (Thomae) Wilford, de
de Wotton. | Hartridge in parochia de Cranbroke.

I I
Maria, Thomas Digges, m. Anna, fiha
uxor . . . filius et haeres Warhami

Barber. Leonardi. St. Leger,

militis.

I

Anna, uxor
Willelmi
Digges de
Newington.

Sara, uxor
. . . Martyn.

Jacobus » Digges,
de Bech,
Armiger.

Leonardus Digges,
filius secundus.

Dudlius Digges, m. Maria, minima

de Chilham, miies :
modo (1619) super-
stes, legatus ad Iin-
peratorem Russiae.

filia et cohaeres
Thomae Kemp de
Olney, militis.

Thomas Diggs, primus
filius, armiger.

Johannes,
filius 2dus.

I

Dudlius, filius
3tius.

Anna.

I

Elizabetlia.

** Memorandum this visitation'' was in anno 161 9 by
John Philpot.

They were, for severall generations, of Barham in Kent.
John, the sonne of Roger Digges of Mildenhall (which
Roger is the first in this genealogie), vixit tempore
Henrici III; and writt then Dig. — Memorandum here
are 14 generations or descents to the last hne : quod N.B.

Mr, Leonard Digges translated Claudian de raptu Pro-
scrpinae into English, 4to, 161 7 and 1628.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 73, the genealogy above : probably a MS.

" This entry is scored out. in the Heralds' Office.
MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 73'. <= The family of Digges.

i. e. from which Aubrey excerpted

234

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

* Leonard Digges, esquire, of VVotton ^ in Kent —
he wrote a thin foHo called Pantometria, printed 15 . .
At the end he discourses of regular solids, and I have
heard the learned Dr. John Pell say it is donne admirably
well. In the preface he speakes of cutting glasses in such
a particular manner that he could discerne pieces of money
a mile off; and this he saies he setts downe the rather
because severall are yet living that have seen him doe it.

. . . Prognostication^ everlasting, 4to, (Lond.) 15(64).

(A 4to) ' Tcctoiiicon, briefly shewing the exact measuring
and speedy reckoning all manner of land, squares, timber,
stone, steeples, pillars, globes, etc., for declaring the perfect
making and large use of the carpenter's ruler, containing
a quadrant geometricall, comprehending also the rare use
of the square, and in the end a little treatise opening the
composition and appliancie of an instrument called The
Profitable Staffe, with other things pleasant and necessarie,
most condusible for surveyors, landmeaters, joyners, car-
penters, and masons : published by Leonard Digges,
gentleman, 1556.'

' L. D. to the Reader — Although many have put forth
sufficient and certain rules to measure all manner of
superficies, etc., yet in that the art of numbring hath been
required, yea, chiefly those rules hid and as it were locked
up in strange tongues, they doe profit or have furthered
very little, for the most part, yea, nothing at all, the
landmeater, carpenter, mason, wanting the aforesayd. For
their sakes I am here provoked not to hide but to open
the talent I have recieved, yea, to publish in this our
tongue very shortly if God give life a volumne containing
the flowers of the sciences mathematicall largely applied
to our outward practise profitably pleasant to all manner
men. Here mine advice shall be to those artificers, that
will profit in this or any of my bookes now published,
or that hereafter shall be, first confusedly to read them
through, then with more judgement, read at the third
reading wittily to practise. So, few things shall be
* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. ;2\

Leonard Digges

235

unknowne. Note, oft diligent reading joyned with in-
genious practise causeth profitable labour. Thus most
hartely farewell, loving reader, to whom I wish mystlfe
present to further thy desire and practise in these.'

The method that carpenters etc. used before this booke
was published was very erronious, as he declares.

* Ct^' See in the beginning of (Thomas) Digges'
Stratio(^ti^cos, and also towards the later end, concerning
him and his father, I remember the sonne sayes there that
he was muster-master to the States of Holland : and see
more concerning his father (who was an esquire of Chilham
Castle in Kent) in the preface to his Paniometria. — It
is an ancient family in Kent. Vide his Ala sat scala
Mathematices etc.

** A prognostication everlasting, once again published
by Leonard Digges, gentleman, in the yeare of our Lord

1564 ;—

in 4to, dedicated to Sir Edward Fines, knight of the
garter, lord Clinton and Saye, etc. His first impression
was in 1553 — ' not onely your lordship's tasck move(d) of
a prognostication seemed then to make that argument
fittest, but also the manifest imperfections and manifold
errors yearly committed did crave the ayd of some that
were both willing and able to performe the truthe in like
matters.'

Azotes.

• In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 73', Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' gules, on a cross
argent five eagles displayed sable [Diggts] ' ; on fol. 72", 75', he gives the same
coat, with the motto

IN ARDUA VIRTUS ;

on fol. II, he gives the coat and motto, but adds that there is a crescent 'in
medio scuti.'

" ' W'otton ' is substituted for ' . . . Castle,' to which a marginal note was
added, ' I think 'tis Chilham Castle.' In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 1 1 , Aubrey wrote : —
' . . . Digges, esq., of Chilham Castle, Kent— vide prefaces of his /'a7//ow£/r/«
and Ala sen Scala Mathematices, etc. His son makes mention of his life in his
Stratioticos^

^ A pencil note on fol. 73 gives the title, with the pressmark in the 1674
Catal. libr. impress. Bibl. Bodl., viz. — 'A perpetual prognostication for weather :
C. 2. 13. Art.'

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 51'.

** M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 75.

236 Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

Thomas Digges (15 . . -1595).

* Mr. Thomas Digges : — he wrote a booke in 4to,
entituled —

' Siratioticos, compendiously teaching the science of
nombres as well in fractions as integers, and so much of
the rules and aequations algebraicall and art of nombers
cossicall as are requisite for the profession of a soldier ;
together with the modern militarie discipline, offices,
lawes and orders in every well -governed camp and armie
inviolably to be observed.'

First published by him, 1579, dedicated 'unto the
right honourable Robert, earle of Leicester.' The second
edition, 1590.

He was muster-master generall of all her majestie's
forces in the Low Countries, as appeares in page 237.

At the end of this booke (the last paragraph) speaking
of ' engins and inventions not usual to be thought on and
had in readinesse.' —

' Of these and many mo important mattars militare,
I shall have occasion at large to dilate in my treatise of
great artillerie and pyrotechnie, whose publication

I have for divers due respects hitherto differred.'

He was the onely sonne of the learned Leonard Digges,
esqr, of whom he speakes in the preface to his Sira-
tioticos.

Pliny, Nat. Hist. lib. vii. cap. 51 ; — ' Una familia Curio-
num in qua tres continua serie Oratores extiterunt.' In
this family have been four learned men in an uninter-
rupted descent — scilicet, two eminent mathematicians
(Leonard and Thomas), Sir Dudley Digges, Master of
the Rolles, and his sonne Dudley, fellow of AUsoules
College, Oxon.

** Alae seu scalae mathematicae, quibus visibilium
remotissima coelorum theatra conscendi et planetarum

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 75'. a long note about the book he men-

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 74. This folio tioned on fol. 75 as ' Ala seu scala
is a slip on which Aubrey has written mathematices, 4to, printed at London.'

Thomas Digges

237

omnium itinera novis et inauditis methodis explorari,
turn hujus portentosi syderis (in Cassiopea) in mundi
boreali plaga insolito fulgore coruscantis distantia et
magnitude immensa situsque protinus tremendus indagari
Deique stupendum ostentum terricolis expositum cognosci
liquidissime possit-

Thoma Diggesio, Cantiensi, stemmatis generosi, autore,
Lond. 1573.

Dedicated

' Ad Guliel. Cecilium, praeclariss. ordinis equitem au-
ratum, baronem Burghleium, summumque Angliae The-
saurarium,' etc.

— luce clarius deprehendi longe supra lunam ipsam esse.
Tum demum antiquorum et recentiorum omnium astrono-
morum modos cometarum et corporum coelestium distantias
et magnitudines metiendi quos unquam legeram in animum
sevocare coeperam, nec quenquam reperire poteram qui
viam huic subtilissimae parallaxi examinandae convenientem
demonstravit. Solus igitur, omnium astronomorum anti-
quorum et recentiorum ope orbatus, (in fluctuanti dubita-
tionum plurimarum pelago jactatus) ad meipsum redii :
brevi.ssimoque spatio (foelicibus mathematicis spirantibus
auris) portum optatum assequendi varies cursus expedi-
tissimos hactenus a nemine exploratos atque ab omni
erroris scopulo tutissimos inveni. Quos in exigui libelli
formam redactos honori tuo exhibere decrevi, mei officii
testimonium (nisi me fallit Philautia) baud vulgari genio
conscriptum, neque brevi temporum curriculo periturum —

* Praefatio Authoris.

Sed plura de hujus stellae historia scribere non decrevi
quia eximius vir Johannes Dee (quum in reliqua philosophia
admirandus, tum harum scientiarum peritissimus, quern
tanquam mihi parentem alterum mathematicum veneror,
quippe qui in tenerrima mea aetate plurima harum
suavissimarum scientiarum semina menti meae inseruerit,
alia a patre meo prius sata amicissime fidelissimeque

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 74'.

238 Aubrey s 'Brief Lives'

nutriverit atque auxerit) hanc sibi tractandam assumpserit
materiam quam . . . Conatus igitur sum et assequutus
variis problematibus demonstrative et practice exactissime
parallaxin hujus phaenomeni et cujusvis etiam alterius
concludere, licet Saturni Jovis et Martis parallaxeis adeo
sint exiguae ut sensuum imbecillitate vix discern! possint.
Si tamen ulla arte vere animadvert! queant (hoc ausim
dicere) aut his nostris sequentibus problematibus aut
nullis penitus praeceptis geometricis inveniri posse — Si
aequi bonique consuleris, majora (annuenti potentissimo)
in posterum promitto, quibus (non probabilibus solummodo
argumentis sed firmissimis apodixibus) demonstrabitur
verissimam esse Copernici hactenus explosum de terrae
motu paradoxum — 1573.

To these Aiae sen Scalae Mr. Digges hath annexed
Parallaticae commentationis praxeos nucleus quidam,
Jo. Day —

writ by John Dee, a small treatise, Lond. 1573 ; and
hath writ thus

Lectori Benevolo.

— Me autem isti meo opusculo annectere et in lucem
simul emittere variae impulere causae — i™^ ne charis-
simus mihi iliius author debita suae inventionis privaretur
laude : cum nonnulli fortassis si postea ederetur suspicari
possint a meis methodis derivatum fuisse. Fateor equidem
adeo late mea sese extendere fundamina ut turn istiusmodi
turn plurimi etiam alii nuclei inde excerpi possint, etc.

* Pantoinetria, containing longimetria, planimetria,
stereometria — was writ by Leonard Digges, esq., but
published by his sonne Thomas Digges esqr. and dedi-
cated to Sir Nicholas Bacon, knight, Lord Keeper, lately
reviewed and augmented by the author, printed at
London, 1591.

In the preface, thus

' But to leave things doone of antiquity long ago, my
father, by his continuall painfull practises, assisted with

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 75.

Michael Drayton

239

demonstrations mathematical!, was able, and sundry times
hath, by proportionall glasses duely situate in convenient
angles, not onely discovered things farre off, read letters,
numbred peeces of money with the very coyne and super-
scription thereof cast by some of hisfreends on purpose upon
downes in open fields but also seven miles off declared
what hath been doone at that instant in private places ; he
hath also at sundry times by the sunne fired powder and
discharged ordinance halfe a mile and more distant — which
things I am the bolder to report for that there are yet
living diverse of these his doeings oculaii testes, and many
other matters far more strange and rare which I omit as
impertinent to this place. But for invention of these con-
clusions I have heard him say nothing ever helped him so
much as the exquisite knowledge he had, by continual!
practise, attained in geometrical! mensurations.'

Michael Drayton (1563-1631).

* Michael Drayton, esq., natus in Warwickshire at Ather-
ston upon S tower (quaere Thomas Mariett).

He was a butcher's sonne. Was a squire ; viz. one of the
esquires to Sir Walter Aston, Knight of the Bath, to whom
he dedicated his Poeme. Sir J. Brawne of . . . was a
great patron of his.

He lived at the bay-windowe house next the east end
of St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street. Sepult. in north +
of Westminster Abbey. The countesse of Dorset (Clifford)
gave his monument : this Mr. Marshall (the stone-cutter),
who made it, told me so.

Sir Edward Bissh, Clarencieux, told me he asked
Mr. Selden once (jestingly) whether he wrote the com-
mentary to his ' Polyolbion ' and ' Epistles,' or Mr. Drayton
made those verses to his notes.

Vide his inscription given by the countess of Dorset.

* MS Aubr. 8, fol. 8'.

* ' The countess of Dorset, that was
govemes to prince Charles, now our

King, was at the cost of erecting his
monument ' : Aubrey, in M.S. Wood
F. 39, fol. 208 : May 17, 1673.

240 Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

Iti Wesiminster Abbey, neer Spencer.
Michael Drayton, Esquier,
A memorable Poet of this age, exchanged his Laurel for
a Crowne of Glorie, Anno 1631.
Doe, pious marble, let thy readers knowe
What they, and what their children owe
A MERCU- '^^ Drayton's name, whose sacred dust ^
RIE'S CAP IN We recommend unto thy trust. PEGA-
THE SUNn Protecte his mem'ry, and preserve his storie, SUS».
Remaine a lasting monument of his glorye.
And when thy ruines shall disclame
To be the treas'rer of his name.
His name, that cannot fade, shall bee
An everlasting monument to thee.

Here is his bust in alablaster. The inscription is on
black marble.

Mr. Marshall, the stone-cutter, of Fetter-lane, also told
me, that these verses were made by Mr. Francis Quarles,
who was his great friend, and whose head he wrought
curiously in playster, and valued for his sake. 'Tis pitty
it should be lost. Mr. Quarles was a very good man.

Sir Erasmus Dryden (1553-1632).

* Sir Erasmus Dryden, of (Canons Ashby) in North-
amptonshire : — John Dreyden, esq., Poet Laureat, tells me
that there was a great friendship between his great grand-
father's father and Erasmus Roterodamus, and Erasmus
was god-father to one of his sonnes, and the Christian name

* i.e.at theside of theinscription this with a mercury's cap, on a wreath ; a
is carved ; Aubrey gives a rough sketch shield gonttee, with a Pegasus,
ofthe figures, a sun in his glorj- charged * MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 102'.

Erasmus was in England 1497 and 1510. The Drj'den pedigree is: —
David Dryden

John Dryden, obiit 1584
I

Sir Erasmus, obiit 1632

John Erasmus (3rd son)

I

John (the poet)

St'r Wt'lltam Dugdale

241

of Erasmus hath been kept in the family ever since. The
poet's second sonne is Erasmus.

And at ... , the seate of the family, is a chamber
called ' Erasmus's chamber.'

I ghesse that this coate — ' azure, a lion rampant and
in chief a sphere between 2 estoiles or' — was graunted in
Henry 8th's time by the odnesse of the charge.

John Dryden (1631-1700).

* John Dreyden, esq., Poet Laureate. He will write it
for me himselfe.

** John Dryden, poeta, (born) 19 Aug. 1631, 5'' 33'
16" P.M.

*** ' Natus msignis poeta
1631

Aug. 9^ 5" .53' P.M.

Latit. 52° North.'

This is the nativity of Mr. John Dreyden. poet laureat,
by Mr. John Gadbury, from whom I had it.

Sir William Dugdale (1605-1685).
**** Sir William Dugdale, Garter, (born,) 12 Sept. 1605,
3'' 15' P.M.

***** 'Sir^ William Dugdale avowM to mee (that)
at the time of his birth (10 September, as Tthinke, which
was the birth day of Francis the first) a swarme . of bees
came and settled under the window where hee was borne,
September 18. Johan. Gybbon.'

Memorandum that Sir William Dugdale did not tell
his son or Mr. Gibbons de Edward the Confessor and
he laught at it — quod N.B.

' Sir ^ William Dugdale was borne September 12, 1605 '
— from Mr. Gibbons, Blewmantle. That afternoon a swarme

* Given in trick by Aubrey. Dr. Richard Napier's papers.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 108'. *** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 87.

i.e. his life. The page has been **** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121 : out of
left blank for the fulfilment of this Dr. Richard Napier's papers,
promise : cf. Milton, infra. ***** Aubr. 7, a slip at fol.

** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121 : out of 8'.

I. R

242 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

of bees pitch't under his mother's chamber window, as it
were an omen of his laborious collections.

' This is a note in the handwriting of John Gibbon ('Blue Mantle' pursuivant,
1668) ; followed by a memorandum by Aubrey.

' A note by Gibbon, correcting tiie previous one: followed by a memorandum
by Aubrey.

Sir John Dunstable.

* Sir John Dunstable : — the cellar he calls his library. —
Parliament men prepare themselves for the businesse of
the nation with ale in the morning. Some justices doe
sleepe on the bench every assizes.

** At Chippenham the Deputye Lieutenants mett to
see the order of the militia, but quales D : Lieutenants
tales officiarii. After a taedious setting (at dinner, and
drinking after dinner) the drummes beate and the soldiers
to march before the windowe to be seen by the Deputy
Lieutenants. Justice Wagstafife^ (colonell) had not marcht
before 'cm many yardes but downe a falls all along in
the dirt. His myrmidons, multa vi, heav'd him up, and
then a cryd out ' Some drinke, ho ! ' and so there was
an end of that businesse.

A'o/e.

' The hero of the .inecdote is no doubt Sir John Dunstable. In the Drama/is
personae for Aubrey's projected comedy, one of the characters is ' Justice
Wagstaflfe' (MS. Aubr. 21, p. 2), over which name Aubrey has written 'Sir
J. Dunstable,' apparently as the name of the person he meant to copy.

Saint Dunstan (925-988).

*** I find in Mr. Selden's verses before Hopton's ' Con-
cordance of Yeares,' that he was a Somersetshire gentleman.
He was a great chymist.

The storie of his pulling the devill by the nose with
his tongues as he was in his laboratories was'' famous
in church-windowes. Vide . . . Gazaei ////ar/a, {where
it is) delicately described.

* MS. Aubr. 21, p. 19. * Dupl. with 'his athanor roome.'

** MS. Aubr. 21, p. 2. ^' Dupl. with 'is famous in picture

*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 31'. and poetrie.'

Sir Edward Dyer

243

He was a Benedictine monke at Glastonbury, where
he was afterwards abbot, and after that was made arch-
bishop of Canterbury. He preached the coronation sermon
at Kingston, and crowned king (Edwy). In his sermon
he prophesyed, which the Chronicle mentions.

Mr. Meredith Lloyd tells me that there is a booke in
print of his de lapide philosophorum ; quaere nomen.

Edwardus Generosus gives a good account of him in
a manuscript which Mr. Ashmole haz.

Meredith Lloyd had, about the beginning of the civill
warres, a MS. of this Saint's concerning chymistrey, and
sayes that there are severall MSS. of his up and downe
in England : quaere Mr. Ashmole.

Edwardus Generosus mentions that he could make a fire
out of gold, with which he could sett any combustible
matter on fire at a great distance. Memorandum : — in
Westminster library is an old printed booke, in folio, of
the lives of the old English Saints : vide.

Meredith Lloyd tells me that, three or 400 yeares ago.
chymistry was in a greater perfection, much, then now ;
their proces was then more seraphique and universal) :
now they looke only after medicines.

Severall churches are dedicated to him : two at London :
quaere if one at Glastonbury.

Sir Edward. Dyer (15.. -1607).
* Sir Edward Dyer, of Somersetshire (Sharpham Parke,
etc.), was a great witt, poet, and acquaintance of Mary,
countesse of Pembroke, and Sir Philip Sydney. He is
mentioned in the preface of the * Arcadia.' He had four
thousand pounds per annum, and was left fourscore thousand
pounds in money ; he wasted it almost all. This I had
from captaine Dyer, his great grandsonne, or brother's
great grandson. I thought he had been the sonne of the
Lord Chiefe Justice Dyer, as I have inserted in one of
these papers, but that was a mistake. The judge was
of the same family, the captain tells me.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 1'.
R %

244

Aubreys ''Brief Lives'

St. Edmund (i 1 70 ?-i 240).

* Seth, lord bishop of Sarum, tells me that he finds
Saint Edmund was borne at Abington. He was arch-
bishop of Canterbury. He built the college at Sarum,
by St, Edmunds Church: it is now Judge Wyndham's
Sonne's howse. He resigned his archbishoprick, and came
and retired hither. In St. Edmund's church here % were
windowes of great value. Gundamore'' offered a good
summe for them ; I have forgott (what). In one of
them was the picture of God the Father, like an old man
(as the fashion was), which much offended Mr. Shervill, the
recorder, who in zeale (but without knowledge) clambered
up on the pewes to breake the windowe,.and fell downe
and brake his legg (about 1629); but that did not excuse
him for being question'd in the Starre-chamber for it.
Mr. Attorney Noy was his great friend, and shewed his
friendship there. But what Mr. Shervill left undonne, the
soldiers since have gonne through with, that there is not
a piece of glass-painting left.

' Edmundus, Cant. A.B., primus legit Elementa Euclidis,
Oxoniae, 1290"; Mr. Hugo perlegit librum Aristotelis
Analytic. Oxon. ; Rogerus Bacon vixit A-D. 1292.' — This
out of an old booke in the library of University College,
Oxon.

Thomas Egerton, lord EUesmere (1540-161!).

** Sir Thomas Egerton \ Lord Chancellor, was the
naturall sonne of Sir Richard Egerton of (Ridley) in
Cheshire. — This information I had 30 yeares since from
Sir John Egerton of Egerton in Cheshire, baronet, the
chiefe of that family.

He was of Lincoln s-Inne, and I have heard Sir John

» MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 32.
* At Salisbury.

Gondomar, ambassador of Spain
to James I, 1617-23.

Subst. for ' seates.'

i. e. ' Cantuar. archiepiscopus,'

Aubrey using his contraction for
arch-bishop (A. B.) instead of the
Latin.

e Sic, in Aubrey's MS., but in error :
perhaps 1 2 10 was intended.
** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 83'.

George Ent

245

Danvers say that he was so hard a student, that in three
or 4 yeares time he was not out of the howse. He had
good parts, and early came into good practise..

My old father. Colonel Sharington. Talbot f, told me
that (Gilbert, I' thinke), earle of Shrewesbury,

t He had, I . , . , .

briieve, 200 desired him to buy that noble mannour of

atlopted sonnes.

Ellesmer for him, and delivered him the money.
Egerton liked the bargain and the seate so well, that truly
he e'en kept it for himselfe, and afterwards made it his
baronry, but the money he restored to the earl of Shrews-
bury again*.

Dyed . . . , and was buried' . ...

He was a great patron to Ben Johnson, as appeares
by severall epistles to him.

His son and heire, since earle of Bridgewater,, was- an
indefatigable ringer — vide the ballad.

* Chancellor Egerton haz a monument in the south
wall of St. Martin's-in-the-fields chancell : but the upper
part ^greatest) is covered' w^ith a pue or gallerie.

Tuta frequensque via est, per amici fallere nomen ;
Tuta frequensque licet sit via, crimen habet.

Ovid (Ars .'Vmat. i. 585).

Translated by Theophilus Wodinoth : —

A safe and common, way it is by friendship to decieve.

But safe and common though it be, 'tis knavery, by your leave.

Note.

' Aubrey gives in colours the coat : — ' argent, a lion ran^ant gules between
3 pheons sable [Egerton].'

George Ent (16 . . -1679).

** G. Enf obiit Septemb. 2, 1679. Buried in the north

of the rotundo at the Temple Church. Motto of his

ring: — _ , . ., ^

(Juam totus homuncio nil est".

* Here followed, scored out as being
in error, ' he was created earle of
Bridgwater.'

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9.

A quotation jotted down as applic-

able to the Shrewsbury story, supra.

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 29.
Eldest son of Sir (ieorge : see in
the life of Thomas Triplett.

'' Petron. Satir. cap. 34 (Biicheler).

246

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Nole.

fn August, 1674, this George Ent came to Oxford, to live there. lie
lirought with him a letter of introduction from Aubrey to Anthony Wood,
which is now in MS. Ballard 14. Wood and he did not get on, and Aubrey
several times makes excuses for his friend ; e. g. Aug. 26, 1674 (M.S. Ballard 14,
fol. no), ' he is a very honest gentleman and his rhudomontades you will easily
pardon.' The quarrels, however, became fiercer. Aubrey to Wood, March 9,
167^, (^MS. Ballard 14, fol. 115): — 'I am exceeding sorry for Mr. Ent's strange-
nesse to you ; but 'tis confess't his friends must beare with him. I did not
shew him your letter; but, expostulating with him, and be being cholerique,
etc., I read only that paragraph where he '"introduced into your company two
boy-bachelors and upbrayded you with dotage" — .'

Desiderius Erasmus (1467-1536).

* ' Nascitur Erasmus Roterodamus anno 1467, Octob.
die 27, hora 16, 30': poli elevatio 54° o" — (from) David
Origanus, p. 603.

' Mercurius, Venus, Luna et Leo conjunct!, praesertim
in ascendente, faciunt oratores doctissimos. Talis ex parte
fuit constitutio Erasmi Roterodami, cujus judicium gravis-
simum, ingeniuin acutissimum, et oratio copiosissima, ex
scriptis editis eruditissimis, omnibus nota est. Habuit
enim Mercurium cum Venere in horoscopo, in signo aereo
Libram, et Jovem trigono radio Mercurium et Venerem
intuentem ' — (from ibid.) pag. 601.

Obiit anno Domini MDXXXVI, men.se Julii— vide
l)raefationem de obitu Erasmi ante Epistolas, impressas
Antverpiae MDXLV.

** Erasmus Roterodamus was like to have been a
bishop — vide Epistolas.

*** Desiderius Erasmus, Roterodamus : —

His name was ' Gerard Gerard,' which he translated
into 'Desiderius Erasmus.'

He was begot (as they say) behind dores — vide an Italian
booke in 8vo. de faviosi Bastai'di: vide Anton. Possevini
Apparatus. His father (as he says in his life, writt by
himselfe) was the tenth and youngest son of his grand-
father : who was therfore designed to be dedicated to

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 5'. ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7.

*** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 5\

Desiderius Erasmus

247

God. — ' Pater Gerardus cum Margareta (medici cujusdam
Petri filia), spe conjugii (et sunt qui intercessisse verba
dicunt), vixit.'

His father tooke great care to send him to an excellent
schoole, which was at Dusseldorf, in Cleveland. He was
a tender chitt, and his mother would not entruste him
at board*, but tooke a house there, and made him
cordialls, etc. — from John Pell, D.D.

He loved not fish, though borne in a fish towne — from
Sir George Ent, M.D.

(From) Dr. John Pell : — he was of the order of ... ,
whose habit was the same that the pest-house master
at ... (I thinke, Pisa: quaere Dr. John Pell) in Italic
wore ; and walking in that towne, people beckoned him
to goe out of the way, taking him to be the master of
the pest-house ; and he not understanding the meaning,
and keeping on his way, was there by one well basted.
He made his complaint when he came to Rome, and had
a dispensation for his habit.

He studied sometime in Queens CoUedge in Cambridge :
his chamber was over the water. Quaere Mr. Paschal
more particularly; and if a fellowe : he'' had his study
when a young scholar here.

'The staires which rise up to his studie at Queens
CoUedge in Cambridge doe bring first into two of the
fairest chambers in the ancient building ; in one of them,
which lookes into the hall and chiefe court, the Vice-
President kept in my time ; in that adjoyning, it was my
fortune to be, when fellow. The chambers over are good
lodgeing roomes ; and to one of them is a square turret
adjoyning, in the upper part of which is that study of
Erasmus ; and over it leades. To that belongs the best
prospect about the colledge, viz. upon the river, into the
corne-fields, and countrey adjoyning, etc. ; so that it
might very well consist with the civility of the House to

" .Subst. for 'would not adventure had lived in the rooms formerly oc-
liim at the boarding schoole.' cupied by Erasmus,

i.e. Andrew Paschal (B.D. 1661)

248

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

that great man (who was no fellow, and I think stayed
not long there) to let him have that study. His keeping
roome might be either the Vice-President's, or, to be neer
to him, the next; the room for his servitor that above,
over it, and through it he might goe to that studie, which
for the height, and neatnesse, and prospect, might easily
take his phancy.' This from Mr. Andrew Paschal, Rector
of Chedzoy in Somerset, June 15, ]68o.

He mentions his being there in one of his Epistles, and
blames the beere there. One, long since, wrote, in the
margent of the booke in (the) College library in which
that is sayd, ' Sicut erat in principio, etc' ; and all Mr. Pas-
chall's time they found fault with the brewer.

He had the parsonage (quaere value) of Aldington in
Kent, which is about 3 degrees perhaps a healthier place
then Dr. Pell's parsonage in Essex. I wonder they could
not find for him* better preferment ;. but I see that the
Sun and Aries being in the second house'', he was not
borne to be a rich man.

He built a schoole at Roterdam,. and endowed it, and
ordered the institution". Sir George Ent was educated
there. A statue in brasse is erected to his memory on
the bridge in Roterdam.

■ The last five bookes of Livy nowe extant, found by
Symon Grinaeus in the library of a monastery over against
the citie of Wormbs, are dedicated by Erasmus Rotero-
damus unto Charles the son of William lord Montjoy in
the reigne of Henry the eight of famous memory, king of
England, etc' — Philemon Holland's translation.

Sir Charles Blount, of Maple-Durham, in com. Oxon.
(neer Reding), was his scholar (in his Epistles there are
some to him), and desired lu asmus to doe him the favour *
to sitt for his picture, and he did so, and it is an excellent
piece : which picture my cosen John Danvers, of Baynton
(Wilts), haz : his wive's grandmother was Sir Charles
Blount's daughter or grand-daughter. 'Twas pitty such a

* Dupl. with ' find out.' "= i. e. fixed the course of study.

^ In his horoscope. * M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 6.

Desiderius Erasmus 249

rarity should have beenaliend from the family, but the issue
male is lately extinct. I will sometime or other endeavour
to gett it for Oxford Library.

They were wont to say that Erasmus was interpendent
between Heaven and Hell, till, about the year 1655 (quaere
Dr. Pell), the Conclave at Rome damned him for a here-
tique, after he had been dead .... yeares.

Vita Erasmi, Erasmo autore, is before his Colloquia,
printed at Amstelodam. MDCXLIV. But there is a good
account of his life, and also of his death, scil. at Basil, and
where buried, before his Colloquies printed at London.

His deepest divinity is where a man would least expect
it : viz. in his Colloquies in a Dialogue between a Butcher
and a Fishmonger, ''\)(Qvo<\>ayLa.

Scripsit.

Colloquia : dedicated ' optimae spei puero Johanni
Erasmio Frobenio.'

Liber utilissimus de conscribendis epistolis : dedicated
'ad Nicolaum Beraldum.'

Liber Adagiorum.

Verborum Copia.

Epistolae.

Exhortatio ad pacem ecclesiasticam.
Paraphrasis in quatuor Evangelistas.
Matth. — dedicated Carolo, Imperatori.
Joan. — dedicated Ferdinando, Catholico.
Lucas — to Henr. 8, Rex Angl.
Marcus — to Francisc. I, Gall. Rex.
Novum Testamentum transtulit : memorandum — Henry
Standish, bishop of St. Asaph, wrote a booke against his
Translation on the New Testament ; vide Sir Richard
Baker's Chronicle (Henry VHI).

If my memorie failes me not, I have read in the first
edition of Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle (quaere) that the
Syntaxis in our English Grammar was writt by Erasmus.

Memorandum :— Julius Scaliger contested with Erasmus,
but gott nothing by it, for, as Fuller sayth, he was like

250

Aubrey's ''Brief Lives'

a badger, that never bitt but he made his teeth meet. He
was the Up6hpo[x.os of our knowledge, and the man that
made the rough and untrodden wayes smooth and
passable

Anthony Ettrick (1622-1703).

* Anthony Ettrick, esq., borne at Berford in the parish
of Wimburne-Minster com. Dorset, November the 15th
(viz. the same day that Queen Katherine), A.D. 1622 —
quaere horam — on a Sunday. His mother would say
he was a Sundaye's bird.

His eldest son, Mr. William Ettrick, was borne also on
the 15 of November, A.D. 1651.

Maried Aug. 16^1.

Reader at the Middle Temple 167-.

John Evelyn (1620-1706).

** John Evelyn, esq., Regiae Societatis Socius, drew
his first breath at Wotton in the county of Surrey', A.l).
1620, 31 October, 1"" hora mane.

' In MS. Wood F. 49, fol. 39, is the cover of Aubrey's Surrey Collcdioin : —
' An essay towards the description of the county of Surrey, by Mr. John Aubrey,
Fellow of the Royall Societie.' On the back of this, fol. 39', Aubrey has the
note : — ' Note that the annotations marked J. E. are of John Evelyn, esq., R S.S.'
These Surrey collections are now MS. Aubr. 4.

Thomas Fairfax, 3rd baron (1611-1671).

*** Thomas, lord Fairfax of Cameron, Lord Gencrall of
the Parliament armie : — Memorandum, when Oxford was
surrendred (24° Junii 1646), the first thing generali
Fairfax did was to sett a good guard of soldiers to preserve
the Bodleian Library. 'Tis said there was more hurt
donne by the cavaliers (during their garrison) by way of
embezilling and cutting-off chaines of bookes, then there

" Dupl. with ' easie.'
* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 37*.
** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 94.
*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 60.

Wood 514, no. 19*, is a pa^s
granted at the time of the siege, with
Sir Thomas Fairfax's signature and
seal.

George Feriby

was since. He was a lover of learning, and had he not
taken this speciall care, that noble library had been utterly-
destroyed — quod N. B. ; for there were ignorant senators
enough who would have been contented to have had it so.
This I doe assure you from an ocular witnesse, E. W. esq.''
He haz a copie of verses before in folio.

George Feriby (1573-16..).

* In tempore Jacobi one Mr. George Ferraby was
parson of Bishops Cannings"in Wilts : an excellent musitian,
and no ill poet. When queen Anne came to Bathe, her
way lay to traverse the famous Wensdyke, which runnes
through his parish. He made severall of his neighbours good
musitians, to play with him in consort, and to sing. Against
her majesties comeing, he made a pleasant pastorall, and
gave her an entertaynment with his fellow songsters in
.shepherds' weeds and bagpipes, he himself like an old
bard. After that wind musique was over, they sang their
pastorall eglogues (which I have, to insert in to liber B.).

He was one of the king's chaplaines. 'Twas he caused
the 8 bells to be cast there, being a very good ringer.

He hath only one sermon in print that I know of, at the
funerall of Mr. (John) Drew of the Devises, called Life's
Farwell.

He was demy, if not fellow, of Magdalen College, Oxon.

** Thomas Ferraby, formerly a demy or fellow of
Magdalen College, Oxon, minister of Bishops Cannings,
Wilts, was an ingeniose man and a good musitian and
composer.

He treated queen Anne at Wednsdytch in his parish
with a pastorall of his owne writing and composing and
sung by his neighbours clad in shepherds' weeds, whom he
brought-up to musique.

He gave another entertayment in Cote-field to king

" Edmund Wyld (?). ** Aubrey in M.S. Wood F. 39, fol.

* Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 369 : Aug. 15, 16X2.

136 : Aug. 9, 1671. In error for ' George.'

252

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

James, with carters singing, with whipps in tlieir hands ;
and afterwards, a footeball play.

This parish would have challenged all England for
musique. ringing, and footeball play.

He was one of his Majestie's chaplaines. One sermon
is among my grandfather Lyte's old bookes in the country,
at the funerall of (John) Drew, esquire, called Life's
fareivell, printed . . .

Nicholas Piske ( 1 5 . . -i 66 . .).

* Dr. . . . Fisk a physitian, practised physick and
astrologie. and had good practise in both, in Convent
Garden, London. Mr. Gadbury acknowledges in print
to have had his greatest helpes in astrological! knowledge
from him, and sayes that he was an able artist.

He wrote'' and printed a treatise of the conjunction of
Saturne and Jupiter.

Obiit about 20 yeares since and buryed in Convent
Garden.

Thomas Flatman (16 .. -1688).

** Mr. Thomas Flatman, quondam Novi Collegii socius,
then a barrister of the Inner Temple, an excellent painter
and poet. The next terme his poems will be in print.

*** Mr. Thomas Flatman ^ died at his house in Fleet
street on Thursday December <6th), buried the 9th of
that moneth, at St. Bride's^ neer the railes of the com-
munion table, in the grave with his sonne, on whom he
layd a fair marble gravestone with an inscription and
verses. His father is living yet. at least 80, a clarke of
the Chancery.

**** Thomas Flatman, filius, natus 1673, Oct. 4, hora
18 P.M. This native dyed of the small pox about
Christmas (December) 1682.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 10. Mus. Libr.

» ' Fisk, M.D., or so called': ** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.

Aubrey's note in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 5. 135' : Aug. g, 1671.

* 'An astrological discourse' by *** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 8*.
N. F., 1650, i2mo, is in the Brit. **** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 58.

St'r IVilltam Fleehvood 253

Noie.

' Anthony Wood detects an oversight : — ' Why do you not set downe the
yeare ? ' Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 386', says, ' Thomas Flatman dyed in
1688, before Christmas.'

Thomas Flattman, of Red Cross street, Ali'ersgate, London, at Winchester
si-hool from Michaelmas 1648, was admitted probationer of New College .to an
Arts fellowship ! 11 Sept. 1654, and fellow in 1656; but resigned in 1657,
betaking himsL-lf to the study of Law.

Sir William Fleetwood (] 535-1594).

* Sir Miles ^ Fleetwood, Recorder of London, was of
the Middle Temple ; was Recorder of London, when
King James came into England ; made his harangue to the
City of London {avTavaKkaais), ' When I consider your
wealth I doe admire your wisdome, and when I consider
your wisdome I doe admire your wealth.' It was a two-
handed rhetorication, but the citizens tooke (it) in the
best sense.

He was a very severe'' hanger of highwaymen, so that
the fraternity were resolved to make an example of him :
which they executed in this manner: They lay in wayte
for him not far from Tyburne, as he was to come from
his house at . . . in Bucks ; had a halter in readinesse ;
brought him under the gallowes, fastned the rope about
his neck and on the trcC: his hands tied behind him (and
servants bound), and then left him to the mercy of his
horse, which he called Ba/l. So he cryed ' Ho, Ball ! Ho,
Ball ! ' and it pleased God that his horse stood still, till
somebody came along, which was halfe a quarter of an
hour or +. He ordered that this horse should be kept as
long as he would live, and it was so — he lived till 1646 : —
from Mr. Thomas Bigge, of Wicham**.

One day goeing on foote to Yield-hall, with his clarke
behind him, he was surprised in Cheapside with a sudden
and violent looseness neer the Standard. He" . . , bade
his man hide his face'' . . .

* MS. Anbr. 8, fol. 16. title, noting between the lines, 'his

* In error for ' William.' Worship ; quaere, if Honour.'
Dupl. with ' a great.' ^ i.e. Wycombe.

' Aubrey hesitated about his correct » A line of text is suppressed here.

254

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

His seate was at Missenden in the county of Bucks,
where his descendents still remaine.
He is buried at ... in com. Bucks.

John Fletcher (i579-]625).

* John Fletcher, invited to goe with a knight into
Norfolke or Suffolke in the plague-time 1625, stayd but
to make himselfe a suite of cloathes ; fell sick of the
plague, and dyed.

** Mr. John Fletcher, poet: in the great plague, 1625,
a knight of Norfolk (or Suffolke) invited him into the
countrey. He stayed but to make himselfe a suite of
cloathes, and while it was makeing, fell sick of the plague
and dyed*. This I had (166S) from his tayler, who is
now a very old man, and clarke of St. Mary Overy's.

John Florio (1545 ?-i625).

*** John Florio was borne in London in the beginning
of king Edward VI, his father and mother flying from the
Valtolin ('tis about Piedmont or Savoy) to London for

religion : W'aldenses. The family is originally of Siena,

where the name is to this day.

King Edward dying, upon the persecution of queen
Mary, they fled back again into their owne countrey,
where he was educated.

Afterwards he came into England, and was by king
James made ' informator ' to prince Henry for the Italian
and French tongues, and clarke to the closet to queen Anne.

Scripsit : —

First and second fruits, being two books of the in-
struction to learne the Italian tongue :

Dictionary :
and translated Montagne's Essayes.

He dyed of the great plague at Fulham anno 1625.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 45'. *** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39,
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 54. fol. 133: June 10, 1671. Ibid., fol.

* 'And was bur}ed August 29th, 131, Aubrey says the infoimalion
1625*: Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, was from Florio's grandson, 'Mr.
fol. 253: Jan. 31, 167^. Molias.'

Sir Edward Ford

255

Sir Edward Ford (1605-1670).

* Edward Ford ^, esquire, printed 5 or 6 sheetes in 4to —
Mr. Edmund Wyld haz it —

' A designe for bringing a river from Rickmansworth
in Hartfordshire to St. Gyles in the fields, the benefits of
it declared and the objections against it answered, by
Edward Ford of Harting in Sussex, esq., London, printed
for John Clarke, 1641.' Memorandum that now (1684)
London is growne so populous and big that the new river
of Middleton can serve the pipes to private houses but
twice a weeke, quod N. B.

I beleeve this was afterwards Sir Edward Ford, quondam
a gentleman commoner of Trinity College, Oxon : de quo
vide in prima parte A. W.

Vide in my trunke of papers a printed sheet of his
of . . .

['Twas*' he built the high water-house over against
Somerset howse, pulled downe since the restauration
because a nusance.]

** ' Experimental proposalls how the king may have
money to pay and maintaine his fleetes with ease to the
people, London may be re-built and all proprietors
satisfied, money be lent at 6 //. per cent on pawnes, and
the fishing trade sett-up ; and all without strayning or
thwarting any of our lawes or customes,' by Sir Edward
Forde, London, printed by W. Godbid, 1666 — a 4to
pamphlet.

*** Sir Edward Ford s body was brought over into
England, and buried at Harting Church in Sussex with
his ancestors — obiit Sept. 3.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 60'. Aubrey
gives in trick thie coat : — 'azure, a
chevron wavy between 3 griffins
segreant or.'

" An erased note, ibid., says : ' He
proposed to a parliament, tempore
regis Jacobi, a way of bringing water
to London from Richmondsworth, and
printed a little booke of it, which

Mr. Edmtmd Wyld has, and is ex-
ceeding scarce : see it, and take the
title."

'' This sentence is scored out.

** Aubrey, in M.S. Wood F. 39, fol.
273 : May 30, 1674.

*** Aubrey, in M.S. Wood F. 39, fol.
135' : Aug. 9, 1671.

256

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

His brother tells me that this August he is 65 years old
and that Sir Edward was borne in Aprill and one yeare
and a half older then he.

Sir Edward Ford first proposed his invention, the way
of farthings for this nation, and was opposed. He could
not gett a patent here : prince Rupert would have it, if
he could. So then he went into Ireland and dyed fortnight
before he had effected the getting of his patent.

* Sir Edward Ford writt no books, but two or three
pamphletts of a sheet or so, which I have some where, and
have informed you of. One was an ingeniose proposall
of a publique banke, as I remember, for the easy raysing
of money and to avoyd the griping usurers and to promote
trade.

Samuel Foster (15.. -1652).

** From Mr. Bayes, the watchmaker, his nephew : — ■
Mr. Samuel Foster was borne at Coventry (as I take it) ;
he was sometime usher of the schoole there. Was
professor of ... at Gresham Colledge, London, . . .
yeares ; where, in his lodgeing, on the wall in his chamber,
is, of his owne hand draweing, the best diall I doe verily
beleeve in the whole world. Inter etc. it shewes you what
a clock 'tis at Jerusalem, Gran Cairo, etc. It is drawen
very artificially. He dyed . . . July 1652, buryed at
St. Peter's the Poor, in Broad-street, London. A neighbour
of Mr. Paschall's, neer Bridgewater, in Somerset, hath all
his MSS. : which I have seen, I thinke \ foot thick in 4to.

John Foxe (1517-1587).

*** Adjoyning" is this inscription of John Fox.
Christo S. S.

Johanni Foxo, ecclesiae Anglicanae martyrologo fidelissimo, anti-
quitatis historicae indagatori sagacissimo, Evangelicae veritatis
propi gnatoii acerrimo, thaumaturge admirabili qui martyres Marianos

* Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.
192" : Jan. 18, 167!.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 14'.
*** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 17.

" To the monument of John Speed
in the chancel of St. Giles Cripplegate.

' Printed also in Stowe's Survey ' :
Anthony Wood's note.

Nicholas Fuller. Thomas Fuller 257

t.inquani Phoenices ex cineribus redivivos praestitit, patri suo onini
pietatis officio in primis colendo, Samuel Foxus, illius primogenitus,
hoc monumentum posuit, non sine lachr>'mis.

Obiit die xviii mensis April.
Anno Salutis 1587, jam
Septuagenarius.
Vita vitae mortalis est spes
vitae immortalis.

Nicholas Fuller (1557-162!).

* The 13th of February, 1623, Mr. Nicholas Fuller*,
rector of AUington, was buried — ex registro.

Thomas Puller (1608-1661).

** Thomas Fuller, D.D., borne at Orwinclef in Nortli-
t J. Dreyden, amptoushire. His father was minister there,

poete, was . . , .

tome here. and maried . . . one of the sisters of John
Davenant, bishop of Sarum. — From Dr. Edward Davenant.

He was a boy of a pregnant witt, and when the bishop
and his father were discoursing, he would be by and
hearken, and now and then putt in, and sometimes beyond
expectation, or his yeares.

He was of a middle stature ; strong sett ; curled haire :
a very working head, in so much that, walking and
meditating before dinner, he would eate-up a penny loafe,
not knowing that he did it. His naturall mcmorie was
very great, to which he had added the art of ineinoric :
he would repeatc to you forwards and backwards all the
signes from Ludgate to Charing- crosse.

He was fellow of Sydney College in Cambridge, where
he wrote his Divine Poemes. He was first minister of
Broad Windsor in Dorset, and prebendary of the church
of Sarum. He was sequestred, being a royalist, and was
afterwards minister of Waltham Abbey, and preacher of
the Savoy, where he died, and is buryed.

* Aubrey in Wood MS. F. 39, fol. ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 18'.
171 : May 10, 1672. ^ Dnpl. with 'strong made.'

* Supra, p. 31.

I. S

258 Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

He was a pleasant facetious person, and a botitis sochis.

Scripsit ' Holy Warre " ; ' Holy State' ; • Pisgah Sight' ;
'England's Worthies'; severall Sermons, among others,
a funerall sermon on Henry Danvers, esq., the e'dest son
of Sir John Danvers, (and only (son) by his second wife.
Dantesey), brother to Henry earl of Danby, preached at
Lavington in Wilts 16.54: obiit 19" Novembr.

He was minister of Waltham Crosse in Essex, and also
of the Savoy in the Strand, where he dyed (and lies
buryed) not long after the restauracion of his majestic.

Simon Fiirbisher (1585-16..).

* Symon Furbisher, the famous jugler, natus 30 May.
15^5, 9" 30' A.M.

Jolin Gadbury (1627-1704).

** Mr. Gadbury the astrologer's father, a taylor, takes
the measure of a young lady for a gowne and clappes up
a match.

Note.

Anthony Wood in the Ath. Oxon. gives a more correct version of this
story. William Gadbury, a farmer, of Wheatley, co. Oxon, made a stolen
maiTiage with a daughter of Sir John Curson of Waterperry. Their son, John
Gadbury, was apprentice to an Oxford tailor, before he set up as an astrologer.

The correspondence between Aubrey and Wood in MS. Wood F. 51, shows
that the publication of this story in Wood's Alhenae was, very naturally,
resented by Gadbury. Aubrey to Wood, Aug. 20, 1692, Gadbury is ' extremely
incens't against you : ... he sayes that you have printed lyes concerninj; him.'
Aubrey to Wood, Oct. 21, 1693, ' I shewed your letter to Mr. Gadbury, wherin
you tell him that what he desires should be amended as to himselfe shall be
donue in the Appendix,' i.e. the third volume of the Alhenae, on which Wood
was then at work, ' to be printed : but he huft and pish't, saying that your
copies are flown abroad and the scandalls are irrevocable and that he will have
a fling at you in print to vindicate himselfe.' Wood was blind to the indiscretion
he had committed : Wood to Aubrey, Nov. 1692, MS. Ballard 14, fol. 153 : —
' I wonder at nothing more then that Mr. Gadbury should take it amiss of
those things that I ?ay of him : for whereas the generality of scholars did
formerly take him to have been bred an academian, becxuse he was borne at
Oxon, and so, consequently, not to be much admird, now their eyes being
opend and knowing that his education hath been mechanical they esteem him
a prodigie of parts and therfore are much cesirous that his picture may hang in
the public gallery at the schooles.'

* MS. Aubr 23. fol. 121.

** MS. .Aubr. 21, p. II.

Thomas Gale

259

Thomas Gale (1636-1702).

(MS. Aubr. 6, foil. 3, 4. This catalogue is not in
Aubrey's hand : perhaps it is Gale's autograph, sent to
Aubrey in answer to a request for a list of his books.)

L ibri cditi ciira ct opera TJio. Gale.

Psalterium juxta exemplar Alexandrinum bibliothecae
regiae : Graece, 8vo.

Scriptores mytholo ^ici ; Palaephatus, Cornutus, etc. :
Graece, 8vo.

Historiae poeticae scriptores ; Apollodorus, Eratosthenes,
etc. ; Graece, 8vo.

Rhetores antiqui ; Demetrius, Phalereus, Tiberius, etc. :
Graece, 8vo.

lamblichus Chalcidensis de mysteriis Aegyptiorum, etc. :
Graece, folio.

Johannes Eriugenan, cum notis : Lat., fol.

S. Maximi expositiones in S. Gregorium Nazianzenum :
Graece, fol.

Historiae Britannicae, Anglo-Saxonicae, Anglo-Danicae,
etc., scriptores XX nunquam prius editi, a**"' volumini-
bus, ffol.

Libri Graeci et Latini praelo parati.

Pentateuchus juxta exemplar Alexandrinum bibliothecae
regiae, cum notis, etc. : Graece, fol.

Liber prophetae Isaiae juxta exemplar Alexandrinum :
Graec^;, cum commentario, folio.

Basilii, Chrysostomi. Andreae Cretcnsis, aliorumque Grae-
corum patrum Homiliae, nondum editae magno numcro,
Graece, fol.

lamblichus de vita Pythagorae et ejusdem ad philoso-
phiam protreptici, ex codicibus MSS. emendatus et nova
versione donatus : 8vo.

lamblichus de mathematica secundum Pythagoricus
nunc primum ex MSS. Codd. editus, cum versione
Latina : 8vo.

S 2

26o

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Leonis imperatoris et Basilii cubicularii de re navali
Graecoruni opuscula, nunc prinium ex codd. Graecis eruta
cum versione Latina : accedit his Appendix eorum omnium
lacorum quae apud Graecos et Latinos scriptores extant de
re navali : Svo.

Tertium et ultimum volumen Historicorum gentis
Angliae ab Henrico 111° usque ad Henricum VI I""
nunquam hactenus editorum : fol.

Antonini Itinerarium per Britanniam, cum commentario
in quo multa ad chorographiam Britanniae explicandam
adducuntur : Svo.

Venerabilis Bedae Historia ecclesiastica, ad antiquis-
sinios codices emaculata et multis locis restituta : fol.

Matthaei Paris Historia. ad codices antiquos emendata
et multis repurgata erroribus, una cum copiosis notis et
nionumentis coaevis : fol.

Codex legum antiquarum gentis Anglicanae ab Ethel-
berto rege Cantii ad Ed\ ardum primum : in hac collectione
continentur quam plurimae leges Saxonicae et aliae
nondum editae practer eas quas Lambertus edidit: fol.

The History of Edward the zd and of the troubles
which happen'd in his reigne, extracted out of the rolls
of the Tower, together with those rolls and other authentick
evidences at large : ffol.

The Baronage of England in HI parts: i*', of its
original : 2'^, of its continuance and alteration ; 3^, of its
rights and privilidges.

William Grascoigne (i5i 2 ?-i644).

* There was a most gallant gentleman and excellent
mathematician that dyed ^ in the late warres, one Mr. Gas-
coigne, of good estate in Yorkshire ; to whom Sir Jonas
Moore acknowledged to have received most of his know-
ledge. He was bred up by the Jesuites. I thought to
have taken memoires of him ; but deferring it. death

* MS. Balkrd 14, I'ol. 129: a letter fiom Aubrey to Anthony Wood, of
date March 19, i6Sf. » Dnpl. with - killed.'

Henry Gellibrand

261

took away Sir Jonas. But I will sett downe what I
remember.

* . . . Gascoignc. esq., of Middleton, neer Leeds, York-
shire, was killed at the battaile of Marston-moore, about
the age of 24 or 2 3 at most.

Mr. (Richard) Towneley, of Towneley. in Lancashire,
esq., haz his papers. — From Mr. Edmund Flamsted, who
sayes he found out the way of improveing telescopes before
Des Cartes.

Mr. Edmund Flamsted tells me. Sept. 1682, that 'twas
at Yorke fight he was slaine.

Henry Gellibrand (1597-1637).

** Henry Gellibrand was borne in London. He was of
Trinity Colledge in Oxon (vide Anthony Wood's Antiq.
Oxon.). Dr. Potter and Dr. (William) Hobbes knew him.
Dr. Hannibal Potter was his tutor, and preached his
funeral sermon in London. They told me that he was
good for little a great while, till at last it happened
accidentally, that he heard a Geometrie'' lecture. He
was so taken with it, that immediatcl)' he fell to studying
it, and quickly made great progresse in it. The fine diall
over the Colledge Library is of his owne doeing. Con-
struxit Logarithmos Henrici Briggs, jussu Autoris tw
fxaKapiTov, 1631. He was Astronomy Professor in Collegio
Greshamensi, Lond. Scripsit Trigonometriam. He being
one time in the country, shewed the tricks of drawing
what card you touched, which was by combination with
his confederate, who had a string that was tyed to his
leg, and the leg of the other, by which his confederate
gave him notice by the touch ; but by this trick, he was
reported to be a conjuror.

Vide Canta-buiy' s Doome" about Protestant martyrs,
(inserted in) the Almanac ; (and) that he kept conventicles
in Gresham College.

• M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 31. * Subst. for ' mathematical!.'

** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 49. Dupl. with ' telling.'

By William Prynne.

262

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

. . . Gerard.

* One Mr. Gerard, of Castle Carey in Somerset, collected
the antiquities of that county, Dorset, and that of Devon :
which I cannot for my life retrive. His executor had
them, whose estate was seized for debt ; and (they)
utterly lost.

Adrian Gilbert ( — - — ).

** . . . Ralegh 7>i. Katherine Champernon w. . . . Gilbert

I

Sir \\ alter Ralegh Adrian Gilbert,

chymist ; sine prole.
This Adrian Gilbert was an excellent chymist, and
a great favourite of Mary, countesse of Pembroke, with
whom he lived and was her operator. He was a man of
great parts, but the greatest buffoon in England ; cared
not what he said to man or woman of what quality soever.
Some curious ladies of our country have rare receipts of his.
'Twas he that made the curious wall about RoUington parke
at Wilton.

*** Mr. Elias Ashmole saycs that amongst his papers
of John Dee or Dr. (Richard) Xapier he finds that one
of them held great correspondence with Adrian Gilbert.
Quaere of him de hoc.

Alexander Gill (1567-1635).
Alexander Gill (1597-1642).

Dr. Gill, the father, was a verj- ingeniose person,
as may appeare by his writings. Notwithstanding he
had moodes and humours, as particularly his whipping-
fitts : —

As Paedants out of the schoole-boies breeches
doe clawe and curry their owne itches

Hudibras, part . . . canto ....

* MS. AVood F. 39, fol. 128, a ** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 74'.
letter from Aubrey to Anthony Wood, *** M.S. Anbr. 6, fol. 79'.
of date Nov. 17, 1670. **** MS. .■Vubr. S, fol. 51'.

Alexander Gill

263

This Dr. Gill whipped . . . Duncomb, who was not long
after a colonel of dragoons at Edgehill-fight, taken pissing
against the wall. He had his sword by his side, but the
boyes surprized him : somebody had throwen a stone in
at the windowe ; and they seised on the first man they
lighted on. * I thinke his name was Sir jfo/in D. (Sir John
Denham told me the storie), and he would have cutt the
doctor, but he never went abroad but to church, and then
his army went with him. He complained to the councill,
but it became ridicule, and so his revenge sank.

Dr. Triplet came to give his master a visit, and he
wliip't him. The Dr. gott . , . Pitcher, of Oxford, who
had a strong * and a sweet base, to sing this song under
the schoole windowes, and gott a good guard to secure
him with swords, etc., and he was preserved from the
examen of the little myrmidons which issued-out to attach
him ; but he was so frighted that he bes .... him selfe
most fearfully.

In Paul's church-yard in London
There dwells a noble firker ;
Take heed you that pass
Lest you tast of his lash

Still doth he cry

Take him up, take him up, Sir,

Untrusse with expedition.
Oh the birchen tool
That he winds i' th' school

Frights worse than an inquisition.

If that you chance to passe there.
As doth the man of blacking ;
He insults like a puttock
O're the prey of the buttock
With a whip't a . . . sends him packing.
Still doth he cry, etc.

* MS. Aiibr. 8, fol. 52.

" Dupl. with ' loud.

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

For when this well truss't trounser
Into the school doth enter
With his napkin at his nose
And his orange stuft with cloves
On any .... he'l venter.

Still doth, etc.
A French-man voyd of English
Enquiring for Paul's steeple
His Pardonnez-moy
He counted a toy.
For he whip't him before all people.

Still doth he cry, etc.
A Welsh-man once was whip't there
Untill he did bes .... him
His Ciids-phittera-nail
Could not prevail
For he whip't the Cambro-Britan.

Still doth he cry, etc.
* A captain of the train'd-band
Yclept* Cornelius Wallis
He whip't him so sore
Both behind and before
He notch t his .... like tallyes.

Still doth he cry, etc.
For a piece of beef and turnip,
Neglected, with a cabbage,
He took up the pillion
Of his bouncing mayd Jillian
. And sowc't her like a baggage.

Still doth he cry, etc.
A porter came in rudely
And disturb'd the humming concord,
He took-up his frock
And he payd his nock
And sawc't him with his owne cord.

Still doth he cry. etc.
* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 52'. ' Dupl. with 'simam'd.'

Alexander Gill

Gill upon Gill^ or
Gill's .... uncas d, unstript, unbound.

' Sir,

Did )02t mc this epistle send,
Which is so vile and lewdly pen'd,
In which no line I can espie
Of sense or true orthographic.'
So slovenly it goes,
In verse and prose,

For which I must pull down your hose.'

' O good sir ! ' then cry'd he,
' In private let it be,
And doe not sawce me openly.'

' Yes, sir, I'le sawce you openly
Before Sound ^ and the company ;
And that none of thee may take heart
Though thou art a batchelour of Art,
Though thou hast payd thy fees
For thy degrees :

Yet I will make thy .... to sneeze.

And now I doc begin

To thresh it on thy skin

For now my hand is in, is in.

First, for the themes which thou me sent

Wherin much non.sense thou didst vent.

And for that barbarous piece of Greek

For which in Gartheus thou didst seeke.

And for thy faults not few,

In tongue Hebrew,

For which a grove of birch is due.

Therfore mc not beseech

To pardon now thy breech

For I will be thy . . . .-leech, . . . .-leech.

Next for the offen.se that thou didst give
When as in Trinity thou didst live,

" 1 )ial()giie-wise betwet-n Alexander Interlinear note : — ' The iisht i .'

(Jill, father, and .Alexander Gill, son. Interlinear note : — ' Rowland.'

266

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

And hadst thy .... in Wadham College mult

For bidding sing Qiiicunque vnlt^

And for thy blanketting^

And many such a thing

For which thy name in towne doth ring

And none deserves so ill

To heare as bad as Gill —

Thy name it is a proverb still,

Thou vented hast such rascall geer.

Next thou a preacher were

For which the French-men all cry Fie !

To heare such pulpitt-ribauldrie

And sorry were to see

So worthy a degree

So ill bestowed on thee.

But glad am I to say

The ^Masters made the(e) stay

Till thou in quarto ^ didst them pray.

But now remaines the vilest thing,

The alehouse barking 'gainst the king

And all his brave and noble peeres;

For which thou ventredst for thv eares.

And if thou hadst thy right,

Cutt off they had been quite

And thou hadst been a rogue in sight.

But though thou mercy find
Yet rie not be so kind
But rie jerke thee behind, behind.'

Joseph Glanville (1636-1680).
* Joseph Glanville, D.D. : — vide his funerall sermon^ in
St. Paul's church-yard at the signe of ... .

" Marginal note : — ' When he was MS. has ' ventest.'

dark of Wadham College and being Marginalnote: — 'Aknave'stongi c

by his place to begin a Psalme, he and a whore's tayle who can rule ? '

flung out of church, bidding the people Marginal uote : — 'He did sitt 4

sing to the praise and glory of God times for his degree.'

qtiii unque ■viilt.^ * MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9".

'' Marginalnote: — ' he was tossed in ' i.e. Aubrey remembered having

a blanket.' seen the sermon in a bookseller's

Owen Glendower. Robert Glover 267

* Dr. Joseph Glanville, minister of Bathe, was taken
ill at Bridgevvater. and returned home and dyed, Tuesday,
November 9, 1680, and lies interred in . . . at Bath abbey.

He was author of The zealous and inipartiall Protestant,
4to, stitch't, printed by Henry Brome, London, i6(<Si):
his name is not to it. Had he lived the Parliament would
have questioned him for it.

Owen Glendower ( 1359 (?)-i4i5).

** Quaere if you can find of what howse the famous Owen
Glendower was. He was of Lincolns Inne, and dyed
obscurely (I know where) in this county (Herefordshire),
keeping of sheepe.

. . . Skydmore of Kenchurch married his sister, and
. . . Vaughan of Hergest was his kinsman ; and these
two mayntayned him secretly in the ebbe of his fortune.

Robert Glover (1544-1588).

*** The learned herald, Mr. . . . Glover, was borne at

in Somersetshire ; vide Fuller's ' Worthies ' de

hoc.

I have heard Sir \Vm. Dugdale say, that though
Mr. Camden had the name, yet Mr. Glover was the best
herald that did ever belong to the office. He tooke a great
deale of paines in searching the antiquities of severall
counties. He wrote a most delicate hand, and pourtrayed
finely.

There is (or late was) at a coffee-house at the upper
end of Bell-yard (or Shier-lane), under his owne hand,
a Visitation of Cheshire, a most curious piece, which Sir
Wm. Dugdale wish't me to see ; and he told me that
at York, at some ordinary house (I thinke a house of
entertainment) he sawe such an elaborate piece of York-
shire. But severall counties he surveyd, and that with

shop; z{. supra, 115. The serniou ** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.
was by Joseph Pleydell. 138' : .Sept. 2, 1671.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 2. *** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 98,

268

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

great exactncs, but after his death they were all scattered
abroad, and fell into ignorant hands.

He lies interred neer Mr. Foxe's monument (who
wrote the JMartyrologie) in St. Giles' Cripplegate Chancell,
but I could not find any inscription concerning him.

Quaere the register when he was buried. 'Tvvas Mr.
John Gibbons^, Blewmantle, told me he was buried here.
I thinke Mr. Glover was Blewmantle.

Jonathan Goddard (i 61 7-1674).

* Jonathan Godard, M.D., borne at Greenwich (or
Rochester, where his father commonly lived ; but, to my
best remembrance, he told me at the former). His father
was a ship-carpenter.

He was of Magdalen hall, (3.\on. He was one of the
College of Physitians. in London ; Warden of Merton
College, O.xon, ditrajite perducUione ; physitian to Oliver
Cromwell, Protector ; went with him into Ireland. Quaere
if not also sent to him into Scotland, when he was so
dangerously ill there of a kind of calenture or high fever,
which made him mad that he pistolled one or two of his
commanders that came to visit him in his delirious rage.

Collegii Greshamensis Praelector medicinae ; where he
lived, and had his laboratory *■ for Chymistrie. He was
an admirable Chymist.

He had three or fower medicines wherwith he did all
his cures : a great ingredient was Radix Scrpentaria. —
From Mr. Mich. Weekes, who looked to his stills.

He intended to have left his library and papers to the
Royall Societie, had he made his will, and had not dyed
so suddainly So that his bookes (a good collection)
are fallen into the hands of a sister's son, a scholar in
Caius Coll. Camb. But his papers are in the hands of

* Aubrey in M.S. Tanner 25, fol.
50, says ' Day-latality was writt by
Mr. . . . Gibbons, Blewmantle. but
1 have added severall notes to it.'

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. i\\

^ MS. has 'praelectoris,' by a slip.

Subit. for ' stills.'
•* Dupl. with ' untimely.'
Subst. for ' of a niece of his who
maried a tradesman.'

Tliouias Goodwyn

269

Sir John Bankes, Reg. Soc. Socius. There were his
lectures at Chirurgions' hall ; and two manuscripts in 4to,
thicke volumnes, readic for the presse, one was a kind
of Pharmacopoeia (his nephew has this). 'Tis possible
his rare universall medicines aforesayd might be retrived
amongst his papers. My Lord Brounker has the recipe
but will not impart it.

He was fellowc of the Royall Societie, and a zealous
member for the improvement of naturall knowledge amongst
them. They made him their drudge, for when any curious
experiment was to be donne they would lay" the taske
on him.

He loved wine and was most curious in his wines, was
hospitable, but dranke not to excesse, but it happened
that comeing from his club at the Crowne taverne in
Bloomesbery, a foote, 1 1 at night, he fell downe dead of
an apoplexie in Cheapside, at Wood-street end, March 24,
Anno Domini 167!, aetat. ,",6. Sepult. in the church of
Great St. Helen, Londini.

Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey (1621-1678).

* Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey was of Christ's Church in
Oxon,and chamber-fellowc to my coscn W(illiam) Morgan
of Wells, in Peckwater, in north-east angle.

He was afterwards of Grayes Inne, and chamber-fellow
to my counsell, Thomas Corbet, esq. I thinke Mr. Corbet
told me he was called to the barre. But by match, or &c.
he concieved he should gaine more by turning ivood-
monger.

The rest of his life and death is lippis ct tousoribns
notuni.

[Knighted for his great service done in London fire,
1666.]

Thomas Goodwyn.
** . . . Goodwyn : he was borne in Norfolke : of the
University of, I beleeve, Cambridge.

^ Subst. for ' impose.' Note added by Anthony Wood.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 59". ** MS. Anbr. 8, fol. 15^

270

Attbrcys 'Brief Lives'

He was ... of the court of Ludlowe (in which place
Jack Butts was his successor).

He maried first Barbara daughter of Sir W.

Long, of Draycot-Cerne, in Wilts : ad, . . . Brabazon, of
. . . Herefifordshire ; obiit sine prole.

He was a generall scolar. and had a delicate witt ; was
a great historian, and an excellent poet. He wrote, among
otherthings, . . . ,a Pastorall, acted at Ludlowe about 1637,
an exquisite piece. The Journey into France, crept in bishop
Corbet's poems, was made by him, by the same token it
made him misse of the preferment of ... at court, Mary
the queen-mother remembring how he had abused her
brother, the king of France ; which made him to accept
of the place at Ludlowe, out of the view of the world.

When he sat in court there, he was wont to have Thuanus,
or Tacitus, or etc. before him. He was as fine a gentleman
as any in England, though now forgott. Obiit, at or about
Ludlowe, circiter . . . (quaere Sir J. H. and Sir James
Long).

The Journey tnto France was made by Mr. Thomas
Goodwyn, of Ludlowe, . . . ; certaine.

Thomas Gore (163^-1684).

* Genesis Thomae Gore armigeri by Charles Snell,
esq : —

'Tuesday, 20"^° Martii 163J, j 1'' 00' P.M. tempus

aestimatum geneseos Thomae Gore, de Alderton (Wilts),

armigeri."

^ Aote.

This Thomas Gore, a wiitcr on heraldry, was a correspondent of Anthony
Wood : see Clark's Wood's Life and l^imcs, ii. 140, iv. 229. Aubrey habitually,
in his letters to Wood, refers contemptuously to him as ' the cuckold of
Alderton.'

Sir Arthur Gorges (15.. -1625).

** 'Sir Arthur Gorges'' was buried August the 22"*
1661 ' — ex regis 1 7-0 Chclsey .

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 51 : also in M.S. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 102.
** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 16'. " Eldest son of the translator.

John Gower. John Graunt 271

/;/ obitiiin illustrissimi viri D\ Arthiiri
Gorges, eqiiitis aiiraii, epicedium.

Te deflent nati, natae, celeljerrima conjux ;
Te dolet argutae magna caterva scholae.
♦ transrulit At Lucanus y ait se vivo non moriturum
Liicanum. Arthurum Gorges : transtulit ipse decus.

Aetliereas cupiens Arthurus adire per auras
Et nonns ex ejus nomine natus adest.

In the aisle of the Gorges, viz. south side of the church
of Chelsey on an altar monument made for his father or
grandfather — ' D^ Arthur Gorge, eq. aur., filius ejus natu
maximus.'

John Gower (1327 ?-i4o8).

* John Gower, esq., poet, has a very worshipfuU monu-
ment in the north side of the church of St. Saviour's
Southvvarke ; an incumbent figure : about his head is
a chaplet of gold —

meriti, etc. —
and a silver collar of SSS about his neck.

Vide iterum, and also his booke.

John Graunt (1620-1674).

** Captaine John Graunt (afterwards, major) was borne
(ex MS*° patris sui) 24" die Aprilis, \ an houre before eight
a clock on a Munday morning, the signe being in the
9 degree of Gemini that day at 12 a clock, Anno Domini
1620.

He was the sonne of Henry Graunt, who was borne
18 January 1592*, being Tuesday, at night; et obiit
21 March, 166^, being Fryday, between one and Xwo in
the morning ; buryed in the vault in the new vestrie in
St. Michaels church in Cornhill. He was borne in ... ,
Hantshire.

His son John was borne at the 7 Starres in Burchin
Lane, London, in the parish of St. Michael's Cornhill.

* M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 53'. }.'ives in trick the coat: — 'ermine, on .1

** .MS. A^br. 6, fol. 9". Aubrey chevron gules 5 besants.' » '592"-

272

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

He wrote Observations on the bills of mortality very
ingeniosely (but I beleeve, and partly know, that he had
his hint from his intimate and familiar friend Sir William
Petty), to which he made some Additions, since printed.
And he intended, had he lived, to have writt more on the
subject.

He writt also some Observations on the advance of excise,
not printed : quaere his widowe for them.

To give him his due prayse, he was a very ingeniose and
studious person, and generally beloved, and rose early in
the morning to his study before shop-time. He understood
Latin and French. He was a pleasant facetious com-
panion, and very hospitable.

He was bred-up (as the fashion then was) in the Puritan
way; wrote short-hand dextrously; and after many yeares
constant hearing and writing sermon-notes, he fell to buying
and reading of the best Socinian bookes, and for severall
yeares continued of that opinion. At last, about .... he
turned a Roman Catholique, of which religion he dyed
a great zealot.

He was free of the drapers' company, and by profession
was a haberdasher of small-wares. He had gone through
all the offices ^ of the city so far as common-councell-man.
Captain of the trayned-bands severall yeares ; major, 2 or
3 yeares. — He was a common councell man 2 yeares, and
then putt out (as also of his military employment in the
trayned band) for his religion.

He was admitted a fellowe of the Royall Societie, anno
16 . . (about 1663).

He broke .... He dyed on Easter eve 1674; buryed
on the Wednesday in Easter-weeke in St. Dunstan's church
in Fleet Strete under the gallery about the middle (or more
west) north side, anno aetatis suae 54.

He had one son, a man, who dyed in Persia ; one
daughter, a nunne at ... (I thinke, Gaunt). His widowe
yet alive.

* Subst. for ' degrees." Died April 18, buried April 22,

^ i. e. became bankrupt. 1674.

John Gmiint

273

* Major John Graunt dyed on Easter-eve 1674, and was
buryed the Wednesday followeing in St. Dunstan's church
in Fleet street in the body of the said church under the
piewes towards the gallery on the north side, i.e., under
the piewes {alias hoggsties) of the north side of the middle
aisle (what pitty 'tis so great an ornament of the citty
should be buryed so obscurely !), aetatis anno 54°.

Was borne in Burchin lane, at the 7 Starres, in St. Michael's
Cornhill parish, at which place he continued his trade till
about 2 yeares since.

hath been printed more then once ; and now very scarce.

He wrott some 'Observations on theadvance of the excise,'
not printed ; and intended to have writt more of the bills
of mortality ; and also intended to have written something
of religion.

He was by trade a haberdasher of small wares, but was
free of the drapers' company. A man generally beloved ;
a faythfull friend. Often chosen for his prudence and
justnes to be an arbitrator ; and he was a great peace-
maker. He had an excellent working head, and was very
facetious and fluent in his conversation.

** He had gonne thorough all the offices of the city so
far as common councill man. He was common councill
man two yeares. Captaine of the trayned band, severall
yeares : major of it, two or three yeares, and then layd
downe trade and all other publique employment for his
religion, being a Roman Catholique.

Ex MSS. patris ejus : — ' My son, John Graunt, was borne
24th day of April halfe an howre before 8 a clock on
a Monday morning anno Domini 1620.'

He was my honoured and worthy friend — cujus animae
propitietur Deus, Amen.

His death is lamented by all good men that had the

His 'Observations on the bills of mortality < 2

I.

* Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 270 : May id, 1674.
** Ibid., fol. 270'.

T

A iihrey's * Brief Lives '

happinesse to knowc him ; and a great number of ingeniose
persons attended him to his grave. Among others, with
teares, was that ingeniose great virtuoso, Sir William Petty,
his old and intimate acquaintance, who was sometime
a student at Brase-nose College.

Edward Greaves (1608-1680).

* Sir Edward Greaves, M.D., obiit Thursday November
I I, 1680 in Convent Garden ; buried in the church there.

Scripsit Morbus cpidcinictts, or the iieiv desease, 4to,
stitch't, printed at Oxford about 1643.

Port(avit) ' gules, an eagle displayed or, crowned argent.'

. . . Gregory.

** . . . Gregorie, famous peruq-maker, buryed at St.
Clement Danes church dore west. Quaere inscription in
rythme from baron" Gregory, baron of the exchequer.

Vide Cotgrave's french dictionary ubi peruqes are called
Gregorians.

*** Peruques not commonly worne till 1660. Memoran-
dum there was one Gregorie in the Strand that was the
first famous periwig-maker ; and they were then called
Gregorians (mentioned in Cotgrave's Dictionarie in verba
perruque). He lies buried by the west church-dore of St.
Clements Danes, where he had an inscription which
mentioned it. 'Twas in verse and Sir William Gregorie
(one of the Barons of the Exchequer) read and told it me.
Quaere of him + de hoc.

Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-1579).

**** Memorandum ^ : — Mr. Shirman. the attorney, at
Inneholders-hall, hath a copie of Sir Thomas Gresham's
will ^, which procure.

Notes.

' Aubrey in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 8, gives in triclc the coats: — (a", 'argent,
a chevron ermine between 3 mullets pierced sable : crest, a grasshopper : motto.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 2.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7.
" Subst. for ' the judge.'

*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 28.
**** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 2.

Greville, lord Brooke 275

Forttin amy [Sir Thomas Gresham, 1601]': and (/'), ' or, on a bend vert 3 biiuk^'
heads caboshed argent.'

^ Twice alluded to in MS. Aubr. 8, viz., (fol. 8) 'Copie out Sir Thomas
(Iresham's will from Mr. Shirman'; (fol. 12) 'Sir Thomas Gresham, knight :
quaere copie of his will from Mr. Shirman, attomie.'

Fulke Greville, lord Brooke (1554-1628).
Robert Greville, lord Brooke (i 607-1 64I).

* Sir Fulke Greville, lord Brokes, adopted a parke-
keeper's sonne his heire, who (I thinke) had but one eie :
vide de hoc in Dr. Heylen's Historie of the church of
England .... Vide Sir William Davenant's life * in part
I't <i. e. in MS. Aubr. 6).

Poems, in folio, London, printed . . .

' The life of the renowned Sir Philip Sidney, with the
true Interest of England, as it then stood in relation to all
Forrain Princes : And particularly for suppressing the
power of Spain, stated by him. Written by Sir Fulke Grevil,
knight, lord Brook, a servant to Queen Elisabeth, and his
companion and friend. London, printed for H. Seile, over
against St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet-street, M.DC.Lll.'

Vide in Sir William Dugdale's Warwickshire his noble
castle ^, and monument with this inscription : ' Here
lies the body of Sir Fulke Grevile knight servant to
Q. Eliz., counsellor to King James, and friend to Sir
Philip Sidney.'

(Robert Greville. second) lord Brookes, was maried to
(Catherine Russell) daughter of the earle of Bedford. He
was killed at the siege of Lichfield, March the 2d (St. Chad's
day, to whom the Church is dedicated) ( 1 645 ) by a minister's
Sonne, borne deafe and dumbe, out of the church. He was
armed cap a pied ; only his bever was open. I was then
at Trinity College in Oxon. and doe perfectly remember
the story.

The lord Brookes, that was killed at Lichfield, printed
a booke about Religion, a little before the civill warres, by

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 4'. » Stipra, p. 205.

Aubrey notes of this book ' I have it.'
Dupl. with ' seat.'

T 2

276 A iibreys ' Brief Lives '

the same token that in* (a) song on the Lords then, his
(character) was : — 'Brook is a foole in print!

Peter Gunning (1614-1684).

* . . . Gunning, episcopus Eliensis ; — his father was
a minister in the Wild of Kent ; and 'tis thought he was
borne there, scil. at Brcnchley.

Edmund Gunter (1581-1626).

** Mr. Edmund Gunter ^ : — for his birth, etc , see in
Antiq. Oxon. (by) A. Wood.

Captain Ralph Gretorex, mathematical instrument maker
in London, sayd that he was the first that brought
mathematical! instruments to perfection. His booke of the
quadrant, sector, and crosse-staffe did open men's under-
standings and made young men in love with that studie.
Before, the mathematical sciences were lock't up in the
Greeke and Latin tongues and so lay untoucht, kept safe in
some libraries. After Mr. Gunter published his booke,
these sciences sprang up amain, more and more to that
height it is at now (1690).

When he was a student at Christ Church, it fell to his
lott to preach the Passion sermon, which some old divines
that I knew did heare, but they sayd that 'twas sayd of
him then in the University that our Saviour never suffered
so much since his passion as in that sermon, it was such
a lamentable one —

Non omnia possumus omnes.

The world is much beholding to him for what he hath
donne well.

Gunter is originally a Brecknockshire family, of
Tregunter. They came thither under the conduct of
Sir Bernard Newmarch when he made the conquest of that
county (Camden). — ' Aubrey, Gunter, Waldbeof, Havard,
Bichard ' (which is falsely express'd in all Mr. Camden's
bookes, scil. Prichard, which is non-sense).

" Dupl. with ' that in libelling characters of the Lords then, his was '

* MS.Aubr. 8,ful. 14". ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 78'. " Dupl. with ' there.'

John Guy. William Habington 277

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat: — 'sable, ■p, gauntletts argent'; and adds
' quaere if these gauntletts are dextre or sinistre?'

John Guy (15.. -1628).

* Memorandum : — . . . Guy, alderman of Bristol!, was
the wisest man of his time in that city. He was as their
oracle and they chose him for one of their representatives
to sitt in Parliament.

'Twas he that brought in the (bill) for lowering of
interest from ten in the hundred to eight per centum.

. . . Gwyn.

** Surlinesse and inurbanitie too common in England :
chastise these very severely ^.

A better instance of a squeamish and disobligeing.
slighting, insolent, proud, fellow ^, perhaps cant be found
then in . . . Gwin, the earl of Oxford's secretary. No
reason satisfies him, but he overweenes, and cutts some
sower faces that would turne the milke in a faire ladle's
breast.

William Habington (1605-1645).

*** William Habington, of Hindlip in Worcestershire,
esq., maried Luce, daughter of William (Herbert), lord
Powes, 1634, as by the Worcestershire Visitation it appeares.

He was a very learned gentleman, author of a poem
called Castara. He wrote a live of one of the kings of
England.

Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' argent, on a bend gules 3 eagles displayed,
or ; impalnig, party per pale argent and gules 3 lions rampnnt counterchanged,
within a bordure gobony, or and . . . , a crescent for difference.'

* MS. Aiibr. 6, fol. 2. " In his projected comedy.

** MS. Aubr. 2 1 , p. 1 1 ; and repeated ^ ' Coxcome ' on fol. 24^. '

almost ver/'aiim, ibid. fol. 2^'-. Au- <■ Aubrey de Vere, succeeded .is

brey's character Sir Fastidious Over- 20th earl in J632, died 1702, the last

ween in his projected comedy 7'ke of that house.

Country Kevel was to be copied from *** MS. Anbr. 7, fol. 7.
this Gwyn.

278 A itbrey's ' Brief Lives *

Sir Matthew Hale (1609-1676).
* Judge Hale s accidents.

1609, natus, November 1^', in the evening, his father then
being at his prayers.

1612, death of his mother, April 23.

1614, his father dyed, moneth not known.

1625, went to Oxon to Magdalen Hall ; vide A. Wood's
History of Oxon when matriculated.

162H, admitted of the society of Lincolne's Inne,
November 8.

1636, this yeare called to the barre. quaere in what
terme.

1640, maried the first time. He was a great cuckold.
1656, his second mariage to his servant mayd, Mary.
]66o, made Lord Chief Baron.
1671, Lord Chiefe Justice of England, 18 May.
1676, Christmas day, he dyed.

** Sir Matthew Hales, Lord Chief Justice of the King's
Bench, was borne at Alderley in com. Glouc, November i'',
1609 ; christned the 5"". Quaere Mr. Edward Stephens
horam, for he has it exactly. When his mother fell in
labour, his father was offering up his evening sacrifice.

*** That incomparable man for goodnes and universality
of learning, Sir Matthew Hales, Lord Chief Justice of
England, hath writt the description of Gloucestershire, an
elaborate piece, and ready for the presse. The transcripts
of the Tower for it cost him 40 //.

John Hales (i 584-1656).

**** Mr. John Hales, . . . was borne at Wells,
I thinke I have heard Mr. John Sloper say (vicar of
Chalke ; his mother was Mr. Hales's sister, and he bred
him at Eaton).

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 3. **** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 119'.

** M.S. Aubr. 23, fol. 20'. " Space left for his degree: M.-A.

*** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. (Merton, 20 June. 1609).
]44 : Oct. 27, 1671.

John Hales

279

His father was a steward to the family of the Horners : —
Hopton, Horner, Smyth, and Thynne,
When abbots went out, they came in *.

Went to school, at Bath (as I take it). Fellow of
Merton Colledge. Assisted Sir Henry Savill in his edition
of Chrysostome (c7tin aliis). Afterwards fellow of Eaton
College.

Went chaplain to Sir Dudley Carlton (ambassador to
. . . ). I thinke was at the Synod of Dort.

When the Court was at Windsor, the learned courtiers
much delighted (in) his company, and were wont to grace
him with their company.

I have heard his nephew, Mr. Sloper, say, that he much
loved to read . . . Stephanas, who was a familist, I thinke
that first wrote of that sect of the Familie of Love : he was
mightily taken with it, and was wont to say that sometime or
other those fine notions would take in the world. He was
one of the first Socinians in England, I thinke the first.

He was a generall scolar, and I beleeve a good poet : for
Sir John Suckling brings him into the Session of the Poets :
' Little Hales all the time did nothing but smile,
To see them, about nothing, keepe such a coile.'

He had a noble librarie of bookes, and those judicially
chosen, which cost him . . . li. (quaere Mr. Sloper) ; and
which he sold to Cornelius Bee, bookeseller, in Little
Britaine, (as I take it, for 1000 li.) which was his maintenance
after he was ejected out of his fellowship at Eaton College.
He had then only reserved some few for his private use, to
wind-up his last dayes withall.

The ladie Salter (neer Eaton) was very kind to him after
the sequestration ; he was very welcome to her ladyship,
and spent much of his time there. At Eaton he lodged
(after his sequestration) at the next house (to) the
Christopher (inne), where I sawe him, a prettie little man,

' Substituted for : —

' Hopton, Homer, Knocknaile and Thynne,
When abbots went doune, then they came in.'

28o

A iihreys ''Brief Lives '

sanguine, of a cheerful! countenance, very gentile, and
courteous ; I was recieved by him with much humanity : he
was in a kind of violet-colourd cloath gowne, with buttons
and loopes (he wore not a black gownc), and was reading
Thomas a Kempis ; it was within a yeare before he deceased.
He loved Canarie ; but moderately, to refresh his spirits.

He had a bountifuU mind. I remember in 1647, a little
after the Visitation %when Thomas Mariett, esq.,Mr. William
Radford, and Mr. Edward Wood (all of Trinity College)
had a frolique from Oxon to London, on foot, having never
been there before, they happened to take Windsore in their
way, made their addresse to this good gentleman, being
then fellov/. Mr. Edward Wood was the spookes-man,
remonstrated that they were Oxon scholars : he treated
them well, and putt into Mr. Wood's hands ten shillings.

He lies buried in the church yard at Eaton, under an
altar monument of black marble, erected at the sole chardge
of Mr. . . . Curwyn, with a too long epitaph. He was no
kifif or kin to him.

* Mr. John Hales dyed at Mris Powney's house, a widow-
woman, in Eaton, opposite to the churchyard, adjoyning to
the Christopher Inne southwards. 'Tis the howse where
I sawe him.

She is a very good woman and of a gratefull spirit. She
told me that when she was maried, Mr. Hales was very
bountifull to them in helping them to live in the world.
She was very gratefull to him and respectful! to him.

She told me that Mr. Hales was the common godfather
there, and 'twas pretty to see, as he walked to Windsor,
how his godchildren asked him blessing''. When he was
bursar, he still gave away all his groates for the acquittances
to his godchildren ; and by that time he came to Windsor
bridge, he would have never a groate left.

This Mris Powney assures me that the poor were more

° Soil, of Oxford University by ths Dupl. with ' in setting them up

Parliamentary Commission. to.'

* Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. « Dupl. with ' fell on their knees.'
368 : 'St. Anne's day,' July 26, 1682.

Joseph Hall

relieveable, that is to say. that he recieved more kindnesse
from them than from the rich. That that I putt dovvne
of my lady Salter (sister to Brian Duppa, bishop of
Sarum), from his nephew (John) Sloper, vicar of Chalke,
is false \ She had him to her house indeed, but 'twas
to teach her sonne, who was such a blockhead he could
not read well.

Cornelius Bee bought his library for ~oo li., which cost
him not lesse then 2,500//. Mris Powney told me that she
was much against the sale of 'em, because she knew it was
his life and joy.

He might have been restored to his fellowship again, but
he would not accept the offer. He was not at all covetous,
and desired only to leave x //. to bury him.

He bred-up our vicar, [Sloper**], who, she told me, never
sent him a token ; and he is angry with her, thinks he left
her too much.

She is a woman primitively good, and deserves to be
remembred. I wish I had her Christian name. Her
husband has an inscription on a gravestone in Eaton College
chapel towards the south wall.

She has a handsome darke old-fashioned howse. The
hall, after the old fashion, above the wainscot, painted
cloath, with godly sentences out of the Psalmes, etc.,
according to the pious custome of old times ; a convenient
garden and orchard. She has been handsome: a good
understanding, and cleanlic.

Joseph Hall (1574-1656).

* Joseph Hall, bishop of Exon, etc. : he was a keeper's
son in Norfolke (I thinke, neer Norwich). — From old
Mr. Theophilus Woodenoth.

He wrote most of his fine discourses at Worcester, when
he was deane there. — From Mr. Francis Potter, who went
to schole there.

* Diipl. with ' .1 mistake.' '' Inserted by Anthony Wood.

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 60.

282

Aubrey's Brief Lives'

Monsieur Balzac exceedingly admired him and often
quotes him : vide Balzac's Apologie.

Edmund Halley (1656-1 74I).

* Mr. Edmund Hally, astronomer, born October 29,
1656, London — this nativity I had from Mr. Hally
himself.

** Mr. Edmund Halley Artium Magister, the eldest
son of (Edmund) Halley, a soape-boyler, a wealthy citizen
of the city of London ; of the Halleys, of Derbyshire,
a good family.

He was born in Shoreditch parish, at a place called
Haggerston, the backside of Hogsdon.

At 9 yeares old, his father's apprentice taught him
to write, and arithmetique. He went to Paule's schoole to
Dr. Gale : while he was there he was very perfect in
the Caelestiall Globes insomuch that I heard Mr. Moxon
(the globe-maker) say that if a star were misplaced in the
globe, he would presently find it.

At ... he studyed Geometry, and at 16 could make
a dyall, and then, he said, thought himsclfe a brave
fellow.

At (16) went to Queen's Colledge in Oxon, well versed
in Latin, Greeke, and Hebrew : where, at the age of
nineteen, he solved this useful probleme in astronomic,
never donne before, viz. 'from 3 distances given from
the sun, and angles between, to find the orbe ' (mentioned
in the Philosophical! Transactions, Aug. or Sept. 1676,
No. 115), for which his name will be ever famous.

Anno Domini . . . tooke his degree of Bacc. Art. ;
Anno Domini . . . tooke his degree of Master of Arts \

Anno . . . left Oxon, and lived at London with his
father till (1676); at which time he gott leave, and
a viaticum of his father, to goe to the Island of Sancta

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 28^
** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 50.
" Aubrey gives in colours the coat :
' sable, a fret and a canton argent " ;

also Halley 's horoscope.

Halley did not graduate in the
ordinary course, but was made M.A.
by diploma in 1678.

Edmund Halley

283

Hellena, purely upon the account of advancement in
Astronomy, to make the globe of the Southerne Hemisphere
right, which before was very erroneous, as being donne
only after the observations of ignorant seamen. There he
stayed . . . moneths. There went over with him (amongst
others) a woman . . . j'eares old, and her husband . . . old,
who had no child in . . . yeares : before he came from the
island, she was brought to bed of a child. At his returne,
he presented his Planisphere, with a short description, to
his majesty who was very well pleased with it ; but
received nothing but prayse.

I have often heard him say that if his majestic would be
but only at the chardge of sending out a ship, he would
take the longitude and latitude, right ascensions and
declinations of . . . southern fixed starres.

Anno 167S, he added a spectacle-glasse to the shadowe-
vane of the lesser arch of the sea-quadrant (or back-staffe) ;
which is of great use, for that that spott of light will be
manifest when you cannot see any shadowe.

He went to Dantzick to visit Hevelius, Anno 167-.

December 1***, 1680, went to Paris.

* Edmund Haley: — cardinall d'Estree caressed him
and sent him to his brother the admirall with a lettre of
recommendation. — He hath contracted an acquaintance
and friendship with all the eminentst mathematicians of
F"rance and Italie, and holds a correspondence with them.

He returned into England, Januarii 24° 1685,

Quaere Mr. Partridge of his Dircctio mortis, scilicet
about 35 aetatis.

** (Quaere) Edmund Halley who cutts his schemes in
wood ? they are well.

(David) Loggan informes me that one . . . Edwards,
the manciple of . . . College Oxon, doth cut in wood
very well.

N'ote.

In the earl of Macclesfield's library at Shirbiirne Castle, Oxon., are several
M.S.S. by Halley; among them a common-place book.

* MS. Aubr. S, fol. 10.

** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 49, fol. 39".

284 Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

Baldwin Harney (1600-1676).

* In the midd aisle (or nave) of Chelsey church, a faire
flat marble grave-stone : —

The return of Baldwin Harney, Dr. of Physick, on the 14 of May

being Whitsunday in the yeare of our Lord 1676 and in the 76th yeare

of his asre. ri 1 , r

Psahn 140, vers. 4.

His breath goeth, etc.

William Harcourt (i 610-1 679).

** Father Harcourt — he told me that he was of the
familie of Stanton Harcourt, a.d. 1650. He was con-
fessor, and afterwards co-executor, to the lady Inglefield.

*** Petrification of a kidney. When father Harcourt
suffered ^ at Tyburne, and his bowells, etc. throwne into
the fire, a butcher's boy standing by was resolved to have
a piece of his kidney which was broyling in the fire. He
burn't his fingers much, but he got it ; and one . . .
Roydon, a brewer in Southwark, bought it, a kind of
Presbyterian. The wonder is, 'tis now absolutely petrified :
I have seen it. He much values it.

**** Mr. Roydon, brewer in Southwarke (opposite the
Temple), haz the piece of Father Harcourt^s kidney which
was snatcht out of the fire, and now petrified and very
hard. But 'twas not so hard when he first had it. It
being alwayes carried in the pocket hardened by degrees
better then by the fire — like an agate polished.

Thomas Hariot (1560-1 621).
***** Mr. Thomas Hariot ^ — from Dr. John Pell, March
31, 1680. Dr. Pell knowes not what countreyman he was
(but an Englishman he was) — [There ' is a place in Kent

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 16'. Hamey
was M.D., Leyden ; incorporated at
Oxford, Ytb. 4, l6|f .

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 5\

*** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. io\

" In June, 1679 : Clark's Wood's
Life and Times, ii. 453.

**** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 68".

***** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 35.

^ ' Country,' with Aubrey, = county.

' Added as a suggestion that Hariot's
family may be looked for in those
counties.

Thomas Ha riot

285

called Harriot's-ham, now my lord Wotton's ^ ; and in
Wostershire in the parish of Droytvvich is a fine seat called
Harriots, late the seate of Chiefe Baron Wyld ]

He thinkes he dyed about the time he (Dr. Pell) went
to Cambridge. He sayes my lord John Vaughan can
enforme me, and haz a copie of his will : which vide.

* Mr. Thomas Hariot — Mr. Elias Ashmole thinkes he
was a Lancashire man : Mr. (John) Flamsted promised
me to enquire of Mr. Tow nley.

** ©3^ I very much desire to find his buriall : he was
not buryed in the Tower chapelle.

*** Mr. Thomas Harriot*: — Memorandum: — Sir Robert
Moray (from Francis Stuart ''), declared at the Royal
Society — 'twas when the comet appeared before the Dutch
warre — that Sir Francis had heard Mr. Harriot say that
he had seen nine cometes, and had predicted seaven of
them, but did not tell them how. 'Tis very strange :
excogitent astronomi.

**** Mr. Hariot went with Sir Walter Ralegh into
Virginia, and haz writt the Description of Virginia, which
is printed.

Dr. Pell tells me that he finds amongst his papers (which
are now, 1684, in Dr. Busby's hands), an alphabet that he
had contrived for the American language, like Devills^.

He wrote a Description of Virginia^ which is since
printed in Mr. Purchas's Pilgrims.

Vide Mr. Glanvill's Moderne Improvement of Usefull
Knowledge, where he makes mention of Mr. Thomas
Harriot, pag. 33.

When (Henry Percy, ninth) earle of Northumberland,
and Sir Walter Ralegh were both prisoners in the Tower,
they grew acquainted, and Sir Walter Raleigh recommended

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 12.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 91.
*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 12.

• Aubrey writes in the margin the
reference ' vide pag. 40,' i. e. fol. 9 1 , zii
iitfra.

Subst. for 'Steward.'

" See Clark's Wood's Life and
Times, ii. 24, 25, 33, 53.

**** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 35.

Perhaps because the letters ended
in tridents ; see Clark's Wood's Life
and Times, i. 498, and the facsimile.

286

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Mr. Hariot to him, and the carle setled an annuity of two
hundred pounds a yeare on him for his hfe, which he
enjoyed. But to Hues t (who wrote De Usu Globoruni)
\ Robert Hues and to Mr. Warner he gave an annuity but of

was buried in . , _

xt. ch. Oxon. Sixty pounds per annum. 1 hese 3 were usually
called the carle of NorthuDiberland s tJiree Magi. They
had a table at the carle's chardge, and the carle himselfe
had them to converse with, singly or together.

He was a great acquaintance of Master . . . Ailesbury,
to whom Dr. Corbet sent a letter in verse, Dec. 9, 161 8,
when the great blazing starre appeared, —

'Now for the peace of God(s) and men advise,
(Thou that hast wherwithall to make us wise).
Thine owne rich studies and deepe Harriot's mine,
In which there is no drosse but all refine.'

(Vide) Dr. Corbet's poems.

The bishop of Sarum (Seth Ward) told me that one
Mr. Haggar (a countryman of his), a gentleman and good
mathematician, was well acquainted with Mr. Thomas
Hariot, and was wont to say, that he did not like (or
valued not) the old storie of the Creation of the World.
He could not beleeve the old position ; he would say
ex nihilo nihil fit. But sayd Mr. Haggar, a nihilum killed
him at last : for in the top of his nose came a little red
speck (exceeding small), which grew bigger and bigger,
and at last killed him. I suppose it was that which the
chirurgians call a noli me tangere.

* Mr. Hariot dyed of an ulcer in his lippe or tongue —
vide Dr. Read's Chirurgery, where he mentions him as
his patient, in the treatise of ulcers (or cancers).

The Workes of Dr. Alexander Reade, printed, London,
1650 ; in the treatise of Ulcers, p. 248. ' Cancrous ulcers
{pzanci) also seise on this part. This griefe hastened the
end of that famous mathematician Mr. Hariot with whom
I was acquainted but short time before his death ; whom

* Anthony Wood writes ' R. Hues' in the margin.

* MS. Aubr. S, fol. 91.

Sir Edzvard Harley

287

at one time, together with Mr. Hughes (who wrote of the
globes), Mr. Warner, and Mr. Torporley, the noble earle
of Northumberland, the favourer of all good learning and
Maecenas of learned men, maintained while he was in the
Tower, for their worth and various literature.'

He made a philosophicall theologie, wherin he cast-
off the Old Testament, and then the New one would
(consequently) have no foundation. He was a Deist.
His doctrine he taught to Sir Walter Raleigh, Henry,
earle of Northumberland, and some others. The divines
of those times look't on his manner of death as a judge-
ment upon him for nullifying the Scripture.

Ex Catalogo librorum impressorum bibl. Bodleianae in
Academia Oxoniensi, Oxon., MDCLXXIV : —

Thomas Hariot: — Historia Virginiae, cum iconibus, Lat.
per C. C. A. edita per Th. de Bry, Franc. 1590 (A. 7. Art).

— Same in English, Loud. 1588 (E. i. 25. Art. Seld ).

Thomas Hariotiis : — Artis analyticae praxis ad aequa-
tiones Algebraicas resolvendas, Loud. 163 1 (F. 2. 12.
Art. S eld X

' A oles.

' Aubrey gives the coat : — ' per pale, ermine and ermines, 3 crescents counter-
changed [Harlot].'

' Charles Henry Kirckhoven, created baron Wotton, Aug. 31, 1650; created
earl of Eellomont, Feb. 11, i6Jf.

Sir Edward Harley (1624-1700).

* Sir Edward Harley, knight of the Bath, was borne at
his castle of Brampton Bryan in Herefordshire. He was
of Magdalen Hall, Oxon ; was governor of Dunkirke for
his majestie king Charles 2'\ where he then sounded that
sea from Graveling to Newport — which notes he haz by
him — of great use to seamen because of the shelves.

Sir Robert Harley (1580-1656).

** Old Sir Robert Harley translated all the Psalmes
very well. He was of Oriell College.

* Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. ** Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.
138 : Sept. 2, 1671. 14J : Oct. 27, 1671.

288

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Sir Robert Harley (1626-1673).

* Sir Robert Harley", second sonne of Sir Robert
Harley of Brampton-Bryan, told me that he was borne the
morning that my Lord Chancellour Bacon dyed (y° Aprilis) ;
-sed quaere, et vide his picture if 'twas not the 6"".

He marled . . .

He dyed at Brampton-Brian 16 Nov. Sunday, 6'' A.M.,
anno Domini 1673.

James Harrington (161I-1677).

** James Harrington, esq. — he was borne the first
Fryday in January Anno Domini 161 1, near Northampton.
Quaere Mr Marvell's epitaph on him.

*** James Harrington \ esq., borne the first Fryday in
January 1611, neer Northampton; the son of [Sir'=
Sapcote] Harrington of ... in the countie of . . . , by
. . . , daughter of Sir . . . SamueH, was borne at [Upton**]
(Sir . . . Samuel's house in Northamptonshire) anno . . .

He was a (gentleman) commoner of Trinity CoUedge
in Oxford. He travelled France, Italie, and the Nether-
lands. His genius lay chiefly towards the politiques and
democraticall goverment.

He was much respected by the queen of Bohemia'^, who
was bred up by the lord Harrington's lady, and she owned
the kindnes of the family.

Anno 1647, if not 6, he was by order of Parliament
made one of his Majestie's Bedchamber, at Holmeby, &c.
The king loved his company; only he would not endure
to heare of a Commonwealth : and Mr. Harington passion-
ately loved his majestie. Mr. Harrington and the king
often disputed about goverment. He was on the scaffold

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 72.

* See supra, p. 157.

** M.S. .\nbr. 8, fol. 11.
i e. Friday, Jan. 3, 161 1. The
date is noted also in MS. Aubr. 21,
fol. 103.

MS Aubr. 6, fol. 98.

Written in pencil only, being a
later insertion.

* Jane, daughter of .Sir William
Samwell of Upton, co. Northts.

" Written in pencil only, being
a later addition.

James Harrington

289

with the king when he was beheaded ; and I have at these
meetings* oftentimes heard him speake of king Charles I with
the greatest zeale and passion imaginable, and that his
death gave him so great griefe that he contracted a disease
by it ; that never any thing did goe so neer to him.
Memorandum : — Mr. (Thomas) Herbert, the traveller, was
th' other of his Bedchamber by order of Parliament, and
was also on the scaffold. He gave them both there
some watches : vide Speech.

He made severall essayes in Poetry, viz. love-verses, &c.,
and translated .... booke of VirgiU's ^n. ; but his
muse was rough, and Mr Henry Nevill, an ingeniose and
well-bred gentleman, a member of the House of Com-
mons, and an excellent (but concealed) poet, was his great
familiar and confident friend, and disswaded him from
tampering in poetrie which he did invitd Minerva^ and to
improve his proper talent, viz. Politicall Reflections.

Whereupon he writ his Oceana, printed London (1656).
Mr. T. Hobbes was wont to say that Henry Nevill had
a finger in that pye ; and 'tis like enough. That ingeniose
tractat, together with his and H. Nevill's smart discourses and
inculcations, dayly at coffee-houses, made many proselytes.

In so much that, anno 1659, the beginning of Michaelmas-
terme, he had every night a meeting at the (then) Turke's
head, in the New Pallace-yard, where they take water, the
next house to the staires, at one Miles's, where was made
purposely a large ovall-table, with a passage
^^^^i^^i in the middle for Miles to deliver his Coffee.

About it sate his disciples, and the virtuosi.
The discourses in this kind were the most ingeniose, and
smart, that ever I heard, or expect to heare, and ban-
d<i)ed with great eagernesse : the arguments in the
Parliament howse were but flatt to it.

He now printed a little pamphlet (4to) called Divers
modells of Popular Government, printed by Daniel Jakeman ;
and then his partie desired him to print another little
pamphlet called The Rota, 4to.

" Scil. of the Rota club, described infra.
I. U

290

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

Here* we had (very formally) a ballotting-box, and
balloted how things should be caried, by way of tentamens.
The room was every evening ^ full as it could be cramm'd.
I cannot now recount the whole number : —

Mr. Cyriack Skinner, an ingeniose young gentleman,
scholar to John Milton, was chaire-man. There was
Mr. Henry Nevill ; major John Wildman ; Mr. (Charles)
Woo(l)seley, of ... , Staffordshire ; Mr. (Roger) Coke,
grandson of Sir Edward ; Sir*" William Poultney (chaireman);
[Sir <^ John Hoskins ; J(ames) Arderne ;] Mr. Maximilian
Petty, a very able man in these matters, and who had more
then once turn'd the councill-board of Oliver Cromwell,
his kinsman; Mr. Michael Malett ; Mr. (Philip) Carteret,
of Garnesey ; (Francis) Cradoc, a merchant; Mr. Henry
Ford; major . . . Venner; Mr. Edward Bagshaw; [Thomas
t Dr Robert Marict, esq.** ;] (William) Croon, M.D. ; cmn

i?o/a"-Ms '"^^il^is alUs uow slipt out of my memorie f-
Aubr. 8, foi. II. (Besides) which *^ were, as auditors s, severall,
e.g. the earle*' Tirconnel ; Sir John Penruddock ; etc. ; Mr.
John Birkenhead ; as myselfe.

. . . Stafford, esq , as antagonists

Several officers ^.

We many times adjourned to the Rhenish-wine howse.
One time Mr. Stafford and his gang came in, in drink,
from the taverne and affronted the Junto (Mr. Stafford
tore their orders and minutes). The soldiers ofiferd to
kick them downe stayres, but Mr. Harrington's moderation
and persuasion hindred it.

The doctrine was very taking, and the more because, as
to human foresight, there was no possibility of the king's

* i.e. at the meetings at-Miles's.

^ Subst. for ' night.'

e Dupl. with ' Mr.'

^ These two names are struck out,
as is Mariet infra.

0 Struck out.

' Subst. for ' Also, as.'

8 i.e. as listeners only. Those above
were of Harrington's ' party.' The

' antagonists,' who wished to break up
the meetings, follow.

h Dupl. with ' lord.'

' Dupl with ' opponents.'

* ' Officers ' dupl. with ' soldiers.'
These, like Aubrey, were 'auditors'
only.

' Subst. for ' came in drunke.'

James Harrington

291

returne. But the greatest part of the Parliament-men
perfectly hated this designe of rotation by ballotting\ for
they were cursed tyrants, and in love with their power,
and 'twas death to them, except 8 or 10, to admitt of this
way, for H. Nevill proposed it in the Howse, and made it
out to them, that except they embraced that modell of
goverment they would be ruind — scd qnos perdere vidt
Jupiter etc., hos, &c.

Pride of senators for life is insufferable ; and they were
able to grind any one they owed ill will to to powder ;
they were hated by the armie and their countrey they re-
presented, and their name and memorie stinkes — 'twas
worse then tyranny. Now this modell upon rotation was : —
that the third part of the Senate ^ should rote out by ballot
every yeare, so that every ninth yeare the Howse would
be wholly alterd; no magistrate to continue above 3 yeares,
and all to be chosen by ballot, then which manner of
choice, nothing can be invented more faire and impartiall.

Well : this meeting continued Novemb., Dec, Jan., till
Febr. 20 or 21 ; and then, upon the unexpected turne
upon generall Monke's comeing-in, all these aierie modells
vanished. Then 'twas not fitt, nay treason, to have donne
such; but I well remember, he'' severall times (at the
breaking-up) sayd, ' Well, the king will come in. Let him
come-in, and call a Parliament of the greatest Cavaliers in
England, so they be men of estates, and let them sett but
7 yeares, and they will all turn Common-wealthe's men.'

He was wont to find fault with the constitution of our
goverment, that 'twas by jumps, and told a story of
a cavaliero he sawe at the Carnival in Italie, who rode on
an excellent managed horse that with a touch of his toe
would jumpe quite round. One side of his habit was
Spanish, the other French ; which sudden alteration of
the same person pleasantly surprized the spectators. 'Just
so,' said he, "tis with us. When no Parliament, then
absolute monarchic ; when a Parliament, then it runnes to
Commonwealth.'

" Dnpl. with ' Howse.' Harrington.
U 2

292

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

* Anno Domini 1660, he was committed* prisoner to
the Tower, where he was kept . . . . ; then to Portsey
castle. His durance in these prisons (he being a gentle-
man of a high spirit and hot head) was the procatractique
cause of his deliration or madnesse ; which was not out-
ragious, for he would discourse rationally enough and be
very facetious company, but he grew to have a phancy that

his perspiration turned to flies, and sometimes to bees ad

ccetera sobrius ; and he had a timber versatile built in
Mr. Hart's garden (opposite to St. James's parke) to try
the experiment. He would turne it to the sun, and sitt
towards it ; then he had his fox-tayles there to chase
away and massacre all the flies and bees that were to be
found there, and then shutt his chassees''. Now this ex-
periment was only to be tryed in warme weather, and
some flies would lye so close in the cranies and the cloath
(with which it was hung) that they would not presently
shew themselves. A quarter of an hower after perhaps,
a fly or two, or more, might be drawen-out of the lurking
holes by the warmeth ; and then he would crye out,
' Doe not you see it apparently that these come from me?'
'Twas the strangest sort of madnes that ever I found in
any one: talke of any thing els, his discourse would be
very ingeniose and pleasant.

Anno ... he married to his old sweet-heart Mris . . .
t His wife was Dayrcll t, of . . . , a comely and discreete ladie.
Round Ybout motto to his sealc, which was party per pale

wL^ptlVpe'r'' t)aron et femme Harrington and Dayrell was . . .
trmme^-™were*^ It happening so, from some private reasons,
^}nfo7ig]^m^"^' that he could not enjoy his deare in the flower
cotere faces. heate of his youth, he would never lye

with her, but loved and admired her dearly : for she was
ve7-gentibtis annis when he maried her, and had lost her
sweetenesse.

* M.S. Aubr. 6, a slip at fol. 98". ^ i.e. window frames; French
» Subst. for ' sent.' ' chasse.'

^ Dupl. with ' grew conceited that.' " i.e. the coat given in note i from
" Subst. for 'a versatile timber house MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 29'.
built.'

James Harrington

293

He was of a middling stature, well-trussed man, strong
and thick, well-sett, sanguine, quick-hott-fiery hazell eie,
thick moyst curkd haire, as you may see by his picture.
In his conversation very friendly, and facetious, and
hospitable.

For above twenty yeares before he died (except his
imprisonment) he lived in the Little-Ambry (a faire house
on the left hand), which lookes into the Deane's-yard in
Westminster. In the upper story he had a pretty gallery,
which looked into the yard (over . . . court) where he
commonly dined, and meditated, and tooke his tobacco.

His amici were : — Henry Nevill, esq., who never forsooke
him to his dyeing day. Though ^ a whole yeare before
he died, his memorie and discourse were taken away by a
disease ('twas a *sad sight to see such a sample of mortality,
in one whom I lately knew, a brisque, lively cavaliero),
this gentleman, whom I must never forget for his constant
friendship, payd his visits as duly and respectfully as when
his friend (J. H.) was in the prime of his understanding —
a true friend.

architect, that has built severall delicate howses (Sir Robert
Henley's, Sir Thomas Grosvenor's in Cheshire) ;

— Sir Thomas Dolman;

— Mr. Roger L'Estrange ;

—Dr. John Pell ;

-J. A."

He was wont to say that ' Right reason in contemplation
is vertue in action, ct vice versa. Vivcrc secuiiduin natnrani
is to live vertuously, the Divines will not have it so' ; and
that ' when the Divines would have us be an inch above
vertue, we fall an ell belowe it.'

given offence.

t Mr. Andrew
Marvell made a
good epitapli for

nim, but < It)
would have

— — f Mr. Andrew Marvell, who made an
epitaph for him, which quaere.
— Kis uncle, .... Samuel, esq. ;
— his son, Mr. . . . Samuel, an excellent

" Subst. for 'though neer(i.e. near) a.'

* Verso of the slip at fol. 98' of MS. Aubr. 6.

* i. e. John Aubrey.

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

These verses he made, about anno .......

* \_Upon^ i/ie state of nature.
The state of nature never was so raw,
But oakes bore acomes and ther was a law
By which the spider and the silkeworme span ;
Each creature had her birthright, and must man
Be illegitimate ! have no child's parte !
If reason had no wit, how came in arte?

ingenium i. e. quoddam ingenitum.]
By Mr. James Harrington, esq., autor Oceanae, whose
handwriting this is.

** Hie jacet | Jacobus Harrington, armiger | filius maximus natu |
Sapcotis Harrington de Rand | in comitatu Lincolniae, equitis aurati |
et Janae (matris ejus) filiae | Gulielmi Samuel de Upton in | comitatu
Northampton, militis | qui | obiit septimo die Septembris | aetatis
suae sexagesimo sexto | anno Domini 1677. | Nec virtutis nec animi
dotes I arrha licet aeterni in animam amoris Dei | corruptione eximere
queant corpus | Gen. iii. 19 | Pulveris enim es et reverteris | in
pulverem | : —

author of the Oceana — he lyes buried in the chancell
of St. Margarite's Church at Westminster, the next grave
to the illustrious Sir Walter Raleigh, under the south side
of the altar where the priest stands.

*** Pray remember to looke upon Mr. James

Harrington's life : upon my alterations there. It was
a philosophicall or politicall club, where gentlemen came
at night to divert themselves with political discourse, and
to see the way of balloting. It began at Miles's coffee-
house about the middle of Michaehnas-terme, and was
given over upon general Monke s comeing-in.

Sir John Hoskyns, etc., deane Arderne^ etc., would
not like to have their names seen.

K^otes.

' In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 98", Aubrey gives the reference ' vide Anthony Wood's

* MS. Aubr. 21, ful. 3.

" The passage in square brackets is
Harrington's autograph.

** Aubrey, in MS. V\'ood F. 39, fol.
308 : June 6, 1678.

*** A slip pasted to a slip inserted
at fol. 98" of MS. Aubr. 6, a direction
to Anthony Wood.

^ supra, p. 290.

Willtam Harvey

295

HisL et Aiitiq. Oxon.,' and the coat ' . . . , a fret . . . '. In MS. Aubr. 8,
fol. 29', he gives the coat for Harrington's marriage, viz. : — ' . . . , a fret
. . . [Harrington] ; impalirg, . . . , a lion rampant crown'd . . . [D'ayrell^.'

^ The princess Llizabeth, daughter of James I. Sir John Harington, her
tutor, was created (July 21, 1603) baron Harington of Exton. He married
Anne Kelway, and was grand-uncle to the author of Oceana.

^ Robert Wood, M.A. Mert.) 1649, appointed Fellow of Line. Coll. by the
Parliamentary Visitors, Sept. 19, and admitted Oct. 23, 1650; ejected by
the King's Commissioners, Aug. 18, 1660.

Samuel Hartlib (16.. -1670).

In MS. Aubr. 22 (Aubrey's collection of Grammars) is a tract : —
' The true and ready way to learne the Latine tongue,' by Samuel

Hartlib, esq., Lond. 1654, with the inscription 'Jo. Aubrey, dedit

5. Harthb, 1654.'

William Harvey (157^-1657).

* William Harvey^, M.D., natus at Folkestone in Kent :
** borne at the house which is now the post-house, a faire
stone-built house, which he gave to Caius College in
Cambridge, with some lands there : vide his will. His
brother Eliab would have given any money or exchange
for it, because 'twas his father's, and they all borne there ;
but the Doctor (truly) thought his memory would better
be preserved this way, for his brother has left noble
seates, and about 3000//. per annum, at least.

*** Hemsted in Essex towards Audeley End : ibi
sepultus Dr. Harvey.

**** Quaere Mr. (William) Marshall, the stone-cutter,
for the inscription in the church there.

***** Quaere Mr. Marshall in Fetterlane for the copie
of the inscription on his monument in Essex.

****** Dr. W. Harvey: (ask his) epitaph (from)
Mr. Marshall.— Quaere Anthony Wood if there is a MS.
in bibl. Bodleiana that speakes of the circulation of the
bloud : Dr. (Luke) Ridgeley and Dr. Trowtbec can
enforme me from Meredith Lloyd. Memorandum,

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121".
** MS. Aubr, 6, fol. 64.
*** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 108'.

**** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 64.
***** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 66'.
****** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 18.

296

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Mr. Parker tells me that Mr. (John) Oliver, the City
surveyor, had his father Marshall's inscriptions and papers;
ergo vide there for the Doctor's inscription and also for
the inscription of Inigo Jones.

* Dr. William Harvey — ex libro - meo B.

Over Dr. Harvey's picture in the great parlour under
the library at the Physitians' College at Amen-corner
(burnt) :—

Gul. Harveus, an. aetat. 10, in Schola Cantuar. primis doctrinae
rudimentis imbutus ; 14, Col. Gonvil. et Caii alumnus ; 19, peragravit
Galliam et Italiam ; 23, Patavii praeceptores habuit Eust. Rudium,
Tho. Minad , H. Fab. ab Aquapend., Consul Anglor. 16 fit ; 24, Doctor
t s th Med. et Chirurg. Reversus Lond. praxin exercuit, et
uxoremt duxit ; 25, Coll. Med. Socius ; 37, Anatom. et
Chirurg. Professor ; 54, Medicus Regius factus. Scripsit de Motu
Sanguinis, et de Gen. Animal. Obiit 30 Jun. MDCLVil. Aetat. 80.

— (But I well remember that Dr. Alsop, at his funerall,
sayd that he was 80, wanting one ; and that he was the
eldest of 9 brethren.)

He lies buried in a vault at Hempsted in Essex, which
his brother Eliab Harvey built ; he is lapt in lead, and on
his brest in great letters

Dr. William Harvey.

I was at his funerall, and helpt to carry him into the
vault.

In the library at the Physitians' Colledge was the
following inscription above his statue (which was in his
doctorall robes) : —

Gul. Harveus, natus a.d. 1578, Apr. 2. Folkston, in Com. Cantii,
primogenitus Thomae Harvei et Joannae Halk : fratres germani, Tho.
Jo. Dan. Eliab. Mich. Mat.: sorores, Sarah, Amey.

Under his white marble statue, on the pedestall, thus,

GULIELMO HaRVEO,

Viro

Monumentis suis immortali,
Hoc insuper
Coll. Med. Lond.
Posuit.

* MS, Aubr. 6, fol. 64.

IVilltam Harvey 297

Qui enim Sanguin. Motum
(ut et Animal. Ortum) dedit
meruit esse
Stator Perpetuus.

* Dr. Harvey added (or was very bountiful! in con-
tributing to) a noble building of Roman architecture (of
rustique worke, with Corinthian pillasters) at the Physi-
tians' College aforesaid, viz. a great parlour^ for the
Fellowes to meet in, belowe ; and a library, above. On
the outside on the freeze, in letters 3 inches long, is this
inscription : —

SUASU ET CURA FRAN. PrUJEANI, Pr^SIDIS, ET EDMUNDI

Smith, Elect., inchoata et perfecta est h/ec fabrica. An.
miocliii.

All these remembrances and building was destroyed
by the generall fire.

He was alwayes very contemplative, and the first
that I heare of that was curious in anatomic in England.
He had made dissections of frogges, toades, and a number
of other animals, and had curious observations on them,
which papers, together with his goods, in his lodgings at
Whitehall, were plundered at the beginning of the Rebellion,
he being for the king, and with him at Oxon ; but he
often sayd, that of all the losses he sustained, no greife
was so crucifying to him as the losse of these papers,
which for love or money he could never retrive or obtaine.
When Charles I ^ by reason of the tumults left London, he
attended him, and was at the fight of Edge-hill with him ;
and during the fight, the Prince and duke of Yorke were
committed to his care : he told me that he withdrew with
them under a hedge, and tooke out of his pockett a booke and
read ; but he had not read very long before a bullet of
a great gun grazed on the ground neare him, which
made him remove his station. He told me that Sir Adrian
Scrope " was dangerously wounded there, and left for

* M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 64'. Anthony Wood writes ' Adrian

* Dupl.with'. -I kind of Convocation- Scrope' in the margin, to mark this
house.' place for use in his Athenae.

^ Subst. for 'the king.'

298

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

dead amongst the dead men, stript ; which happened to
be the saving of his hfe. It was cold, cleer weather, and
a frost that night ; which staunched his bleeding, and
about midnight, or some houres after his hurt, he awaked,
and was faine to drawe a dead body upon him for warmeth-
sake.

After Oxford was surrendred, which was 24 July* 1646,
he came to London, and lived with his brother Eliab
a rich"^ merchant in London, on . . . hill, opposite to
St. Lawrence (Poultry) church °, where was then a high
leaden steeple (there were but two, viz. this and St.
Dunstan's in the East) and at his brother's country house
at Roe-hampton.

His brother Eliab bought, about 1654, Cockaine-house,
now *(i68o) the Excise-Office, a noble house, where the
Doctor was wont to contemi^Iate on the leads of the house,
and had his severall stations, in regard of the sun, or
wind.

He did delight to be in the darke, and told me he could
then best contemplate. He had a house heretofore at
Combe, in Surrey, a good aire and prospect, where he had
caves made in the earth, in which in summer time he
delighted to meditate. — He was pretty well versed in
the Mathematiques, and had made himselfe master of
Mr. Oughtred's Clavis Math, in his old age ; and I have
seen him perusing it, and working problems, not long
before he dyed, and that booke was alwayes in his meditating
apartment.

His chamber was that roome that is now the office of
Elias Ashmole, esq. ; where he dyed, being taken with the
dead palsye, which tooke away his speech. As soone as
he sawe he was attaqued, he presently sent for his brother,
and nephews, and gave one a watch, another another thing,
etc., as remembrances of him. He dyed worth 20,oco li.
which he left to his brother Eliab. In his will he left

" Rectius June : Clark's Wood's ■= Subst. for ' St. Dunstan's church
Life and Titnes, i. 128. in the . . . .'

" Subst. for ' great.' * MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 65.

Wtlh'am Harvey

his old friend Mr. Thomas Hobbes ic//. as a token of
his love.

His sayings. — He was wont to say that man was but
a great mischievous baboon.

He would say, that we Europaeans knew not how to order
or governe our woemen, and that the Turkes were the only
people used them wisely.

He was far from bigotry.

He had been physitian to the Lord Chancellor Bacon,
whom he esteemed much for his witt and style, but would
not allow him to be a great philosopher. ' He writes
philosophy like a Lord Chancelor,' said he to me, speaking
in derision ; ' I have cured him.'

About 1649 he travelled again into Italy, Dr. George
(now Sir George) Ent, then accompanying him.

At Oxford, he grew acquainted with Dr. Charles Scar-
borough, then a young physitian (since by king Charles H
knighted), in whose conversation he much delighted ; and
wheras before, he * marched up and downe with the army,
he tooke him to him and made him ly in his chamber, and
said to him, ' Prithee leave off thy gunning, and stay here ;
I will bring thee into practice.'

I remember he kept a pretty young wench to wayte on
him, which I guesse he made use of for warmeth-sake as
king David did, and tooke care of her in his will, as also
of his man servant.

For 20 yeares before he dyed he tooke no manner of
care about his worldly concernes, but his brother Eliab,
who was a very wise and prudent menager, ordered all not
only faithfully, but better then he could have donne
himselfe.

He was, as all the rest of the brothers, very cholerique ;
and in his young days wore a dagger (as the fashion then
was, nay I remember my old schoolemaster, old Mr. Latimer,
at 70, wore a dudgeon, with a knife, and bodkin, as also
my old grandfather Lyte, and alderman Whitson of
Bristowe, which I suppose was the common fashion in

* MS. Aubr. G, fol. 65'.

300

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

their young dayes), but this Dr. would be to<o> apt to
draw-out his dagger upon every sHght occasion

He was not tall ; but of the lowest stature, round faced,
olivaster ^ complexion ; little eie, round, very black, full of
spirit ; his haire was black as a raven, but quite white 20
yeares before he dyed.

I first savve him at Oxford, 1642, after Edgehill fight,
but was then too young to be acquainted with so great
a Doctor. I remember he came severall times to Trin.*^
Coll. to George Bathurst, B.D., who had a hen to hatch
egges in his chamber, which they dayly opened to discerne*
the progres and way of generation. I had not the honour
to be acquainted (with) him*' till 1651, being my she
cosen Montague's physitian and friend. I was at that
time bound for Italy (but to my great griefe disswaded by
my mother's importunity). He was very communicative,
and willing to instruct any that were modest and respectfull
to him. And in order to my journey, gave me, i. e. dictated
to me, what to see, what company to keepe, what bookes
to read ^ how to manage my studies : in short, he bid me
goe to the fountain head, and read Aristotle, Cicero,
Avicenna, and did*^ call the neoteriques shitt-breeches. He
wrote a very bad hand which (with use) I could pretty
well read.

I have heard him say, that after his booke of the
Circulation of the Blood * came-out, that he fell mightily
in his practize, and that 'twas beleeved by the vulgar that
he was crack-brained ; and all the physitians were against
his opinion, and envyed him ; many wrote against him, as
Dr. Primige, Paracisanus, etc. (vide Sir George Ent's
booke). With much adoe at last, in about 20 or 30 yeares
time, it was recieved in all the Universities in the world ;

* The records of the Steward's court
of the University of Oxford show
several cases of homicide, in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries,
from the hasty drawing of daggers
worn as part of the ordinary dress.
See also supra, p. 1 50.

Dupl. with ' complexion like
wainscott.'

<^ Uupl. witli ' our.'

^ Dupl. with ' see.'

" Subst. for ' to know him.'

' Subst. for 'would.'

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 66.

William Harvey

301

and, as Mr. Hobbes sayes in his book ' De Corpore,' he is
the only man, perhaps, that ever lived to see his ozune doctrine
established in his life time.

He understood Greek and Latin pretty well, but was no
critique, and he wrote very bad Latin. The Circuitns
Sangninis was, as I take it, donne into Latin by Sir George
Ent (quaere), as also his booke de Generatione Animalinni,
but a little book in J 2™° against Riolani (I thinke),
wherein he makes-out his doctrine clearer, was writt by
himselfe, and that, as I take it, at Oxford.

His majestie king Charles I gave him the Wardenship of
Merton Colledge in Oxford, as a reward for his service,
but the times suffered him not to recieve or injoy any
benefitt by it.

He was physitian, and a great favorite of the Lord
High Marshall of England, Thomas* Howard, earle of
Arundel and Surrey, with whom he travelled as his
physitian in his ambassade to the Emperor ... at Vienna,
Anno Domini J 63-. Mr. W. Hollar (who was then one
of his excellencie's gentlemen) told me that, in his voyage,
he would still be making of excursions into the woods,
makeing observations of strange trees, and plants, earths,
etc., naturalls, and sometimes like to be lost, so that my
Lord Ambassador would be really angry with him, for there
was not only danger of thieves, but also of wild beasts.

He was much and often troubled with the gowte, and his
way of cure was thus ; he would then sitt with his legges
bare, if it were frost, on the leads of Cockaine house, putt
them into a payle of water, till he was almost dead with cold,
and betake himselfe to his stove, and so 'twas gonne.

He was hott-headed, and his thoughts working would
many times keepe him from sleepinge ; he told me that
then his way was to rise out of his bed and walke about
his chamber in his shirt till he was pretty coole, i. e. till
he began to have a horror, and then returne to bed, and
sleepe very comfortably.

I remember he was wont to drinke coffee ; which he and

» Subst. for ' William.'

302

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

his brother Eliab did, before Coffee-houses were in fashion
in London.

* All his profession would allowe him to be an excellent
anatomist, but I never heard of any that admired his
therapeutique way. I knew severall practisers in London ^
that would not have given '^d. for one of his bills ; and
that a man could hardly tell by one of his bills'' what he
did aime at.

He did not care for chymistrey, and was wont to speake
against them with an undervalue.

It is now fitt, and but just, that I should endeavour to
undecieve the world in a scandall that I find strongly
runnes of him, which I have mett amongst some learned
young men : viz. that he made himselfe a way to putt
himselfe out of his paine, by opium ; not but that, had he
laboured under great paines, he had been readie enough
to have donne it ; I doe not deny that it was not according
to his principles upon certain occasions to .... : but the
manner of his dyeing was really, and bond fide, thus, viz.
the morning of his death about lo a clock, he went to
speake, and found he had the dead palsey in his tongue ;
then he sawe what was to become of him, he knew there
was then no hopes of his recovery, so presently sends for
his young nephewes to come-up to him, to whom he gives
one his watch ('twas a minute watch with which he made
his experiments); to another, another remembrance, etc.;
made signe to . . . Sambroke, his apothecary (in Black-
Fryars), to lett him blood in the tongue, which did little or
no good ; and so he ended his dayes. His practise was not
very great towards his later end ; he declined it, unlesse
to a speciall friend, — e. g. my lady Howland, who had
a cancer in her breast, which he did cutt-off and seared,
but at last she dyed of it.

t I have seen He rode on horseback with a foot-cloath

him ride in 1654 .... . t 1 . r 11 •

ax 5. to visitt his patients t, his man following on

foote, as the fashion then was, which was very decent, now

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 66". " Dupl with ' this towne.'

i. e. prescriptions.

William Harvey

303

quite discontinued The judges rode also with their foote-
cloathes to Westminster-hall, which ended at the death of
Sir Robert Hyde, Lord Chief Justice. Anthony earl of
Shafton% would have revived, but severall of the judges
being old and ill horsemen would not agree to it.

Lettres on naturalls : (quaere) Mr. Samb(roke).

The scandall aforesaid is from Sir Charles Scarborough's
saying that he had, towards his latter end, a preparation of
opium and I know not what, which he kept in his study
to take, if occasion should serve, to putt him out of his
paine, and which Sir Charles promised to give him ; this
I beleeve to be true ; but doe not at all beleeve that he
really did give it him. The palsey did give him an easie
passe-port.

I remember I have heard him say he wrote a booke
De mscctis, which he had been many yeares about, and had
made curious researches and anatomicall observations on
them. This booke was lost when his lodgings at White-
hall were plundered in the time of the rebellion. He could
never for love nor money retrive them or heare what
became of them and sayd 'twas the greatest crucifying to
him that ever he had in all his life.

* Dr. Harvy told me, and any one if he examines
himself will find it to be true, that a man could not fancy
— truthfully — that he is imperfect in any part that he has.
verbi gratia, teeth, eie, tongue, spina dorsi, etc. Natura
tends to perfection, and in matters of generation we ought
to consult more with our sense and instinct, then our
reason, and prudence, fashion of the country, and interest.
We see what contemptible products are of the prudent
politiques weake, fooles, and ricketty children, scandalls
to nature and their country. The heralds are fooles^ —
iota errant via. A blessing goes with a marriage for love
upon a strong impulse.

* i. e. Shaftesbury ; Lord High for policy.

Chancellor, 1672. i e. in inducing gentlemen to

* MS. Anbr. 21, fol. 12. marry into noble families in order
Dupl. with 'despicable.' to impale a distinguished coat.

' i. e. of thoie who have manied

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

* Sowgelder. To see, Sir John, how much you are mis-
taken ; he that marries a widdowe makes himself cuckold.
Exempli gratia, to speake experimentally and in my trade,
if a good bitch is first warded with a curre, let her ever
after be warded with a dog of a good straine and yet she
will bring curres as at first, her wombe being first infected
with a curre. So, the children will be like the first husband
(like raysing up children to your brother). So, the adulterer,
though a crime in law, the children are like the husband.

Sir John. Thou dost talke, me thinks, more under-
standingly of these matters then any one I have mett with.

Sozvgelder. Ah ! my old friend Dr. Harvey — I knew
him right well — he made me sitt by him a or 3 hours
together discoursing. Why! had he been stifife, starcht",
and retired, as other formall doctors are, he had known
no more then they. From the meanest person, in some
way, or other, the learnedst man may learn something.
Pride has been one of the greatest stoppers ^ of the advance-
ment of learning.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives (MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 64) in trick the coat : — ' or, on a chief
indented sable 3 crescents argent [Harvey] ; quartering . . . , 2 bars wavy
. . . , on a chief ... a lozenge charged with a Maltese cross . . . .'

i. e.- the inscriptions given here are extracted from the lost volume B. of
Aubrey's antiquarian collections. July 2, 1674, Aubrey to Wood, in MS.
Ballard 14, fol. 103 : — ' My brother William hath my liber B, wherin is the
epitaph etc. of Dr. William Harvey's life.'

^ On MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 61, the blank address-side of Francis Potter's letter
(of date Dec. 7, 1652) to Aubrey are found Aubrey's jottings of this con-
versation:— , ,.

V esalius

Bantinus
Anthocologia
J. Riolani.

de ociilo

Julius Placentinus : de oculo et
auditu
de octilo et visione
Fabricius Aquapendente.
Ad legendos hosce bonos autores cohortatus sum a doctore Gulielmo Harveo.

* MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 15. The marrying a widow,
sowgelder, in Aubrey's comedy, is °- Dupl. with ' proud.'
dissuading Sir John Fitz-ale from Dupl. with ' retarders.'

John Haivles. Richard Head 305

' Anbrey has preserved two specimens of this bad hand. MS. Aubr. 21, fol.
77» he marks as ' Dr. Harvey's bill for my purge, Nov. 19, 1655,' and notes
'The recipe is Dr. Harvey's own handwriting.' MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 107, is
a prescription addressed for ' Mr. Aubrey, Apr. 23, 1653,' on which Aubrey
notes ' This is Dr. William Harvey's owne writing.'

° This passage, and the next, are taken from Aubrey's projected comedy.
The Cotmtry Revel. In all likelihood they are a reminiscence of Harvey's
familiar conversation : see p. 300, supra.

John Hawles (1645-17 16).

* ' Remarks upon the Tryalls of Edward Fitzharris,
Stephen Colledge, count Coningsmark, the lord Russell,
col. Sydney, Henry Cornish, and Charles Bateman ; as also
of Shaftsbury's Grand Jury, Wilmore's Homme replegiando,
and the award of execution against Sir Thomas Armstrong ' :
by John Hawles, barrister, of Lincoln's Inne : London, 1689.

He was the sonne of Thomas Hawles, esq., and borne
at his father's house in the close in Salisbury. He went
to school at Winton College, and was a gentleman
commoner of Queen's College, Oxon. He is an exceeding
ingeniose young gentleman.

Richard Head (1637 ?-i686 ?).

** From Mr. Bovey : — . . . Meriton — his true name was
Head (Mr. Bovey knew him). Borne . . . ; was a booke-
seller in Little Britaine.

He had been amongst the gipsies. He looked like a
knave with his gogling eies. He could transforme" him-
selfe into (any) shape. Brake 2 or 3 times. Was at
last a bookeseller, or towards his later end. He main-
tained himselfe by scribling. He (got) 20s. per sheet.
He wrote severall pieces, viz. The English Rogue^, The
Art of Whcadliug, etc.

He was drowned goeing to Plymouth by long sea about
1676, being about 50 yeares of age.

Note.

' In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. i^, Anthony Wood notes ' Meriton Latrone in " the

* MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 9. ** MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 15'.

* Subst. for ' transmographie.'
I. X

3o6

Atibrey^s 'Brief Lives'

English Rogue "; I have it <i. e. the book) in my other study.' — ' The English
Rogue described in the life of Meriton Lalrone,' Lend. 1666.

James Heath (1629-1664).

* Quaere of Sir . . . Heath in Pumpe Court ; quaere
capt. Sherburne and J. Davys de hoc.

Ex registro St. Bartholomew the lesse, London, Anno
Dom. 1664. ' James Heath, gent., dyed the 16th, and was
buryed the 19th of August, consumption and dropsey, in
the church neere the skreene dore.'

The clarke here told me that once he had a pretty good
estate, but in his later time maintained him selfe much
by writing bookes He was hardly 40 yeares old when
he dyed. He left 4 or 5 children on the parish, now all
or most maried. Two were bound apprentices to weavers.

' James Heath, ejected by the Parliamentary Visitors (1648) from his Student-
ship in Christ Church, wrote histories of portions of the Civil War.

Elize Hele (15.. -1635).

** Lady Hele" in Devon, Hoo/i per annum — Sir John
Maynard.

The lady Hele of Devon gave by her will 800 //. per
annum to be layd out for charitable uses and by the
advice and prudence of serjeant Maynard He did
order it " according to the best of his understanding, and
yet he sayd that he haz lived to see every one of these
benefactions abused — quod N. B.

*** Sir Robert Henley (16 . . -1680 ?).

Sir Robert Henley, of Bramswell, Hants, baronet,
decubuit ^, Thursday, about 3'* P.M., Feb. 14, Valentine's

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 21.

** MS. Aubr. 6, a jotting on a slip
at fol. 86, explained by the next para-
graph, which is found on the back of
the slip.

" ' Mr. Elize Hele ' : see the details
of the endowment in Lysons' Britannia

(Devonshire), pp. 405, 609.

*> John Maynard (1602-1690) : Ser-
jeant at Law 1654.

'did ordered' in MS., by a slip
for ' did order it.'

*** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 96'.
i.e. took tohisbed. Theastrologer

Edward, lord Herbert of Chirbiiry 307

day. He was taken ill a hunting about noon, I think
the Tuesday before. The yeare when, quaere ? 1673,

Edward Herbert, baron Herbert of Chirbury (1583-1648).

* Edward ^ lord Herbert of Cherbery — vide memo-
randum", 1672. Vide 8vo booke by . . . , ubi his life,
and description of a noble monument designed by him.
Vide'' lib. B, Montgomery, p. 126. — Severall whispering
places in Wales, one here at Montgomery : — (so I am
told by) Meredith Lloyd. — Prophetick America — vide
lib. B, Montgomery.

(James) Usher, Lord Primate of Ireland, was sent for
by him, when in his death-bed, and he would have received
the sacrament. He sayd indifferently of it that ' if there
was good in any-thing 'twas in that,' or 'if it did no
good 'twould doe no hurt.' The primate refused it, for
which many blamed him. He dyed at his house in Queen
street, very serenely ; asked what was a clock, answer
so . . . : ' then.' sayd he, ' an houre hence I shall depart.'
He then turned his head to the other side and expired.
In his will he gave speciall order to have his white stone-
horse (which he loved) to be well fed and carefully looked
after as long as he lived. He had two libraries, one at
London, the other at Montgomery; one- wherof he gave
to Jesus College, Oxon.

Vide his mother's, the'' . . . , funerall sermon, preached
at Chelsey by Dr. Donne, wherunto are annexed Latin
and Greeke verses by her sonne, George Herbert.

Verses. Poemes.

Vide more of this lord in Lloyd's State- Worthies, 8vo.
1679.

Amici: — John Donne, D.D.; Sir John Danvers, etc.

then took his ' decumbiture,' i. e. posi- Aubrey's own antiquarian notes,

tion of the stars at the time of his " See, for the explanation of this

being laid up. jotting, in George Herbert's life, infra,

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 28. p. 310.

» i. e. , I suppose, in Aubrey's pocket The blank is perhaps for ' wife of

Almanac for 1672 : see pp. 39, 51. Sir John Danvers.'
' lib. B ' is a lost volume of

X 2

3o8 Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

* (August, 1648) — St. Giles-in-the-fields : 'August 5th,
buried Edward, lord Herbert, baron of Cherbery.'

Mr. (Thomas) Fludd tells me he had constantly prayers
twice a day in his howse, and Sundayes would have his
chaplayne read one of Smyth's sermons. Vide Mr. Davys,
attorney.

** Sir Edward Herbert, afterward lord Cherbery, etc.,
dyed at his house, in Queen street, in the parish of St. Giles
in the fields, London, and lies interred in the chancell, under
the lord Stanhope's inscription.

On a black marble grave-stone thus :

Heic inhumatur corpus
Edvardi Herbert, Equitis
Balnei, Baronis de Cherbury
et Castle-Island. Auctoris Libri
cui titulus est De Veritate.
Redder ut herbae,
Vicessimo die Augusti,
Anno Domini 1648.

I have seem him severall times with Sir John Danvers :
he was a black man.

Memorandum : — the castle of Montgomery was a most
romancy seate. It stood upon a high promontory, the
north side 30 + feete high. From hence is a most delight-
some prospect, 4 severall wayes. Southwards, without
the castle, is Prim-rose hill : vide Donne's Poems, p. 53-

Jarke^^ *** Upon this PHm-rose hill f,

Where, if Heaven would distill
A showre of raine, each severall drop might goe
To his owne prim-rose, and grow manna so ;
And where their forme and their infinitie
Make a terrestriall galaxie,
As the small starres doe in the skie ;
I walke to find a true-love, and I see
That 'tis not a meer woman that is shee,
But most, or more, or lesse than woman be, etc.

* MS. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 95. ** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 95.

*** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. gs\

George Herbert

In this pleasant solitude did this noble lord enjoy his
muse. Here he wrote his De Veintate. Dr. Coote (a Cam-
bridge scholar and a learned) was one of his chaplains.
Mr. Thomas Masters, of New College, Oxon, lived with
him till 1642.

This stately castle was demolished since the late warres
at the chardge of the countrey.

Notes.

' In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 95, Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' Party per pale,
azure and gules, 3 lions rampant argent' [Herbert of Chirbury] : surmounted
by a baron's coronet.

' It was his London library that he gave to Jesus College : so Aubrey,
2 Sept. 1671, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 138.

George Herbert (1593-1633).

* Mr. George Herbert was kinsman (remote) and
chapelaine to Philip, earl of Pembroke and Montgomery,
and Lord Chamberlayn. His lordship gave him a
t In the records bencficc* at BctTimarton t (between Wilton and

of the Tower it is ^i-i \ ••riii-i i 11 r

writt Bymerton. balisbury), a pittilull littlc chappell of ease to
Foughelston. The old house was very ruinous. Here he
built a very handsome howse for the minister, of brick, and
made a good garden and walkes. He lyes in the chancell,
under no large, nor yet very good, marble grave-stone,
without any inscription.

Scripsit : — Sacred Poems, called The ChiircJi, printed,
Cambridge, 1633 ; a booke entituled The Country Parson^
t Tw « f not printed till about i6^o, 8vo. He also writt

t 1 his account ^ y

A?noid™ooke,' ^ ^^^'^ 1" Latin, which because the parson %
cooke'ssLtei,' Hlncham could not read, his widowe (then
ro''aTke tl'""^' wife to Sir Robert Cooke) condemned to the

mother in-lawet. ^^^^ ^^^^ hoUSwifry.

Herbert s Mss. burycd (according to his owne desire)

with the singing service for the buriall of dead, by the
singing men of Sarum. Fr(ancis) Sambroke (attorney)
then assisted as a chorister boy ; my uncle, Thomas

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 96. " Subst. for ' the parsonage of Bemmarton.'

i.e. step-mother.

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Danvers, was at the funerall. Vide in the Register booke
at the ofifice when he dyed, for the parish register is lost.

Memorandum : — in the chancell are many apt sentences
of the Scripture. At his wive's seate, My life is hid with
Christ in God, Coloss. iii. 3 (he hath verses on this text in
his poems). Above, in a little windowe blinded, within
a veile (ill painted), Thoii art my hidciiig place. Psalm
xxxii. 7.

He maried Jane, the third daughter of Charles Danvers,
of Bayntun, in com. Wilts, esq. but had no issue by her.
He was a very fine complexion and consumptive. His
mariage, I suppose, hastened his death. My kinswoman
was a handsome bona roba and ingeniose.

When he was first maried he lived a yeare or better at
Dantesey house. H. Allen, of Dantesey, was well ac-
quainted with him, who has told me that he had a very
good hand on the lute, and that he sett his own lyricks or
sacred poems. 'Tis an honour to the place, to have had
the heavenly and ingeniose contemplation of this good
man, who was pious even to prophesie ; — e. g.

' Religion now on tip-toe stands,
Ready to goe to the American strands.'

* George Herbert: — (ask) cozen Nan Garnet pro (his)
picture : if not, her aunt . . . Cooke.

Mary Herbert, countess of Pembroke (1555-1621).

** Mary \ countesse of Pembroke, was sister to Sir
Philip Sydney ; maried to Henry, the eldest son of
William, earle of Pembroke aforesayd ; but this subtile
old earle did foresee that his faire and witty daughter-in-
lawe would horne his sonne and told him so and advised
him to keepe her in the countrey and not to let her
frequent the court.

She was a beautifull ladie and had an excellent witt,
and had the best breeding that that age could afford. Shee

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 5

** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 18.

Mary Herbert

311

had a pritty sharpe-ovall face. Her haire was of a reddish
yellowe.

She was very salacious, and she had a contrivance that
in the spring of the yeare* . . . the stalhons , . . were to
be brought before such a part of the house, where she
had a vidctte to look on them. . . . One of her great
gallants was crooke-back't Cecill, earl of Salisbury.

In her time Wilton house was like a College, there were
so many learned and ingeniose persons. She was the
greatest patronesse of witt and learning of any lady in
her time. She was a great chymist and spent yearly
a great deale in that study. She kept for her laborator in
the house Adrian Gilbert (vulgarly called Dr. Gilbert),
halfe brother to Sir Walter Ralegh, who was a great
chymist in those dayes. 'Twas he that made the curious
wall about Rowlington-parke, which is the parke that
adjoyns to the house at Wilton. Mr. Henry Sanford was
the carle's secretary, a good scholar and poet, and who
did penne part of the Arcadia dedicated to her (as appcares
by the preface). He haz a preface before it with the two
letters of his name. 'Tis he that haz verses before Bond's
Horace. She also gave an honourable yearly pension to
Dr. (Thomas) Mouffett, * who hath writt a booke De
insectis. Also one . . . Boston, a good chymist, a Salis-
bury man borne, who " did undoe himselfe by studying the
philosopher's stone, and she would have kept him but he
would have all the gold to him selfe and so dyed I thinke
in a goale.

At Wilton is a good library which Mr. Christopher Wase
can give you the best account of of any one ; which was
collected in this learned ladle's time. There is a manu-
script very elegantly written, viz. all the Psalmes of David
translated by Sir Philip Sydney, curiously bound in crimson
velvet. There is a MS. writt by Dame Marian'' of hunting

1 Some portions of the text, three
lines in all, are suppressed here.
^ .Subst. for ' elaborator.'
* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 8r.

Subst. for ' but he.'
Anthony \\'ood corrects this to
' Juliana,' i. e. Berners.

312

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

and hawking, in English verse, written in King Henry the
}^th>8 time (quaere Mr. Christopher Wase farther). There is
the legier book of Wilton, one page Saxon and the other
Latin, which Mr. Dugdale perused.

This curious seate of Wilton and the adjacent countrey
is an Arcadian place and a paradise. Sir Philip Sydney
was much here, and there was"* . . . great love between him
and his faire sister ... I have heard old gentlemen (old
Sir Walter Long of Dracot and old Mr. Tyndale) say . . .
The first Philip, earle of Pembroke, . . . inherited not the
witt of either the brother or sister.

^ jg^.^ This countesse, after her lord's death, maried f

uleywer"nor ^o Sir Matthcw Listcr J, knight, one of the
♦'nTdyed 1644 Colledge of Physitians, London. He was (they
'645. say) a learned and a handsome gentleman. She

built then a curious house in Bedfordshire called Houghton
Lodge neer Ampthill. The architects were sent for from
Italie. It is built according to the description of Basilius's
house in the first booke of the Arcadia (which is dedicated
to her). It is most pleasantly situated and hath fower
visto's, each prospect 25 or 30 miles. This was sold to
the earle of Elgin for . . . //. The house did cost 10,000 /z.
the building.

I thinke she was buryed in the vault in the choire at
Salisbury, by Henry, earl of Pembroke, her first husband :
but there is no memoriall of her, nor of any of the rest,
except some penons and scutcheons.

* An epitaph on the lady Mary, countesse of Pembroke
(in print somewhere), by William Browne, who wrote the
Pasioralls, whom William, earle of Pembroke, preferr'd to
be tutor to the first earle of Carnarvon ((Robert) Dormer),
which was worth to him 5 or 6000/2., i. e. he bought 300//.
per annum land — from old Jack Markham —

Underneath this sable hearse
Lies the subject of all verse:

" Some expressions in the text, two lines in all, are suppressed here.
* MS. Aubr. 6, a slip at fol. 81.

Richard Herbert

313

Sydney's sister, Pembroke's mother.
Death ! er'st thou shalt kill " such another
Fair and good and learn'd as shee,
Time will throw a ^ dart at thee.

Note.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' parted per pale azure and gules, 3 lions
rampant argent [Herbert] ; impaling, (or), a pheon (azure) [Sydney].'

Richard Herbert (15 . . -1596).

* (Ex libro B, p. 126): — In a buriall-place in the church
at Montgomery (belonging to the castle) is a great free-
stone monument of Richard Herbert, esq. (father to
the learned lord Herbert of Cherbery, and Mr. George
Herbert, who wrote the sacred poems), where are the
effigies of him and Magdalene his wife, who afterwards
was maried to Sir John Danvers of Wilts, and lies
interred at Chelsey church but without any monument.
Dr. Donne, dean of St. Paul's, preached her funerall sermon,
to which are annexed severall verses, Latin and Greeke,
by Mr. George Herbert, in memorie of her. She was
buryed, as appeares by the sermon, July i, 1627.

In Sepulchrum Richardi Herberti, armigeri, et Magdalenae uxoris
ejus, hendecasyllaba.

Quid virtus, pietas, amorve recti.

Tunc cum vita fugit, juvare possunt?

In coelo relevent perenne nomen,

Hoc saxum doceat, duos recludens

Quos uno thalamo fideque junctos

Heic unus tumulus lapisve signat.

Jam longum sape. Lector, et valeto,
Aeternum venerans ubique nomen.

** In Brecknockshire, about 3 miles from Brecknock, is
a village called Penkelly (Anglice Hasel-wood), where is
a little castle. It is an ancient seate of the Herberts.
Mr. Herbert, of this place, came, by the mother's side, of
Wgan. The lord Cherbery's ancestor came by the second

" Subst. for 'kill'st.'
Dupl. with ' his.'

* MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 95.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 95\

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

venter, who was a miller's daughter. The greatest part of
the estate was settled on the issue by the 2d venter,
viz. Montgomery castle, and Aberystwith. Upon this
match with the miller's daughter are to this day recited, or
sung, by the Welsh, these verses : viz. : —

O gway vinney (dhyw) rag wilidh
Vod vinhad yn velinidh
A' vod vy mam yn velinidhes
A' mod inney yn arglwydhes.

To this sence ' : —

O God ! Woe is me miserable, my father was a
miller, and my mother a milleresse. and I am now
a ladie.

Note.

' A more exact rendering is ; —

'O woe is me (God) for shame,
That my father is a miller
And that my mother is a miller's wife.
And that / am a peeress.'

William Herbert, ist earl of Pembroke (1507-1570).

* William \ earle of Pembroke, the first earle of that
family, was borne (I thinke I have heard my cosen Whitney
say) in ... in Monmouthshire. Herbert, of Colbrooke in
Monmouthshire, is of that family.

He was (as I take it) a younger brother, a mad fighting
young fellow. 'Tis certaine he was a servant to the house
of Worcester, and wore their blew-coate and badge. My
cosen Whitnej-'s great aunt gave him a golden angell ^ when
he went to London. One time being at Bristowe, he was
arrested, and killed one of the sheriffes of the city. He
made his escape through Back-street, through the (then
great) gate, into the Marsh, and gott into France.

Memorandum : — upon this action of killing the sheriffe,
the city ordered the gate to be walled-up. and only a little
posterne gate or dore, with a turnestile for a foot-passenger,
which continued so till Bristowe was a garrison for the king.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 80.

' one time' followed, scored out.

William Herbert, ist earl of Pembroke 315

and the great gate was then opened, in 1644, or 1645.
When I was a boy there, Hving with my father's mother,
who was maried to alderman John Whitson t

t He was the ■' '

greatest bene- (who was my god-father), the story was as

factor to the \ / fc> /' J

city that haz {resh as but of yesterday. He was called black

been since the J
Reformacion {j/^// Herbcvt.

He gave 500 //.

fe"st"oTe dty France he betooke himself into the army,

Wewi'oates ' ' ' where he shewd so much courage, and readinesse
miydes"'^ He of witt in conduct, that in short time he
ffog^^'vide' became eminent, and was favoured by (Francis
register. king, who afterwards recommended him

to Henry the VHI of England, who much valued him, and
heaped favours and honours upon him.

Upon the dissolution of the abbeys, he gave him the
abbey of Wilton, and a country of lands and mannours
thereabout belonging to it. He gave him also the abbey
of Remesbury in Wilts, with much lands belonging to it.
He gave him Cardiff-Castle in Glamorganshire, with the
ancient crowne-lands belonging to it.

Almost all the country held of this castle. It was
built by Sir Robert Fitzhamond the Norman, who lies
buried at Tewkesbury abbey with a memorial : and
he built the abbey of Glocester. It afterwards came
to Jasper, duke of Bedford, etc. ; so to the crowne.
I have seen severall writings of Sir John Aubrey's at
Llantrithid in Glamorganshire, which beginne'' thus: —
' Ego Jaspar, fratcr regum et patruus, dux Bcdfordiae,
comes Pembrochiae, et dominus de Glamorgan et Mor-
gannog, omnibus ad quos hoc presens scriptum pervenerit,
salutem, etc'

He maried (Anne) Par, sister of queen Katharine Par,
daughter and co-heire of (Thomas) Par (I thinke^, mar-
quisse of Northampton), by whom he had 2 sonnes, Henry,
earle of Pembroke, and (Edward) the ancestor of the
lord Powys.

He was made Privy Councellor and conservator of King
Henry the Eight's * will. He could neither write nor

» Dupl. with ' runne.' * M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 8o\

3i6

Aubrey's ''Brief Lives'

read, but had a stamp for his name. He was of good
naturall parts ; but very cholerique. He was strong sett
but bony, reddish-favoured, of a sharp eie sterne looke.

In queen Mary's time, upon the returne of the Catholique
reHgion, the nunnes came again to Wilton abbey, and this
WilHam, earl of Pembroke, came to the gate (which lookes
+ The last lady to^^'^rds the court by the street, but now is
wa's"^" Gawen wallcd-up) with his cappe in hand, and fell upon
beion^nf Jo"' ' '^^^ ^^"^6 to thc lady abbesse f and the nunnes,
t^affemiiyhTz Crying peccavi. Upon queen Mary's death, the
(foMttoun665 ^^'■'^ '^^"^^ Wilton (like a tygre) and turnd
widhfm them out, crying, ' Out ye whores, to worke, to

Windham). i i -5

worke, ye whores, goe spmne.

He being a stranger in our country, and an upstart, was
much envyed. And in those dayes (of sword and buckler),
noblemen (and also great knights, as the Longs), w'hen they
went to the assizes or sessions at Salisbury, etc., had a great
number of retainers following them ; and there were (you
have heard), in those dayes, feudes (i. e. quarrells and
animosities) between great neighbours. Particularly this
new earle was much envyed by the then lord Sturton of
Sturton ^, who would, when he went or returned from Sarum
(by Wilton was his rode), sound his trumpetts, and give
reproachfuU challenging words ; 'twas a relique of knight-
hood errantry.

From my great-uncles, the Brownes of Broad Chalke : —
in queen Elizabeth's time, some bishop (I have forgot who)
that had been his chaplain, was sent to him from the
queen and council, to take interrogatories of him. So
he takes out his pen and inke, examines and writes.
When he had writt a good deale, saj'd the earle, ' Now
lett me see it.' ' Why,' q"^ the bishop, ' your lordship
cannot read it ? ' ' That's all one : I'le see it,' q"^ he, and
takes it and teares it to pieces : ' Zounds, you rascall,' q''
he, 'd'ee thinke I will have my throate cutt with a pen-
knife?' It seemes they had a mind to have pick't a hole in
his coate, and to have gott his estate.

» Dupl. with ' face.'

William Herbert, jrd earl of Pembroke 317

'Tis reported that he caused himself to be lett bloud,
and bled so much that it was his death, and that he should
say as he was expiring, ' They would have Wilton — they
would have Wilton,' and so gave up the ghost.

Memorandum : — this William (the founder of this family)
had a little cur-dog which loved him, and the earl loved the
dog. When the earle dyed the dog would not goe from his
master's dead body, but pined away, and dyed under the
hearse ; the picture of which dog is under his picture, in
the Gallery at Wilton. Which putts me in * mind of
a parallell storie in Appian (Syrian Warr) : — Lysimachus
being slaine, a dog that loved him stayed a long time by the
body and defended it from birds and beasts till such time as
Thorax, king of Pharsalia, finding it out gave it buriall.
And I thinke there is such another story in Pliny : vide.

He was buried in . . . of St. Paule's, London, where he
had a magnificent monument, which is described, with the
epitaph, by Sir William Dugdale, which vide.

** This present earl of Pembroke (1680) has at Wilton
52 mastives and 30 grey-hounds, some beares, and a lyon,
and a matter of 60 fellowes more bestiall than they.

Notes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' party per pale azure and gules, 3 lions
rampant argent [Herbert] ; impaling, argent, 2 bars azure within a bordure
engrailed sable [Parre],' surmounted by an earl's coronet.

^ In error. It was Sir Thomas Parre's son William (brother of this Anne,
countess of Pembroke) who was created marquess of Northampton in 1547.

^ Charles Stourton, succeeded as 7th baron in 1548 , executed for murder in
'557-

William Herbert, 3rd earl of Pembroke (1580-1630).

*** William, earl of Pembroke, Chancellor of the Univer-
sity of Oxford, natus anno MDLXXX, viii Apr. ; obiit
anno MDCXXX, x Calend. Apr.*— His death fell out
according to prediction. He dyed a bed of an apoplexie.

**** Wilhelmus, comes Pembrochiae, Cancellarius Univ.

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 81. *** MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 106".

** MS. Aubr. 6, a note on fol. 80". " 23 March.

**** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 55".

3i8

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Oxon., natus anno MDLXXX, viii Apr. ; obiit anno
MDCXXX, X Calend. Apr, — His nativity was calculated
by old Mr. Thomas Allen : his death was foretold, which
happened true at the time foretold. Being well in health,
he made a feast ; ate and dranke plentifully ; went to bed ;
and found dead in the morning.

* William, carle of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain, and
Chancellor of the University of Oxford : —

'Natus Anno MDLXXX, viii Apr.
Obiit Anno MDCXXX, x Calend. Apr.'—

I find this under his engraved picture.

He dyed of an apoplexy, and it fell-out right according
to prediction, because of which he made a great supper,
and went to his bed well, but dyed in his sleep.

He was a most magnificent and brave peer, and loved
learned men. He was a poet. There is a little booke in
T2mo or i6mo which containes his wife's and Sir Benjamin
Rudyer's who was his friend and contemporary.

John Heydon (1629-166..).

** From Elias Ashmolc, esq'"'', scilicet that he " had the
booke called The way to blisse from his adoptive father
Backhowse'' at Swallowfield in com. Berks., a MSS. writt
in queen Elizabeth's time, hand and stile ai-orvjuws.

Mr. . . . Heyden maried Nicholas Culpepper's widdowe,
and lights there*^ on the aforesayd MSS., and prints a booke
with a great deale of The zvay to blisse word for word and
verses that are printed in the commendation of other
bookes ; and instead of such and such old philosophers'*
putts downe John Bowker and William Lilly which they
never heard of: and is so impudent in one of his bookes
since as to say Mr. Ashmole borrowed of him.

* MS. Aubr. 6, a slip at fol. 81. ' Sir William Backhouse, quaere.'

** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 4'' i.e. among N. Culpepper's papers.

» i. e. Ashmole. ^ i. e. cited in the MS. he was ex-

•> Anthony Wood notes here : — ploiting.

Peter Heylyn. Nicholas Hill 319

Peter Heylyn (1599-1662).

* Dr. Heylin was buried in the choire neer his own [sub-
dean's*] stall, May the loth 1662 ^ but his inscription is
on the wall of the north aisle.

** (Aubrey gives a copy of the inscription, noting, on
the line ' posuit hoc illi moestissima conjux ' : — ) who,
about a year after, fell in love with a lifeguardman that
I know, whom she had maried (aetat. 23), had not cruel
death quench't that amorous flame.

11 port ' sable, 3 horse-heads erased argent.'

Nicholas Hill (1570 ?-i6io).

*** Mr. Nicholas Hill : — This Nicholas Hill was one of
the most learned men of his time : a great mathematician
and philosopher and traveller, and a poet^. His writings
had the usuall fate of those not printed in the author's
life-time. He was so eminent for knowledge, that he was
t 'Twas that favouHte of ... t the great earle of Oxford,

thaHa'tVhe'f— ^^^^ ^™ ^'^ accompanie him in his travells
Elizabeth"''" (^^ '^'^ steward), which were so splendid
uav™ieT ""vide ^"^ sumptuous, that he kept at Florence a
lifzXthabou'r greater court then the Great Duke. This carle
the end. spcut in that .... of travelling, the inheritance

of ten or twelve thousand pounds per annum.

Old Serjeant Hoskins (the poet, grandfather to this Sir
John Hoskins, baronet, my hon"^ friend) knew him (was*^
well acquainted with him), by which meanes I have this
tradicion which otherwise had been lost ; as also his very
name, but only for these verses ^ in Ben Johnson's 2d
volumine, viz. : —

* Aubrey in Wood MS. F. 39, fol.
j6o* : 16 Jan. 167J,.

" Inserted by Anthony Wood.
Wrongly changed by Wood to
1663.

** Ibid., fol. 156 : 30 Dec. 167 1.

*** M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 38".

<■ The words follow, scored out,
' but no writer that ever I heard of, or
if he was,' [his writings].

Subst. for ' or remembred him.

320

Aubt'ey's 'Brief Lives'

I fancy that his picture, i. e. head, is at the end of the
+ Philip, earl of Long Gallery of Pictures at Wilton t, which

Montgomery', . , 1-11

Lord Cham- IS the most philosophicall aspect that 1 have

berlevn, maried r i\ r t-ttii

<Sus'an>the sccn, Very much of JMr. 1. Hobbes of Malmes-

daughter of

< Edward Vere, bury, but rather viore antique. Tis pitty that

l-th>earleof . , ^ .

Oxford, by in noblemcn s jjalleries. the names are not writt

whom he had _

his issue. on, or behind, the pictures.

He writt ' Philosophia Epicureo-Democritiana, simpliciter
proposita, non edocta' : printed at Colen, in 8vo or lamo:
Sir John Hoskins hath it.

Thomas Henshawe, of Kensington, esq., R. Soc. Soc,
hath a treatise of his in manuscript, which he will not print,
viz. ' Of the Essence of God, &c. Light.' It is mighty
paradoxicall : — That there is a God ; What he is, in lo or
12 articles : Of the Iviinortality of the Sotde, which he does
demonstrate "navTovcia and oviovaLa.

[Fabian Philips, the cursiter, remembers him*.]

He was, as appeares by A. Wood's Historie, of St. John's
Colledge in Oxford, where he mentions him to be a great
Lullianist.

In his travells with his lord, (I forget whither Italy or
Germany, but I thinke the former) a poor man begged him
to give him a penny. ' A penny ! ' said Mr. Hill, 'what dost
say to ten pound ? ' ' Ah ! ten pound ! ' (said the beggar)
'that would make a man happy.' N. Hill gave him im-
mediately lo/i. and putt it downe upon account, — 'Item,
to a beggar ten pounds, to make him happy.'

* He printed ' Philosophia Epicurea Democritiana,'
dedicated 'filiolo Laurentio.' — There was one Laurence
Hill that did belong to the queen's court, that was hangd
with ^ Green and Berry about Sir Edmund-Berry Godfrey.
According to age, it might be this man, but we cannot be
certain.

** Mr. Thomas Henshaw bought of Nicholas Hill's

° The statement in square brackets * Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol-

is scored out, and the comment added 389 : 15 July 16S9.
' negat.' Aubrey had enquired of ^ Wood notes ' false.'
Philips. ** Ibid., fol. iSg\

Thomas Hobbes

321

widow, in Bow lane, some of his bool<e.s ; among which
is a manuscript de infiiiitate et aeternitate viundi. He finds
by his writings that he was (or leaning) a Roman Catho-
lique. Mr. Henshaw believes he dyed about 16] o: he
dyed an old man. He flourished in queen Elizabeth's
time. I will search the register of Howe.

* I have searched the register of Bow, ubi non inventus
Nicolas Hill.

** Vide tom. i of Ben: Johnson's workes, pag. 48, epigram
CXXXIV, title ' The famous voyage "...

Here sev'rall ghosts did flitt,
About the shore, of .... , but late departed ;
White, black, blew, greene ; and in more formes out-
started

Than all those Atovii ridiculous

Wherof old Democrite and Hill Nicholas,

One sayd, the other swore, the world consists.

Note

' Aubrey was most anxious to have these verses inserted, three times directing
Anthony Wood to do so. MS. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 4 : — ' Past on Nicholas
Hill, in his proper place in part ist ' (i.e. MS. Aubr. 6), but no copy of the
verses is there given. MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7 : — ' Insert B. Johnson's verses
of Nicholas Hill.' MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 351': 13 Jan. 168^: — 'B. Johnson
speakes of N. Hill in his " Voyage to Holbourne from Puddle-dock in a ferry
boate.

A dock there is ... . called Averntis
concern us." '

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679).

(This, the most elaborate of these ' Brief Lives,' occupies by itself
MS. Aubr. 9. For the letters introductory to it, see supra, pp. 17-20.

The various papers of which the MS. is composed are bound up
confusedly, and the separate notes are in some cases entered on a page,
or a page and it.s opposite, in no order. Considerable re-arrangement
has therefore been necessary; but the exact MS. references have
been given throughout. Some few notes relating to Hobljcs, found
in other Aubrey MSS., have here been brought into their natural
place.)

I.

* Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 389.
** Ibid., fol. 354 : 21 June 1681.

Y

322

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

* The Life of Mr, Thomas Hobbes, of Malmesburie^
{ In trodtiction. )

The writers of the lives of the ancient philosophers
used to, in the first place, to speake of their lineage" ; and
they tell us that in processe of time severall great ^ families
accounted it their glory to be branched ^ from such or
such a Sapiens.

Why now should that method be omitted in this
Historiola of our Malmesbury philosopher? Who though
but ' of plebeian descent ^, his renowne haz and will give
brightnesse to his name and familie, which hereafter may
arise glorious and flourish in riches and may justly take it
an honour to be of kin to this worthy person, so famous,
for his learning both at home and abroad.

(^Pedigree.')

. Hobbes, m.

I

I. Francis Hobbes,
obiit sine prole.

2. Thomas Hobbes, m. ... Middleton, of Brokenborougli
vicar of Westport. I (vide Camden ').

I, Edmund Hobbes, m.

I

2. Tliomas Hobbes,
philosophus, obiit
coelebs Dec. 4, 1679.

., a daughter,
m. ...

I. Mary, m. . . . Tirell

I I
2. Eleanor, m. ... Harding. Francis Hobbes, m.

1. Thomas, a clothier,
about 23, 1679.

I

2. (Edmund). When a child
his genius lyes to drawing.
He can engrave and some-
thing resembles the philoso-
pher. I have a lyon of his
engraving.

This heraldique way of expressing a genealogie is most
intelligible and makes the best impresse in the memory or

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 30.

"■ This title is subst. for ' Sup-
plementum vitae Thomae Hobbes,
Malmsburiensis' : see p. 17.

There are two other drafts of the
opening sentence : — ' The ancients,
when they writt the lives'; 'It was
usiiall with the writers of the lives of
the ancient philosophers, in the'.

" Dupl. with ' stock.'

Dupl. with ' rich ' or ' illustrious.'
Di'.pl. with 'derived.'
' Dupl. with 'though of no illustrious
family.'

8 Dupl. with 'extraction.'
^ Dupl. with ' great parts.'
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 29'.
' i. e. for the etymology ; infra,
P- 324-

Thomas Hobbes

323

fancy; but^ will it not be thought here to{o) pompous and
affected by his enemies and the nation of critiques?
Prescribe Trcbate.

My brother W. A. will set all this right ^

(^His father.)

* Thomas Hobbes ^ then, whose life I write, was second
son of Mr. Thomas Hobbes, vicar of Westport juxta
Malmesbury, who maried . . . Middleton of Brokinborough
(a yeomanly family). ** He was also vicar of Charlton
(a mile hence) : they are annexed, and are both worth 60
or 80//. per annum. — *** Memorandum, Brokenborough
also is appendant to Charlton vicaridge — 160//. per annum
— from Philip Laurence, whose father-in-law was vicar.
[**** The vicaridge of Malmesbury is but xx nobles per
annum = 6li. I'^s. ^d. ; but Coston and Radbourne belongs
to it, which addition is equal to 50 or 60//. per annum.]

***** Thomas, the father'', was one of the ignorant
' Sir Johns'^' of queen Elizabeth's time ; could " only read
the prayers of the church and the homilies ; and dis-
esteemed ^ learning (his son Edmund told me so), as not
knowing the sweetnes of it.

****** As to his father's ignorance and clownery,
'twas as good metall in the oare which wants excoriating
and refineing. A witt requires much cultivation, much
paines, and art and good conversation to perfect a man.

{His father s br other. y
******* Hee had an elder brother'' whose name was

" Aubrey's MS. is only a rough Wood wrote in the margin 'vicar of

draft for Anthony Wood's perusal. Malmsbury,' but scored it out, as in

Hence these queries. error.

*" P"or the pedigree supplied by ^ Wood wished to add ' or Sir

William Aubrey, see infra, p. 388. Rogers.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 30. " Dupl. with ' did.'

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 29". ' Dupl. with 'valued not.'

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. ']\ ****** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 29".

**** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 29'. ******* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 30.

***** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 30. 8 i. e. Thomas, the father.

" Dupl. with ' vicar.' Anthony

Y 2

324

A iibrey's 'Brief Lives '

Francis, a wealthy man, and had been alderman f of the

t 'Alderman ' is

borough ; by profession a glover X, which is a
chirie magiV grcat trade here ||, and in times past much
Ai'derman and greater. Havlng no * child, he contributed
quaere Sir' much to, or rather altogether maintained, his
: sha*!! I nephew Thomas at Magdalen hall in Oxon ; and

conceaie this when he dyed gave him an agclluvi (a moweing-
p^ilosoplier ground*) called the Gasten-ground, lyeing near
aXiowiedge It. to the horse-fairc, worth 16 or 18 poundes per
foi. .'Q'. " ^' ^' annum ; the rest of his landes he gave to his
'famoI,Tforg"'ood Hcphew Edmund.

** At Sherston about 3 miles hence (vide
map) are groundes likewise called the Gasten-grounds —
perhaps 'tis Garston grounds. At Sherston was hereto-
fore a castle, and perhaps (and quaere) if these grounds
are not where the vallum or bulwarkes might be drawne.
Gaer, Britannice, signifies some such thing, vide Dr. Davys'
British Dictionary.

In Hexham's Dutch dictionary Gast signifies 'a guest';
so that Gasten-groicnd will be 'the ground for the guests';
probably to putt the horses of the guests (that came to lye
at the abbey) to grasse. They speake broad in our
countrey, and do pronounce guest, gast, etc. Monasterys
had their guest-halls ; and it should seeme they had like-
wise their guest-grounds for the strangers' horses : as here.

(^His brother and sister.')

***Thomas, the vicar of Westport, marled . . . Middleton*
of Brokenborough f (of a yeomanly family), by whom he
t Brokenbrig- ^^'^^ sonnes aud one daughter (quaere my
Ms!Aubr!^9"'foi. brother William Aubrey)— Edmund, his eldest
3°"- (was bred-up to '' his uncle's profession of a

glover) ; and Thomas (philosopher), second son, whose

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 31. (T. H.) was borne in.'

» Diipl. with ' pasture.' In MS. ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 30'.
Aubr. 3, fol. 28, Aubrey calls it *** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 31.
'a good moweing ground, called ** Dupl. with 'with,' i.e. with his

Gaston, not far from the house he uncle, as well as to his trade.

Thomas Hobbes

325

life I now write. Edmund was neer * two yeares elder
then his brother Thomas, and something resembled him
in aspect not so tall, but fell much short of him in his
intellect, though he was a good plain understanding
countrey-man He had been bred at schoole with
his brother ; could have made theme, and verse, and
understood a little Greek to his dyeing day. He dyed
(quaere William Aubrey) about 13 yeares since, aetat.
circiter 80.

( His nephews and nieces. )

This Edmund had only one son named Francis, and two
daughters maried to countreymen (renters) in the neigh-
borhood. This Francis pretty well resembled his uncle
Thomas, especially about the eie ; and probably had he
had good education might have been ingeniose ; but he
t This part drowned his witt*^ in ale f. He was left by his

mucli given to . , , , ,, ,. , ,

dninkennes. father and uncle Ihomas, «o«. (quaere W. A.)
or better per annum, but he was an ill husband. He
dyed about two yeares after his father, and left five
children. — His eldest son is Thomas, a clothier, now about
: He did live at 23> I'ving at J . . . (quaere W. A.^). The second,
if Did"i'i^e at (Edmund), lives at . . . ||, and has some lines
Chippenham. jhomas the philosopher. When he was

a child ^, his genius inclined him to (* quaere W. A.)
draweings and engraving in copper. He is now about 21.

( Description of Mai msbitry. )

(As may be seen from his intended preface {supra, p. 19) Aubrey
thought of beginning the Hfe of Hobbes with an account of Malmsbury.
For this purpose in MS. Aubr. 9 he has drawn three plans'* : —
(a) plan of environs of Malmsbury (a slip at fol.

" Dupl with ' about.'
Dupl. with ' face.'

"= In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28, Aubrey
says, ' He(T. H.)had an elder brother,
named Edmund Hobbes, more then
once alderman of Malmesbury ' : but
this is probably an error, from con-
fusing him with the uncle.

Dupl. with ' parts.'

" i. e. William Aubrey.

f Dupl. with ' boy '

* MS Aubr. 9, fol. 32.

i Dupl. with ' pourtraying.'

h Other drawings of Aialmsbury
by Aubrey are in MS. Aubr. 3, fol.
35 and 39.

326 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

(b) plan of Malmsbury (fol. 31^).

(c) a drawing of the house in which Hobbes was born (fol. 31^).
These are reproduced in facsimile at the end of this edition.

He gives there (fol. 31^) these dimensions of the town: — 'From
St. John's Bridge (south limit of the town) to the abbey (north) is
about a quarter of a mile ; and from the same bridge to Westport
church (west limit) is neer about a mile. Height of the borough from
the levill belowe is about icq foot high.'

The references on the plan of Malmsbury (see the facsimile) are: —
' a = the house of his birth.
CD = Westport church.
W = the West port {olim).
/3 = the Smyth's shop.

6 = the private house where Mr. Latimer taught him.

^ = Three Tunnes (as I take it), opposite to the smyth's shop.

^=the religious (house) dedicated to Our Lady: the chapell is

yet standing.

H=(Hobbes's) house at the upper (end) faces the Horse fayre.
= quaere if not a chapell here ? '

On fol. 31^ of MS. Aubr. 9, Aubrey has these remarks about these
plans, etc. : —

' If these notes are not now inserted, probably they will be lost : or
should it not be a marginall commentary ? '

' I have drawne this rude sketch meerly for your clearer under-
standing, not that I think it worth while to grave it for 'tis at randome.
I intended if it had pleased God that I had prospered in the world to
have had taken an exact map * of Malmesbury.'

' Whitechurch, about a mile fer^ off: — quaere ubi stat?' 'Vide
Speed's mappe in Wiltshire.'

' Burnevall, quasi Bournevall.')

(^Description of IVcs/port.)
* Westport ^ is the parish without the west-gate (which
is now demolished), which gate stood on the neck of land
that joines Malmesbury (vide verses ^) to Westport. Here
was, before the late warres, a very pretty church, consist-
ing of 3 aisles, or rather a nave and two aisles (which
tooke up the whole area''), dedicated to St. Mary; and

" On this Anthony Wood comments:
— ' 1 think 'tis fit it should be drawne
and represented, for the abbey sake.

'Tis cheap to have cut in box.'
* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 32.
^ scil. of the ' neck of land.'

Thomas Hobbes

327

a fair spire-steeple, with five tuneable bells, which, when the
towne was taken (about 1644; quaere William Aubrey)
by Sir W. Waller, were converted* into ordinance, and the
church pulled-downe to the ground, that the enemie might
not shelter themselves against the garrison. The steeple
was higher then that now standing in the borough, which
much added to*^ the prospect. The windowes were w^ell
painted, and in them were inscriptions that declared much
antiquitie ; now is here rebuilt a church like a stable.

(^Place and date of his birth.')

Thomas Hobbes, Malmesburiensis,Philosophus,was borne
at his father s house in Westport, being that extreme howse
that pointes into, or'= faces, the Horse-fayre ; the farthest
howse on the left hand as you goe to Tedbury, leaving the
church on your right. To prevent mistakes, and that here-
after may rise no doubt ^ what house was famous for this
famous man's birth ; I doe here testifie that in April, 1659,
his brother Edmond went with me into this house, and into
the chamber where he was borne. Now things begin to be
antiquated, and I have heard some guesse it might be at
the howse where his brother Edmund lived and dyed.
But this is so, as I here* deliver it. This house was given
+ Quaere by Thomas, the vicar, to his daughter f

William Aubrey "; ' ,

if . . . Potiuck I. whose daughter or granddaughter possessed^
it, when I was there. * It is a firme house, stone-built
and tiled, of one roome (besides'' a buttery, or the like,
within) below, and two chambers above. 'Twas in the
innermost where he first drew breath.

The day of his birth was April the fifth, Anno Domini
1588, on a Fryday morning, which that yeare was Good
Fryday. His mother fell in labour with him upon the
fright of the invasion of the Spaniards —

* Dupl. with ' melted.' ® Dupl. with 'as I say.'

^ Dupl. with ' adomfcd.' f See infra, p. 388.

" Dupl. with ' and.' ^ Dupl. with 'enjoyed.'

'• Anthony Wood notes here ' as it * MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 33.

was concerning Homer.' •> Dupl. with ' with.'

328

A nbrey's 'Brief Lives '

[*Fama* ferebat enim, sparsitque per oppida nostra
Extremum genti classe venire diem ;

Atque metum tantum concepit tunc mea mater

Ut pareret geminos meque metumque simul.]

— ** he told me himself between the houres of four and
six : but by rectification his nativity is found to be
, c at ... t.

t See my '

collection of j^jg horoscoDC ^ is Taurus, having in it a

genitures , ^ ) o

morrelacr" satelUtitim oi ^ o{ the 7 planets. It is a maxime
mouth! vi'z'"'' astrologie— vide Ptol. Centil.— that a native
5 h. 2' mane. \}(\zX hath satclHtiuin in his ascendent becomes''
more eminent in his life then ordinary'', e.g. divers which
see in Origanus, etc., and Oliver Cromwell had so, etc.

{His school and college life.)

At four yeares old ^° he went to schoole in Westport
church, till eight ; by that time ^ he could read well, and
number four figures. Afterwards he went to schoole to
Malmesbury, to Mr. Evans, the minister of the towne ;
and afterwards to Mr. Robert Latimer, a young man of
about nineteen or twenty, newly come from the University,
who then kept a private schoole in Westport, where the
broad place (quaere nomen) is, next dore north from the
Smyth's shop, opposite to the Three Cuppes^ (as I take it).
He was a batchelour and delighted in his scholar, T. H.'s
company, and used to instruct him, and two or three
ingeniose youths more, in the evening till nine a clock.
Here T. H. so well profited in his learning, that at fourteen
yeares of age, he went away a good schoole-scholar to
Magdalen-hall, in Oxford. It is not to be forgotten, that
before he went to the University, he had turned Euripidis

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 32". d Dupl. with 'and then.' Subst.

" Quoted from Hobbes' metrical for ' at eight yeares of age he could.'

life of himself. e Written at first 'Three Tunnes

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 33. (quaere William Aubrey) ' : and then

Dupl. with ' proves.' changed when W. A. answered the

Aubrey notes opposite this sen- query,
tence : — ' This is good.'

Thomas Hobbes

329

Medea * out of Greeke into Latin lambiques, which he
presented to his master. Mr. H. told me that he would faine

have had them, to have seen how he did grow in

Twenty odde ^ yeares agoe I searcht all old Mr. Latimer's
papers, but could not find them ; the good huswives
had sacrificed them.

I have heard his brother Edmund and Mr. Wayte (his
schoolefellowe) say that when he was a boy he was
playsome enough, but withall he had even then a con-
templative melanchoHnesse ; he would gett him into a
corner, and learne his lesson by heart presently. His
haire was black, and his schoolfellows were wont to call
him ' Crowe.'

This Mr. Latimer was a good Graecian, and the first
that came into our parts hereabout since the Reformation.
He was afterwards minister of Malmesbury, and from
thence preferred to a better living of 100 per annum,
or +, at Leigh-de-la-mere within this hundred.

At Oxford Mr. T. H.used, in the summer time especially,
to rise very early in the morning, and would tyc the leaden-
counters (which they used in those dayes at Christmas,
at post and payre) with pacthreds"*, which he did besmerc
with ^ birdlime, and bayte them with parings of cheese, and
the jack-dawes would spye them a vast distance up in the
t This story he aire t, and as far as Osney-abbey, and strike at

happened to tell , i i , • i

me, discoursing the bayte, and so be harled in the string,

of the (>ptiques,

to instance such which thc waytc of the counter would make

sharpnes of sight

in so little an eie. cHug about thcr wings. He did not much
care for logick, yet he learnd it, and thought himselfe a
good disputant. He tooke great delight there to goe to
the ^ booke-binders' shops, and lye gaping on mappes, of
which he takes notice in his life written by himselfe in
verse :

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 34.
Dupl. with ' 25 + .'
Dupl. with 'the oven' (dupl. with
' pies ') ' had devoured them.'
Dupl. with ' the boyes.'

Dupl. with ' strings.'
<■ Dupl. with 'draw through.'
' Anthony Wood corrects to ' the
stationers' shops.'

33°

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Ergo ad amoena magis me verto, librosque revolvo,
Quos prius edoctus, non bene doctus eram.
* Pascebamque animum chartis imitantibus orbem,
Telluris faciem, et sydera picta videns,

Gaudebam soli comes ire, et cernere cunctis
Terricolis justos qua facit arte dies ; etc.

** Quaere A(nthony) W<ood) what moneth and day
he was matriculated ?

[He* came'' to Magdalen hall in the beginning of an.
1603, at what time, Dr. James Hussee, LL.D., was
principall. This James Hussee was afterwards knighted
by king James and was made Chancellour of Sarum.
This Dr. Hussee was a great encourager of towardly youths.
But he resigning his principallity about 1605, Mr. John
Wilkinson succeeded him : so that Mr. Hobs was under
the government of two principalis.^^ — Thomas Hobs was
admitted to the reading of any book of logic ('ad''
lectionem cujuslibet libri logices '), that is, he was admitted
to the degree of Bachelaur of Arts, 5 Feb., 1607**, and
in the Lent that then began did determine that is, did
his exercise for the completion of that degree. Vide
Hist, (^et Antiq. Univ.) Oxon., lib. 2, pag. 376 a.]

(^Enters the earl of Devonshire's service. y

*** After he had taken his batchelor of Arts degree
(quaere A. Wood de hoc), the than principall of Magdalen-
hall (Sir James Hussey*^) recommended him to his yong
lord when he left Oxon, who had a conceit ^ that he should
profitt more in his learning if he had a scholar of his owne
age to wayte on him then if he had the information of
a grave doctor. He was his lordship's page, and rode

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 35.

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 34*.

" This paragraph is an insertion by
Anthony Wood in answer to Aubrey's
quer)'.

His name is not entered in the
University matriculation-register.

Part of the formula of admission :
Clark's Reg. Univ. Oxon. II. i. 48.
^ 160J; ibid. II. iii. 278.
e iliid. II. i. 50.
*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 35.
' Subst. for ' Mr. John Wilkinson.'
s Dupl. with ' did believe.'

Thomas Hobbes

331

a hunting and hawking with him, and kept his privy-
purse.

By this way of life he had almost forgott his Latin ;
vide Latin verses. He therefore * bought him bookes of
an Amsterdam print that he might carry in his pocket
(particularly Caesar's Commentarys), which he did read
in the lobbey, or ante-chamber, whilest his lord was making
his visits.

(/y servant to Francis Bacon.')
The Lord Chancellour Bacon loved to converse f with him.
t This ibeieeve assistcd his lordship in translating severall of
Crtt ?ord''s'''^ his Essayes into Latin, one, I well remember,
death b. tijjjt Qjr ^/^^ Greatucs of Citics : the rest

I have forgott. His lordship was a very contemplative
person, and was wont to contemplate in his delicious
walkes at Gorambery and dictate to Mr. Thomas
Bushell, or some other of his gentlemen, that attended him
with inke and paper ready to sett downe presently his
thoughts. His lordship would often say that he better
liked Mr. Hobbes's taking his thoughts'^, then any of the
other, because he understood what he wrote, which the
others not understanding, my Lord * would many times
have a hard taske to make sense of what they writt.

It is to be remembred that about these times, Mr. T. H. was
much addicted to musique, and practised on the base-violl.

{ Visits his native county, Wiltshire.)
1634 : this summer — I remember 'twas in venison
season® (July or August) — Mr. T. H. came into his native
country ^ to visitt his friends, and amongst others he came

" Dnpl. with ' then.'

* The chronology is here difficult.
William Cavendish, second earl of
Devonshire, died 20 June, 1628 ; and
it is he whom Hobbes regarded as his
'first' lord (see his inscription, infra,
p. 386), not his father William, first
earl, who died 3 March, i62f . Bacon
died 9 Apr. 1626.

Dupl. with ' was.'

Dupl. with ' notions.'

* M.S. Aubr. 9, fol. 36.

® .Subst. for ' time '

' In the first attempt at this para-
graph Aubrey wrote, 'T. H. came into
his native country. I was then a little
youth and went to schoole to Mr. Robert
Latimer at Leigh-de-la-mere in the
church about a mile from my father's
house (Easton Pierse).'

332

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives ^

then to see his old school-master, Mr. Robert Latimer f,
at Leigh-de-la-mer, where I was then at
schoole X in the church^, newly entred into my

t Robert
Latimer obtit
November 2,
i6^4 ; sed hoc
nihil ad
rhomhum. —
MS. Aubr. 9,
fol. V ■
t I had then a
fine Httle horse
and commonly
rode - but this is
impertinent —
i.e. I was not a
vulgar boy and
carried not a
satchell at my
back. — Sed hoc
inter nos. —
MS. Aubr. 9,
fol. 31.

grammar by him. Here was the first place and
time that ever I had the honour to see this
worthy, learned man, who was then pleased to
take notice of me and the next day visited my
relations". He was then a proper man, briske,
and in very good habit''. His hayre was then
quite black He stayed at Malmsbury and
in the neighborhood a weeke or better. 'Twas
the last time that ever he was in Wiltshire.
* His conversation about those times was much about
Ben: Jonson, Mr. Ayton, etc.

(^His mathematical studies.^

** He was (vide his life) 40 yeares ^ old before he looked
on geometry ; which happened accidentally. Being in a
gentleman's library in ... , Euclid's Elements lay open,
and 'twas the 47 El.s libri I. He read the proposition,
t He would now ' ^7 1 G— ,' sayd he, 'this is impossible!' So
byll'y or*''''''' he reads the demonstration of it, which referred
emphasis'. j^j^^ back to such a proposition ; which propo-
sition he read. That referred him back to another, which
he also read. Et sic deinceps, that at last he was demon-
stratively convinced of that trueth. This made him in
love with geometry.

I have heard Sir Jonas Moore (and others say
that 'twas a great pity he had not began the study of

" In a second attempt it stood ' ... at
Leigh-de-la-mere. 1 was then a little
youth newly entred into my grammar
by him, and we went to schoole in the
churcli.'

^ Dupl. with 'came to.'
Dupl. with ' friends '
Dupl. with ' equipage '

" Here followed 'and moist-curled,'
dupl. with 'and with moist curies';

but both struck out.

* M.S. Aubr. 9, fol. 35'.

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 36.

f Anthony Wood writes here ' do
not you mean 40 ? ' Aubrey had
written ' 4 ' by a pen-slip ; afterwards
he corrected it.

8 ' Element' used for 'proposition.'
Subst. for ' He would now and
then use an emphaticall oath.'

Thomas Hobbes

333

the mathematics sooner, for such a working head " would
have made great advancement in it. So had he donne '',
he would not have layn so open to his learned mathematicall
antagonists*^. But one may say of him, as one (quaere
who) sayes of Jos. Scaliger, that where he erres, he erres
so ingeniosely, that one had rather erre with him then
hitt the mark ^ with Clavius. I have heard Mr. Hobbes
say * that he was wont to draw lines on his thigh and
on the sheetes, abed, and ^ also multiply and divide. He
t Vide de hoc in would oftcn complain that algebra f (though
\-<\snecorpore, great use) was too much admired, and so

and also in his o / »

Q^iei'e Dr' foUowed after, that it made men not contemplate
Msl'Aubr"^,^ ^'^^ consider so much the nature and power
foi.36. lines, which was a great hinderance to the

groweth of geometrie ; for that though algebra did rarely
well and quickly, and easily in right lines, yet 'twould not
bite in solid (I thinke) geometrie. Quod N.B.

** Memorandum — After he began to reflect on ^ the
interest of the king of England as touching his affaires
between him and the parliament, for ten yeares together
his thoughts were much, or almost altogether, unhinged
from the mathematiques ; but chiefly intent on his De Cive,
and after that on his Leviatlian : which was a great putt-
back to his mathematicall improvement'' — quod N.B. — for
in ten yeares' (or better) discontinuance of that study
(especially) one's mathematiques will become very rusty

(^CJiainpions the kings cause against the parliament.')

*** Vide Mr. Hobbes considered, p. 4 : printed London
1662 (since reprinted, 1680, by William Crooke) : —

1640: 'when the parliament sate that began in April
1640 and was dissolved in May following, and in which

* Dupl. with ' curious wilt.' ' Dupl. with ' as.'

' Bf gan it early ' is written over, ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 36*.

in explanation. ^ Dupl. with 'study.'

Dupl. with 'to the witts.' ^ Dupl. with 'knowledge.'

* Dupl. with ' then doe well.' ' Dupl. with ' rubiginous.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 37 *** MS. Aubr. 9, fol, 37.

* ' In his bed' followed, scored out.

334 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

many pointes of the regall power, which were necessary for
the peace of the kingdome and safety of his majestye's
person, were disputed * and denyed, Mr. Hobbes wrote
a Httle treatise in Enghsh, wherin he did sett-forth and
demonstrate, that the sayd power and rights were in-
seperably annexed to the soveraignty, which soveraignty
they did not then deny to be in the king ; but it seemes
understood not, or would not understand, thatinseperability.
Of this treatise, though not printed, many gentlemen had
copies, which occasioned much talke of the author ; and
had not his majestie dissolved the parliament, it had
brought him in danger of his life.'

* Vide Mr. Hobbes considered., if more may not be
inserted, scilicet as to the politiques. Sed cave —

Incedis per ignes
Suppositos cineri doloso.
HORATIUS ad Asin. Pollionem, ode i, lib. 2.

Memorandum the parliament was then sitting and runne
violently against the king's prerogative.

Memorandum he told me that bp. Manwaring
(of St. David's) preach'd his docU'ine ; for which, among
others, he was sent prisoner to the Tower. Then thought
Mr. Hobbes, 'tis time now for me to shift for my selfe,
and so withdrew " into France, and resided d at Paris. As
I remember, there were others * likewise did preach his
doctrine. This little MS. treatise grew to be^ his book
De Cive ^, and at last grew there to be the so formidable
and . . . Leviathan; the manner of writing of which
booke (he told me) was thus. He walked much and
contemplated, and he had in the head of his staffe ^ a pen
and inke-horne, carried alwayes a note-booke in his pocket.

Subst. for ' discussed.'
* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 38'.
** M.S. Aubr. 9, fol. 37.
Anthony Wood notes ' Roger
Manneringe.'

Dupl. with ' vvtnt.'

^ ' Mostly ' followed : scored out.
« Anthony Wood notes ' Robert
Sibthorpe, vicar of Brackley.'
' Dupl. with ' became.'
8 ' At Paris ' followed : scored out.
•> Dupl. with ' cane.'

Thomas Hobbes

335

and as soon as a thought * darted, he presently entred it
into his booke, or otherwise he might perhaps have lost it.
He had drawne the designe of the booke into chapters,
etc. so he knew whereabout it would come in. Thus that
booke was made.

' He wrote and published the Leviathan far from the
intention either of disadvantage to his majestic, or to flatter
Oliver (who was not made Protector till three or four
yeares after) on purpose to facilitate his returne ; for there
is scarce a page in it that he does not upbraid him.' —
Mr. Hobbes considered, p. 8.

* ' 'Twas written in the behalfe of the faithfull subjects
of his majestic, that had taken his part in the war, or
otherwise donne their utmost endeavour to defend his
majestie's right and person against the rebells : wherby,
having no other meanes of protection, nor (for the most
part) of subsistence, were forced to compound with your
masters, and to promise obedience for the saving of their
lives and fortunes, which, in his booke he hath affirmed,
they might lawfully doe, and consequently not bear arms
against the victors. They had done their utmost endeavour
to performe their obligation to the king, had done all they
could be obliged unto ; and were consequently at liberty
to seeke the safety of their lives and livelihood wheresoever,
and without treachery.'— (ibid.) p. io.

' His majestic was displeased with him ' (at Paris) ' for
a while, but not very long, by means of some s complayning
of and misconstruing his writing. But his majestic had
a good opinion of him, and sayd openly that he thought
Mr. Hobbes never meant him hurt.' — p. 28.

* Before his booke De Homine came forth, nothing of the
optiques writt intelligibly. As for the Optiques of Vitellio'^',
and several others, he accounts them rather geometry than
optiques.' — p. 54. [Will not this p. 54 more aptly come in
in another place ?]

' So also of all other arts ; not every one that brings

" Dupl. with ' notion.' * MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 38.

Dupl. with ' or els he should.' <= Subst. for 'of Euclid and Vitellio.'

336 Attbrey^s 'Brief Lives*

from beyond seas a new gin, or other janty devise, is
therfore a philosopher. For if you reckon that way, not
only apothecaries and gardiners, but many other sorts of
workmen will put-in for, and get the prize —

' Then, * when I see the gentlemen of Gresham CoUedge
apply themselves to the doctrine of motion (as Mr. Hobbes
has done, and will be ready to helpe them in it, if they
please, and so long as they use him civilly), I will looke
to know some causes of naturall events from them, and
their register, and not before ; for nature does nothing but
by motion.

' The reason given by him, why the drop of glasse so much
wondred at shivers into so many pieces by breaking only
one small part of it, is approved for probable by the Royall
t This clause I Societie and registred in their colledge : f but
judgment^'irnot '^'^ rcasou to take it for a favour, because

-MS-'Aibn^g"'' hereafter the invention may be taken, by that
;°shouM these mcaus, not for his, but theirs.'— p. 55.
moralis%°ome in ' As for his sclfc-prayse t, they can have very
bec%°t!afer''to little skiU in morality, that cannot see the justice
-Ms!"Aubr!9^ of commcnding a man's selfe, as well as of any
foi. 3H. thing else, in his own defence.' — p. 57.

' Then for his morosity and peevishnesse, with which
some asperse him, all that know him familiarly, know the
contrary. 'Tis true that when vain and ignorant young
scholars, unknowne to him before, come to him on purpose
to argue with him, and fall into undiscreet and uncivill
expressions, and he then appeare not well contented, 'twas
not his morosity, but their vanity, which should be blamed.' —
{Mr. Hobbes considered) p. 59.

{Residence in Paris.)

** During his stay at Paris he went through a course
of chymistry with Dr. . . . Davison ; and he there
also studied Vesalius's Anatomic. This I am sure was
before 1648; for that Sir William Petty (then Dr. Petty,

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 39.

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 37''.

Thomas Hobbes

337

physitian) studyed and dissected with him. Vide pag.
i8b. A. W.=»

(^Return to England.^

t Quaere de j- a ^ _i_ i i • t- i i

hoc: vide his * Aono 7 65- T, he returned into Jbngland,
1650 or 1651.- and lived most part 1 in London, in Fetter lane,

MS. Aubr. Q, r + ) )

foi. 38'. where he writt, or finished, his booke De CorPore,

\ Quaere etiam

dehoc ithinke . . . ^ jn Latin and then in Eng^Hsh ; and writt

true as I o '

remember.- ^is lessons against the two Savillian professors

MS. Aubr. 9, " ^

foi. 38'. at Oxon", etc.; vide the anno Domini when

printed. (Puto 1655 or 56.)

(^Kindness to his iicphezv.y
** i'^55 or 1656: about this time he setled the piece
I O"^ brother: of land (aforesayd), given to him by his uncle,
forgott But upon his nephew Francis for life, the re-

surely twas to ^ ^ > '

Ms"A''ubr'^9^'~ maynder to his nephew's eldest son, Thomas

M doe not Hobbes. He also not long after® dischardged

published i.ut''' ^ mortgage (to my knowledge ||, to Richard

way o/vvTiHng'''^ Thomc, an attorney) of two hundred pounds,

gWeToyou'" besides the interest thereof, with which his

testimonie!— ncphcw Francis (a careles*' husband) had

fof ag"'''-^' incumbred his estate.

{Residence in London. ^

He was much in London till the restauration of his
majesty, having here convenience not only of bookes, but
of learned conversation, as Mr. John Selden, Dr. William
Harvey, John Vaughan, etc., wherof anon in the catalogue
of his acquaintance.

I have heard him say, th it at his lord's house in the

" i.e. fol. 50' of the MS., where is " 'his Dialogi'' followed: scored

a note by Anthony Wood, as given out.

infra, p. 367. ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 40.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 39. In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28, Aubrey

Subst. for ' which came out anno says thnt Thomas Hobbes gave it to

. . .' Anthony Wood notes, ' Vide ' his elder brother, named Edmund

catalogue of ( Hobbes 's) books in Hobbes.'

Hist, {et Antiq. Univ.') Oxon., and » 'a yeare + ' followed : scored out.

vide transcript thence.' — MS. Aubr. 9, f Dupl. with 'an ill.'
fol. 38'.

I. Z

338

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

countrey
for him, an

t Methinkes in
the country, in
long time, for
want of good
conversation,
one's under-
standing ( witt,
iinention)
growes mouldy.
—MS. Aubr. 9,
fol. 39'.

there was a good Hbrary, and bookes enough
d that his lordship stored the Hbrary with what
bookes he thought fitt to be bought : but he
sayd, the want of learned ^ conversation f was
a very great inconvenience*^, and that though
he conceived*^ he could order his thinking
as well perhaps as another man, yet he found
a great defect ^.

(^Acquaintance and s indies. y

Amongst other of his acquaintance I must not forget our
common friend, Mr. Samuel Cowper, the prince of limners
of this last age, who drew his picture f as like
as art could afford, and one of the best pieces
that ever he did : which his majesty, at his
returne, bought of him. and conserves as one
of his great rarities in his closet at Whitehall.

* 1659. In 1659 his lord was — and some
yeares before — at Little Salisbury-house (now
turned to the Middle-Exchange), where he
wrot, am.ong other things, a poeme, in Latin
hexameter and pentameter, of the encroachment of the
clergie (both Roman and reformed) on the civil power
I remember I saw then 500 + verses, for he numbred
every tenth as he wrote. I remember he did read
Cluverius's Historia Universalis., and made-up his poeme
from thence. His amanuensis remembers this poeme, for
he wrote them out, but knows (not what became of it).

His place of meditation was then in the portico in the
garden.

His manner ^ of thinking: — he sayd that he sometimes

J This picture
1 intend ' to be
borrowed of his
majestv, for
Mr. <l3avid>
Loggan to
engrave an
accurate piece
bv. which will
sell well both at
home and
abroad. Mr.
Loggan is well
acquainted. —
MS, Aubr. 9,
fol. 39'.

" Dupl. with ' in Derbyshire.'

Dnpl. with ' good.'
<^ Dupl. with ' want.'

Subst. for ' thought.'
6 Aubrej'notes opposite this: 'better
this expression.'

' Dupl. with ' designe.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 42. On fol.

41^ Aubrey makes this apology for
its coming there out of due order of
time : — ' Give notice how things are to
be right placed, for all things comes
not into my memory chronologically
and this seemes almost necessary to be
forced.'

^ Dupl. with ' way.'

Thomas Hobbes

339

would sett his thoughts upon researching* and contemplating,
always with this rule'' that he very much and deeply
considered one thing at a time (scilicet, a weeke or
sometimes a fortnight).

There was a report % (and surely true) that in

t Quaere ' the , . , - , , . , ,

bishop of Sarum parliament, uot long alter the kmg was setled,

lie hoc, i.e. pro r . i i • i i • i

tempore.— MS. somc oi the Dishops made a motion to have

Aubr. 9, fol. 41'. Ill 1 1 , r 1

the good old gentleman burn t lor a heretique.
Which he hearing, feared that his papers might be
search't by their order, and he told me he had burn't
part of them. — I have received word ^ from his amanu-
ensis and executor that he ' remembers there were such
verses" for he wrote them out, but knowes not what
became of them, unlesse he presented them to Judge
Vaughan or burned them as I did seeme to intimate.'

But I understand since by W. Crooke, that he can
retrive a good ^ many of them.

(^Scatres the protection of Charles II.)

* 1660. The winter-time of 1659 he spent in Derby-
shire. In March following was the dawning of the
coming in of our gracious soveraigne, and in April the
Aurora.

** I then sent a letter to him in the countrey to advertise
him of the Advent ' of his master the king and desired him
by all meanes to be in London before his arrivall ; and
knowing'' his majestic was a great lover of good painting
I must needs presume he could not but suddenly see

" Subst. for ' researching and con- ® Dupl. with ' such a poeme.'

templatiiig one thing, then of another; ' Sir John Vaughan, Chief Justice

but he had a method for it.' of the Cummon Pleas, 1668-1674.

Dupl. with ' proviso' or 'observa- ^ Dupl. with ' great.'

tion.' * MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 40.

<^ MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 7 — 'quaere Subst. for '1660. The winter

bishop Sarum when he was motioned before (of 1659) spent his time in

to be burnt.' Ibid., fol. 7", ' Quaere Derbyshire.'

bp. Sarum {.Seth Ward) who and ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 39^

when (annum) the motion in parlia- ' Dupl. with 'good newes.'

ment was to have Mr. Hobbes burnt.' ^ Dupl. with 'hearing.'

^ Infra, p. 382.

Z 2

340

Atibrcy^s 'Brief Lives'

Mr. Cowper's curious pieces, of whose fame he had so
much heard abroad and scene some of his worke, and
likewise that he would sitt to him for his picture, at
which place and time he would have the best conve-
nience'* of renewing his majesties graces to him. * He
returned me thankes for my friendly intimation and came
to London in i\Iay following.

It happened, about two or three dayes after his majestie's
happy returne, that, as he was passing in his coach
through the Strand, Mr. Hobbes was standing at Little
Salisburj'-house gate (where his lord then lived). The
king espied him, putt of his hatt very kindly to him, and
asked him how he did. About a vveeke after he had orall
conference with his majesty at - Mr. S. Cowper's, where, as
he sate for his picture, he was diverted ^ by Mr. Hobbes's
pleasant discourse ^ Here his majestie's favours were
redintegrated to him, and order was given that he should
have free accesse to his majest}-. who was always much
delighted in his witt and smart repartees.

The witts at Court were wont to bayte him. But he
f This is /oo /ira/ feared none of them ^, and would make his part
pabii's°h^.-MS. good. The king would call him the deare-f :
Aubr. 9, foi. 4o'. . j^crc comcs the beare to be ba>i;ed! '

Repartees. He was marvellous happy and ready in his
replies, and that without rancor (except provoked) — but now^
I speake of his readinesse in replies as to witt and drollery.
He would say that he did not care to give, neither was he
adroit at. a present answer to a serious quaere : he had as
lieve they should have expected an ' extemporary solution to
an arithmeticall probleme, for he turned and winded and
compounded in philosophy, politiques, etc., as if he had

' Dnpl. with ' opportunity.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 41.

Aubrey writes opposite on fol.
40'': — ' em bouc he, iMch. word in Eng-
lish ? '

« MS. has 'and,' by a slip for ' at.'
^ Dupl. with ' enterlejTied.'
" DupL with ' facetiae.'

' Dupl. with 'the witts.'

B Aubrey wishes to limit the readi-
ness in reply to cases of light badinage:
in serious subjects Hobbes was slow
and deliberate.

Dupl. with 'good.'

i Dupl. with ' a present answer.'

Thomas Hobbes

341

been at analytical! ^ worke. He alwayes avoided, as much
as he could, to conclude hastily {Humane N'ature, p. 2).
Vide'' p. 1.5 b.

{Re-e titers the household of the earl of Devonshire.')
t Quaere when. * Memorandum — from 1660 till the timet

Quaere W . '

[You"^s^y''°'^' he" last went into Derbyshire, he spent most of

th^'irewent ^'^ time in London at his lord's (viz. at Little

'.67°5.° He^el'''''' Salisbury-hovvse ; then, Queen Street ; lastly,

Lo'ndo''n,'he^?Is Newport- housc), followiug his contemplation

after^'ni^'" and study. ^ He contemplated and

ana'direcie""^'" invented (set downe a hint with a pencill

a^teThfm'f-Ms' or so) in the morning, but compiled ^ in the

Aubr. g, fol. 41'. r.

aiternoon.

(^His treatise De Lcgibtis.')
1664. In 8 1664 I sayd to him ' Me thinkes 'tis pitty that
you that have such a cleare reason and working head did
never take into consideration the learning of the lawes ' ;
and I endeavoured to perswade him to it. But he answered
that ' he was not like to have life enough left to goe through
with such a long and difficult taske. I then presented him
the lord chancellor Bacon's Elements of the Lawe (a thin
quarto), in order therunto and to drawe him on ; which he
was pleased to accept, and perused ; and the next time I
came to him he shewed me therin two cleare paralogismes in
the 2nd page {one, I well remember, was in page 2), which
I am heartily sory are now out of my remembrance.
** I desponded, for his reasons, that he should make any
tentamen^ towards this designe; but afterwards, it seemes, in
the countrey he writt his treatise De Lcgibtis (unprinted)

" Dupl. with ' mathematical!.' » Infra, p. 346.

i.e. see further about this on fol. ' Uiipl. with ' penned': see infra,

45' of the MS., the note found infra, p. 351.

p. 356. e Subst. for ' about.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 42. •> Dupl. with ' inventive.'

<= Subst. for ' he last left London, ' Subst. for ' that 'tw.as a long,

he was often in London at his lord's.' taedious, and difficult taske."

The two sentences in square ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 43.

brackets are added by Anthony Wood. ^ Dupl. with ' attempt.'

342

Aubrey^ s 'Brief Lives'

of which Sir John Vaughan, Lord Chiefe Justice of the
Common Pleas, had a transcript, and I doe affirme that he
much admired it.

* Insert here part of his lettre to me about it.

'Tis thus, viz., in a letter to me% dated Aug. i8, 1679,
among severall other things, he writes : —

' I have been told that my booke of the Civill Warr is
come abroad and am heartily sorry for it, especially because
I could not get his majestic to license it, not because it is
ill printed or hath a foolish title set to it, for I beleeve that
any ingeniose man may understand the wickednes of
t Quaere is it that time, notwithstanding the errors of the

best to let the ,
letter stand prCSSC J.

that par°|^of the ' Thc trcatisc De Legibus {zX the end of it)

Civill Warr, be.. _ ti-t\ttt a i

referred to the IS impcrfect. 1 dcsirc Mr. Horne'' to pardon

catalogue of ...

bookes? me that 1 cannot consent to his motion ; nor

shall Mr. Crooke himselfe get my consent to print it.

' I pray you present my humble thankes to Mr. Sam.
Butler.

'The privilege of stationers is, in my opinion, a very great
hinderance to the advancement of all humane learning
' I am, sir, your very humble servant,

' Th. Hobbes.'

(^Proposed foundation at Malmsbnry.')
** 1 66 5. This yeare he told me that he was willing to doe
some good to the towne where he was borne ; that his
majestic loved him well, and if I could find out something
in our countrey that was in his guift, he did beleeve he could
} Theburghesses bcg it of his majcstic, and seeing*' he was bred
master X li. per a scholar, he thought it most proper to endowe »

annum out of 111 1 • 1 • • j.

their .... a free-schoole there ; which is wanting now %
(for, before the reformation, all monasteries had great

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 42^.
» Dupl. with ' I. A.'

Subst. for ' sayes.'
"= Dupl. with ' together."
^ A London bookseller, who had
offered to publish an authorized copy.

" Subst. for 'knowledge.'
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 43.
' Dupl. with ' since.'
8 Dupl. with 'found': and subst.
for ' erect.'

Thomas Hobbes

343

schooles appendant to them ; e. g. Magdalen schoole and
New College schoole). After'' enquiry I found out a piece
of land in Bradon-forest (of about 25 //. per annum value)
that was in his majesties guift which he designed to
t Aubrey havc obtained of his majestic for a salary for

queries — ' Will , , i j i ' • i

not this give a schoolmastcr ; but y the queens priests"

offence ^ ' —

Anthony Wood smclling-out the designe and being" his
• Perhaps no.'— encmics, hindrcd ^ this publique and charitable

MS. Aubr. 9, . . r- -1

foi.42'. mtention.

[1674 s.

X Memorandum
— bishop John
Fell did not
oniv expunge
and insert what
he pleased in
Mr. Hobbes'
life ; but also in
the lives of other
very learned
men, to their
disparagement,
particularly of
Dr. John
Prideaux,
afterwards
bishop of
Worcester, and
in the life of
Dr. (William)
Twiss. — MS.
Aubr. 9, fol. 48'.

account he
in pag. 444,

{Controversy with Dr. John FcW)
Anno'' Domini 1674 Mr. Anthony a Wood sett
forth an elaborate worke of eleven ' yeares study,
intituled the History and Antiquities of the
University of Oxford, wherin, in every respective
Colledge and Hall, he mentions the writers
there educated and what bookes they wrote.
The deaneof Christ Church having plenipoten-
tiary power of the presse there], perused
every sheet before 'twas to be sent to the
presse ' ; and maugre the author and to his " sore
displeasure did expunge and inserted what he
pleased. Among other authors J, he made
divers alterations in Mr. Wood's copie in the
gives of Mr. T. Hobbes of Malmesbury's life,
445", Lib. n—

" Subst. for ' Upon.'

'* Dupl.with 'power' or 'possession.'
Dupl. with ' lioped.'
Dupl. witii ' but queen Katharine.'

* Dupl. with ' hating him.'

' Dupl. with 'prevented.'

8 '1674' is struck out and \%^%
substituted for it — this latter being
the date of Wood's altercations with
Dr. Fell, 1674 was the date of
publication : see infra.

Anthony Wood struck out the
passage enclosed in square brackets,
and sent Aubrey a more elaborate
account now fol. 48, 48' of MS. Aubr.
9) to take its place. This is printed

in Clark's Wood's Life and Times,
ii. 291, 292 ; and is perhaps the paper
which Wood blames Aubrey for having
kept, ibid. ii. 475, 476.

' Aubrey added, in the margin, the
correction ' A. W. sayes but ten.'

^ Dupl. with ' the absolute.'

' Wood adds ' and after.'

Dupl. with ' his great griefe, ex-
punged and inserted what he thought
fitt.'

° Corrected by Wood to '376, 377.'
The mistake is made in Hobbes's
printed epistle, and Aubrey copied it
thence.

344

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

' Vir sane de quo (inter tot prosperae et adversae famae
qui de eo sparguntur hominum sermones) hoc verissime
pronuntiare fas est, animum ipsi obtigisse, uti omnis scientiae
capacissimum et infertum, ita divitiarum, saeculi, et invidiae
negligentissimum ; erga cognatos et alios pium et beneficum ;
inter eos quibuscum vixit, hilarem et apertum, et sermone
libero ; apud exteros in summa semper veneratione habitum,'
&c. ; this and much more was quite dashed out of the
author's copie by the sayd deane.

t Methinkes' * Thcse f additions and expunctions being
besomethi'ng' made by the sayd deane of Christ Church,
abridge.! ; but without the knowledge or advicc of the authour

doe you consider . • i i i i i •

ot it. and quite contrary to his mind, he told him

it was fitt Mr. Hobbes should know it", because that
his name being set to the booke and all people knowing
it to be his, he should be liable to an answer, and so con-
sequently be in perpetuall controversie. To this the deane
replied, ' Yea, in God s name ; and great reason it was
that he should know what he had done, and what he had
donne he would answer for,* etc.

1674. Hereupon*^, the author acquaints ^J. A., Mr.
Hobbes's correspondent, with all that had passed ; J. A.
acquaints Mr. Hobbes. Mr. Hobbes takeing it ill, was
resolved to vindicate himselfe in an Epistle to the Author.
Accordingly an epistle, dated Apr. 20, 1674, was sent to
the author in MS., with an intention to publish it when the
History of Oxford was to be published. Upon the reciept
of Mr. Hobbes's Epistle by Anthony a Wood, he forthwith
repaired, very honestly and without any guile, to the dean
of Christ Church to communicate it to him ^ The deane
read it over carelesly, and not without scorne, and when

* Note on fol. 43" of MS. Aubr. 9. what he had done.'

' Page 1 5 ' in Aubrey's numbering is Wood adds ' in the beginning of

now fol. 45 of the MS. 1674.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 45. " i. e. John Aubrey.

Corrected by Wood to ' without ' Wood adds ' and to let him see

the advice and quite contrary to the that he would do nothing underhand

mind of the author.' against him.'
' Corrected by Wood to ' know

Thomas Hobbes

345

he had donne, bid Mr. Wood tell Mr. Hobbes, 'that he
was an old man, had one foote in the grave, that he should
mind his latter end, and not trouble the world any more
with his papers,' etc., or to that effect.

In the meane time Mr. Hobbes meetes with the king
in the Pall-mall, in St. James's parke ; tells him how he
had been served by the deane of Christ Church, in a booke
then in the presse (scilicet the ' History ' aforesayd), in-
tituled the History and Antiquities of the Universitie of
Oxon, and withall desires his majestie to be pleased
to give him leave to vindicate himselfe. The king seeming
to be troubled at the dealing of the deane, gave Mr. Hobbes
leave, conditionally that he touch no-body but him who
had abused him, neither that he should reflect upon the
Universitie.

Mr. Hobbes understanding that this History would be
published at the common Act at Oxon, about ii July,
the said yeare 1674, prints his Epistle'^ at London, and
sends downe divers copies to Oxon, which being dispersed
at coffee-houses and stationers' shops, a copie forthwith
came to the deane's hands, who upon the reading of it
fretted and fumed sent'' for the author of the History
and chid him, telling withall that he had corresponded
with his enemie (Hobbes). The author replied that surely
he had forgot what he had donne, for he had communicated
to him before what Mr. Hobbes had sayd and written ;
wherupon the deane recollecting himselfe, told him that
Hobbes should suddenly heare more of him''; so that
the last sheete® of paper being then in the presse and
one leafe thereof being left vacant, the deane supplied it

•■' Wood adds ' that he had sent to " The advance-copies of Wood's

Mr. Wood.' See Clark's Wood's Hist, et Antiq. Univ. Oxon. were

Life and Times, n. 2%%. issued July 17, 16-4 (Wood's Life

^ Wood adds 'at it as a most and Times, ii. 289); the ordinary

famous libell.' issue took place on July 27 {jbid., 290),

" Corrected by Wood to 'and, soon being perhaps delayed for the insertion

after, meeting with the author.' of the rejoinder to Hobbes ; Hobbes's

^ Wood adds ' and that he would epistle had been circulated on July 1 1

have the printer called to account for {ibid., p. 288).
printing such a notorious libell.'

346 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

with this answer. Both the epistle and answer I here
exhibite.

* Here insert the Epistle^ and Answer''.

To this angry answer the old gentleman never"* made
any reply, but slighted the Dr's passion and forgave it.
But 'tis supposed it might be the cause why Mr. Hobbes
was not afterwards so indulgent, or spared the lesse to
speake his opinion, concerning the Universities and how
much their doctrine and method had contributed to the
late troubles [e.g. in his History of the Civill Warre].

( WitJidraivs to Derbyshire.')
1675, niense . . . , he left London cuvi animo nunquam
revcrtendi, and spent the remaynder of his dayes in
Derbyshire with the earl of Devonshire at Chatsworth
and Hardwyck, in contemplation and study. He wrote
there . . . (vide vitam).

(^His death and btirial.)

** Then (insert an account of) his sicknesse, death,
buriall and place, and epitaph, which send for^.

*** Extracted out of the executor's lettre (January 1 6,
1679) to me : —

' To his highly honoured friend, Jo. Aubrey, esq., these.' —

(His sicknesse) 'Worthy sir — he fell sick about the
middle of October last,' etc.* —

**** jj^^ He dyed worth neer 1000//., which (considering
his charity) was more then I expected: vide his verses''
in the last page. — From W. Crooke, from Mr. Jackson
who had 500 li. of his in his hands. —

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 46.

Aubrey inserts a copy as fol. 44
of MS. Aubr. 9.

^ See it in Wood's Iltst. et Antiq.
at the end.

<= Dupl. with ' scurrilous.'

^ Subst. for ' never replied.'

" Dupl. with ' neglected.'

' See infra, p. 363.

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. il\

8 Aubrey proposed bringing this in
after the Catalogue of his writings :
but it IS better here.

See the answers to these enquiries
in the letters appended to this life.

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 22'.

• As in the letter infra, p. 382.

**** MS. Aubr. 9, fol.

^ i. e. the metrical autobiography,
infra, p. 363.

Thomas Hobbes

347

( Personal characteristics. )

* Describe face, eyes, forehead, nose, mouth, eyebrows,
figure of the face, complexion; stature of body; shape
(slender, large, neat, or otherwise) ; figure of head and
magnitude of head ; shoulders (large, round, etc.) ; arms,
legs, how ? —

** Mr. Hobbes's person, etc. : — hazel, quick eie, which
continued to his last. He was a tall man, higher then
I am by about halfe a head (scil. . . . feet), i. e. I could
putt my hand between my head and his hatt. — When
young he loved musique and practised on the lute. In
his old age he used to sing prick-song every night (when
all were gonne and sure nobody could heare him) for his
health, which he did beleeve would make him live two or
three yeares longer.

*** In his youth unhealthy ; ofan ill yellowish complexion:
wett in his feet, and trod both his shoes the same way.

**** His complexion. In his youth he was unhealthy,
and of an ill complexion (yellowish).

t This only His f lord, who was a waster, sent him

inter nos. — MS.

Aubr. 9, foi. 45'. up and downe to borrow money, and to
gett gentlemen to be bound for him, being ashamed
to speake him selfe : he tooke colds, being wett in his
feet (then were no hackney coaches to stand in the
streetes), and trod both his shoes aside the same way.
Notwithstanding he was well-beloved : they lov'd his com-
pany for his pleasant facetiousnes and good-nature^.

From forty, or better, he grew healthier, and then he
had a fresh, ruddy, complexion. He was saugnineo-
melancholiciis ; which the physiologers say is the most
ingeniose complexion. He would say that ' there might be
good witts of all complexions; but good-natured, impossible.'

Head. In his old age he was very bald (which claymed
a veneration) ; yet within dore, he used to study, and sitt,

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 7.
** MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 27^
*** MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28.

**** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 46.
" Dupl. with ' suavitas.'
^ Dupl. with ' recalvus.'

348

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

bare-headed, and sayd he never tooke cold in his head,
but that the greatest trouble was to keepe-off the flies
from pitching on the baldnes. His head was . . . inches
in compasse (I have the measure), and of a mallet-forme
(approved by the physiologers).

* Skin. His skin was soft and of that kind which my
Lord Chancellor Bacon in his History of Life and Death
calles a goose-skin, i. e. of a wide texture : —

Crassa cutis, crassum cerebrum, crassum ingenium.

Face not very great ; ample forehead ; whiskers
yellowish-redish, which naturally turned up — which is
a signe of a brisque witt, e.g. James Howell, Henry Jacob
of Merton College.

{^Beard.y Belowe he was shaved close, except a little
tip under his lip. Not but that nature ^ could have afforded
a venerable beard (Sapientem pascere barbam — Horat.
Satyr, lib. 2), but being naturally of a cheerfuU and pleasant
humour he affected not at all austerity and gravity and
to looke severe. [Vide'' page 47 of J/r. Hobbes considered
— ' Gravity and heavinesse of countenance are not so good
marks of assurance of God's favour, as a chearfull, charit-
able, and upright behaviour, which are better signes of
religion than the zealous maintaining of controverted
doctrines.'] He desired not'' the reputation of his wisdome
to be taken from the cutt of his beard, but from his
reason —

Barba non facit philosophum. ' II consiste tout en la
pointe de sa barbe et en ses deux moustaches ; et, par
consequence, pour le diffaire il ne faut que trois coups de
ciseau.' — Balzac, Lettres, tom. 2, p. 242.

^"^Eie. He had a good eie, and that of a hazell colour,
which was full of life and spirit, even to the last. When
he was earnest in discourse, there shone (as it were)

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 45'.
" Dupl. with ' he.'

Subst. for ' nature.'
" This quotation is subst. for ' He
would say that cheerfulnes of counten-

ance was a signe of God's grace.'

^ Dupl. with ' depended not on.'

o Dupl. with ' esteemed ' or ' mea-
sured.'

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 46.

Thomas Hobbes

349

a bright live-coale within it. * He had two kind of
looks : — when he laugh't, was witty, and in a merry
humour, one could scarce see his eies ; by and by, when
he was serious and positive", he open'd his eies round (i. e.
his eie-lids). He had midling eies, not very big, nor very
little (from Sir W<illiam> P<etty».

** Stature. He was six foote high, and something
better (quaere James Wh(eldon)), and went indifferently
erect, or rather, considering his great age, very erect.

Sight ; zuitt. His sight and witt continued to the last.
He had a curious sharp sight, as he had a sharpe witt,
which was also so sure and steady (and contrary to that
men call bro(^a)dzvittednes) that I have heard him often-
times say that in *** multiplying and dividing he never
mistooke a figure : and so in other things.

(^Habits of body and mind.')

He thought much and with excellent method and stedi-
nesse, which made him seldome make a fal^e step.

His bookes, vide page ^ 22. **** He had very few
bookes. I never sawe (nor Sir William Petty) above halfe
a dozen about him in his chamber. Homer and Virgil
were commonly on his table ; sometimes Xenoplion, or
some probable historic, and Greek Testament, or so.

***** Reading. He had read much, if one considers his
long life; but'' his contemplation was much more then his
reading. He was wont to say that if he had read as much
as other men, he " should have knowne no more then other
men.

****** His physique. He seldome used any physique
(quaere Sir W(illiam) P(etty)). What 'twas I have forgot,

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 45^ **** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54.

" Diipl. wilh ' earnest.' ***** Aubr. 9, fol. 47.

** M.S. Aubr. 9, fol. 46. ^ Subst. for ' but 'twas but little in

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 47. respect of his contempL-ition (think-

Dupl. with ' he was never out.' ing)-'

" i. e. fol. 54, as given here. Oppo- ^ Subst. for ' he should have con-
site it, on fol. 53', is the direction tinued still as ignorant as other
' Let this be brought in to it's proper men.'

place: referre thistop.17' (i.e.fol.47). ****** ^{g Aubr. 9, fol. 46'.

350

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

but will enquire of Mr. Shelbrooke his apothecary at the
Black Spread-eagle in the Strand.

Memorandum — Mr. Hobbes was very sick and like to
dye at Bristoll-house in Queen Street, about i66(S.

* He had a sicknes, anno . . .

He was wont to say that he had rather have the advice,
or take physique from an experienced old woman, that had
been at many sick people's bed-sides, then from the learnedst
but unexperienced physitian.

** 'Tis not consistent with an harmonicall soule to be
a woman-hater, neither had he an abhorrescence to good
wine but . . . — this only inter nos.

*** Temperance and diet. He was, even in his youth,
(generally) temperate, both as to wine and women, (et
tamen haec omnia mediocriter) —

Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto.

I have heard him say that he did beleeve he had been
in excesse'' in his life, a hundred times ; which, considering
his great age, did not amount to above once a yeare.
When he did drinke, he would drinke to excesse to have
the benefitt of vomiting, which he did easily ; by which
benefit neither his witt was disturbt longer then he was
spuing nor his stomach oppressed ; but he never was, nor
could not endure to be, habitually a good fellow, i.e. to
drinke every day wine with company, which, though not to
drunkennesse, spoiles the braine.

For his last 30-t-yeares, his dyet, etc., was very moderate
and regular. After sixty he dranke no wine, his stomach
grew weak, and he did eate most fish, especially whitings,
for he sayd he digested fish better then flesh. He rose
about seaven, had ^ his breakefast of bread and butter ; and

* MS. Aiibr. 9, fol 45\

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 46^

" As an alternative Aubrey sug-
gests : — ' As be had an harmonicall
soule, so consequently he was no
woman-hater (misogynist).' But he
adds the criticism that this sentence

is ' perhaps too affected.'

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 47.
Subst. for ' that he haz been
drunke in his life.'

<= Dupl. with ' long.'

^ Subst. for ' did eate.'

Thomas Hobbes

351

tooke his walke, meditating till ten ; then he did putt
downe the minutes of his thoughts, which he penned in
the afternoon.

* He had an inch thick board about 16 inches square,
whereon paper was pasted. On this board he drew his
lines (schemes). Wlien a line came into his head, he
would, as he was walking, take a rude memorandum of
it, to preserve it in his memory till he came to his
chamber. He was never idle ; his thoughts were

ahvays working.

** His dinner was provided for him exactly by eleaven,
for he could not now stay till his lord's howre — scil. about
two : that his stomach could not beare.

After dinner he tooke a pipe of tobacco, and then threw
himselfe immediately on his bed, with his band off, and
slept (tooke a nap of about halfe an howre).

In the afternoon he penned his morning thoughts.

Exercises. Besides his dayly walking, he did twice or
t Qunere James thrice a ycare play at tennis f (at about 75 he

Wheldoii de hoc ,11 1 11

—how often, and did itj ; thcn wcut to bcd there and was well

to whjit n.g'e ? — ■

MS. Auijr. g, rubbcd t. This he did believe would make him

foi.46. ,. , , ,

t Memorandum hvc two or three ycarcs the longer.

there was no

bagnio in his *** jn fhe countrcy, for want of a tennis-
time. That in

Newgate Street court, he would walkc UD-hiU and downe-hill in

was built al)Out

the timeof his the parkc, till he was in a great sweat, and then

death.— MS. r > fa >

Aubr. 9, foi. 46'. give the servant some money to rubbe him.

**** Prudence. He gave to his amanuensis, James Whel-
don (the earle of Devon's baker ; who writes a delicate
hand), his pention at Leicester, yearly, to wayte on him,
and take a care of him, which he did performc to him living
and dying, with great respect and diligence : for which
consideration he made him his executor.

Habit. In cold weather he commonly wore a black
velvet coate, lined with furre ; if not, some other coate so
lined. But all the yearc he wore a kind of bootes of

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 45". **** MS. Anbr. 9, fol. 47.

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 47. » Dupl. with ' buskins.'

*** MS. A.ubr. 9, fol. 46\

352

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Spanish leather, laced or tyed along the sides with black
ribons.

Singing. He had alwayes bookes of prick-song- lyeing
on his table: — e.g. of H. Lawes' etc. Songs — which at
night, when he was abed, and the dores made fast, and
was sure nobody heard him, he sang aloud (not that he
had a very good voice) but * for his health's sake : he did
beleeve it did his lunges good, and conduced much to
prolong his life.

* Shaking palsey. He had the shaking palsey in his
handes ; which began in France before the yeare 1650,
and haz growne upon him by degrees, ever since, so that
he haz not been able to write very legibly since 1665 or
1666, as I find by some of his letters'' to me.

(^His readiness to help ivith advice and money.')
** His goodnes of nature and willingnes to instruct any
one that was willing to be informed and modestly desired
it, which I am a witnesse of as to my owne part and also
to others.

*** Charity. His brotherly love to his kinred hath
already been spoken of He was very charitable (pro
suo modulo) to those that were true objects of his bounty''.
One time, I remember, goeing in the Strand, a poor and
infirme old man craved** his almes. He, beholding him
with eies of pitty and compassion, putt his hand in his
pocket, and gave him td. Sayd® a divine (scil. Dr. Jaspar
Mayne) that stood by — ' Would you have donne this, if
it had not been Christ's command?' — 'Yea/ sayd he. —
'Why?' quoth the other. — 'Because,' sayd he, '1 was in
paine to consider*^ the miserable condition of the old man;
and now my almes, giving him some reliefe, doth also
ease me.'

" Dupl. with ' but to clearc his
pipes.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50.
Subst. for ' letters he hath hon-
oured me withall.'

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 46'.

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50.

Dupl. with ' charity.'

Dupl. with ' begged.'
o Subst. for ' sayd one that stood
by.'

' Dupl. with ' apprehend.'

Thomas Hobhes

353

{Slanders concerning hiin.y

Aspersions and envy. His work was attended with envy,
which threw severall aspersions and false reports on him.
For instance, one (common) was that he was afrayd to lye
alone at night in his chamber, [I have often heard him say
that he was not afrayd of sprights, but afrayd of being
knockt on the head for five or ten pounds, which rogues
might thinke he had in his chamber] ; and severall other
tales, as untrue.

I have heard some positively affirme that he had a
yearly pension from the king of France, — possibly for
having asserted such a monarchie as the king of France
exercises, but for what other grounds I know not, unles it
be for that the present" king of France is reputed an
encourager of choice and able men in all faculties who
can contribute to his greatnes. I never heard him speake
of any such thing ; and, since his death, I have inquired of
his most intimate friends in Derbyshire, who write to me
they never heard of any such thing. Had it been so, he,
nor they, ought to have been ashamed of it, and it had
been becoming the munificence of so great a prince to
have donne it.

Atheisme^. Testimonies For his being branded with
atheisme, his writings and vertuous life testifie ^ against it.
No man hath written better of ... , perhaps not so well.
To prevent such false and' malicious reports, I thought fit
to insert and affirme as abovesayd. * And that he was
a Christian 'tis cleare, for he recieved the sacrament of
Dr. (John) Pierson, and in his confession to Dr. John
Cosins, at . . . , on his (as he thought) death-bed, declared
that he liked the religion of the church of England best
of all other.

" ' by rogues' followed, scored out. » Here Aubrey intended (see infra)

*• Dupl. with ' had about him.' to cite evidence as to Hobbes's re-

" Louis XIV. ligious opinions.

* Anthony Wood notes, on fol. 47^, ' Dupl. with ' give it the lye.'
' he used to take the sacrament, and * MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 47'.
acknowledge a supreeme being.'

I. A a

354 Aubrey^s 'Brief Lives'

He would have the worship of God performed with
musique (ad me'^).

Addenda. y

* Though he left his native countrey'' at 14, and lived
so long, yet sometimes one might find a little touch of our
pronunciation — Old Sir Thomas Malette", one of the
judges of the King's Bench, knew Sir Walter Ralegh, and
sayd that, notwithstanding his great travells. conversation,
learning, etc., yet he spake broade Devonshire to his
dyeing day.

** Memorandum — 'twas he (as he him selfe haz told me)
that (invented) the method of the oeconomie of the earle
of Devon's family and way of stating or keeping of the
accounts.

{Portraits of Hobbes.^

(i.) *** Desire Sir Christopher Wren or Mr. Thomas
Henshawe to speake to the king for his picture ^ of
Mr. Hobbes for Mr. (David) Loggan to engrave it.

(ii.) **** He did, anno 16 . . (vide the date*^, which is on
the backside) doe me the honour to sitt for his picture to
Jo. Baptist Caspars, an excellent painter, and 'tis a good
piece, which I presented to the (Royall) Societie 12
yeares since (but will it not be improper for me to
mention my owne guift ?).

***** Hanc
Thomae Hobbes
Malmesburiensis effigiem
ad vivum depictam (1663)
Regiae Societati
Londinensi

" i. e. it was to Aubrey himself
that Hobbes expressed this opinion.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 45'.

Dupl. with ' Though he went
from Malmesbury.'

" Puisne Judge of the King's Bench,
1641-45 and 1660-63.

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 42'.

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 2S.

* Ey Samuel Cowper, supra, p. 338.

**** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54'.

" Dr. Philip Bliss has written a
note here, ' 1663 : see loose paper —
Aubrey's inscription,' referring to MS.
Aubr. 9, fol. 7", as given below.

***** MS. Aubr. 9, fol.

Thomas Hobbes

355

D.D.D.

Johannes Aubrey
de Easton-Piers
ejusdem Soc.
S.
1670.

Gett a brasse wyer to hang it ^ by.

(iii.) * Mr. Hobbes's motto upon his ovvne picture at
Sir Charles Scarborough's : —

Si quaeris de me Mores inquire : sed Ille
Qui quaerit de me, forsitan alter erit.

(Sir Charles Scarborough confessed to me that he made
this distich.)

<iv.) ** Memorandum — there was a good painter at
the earl of Devonshire's in Derbyshire not long before
Mr. Hobbes dyed, who drew him with the great decayes
of old age. Mr. William Ball hath a good copie of it.

(v.) *** His motto about his picture: —

En quam modice habitat philosophia.

(^His seal.y

. . . , a bend engrailed between 6 martletts . . . ,

was the seale ^'^ he commonly sealed his letters with,
but 'twas not his coate.

Quare whose coate it may be — if Hobbes ?

Quaere James Wheldon the executor if this be his
coate of armes — for 'tis some seale — and what the colours
are. — Respondet that the heralds did offer him a coat of
armes but he refused it.

(^He luas ' plcbeiiis homo.'y

***** Sir William Dugdale (Clarenceux), and Sir Edward
Bisshe, the heralds, had an esteeme and respect for him,

" i.e. either to attach this inscrip- *** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 42'.
tion to the picture, or to hang the **** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 28. Aubrey

picture by. gives the coat in trick.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 49. ***** Aubr. 9, fol. 53^

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 55.

A a a

356

Attbrey's 'Brief Lives'

in so much that they would have graunted him a coate of
armes ; but he refused it — which methinkes he neede" not
have donne.

Vide Alexander Broome's poemes : —

He that weares a brave soule and dares honestly doe
Is a herault to himselfe and a godfather too.

* Vide Ben Jonson's Underzvoods — that ' the most worthy
men have been rock't in meane cradles.'

(^His sayings.')

** 'Tis of custome in the lives of wise men to putt downe
their sayings. Now if trueth (uncommon) delivered clearly
and wittily may goe^ for a saying, his common discourse
was full of them, and which for the most part were sharpe
and significant.

Here insert the two printed papers of his sayings.

*** Quaere Mr. Ben. Tuke at the Ship in Paule's Church-
yard for the paper of his sayings, which Dr. Francis
Bernard and his brother Charles, etc. — a club — made.

**** The sheet " of old Mr. Hobbes sayings was not
published by his executor, as is there printed. 'Twas
(indeed) donne by Mr. . . . Blunt, Sir Henry Blunt"s sonne,
and 'tis well donne.

***** I sayd, somewhere before, that (though he was
ready and happy in repartying i7i drollery') he did not
care to give a present answer to a question, unless he had
thoroughly considered it before : for he was against ' too
hasty concluding,' which he did endeavour as much as
he could to avoid. — This is in p. 12 ^

" Dupl. with ' might.'

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 29. In MS.
Aubr. 6, fol. 1', Aubrey cites the
same passages from Brome and Jon-
son, and also : —

' J. Gadbury : " the heavens are the
best heraulds." '

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 46.

* Dupl. with 'goes.'
*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 55.
♦*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50.

" Anthony Wood has a note (MS.
Aubr. 9, fol. 47") about these : — ' If
you think that those sayings are true,
pray publish them : for ihey being
printed in one sheet, will be quickly
lost.'

***** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 45'.
^ Dupl. with ' love.'
0 i. e. fol. 41 of MS. Aubr. 9 ;
supra, p. 340.

Thomas Hobbes

357

* Thomas Hobbs (said) that if it were not for the
gallowes, some men are of so cruell a nature as to take
a delight in kilHng men more than I should to kill
a bird. — Entred ^ in idea.

** When Spinoza's Tractattis Theologico-Politicus first
came out (1670), Mr. Edmund Waller sent it to my
lord of Devonshire and desired him to send him word what
Mr. Hobbes said of it. Mr. H. told his lordship :—

Ne judicate ne judicemini

He told me he had cut thorough him a barre's length,
for he durst not write so boldly.

*** I have heard him inveigh much against the crueltie
of Moyses for putting so many thousands to the sword
for bowing to . . . vide text.

I have heard him say that Aristotle was the worst
teacher that ever was, the worst polititian and ethick —
a countrey-fellow that could live in the world (would be)
as good : but his rhetorique and discourse of animals
was rare.

**** T. H.'s saying: — rather use an old woman that
had many yeares been at sick people's bedsides, then the
learnedst young unpractised physitian.

***** I remember he was wont to say that ' old men
were drowned inwardly, by their owne moysture ; e. g. first,
the feet swell ; then, the legges ; then, the belly ; etc'
— This saying may be brought in, perhaps, as to the
paragraph of his sicknesse and death.

(From) Elizabeth, viscountesse Purbec. When Mr. T.
Hobbes was sick in France, the divines came to him,
and tormented him (both Roman Catholic, Church of
England, and Geneva). Sayd he to them ' Let me alone,

* MS. Aubr. 9, a slip at fol. 3.
" Dupl. with ' sport.'
^ i. e. elsewhere in this life.
** MS. Auhr. 9, fol. 7.
" St. Matt. vii. i.
*** MS. Anbr. 9, fol. 47'.
The golden calf: Exod. xxxii.

26-28.

**** MS. Aubr. 9, a slip pasted to
fol. 5.

" Dupl. with ' an old tender,' i. e.
attendant.

***** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54'.

358

Atibj^ey's 'Brief Lives'

or els I will detect all your cheates from Aaron to your-
selves.' I thinke I have heard him speake something to this
purpose.

Mr. Edmund Waller sayd to me, when I desired him
to write some verses in praise of him. that he was afrayd
of the churchmen : he quoted Horace —

Incedo per ignes
Suppositos cineri doloso :

that, what was chiefly to be taken notice of in his elogie
was that he, being but oiie, and a private person, pulled-
downe all the churches, dispelled the mists of ignorance,
and layd-open their priest-craft.

{His zvriiings.y

(Aubrey several times notes his intention of drawing up a list of
Hobbes' writings. In MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 53'", is a memorandum 'An
exact Catalogue of all the bookes he wrote,' with a mark showing
that it was to be brought in before the notice of Hobbes's death,
supra, p. 346. MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 22, is headed ' Catalogus librorum ab
autore scriptorum,' and is left blank for their insertion.

In MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 18', is James Wheldon's answer to the inquiry
suggested {ut supra) on fol. 53^ : — viz.)

* A Catalogue of his bookes.
His Latin e poem of the wonders of the Peake.
His translation of Thicidides out of Greek into English.
His Humane itatiire, and De corpore politico in English.
His Leviathan in English.

{De corpore \
De homiiie > in Latine.
De cive >

His dialogue of the Civill Wai-r, in English, printed
lately against his will.

Of his disputations with Dr. Wallis and what he has
written in philosophy and mathematicks Mr. (William)
Crook can best give you the titles with the order and times
of their edition, some Latine, some English ; as also of

His translation of the Gdysses aiid Iliads of Homer.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 18'', in the handwriting of James Wheldon.

Thomas Hobbes

359

There is also a small peece in English called A Breefe
of Aristotle s Rhetorick printed by Andrew Crooke, which
was his, though his name be not to it.

There is a little booke called Mr. Hobbes considered,
wherein there is some passages relating to his life.

(In MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54'^, Aubrey notes the omission of a list of
Hobbes's writings, and on fol. 55 he adds a transcript (with some notes
of his own) of a list by William Crooke, Hobbes" publisher, supplemen-
tary to that given in Anthony Wood's Hist, et Antiq. Univ. Oxo?i.
ii- 377->

* I have no time now (in this transcript) to write the
catalogue of his bookes, and I thought to have sent your
paper* (which I keepe safe) but Dr. Blackburne desires
the perusall of it. — This catalogue here I received last
night from William Crooke.

** A supplement to Mr. A.'' Wood's catalogue (in his
' History ') of Mr. Hobbes his workes : viz. —

The travells of Ulysses, being the translation of the
9, 10, and II bookes of Homer's Odysses into English;
London, printed 1674.

Epistola ad D. Ant. a Wood, Latin, 1675=.

A translation of the 24 bookes of Homer's Iliads and
the 24 bookes of his Odysses.

Also, his preface about the vertues of heroique poesie,
in English, printed 1675, and 1677.

A letter to the duke of Newcastle about liberty and
necessity, printed 1676, and 1677. [I have this some-
where among my bookes, printed about 30 yeares since.
It was edited first by John Davys of Kidwelly ; and there
is a preface to it with S. W., i. e. Seth Ward, who then
had a high esteeme of him.]

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54'.

" Possibly a paper by Anthony
Wood containing an account of
Hobbes, in preparation for the
Athenae : cp. Clark's Wood's Life
and Times, ii. 480.

** M.S. Aubr. 9, fol. 55.
Wood changes this to 'A. a : '

see Clark's Wood's Life and Times,

i. 22.

<^ Corrected to '1O74': with a
marginal note: — [1675] 'I believe
a mistake for 1674.' For this letter,
see Clark's Wood's Life and Times,

ii. 288.

360

Aitbj'ey^s 'Brief Lives'

De Mirabilibus Pecci" — English and Latin, 1678 — a
New-year's guift to his lord, who gave him 5 li., about
1627.

Decameron Physiologicum, or ten dialogues of naturall
philosophy, to which is added the proportion of straight
line to halfe the arc of quadrant, English, 1678 ^

Considerations upon the reputation, loyalty, manners,
and religion of Thomas Hobbes, written by himselfe,
printed 1680, with part of severall of his letters to W. Crooke
— [This was first printed by Andrew Crooke 1662, avovvixm.^

Vita Thomae Hobbes, 4to, printed 1680 ; in Latin verse ;
quarto.

Idem, in English, translated by ... ; 1680, folio.

An historicall narration concerning heresie and the
punishment thereof English, 1680.

[Where ^ is the book against Dr. Wallis in 4to that came
out in Jan. i6|§ ?].

* He haz omitted here Aristotel's Rhetorique, printed
long since by Andrew Crooke, but without his name;
but Dr. Blackburne, W. Crooke, and I will lay our heads
together and sett these things right.

JO=* It ought not to be forgotten that there is before
Sir William Davenant's heroique poem called Gondibert,
a learned epistle of Mr. Hobbes's concerning poetrie, in
answer to Sir William's.

And there is also a shorter letter of Mr. Hobbes's, which
the Honourable . . . Howard has printed before his heroique
poem, 8vo, called I thinke Bonduca, about 1668 or 9.

Mr. Hobbes wrote a letter to ... (a colonell, as I re-
member) concerning Dr. Scargill's recantation sermon,
preached at Cambridge, about 1670, which he putt into
Sir John Birkenhead's hands to be licensed, which he

" Anthony Wood notes in margin :
' This is in Wood's Catalogue ' : i. e.
Wood, /. c, mentions the 1666 (second)
edition of the piece (in Latin only).

Marginal query : — ' When was
the first copie printed ? Vide Bibl.
Bodlei.' The printed edition is not in

the 1674 Catal. impress, libh. Bibl.
Bodl.

Added opposite, on fol. 54^.
This query is inserted by Anthony
Wood.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54'.

Thomas Hobbes

refused (to collogue and flatter the bishops), and would
not returne it nor give a copie. Mr. Hobbes kept no
copie, for which he was sorry. He told me he liked it
well himselfe. — * Dr. " Birket, my old acquaintance, hath
the ordering of Sir John Birkenhead's bookes and papers.
He hath not found it yet but hath found a letter of
Mr. Hobbes to him about it, and hath promised me if he
finds it to let me have it. Memorandum — Sir Charles

Scarborough told me that he haz a copie of it, but I could
not obtaine it of him ; but I will try again, if Dr. Birket
cannot find it.

(^Notes about his writings.')

{There are several scattered notes about Hobbes' writings dispersed
throughout MS. Aubr. 9, which may be most conveniently brought
together here. )

His Latin Leviathan is altered in inany particulars, e. g.
the doctrine of the Trinity, etc., and enlarged with many
considerable particulars. — MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 4-2''.

The Leviathan is translated into Dutch. — MS. Aubr.
9, fol. r-

Quaere Ph. Laurence what volume the Dutch Leviathan
printed and what volumine. — MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 7.

Humane Nature, London, by Thomas Newcombe, 1650.
i2mo. — Anno i68i is printed by Mr. Crooke Humane
Nature, and Liber tie and Necessity, in 8vo, which they call
his ' Tripos.'— MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 7^

Before Thucydides, he spent two yeares in reading
romances and playes, which he haz often repented and
sayd that these two yeares were lost of him — wherin
perhaps he was mistaken too. For it might furnish him
with copie of words. — MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 42^.

Thucydides, London, imprinted for Richard Mynne in
Little Brittain at the signe of St. Paul, MDCXXXIV. — MS.
Aubr. 9, fol. 7^.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 55.
" Henry Birkhead is meant, ' Bir-
ket ' representing the slurred pronun-

ciation of the name. Anthony Wood
has scored through the ' Dr.' and
added a note : — ' Birket is not a Dr.'

362

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Mr. Henry Birchit of the Middle Temple promised to
gett for me Mr. Hobbes' letter to ... of Mr. Scargill's
recantation, which he left with Sir John Birkenhead. — MS.
Aubr. 9, fol. 54^

T. Hobbes — quaere Mr, H. Birchet de letter of Scargill's
recantation which Sir John Birkenhead would not licence. —
MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 8.

(In MS. Aubr. 9 at the end are some of the printed
tracts issued by Hobbes in his controversy with Dr. John
Wallis, viz. : —

(1) A folio sheet*, headed

'To the right honorable and others the learned mem-
bers of the Royal Society for the Advancement of the
Sciences, presenteth to your consideration your most
humble servant Thomas Hobbes (who hath spent much
time upon the same subject) two propositions, whereof the
one is lately published by Dr. Wallis, a member of your
society. . . .

Dr. Wallis: de viotti, cap. 5. prop. J. | Thomas Hobbes,
Roset. prop. 5.'

(2) A quarto sheet \ headed :

' To the right honourable and others the learned members
of the Royal Society for the Advancement of the Sciences,
presenteth to your consideration your most humble servant
Thomas Hobbes a confutation of a theoreme which hath a
long time passed for truth.'

(3) A quarto tract (the ' Propositions ' occupy 3 pages,
the ' Considerations,' 4 pages), entitled : —

'Three papers presented to the Royal Society against
Dr. Wallis, together with considerations on Dr. Wallis his
answers to them, by Thomas Hobbes of Malmsbury;
London, printed for the author and are to be had at the
Green Dragon without Temple Bar: 1671.')

With Mr. Hobbes's small tracts inscribed to the Royal
Society came a letter offering that some of the small pieces
of his might be published in the Transactions ; which was

« Marked MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 56. " MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 57.

<^ MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 59.

Thomas Hobbes

363

not donne, through Mr. Oldenburgh's default.— MS. Aubr.
9, fol. 47^

(At the end of MS. Aubr. 9 is a quarto tract of 14 pages,
entitled : —

' Thomae Hobbesii Malmesburiensis vita, authore seipso
Londini, typis, anno MDCLXXIX.'
The last two lines of it are : —

Octoginta annos complevi jam quatuorque
Et prope stans dictat Mors mihi, Ne metue.

On these Aubrey notes (MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 68^)—

' These two last verses Dr. Blackburne altered (because of
qua in quatuor, long) in the copie printed with Mr. Hobbes's
life in Latine, and some other alterations he made, but me
thinkes the sense is not so brisque.')

What did he write since he left London? Quaere (his)
executor. — MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 22^

His executor acquaints William Crooke (the author's
printer'') and me, in a lettre*^ under his hand January 16,
1679, that neither Mr. Halleley (Mr. Hobbes's intimate
friend and confident) nor him selfe have any thing in either
of their hands of Mr. Hobbes's, the very little of that kind
that he left behind him being disposed of 'according to his
own order ' before he removed from Chatsworth. Quaere
what was that order? — MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 22''.

Mr. Thomas Hobbes (has left) in MSS.

A dialogue concerning the common lawes.

An epitome of the Civil Warres of England from

1640 to 1660.

Answer to The Catching of the Leviathan by

Dr. Bramhall.

■ A historical narration concerning heresy and the

punishment thereof. — MS. Aubr. 9, a slip at fol. 27''.

Translation of i. 9, 10, 11 and 1(2) bookes of Homer's
Odysses in English verse.

" MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28 :— ' He " Diipl. with ' bookeseller.'
writt his life last yeare (viz. 1673) in <^ MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 16: see p. 381.
Latin verse.'

364

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Ecclesiastica Historia in Latin verse, Amsterdam. — MS.
Aubr. 9, a slip pasted on to fol. 27^

Quaere Dr. Blackbourn and Mr. Crooke to know where
lies or what is become of Mr. Hobbes" Historia Ecclesiastica
Romana ? Resp. — Dr. Blackbourne haz it ; gett copie of
it.— MS. Aubr. 7, a slip at fol. 8^.

In ]\Iay 1688. his Ecclesiastica Historia carmine elegiaco
conscripta, in Latin verse, was printed at Augusta Trino-
bantum. scil. London. The preface was writt by Mr.
Thomas Rymer, of Graie's Inne, but avoi-vixm. — MS. Aubr.
9, fol. 54^

Memorandum. — Mr. Hobbes told me he would write, in
three columnes, his doctrine, the objections, and his answers,
and deposit ^ it in the earle of Devon's library' at ... in
Derbyshire. Dr. (Thomas) Bayly, principall of New-Inn-
hall in Oxon, tells me he hath seen it there.— MS. Aubr.
9, fol. 2.

(MS. Aubr. 28 is a copy of the tract (63 pages).

' Mr. Hobbes considered in his loyalty, religion, reputation,
and manners, by way of letter to Dr. Wallis'; London,
printed for Andrew Crooke, 1662.

On the title-page Aubrey has the note : —

' This letter was writt (indeed) by Mr. Thomas Hobbes
himselfe — Jo. Aubrey de Easton-Pierse ' :

and at the end

' The second impression'' of this booke was from this very
booke of mine. — ■'Twas not to be bought.')

( J^erses by hivi.y

* Insert the love verses he made not long before his
death : —

Tho' I am now past ninety, and too old
T' expect preferment in the court of Cupid,
And many winters made mee ev'n so cold
I am become almost all over stupid,

■ Dupl. with ' leave.'

^ Publ. in 1680; supra, p. 333.

* MS. Anbr. 9, fol. 42'.
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 49.

Thomas Hobbcs

365

2.

Yet I can love and have a mistresse too,
As fair as can be and as wise as fair ;
And yet not proud, nor anything will doe
To make me of her favour to despair.

3-

To tell you who she is were very bold ;
But if i' th' character your selfe you find
Thinke not the man a fool tho he be old
Who loves in body fair a fairer mind.

* Catalogue * of his learned familiar friends and ac-
(^ieainfanees,hesides those already mentioned, that I remember
him to have spoken of.

Mr. Benjamin Johnson, Poet-Laureat, was his loving and
familiar friend and acquaintance.

(^Sir Robert') Alton, Scoto-Britannus, a good poet and
critique and good scholar. He was neerly related to his
lord's lady (Bruce). And he desired Ben: Johnson, and this
gentleman, to give their judgement on his style of his
translation of Thucydides. ** He lyes buryd in West-
minster Abbey, and hath there an elegant monument and
inscription '', which I will insert here or so much as may be
pertinent.

Memorandum next after . . . Ayton should in order be
named Sydney Godolphin, esq., who left him, in his will,
a legacy of an hundred poundes : and Mr. Hobbes hath
left him an eternall " monument in lib. . . . pag. ... of
his Leviathan.

Lucius Carey, lord Falkland was his great friend and
admirer, and so was Sir William Petty, both which I have
here enrolled amongst those friends I have heard him

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50. have been ' already mentioned.'

* Anthony Wood objects, on fol. ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol 47^.

47': 'You say p. 1 1 ' (i.e. fol. 40) ^ Aubrey has a memorandum, MS.

' that he was acquainted with Mr. Sel- Aubr. 9, fol. 7, ' take . . . Ayton's

den and Dr. Harvey. Why do you inscription.' See stipia^ p. 25.

not set them downe here?' But, as <^ Dupl. with ' perpetuall ' or

Wood might have remembered, they ' lasting.'

366 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives*

speake of, but Dr. Blackburne left 'em both out'' (to my
admiration). I askt him why he had donne so? He
answered because they were both ignote to foreigners.

M}'. Henry Gcllibrand, Astronomy professor at Gresham
CoUedge.

* James Harrington, esq., who wrote against him in his
Oceana.

Henry Stubbes^.
■ Mr. Charles Cavendish'^, brother to the duke of Newcastle,
a learned gentleman and great mathematician.

Mr. Laurence Rooke, Geometry and Astronomy professor.

Mr. . . . Hallely, his intimate friend, an old gent.

** When he was at Florence (16 . . ; vide vitam) he con-
tracted a friendship with the famous Galileo Galileo, . . . ^,
whom he extremely venerated and magnified ; and not only
as he was a prodigious witt, but for his sweetnes of nature
and manners. They® pretty well resembled one another
as to their countenances, as by their pictures doeth^ appeare ;
were both cheerfull and melancholique-sanguine ; and had
both a consimihtie of fate, to be hated and persecuted by
, , the ecclesiastiques.

T I have heard

Mr Edmund 16..S Petrus Gasscndus^, S. Th. Doctor

v\ aller say that ' '

(William) ihe gj- ReOTus Profcssor Parisiis, — vide his titles —

lord marquisse o 3

"f,'^^";^!,';'^ whom he never mentions but with great honour

lA 3,S 3. y I C3.L O

^l™e"ndi, and rcspect f, ' doctissimus, humanissimus ' ;

ah^etra^"""' and they loved each other entirely.

fhathe°hath ^""^ As also the like love and friendship was

dined with them t- ' *. . J

all three at the bctWlXt him and
marnuiss's table 7 / ■ ,T r

at Paris.-Ms. Marinus . . . Alersennns \
Aubr. 9, fob jo . Monsr. Renatus Des Cartes ' ;

" In the Auclarium Viiac Hobbi-
attae, 16S1.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50'.
*■ See infra, p. 371.
On fol. 52', Aubrey repeats this
name, ' Sir Charles Cavendish.'
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 51.
Aubrey leaves a space for his
title or profession, adding the re-

minder— 'Expresse his quality.'

<■ Dupl. with ' They were not much
unlike in their countenances.'

' Dupl. with ' may.'

^ A memorandum for the date when
they first met each other.

^ See infra.

' See infra, p. 367.

Thomas Hobbes

367

as also —

(^Johan. Franc.') Nicer on ;

Samuel Sorbier, M. D. — vide his epistle and Gassendus's
before his De Cive.

. . . Verdusius, to whom he dedicates his . . . Dialogii^ vide
my Dialogi for his Christian name — 'tis dedicated to him).

** T. H. would say that Gassendus was the sweetest-
natured man in the world.

Des Caries and he were acquainted and mutually respected
one another. He would say that had he kept himself to
Geometry he had been the best geometer in the world but
that his head did not lye for philosophy.

*** Mr. Hobbes was wont to say that had Mieur Des
Cartes (for whom he had a high respect) kept himselfe to
geometrie, he had been the best geometer in the world ;
but he could not pardon him for his writing in defence
of transubstantiation, which he knew was absolutely against
his opinion^ and donne meerly to putt a compliment''
(on) the Jesuites.

**** I have heard Mr. Oates say that the Jesuites doe
much glorie that he (Des Cartes) had his education under''
them. 'Tis not unlikely that the Jesuites putt him upon
that treatise.

Ednmnd Waller esq., poet.

***** Sir Kenelni Digby, amicus T. H.

****** (1648 or 49°, at Paris.) Sir William Petty (of
Ireland f), Regiae Societatis Socius, a person s of a stupendous
invention ^ and of as great prudence and humanity, had an

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50". between Hobbes and Petty. Anthony

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 7. Wood objects in a note on fol. 50' : —

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50". ' Dr. Petty was resident in Oxford

" Dupl. with ' conscience.' 1648-49, and left it (if I am not

Dupl. with ' flatter.' mistaken) 1652.' Aubrey notes: —

**** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 51. ' Entred, vide p. 8'"' (i.e. fol. 37^;

" Dupl. with ' from.' supra, p. 336).

^ Scored out here ; inserted infra, ' Aubrey notes : — ' Quaere the

p. 369. name of his principall seate in Ireland.'
***** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 7. 8 Aubrey notes (fol. 50") :—

****** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 51. ' Quaere Sir John Hoskyns and

" Suggested by Aubrey as the date Dr. Blackbourne to word this well.'
of the bcgiiniing of the intimacy Dupl. with ' witt.'

368

Aubrey's 'Bi'tef Lives'

high* esteeme of him. His acquaintance began at Paris,
1648 or 1649, at which time Mr. Hobbes studied Vesahus'
Anatomy, and Sir William with him. He then assisted
Mr. Hobbes in draweing his schemes *for his booke of
optiques, for he had a very fine hand in those dayes for
draweing'', which draughts Mr. Hobbes did*^ much commend.
His facultie** in this kind conciliated them the sooner to
the familiarity'^ of our common friend,

M7\ S. Cowper aforesayd f, at whose house they often
mett. — He drew his picture twice: the first the king
haz, the other is yet in the custody of his widowe ; but
he gave it, indeed, to me (and I promised I would give
it to the archives at Oxon, ** with a short inscrip-
tion on the back side, as a monument of his friendship
to me and ours to Mr. Hobbes — sed haec omnia inter
nos) *** but I, like a foole, did not take possession of
it, for something of the garment was not quite finished,
and he dyed, I being then in the countrey — sed hoc
non ad rem.

**** (^Sir William Petty.') I have a very fine letter from
Mr. Hobbes to me where he gives him thanks and for his
booke of Duplicate Proportion I sent him, which letter
I will insert (so much as concerns it). Sir William Petty
would keepe the originall honoris ergo and gave me a copie
of it, which 1 have not leisure to luoke out.

***** (At Paris.) Air. Abraham Cocvley, the poet, who
hath bestowed on him an immortal pindarique ode, which
is in his poems.

(1651 or 52.) William Harvey, Dr. of Physique and
Chirurgery, inventor of the circulation of the bloud, who
left him in his will ten poundes, as his brother told me at
his funerall. Obiit anno 1657, aetat. 80, sepult. at Hempsted
in Essex, in their ? vault.

Dupl. with ' parti..ular.' ' Supra, p. 338.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 52. ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 51".

Dupl. with 'graphia.' *** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 52.

" Dupl. with ' liked.' **** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 50'.

^ Dupl. with ' excellency.' ***** j^jg. Aubr. 9, fol. 52.

e Dupl. with ' acquaintance.' ^ i. e. the Harvey family.

Thomas Hobbes

369

Mr. Edmund Waller of Beconsfield was his great friend,
and acquainted at Paris — I beheve before.

When his Leviathan came out, he sent by his stationer's
(Andrew Crooke) man a copie of it, well-bound, to Mr. JoJin
Selden in Aedibus Carmeliticis. Mr. Selden told the
servant, he did not know Mr. Hobbes, but had heard much of
his worth, and that he should be very glad to be acquainted
with him. Wherupon Mr. Hobbes wayted on him. From
which time there was a strict friendship between (them) to
his dyeing day. He left by his will to Mr. Hobbes a legacy
of ten poundes.

Sir John Vaiighaii, Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common
Pleas, was his great acquaintance, to whom he made visitts
three times or more in a weeke — out of terme in the
morning ; in terme-time, in the afternoon.

Sir Charles Scarborough, M.D. (physitian to his royal
highnesse the duke of Yorke), who hath a very good and
tThiswasmade ^^^^ picturc (drawne about 1655) * of him,
Scatbo?ouglf^ under which is this distich (they say of
' Mr. Hobbes's making t),

Si quacris de me, Mores inquire, sed Ille
Qui quaerit de me, forsitan alter erit ;

and much loved his conversation.

Sir Jonas Moore, mathematicus, surveyor of his
} Does this majestie's ordinance, who had a great venera-

lamentifip; come

inaptest here, or tion for Mr. Hobbcs, and was wont much to

pag.»7?— MS. '

Aubr. 9, foi. 52". lament J he fell to the study of the mathe-
matiques so late.

Mr. RicJiard While, who writt Hemispherium Dissectum.
** I have heard Mr. Thomas Hobbes commend Richard
White for a solid mathematician and preferred him much
before his brother Thomas de Albiis^ for it.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 53. Anthony Wood queries (fol. 53):

* 'Page 7,' i.e. fol. 36'; supra, 'Was not Thomas de Albiis of his
p. 333. acquaintance ? ' Aubrey answers : ' I

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 52". beleeve he was.'

I. B b

370

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Sir Charles Cavendish ^.

Edzvard, lord Herbert of Cherbery and Castle Island.

Sir William Davetiant, Poet Laureat after B. Johnson,
and generall of the ordinance to the duke of Newcastle — at
Paris (e. g. epistle) ; perhaps before.

William Cliillingivorth, D.D. — he would commend this

doctor for a very great witt ; ' But by G ,' said he, ' he

is like some lusty fighters that will give a damnable back-
blow now and then on their owne party.'

George Eglionby, D.D. and deane of Canterbury, was
also his great acquaintance. He died at Oxford'', 1643,
of the epidemique disease then rageing.

* Jasper Mayne, Doctor of Divinity (chaplain to
William, marquesse of Newcastle), an old acquaintance
of his.

Mr. Francis Osbiirne, author of ' Advice to a son ' and
severall other treatises, was his great acquaintance.

John Pell, Dr. of Divinity, mathematicus, quondam
professor . . . ®at Breda, who quotes him in his . . . contra
Longomontanum de Qtiadratura circuli, for one of his
jury (of 12).

Sir George Ent, M.D.— In a letter to Mr. J<ohn>
A(ubrey> from Mr. Thomas Hobbes : —

' Worthy Sir,

I have receaved from Mr. Crooke the booke of
Sir George Ent of the Use of Respiration. It is a very
learned and ingeniose booke full of true and deepe philo-
sophy. I pray you to present unto him my most humble
service. Though I recieved it but three dayes since, yet,
drawen-on by the easinesse of the style and elegancy of
the language, I have read it all over, and I give you most

" See note, p. 366.

•> i. e. their acquaintance began
during Hobbes's abode there.

° Clark's Wood's Life and Times,
i. 104.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 53.

^ Clark's Wood's Life and Times,
i. 257.

* Aubrey notes in the margin, 'v.
librum ' ; i.e. look up the title of the
book Pell then published to discover
the snbject he was professor of.

Thomas Hobbes

371

humble thankes for sending it to me. I pray you present
my service to Mr. Hooke *.

I am,

Sir, your most obliged and humble servant,

Tho: Hobbes.

Chatsworth,

March 25, •
1679.'

Ralph Bathurst, S.T.D., now deane of Welles, who
hath writt verses before his booke of Humane Nature''.

Mr. Henry Stubbes, physitian, whom he much esteemed
for his great learning and parts, but at latter end Mr. Hobbs
differ'd with him for that he wrote against the lord
chancellor Bacon, and the Royall Societie. He wrote in
Mr. Hobbes' defence — vide librum

Walter Charletou, M.D., physitian to his majestic, and one
of the Colledge of Physitians in London, a high admirer of
him.

Mr. Samuel Butler, the author of Hudibras.

In his . . . Dialogi (vide librum) he haz a noble elogie
of Sir Christopher Wren, then a young scholar in Oxon,
which quote ; but I thinke they were not acquainted.

Mr. (^Robert) Hooke loved him, but was never but once
in his company.

( Sidney G odolphin )

* To conclude, he had a high esteeme for the Royall

' Aubrey notes : ' of Gresham or an exact account of the grammati-

Colledge.' call part of the controversy between

This entry is scored out by Au- Mr. Thomas Hobbes and John Wallis,

brey, in consequence of the following D.D." Lond. 1657, 4I0.'

note by Anthony Wood on MS. Aubr. Anthony Wood on fol. 52' has

9, fol. 52': — 'Dr. Bathurst was a note: — ' Sydney Godolphin was his

never acquainted with him. Those acquaintance. Why mention you not

verses were written at the desire of him?' Aubrey answers: — 'Mr. T.

Mr. Bowman, stationer of Oxford, as Hobbs told nie he gave him an hundred

I have heard the Dr. say.' pounds in his will, which he recieved :

"= On fol. 52' Wood has the note : — I thought I had entred him'; and

'Stubs wrot in his defence against later adds, ' 'Tis entred ' ; V\z. supra,

Wallis in a book intituled " A severe p. 365.

enqnirie into the late Otieirocrttica, * MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54.

B b 2

372 Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

Societie, having sayd (vide Behemoth pag. 242, part • . • )
that ' Naturall Philosophy was removed from the Universities
to Gresham Colledge,' meaning the Royall Societie that
meetes there ; and the Royall Societie (generally) had the
. ^ „r . like for him : and he would long since have

t Dr. Wallis °

(surely their bccH ascrlbcd a member there, but for the

iVIercuries * are

^P.^.^^'i;"")' sake of one + or two persons, whom he tooke

and Mr. Bovle. ^ '

pauf Nefie^vho cncmies. In their meeting at Gresham

disobliges Colledge is his picture, drawen by the life,

everybody. — ^ l ' j »

iof V^"'"^' ^' 166- (quaere date*"), by a good hand, which
they much esteeme, and severall copies have
been taken of it.

* Memorandum : — Dr. Isaac Barrow hath mentioned
Mr. T. Hobbes in his mathematicall lectures, printed and
unprinted.

** Edimind Waller^ esq., of Beconsfield : — 'but what he
was most to (be) commended for was that he being a
private person threw downe the strongholds ((^^^^(^/[xara) of
the Church, and lett in light.'

Robert Stevens, serjeant at Lawe, was wont to say of him,
and that truly, that ' no man had so much, so deeply,
seriously, and profoundly*^ considered humane nature as he.'

*** Mr. John Dreyden, Poet Laureat, is his great
admirer, and oftentimes makes use of his doctrine in his
playes — from Mr. Dreyden himselfe.

**** Memorandum he hath no countryman living hath
knowne him so long (1633*^) as myselfe, or (any) of his
friends, &c. (who) doth know so much (about him.)
When he had printed his translation of Thucydides (1676:
edit. 2), his life is writt by him selfe (at my request) in the
third person, a copie wherof I have by me, [to ^ publish after
his death if it please God I survive him.]

* Aubrey uses the astronomical **** MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28.
symbol for the planet. Changed by Aubrey, when re-

1663: see supra, p. 354. vising, to 1634, supra, p. 331.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54'. e Scored out. A marginal note,
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 34^ 'This Mr. Blackburn printed' (see
' DupL with ' truly.' infra, -p. 395), is also scored out. As
*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 46*. also is, ' all his works in . . . volumes.'

Thomas Hobbes

373

(^Opponents and critics.^

* Now as he had these ingeniose and learned friends,
and many more (no question) that I know not or now
escape my memory ; so he had many enemies (though
undeserved ; for he would not provoke, but if provoked,
he was sharp and bitter) : and as a prophet is not esteemed
in his owne countrey, so he was more esteemed by
foreigners then by his countreymen.

His chiefe antagonists were

— [Z>r.* yohii\ Bi'am/iall, bishop of [Londonderry], after-
wards [archbishop of Armagh and] primate of Ireland.

— Setk JVafd, D.D., now bishop of Sarum, who wrote
against him in his Vindiciae Academiarnm^ avovvixm, and

in With whom though formerly he had some

contest, for which he was sorry, yet Mr. Hobbes had
a great veneration for his ''worth, learning and goodnes.

— yo/i7i Wallis, D.D., a great mathematician, and that
hath deserved exceedingly of the commonwealth of learning
for the great paines etc. . . ., was his great antagonist
in the Mathematiques. 'Twas pitty, as is said before,
that Mr. Hobbs began so late, els he would (not) have
layn so open.

'Theophilus Pike' ((i.e.) \_William^'\ Lucy, bishop of
St. David's) who wrote [' Observations, censures, and
confutations of notorious errours ' in his Leviathan, 1664;
they are but weak ones.]

Mr. \Richard\ Baxter, who wrote . . .

\Edward^ Hyde, earl of Clarendon, who wrot against
the politicall part of his Leviathan : I have mentioned
this in some letter, but you have forgot it.]

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54.

" The words in square brackets are
insertions by Anthony Wood.

See Clark's Wood's Life and
Times, i. 296.

" Subst. for ' for this bishop's worth.'

* The words in square brackets are
insertions by Anthony Wood.

e Added by Anthony Wood : who
afterwards added the title of the
treatise, opposite fon fol. 53'), viz. : — ■

[' Edward, earl of Clarendon : A
survey of the dangerous and pernicious
errours to church and state in Mr.
Hobs book intit. Leviathan; Oxford,
1676, 4to.']

374

Aubrey's * Brief Lives'

* Samuelis Siremesii ; Praxiologia apodictica, seu Philo-
sophia moralis demonstrativa, pythanologiae Hobbianae
opposita : Francofurti, 1677,410.

(In i6mo) — Liberty and Necessity asserted by Thomas
Hobbes and opposed by Philip Tandy, register-accomptant,
formerly minister and now established so again, Lond.
1656.

(^Apologists and supporters.^

{A few scattered notes in MS. Aubr. 9 may be conveniently
brought together here.)

*** Meditationes Politicae iisdem continuandis et illus-
trandis addita Politica parallela xxv dissertationibus
Academicis antehac exposuit Johannes Christopherus
Becmanus, LL.D., editio 3^*, Francofurti MDCLXXIX, vide
pag. 417 ubi magnopere laudat T. Hobbium — which
transcribe.

**** In 8vo : — Meditationes Politicae iisdemque con-
tinuandis et illustrandis addita Politica Parallela xxiv
dissertationibus academicis antehac exposuit Johannes
ChristopJierns Becmanus, D. et Hist. prof. publ. ord. in
Acad. Francofurtana ; additae sunt dissertationes de lege
regia et de quarta monarchia : editio tertia : Francofurti
ad Oderam, anno MDCLXXIX :— pag. 417, 418 : —

' In Hobbesii libris eorum quae de cive et civitate agunt (nam
reliqua nobis neutiquam curatio est) scopus generalis est e primis
principiis naturae rationalis ac vitae socialis res politicas eruere (quo
quidem nomine prae caeteris laudandus est cum nemo politicorum
ante ilium id ausus fuerit), specialis est dirigere principia sua ad
monarchiam (qui si genium gentis spectes in qua vixit non minori
laude dignus est, licebitque aliis eadem principia ad statum aristo-
craticum et democraticum applicare, modo sciat istos potius quam
monarchiam reipublicae suae congruere).

In aliis scriptis quae publicavit itidem eo nomine laudandus est
quod e primis principiis moralibus, licet baud perinde vulg6 notis, res
suas eruere conetur : sed rursus etiam culpandus quod sacra ad

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 52".
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 53^

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 52^
**** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 5.

Thomas Hobhes

375

conceptus suos trahat cum hos ad sacra pertrahere indeque perficere
debuisset. Profani tamen qui videntur apud eum occurrere loquendi
modi non possunt plenum atheisinum inferre, nunquam enim qui
rebus moralibus mediocriter incumbit atheus esse potest, tanto minus
Hobbesius qui ad prima usque principia moralium progredi conatur.
Quod vero maxime sapere videtur, id vel seairitatem dixeris vel
iieutralisinum quendam, ut Deum quidem colat sed modum colendi
a sacro codice derivandum esse non necessarium agnoscat ; esseque
hunc animum ejus ex eo patet quod superius diximus, ipsum sacra
ad conceptus suos morales trahere cum e contrario moralia quae
habemus aut invenire etiam possumus e sacris peti debeant quippe
quae clarius semper rem exprimunt quam sine eis exprimi potest.
Acciditque hie * ipsi quod chymicorum multis aliisque rerum naturalium
scrutatoribus qui, dum in causis secundis indagandis nimii sunt, eis ita
alligantur ut ulterius eoque ad Deum usque pergere non opus esse
judicent, unde similiter in neiitralistniim incidunt. Brevius — Hobbesius
principia vitae socialis vere explicat sed male applicat ; unde omnis
ilia in doctrina ejus perversitas quam tamen Christiano vitandam esse
merito cum piis probisque omnibus pronunciamus. Concludimus cum
judicio autoris Gallici in Itiner. Angl. t pag. (edit.

t This is in ^ ,

High-dutch, Germ.) 411, 412 :—

which J desire^ * 19 ^^rerden sehr wenig gefunden welche die Sachen
Eng^ii'slr'^ genauer durchsehen denn Er und die der Natiirlichen

Wissen-schafft eine so lange Erfahrung beygebracht
batten. Ja Er ist ein iiberbliebenes von dem Bacon, unter vvelchem
Er in seiner Jugend geschrieben und an allem was ich von Ihm
gehoret und was ich in seiner Art zu sc(h)reiben mercke sehe ich wol,
dasz Er viel davon behalten. Er hat durch das Studieren seine Weise
die Dinge zu wenden und greiffet gerne in die Gleichniissen.
Aber Er hat natiirlich viele von seiner schonen und guten Eigenschafft
ja auch von seiner feinen Leibes Gestalt. Er hat der Priester-
schafft seines Landes, den Mathematisten zu Oxfurt und iliren
Anhange(r)n eine Furcht eingejaget, darumb Ihre Majestat mir Ihn
einem Bahren'' ver(g)l(e)ichen, wider welche Er die doggen, umb sie
zu iiben anreitzet ; sonder Zweiffel hat Er die gekronte Hiiupter in
den Griinden seiner Welt Klugheit hochlich verbunden, und wenn Er
die Lehren der Religionen nicht beriihret, oder sich begniiget hatte
d{i)e Presbyterianer und genannte Bischoffe seines Landes anzu-
greiffen, find ich nichts darin zu tadeln.'

** Casparis Zeigleri de juribus majestatis tractatus
Academicus; Wittenbergae, 1681. Vide pag. iia § IV

» Sic in MS.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 4.

* Supra, p. 340.

** MS. Aubr. 9. fol. 52'.

376 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives*

ubi honoris gratia citat Hobbium de differentiis inter
pactum et legem ex element, philosoph. de Cive, cap. 14.

* (In i2mo) — Epistolica dissertatio de principiis justi
et decori continens Apologiam pro tractatu clarissimi
Hobbaei de Cive avorvixias, Amstelodami apud Ludovicum
Elzevirium, MDCLI.

James Harrington, esquire : Oceana, vide.

** . . . Zeigler, a German jurisconsultus, quotes him
with great respect, as also some other German civilians,
of which enquire farther.

*** Samnelis Pnfendorf: Elementa Jurisprudentiae Uni-
versalis'', 1672: in praefatione —

'Nec parum debere nos profitemur Thomae Hobbes, cujus hypo-
thesis in libro de Cive, etsi quid profani sapiat, pleraque tamen caetera
satis arguta ac sana.

Quos heic velut in universum allegasse voluimus, in ipso autem
opere quoties eorundem expressa fuit sententia ipsos numerare super-
sedimus, quia, praeter taedia crebrae citationis, rationes eorum potius
quam autoritatem secuti sumus. Nam quando ab iisdem atque ahis
veritatis studium dissentire nos subegit, nomina eorundem ideo dis-
simulavimus ne magnorum virorum naevos vellicando gloriolani
captare velle videremur. Et stultum semper judicavimus, cum ipse
te hominem noris ab erroribus haudquidquam immunem, aspera in
ahos censura rehquos ad paria tibi reponenda irritare.'

**** Sanmel Pitfaidorfins, professor in jure naturae apud
regem Sueciae : in praefatione sui libri De Jure Naturae
et Gentium, Amstelodam. 1688 :

'Sic et Thomas Hobbius in operibus suis ad civilem scientiam
spectantibus plurima habet quantivis pretii et nemo cui rerum ejus-
modi est intellectus negaverit tam profunde ipsum societatis humanae
et civiHs compagem rimatum fuisse ut pauci priorum cum ipso
heic comparari queant. Et qua a vero aberrat, occasionem tamen
ad talia meditanda suggerit quae fortasse ahks nemini in mentem
venissent. Sed quod et hie in religione peculiaria sibi et horrida
dogmata finxerit, hoc ipso apud multos non citra rationem sui

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 53'. in a partial citation in MS. Aubr. 9,
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 41'. fol. 28.

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 5'. **** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 5'.

" ' Eleinentoniin Jur. Univ. lib. II,'

Thomas Hobbes

2>11

aversationem excitavit. Quanquam et illud non raro contingere videas
ut ab illis maximo cum supercilio condemnetur abs quibus minime
lectus fuit aut intellectus.'

( Conclusion. )

* I would have, just before FINIS,

Pascitur in vivis Livor : post fata quiescit ;
Tunc suus ex merito quemque tuetur honos.

Ovid. Elcg. a

** Last of all insert the pindariqiie ode on Mr. Hobbes
made by Mr. Abraham Cowley ; and after that, in the
next page, the verses made by Dr. Ralph Bathurst of
Trinity College in Oxon, which are before Mr. Hobbes s
Humane Nature.

{Copies of letters by, or about, Thomas Hobbes.^
I. Thomas Hobbes to Josias Pullen.

*** For my much honored freind Mr. Josias Pullen,
Vice-principall of Magdalen Hall in Oxon.

Honour'd Sir,

I understand by a letter from Mr. Aubry that you
desire to have the bookes I have published to put them into
the library of Magdalen Hall. I have here sent them you,
and very willingly, as being glad of the occasion, for I assure
you that I owe so much honour and respect to that society
that I would have sent them, and desired to have them
accepted, long agoe, if I could have donne it as decently
as now that you have assured me that your selfe and some
others of your house have a good opinion of them so that
though the house refuse them they are not lost. You
know how much they have been decryed by Dr. Wallis
and others of the greatest sway in the University, and
therfore to offer them to any Colledge or Hall had been
a greater signe of humility than I have yet attained to.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 54.
" Ovid. Amor. i. 15. 39.
** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 55.

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 8 ; not the
original, but a transcript by Aubrey.

378 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

For your owne civility in approving them, I give you many
thanks ; and remain

Sir,

Your most humble servant,

Tho. Hobbes.

1672*, London,
Febr. 1=',

ii. Thomas Hobbes to John Aubrey.
* Noble Sir,

I am very glad to hear you are well and continue
your favours towards me.

'Tis a long time since I have been able to write my selfe,
and am now so weake that it is a paine to me to dictate.

But yet I cannot choose but thanke you for this letter of
Jan. 25''' which I receaved not till the last of ffebruary.
I was assured a good while since that Dr. Wallis his
learning is no where esteemed but in the Universities by
such as have engaged themselves in the defence of his
geometiy and are now ashamed to recant it. And I
wonder not if Dr. Wallis, or any other, that have studyed
mathematicks onely to gaine preferment, when his ignor-
ance is discovered, convert his study to jugling and to
the gaining of a reputation of conjuring, decyphering, and
such arts ^ as are in the booke ^ you sent me.

As for the matter it selfe, I meane the teaching of a man
borne deafe and dumbe to speake, I thinke it impossible.
But I doe not count him deafe and indocible that can
heare a word spoken as loud as is possible at the very
entrance to his eare, for of this I am assured that a man
borne absolutely deafe must of necessity be made to heare
before he can be made to speake, much lesse to understand.
And he that could make him heare (being a great and
common good) would well deserve both to be honoured

167!. Transactions for July, 1670,' London,

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 9 : the original, 1678, accusing Dr. Wallis of robbing

in James Wheldon's print-like writing. him of the credit of teaching a deaf-

Subst. for 'jugleries.' mute. See Clark's Wood's Life and

Probably Dr. William Holder's Times, i. 309.
' A Supplement to the Philosophical

Thomas Hobbes

379

and to be enriched. He that could make him speake

a few words onely deserved nothing. But he that brags

of this and cannot doe it, deserves to be whipt.

Sir, I am most heartily

Your most faithfull and most humble servant,

,T J • , Thomas Hobbes.

Hardwick,

March the 1677 ^

* To my most honored frend Mr. John Awbry, esqre,
to be left for him at Mr. Crooke's, a bookseller, at the
Green Dragon without Temple barre, London.

iii. Thomas Hobbes to W illiam Crooke, with an enclosure
to John Aubrey.

(Hobbes' letter to Crooke is found as fol. 11 of MS. Aubr. 9 : the
enclosure to Aubrey, as foil. 12, 13. Both are in James Wheldon's
handwriting.

It appears by the post-stamps on the backs of these letters that the
charge for a letter was 3^/., with j^d. for each enclosure. Thus the
letters of Aug. 18, 1679, March S, i6|§, Sept. 7, 1680, are all marked as
costing id. postage (MS. Aubr. 9, foil. 15'', lo"', 2I'*') ; while this letter
to' Crooke, with its enclosure, cost bd. {ibid., fol. 11^) ; and the letter
of Jan. 16, i6|^, with its two enclosures, cost <^d. [ibid. fol. I7^j.)

** Sir,

I have receaved Sir George Ent's booke and Mr.
Aubrey's letter, to which I have written an answer, but I
cannot tell how to send it to him without your helpe, and
therefore I have sent it to you here inclosed, for I believe
he comes now and then to your shop, and I pray you
doe me the favour to deliver it to him.

I rest, your humble servant

„, , Tho. Hobbes.

Lhatsworth,

March the 25^^ 1679.

*** For Mr. William Crooke,

Bookeseller,

At the Green Dragon without Temple barr

London.

i. e. 167I.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. io».

** MS. Aubr. 9. fol. II.
*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 1 1'.

38o

Aithreys 'Brief Lives'

* Worthy Sir,

I have receaved from Will: Crooke the booke of Sir
George Ent of the use of respiration. It is a very learned
and ingenious booke, full of true and deepe philosophy,
and I pray you to present unto him my most humble
service. Though I receaved it but three days since, yet
drawn on by the easinesse of the style and elegance of the
language I have read it all over. And I give you most
hearty thankes for sending of it to me, and to Mr. Ent*
who was pleased to bestow it upon me, and I am very
glad to hear that Sir George him selfe is alive and in good
health, though I believe he is very near as old as I am.

I knew not how to addresse my letter to you, but at all
adventure I sent it inclosed in a letter to Mr. Crooke at
whose shop I suppose you sometimes looke in as you
passe the street.

I pray you present my service to Mr. Hooke and thanke
him for the honour of his salutation.

I am, Sir, your most obliged and humble servant,

Thomas Hobbes.

Chatsworth,
March the 25"*, 1679.

** To my most honoured frend,
Mr. John Aubrey.

iv. Thomas Hobbes to jfo/ui Aitbrey.

*** Honored Sir,

I thanke you for your letter of Aug. 2'', and I pray
you present my humble thanks to Sir George Ent that he
accepteth of my judgment upon his booke. I fear it is
rather his good nature then my merit. I am sorry for the
news you write of his son.

I have been told that my booke of the Civill Warr is
come abroad, and am sorry for it, especially because I could

* MS. Aubr. 9, ful. 12.
' Sir George Ent's son : stipra,
p. 245.

** The address : MS. Aubr. 9,

fol. \i\

*** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 14 : the
original, in James Wheldon's hand-
writing.

Thomas Hohhes

381

not get his majestye to license it, not because it is ill printed
or has a foolish title set to it, for I believe that any
ingenious man may understand the wickednesse of that
time, notwithstanding the errors of the presse.

The treatise Dc Legibus, at the end of it, is imperfect.
I desire Mr. Horne to pardon me that I consent not to his
motion, nor shall Mr. Crooke himselfe get my consent to
print it.

I pray you present my humble service to Mr. Butler''.
The priviledge of stationers is (in my opinion) a very great
hinderance to the advancement of all humane learning.

I am, Sir, your very humble servant,

Tho. HOBBES.

Chatsworth,
Aug. the 18''', 1679.
* To my much honoured frend Mr. John Aubrey, at
Mr. Hooke's lodging in Gresham College, London.

V. James Wheldon to William Crooke, with enclosure to
John Aubrey, and a copy of Hobbes' will.

(Wheldon's letter to Crooke is found as foil. 16 and 17 of MS. Aubr.
9 ; the enclosure to Aubrey, as foil. 18, 19.)

** Hardwick, January the 16"*, 1679 ^

Sir,

Three days since I receaved your letter of the 9"'
instant together with one from Mr. Aubrey, and because
they containe both the same particulars I thinke it un-
necessary to repeat to you what I have written back to that
gentleman.

All that I can add is onely this, that neither Mr. Halleley
nor I have anything in either of our hands of Mr. Hobbes's
writing, the very little of that kind that he left behind him
being disposed of according to his own order before he
removed from Chatsworth.

According to Mr. Aubrey's direction I have here inclosed

* Author of Hudibras.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 15'.

*♦ MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 16.

382

Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

my letter to him, which I pray you present to him with my
humble service as soon as you shall see him.

I am, Sir, your most humble servant,
James Wheldon.

* To my much respected frend
Mr. William Crooke

at the Green Dragon without Templebarr
In London

** Hardwick, January the 16"', 1679'',

Worthy Sir,

Having been abroad about businesse for some days,
I receaved, at my coming home, your letter of the third of
this month, which evidences the great esteeme you have for
Mr. Hobbes, for which I returne you my humble thanks,
and particularly for the paines you have been pleased
to take in the large account of what you your selfe,
Mr. Anthony a Wood, and Sir George Ent designe for
Mr. Hobbes his honour.

I am glad Mr. Crooke has receaved his Life in Prose,
which was the onely thing Mr. Halleley got possession of,
and sent it to him " by my hand. Mr. Halleley tells me now,
that Mr. Hobbes (in the time of his sicknesse) told him he
had promised it to Mr. Crooke, but said he was unwilling
it should ever be published as written by himselfe ; and I
beleeve it was some such motive, which made him burne
those Latine verses Mr. Crooke sent him about that time.

For those Latine verses you mention about Ecclesiasticall
Power, I remember them, for I writ them out, but know
not what became of them, unlesse he presented them to
judge Vaughan, or burned them, as you seem to intimate.

He fell sick about the middle** of October last. His
disease was the strangury, and the physitians judged it

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 17'. ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 18.

" Readdresscd in another (?William i6||.

Ciooke's) hand : — ' at Mr. Moore, in Subst. for ' Mr. Crooke.'

Hammond Alley ' ; see p. 44. ^ Subsf. for ' beginning.'

Thomas Hobbes

383

incurable by reason of his great age and natiirall decay.
About the 20"' of November, my Lord being to remove
from Chatsworth to Hardwick, Mr. Hobbes would not be
left behind ; and therefore with a fether bed laid into the
coach, upon which he lay warme clad, he was conveyed
safely, and was in appearance as well after that little journey
as before it. But seven or eight days after, his whole right
side was taken with the dead palsy, and at the same time
he was made speechlesse. He lived after this seven days,
taking very little nourishment, slept well, and by intervalls
endeavoured to speake, but could not. In the whole time
of his sicknesse he was free from fever. He seemed there-
fore to dye rather for want of the fuell of life (which was
spent in him) and meer weaknesse and decay, then by the
power of his disease, which was thought to be onely an effect
of his age and weaknesse. He was born the 5th of Aprill, in
the year 1588, and died the 4th of December, i'579. He was
put into a woollen shroud and coffin, which was covered
with a white sheet, and upon that a black herse cloth, and
so carryed upon men's shoulders, a little mile to** church.
The company, consisting of the family and neighbours that
came to his funerall, and attended him to his grave, were
very handsomely entertained with wine, burned and raw,
cake, biscuit, etc. He was buried in the parish church of
Hault Hucknall, close adjoining to the raile of the monument
of the grandmother of the present earle of Devonshire, with
the sei-vice of the Church of England by the minister of the
parish. It is intended to cover his grave with a stone of
black marble as soon as it can be got ready, with a plain
inscription of his name, the place of his birth, and the time
of that and of his death.

As to his will, it is sent up to London to be proved there,
and by the copy of it, which I here send you, I beleeve you
will judge it fitt to make no mention of it in * what you
designe to get written by way of Commentary on his life.

As for the palsey in his hands, it began in fifrance, before
the year 1650, and has grown upon him by degrees ever

' Subst. for ' to the parish church.' ♦ MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 18".

384 Aubrey's ^ Brief Lives'

since ; but Mr. Halleley remembers not how long it has
disabled him to write legibly.

Mr. Halleley never heard of a pension from the ffrench
king and beleeves there was no such thing ever intended.
He desires you to accept of his thanks for your favourable
remembrance of him, and of the returne of his respects to
you by me. And if hereafter you should want any thing
which we know, that might contribute * to the honour of
Mr. Hobbes's memory, upon the least notice, shall readily
be imparted to you.

In the mean time, with much respect, I rest,

Sir, your much obliged and humble servant,

James Wheldon,

* To my highly honoured frend, John Aubrey, esq., this
humbly present.

** A true copy of Mr. Hobbes's will.

The 25th day of September in the 29th year of the raigne
of our Soveraigne Lord, King Charles the Second, and in
the yeare of our Lord God, 1677.

I, Thomas Hobbes, of Malmesbury, in the county of
Wilts, gent, make this my last Will and Testament.

First, I bequeath to Mary Tirell, daughter of my deceased
brother, Edmund Hobbes, forty pounds. Item, I bequeath
to Lienor Harding, daughter also of my deceased brother,
Edmund Hobbes, forty pounds. Item, I bequeath to Eliza-
beth Alaby, the daughter of Thomas Alaby, two hundred
pounds, and because she is an orphan, and committed by
me to the tuition of my executor, my will is, that she should
be maintained decently by my executor, till she be J 6 yeares
of age, and that then the said two hundred pounds be
delivered into her hands, being intended for her furtherance
in marriage, but let her dispose of it as she please ; and if it
happen that the said Elizabeth Alaby die before she come
to the age of 16 yeares, then my will is, that the said 200 //.

" 'Anything' followed: scored out.
* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 19'. ** MS. Aubr, 9, fol. 19.

Thomas Hobbes

385

be divided equally between the said Mary Tirell and Elenor
Harding.

Item, whereas it hath pleased my good lord, the earle
of Devonshire, to bid me oftentimes heretofore, and now at
the making of this my last will, to dispose therein of one
hundred pounds, to be paid by his lordship, for which
I give him most humble thanks ; I doe give and dispose of
the same in this manner : There be five grand-children of my
brother, Edmund Hobbes, to the eldest whereof, whose name
is Thomas Hobbes, I have heretofore given a peece of land,
which may and doth, I think, content him, and therefore to
the other four that are younger, I dispose of the same 100 li.
the gift of my lord of Devonshire, to be divided equally
amongst them, as a furtherance to bind them apprentices.

And I make and ordaine James Wheldon, servant to the
earle of Devonshire, my executor, to whom I give the
residue of my money and goods whatsoever ; and because
I would have him in some sort contented for the great
service he hath done me, I would pray his majestie to what
I left him to add the arreare of my pension, or as much of
it as it pleases his majestie.

(His name and seale.)

Sealed, signed and published
in the presence of
John Ashton,
Will*' Barker.

Item I give unto Mary Dell the sum of ten pounds.

I pray" you keep his will private to your selfe and
Mr. Hobbes's frends onely.

vi. James Wheldon to John Aubrey.

,0. * Chatsworth, Sept. the 7th, 1680.

Honoured Sir, > t-

Although for these three weekes, since I receaved

your letter, I have made all the enquiry I can, yet all

* Request added by Wheldon, at the end of the transcript of the will.

* MS. Aubr. 9, ful. 20.

I. c c

386 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

that I hear of the death and buriall of Sir Charles Cavendish
is that he was interred at Bolsover in the vault belonging
to the fannily of the duke of Newcastle about the year
1652 or 1653. I will continue to make further inquiry,
and if I can learne the day and the month of his death or
buriall will give you notice of it.

I have sent you underwritten Mr. Hobbes's epitaph
v.-ritten by himselfe, which is but lately come to my hand
from a person that copyed it from the originall.
With much respect, I rest, Sir,

Your most humble and obliged servant,
James Wheldon.

j\Iy lord of Devonshire has paid the hundred pounds to
Mr. Hobbes's kinred, which he bid Mr. Hobbes dispose of
in his will.

Coudita hie sunt ossa
Thomae Hobbes
Qui per multos annos servivit
duobus comitibus Devoniae
Cpatri et filio).
\^ir probus, et fama eruditionis.
Domi forisque bene cognitus
Obiit Anno Domini 1679, mensis Uec'^ die 4'',
Aetatis suae 91.

* To my much honoured frend John Aubrey, esq.

To * be left at IMr. William Crooke's at the Green Dragon
without Temple barr, London,

vii. WilliaiK Aubrey to John Aubrey.

^ , , ** Kington, Tune 5th, 1680.

Deare brother, t. > J J >

I sopose I shall be here more then a \\eek longer

as .... I know not whether Mr. John Stokes or Sir

John Knight have the key of the study.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 21'. is sealed with the Aubrey coat: — 'a

* This part of the address is scored chevron between 3 eagles' heads
out, and there is substituted, ' for Dr. erased.' an annulet (?) for difference ;
Blackborn at Jonathan's Coffee.' and marked ' post paj d 3</.' The

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 3. The le'.ter letter is mutilated.

Thomas Hobbcs

387

Jo. Tay . . . buried 16 of July 1580.

Nicholas Fauckener, vicar, buried 20 July 1612.

Richard Hine * . . .

I shall e(n)devour to set the family of the Powers t(j
rights. It was honest parson P(ower's) grandmoth(er
I) think and Jonath. Deekes grandmother was Thomas
Lyte's sisters. Alderman Lyte's grandm. was a P(ower)
of Stanton . . . . , which James Power, Mr. J. G. nephew
might purchase againe with a wife, with 1500//., but which
formerly was worth 360 //. per annum, but he's goeing to
creep into one of Jon. Decks' woolpacks, viz. his daughter.

I was at Malmesbury but did see (neither) the church
nor register but desired Mr. Binnion the parson to doe
against I come againe ; but Francis Hobbes' widow's
good memory did give me much satisfaction. The register
at Westport is not t^o yeares old (not more) : the paving''
is all new .

The old vicar Hobs was a good fellow and had been
at cards all Saturday night, and at church in his sleep
he cries out ' Trafells is troumps"^ ' (viz. clubs). Then quoth
the dark, ' Then, master, he tha(t) have ace doe rub.'

He (was) a collirice'^ man, and a parson (which I thinke
succeeded him at Westport) provoked him (a purpose) at the
church doore , soe Hobs stroke him and was forcd to fly
for it and ... in obscurity beyound London ; died there,
was about 80 yeares since.

Mr. William Hobs, a great clothier (old Graye's pre-
disessor in the same house). He had at Cleverton 60 //.
or 80 li. per annum, and was first or 2 cousin to the philo-
sipher. But his line is extinct. He was parson Stump's god-
father, and brake in his trade. He had icooli. left and was
iGOo/z'. in debt; and at London challenged one to throw
with him one throw on the dye for 1000//., and wonn, payd
his debt, and afterwards flourished in his trade, and if there

" Or Hynd : p. 154. been destroyed.

•> Of the church at Westport. Broad Wiltshire for 'trumps';

" .So that if there were any old see supra, p. 324.
gravestones in the church, they have " Choleric.

C C 2

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

be any inscriptions of H{obbes), it must be for him, in the
abbye.

* ]Mr. William Gale of Chipnam was buried yesterday.
I was at Dracot, Wensday last: Sir J. and his lady was
writing to you. The}- are in mourning for the earl of
Marleborow. He died to-morrow will be three week'*.
Sir J(ames) L(ong> is quartring his coat of arms.

To be left at ]\Ir. Hooks lodgings
in Gresham CoUedge

in Bishopsgate Street, London ^

(The lower part of this letter gave the following pedigree, but a piece
has been torn off and is now MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 2.)

{Pedigree of Hobbes.')

. . . HOBBES

1. Francis Hobbes ;

(This Francis lived
in Bumevall at
Malmsbur)-, and

died about 40 yeares
^ince, sine prole).

Katherine, daughter of
. . . rhillips, a phisition
at Malmsburj'. She
afterwards tnaried Mr.
Potluck of Cirencester.

I

2. Thomas Hobbes, m.
vicar.

I. Edmund Hobbes m. Frances Ludlow, 2. Thomas, 'of
I of Shipton, com. Malmsburj-.'
Glocester.

Midleton.

Anne Hobs m. Thomas
(see infra). Laurence.

I. Mary m. Roger Tirell,
Hobbes 1 of Westport.

Elinor Hobbes m. John Harding
of Sadlewood
in Glouster.

I I I II

Roger. 2. Isaac i. Alee'. 2. Sarah. 3. Mary.
(25 years
old).

Francis Hobs m. Sarah
(see infra). Alex-
ander.

I. Roger, aged 28,
Aprill last.

Anne Hobs (supra : the m. Thomas Laurence,
philosopher's sister) I

2. James,
23-

Mary.

. Thomas,
I'ne prole.

William. Henr)-,
I sine prole.

I I I

W illiam. 2. Thomas. 3. Francis.

John.

Thomas.

I. Frances, tn.

Richard Dicks,
a souldier of
the garison,
and now not
heard off.

2. Mary maried
William Fovey,
of Malmsbur)-.

(One daughter.)

I

3. Anne Lau-
rence THaried
Richard Gay
of Kington.

I. Thomas. 2. Robert, (R. Wise- 3. Richard. 4. John,
man's godson).

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 3'.

* Admon. of William Ley, last earl
of Marlborough of that family, was
granted 9 Jtine, 1680.

•> A jotting on the back of the letter

is ; — ' Malmesbury : — where the steeple
is was a church dedicated to St. Paul.'

" Then a common spelling for
' Alice.'

Thomas Hobbes

389

Francis Hobs {supra : the m
philosopher's nephew). Obiit
May 6, 12 yeares agoe : liis
estate 80 //. per annum,
and more.

1. Thomas Honbes,
;i tanner at Malms-
bury, aetat. 27,
December last. His
estate, 30 //. per
annum.

t Anne
Player,
of Malms-
bury.

2. Edmund,
aetat. 19,
Nov. last.

Sarah Alexander, of
Malmsbury.

3. William.

I

I. Sarah,
James Tyley,
Nan Exon('s>
son of the Priory
of Kington.

2. Fran
Franc*

These are the only heires males of the Hobbes.

It is uncertaine whether Anne Gay have any brother or
sister Hving, but it is pitty the poor woman should
have somthing if it be but 5 shilHngs. If you know the
executor speak for her.

I was saying to Francis Hobbes's widow (who remembers
her service to you) that her son should get one of Mr. Thomas
Hobbes's printed pictures.

In hast,

Your very affectionat brother,
William Aubrey.

Keep a copie of Rogers' pedegrce
* These to my honoured freind,
Mr. John Awbrey

present.

viii. Hon. Charles Hat ton to William Crooke.
<;\IS. Aubr. 9, fol. 26. The letter is written by a secretary, the
signature C. Hatton being in a different hand. Crooke has endorsed
it (fol. 27^) 'Mr. Hatton's letter about Mr. Hobs': to which Aubrey
has added ' scil. the lord Hatton's son.' On fol. 27 is a note, probably
by Crooke, of the 'tracts' referred to, viz. 'Life^', Rheto(ric) Con-
siderations Natural Philosophy ^'

** Mr. Crooke,

I thanke you for the perusall of Mr. Hobbs his tracts
which wase a civihty I did not expect or desire, for

" This pedigree of Rogersin William
Aubrey's hand is found in MS. Aubr.
3, fol. 123.

* The address on MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 2 \

*> Published 1681.

= Republished 1682.

Kepubl. 1C80.
« Publ. 1682.

** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 26. The date
of the letter is circ. 1681-2.

390

A nbrey's 'Brief L ives '

I wou'd not have you at any time deliver any booke to any
person who comes in my name unless he then payes you
for it. I did desire only to know exactly the particular price
of each tract bound apart in marble'd leather, guilt on the
backe and ribbed, which pray send me by the bearer by
whom I returne you your booke.

I have cursorily looked over Mr. Hobbs his life in Latine
which I beleeve will be a ver\- vendible booke both here
and bej'ond sea, for ther is noe lover of learning but will
have the curiosity to be particularly informed of the life
of soe eminent a person. And truly the reading of it wase
very satisfactory to me, for in my apprehension it is very
well writ, but I cou'd have wish'd the author had more
dilated upon some particulars ; and because you intimate
a designe to publish it in English I shall hint to you that
the author of the life in Latine hath either not taken notice
of at all, or too slightingly, some things very remarkeable
relating to the temper of Mr. Hobbs his mind or to the
infirmity of his body, as his extraordinary timorousnes
which he himself in his Latine poem doth very ingeniously
confess and attributes it to the influence of his mother's
dread of the Spanish invasion in 88, she being then with
child of him. And I have been informed, I think by your
self, that Mr. Hobbs wase for several! yeares before he died
soe paralyticall that he wase scarce able to write his name,
and that in the absence of his amanuensis not being able to
write anything he made scrawls on a piece of paper to
remind him of the conceptions of his mind he design'd
to have committed to writing. But the author * of his
life in Latine only sa(i)th that about 60 yeares of age
he wase taken with a trembling in his hands, the forerunner
of the palsy ; which in my apprehension deserves to be
enlarg'd upon, for it is very prodigious that neither the
timorousness of his nature from his infancy, nor the decay
ot" his vital heat in the extremity of old age, accompagnied
with the palsy to that violence, shou d not have chill'd the
briske fer\'our and vigour of his mind, which did wonder-

* MS. Anbr. 9. fol. 26\

Thomas Hobbes

391

fully continue to him to his last ; which is a subject fit
to be discours'd on by a genious equally philosophical!
with Mr. Hobbs, wase that now to be hoped for. It is
soe considerable to me that I cou'd not refrayne acquainting
you that in my apprehension it wase convenient you tooke
notice therof in his life you are setting forth in English.

I am, your assured freind,
C. Hattcn.

* Mr. Crooke, at the Green Dragon,
nere Temple-bar.

N'otes.

' (P. 323.) On fol. 29^ of MS. Aubr. 9, Anthony \^■ood notes: — 'Send to
Malnisburie to take out of the register the Christian name of Mr. Hobs' father,
when Mr. Hobbs was borne, or when his said father was buried.' [On this Aubrey
notes : — ' As I remember he dyed at Thistleworth ; vide the register booke at
Thistleworth, where Mr. Hobbes his father lived in obscurity a reader, and
there dyed about 1630.'] Wood goes on : — 'I remember when I was there'
(in 1676, Clark's Wood's Life and Times, ii. 410, 411) 'there were two
inscriptions of the Hobs on brass plates ; one dyed 1606, quaere. Take out
the names of all the Hobs in the register.' Obedient to this advice, Aubrey
sent his brother \Mlliam to Malmesbury : supra, p. 387.

^ (?. 323.) In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 26, Aubrey puts the substance of this
paragraph in a neater form : —

' Mr. Hobbes' father was minister of Westport, to which Brokenborough and
Charlton doe belong as chapells of ease, but all not worth above .... He
was one of the clergie of Queen Elizabeth's time — a little learning went a great
way with him and many other Sir Johns in those days — he read homilies.'

' (P. 323.) On fol. 30 of M.S. Aubr. 9 is another draft of tliis paragraph: —
' He had an elder brother, PVancis Hobbes, a wealthy man, and had been
alderman of the borough ' (dupl. with ' towne ') ; 'by profession a glover, which
is a great trade here and was heretofore greater. He was orlnis. He con-
tributed much, or altogether maintained his nephew Thomas at Magdalen Hall
in Oxon; and when he dyed gave him an agelliim (vocat. "the Gasten"),
which lyes neer the horse faire : valet per annum 16//. vel 18 /?.'

' (P. 324.) Anthony Wood notes : — ' Quaere in the register of Braken-
borough when they were maried and their you'l find her Christian name.' —
MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 30^.

(P. 326.) In M.S. Aubr. 9, fol. 31', Anthony Wood suggests the following
paragraph for the transition from the account of Malmsbury to the life of
Hobbes : —

' As Malmsbury was famous in this resj ect that it gave death and buriall to
that famous philosopher of his time Johannes Scotus alias Erigina who was
stabd to death with penknives by his scholars, where there was a statue set up
in memory of him (ut in Hist, et Antiq. Oxon. lib. i, png. 16 so much more
famous in later times for the birth of that great philosopher T. H.'

''' The address: on MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 27'.

392

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28, Aubre)' begins his sketch of Hobbes' life thus : —
' Westport juxta Malmesbury: — This place is for nothing so famous as for the
birth of my honoured and learned friend and coimtryman, Mr. Thomas Hobbes,
author of de Corpore, di Homine, de Cive, etc.

He was borne the 5th day of Aprill 1 588 at his father's howse, which is the
farthest on the left hand as you goe in the way or street called . . . , leaving
the church on the right hand.'

^ (P. 326.) The verses alluded to are in Hobbes's metrical life of himself
(MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28 — ' he writt his life last yeare, viz. 1673, in Latin verse').
Aubrey cites these lines, MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 31' : —

' T. H . / 'ita in verse

Oppidulum parvnm est; habuit sed multa relatu

Digna, sed imprimis Coenobium celebre,
Et castrum (melius nisi sint dua castra vocanda)

Colle sita, et bino llumine cincta fere.

Vide mapp' (perhaps Speed's map of Wiltshire: but on a slip at fol. 31*',
Aubrey gives a ' map ' of Malmesbury : see supra, pp. 325, 326).

On this Anthony Wood comments : ' See i vol. of Monast. Anglican, concerning
the monastery.'

' (P. 326.) The matter of this paragraph is put a little more clearly in MS.
Aubr. 3, fol. 28 : ' Westport ju.xta Malmesbury: — The church was dedicated to
St. Mary. Here were three aisles " which tooke up the whole area. And (the
church was) reported lo be more ancient then the abbey. In the windowes
(which were very good) were inscriptions which declared so much. Quaere, if
Madulph the Scottsman taught here — imde origo monasterii ? 'Vide Camdenum
de hoc.

Before the late warres here was a prettie church, where were very good
windowes and a faire steeple, higher than the other, which much adorned the
towne of Malmesbury. In it weie five tuneable bells, which Sir William
Waller or his army melted into ordinance, or rather sold. The church was
pulled downe that the enimie might not shelter themselves against the garrison
of Malmesbury.'

" (P. 328. J Aubrey's Collection of GeniHires is now MS. Aubr. 23. The
place Aubrey here refers to is fol. 52" in that MS., viz. : —

' Mr. Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury borne at ^^'estport juxta Malmesbury
1588, April 5, being Good Fryday, 5'' 2' mane, hora solis ' (i.e. at sunrise).
' I had the yeare, and day, and houre from his owne mouth.'

Aubrey in several places recurs to this point, e. g. in MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28 : —

'Mr. Thomas Hobbes told me that he was borne Apr. 5"^ 1588 on Good
Fryday, in the morning between 4 and six.'

" (P. 328.) Aubrey took great interest in this as an example in astrology,
in which 'art' he thoroughly believed. He alludes to Hobbes's horoscope
in several places, e. g. note on fol. 32* in MS. Aubr. 9 : —

' Dr. (Francis) Bfernard, physitian, will write a discourse on his nativity.
Mr. John Gadbury hath calculated this nativity from my time given, and will
print it. Why should not I insert ' (dupl. with 'print ') ' the scheme and give
a summary of his judgement? It would be gratefuU lo those that love that

' Or ' a nave and two aisles' : supra, p. 326.

Thomas Hobbes

393

art.' Whereon Anthony Wood notes — ' You should never ask these questions
but do them out of hand forthwith — you have time enouLjh, and if it be done
by Easter terme 'tis well.'

MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 28 :— '(Send) to Mr. J. Gadbury and Dr. Bernard <T. H.'s)
accidents.'

MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 8: — 'T. Hobbes — Quaere Dr. Bernard pro his nntivity :
vide my Collection of Genitures ubi from his owne mouth more correct then
formerly, viz. s*" 2' mane.'

This horoscope is given in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 82, and is reproduced in facsimile
at the end of this edition.

Pasted on to fol. of MS. Aubr. 9 is the scheme with this note : — ' This
scheme was erected according to the aestiraate time by Mr. Henry Coley,
astrologer. — Thomas Hobbes, Malmesburiensis, borne at Westport juxta
Malmesbury, 1588, April 5, being Good Fryday, 5^ 2' mane, hora solis
1 had the yeare and day and houre from his owne mouth.'

(P. 328.) In M.S. Aubr. 3, fol. 26, thus:— 'At fower yeer old Mr. Thomas
Hobbes went to schoole in Westport church till 8 — then the church was
painted. At 8 he could read well and number a matter of four or five
figures.

After, he went to Malmesbury to parson Evans,
t Who being a After him, he had for his schoolemaster, Mr. Robert Latimer f,
bachelor (not a good Graecian ; by whom he so well profited that at 14
him^an(f't\vo"or' yeares old he went a good scholler to Magdalen Hall in O.xford.'
three more u (P. 330.) As seen in the next paragraph, there was some

ingeniose laddes , ,

after supper doubt as to which ' Prmcipal of Magdalen Hall recommended

9- Hobbes to the earl of Devonshire's service. In MS. Aubr. 9.

fol. 29, is the note : —

' Pake notice of Dr. Blackburne's altering some times and dates,' (in Hobbes'
prose Latin life of himself, prefixed to the Juctaruim vitac llobbianac') ' differing
from this originall, e. g. of Mr. Hobbes being admitted at Magdalen Hall when
Sir James Hussey was principall, which he would doe against my consent
because he sayd it " would make a better picture," wheras by the matriculation-
booke it appeares that Dr. Wilkinson was then the principall.'

^2 (P. 331.) On fol. 34" of MS. Aubr. 9, Aubrey has the following
account of Gorhambury : —

' Memorandum in my Liber B<^. I have sett downe an exact description of this
delicious parquet'', now (1656) plowed up and spoil'd. The east part of it
which extends towards Verulam-house (pulled downe, and the materialls sold by
Sir H(arbottle) Grimston, about ten yeares since) consisted of severall parts,
viz. some thickets of plumme-trees, with fine walkes between ; some of rasberies.
Here were planted most fruit-trees which would grow in our climate; and also
severall choice forest-trees. The walkes both of boscages and fruit-trees ; and
in severall places where were the best prospects, were built elegant summer-
houses» of Roman architecture, then standing (1656) well' wainscotted, but the
paving gonne. One would have thought the most barbarous nation had made
a conquest here. This place was, in his lordship's time, a sanctuary for phcsants,

• i. e. at sunrise. and Times ^ iv. 192 : see supra, p. 65.
i. e. at that time the old stained ^ Dnpl. with ' parke.'
windows were still extant. " Dupl. with ' banquetting-houses.'

Now lost : Clark's Wood's Life ' Dupl. with ' good.'

394

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

partridges, and those of severall kinds and nations, as Spanish, &c. speckled,

white, etc. I have, in this lib. B., four leves in fol. close written of the two

houses, gardens, woods, &c. and of his lordship's manner of living and grandarie,

which perhaps would doe well in a description of Haitfordshire, or, perhaps »,

in his lordship's life.'

(P. 332.) In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. r, is this note : — 'Dr. (John) Pell says

that for a man to begin to study mathematics at 40 yeares old, 'tis as if one

should at that age leame to play on the lute — applicable to Mr. Thomas

Hobbes. Vide vitam Jonae Moore.'

'* CP- 338O In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 26, thus :—

' Memorandum : — about the time of the King's returnef, he
t Quaere in ... ^

what yeares his ^^^^ makemg of a very good poeme in Latin hexameters. It

wT^L*^ ""^"^^ ^^^^ history of the encroachment of the clergie (both Roman

and Reformed) on the civill power. I sawe at least 300 verses

(they were mark't). At what time there was a report the bishops would have

him bum't for a heretique. So he then feared the search of his papers and

burned the greatest part of these verses.'

" (P- 339-) The first draft of this passage stood as follows, MS. Aubr. 9, foil.
40, 41 : — ' In April following was the dawning of the coming in of our gracious
soveraigne, who being a great lover of curious painting I knew could not but
selt for his picture to my ever honoured friend Mr. S. Cowper, who besides
his art was an ingeniose person and of great humanity. In April I wrott
a letter to Mr. Hobbes in Derbyshire, by all meanes desiring him to come-up
and make use of the opportunity of renewing his majestie's graces to him at
our friend's howse. He thanked me for ' — etc.

(P. 341.) Aubrey, writing to Wood, on Feb. 3, 167!, enlarges on this
treatise : Wood MS. F. 39, fol. 196'' : —

' The old gent. (T. Hobbes) is strangely vigorous, for his understanding, still ;
and every morning walkes abroad to meditate.

' He haz writt a treatise concerning lawe, which 8 or 9 yeares since I much
importuned him to doe, and, in order to it, gave him the Lord Chancellor
Bacon's Maximes of the Lawe. Now every one will doe him the right to
acknowledge he is rare for definitions, and the lawyers building on old-fashiond
maximes (some right, some wrong) must need fall into severall paralogismes.
Upon this consideration I was earnest with him to consider these things. To
which he was unwilling, telling me he doubted he should not have dayes
enough left to doe it.

' He drives on, in this, the king's prerogative high. Judge (Sir Matthew)
Hales, who is no great courtier, has read it and much mislikes it, and is his
enemy. Judge Vaughan has read it and much commends it.'

" (P. 3,S-i.) Note, however, that on some of the letters from Hobbes in MS.
Aubr. 9, viz., those of date March 25, 1679 (fol. 11", iol. 13'), and that of date
Aug. 18, 1679 (^°'- 15*)) tlic seal shows a gate or portcullis, with an R turned
backwards, i. e. JI, on the left side of it.

" Anthony Wood, in a note here,
approves of this suggestion to add the
account of Gorhambury to Aubrey's
life of Bacon {supra, p. 77): — ''Tis
fit you should speak of this, because

not mentioned by Dr. (William)
Rawley in his life.'

Aubrey notes, fol. 40% ' Bring this
in elswhere.'

Thomas Hohhes

395

James Wheldon's letter of Jan. i6, i6|^ (fol. 17^), has a seal bearing a man's
bust, with helmet and cuirass.

(P. 357-) In MS. Aubr. 21, p. 19, Aubrey, in his projected comedy,
makes use of this verdict on the innate cruelty of some dispositions. He puts
into the mouth of his country-justice this speech : —

" If ye talke of skinnes, the best judgment to be made of the fineness of
skinnes is at the whipping-post by the stripes. Ah ! 'tis the best lechery to see
'em suffer correction. Your London aldermen take great lechery to see the
poor wretches whipt at the court at Bridewell.'

On which Aubrey goes on to comment : ' Old Justice Hooke gave . . . per
lash to wenches; as also my old friend George Pott. esq. Vide Animad-
versions Philosophical! on that ugly kind of pleasure and of crueltie — were it
not for the law there were no living ; some would take delight in killing of men.'
(P- 375-) The substance is : —

' Hobbes brought to the investigation of facts an acute intellect and long
experience, and carried on, into the next generation, the Baconian spirit.

' He had been Bacon's secretary, and owed much to his master, from whom,
in particular, he borrowed his comparative, i.e. inductive, methods. But he
had also fine natural gifts.

' He excited the fears, and therefore the hostility, of the clerical party in
Kngland, and of the Oxford mathematicians and their supporters. For this
reason, Charles II compared him to a bear, worried by mastiffs.

' In his political system, he insisted on the necessity of wisdom in sovereigns.
In not meddling with the Creeds of the Churches and in assailing the Presby-
terians and the Bishops of England, he is not to be blamed.*

Note that, on fol. 42' of MS. Aubr. 9, is a note 'to the earl of Devon, then
in Great Queen Street,' with a mark referring it to the opposite page. The
then opposite page is, in the present foliation, fol. 48, but has now nothing ti>
which the nole can be attached. There are traces, however, which show that
a slip has been torn off it.

Thomas Hobbes' life, by himself.

( A ubrey 's preface. )
* This was the draught that Mr. Hobbs first did leave
in my hands, which he sent for about two yeares before
he died, and wrote that which is printed in his Life in
Latin by Dr. Richard Blackburn which I lent to him and
he was carelesse and not remaunded it from the printer and
so 'twas made wast paper of.

(^Hobbes mitobiography
** Thomas Hobbes, natus Apr. 5, 15H8, Malmesburiae
agri Wiltoniensis. Uteris Latinis et Graecis initiatus, annum
agens decimum quartum missus est Oxonium : ubi per

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 2^". ** MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 23.

396

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

quinquennium mansit, operam impendens studio Loglcae
et Physicae Aristotelicae.

Cum annum ageret vicesimum. commendatus ab amicis,
Oxonio relicto, recepit se in domum domini Gulielmi
Cavendish, baronis de Hardwick et (paulo post) comitis
Devoniae : ubi filio ejus primogenito. adolescenti sibi fere
coaetaneo, servivit, placuitque tum filio tum patri, tem-
perans, sedulus, hilaris.

Anno sequente cum domino suo in urbe perpetuo fere
degens, quod didicerat linguae Graecae et Latinae magna
ex parte amiserat.

Deinde per Italiam et Galliam peregrinantem dominum
sequutus, gentium illarum linguas eousque didicit ut
intelligere eas mediocriter potuerit. Interea Graecam et
Latinam paulatim perire sibi sentiens, Philosophiam autem
Logicamque (in quibus praeclare profecisse se arbitrabatur)
viris prudentibus derisui esse videns, abjecta Logica et
Philosophia ilia vana, quantum temporis habebat vacui
impendere decrevit linguis Graecae et Latinae.

Itaque cum in Angliam reversus esset, Historias et
Poetas (adhibitis grammaticorum celebrium commentariis)
versavit diligenter, non ut floride sed ut Latine posset
scribere, et vim verborum cogitatis congruentem invenire,
itaque verba disponere ut lectio perspicua et facilis esset.
Inter Historias Graecas, Thucididem prae caeteris dilexit
et vacuis horis in sermonem Anglicum paulatim con-
versum cum nonnulla laude circa annum Christi 162S
in publicum edidit, eo fine ut ineptiae democraticorum
Atheniensium concivibus suis patefierent.

Eo anno comes Devoniae, cui jam servierat viginti annos,
diem obiit, patre ejus biennio ante defuncto.

Anno sequente, qui erat Christi 1629, cum attigisset
annum quadragesimum, rogatus a nobilissimo viro domino
Gervasio Clinton ut v^ellet filium adolescentem suum
comitari in Galliam, accepit conditionem. In peregrina-
tione ilia inspicere coepit in elementa Euclidis ; et delecta-
tus methodo illius non tam ob theoremata ilia quam ob
artem rationandi diligentissime perlegit.

Thomas Hobbes

397

Anno Christi 1631 revocatus est in familiam comitissae
Devoniae ut filium suum comitem Devoniae, natum annos
13, in literis instrueret ; quern etiam circiter triennium
post comitatus est in Galliam et Italiam, studiorum ejus
et itinerum rector.

Dum moraretur Parisiis, principia scientiae naturalis
investigare coepit. Quae cum in natura et varietate
motuum contineri sciret, quaesivit inprimis qualis motus is
esse posset qui efficit sensionem, intellectum, phantasmata,
aliasque proprietates animalium, cogitatis suis cum reve-
rendo patre Marino Mersenno, ordinis Minimorum, in omni
genere philosophiae versatissimo viroque optimo, quotidie
communicatis.

Anno Christi 1637 cum patrono suo in Angliam rediit et
apud ilium mansit ; unde de rebus naturalibus commercia
cum Mersenno per literas continuavit.

Interea Scoti, dcpulsis episcopis. sumpserunt arma contra
regem, faventibus etiam ministris Anglis illis qui vocari
solent Presbyteriani. Itaque convocatum est in Anglia
Parlamentum illud notissimum quod inceptum est Nov. 3,
1640. Ex iis quae in illo Parlamento tribus quatuorve
diebus primis consulta viderat, Bellum Civile ingruere et
tai'itum non adesse sentiens, retulit se rursus in Galliam,
scientiarum studio Parisiis tutius vacaturus cum Mersenno,
Gassendo, aliisque viris propter eruditionem et vim in
rationando celeberrimis — non enim dico philosophis, quia
nomen illud, a plurimis nebulonibus jamdiu gestatum,
tritum, inquinatum, nunc infame est.

Cum jam Parisiis ageret, libellum scripsit De Cive, quem
edidit anno 1646, quo tempore, praevalcntibus Parlamen-
tariis, multi eorum qui partes regis sequuti erant, et in illis
princeps Walliae (qui nunc est rex Angliae), Parisiis con-
fluxcrunt. Statuerat circa idem tempus, * hortatu amici
cujusdam nobilis Languedociani, migrare in Languedociam,
et praemiserat jam quae sibi necessaria erant, sed com-
mendatus principi ut elementa IMathematicae illi praelegeret,
sybstit(it) Parisiis.

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 23'.

398

Aubreys 'Brief Lives'

Quod ab hoc munere temporis habuit vacui consumpsit
in scribendo librum qui nunc non solunn in Anglia sed in
vicinis gentibus notissimus est, nomine Leviathan ; quern
etiam in Anglia edendum curavit, ipse manens adhuc
Parisiis, anno 1651, annum agens 63™. In eo opere jus
regium turn spirituale tum temporale ita demonstravit tum
rationibus tum authoritate scripturae sacrae, ut perspicuum
fecerit pacem in orbe Christiano nusquam diuturnam esse
posse nisi vel doctrina ilia sua recepta fuerit vel satis mag-
nus exercitus cives ad concordiam compulerit : opus ut ille
sperabat concivibus suis, praesertim vero illis qui ab epi-
scopis steterant, non ingratum. Ouanquam enim unicuique,
illo tempore, scribere et edere theologica quae vellet liberum
erat, quia r^imen ecclesiae (potestate declarandi quae
doctrinae essent haereses, ipsius regis authoritate sublata.
episcopis exutis, rege ipso trucidato) tum nullum erat, dili-
genter tamen cavit ne quid scriberet non modo contra
sensum scripturae sacrae sed etiam contra doctrinam
ecclesiae Anglicanae quails ante bellum ortum authoritate
regia constitiita fuerat. Xam et ipse regimen ecclesiae per
episcopos prae caeteris formis omnibus semper approbaverat.
atque hoc duobus signis manifest J m fecit. Primo, cum in
oppido Sti. Germani prope Parisios morbo gravissimo lecto
affixus esset, venit ad eum Mersennus, rogatus a quodam
amico communi ne amicum suum extra ecclesiam Romanam
mod pateretur. Is lecto assidens (post exordium conso'a-
torium) de potestate ecclesiae Romanae peccata remittendi
aliquantisper disseruit. cui ille ' Mi pater,' inquit. ' haec
omnia jamdudum mecum disputavi, eadem disputare nunc
molestum erit : habes quod dicas amoeniora, — quando
vidisti Gassendum ? ' Ouibus auditis, Mersennus sermonem
ad alia transtuHt. Paucis post diebus accessit ad ilium
Dr. Johannes Cosenus, episcopus f postj Dunelmensis.obtulit-
que se illi comprecatorem ad Deum. Cui ille cum gratias
reddidisset; ' Ita/ inquit, ' si precibus praeiveris juxta ritum
ecclesiae nostrae.' Magnum hoc erga disciplinam episcopa-
lem signuni erat reverentiae.

Anno 1651 exemplaria aliquot illius libri, Londini recens

Thomas Hobbes

399

editi, in Galliam transmissa sunt, ubi theologi quidam
Angli doctrinas quasdam in illo libro contentas, turn ut
haereticas turn ut partibus regiis adversas, criminati sunt ;
et valuere quidem aliquamdiu calumniae illae in tantum ut
domo regia prohibitus fuerit. Quo factum est ut, protec-
tione regia destitutus, metuensque ne a clericis Romanis,
quos praecipue laeserat, male tractaretur, in Angliam cona-
tus sit refugere.

Rediens in Angliam concionantes quidem invenit in
ecclesiis sed seditiosos ; etiam preces extemporarias, et illas
audaces et nonnunquam blasphemas ; symbolum autem
fidei nullum, decalogum nullum ; adeo ut per tres primes
menses non invenerit quibuscum in sacris communicare
potuerit. Tandem ab amico ductus ad ecclesiam a suo
hospitio * plusquam mille passus distantem ubi pastor erat
vir bonus et doctus, qui et coenam Domini ritu ecclesiastico
administravit, cum illo in sacris communicavit. Alteram
hoc signum erat non modo hominis partium episcopalium
sed etiam Christiani sinceri ; nam illo tempore ad ecclesiam
quamcunque legibus aut inctu cogebatur nemo. Quae
igitur episcopo cuiquam cum illo causa irae esse potuit,
nisi ei qui neminem a se dissentire pati per superbiam
posset ?

Interea doctrinam ejus academici et ecclesiastici condem-
nabant fere omnes ; laudabant nobiles, et viri docti, ex
laicis. Refellebat nemo : conati refellere, confirmabant.
Scripsit enim non ex auditione et lectione ut scholaris, sed
ex judicio proprio cognita et pensitata omnia, sermone
puro et pcispicuo, non rhetorico. Stantem inter amicos et
inimicos quasi in aequilibrio, fecerunt illi ne ob doctrinam
opprimeretur, hi, ne augeretur. Itaque fortuna tenui, fama
doctrinae ingenti, in patroni sui, comitis Devoniac, hospitio
per caeterum vitae tempus perpetuo delituit, studio vacans
geometriae et philosophiae naturalis ; ediditque jam senex
librum quendam quem inscripsit De Corporc, continentem
Logicae, Geometriae, Physicae (turn sublunaris, turn coeles-
tis) fundamenta, deducens Logicam quidem a signihcatione

f * MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 24.

400 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

iiominum, Geometriam autem et Physicam ex figurarum
et effectuum naturalium generationibus.

Hominis ergo neque genere neque opibus neque negotiis
belli aut pads assueti vitam scribo et in publicum emitto,
sed in omni genere scientiae excellentis et fere singularis.
Cujus ingenium ut cognoscerent, partim etiam ut sua osten-
tarent, convenerunt (ad) eum viri innumeri turn nostrates
turn exteri, et inter illos nonnulli legati principum aliique
viri nobilissiini ; adeo ut conjectura inde facta de voluntate
hominum eruditorum qui posthac erunt, non ingratum fore
posteritati existimavi si quern vidisse voluerunt illius vitam
Uteris posteritati tradiderim, praecipue quidem ut quae
scientiis ille primus addidit, deinde etiam caetera vitae ejus
quae a lectoribus desiderari posse videbuntur cognoscerent.

Quae scripsit de jure naturali, de constitutione civitatum,
de jure eorum qui summam habent potestatem, et de
ofticiis civium, in libris Leviathan et De Give (quia domi
forisque nota et maxime celebrata sunt) praetereunda
censeo.

In Physicis causam sensuum, praecipue visus, una cum
doctrina omni optica et natura lucis, refractionis reflectio-
nisque causas naturales, ignotas ante, primus demonstravit,
in libro De Hoviine. Item causas qualitatum sensibilium
nimirum colorum, soni, caloris, et frigoris. Somnia autem
et phantasmata quae antea pro spiritibus et mortuorum
animis habebantur et rudi vulgo terriculamenta erant,
omnia profligavit. Causam autem aestuum marinorum et
descensionis gravium, a motu quodam telluris praecipue
derivavit. Nam phaenomena ilia omnia ad motum refert,
non ad rerum ipsarum potentias intrinsecas neque ad qua-
litates occultas, ut ante ilium omnes physici. De motu
autem in libro De Corpore satis fuse scripsit et profundis-
sime. In Ethicis ante ilium nihil scriptum est praeter
sententias vulgares. At ille mores hominum ab humana
natura, virtutes et vitia a lege naturali, et bonitatem
* maliciamque actionum a legibus civitatum, derivavit. In
iNIathematicis principia geometriae nonnulla correxit ;

* MS. Anbr. 9, fol. 24^.

Thomas Hobbes

401

problemata aliquot difficillima, a summis geometris (ab
ipsis geometriae incunabulis) summo studio frustra quae-
sita, invenit, nimirum haec —

1°. arcui circuli lineam rectam, areae circuli quad-
ratum aequale, exhibere, idque variis methodis — in diversis
libris.

■x". datum angulum dividere in data ratione ;
3°. cubi ad sphaeram rationem invenire— in Problemaiibus
Gcomeiricis.

4°. inter duas rectas datas medias continue proportionales
invenire quotcunque — in Probleinatibus Gcoinctricis.

5°. polygonum regulare describere quotcunque laterum —
in Roseto.

6°. centrum gravitatis invenire quadrantis circuli et
bilinei quod continetur arcu quadrantis et subtenta ejus —
in Roseto.

7°. centra gravitatis invenire paraboli-formium omnium,
in libro De Cor pore.

Haec omnia primus construxit et demonstravit, et prae-
terea alia multa quae (quia legentibus occurrent et minoris
sunt) praetereo.

Facient opinor haec ut vita ejus non indigna videatur
quae tum ad exteros turn ad posteros scientiarum studiosos
transmittatur, praesertim hoc tempore, cum scribuntur
vulgo vitae obscurorum hominum nulla virtute insignium,
desiderante nemine.

Scripsit praeterea, circa annum aetatis suae octagesimum,
historiam belli civilis Anglicani inter regem Carolum
primum et parlamentum ejus, anno . . . ; item ortum
et incrementa potestatis pontificiae, carmine Latino, ver-
suum duflm millium, sed non sinebant tempora ut publica-
rentur.

Silentibus tandem adversariis, annum agens octagesimum,
<pri)mum, Homeri Odyssea edidit a se conversum in
versus Anglicanos, . . . ; deinde, proximo, etiam Iliada ;
denique Cyclometriam, annum agens (. , .)gessimum pri-
mum, integram nondum editam.

Quod ad formam attinet, vultu erat non specioso sed cum
• I. D d

402

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

loqueretur non ingrato. Effigies ejus ad vivum a pictore
excellente descripta, qualis erat anno aetatis suae septuage-
simo, in conclavi regis Caroli secundi consen'atur. Extant
etiam ejusdem imagines ab aliis pictoribus diversis tempo-
ribus factae rogatu amicorum in Anglia non paucae et in
Gallia aliquot.

Natura sua et primis annis ferebatur ad lectionem histo-
riarum et poetarum ; et ipse quoque carmen tentavit, nec
(ut plurimi judicabant) infoeliciter. Postea autem cum in
congressu quodam virorum doctorum, mentione facta de
causa sensionis, quaerentem unum quasi per contemptum
'quid esset sensus? ' nec quemquam audivisset respondentem,
mirabatur qui fieri potuerit ut qui sapientiae titulo homines
caeteros tanto fastu despicerent suos ipsorum sensus quid
essent ignorarent. Ex eo tempore de causa sentiendi saepe
cogitanti, forte fortuna mentem subiit quod si res coiporeae
et earum partes omnes conquiescerent aut motu simili sem-
per moverentur * sublatum iri omnium rerum discrimen
et (per consequens) omnem sentionem, et propterea
causam omnium rerum quaerendam esse in diversitate
motuum : atque hoc principio usus est primo. Deinde, ut
cognosceret varietates et rationes motuum, ad geometriam
cogebatur, et a principiis suis ingenio suo theoremata ilia
quae supra commemoravi foeliciter demonstravit. Tantum
interest inter illos qui proprio genio et illos qui in archivis
veterum aut ad quaestum docentium scientiarum veritatem
quaerunt.

In coUoquiis familiaribus jucundus erat, praeterquam
illorum qui ad ilium venerant disputandi causa contra
ea quae jam ediderat (nec revocari poterant) de jure
summarum potestatum civili aut ecclesiastico ; nam cum
his vehementius aliquando disputabat quam erat neces-
sarium.

Naturaliter apertus erat, et inter adversarios qui multi
potentesque erant innocentia magis quam consilio tutus.

Justiciae erat cum scientissimus, turn tenacissimus. Nec
mirum, cum esset pecuniae neglegentissimus, et pro tenui-

* MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 25.

Wtlliam Holder

403

tate fortunarum suarum ultra modum beneficus. Scd
beneficio patronorum suorum et regis optimi dulcissimique
Caroli secundi satis copiose senex vixit.

William Holder (1616-169!^).

* William Holder \ D.D., the . . . d son* of . . . Holder:
his mother's mayden name was Brudenell. He was borne
the ... in Nottinghamshire ; went to schoole at ... ;
went to Pembroke-hall in Cambridge, where he had
a Greeke-scholar's place. Anno (163s), Artium Bacca-
laureus ; anno (1640) Artium Magister.

About 1640, he maried . . . the . . . daughter of
(Christopher) Wren, deane of Windsore and rector of
Knowyll in Wiltshire.

Anno Domini 1642, had his institution and induction for
the rectorie of Bletchington in com. Oxon.

In the troublesome times he was with his father-in-lawe
Wren at the garrison of Bristowe. After the surrender of
it to the Parliament, he lived . . . j'ear at Knowyll
with him.

Anno about 1 646 ^ he went to Bletchington to his
parsonage, where his hospitality and learning, mixt with
great courtesie, easily conciliated the love of all his
neighbours to him. The deane came with him thither,
and dyed and is buryed there.

He was very helpful! in the education of his brother-in-
law, Mr. Christopher Wren (now knighted), a youth of
a prodigious inventive witt, and of whom he was as tender
as if he had been his owne child, who** gave him his first
instructions in geometrie and arithmetique, and when he
was a young scholar at the University of O.xford, was
a very necessary and kind friend.

The parsonage-house at Bletchington was Mr. Christopher
Wren's home, and retiring-place ; here he contemplated,
and studied, and found-out a great many curious things

* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 87'. <^ Subst. for ' 1647.'

* i.e. 2nd (or 3rd) son. Subst. for 'whom he instructed
'hall,' subst. for ' Colledge.' first in.'

D d 2

4

404

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives*

in mathematiques. About this house* he made severall
curious dialls, with his owne handes, which are still there
to be seen. Which see, as well worthy to be seen.

But to returne to this honest worthy gentleman — he is
a good poet. I have some very good verses (about loc)
in Latin on St. Vincent's-rocks and the hott-well, neere
Bristowe. He is very musically both theorically and
practically, and he had a sweet voyce. He hath writt an
excellent treatise of musique, in English, which is writt
both dociis et iudoctis, and readie for tlie presse. He is
extremely well qualified for his * place, of Sub-Deane of
the King's Chapell, to which he was preferred anno
167(4), as likewise of the Sub-Almoner, being a person
abhorring covetousnes, and full of pitty

Anno 16- (vide his ...)... Popham (the only son of
. . . Popham, admirall for the Parliament), being borne
deafe and dumbe'', was sent to him to learne to speake,
which he taught him to doe : by what method, and how
soon, you may see in the Appendix concerning it to his
Elements of Speech, 8vo, London, printed (1669). It is
a most ingeniose and curious discourse, and untouched by
any other ; he was beholding to no author ; did only
consult with nature. This booke I sent to Mr. Anthony
Lucas, at Liege, who very much admires it and I have
desired him to translate it into French. Dr. John Wallis
unjustly arrogates the glory of teaching the sayd young
gentleman to speake, in the Philosophical Transactions,
and in Dr. Robert Plott's History of Oxfordshire ; which
occasioned Dr. Holder to write a . . . against him, a
pamphlet in 4to, 167-.

He has good judgement in painting and drawing.

In anno (1652) he was made a prebendary of Ely.
Anno (1663) had the parsonage of (Northwold) in

He is a handsome, gracefull person, and of a delicate

Norfolk.

' Subst. for ' Here.'
* MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 88.
Anthony Wood notes here —

' upon . . . Jones his death.'
Dnpl. with ' bowells.'
^ See p. 378.

William Holder

405

constitution, and of an even and smooth temper ; so that,
if one would goe about to describe a perfect good man,
would drawe this Doctor's character. Of a just stature ;
grey eie ; tall and well-sett ; sanguine ; thin skin ; roundish
face ; gracefuU elocution ; his discourse so gent, and
obligeing ; cleer reason.

They say that moruni similitudo conci(^li')at amicitiain ;
then it will not be found strange that there should be such
a conjunct friendship between this worthy gentleman and
the right reverend father in God, Seth Ward, lord bishop
of Sarum, his coetanean in Cambridge.

It ought not to be forgott the great and exemplary love
between this Doctor and his vertuose wife, who is not lesse
to be admired, in her sex and station, then her brother
Sir Christopher ; and (which is rare to be found in a woman)
her excellences doe not inflate her. Amongst many other
guifts she haz a strange sagacity as to curing of wounds,
which she does not doe so much by presedents and reciept
bookes, as by her owne excogitancy, considering the causes,
effects, and circumstances. His majestic king Charles II,
J 67-, had hurt his . . . hand, which he intrusted his
chirurgians to make well ; but they ordered him so that
they made it much worse, so that it swoll, and pained him
up to his shoulder ; and pained him so extremely that he
could not sleep, and began to be feaverish. . . . told the
king what a rare shee-surgeon he had in his house ; she
was presently sent for at eleven clock at night. She
presently made ready a pultisse, and applyed it, and gave
his majestic sudden ease, and he slept well ; next day she
dressed him, and in . . . perfectly cured him, to the great
griefe of all the surgeons, who envy and hate her.

Non Illo melior quisquam, nec amantior aequi
Vir fuit : aut Ilia reverentior ulla Deorum.

Ovid. Metam. lib. i.

NoU.

' Anbrey gives the coat, ' sable, a chevron between 3 anchors argent.' Anthony
Wood adds the reference ' vide pag. 65 a,' i. e. fol. 95, of MS. Aubr. 6, in the
life of John Wallis.

4o6 Atibrey's 'Brief Lives'

Hugh Holland (15 1633).

* From Sir John Penrudock : — Hugh Holland, poeta :
he was descended of the family of the earles of Kent, etc.,
and was a Roman CathoHque. The lady Elizabeth Hatton
(mother to the lady Purb(ec)) was his great patronesse
(vide B. Jonson's masque of the Gipsies for these two
beauties).

Sir J(ohn) P(enrudock) asked him his advice as he
was dyeing, (or he then gave it) that, the best rule for him
to governe his life was to reade St. Hierome's Epistles.

He was buried in Westminster Abbey", in the south
crosse aisle neer the dore of St. Benet's Chapell, i. e. where
the earl of Middlesex monument is, but there is no monu-
ment or inscription for him. He was buryed July 23, 1633.

He was of a Lancashire family.

Tho. Holland, earl of Kent (his sonnes, dukes of Surrey),
tempore Rich. 2.

Philemon Holland (1551-1637).

** Philemon Holland was schoole-master of the free-
schoole at Coventrey, and that for many yeares. He made
a great many good scholars. He translated T. Livius,
anno 15-, with one and the same pen, which the lady
. . . (vide at the end of his translation of Suetonius)
embellished with silver, and kept amongst her rare KfL^xi'jXia ^
He wrote a good hand, but a rare Greeke character ;
witnesse the MS. of Euclid's Harmoniques in the library
belonging to the schoole. He translated severall Latin
authors, — e.g. Tit. Livius, Plinii Hist. Natur., Suetonius
Tranquillus : quaere + .

One made this epigram on him :—

' Philemon with 's translations doeth so fill us,
He will not let Suetonius be Tranquillus.'

* MS. Aubr. 8, foL lo. Aubrey
gives the coat, ' azure, semee of fleur-
de-lys, a lion rampant argent [Hol-
land].'

" The words followed ' I thinke ;
quaere de hoc of A. Wood ' ; scored out.
** MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 20'.
«fijw€\ia in M.S.

IVenceslmis Hollar 407

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677).

* Winceslaus Hollar, natus Pragae 23 Julii, st(ilo)
v(etere), 1607, about 8 a.m.

** Winceslaus Hollar, Bohemus, was borne at Prague.

His father was a Knight of the Empire : which is by
lettres patent under the imperiall seale (as our baronets).
I have seen it-'' : the seale is bigger then the broad seale of
England : in the middle is the imperiall coate ; and round
about it are the coates of the Princes Electors. His father
was a Protestant, and either for keeping a conventicle, or
being taken at one, forfeited his estate, and was ruined by
the Roman Catholiques.

He told me that when he was a schoole-boy he tooke
a delight in draweing of mapps ; which draughts he kept,
and they were pretty. He was designed by his father to
have been a lawyer, and was putt to that profession ^ when
his father's troubles, together with the warres, forced him
to leave his countrey. So that what he did for his delight
and recreation only when a boy, proved to be his livelyhood
when a man.

I thinke he stayd sometime in Lowe Germany, then he
came into England, wher he was very kindly entertained
by that great patron of painters and draughts-men (Thomas
Howard) Lord High Marshall, earl of Arundell and Surrey,
where he spent his time in draweing and copying rarities,
which he did etch (i. e. eate with aqua fortis in copper
plates). When the Lord Marshall went ambassador to the
Emperor of Germany to Vienna, he travelld with much
grandeur ; and among others, Mr. Hollar went with him
(very well clad) to take viewes, landskapes, buildings, etc.
remarqueable in their journey, which wee see now at the
print shopps.

He hath donne the most in that way that ever any one
did, insomuch that I have heard Mr. John Evelyn, R. S. S.,

* MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121',
** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 26.

* i. e. Hollar's father's patent.
Subst. for ' was bred up to it.'

4o8

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

say that at sixpence a print his labour would come to
li. (quaere J(ohn E(velyn)). He was very short-
sighted (fjLvoip^), and did worke so curiously that the curiosity
of his worke is not to be judged without a magnifying-
glasse. When he tooke his landskaps, he, then, had a glasse
to helpe his sight.

At Arundel-house he maried with my ladie's wayting
woman, Mrs. . . . Tracy, by whom he haz a daughter,
that was one of the greatest beauties I have seen ; his
son by her dyed in the plague, an ingeniose youth, drew
delicately.

When the civil warres brake-out, the Lord Marshall had
leave to goe beyond seat. Mr. Hollar went

t Italieb. . , ° f, . , , , .,,

mto the Lowe-Countnes, where he stayed till

about 1649.

I remember he told me that when he first came into
England, (which was a serene time of peace) that the people,
both poore and rich, did looke cheerfully, but at his returne,
he found the countenances of the people all changed,
melancholy, spightfull, as if bewitched.

I have sayd before that his father was ruined upon the
account of the Protestant religion. Winceslaus dyed a
Catholique, of which religion, I suppose, he might be ever
since he came to Arundel-howse.

He was a very friendly good-natured man as could be,
but shiftlesse as to the world, and dyed not rich". He
maried a second wife, 1665, by whom he has severall
children. He dyed on our Ladie-day (25 Martii), 1677,
and is buried in St. Margaret's church-yard at Westminster
neer the north west corner of the tower. Had he lived till
the 13th of July following, he had been just 70 yeares old.

John Holywood (11 1256).

* Jo. de Sacro Bosco : — Dr. (John) Pell is positive that
his nam.e was Holybushe.

" for nvaiip. Padua, 1646.

*> Thomas Howard, earl of Arun- " Subst. for ' dyed but poor.'
del, Surrey, and Norfolk, died at * M.S. Aubr. 7, fol. 5".

Thomas Hoode. Robert Hooke 409

Thomas Hoode.

* . . . Hood, M.D. — he practised Physick at Worcester,
and printed a booke in 4to called TJie Gcodeticall Staffe'^.

Robert Hooke (1635-1703).

** Mr. Robert Hooke, curator of the Royall Societie
at London, was borne at Freshwater in the Isle of Wight,
A. D. (1635); his father was minister there, and of the
family of the Hookes of Hooke in Hants.

*** July 19"^ 1635, baptized Robert Hooke, the son
of Mr. John Hooke.

**** Mr. Robert Hooke \ M.A.:— his father, Mr. John
Hooke, ***** had two or three brothers all ministers :
quaere Dr. (William) Holder. He was of the family of
Hooke of Hooke in Hampshire, in the road from London to
Saram, a very ancient family and in that place for many
(3 or more) hundred yeares.

****** His father was minister of Freshwater in the Isle

of Wight. He maried , by whom he had two sonnes,

viz. ... of Newport, grocer (quaere capt. Lee) and had
been mayer there, and Robert, second son, who was borne
at Freshwater aforesayd the nineteenth day of July, Anno
Domini 1635 — vide register, et obiit patris.

At . . . yeares old, John Hoskyns, the painter, being
at Freshwater, to drawe pictures for ... . esqre, Mr. Hooke
observed what he did, and, thought he, ' why cannot I doe
so too?' So he getts him chalke, and ruddle, and coale,
and grinds them, and putts them on a trencher, gott a
pencill, and to worke he went, and made a picture : then
he copied " (as they hung up in the parlour) the pictures
there, which he made like. Also, being a boy there, at

* MS. Aiibr. 8, fol. 77'.

» The use of the Jacob"! Staffe.
Lond. 1590.

** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 56" : as also
in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 270'.

*** MS. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 99.

**** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 32.
***** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 29'.
****** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 32.
Corrected by Anthony Wood to
' baptized.'

" Dupl. with ' drew.'

4 1 o A ubreys 'Brief L ives '

Freshwater, he made an . . , diall on a round trencher ;
never having had any instruction. His father was not
mathematical! at all.

When his father dyed, his son Robert was but . . . old,
to whom he left one hundred pounds, which was sent up to
London with him, with an intention to have bound him
apprentice to Mr. Lilly % the paynter, with whom he was
a Httle while upon tryall ; who liked him very well, but
Mr. Hooke quickly perceived what was to be donne, so
thought he, ' why cannot 1 doe this by my selfe and keepe my
hundred pounds?' He also had some instruction in drawe-
ing from Mr. Samuel Cowper (prince of limners of this age);
but whether from him before or after Mr. Lilly quaere ?

Jt^" Quaere when he went to Mr. Busby's, the schoole-
master of Westminster, at whose howse he was ; and he
made very much of him. With him he lodged his C li."
There he learnd to*^ play 20 lessons on the organ. He
there in one weeke's time made himselfe master of the
first VI bookes of Euclid, to the admiration of Mr. Busby
(now S.T.D.), who introduced him. At schoole here he
was very mechanicall, and (amongst other things) he invented
thirty severall wayes of flying, which I have not only
heard him say, but Dr. Wilkins (at Wadham College at
that time), who gave him his Matlieinaticall Magiqiie
which did him a great kindnes. He was never a King's
Scholar, and I have heard Sir Richard Knight (who
was his school-fellow) say that he seldome sawe him in
the schoole.

Anno Domini (16 '8) (vide A. Wood's Aiitiq. Oxon)
he was sent to Christ Church in Oxford, where he had
a chorister's place (in those dayes when the church
musique was putt-downe ^), which was a pretty good
maintenance. He was there assistant to Dr. Thomas Willis
in his chymistry; who afterwards recommended him to

" ? Sir Peter Lely.
^' Subst for ' leanid.'

i. e. £,\oo.
^ Probably 'to play, (in) 20 les-

sons, on.

" See Clark's Wood's Life and
Times, i. 162, 163.

Robert Hooke

411

the hon''*^ Robert Boyle, esqre, to be usefull to him in
his chymicall operations. Mr. Hooke then read to him
(R. B., esqre) Euch'd's Elements, and made him under-
stand* Des Cartes' Philosophy. He was Master of Arts
anno Domini ....

Anno Domini 166(2) Mr. Robert Boyle recommended
Mr. Robert Hooke to be Curator of the Experiments of
the Royall Society, wherin he did an admirable good worke
to the Common-wealth of Learning, in recommending the
fittest person in the world to them. Anno (1664) he was
chosen Geometry * Professour at Gresham College -. Anno
Domini 166— Sir John Cutler, knight, gave a Mechanicall
lecture, . . . pounds per annum, which he read.

Anno Domini 166(6) the great conflagration of London
t (John) Oliver, happened, and then he was chosen one of the
patn'terf was t^^'o survcyors f of thc citie of London ; by
the other. which he hath gott a great estate. He built
Bedlam, the Physitians' College, Montague-house, the Piller
on P'ish-street-hill, and Theatre there ; and he is much
made use of in designing buildings.

He is but of midling stature, something crooked, pale
faced, and his face but little belowe, but his head is lardge ;
his eie full and popping, and not quick ; a grey eie. He
haz a delicate head of haire, browne, and of an excellent
moist curie. He is and ever was very temperate, and
moderate in dyet, etc.

As he is of prodigious inventive head, so is a person of
great vertue and goodnes. Now when I have sayd his
inventive faculty is so great, you cannot imagine his memory
to be excellent, for they are like two bucketts, as one goes
up, the other goes downe. He is certainly the greatest
mechanick this day in the world. His head lies much
more to Geometry then to Arithmetique. He is (1680)
a batchelour, and, I beleeve, will never marie. His elder
brother left one faire daughter which is his heire. In fine
(which crownes all) he is a person of great suavity and
goodnesse.

» Dnpl. with 'and taught him.' * M.S. Aubr. 6, fol. 32*.

412

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Scripsit.

'Twas Mr. Robert Hooke that invented the Pendulum-
Watches, so much more usefull than the other watches.

He hath invented an engine for the speedie working of
division, etc., or for the speedie and immediate finding out
the divisor.

An instrument for the Emperor of Germany, 169I.

* The first thing he pubHshed was — An attempt for the
explication of the phaenomena observeable in the xxxv
experiment of the honourable Robert Boyle, esq., touching
the aire : printed for Sam. Thomson at the Bishop's head
in Paule's churchyard, 1661, 8vo : not now to be bought,
and, though no bigger then an almanack, is a most in-
geniose piece.

The next moneth he published another little 4to pamphlet,
— Discourse of a new instrument he haz invented to make
more accurate observations in astronomy then ever was
**yet made, or could be made by any instruments hitherto
invented, and this instrument (10 or i 2 //. price) performes
more, and more exact, then all the chargeable apparatus
of the noble Tycho Brache or the present Hevelius of
Dantzick.

(In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 30, 31, is this letter from Aubrey to Anthony
Wood, enclosing a communication from Hooke.)

Mr. Wood! September 15, 1689.

Mr. Robert Hooke, R.S.S. did in anno 1670, write
a discourse, called, ' An Attempt to prove the motion of
the Earth,' which he then read to the Royal Society ; but
printed it in the beginning of the yeare 1674, a strena^ to
Sir John Cutler to whom it is dedicated, wherein he haz
delivered the theorie of explaining the coelestial motions
mechanically ; his words are these, pag. 27, 28. viz. : —

* Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 270' : May 26, 1674.
** Ibid., fol. 271. » i. e. New Year's gift.

Robert Hooke

413

[' In "the Attempt to prove the motion of the earth, etc.,
printed 1674, but read to the Royall Society, 167 1 : pag.
27, Hne 31 —

' I shall only for the present hint that I have in some of
my foregoing observations discovered some new motions
even in the Earth it self, which perhaps were not dreamt
of before, which I shall hereafter more at large describe,
when further tryalls have more fully confirmed and com-
pleated these beginnings. At which time also I shall
explaine a systeme of the world, differing in many par-
ticulars from any yet known, answering in all things to
the common rules of mechanicall motions. This depends
upon 3 suppositions ; first, that all coelestiall bodys what-
soever have an attractive or gravitating power towards
their own centers, whereby they attract not only their
own parts, and keep them from flying from them, as we
may observe the Earth to doe, but that they doe also
attract all the other coelestial bodys that are within the
sphere of their activity, and consequently that not only the
Sun and the Moon have an influence upon the body and
motion of the Earth, and the Earth upon them, but that
Mercury also, Venus, Mars, Saturne, and Jupiter, by their
attractive powers have a considerable influence upon its
motion, as, in the same manner, the corresponding attrac-
tive power of the Earth hath a considerable influence upon
every one of their motions also. The second supposition is
this, that all bodys whatsoever, that are putt into direct
and simple motion will soe continue to move forwards in
a straight line, till they are by some other effectuall powers
deflected and bent into a motion describing a circle,
ellipsis, or some other uncompounded curve line. The
third supposition is, that these attractive powers are soe
much the more powerfull in operating, by how much nearer
the body wrought upon is to their own centers. Now what
these severall degrees are, I have not yet experimentally
verified.' — But these degrees and proportions of the poiver
of attraction in the celestiall bodys and motions, were com-

* The paragraph encloied in square brackets is Hooke's autograph.

414

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives*

immicated to Mr. Neivton by R. Hooke, in the yeare 1678,
by letters, as will plainely appear both by the coppys of the
said letters, and the letters of Mr. Neivton in answer to
them, which are both in the custody of the said R. H., both
which also were read before the Royall Society at their
pnbliqiie meeting, as appears by the Journall book of the
said Society. — ' But it is a notion which if fully prosecuted,
as it ought to be, will mightily assist the astronomer to reduce
all the coelestiall motions to a certaine rule, which I doubt
will never be done true without it. He that understands the
natures of the circular pendulum and circular motion, will
easily understand the whole ground of this principle, and
will know where to find direction in nature for the true stating
thereof. This I only hint at present to such as have ability
and opportunity of prosecuting this inquiry, and are not
wanting of industry for observing and calculating, wishing
heartily such may be found, having my self many other
things in hand, which I will first compleat, and therefore
cannot soe well attend (to) it. But this I durst promise
the undertaker ; that he will find all the great motions of
the world to be influenced by this principle, and that the
t To 'make a ^ruc Understanding thereof will be the true
orrtXfhim perfection of Astronomy.']
of'"t^rgmvi'ty"to About 9 or 1 o years ago, Mr. Hooke writt to
[hecur^d'Le"'^ Mr. Isaac Newton, of Trinity College, Cam-
made, ^towlu''^ bridge, to make f a demonstration of this
emps'iVin one of thcory, uot telling him, at first, the proportion
was the sun and of the gravity to the distance, nor what was the

that that gravi- iii- 1 1 1 i-bt-^t.

tation would curv d luie that was thereby made. Mr. Newton,

make the . , . , , . ,

aphelion and m his auswer to tuc letter, did expresse that

perihelion iii \ r • i-i-r

opposite to each he had uot knowu of it ; and m his first attempt

other in the same ,.111

diameter uhich about it, he Calculated the curve by supposmg

is the whole ' . ,, ,•

ceiestiaii th.orie thc attraction to bc the same at all distances :

of which Mr.

Newton haz upon which, Mf. Hookc sent, in his next letter,

made a

demonstration, the wliolc of his hypotlicsis, scil. that the
gravitation was reciprocall to the square of the distance,

" The text embodies Hooke's cor- ginal draft is given in the margin,
rections of Aubrey's draft. The ori- Dupl. with ' thought.'

Robert Hooke

415

[•which* would make the motion in an ellipsis, in one of
whose foci the sun being placed, the aphelion and peri-
helion of the planet would be opposite to each other
in the same line, which is the whole coelestiall theory,
concerning which Mr. Newton hath a demonstration,^]
not at all owning he receiv'd the first intimation of it
from Mr. Hooke. Likewise Mr. Newton haz in the same
booke printed some other theories and experiments of
Mr. Hooke's, as that about the oval figure of the earth
and sea : without acknowledgeing from whom he had
them, ['though" he had not sent it up with the other
parts of his booke till near a month after the theory was
read to the Society by Mr. Hooke, when it served to
help to answer Dr. Wallis his arguments produced in the
Royal Society against it.']

Mr. Wood ! This is the greatest discovery in nature
that ever was since the world's creation. It never was so
much as hinted by any man before. I know you will doe
him right. I hope you may read his hand. I wish he
had writt plainer, and afforded a little more paper.

Tuus,

J. Aubrey.

Before I leave this townc, I will gett of him a catalogue
of what he hath wrote ; and as much of his inventions as I
can. But they are many hundreds ; he believes not fewer
than a thousand. 'Tis such a hard matter to get people to
doe themselves right.

A'oles.

' Aubrey gives in trick tire coat : ' quarterly, argent and sable a cross
between 4 escallops all counterchanged [Ilooke].'

* Aubrey used Hooke's rooms in Gresham College as the place to which he had
his letters addressed. E.g. MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 55, is an envelope addressed : —

' To his much honoured friend John Au brey, esqre, these present, at Mr.
Hooke's lodgeings in Gresham College, London.'

M.S. Aubr. 8, fol. 48, is an enveloi)e addressed—

'For Mr. John Aubrey: leave these at Mr. Hooke's lodging in Gresham
College.'

' The words in square brackets are Hooke's autograph, added at the time
he made the corrections above.

4i6 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

' ' Mris. Grace Hooke, bome at Ne\rport in the Isle of Wight 2^° Maii, at
S*" P.M.; she is 15 next May, sell. 1676. . . . Her father died by suspending
him selfe, anno . . . ' : MS. Anbr. 23, fol. 56'.

Charles Hoskyns (1584-1609).

* Charles Hosk\-ns was brother to the Serjeant and the
Doctor ; a ver>- ingeniose man, who would not have been
inferior to either but killed himself with hard study.

Note.

Charles Hoskins, of 'Lenwame' parish, Hereford, was admitted probationer
July 26, 1604, and fellow of Xew College in i6c6; took KA. April 13, 1608 ;
and died in 1609.

John Hoskyns (i 566-1 638).

** John Hoskyns^, serjeant-at-lawe, was borne at Mounck-
ton in the parish of (Llanwarne) in the com. of Hereford,
A° D°' <io66> [on» St. Mark's day].

Mounckton belonged to the priorj- of Llantony juxta
Glocester, where his ancestors had the office of cupbearer
(or ' pocillator ') to the prior. I have heard there was
a windowe given by one Hoskyns there, as b}- the inscription
did appeare.

Whither the serjeant were the eldest brother^ or no,
I have forgott ; but he had a brother, John D.D., a learned
man, rector of Ledbur\- and canon of Hereford, who, I thinke,
was eldest, who was designed to be a scholar, but this John
(the Serjeant) would not be quiet, but he must be a scholar
too. In those dayes boyes were seldome taught to read
that were not to be of some learned profession. So, upon his
instant importunity, being then ten yeares of age, he learned
to reade, and. at the yeare s end. entred into his Greeke
grammar. This I have heard his sonne, Sir Benet Hoskyns,
knight and baronett. several! times say.

He was of a strong constitution, and had a prodigious

* Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39,
fol. 142 : Oct. 27, 1671.

•* Aubrey in MS. Rawl. D. 737,
fol. 93-

» Added by Anthony Wood, from

a letter of Aubrey's (MS. Wood F. 39,
fol. 135').

' He was the eldest,' is added by
Anthony Wood.

John Hoskyns

417

memorie. At . . . yeares old, he went to Wiiiton schole,
where he was the flower of his time. I remember I have
heard that one time he had not made his exercise (verse)
and spake to one of his forme to shew him his, which he sawe.
The schoolmaster presently calles for the exercises, and
Hoskyns told him that he had writ it out but lost it, but he
could repeate it, and repeated the other boyes exercise
(I think 12 or 16 verses) only at once reading over. When
the boy who really had made them shewed the master the
same, and could not repeate them, he was whipped for
stealing Hoskyns' exercise. I thinke John Owen ^ and
he were schoole-fellowes. There were many pretty stories
of him when a schooleboy, which I have forgott. I have
heard his son say that he was a yeare at Westminster ; and
not speeding there, he was sent to Winton.

The Latin verses in the quadrangle at Winton Colledge *,
at the cocks where the boyes wash their hands, were of his
making, where there is the picture * of a good servant, with
hind's feet, . . . head, a padlock on his lippes, . . ,
The Latin verses describe the properties of a good servant.

When he came to New College, he was Terrae films ;
but he was so bitterly satyricall that he was expelled and
putt to his shifts.

He went into Somersetshire and taught a schole for
about a yeare at Ilchester. He compiled there a Greeke
lexicon as far as M, which I have seen. He maried (neer
there) a rich widowe, [of Mr. Bourne] ; she was a Moyle of
Kent ; by whome he had only one sonne and one daughter.

[After his mariage] he admitted himselfe at the Middle
Temple, London. He wore good cloathes, and kept good
company. His excellent witt gave him letters of com-
mendacion to all ingeniose persons. At his * first comeing
to London he gott acquainted with the under-secretaries at
court, where he was often usefull to them in writing their
Latin letters.

His great witt quickly made him be taken notice of.

* Dupl. with 'emblem.' Scored out.

* MS. Rawl. D. 727, fol. 93'.

I. E e

4i8

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

Ben: Johnson called him father. Sir Benet (bishop Benet*
of Hereford was his godfather) told me that one time
desiring Mr. Johnson to adopt him for his sonne, ' No,'
said he, ' I dare not ; 'tis honour enough for me to be your
brother : I was your father's sonne, and 'twas he that polished
me.' In shorte, his acquaintance were all the witts then about
the tow'ne ; e. g. Sir Walter Raleigh, who was his fellow-
prisoner in the Tower, where he was Sir Walter's Aristarchus
to reviewe and polish Sir Walter's stile ; John Donne, D.D. ;
John Owen, (vide Epigr. i —

Hie liber est mundus : homines sunt, Hoskine, versus :
Invenies paucos hic ut in orbe bonos ;)

(Richard) Martyn, recorder of London ; Sir Benjamin
Ruddyer, with whom it was once his fortune to have a
quarrell and fought a duell with him and hurt him in the
knee, but they were afterwards friends again ; Sir Henry
Wotton, provost of Eaton College ; cum multis aliis.

His conversation was exceedingly pleasant, and on the
roade he would make any one good company to him. He
was a great master of the Latin and Greke languages ;
a great divine. He understood the lawe well, but worst
at that.

He was admitted at the Middle Temple anno . . • ;
called to be a serjeant at lawe anno (1623) (vide (Sir
William Dugdale's) Origines Juridiciales).

His verses on the fart in the Parliament house are
printed in some of the Dfolleries. He had a booke of
poemeS: neatly written by one of his clerkes, bigger then
Dr. Donne's poemes, which his sonn Benet lent to he knowes
not who, about 1653, and could never heare of it since.
Mr. Thomas Henshawe haz an excellent Latin copie in
rhythme in the prayse of ale of his.

He was a very strong man and active. He did the
pomado in the saddle of the third horse in his armour
(which Sir John Hoskins haz still) before William, earle
of Pembroke. He was about my heighth.

■ Robert Bennet, bishop of Hereford 1602-16 17.

John Hoskyns

419

He had a very readie witt, and would make verses on
the roade, where he was the best company in the world.
In Sir H. Wotton's Reniaynes are verses (dialogue) made
on the roade by him and Sir Henry. He made an antheme
(gett it) in English to be sung at Hereford Minster at the
assizes ; but Sir Robert Harley (a great Puritan) was much
offended at it. He made the epitaph on (Peter) Woodgate
in New College cloysters. He made the best Latin epitaphs
of his time ; amongst many others an excellent one on
(Sir Moyle) Finch, this earl of Winchelsey's grandfather,
who haz a noble monument at Eastwell in Kent.

I will now describe his seate at Morhampton (Hereff.).
which he bought of . . .

* At the gate-house is the picture of the old fellowe
that made the fires, with a block on his back, boytle and
wedges and hatchet. By him, this distich : —

Gratus ades quisquis descendis, amicus et hospes :
Non decet hos hutniles mensa superba Lares.

By the porch of the howse, on the wall, is the picture in
the margent : —

Above it are these verses : —

Stat coelum, fateor, Copernice ; terra movetur ;
Et mutant dominos tecta rotata suos.

* MS. Rawl. D. 727, fol. 94.
E e 2

420 Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

In the chapelle, over the altar, are these two Hebrewe
words viz. : —

T : IT T ; ; — |X ;

and underneath this distich (i Reg. 8. 30) : —

Hac quicunque orat supplex exoret in aede,
Nec pereant servis irrita vota tuis.

Here is an organ that was queen Elizabeth's.

In the gallery (is) the picture of his brother ((the)
Doctor) in the pulpit, (of the) Serjeant in his robes, the
howse, parke, etc. ; and underneath are these verses : —

Est casa, sunt colles, lateres'', vivaria*^, lymphae,
Pascua, sylva, Ceres <i : si placet, adde preces^.

In the garden, the picture of the gardiner, on the wall
of the howse, with his rake, spade, and water-pott in his
left hand. By it. this distich : —

Pascitur et pascit locus hie, ornatur et omat :
I stud opus nondum lapsus amaret Adam.

In the first leafe of his fee-booke he drew the picture of
a purse as in the margent,

and wrote

underneath, out of Theocritus.

» ' And when thou hearest, forgive.' i Kings viii. 30.
*> Aubrey adds the interpretation : — ' quarries.'
e ' Parke.' ' Har\-est.' » ' Chapelle.'

John Hoskyns 421

On his picture in the low gallery are writt on his deske
these verses, viz. : —

Undecies senos exegi strenuus annos,

Jam veniet nullo mors inopina die;
Quae dixi, scrips!, gessive negotia, lusus,

Obruat aeterno pax taciturna sinu.
Si quid jure petunt homines, respondeat haeres,

Dissipet ut cineres nulla querela meos.
* Quodque Deo, decoctor iniquus, debeo, solve,

Quaeso, Fidejussor, \ ^^"S^'"^ | ^ Christe, ] | •
( nomme ) ( meo )

These verses with a little alteration are sett on his
monument.

Under severall venerable and shady cakes in the parke,
he had seates made ; and where was a fine purling spring,
he did curbe it with stone.

This putts me in mind of Fr. Petrarch's villa in Italic,
which is not long since printed, where were such devises —
vide Tomasini Petrarcha redivhnis, Lat., Amsterdam, lamo.

Besides his excellent naturall memorie, he acquired the
artificiall way of memorie.

He wrote his owne life (which his grandsonne Sir John
Hoskyns, knight and baronet, haz), which was to shew
that wheras Plutarch, etc., had wrote the lives

of many generalles, etc., grandees, that he, or an active
man might, from a private fortune by his witt and Industrie
attained to the dignity of a serjeant-at-lawe — but he should
have said that they must have parts like his too. — This
life I cannot borrowe.

He wrote severall treatises. Amongst others : —
a booke of style ;
a method of the lawe (imperfect).

His familiar letters were admirable.

He was a close prisoner in the Tower, tempore regis
Jacobi, for speaking too boldly in the Parliament house
of the king's profuse liberality to the Scotts. He made
a comparison of a conduit, whereinto water came, and

* MS. Rawl. D. 727, fol. 94',

422

Aubrey s 'Brief Lives'

ran-out afarre-off. ' Now,' said he, ' this pipe reaches as
far as Edinborough.' He was kept a ' close prisoner '
there, i. e., his windowes were boarded up. Through a
small chinke he sawe once a crowe, and another time, a
kite ; the sight whereof, he sayd, was a great pleasure to
him. He, with much adoe. obtained at length the favour
to have his little son Bennet to be with him ; and he then
made this distich, viz.: —

Parvule dum puer es, nec scis incommoda linguae,
Vincula da linguae, vel tibi vincla dabit.

Thus Englished by him : —

My little Ben, whil'st thou art young,
And know'st not how to rule thy tongue.
Make it thy slave whil'st thou art free,
Least it, as mine, imprison thee.

* I have heard that when he came out of the Tower, his
crest (before expressed) was graunted him, viz., ' a lyon's
head couped or, breathing fire.' The serjeant would say
jocosely that it was the only lyon's head in England that
tooke tobacco.

Not many moneths before his death (being at the assises
or sessions at Hereford) a massive countrey fellowe trod on
his toe, which caused a gangrene which was the cause of
t Mr Dighton death. One Mr. Dighton f of Glocester (an
say'that'he""^^ experienced chirurgian who had formerly been
observd^in the cliirurgiau in the warres in Ireland) was sent
!hoI'e"mIn\Var' ^"i"^ ^'^^^ '> t)ut his skill and care could

wenrhes'^the'^day ^avc him. His toes Were first cutt-ofif.
bauLyfe either The minister of his parish had a clubbe-foote
Lpouor^ame'"' or fcete (I think his name was Hugh). Said
hatiet'oigitus hc, ' Sir Hugh ' — after his toes were cutt off —
'I must be acquainted with your shoemaker.'

Sir Robert Pye, attorney of the court of wardes, was his
neighbour, but there was no great goodwill between them —
Sir Robert was haughty. He happened to dye on Christ-
inas day : the newes being brought to the serjeant, said
he ' The devill haz a Christmas pye."

* MS. Rawl. D. 727, fol. 95.

John Hoskyns 423

He was a very strong man, and valiant, and an early-
riser in the morning (scil., at four in the morning). He
was black-eyed and had black hayre.

He lies buried under an altar monument on the north
side of the choire of Dowr abbey in Herefordshire.

(In this abbey church of Dowre are two frnsiuvis or
remaynders of mayled and crosse-legged monuments, one
sayd to be of a lord Chandois, th' other, the lord of
Ewyas-lacy. A little before I sawe them a mower had
taken one of the armes to whett his syth.)

On his monument is this inscription : —

Hoc tegitur tumulo totus quern non tegit orbis,

Hoskinus, humani prodigium ingenii,
Usque adeo excoluit duo pugnacissima rerum

Et quae non subeunt numina^ pectus idem,
Pieridum Legumque potens, jucundus honesto

Mixtus, Liticulans Musa, forense melos,
Orando causas pariter pariterque canendo,

Captavit merito clarus utrumque sophos.
Sic dum jura tenens Solymorum et gentis Idumae,

Narratur cythara percrepuisse David ;
* Talem Thebanas^ struxisse Amphiona turres,

Sic indefessa personuisse chely,
Sic populos traxisse truces et agrestjbus antris

Exutos homines consociasse lyra ;
Sic magni pectus divinum arsisse Platonis,

Turn, cum deplorans Astera, jura daret ;
Talem credibile est vixisse Solojia poetam

Et queiscunque datum est et sapere et furere"^.
Sed tu, magne, peris, dum lis certatur utrinque,

Te Astraea suum vultque Thalia suum.
Haec habitat coelis, sed et haec terrestribiis oris,

Ipse tui judex poneris ante Deos;
Scilicet in partes se dividit Hoskinus ambo,

Haec coelo potitur particula, ilia solo.

JCanoro cineri jurisprudentissimi
Parentis pii, memoriae ergo,
K • ■ .

nunc posuit cippum conscriptum marmoreum

flens Benettus, sequiturque Patrem
non passibus aequis.

1638

' nomina ' in MS. *> ' Thebanos ' in MS.

MS. Kawl. D. 727, fol. 95'. <= Subst. for ' vivere.'

424

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

This epitaph was made by Thomas Bonham, of Essex,
esquier.

The Serjeant's epitaph on his wife at Bowe church.
Herifif. :—

Hie Benedicta jacet, de qua maledicere nemo
Cui genus aut virtus vel pia lingua potest:

Bournii et Hoskinii conjux et prolis utrique
Mater erat, Moyli filia, serva Dei.

On Mr. Bourne, his sonne-in-lawe by him : —

Nobilis innocuos transegit Boumius annos
Multa legens, callens plurima, pauca loquens.

Juridicus causis neque se ditavit ^ agendis
Non in habendo locans sed moriendo lucrum.

* Serjeant Hoskins : — Serviens ad legem ; quaere, if (he
was) a knight. His crest (I believe) granted for his bold
spirit, and (I suppose) contrived by himselfe.

Amici (included) Egremund Thynne.
Hie jacet Egremundus Rarus,
Tuendis paradoxis clarus.
Mortuus est, ut hie apparet :
At si loqui posset, hoc negaret.

Was wont to say that all those that came to London
were either carrion or crowes.

** (Memorandum) : — Hoskyns — to collect his nonsense
discourse, which is very good.

A'otes.

' Aubrey gives in trick the coat : — ' parted per pale gules and azure, a
chevron between 3 lions rampant or [Hoskyns] : the crest is a lion's head
crowned or, vomiting flames.*

' John Hoskins. of ' Mownton ' (Monnington on the Wye) in ' Lanwarne '
parish, Hereford, was admitted probationer of New College June 22, 1584, and
Fellow 1586. He was expelled in 1591 ' propter dicteria maledica sab persona
Terrae filii.' This was the Serjeant-at-Law.

John Hoskins, of ' Mownton in Lanwarne parish,' Hereford, was admitted
probationer of New College, Aug. 24, 1 599, and fellow Aug. 24, 1601, and
resigned bis fellowship in 1613. He took D.C.L. in 1613. He died in 1631
(buried at Ledbur)', on August 9). This was ' the Doctor.'

* His step-son, more correctly.
*> ' dicavit ' in MS.

* MS. Anbr. 8, fol. 1 5'.
MS. Aubr. 21, p. 15.

Sir John Hoskyns. Charles Howard 425

^ John Owen ithe 'epigrammatist'), of Armon in Carnarvonshire, was
admitted probationer of New College Oct. 20, 1582, and Fellow March 31, 1584.
He resigned his fellowship in 1591.
* Aubrey, writing Oct. 27, 1671, in Wood MS. F. 39, fol. 142, says : —
' At Winton College is the picture of a servant with asses eares and hind's
feet, a lock on mouth, etc., very good hi(er)oglyphick, with a hexastiqne in
Latin underneath. ... It was done by the serjeant when he went to school
there ; but now finely painted. It is at the fountain where the boyes wash
their hands.'

Sir John Hoskyns (1634-1705).

* Sir John Hoskyns, knight, one of the Masters of the
Chancery, borne at Morehampton in the countie of Here-
ford, A.D. . . .

Aug. 3rd, 1 671, the native maryed.

Aug. 20, 1667, the native broke his thigh; Oct. 1671,
the native had another fall which was no lesse dangerous
then the former.

Sir John Hoskyns' eldest son John^, borne at . . ., 14 die
Novembr. 1673, 4^ 48' A.M. Obiit . . . 1684.

Mris Jane Hoskyns, daughter of Sir John Hoskyns of
Morhamton, Hereff., borne at Harwood in com. praedict.
March the and, about 6 a clock in the morning, A.D.
167I.

** Gazette de Londres : — Jean Hoskins, esq., honore du
titre de chevalerie et I'un de maitres ordinaires de la
cancellerie 30 Janvier 1675.

Note.

' In MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 63, is a letter to Aubrey from Sir John Hoskyns,
dated Nov. 15, 1673, announcing the birth of this son on Nov. 14, 4'' 48' a.m., and
asking him to send to H. C, i.e. Henry Coley the astrologer.

Charles Howard (16 16-).

*** Charles Howard, eldest son of the honourable Charles
Howard of Norfolke, borne 1664 (old style) on a Thursday
between 3 and 4 of the clocke in the morning, the last day
of March, London. Obiit May 5th 1677, of the small pox.

Henry Howard, second son, borne 1668, between 8 and

* MS. Aubr. 23, notes in foil. 65, ** MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 102.
65'. 67, 67'. *** MS. Aubr. 23, slips at fol. loo^

426

Aubrey's 'Brief Lives'

9 in the morning, being Sunday 18 of Oct., St. Luke's
day.

Thomas Howard, 3rd son, born 12 of July, between one
and 2 in the morning, 1670, being Thursday. Obiit, All
Saints (day), twelvemonth after his birth.

Elizabeth Teresa Howard borne the 6 of April, being
Easter Eve, 22 minutes after 9 of the clock in the evening.
Obiit August i2-moneth after her birth.

Robert Hues (i 553-1632).

* My cosen Whitney, a parson, quondam Aeneinas., told
me that Hues de Globis was of that house * ; which I put
downe in the margent of the Oxford book ^.

** Mr. Ashmole thinkes that Robert Hues was of Christ
Church. Perhaps he might be of St. Mary Hall too — for
so my old cosin Whitney told me by tradition.

*** Hues de Globis : — I have heard my old cosen parson
Whitney say — an old fellow of Brasennose (dyed J2 yeares
since, aetat. 78 or 9) — (that) he was of St, Mary Hall.

Edward Hyde, earl of Clarendon (160I-1674).

**** Edward Hyde, earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor of
England, was borne at Dinton in com. Wilts., anno Domini
1608, Febr. 16, as this earle thinkes. He told me he has
his father's life written by himselfe, but ^tis not fitt so soon
to publish it.

***** I thinke I told you that this earl of Clarendon told
me his father was writing the history of our late
times. He beginns with king Charles ist and brought it
to the restauration of king Charles H, when, as he was
writing, the penne fell out of his hand : he took it up

* Anbrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.
234: Nov. 15, 1673.

* Wood notes here, ' quaere ' : see
the corrections in the next paragraphs.

''i.e. the Oxford 1663 edition of
the Be globis.

** Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol.

237: Nov. 30, 1673.

*** Ibid., fol. 343': Aug. 7, 1680.

**** MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 2.
Henry, 2nd earl.

***** Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39,
fol. 366 : June 24, 1682.

Edtvard Hyde

427

again to write : it fell out again. So then he percieved he
was attacqued by death, scilicet, the dead palsey. — They
say 'tis very well donne : but his Sonne will not print it.

* I advertised you, in my last, of a booke printed
newly by . . . Royston, viz. ' A vindication of Dr. Stilling-
fleet against Dr. Cressy, writt by a person of honour.' Mr.
Royston assures me the earl of Clarendon is the author.

** The place of the Lord Chancellor Hyde's birth
is Dinton, four miles from Chalke.

. . . Hyde,
of Hatch.

I

' i '
Ecixvard.
I

No sonn :
a daughter
and heire.

Laiiretice Hyde,

of Hatch (a hamlet), Wilts. ; came out of Cheshire ; the third son
of Robert Hyde, prout per inscription at Tisbury Church.

I

Sir Laurence

Hyde, of
Hele, W^ilts.

^. Sir Nicholas Hyde,
Lord Chief Justice
of the King's Bench.

4. ... (I thinke, Robert) Hyde of
Purton neer Highwortli : lie
then rented this estate at Dinton
of his brother Sir Laurence.
I

Lord Chancellor Hyde.

sme
prole.

2. Sir Robert
Hyde, Lord
Chief Justice
of the King's
Bench ; sine
prole.

3. (Alexander
Hyde ),
bishop of
Sarum.

I

Robert.
No child living.

I

4 ,

LL. Dr.
sine
prole.

consul ;

6. (James
Hy.le),

beheaded; M.D.,prin-

sine
prole.

cipal of
Magdalen
Hall.
I

I I

* Ibid., fol. 250: Jan. i,

** Ibid., fol. 365: June 24, 1O82

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