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Title: Brief Lives, Vol. 1

Author: John Aubrey

Editor: Andrew Clark

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Most recently updated: October 24, 2024

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIEF LIVES,
VOL. 1 ***

AUBREY'S 'BRIEF LIVES'
ANDREW CLARK
VOL. I.
HENRY FROWDE, M.A.
PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK

JOHN AUBREY: AETAT. 40
From a pen-and-ink drawing in the Bodleian

'Brief Lives,' chiefly of
Contemporaries,
set down by John Aubrey, between
the Years 1669 & 1696

EDITED FROM THE AUTHOR'S MSS.

BY

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

WITH FACSIMILES

VOLUME I. (A-H)

Oxford

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

1898

Oxford
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 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 mentioned 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.

January 4, 1898.

CONTENTS
VOLUME I
Frontispiece: John Aubrey, aetat. 40.
PAGE
Synopsis of the Lives ix-xv
Introduction 1-23
Lives:—Abbot to Hyde 24-427
VOLUME II
Frontispiece: Aubrey's book-plate.
Lives:—Ingelbert TO York 1-316
Appendix I:—Aubrey's Notes of Antiquities 317-332
Appendix II:—Aubrey's Comedy The Countrey Revell 333-339
Index 341-370
Facsimiles At end.
I. Castle Mound, 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.
VI. 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 † indicates the year or approximate year of death; ‡ 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.
Poets.

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

Prose.

Sir John Mandeville (†1372).

Mathematics.

John Holywood (†1256).
Roger Bacon (†1294).
John Ashindon (†13..).

Alchemy.

George Ripley (†1490).

Church and State.

S. Dunstan (†988).
S. Edmund Rich (†1240).
Owen Glendower (†1415).
William Canynges (†1474).
John Morton (†1500).

HENRY VIII—MARY (†1558).

Writers.

Sir Thomas More (†1535).
§Desiderius Erasmus (†1536).

Mathematics.

Richard Benese (†1546).
Robert Record (†1558).

Church and State.

John Colet (†1519).
Thomas Wolsey (†1530).
John Innocent (†1545).
Sir Thomas Pope (†1559).
Edmund Bonner (†1569).

Sir Erasmus Dryden (†1632).

ELIZABETH (†1603).

Writers.

Poets.

Thomas Tusser (†1580).
Edmund Spenser (†1599).
Sir Edward Dyer (†1607).
William Shakespear (†1616).

Prose.

§‡ Petrus Ramus (†1572).
John Twyne (†1581).
Sir Philip Sydney (†1586).
John Foxe (†1587).
Robert Glover (†1588).
Thomas Cooper (†1594).
Thomas Stapleton (†1598).
Thomas North (†1601).
William Watson (†1603).
John Stowe (†1605).
Thomas Brightman (†1607).
John David Rhese (†1609).
Nicholas Hill (†1610).

Mathematics.

James Peele (†15..).
Leonard Digges (†1571).
Thomas Digges (†1595).
John Securis (†...).
Evans Lloyd (†...).
Cyprian Lucar (†...).
Thomas Hoode (†...).
‡ Thomas Blundeville (†16..).
Henry Billingsley (†1606).
§ Ludolph van Keulen (†1610).
John Blagrave (†1611).
Edward Wright (†1615).
Thomas Hariot (†1621).

Sir Henry Savile (†1622).

Chemistry.

Adrian Gilbert (†...).

Zoology.

Thomas Mouffet (†1604).

Alchemy and Astrology.

Thomas Charnocke (†1581).
John Dee (†1608).
Arthur Dee (†1651).

State.

William Herbert, 1st earl of Pembroke (†1570).
William Cecil, lord Burghley (†1598).
Robert Devereux, earl of Essex (†1601).
Sir Charles Danvers (†1601).
George Clifford, earl of Cumberland (†1605).
Thomas Sackville, earl of Dorset (†1608).
? Sir Thomas Penruddock (†...).

Law.

Sir William Fleetwood (†1594).
William Aubrey (†1595).
Sir John Popham (†1607).

Commerce, etc.

Sir Thomas Gresham (†1579).
John Davys, capt. (†1605).
Richard Staper (†1608).

Society.

? ... Robartes (†...).
Elizabeth Danvers (†...).
Sir John Danvers (†1594).
Richard Herbert (†1596).
Edward de Vere, 17th earl of Oxford (†1604).
Sir Henry Lee (†1611).
Silvanus Scory (†1617).
Mary Herbert, countess of Pembroke (†1621).

JAMES I (†1625).

Writers.
Poets.

Francis Beaumont (†1616).
John Fletcher (†1625).
Arthur Gorges (†1625).

Mathematics.

Edward Brerewood (†1613).
John Norden (†1625).
Edmund Gunter (†1626).
Thomas Allen (†1632).
Robert Hues (†1632).
John Speidell (†16..).
‡Thomas Fale (†16..).
‡Thomas Lydiat (†1646).

Astrology.

Dr. Richard Napier (†1634).

Church.

Richard Bancroft (†1610).
John Overall (†1619).

Lancelot Andrewes (†1626).
George Abbot (†1633).
John Davenant (†1641).

State.

Everard Digby (†1606).
Thomas Overbury (†1613).
‡James I (†1625).
William Herbert, 3rd earl of Pembroke (†1630).

Law.

Sir Thomas Egerton, lord Ellesmere (†1617).
Richard Martin (†1618).

Medicine.

... Jaquinto (†16..).
William Butler (†1618).
Francis Anthony (†1623).

Commerce, etc.

Thomas Sutton (†1611).
John Guy (†1628).
John Whitson (†1629).
Sir Hugh Middleton (†1631).
William de Visscher (†16..).
Edward Davenant (†16..).

Inventors.

William Lee (†1610).
... Gregory (†16..).
... Ingelbert (†16..).
... Robson (†16..).

Seamen.

Walter Raleigh (†1617).
‡Thomas Stump (†16..).
Roger North (†1652).

Schoolmasters.

Alexander Gill (†1635).
Martin Billingsley (†16..).

Miscellaneous.

Charles Hoskyns (†1609).
Richard Sackville, 3rd earl of Dorset (†1624).
Sir Henry Lee (†1631).
Simon Furbisher (†16..).
Fulk Greville, lord Brooke (†1628).
Michael Drayton (†1631).
George Chapman (†1634).
Ben Jonson (†1637).
George Feriby (†16..).
‡Benjamin Ruddyer (†16..).

Prose.

Henry Lyte (†1607).
Richard Knolles (†1610).
‡Richard White (†1612).
Thomas Twyne (†1613).
Thomas Coryat (†1617).
Sir Walter Raleigh (†1618).
John Barclay (†1621).
William Camden (†1623).
Nicholas Fuller (†1624).
John Florio (†1625).
Francis Bacon (†1626).
John Speed (†1629).
Thomas Archer (†1630).
John Rider (†1632).

Isaac Wake (†1632).
William Sutton (†1632).
Philemon Holland (†1637).
John Willis (†16..).

CHARLES I (†1649).

Writers.
Poets.

Hugh Holland (†1633).
George Herbert (†1633).
Richard Corbet (†1635).
Thomas Randolph (†1635).
John Sherburne (†1635).
Sir Robert Aiton (†1638).
John Hoskyns (†1638).
Philip Massinger (†1640).
Charles Aleyn (†1640).
Sir John Suckling (†1641).
William Cartwright (†1643).
Henry Clifford, earl of Cumberland (†1643).
George Sandys (†1644).
Francis Quarles (†1644).
William Browne (†1645).
Thomas Goodwyn (†16..).
William Habington (†1654).
John Taylor (†1654).
Sir Robert Harley (†1656).
Richard Lovelace (†1658).
John Cleveland (†1658).
Gideon de Laune (†1659).
James Shirley (†1666).

Prose.

Gervase Markham (†1637).

Robert Burton (†1640).
Sir Henry Spelman (†1641).
W. Chillingworth (†1644).
Rob. Stafford (†1644).
William Twisse (†1646).
Degory Wheare (†1647).
Edward, lord Herbert of Chirbury (†1648).
§Joh. Ger. Vossius (†1649).
Abraham Wheloc (†16..).
Theoph. Wodenote, sen. (†16..).
§René des Cartes (†1651).
... Gerard (†16..).
‡Samuel Collins (†1651).
§Jean L. de Balzac (†1655).
John Hales (†1656).
James Usher (†1656).
Joseph Hall (†1656).
William Harvey (†1657).
Robert Sanderson (†1663).
Sir Kenelm Digby (†1665).

Mathematics.

Henry Briggs (†1631).
William Bedwell (†1632).
Nathaniel Torporley (†1632).
Henry Gellibrand (†1637).
Walter Warner (†1640).
William Gascoigne (†1644).
Charles Cavendish (†1652).
Henry Isaacson (†1654).
Edmund Wingate (†1656).
William Oughtred (†1660).
Franciscus Linus (†16..).
John Tap (†16..).
John Wells (†16..).

Church.

Richard Neile (†1640).
George Webb (†1641).

State.

George Villiers, duke of Buckingham (†1628).
Sir Edward Coke (†1633).
William Noy (†1634).
Richard Boyle, 1st earl of Cork (†1643).
Lucius Cary, earl of Falkland (†1643).
Henry Danvers, earl of Danby (†1644).
Robert Dalzell, earl of Carnwarth (†1654).

Law.

Sir Henry Martin (†1641).
David Jenkins (†1663).

Medicine.

Sir Matthew Lister (†1656).

Art.

Inigo Jones (†1652).

Soldiers.

Charles Cavendish (†1643).
Sir James Long (†1659).
Sir Robert Harley (†1673).
Sir William Neale (†1691).

School and College.

Alexander Gill (†1642).
Ralph Kettell (†1643).

Hannibal Potter (†1664).
Thomas Batchcroft (†1670).

Society.

Elizabeth Broughton (†16..).
Venetia Digby (†1633).

Miscellaneous.

Elize Hele (†1633).
John Clavell (†1642).
? ... Cradock (†16..).

COMMONWEALTH.

Writers.
Poets.

Thomas May (†1650).
Katherine Philips (†1664).
George Withers (†1667).
John Milton (†1674).
Andrew Marvell (†1678).

Prose.

Clement Walker (†1651).
John Selden (†1654).
Walter Rumsey (†1660).
Thomas Fuller (†1661).
William Prynne (†1669).

Mathematics.

Richard Billingsley (†16..).
Samuel Foster (†1652).
Lawrence Rooke (†1662).

Science.

John Wilkins (†1672).

Astrology.

Nicholas Fiske (†16..).

State.

Sir John Danvers (†1655).
Thomas Chaloner (†1661).
Sir William Platers (†16..).
James Harrington (†1677).
Henry Martin (†1680).
Sir Henry Blount (†1682).

Soldiers and Sailors.

Robert Grevill, lord Brooke (†1643).
Robert Blake (†1657).
George Monk (†1671).
Thomas, lord Fairfax (†1671).

Law.

Henry Rolle (†1656).

Medicine.

Jonathan Goddard (†1675).

School.

Thomas Triplett (†1670).

CHARLES II (†1685) and JAMES II.

Writers.

Poets.

Alexander Brome (†1666).
Abraham Cowley (†1667).
Sir William Davenant (†1668).
Sir John Denham (†1669).
Samuel Butler (†1680).
John Wilmot, earl of Rochester (†1680).
John Lacy (†1681).
Martin Lluelyn (†1682).
Edmund Waller (†1687).
Thomas Flatman (†1688).
‡Sir George Etherege (†16..).
Henry Vaughan (†1695).
John Dryden (†1700).

Prose.

Peter Heylyn (†1662).
James Heath (†1664).
Sir Robert Poyntz (†1665).
Thomas Vaughan (†1667).
George Bate (†1668).
John Davenport (†1670).
Vavasor Powell (†1670).
Samuel Hartlib (†1670).
Edward Bagshawe (†1671).
Edward Hyde, earl of Clarendon (†1674).
Sir William Saunderson (†1676).
John Ogilby (†1676).
John Tombes (†1676).
Thomas Whyte (†1676).
Silas Taylor (†1678).
Thomas Stanley (†1678).
John Cecil, 4th earl of Exeter (†1678).
Thomas Hobbes (†1679).
... Barrow (†168.).

... Munday (†16..).
Joseph Glanville (†1680).
Thomas Jones (†1682).
William Stafford (†1684).
Edward Lane (†1685).
Thomas Pigot (†1686).
Richard Head (†1686?).
Sir William Dugdale (†1686).
Isaac Vossius (†1688).
Robert Barclay (†1690).
John Rushworth (†1690).
Fabian Philips (†1690).
Samuel Pordage (†1691).
Elias Ashmole (†1692).
Anthony Wood (†1695).
Henry Birkhead (†1696).
John Aubrey (†1697).
William Holder (†1698).
Richard Blackburne (†17..?).
Thomas Gale (†1702).
‡Sir Edward Sherburne (†1702).
John Evelyn (†1706).
John Philips (†1706).
John Hawles (†1716).
William Penn (†1718).

Mathematics.

Christopher Brookes (†1665).
William Neile (†1670).
Lancelot Morehouse (†1672).
Richard Norwood (†1675).
Isaac Barrow (†1677).
John Newton (†1678).
Francis Potter (†1678).
Sir Jonas Moore (†1679).
‡Richard Alcorne (†16..).

‡Henry Bond (†16..).
Michael Dary (†1679).
William, lord Brereton (†1680).
Edward Davenant (†1680).
Richard Stokes (†1681).
Sir George Wharton (†1681).
Thomas Merry (†1682).
John Collins (†1683).
William, lord Brouncker (†1684).
John Pell (†1685).
Nicholas Mercator (†1687).
Thomas Street (†1689).
Seth Ward (†1689).
John Kersey (†1690).
John Wallis (†1703).
‡John Flamsted (†1719).
‡Isaac Newton (†1727).
Edmund Halley (†1742).

Science.

John Willis (†16..).
John Graunt (†1674).
Robert Boyle (†1691).
Sir Edward Harley (†1700).
Robert Hooke (†1703).
Sir John Hoskyns (†1705).

Astrology.

John Heydon (†166.).
John Booker (†1667).
William Lilly (†1681).
Henry Coley (†1695).
Charles Snell (†16..).
John Gadbury (†1704).
John Partridge (†1715).

Church.

Herbert Thorndyke (†1672).
William Outram (†1679).
Peter Gunning (†1684).
Thomas Pittis (†1687).

State.

Sir Robert Moray (†1673).
Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey (†1678).
Sir Thomas Morgan (†1679).
John Birkenhead (†1679).
William Harcourt (†1679).
Robert Pugh (†1679).
§Jean Baptiste Colbert (†1683).
Anthony Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury (†1683).
Sir Leoline Jenkins (†1685).
‡James, duke of Monmouth (†1685).
Sir William Petty (†1687).
Thomas Osborne, earl of Danby (†1712).

Law.

Sir Matthew Hale (†1676).
George Johnson (†1683).

Medicine.

Thomas Willis (†1675).
Baldwin Hamey (†1676).
Sir Richard Napier (†1676).
Henry Stubbe (†1676).
Thomas Shirley (†1678).
Sir Edward Greaves (†1680).
Sir Robert Talbot (†1681).
William Croone (†1684).
Daniel Whistler (†1684).

Christopher Merret (†1695).
Walter Charleton (†1707).

Art.

Samuel Cooper (†1672).
Wenceslaus Hollar (†1677).
Sir Christopher Wren (†1723).

School.

... Webb (†16..).
Thomas Stephens (†16..).
Arthur Brett (†1677).
Ezerel Tonge (†1680).

Commerce, etc.

Sir Edward Ford (†1670).
Thomas Bushell (†1674).
William Marshall (†16..).
Robert Murray (†1725).
James Bovey (†....).

Society, etc.

Lucy Walters (†16..).
Sir Walter Raleigh (†1663).
Eleanor Ratcliffe, countess of Sussex (†1666).
... Berkeley (†16..).
... Curtin (†16..).
Dorothy Selby (†16..).
Anne, duchess of York (†1671).
Cecil Calvert, lord Baltimore (†1675).
Sir Thomas Billingsley (†167.).
Richard Sackville, 5th earl of Dorset (†1677).
Charles Pamphlin (†1678).
Sir Francis Stuart (†16..).

‡... Aldsworth (†16..).
Sir Robert Henley (†1680).
Sir Thomas Badd (†1683).
... Ralphson (†1684).
Charles Howard (†17..).
Willoughby Bertie (†1760).

AUBREY'S PERSONAL FRIENDS.

I. Of the Old School.

Isaac Lyte (1577-†1660).
Thomas Tyndale (1588-†1671/2).
James Whitney (1593-†166.).
William Beeston (....-†1682).
Deborah Aubrey (1610-†1685/6).
Edmund Wyld (1616-†16..).

II. Contemporaries.

Anthony Ettrick (1622-†1703).
William Morgan (1622-†....).
Ralph Sheldon (1623-†1684).
William Radford (1623-†1673).
Theophilus Wodenoth (1625-....).
George Ent (....-†1679).
John Sloper (....-†....).
Richard Kitson (....-†....).
Sir John Dunstable (....-†....).
Thomas Gore (1632-†1684).
Jane Smyth (1639-†16..).
Thomas Deere (1639-†16..).
... Gwyn (....-†....).
... Yarrington (....-†1684).

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, 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
Antiquitates 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 committing 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[1]:—''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[2], of whom I wrote
a leafe and ½ in folio.' May 22, 1680[3]:—'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[4]:—'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[5] on the suggestion of, and with a desire to
help Anthony Wood.
Among the lives so written were several of mathematicians 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[6].
In the same way, although the bulky life of Thomas Hobbes[7] 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 Auctarium,
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[8]. 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.
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
appearance, 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 information, 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, 1680/1[9]; '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.'

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?
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 very briefly and decidedly.
1, 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 'substituted 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.
(b) I have been careful to give, in every case, Aubrey's own spelling,
with or without final or medial 'e,' with single 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 (wch 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 misleading. 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 sentence, 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 paragraphs 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 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 1679/80;
now marked as containing 122 leaves (some pages blank), but having also a few
unfoliated slips. Aubrey's own short title to it was:—
'Σχεδιάσματα. Brief Lives, part i.,'
and, in his pagination, it contained eighty-six leaves. A rough index of its contents,
by him, is found as foll. 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[10] are not
discoverable in any MS. of his biographical collections—e.g., Richard Alcorne;
<Samuel> Collins, D.D.; Richard Blackbourne, M.D.; <John> Flamsted[11]; Sir
John Hoskins; James Rex; James, duke of Monmouth[12]; Peter Ramus; Benjamin
Ruddier; captain <Edward> Sherburne; captaine Thomas Stump[13]; Richard White.
Possibly Aubrey never wrote the missing lives; but it must be remembered (1) 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.
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.
12v, in a note attached to the nativity of his friend Sir William Petty:—
'Italian proverb—
"E astrologia, ma non é Astrologo,"

i.e. we have not that science yet perfect; 'tis one of the desiderata. 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[14], which the astrologers may rely on, for I have sett
doune none on randome, or doubtfull, information, but from their owne mouthes:
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[15] are two notes in which Aubrey explains its origin and
destination.

(A)—MS. Aubr. 6, fol.[16] 2:—

'Tanquam tabulata naufragii,
Sum Johannis Aubrii, R.S.S.
Febr. 24, 1679/80.
My will and humble desire is that these minutes, which I have hastily and
scriblingly here sett downe, be delivered carefully to my deare and honoured friend
Mr. Anthony à Wood, antiquary, of Oxford.—
Ita obnixe obtestor,

Jo. Aubrey.

Ascenscione Domini,

correptus lipothymiâ, circiter 3 P.M.

1680.'

(B)—MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 12:—

'To my worthy friend Mr. ANTHONIE à WOOD,

Antiquarie of Oxford.

Sir!
I have, according to your desire, putt in writing these minutes of lives tumultuarily,
as they occurr'd 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[17] 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 friendship[18] 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[19], and affords many passages that would raise a blush in
a young virgin's[20] cheeke. So that after your perusall, I must desire you to make a
castration (as Raderus[21] to Martial) and to sowe-on some figge-leaves—i.e., to be
my Index expurgatorius.
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 intelligence
(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 selfe all
along discourseing with you; alledgeing those of my relations and acquaintance (as
either you knew or have heerd of) ad faciendam fidem: so that you make me to
renew my acquaintance with my old and deceased friends, and to rejuvenescere (as
it were) which is the pleasure of old men. 'Tis pitty that such minutes had not been
taken 100 yeares since or more: for want wherof many worthy men's names and
notions[22] are swallowd-up in oblivion; as much of these also would [have[23]
been], had it not been through your instigation: and perhaps this is one of the
usefullest pieces[24] that I have scribbeld.
I remember one sayeing of generall Lambert's, that "the best of men are but men at
the best": of this, you will meet with divers examples in this rude and hastie
collection. 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[25] only belong to the original MS.
The original title may be conjectured to have been:
'Σχεδιάσματα. 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. 1, 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 Athenae, and so save transcription;
or, more probably, that he was 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[26]. 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[27] the
following censure:—
'Ingratitude! This part the second Mr. Wood haz gelded from page 1 to page 44 and
other pages[28] 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. (foll. 1-68 in the present marking) might have been
entitled:—
'Σχεδιάσματα. Brief Lives, part iii.'
On fol. 1 and fol. 3, the short title actually written by Aubrey is:—
ʻ♄
Pars iiitia
1681

ᴊᴬʼ
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 collectarum, anno Domini 1681.
Tanquam tabulata 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 l'air. Les paroles
ont des aisles; vous scavez l'epithete[29] qu'Homère leur donne, et un
poëte Syrien en a fait un espece parmy les oiseaux; de sorte que, si on
n'arreste pas ces fugitives par l'ecriture, elles eschappent fort vistement
à la memoire.
Les Oeuvres diverses du sieur de Balzac, page 43.
Ornari 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,
Ant. Wood.'
As originally made up, this 'Auctarium' contained four leaves at the beginning (for
an index[30]), and leaves foliated 1-38 (of which 12 and 13 are now[31] missing).
The second part[32] of the MS. extends over foll. 69-103 in the present marking.
Aubrey, 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[33]) 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. 8v:—'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[34] 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 of a good Latin stile,
and to adde what is[35] already in his printed booke[36] to these following[37]
minutes.
'I will not meddle with our own writers[38] in the mathematicks 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 intituled <Arthur>
Hopton's Concordance of yeares[39] scilicet:—'

MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 69:—'Sir Edward Shirbourn, somewhere 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. 51v:—'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,
1679/80

Hobbi[40] jucunda senectus,
Cujus erant mores qualis facundia, mite

Ingenium.—
Juvenal, Sat. IV. v. 81.
Extinctus amabitur.—
Horat. Epist. I. lib. 2.
I. A.'
I. A. = Aubrey's initials.
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.
1679/80, and was published in Nov. 1680 (Clark's Wood's Life 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. 1) wrote:—
'The life of
Mr. Thomas Hobbes,
of Malmsbury,
by
Mr. John Aubrey,
Fellow of the Royall Societie,
1679/80.'
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[41] is as follows:—
'Lectori.
'Tis religion to performe the will of the dead; which I here[42] dischardge, with my
promise (1667) to my old friend Mr. T<homas> H<obbes>, in publishing[43] his life
and performing the last office to my old[44] friend Mr. Thomas Hobbes, whom I
have had the honour to know <from> my child-hood[45], being his countreyman
and borne in Malmesbury hundred and taught my grammar by his schoolmaster[46].
Since nobody knew so many particulars of his life as myselfe, he was willing[47]
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 misreports and undecieve
those who are scandalized by....

One sayes[48] that when a learned man dyes, a great deal of learning dyes with him.
He was 'flumen ingenii,' never dry. The recrementa[49] of so learned a person are[50]
valueable[I.]. Amongst innumerable observables of him which had deserved to be
sett downe, these few (that have not scap't[51] my memory) I humbly offer[52] to the
present age and posterity, tanquam tabulam naufragii[II.], and as plankes and lighter
things swimme, and are preserved, where the more weighty sinke and are lost.
And[53] as with the light after sun-sett—at which time, clear[54]; by and by[55],
comes the crepusculum; 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[56], at
last is drowned in oblivion. Which[57] reflection haz been a hint, that by my meanes
many antiquities have been reskued[58], and preserved (I myselfe now inclining[59]
to be ancient[60])—or els utterly lost and forgotten.
[I.] We read that an earthen lamp of a philosopher (quaere nomen) hath been sold for....
[II.] Vide Erasmi Adagia and quaere Dr. <Richard> Bl<ackburne>.

For that I am so minute, I declare I never intended it, but setting downe in my
first[61] draught every particular[62], (with purpose, upon review, to retrench[63]
what was superfluous and triviall), I shewed it to some friends of mine (who also
were of Mr. Hobbes's acquaintance) whose judgments I much value, who gave their
opinion: and 'twas clearly their judgement[64], to let all stand; for though to soome
at present it might appeare too triviall; yet hereafter 'twould not be scorned[65] but
passe[66] for antiquity.
And besides I have precedents of reverend writers to plead, who have in some
lives[III.] recited things as triviall[67], nay, the sayings and actions of good woemen.
[III.] Dean Fell hath recorded his mother's jejune sayings and actions and triviall
remarques of Dr. Hammond in his life, written by him.

I am also to beg pardon of the reader for two long digressions, viz. Malmesbury
and Gorambery; 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[68],

I.
A.'
In MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 28v are two letters by Aubrey, asking advice in connexion with
this life.

i. Aubrey to Anthony Wood.

'To his honoured friend Mr. Anthony à 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 drawes on. Dr. Blackburne
and I will be diligent in it and will doe you all the right[69] 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.
My service to Mr. Pigot. I am, Sir, your affectionate friend and servant,
Jo. Aubrey.

London Feb. 12,
1679/80.
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 handsomest 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[70]"
be the initiall and, as it were, textuall, 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[71] 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.
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[72]?'
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, foll. 93-
96, and have been given here. They were formerly in Anthony Wood's hands: see
Clark's Wood's Life and 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 'Collectio 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[73]
to Thomas Tanner, intimates that his MSS. will show how greatly Wood's Athenae

was indebted to his help, and makes a special request that Wood shall not know that
they have been placed in the Museum.
Beginning[74] 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 153-385, 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 Beaumont, 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, withdrew 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 written by Eminent Persons ... and Lives of Eminent Men
by John Aubrey, Esq. ... from the originals in the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean
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[75] 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?

THE 'LIVES'

George Abbot (1562-1633).
[76]
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.
[77]
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[78]. 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 University, his father not
being able.

Sir Robert Aiton (1570-1638).
[A]
Sir Robert Aiton[79], 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 rege Jacobo in cubicula interiora admissus; in
Germaniam ad imperatorem imperiique principes, cum libello
regio regiae authoritatis vindice, legatus; ac primum Annae,
demum Mariae, serenissimis Britanniarum reginis, ab epistolis,
consiliis, et libellis supplicibus; necnon Xenodochio S'ae
Catharinae praefectus; anima Creatori reddita, hic, depositis
mortalibus exuviis, secundum redemptoris adventum expectat.

Carolum linquens, repetit Parentem;
Et valedicens Mariae, revisit
Annam; et Aulaei decus alto Olympi
Mutat
h
o
n
o
r
e
.

Obiit coelebs in Regiâ Albaulâ, 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 monument:—

Musarum decus hîc, 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 Aristarchus,
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.

Note.

[A] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:—'..., on a cross engrailed between 4 crescents
a rose,' with the motto
'Et decerpta dabunt 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.
[80]
... Aldsworth, mathematical boyes.
[81]
Memorandum:—the patent for the mathematicall blew-coate boyes at
Christ Church in London was dated '19th August in the 25th yeare of the
reigne of king Charles the second' <1673>.

Thomas Allen (1542-1632).
[82]
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[83].
[84]
Thomas Allen—vide Anthony Wood's <Hist. et> Antiq. <Univ.> Oxon.
Mr. Thomas Allen[B] 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 Catholique[IV.] by his
brother the learned Dr. <John> Reynolds, President of Corpus Xti Colledge,
was of Glocester Hall then too. They were both neer of an age, and they
dyed both within 12 monethes one of th'other[C]. He was at both their
funeralls. Mr. Allen came into the hall to commons, but Mr. Reynolds had
his brought to his chamber.
[IV.] Memorandum the Latin verses made on their mutual conversions—which
insert.
Bella inter ... plusquam civilia fratres.

He sayes that Mr. Allen was a very cheerfull, facetious man, and that every
body loved his company, and every howse on their Gaudie-dayes 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 Commonwealth[85] that the great
Dudley, earle of Leicester, made use of him for casting nativities, for he was

the best astrologer of his time. He hath written a large and learned
commentary, 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 meet the spirits comeing up his staires like bees.
One[V.] of our parish[VI.] was of Glocester Hall about 70 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.
[V.] J. Power[D].
[VI.] Kington <S. Michael, Wilts>.

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 Hom Lacy[86] in Herefordshire, at Mr. John Scudamore's
(grandfather to the lord Scudamor), he happened to leave[87] 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[88], and threw it out of the windowe into the mote (to[89] 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[90]),
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[E] B.D.
made his funerall oration in Latin, which was printed. 'Tis pitty there had
not been his name on a[91] stone over him.

[92]
Thomas Allen ... left the house[93] 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.

[B] 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.
[C] Edmund Reynolds died Nov. 21, 1630; Thomas Allen died Sept. 30, 1632.
[D] This will serve to show how imperfectly the names in the Matriculation-
register represent those who actually studied in Oxford. The Matric. register
gives 'Zachary 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).
[E] 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 Oratio funebris
on Allen was publ. London 1632.

Charles Alleyn (obiit 1640?).
[94]
Charles Alleyn, who wrote the Battailes of Agencourt, Poitiers, and
Crescy, was usher to Mr. Thomas Farnaby.

Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626).
[95]
Lancelot Andrewes[F], lord bishop of Winton, was borne in London;
went to schoole at Merchant Taylors schoole. Mr. Mulcaster[G] 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[96] of Pembroke-hall, in Cambridge (called Collegium
Episcoporum, 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 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
the 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 was wont to
doe, and presently take out his full sleep. He did so[97]; came to St.
Marie's[98], where the preacher was prepared with a sermon to damne all
who slept at sermon, a certaine signe of reprobation. The good alderman
having taken his full nap before, lookes 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[99]
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 last[100]
made him bishop of Winchester, which bishoprick he ordered with great
prudence as to government of the parsons, preferring 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
Allington neer 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 alwayes 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 Saintlowe,
merchant of London, have erected (but I beleeve according to his lordship's
will, els they would not have layed out 1000 li.) 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!
[101]
Bishop Andrews: vide the inscription before his Sermons.

Notes.

[F] Aubrey gives the coat:—'See of Winchester; impaling ..., 3 mullets on a bend
engrailed and cottised ...,' ensigned with a mitre or, and encircled by the Garter
motto.
[G] Richard Mulcaster, Head Master of Merchant Taylors' School, 1561-1586.

Francis Anthony (1550-1623).
[102]
Dr. [Francis[103]] Anthony, the chymist, Londinensis, natus 16 Aprilis,
1550, 1h. P.M., Virgo 0° 3´ ascend.
Quaere A<nthony> W<ood> if of Oxon or Cambridge[104].
Scripsit 2 libros, viz.:—Aurum potabile, and his Defense against Dr.
<Matthew> Gwyn (who wrote a booke called Aurum 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[H], scil. 1652.
Vide his nativity in Catalogue[I].
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.

Notes.

[H] Wood notes here 'so that by this reckoning,' i.e. if born in 1550 ut supra, 'he
was 102.'
[I] i.e., I suppose, in MS. Aubrey 23 (Aubrey's Collectio Geniturarum), 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, 1h
P.M.'

Thomas Archer (1554-1630?).
[105]
Mr. Archer, rector of Houghton Conquest, was a good scholar in King
James's (the 1st) 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[106], his successor, to enquire after them, but I find him slow in it.
No doubt there are delicate things to be found there.

John Ashindon (obiit 13—?).
[107]
Johannes Escuidus[108], 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.
[109]
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).
[110]
Memorandum—the lives of John Dee, Dr. <Richard> Nepier, Sir
William Dugdale, William Lilly, Elias Ashmole[111], esq.,—Mr. Ashmole
haz and will doe those himselfe: as[112] he told me formerly but nowe he
seemes to faile.

Deborah Aubrey (1609/10-1685/6).
[113]
Mris. Deborah Aubrey, my honoured mother, was borne at Yatton-
Kaynes, vulgo West-Yatton, in the parish of Yatton-Keynel in com. Wilts.,
January 29th 1609[114], mane.
In a letter from my mother, dated Febru. 3d, 1679/80, 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.
She was taken on the 6th June 1675; feaver there againe in July 1675.
She was borne Jan. 29th, 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 1682/3, my mother writes to me that she is 73
yeares of age.

Note.

She died at Chalk in Jan. 1685/6, 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[115] ...
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:—

' natus 1625/6, March 11th, 17h 14´ 44˝ P.M. ...[116]
(tempus verum), sub latitudine 51° 30´.'
In MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 110, is Charles Snell's calculation of
Aubrey's nativity, on the scheme
'Sunday, 12 Martii 1626, 5h 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.>
[117]
I. A[118].
His life[119] is more remarqueable in an astrologicall respect[J] then for any
advancement of learning[K], having[120] from his birth (till of late yeares)

been labouring under a crowd of ill directions: for his escapes of many
dangers[L], in journeys both by land and water, 40 yeares.
He was borne (longaevous, healthy kindred[M]) at Easton Pierse[N], a hamlet
in the parish of Kington Saint Michael in the hundred of Malmesbury in the
countie of Wilts, his mother's[O] (daughter and heir of Mr. Isaac Lyte)
inheritance, March the 12 (St. Gregorie's day[P]), A.D. 1625[121], 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[122] of
vomiting[Q], for 12 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[123] eremiticall solitude. Was[124] 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[125], was entred in his Latin grammar by Mr. R<obert> Latimer[R],
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[126] 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[127]-in127[127]-house teachers[S] till 1638
(12[128]), at which time I was sent to Blandford schole in Dorset (William
Sutton[129], B.D., who was ill-natured).
Here I recovered my health, and gott my Latin and Greeke, best of any of
my contemporaries. The[130] usher[131] 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[132] by which I gott my Latin. 'Twas a wonderfull helpe
to my phansie, my reading of Ovid's Metamorphy 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[133] of the style, or hints and transitions.
I[134] was alwayes enquiring[T] of my grandfather[135] 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
schoolmaster), to colours, having no body to instruct me[136]; copied
pictures in the parlour in a table booke——like[U].
Blandfordiae, horis vacuis, I drew and painted Bates's ... (quaere nomen
libri[V]).
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[137] was a promising morne
enough of an inventive and philosophicall head. <I had a> musicall head,
inventive, <wrote> blanke verse, <had> a strong and early impulse to
antiquitie (strong impulse to ♄[138]). <My> witt was alwaies working, but
not adroict for verse. <I was> ex<ceeding[139]> mild of spirit; migh<tily>
susceptible of fascination.[140] My idea very cleer[141]; phansie like[142] a
mirrour, pure chrystal water which the least wind does disorder and
unsmooth—so noise or etc. would[143].
[144]
My uncle Anthony Browne's bay nag threw me dangerously the
Monday after Easter[145], 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!
[146]
1642, May 2d, I went[W] to Oxford.
Peace[147].
Lookt through Logique and some Ethiques.
1642, Religio Medici printed, which first opened my understanding, which I
carryed to Eston, with Sir K. D.[148]

But now[149] Bellona thundered, and as a cleare skie is sometimes suddenly
overstretch<ed> with a dismall[150] cloud and thunder, so was this serene
peace[151] by the civill warres through the factions of those times; vide
Homer's Odyssey.
In August[152] following my father sent for me home, for feare.
In February ... following, with much adoe[153] I gott my father to lett me to
beloved Oxon againe, then a garrison pro rege.
I gott Mr. Hesketh, Mr. Dobson's man, a priest, to drawe the ruines of
Osney 2 or 3 wayes before 'twas pulld downe[X]. 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[154], my father sent for me into the country
again: where I conversed[155] with none but servants and rustiques and
soldiers quartred, to my great griefe (Odi prophanum vulgus 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 6th 1646; admitted....
24 June following, Oxon was surrendred, and then came to London many of
the king's party, with whom I[156] grew acquainted (many of them I knew
before). I loved not debauches[157], 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[158]
rosebudds, imbibe the morning dew[159]) 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 165-, Octob. ..., my father dyed, leaving me debts 1800 li. and
bro<thers'> portions 1000 li.
Quid digni feci, hîc process. viam? Truly nothing; only umbrages, sc. Osney
abbey ruines, etc., antiquities. Cos, a wheatstone, exors ipse secandi, e.g.
<my> universall character[160] <: that> which was neglected and quite
forgott and had sunk had not I engaged[161] in the worke, to carry on the
worke—name them[162].
He began to enter into pocket memorandum bookes philosophicall and
antiquarian remarques, Anno Domini 1654, at Llantrithid.
Anno 16—I began my lawe-suite on the entaile in Brecon[Y], which lasted
till ..., and it cost me 1200 li.
Anno —— I was to have maried Mris K. Ryves, who died when to be
maried, 2000 li. +[163], besides counting care of her brother, 1000 li. per
annum.
Anno —— I made my will[Z] 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[164] designe,
which was[165] my ruine.
[166]
My estate (was of) value 100 li. fere + Brecon.
Then debts and lawe-suites, opus et usus, 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.
[167]
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 with the Bath, and in some vice versâ. 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.
[168]
Then lawe-suite with her[169]. Then sold Easton-Peirse[AA], and the
farme at Broad Chalke. Lost 500 li. (Fr. H.) + 200 li. + goods + timber.
Absconded as a banishd man.
Then
In monte Dei videbitur[170].
I was in as much affliction as a mortall could bee, and never quiet till all
was gone, <and I> wholly[171] cast myselfe on God's providence.
Monastery[172].
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 receptacles and provision for
contemplative men; if of 500, but one or two[173]. 'Tis compensated[174].
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 pian piano (as they
occur'd) take[175] notes of antiquity; and having a quick draught, have
drawne landskips on horseback symbolically, e.g. <on my> journey to
Ireland in July, Anno Domini 166-.
<The> earl of Thanet[176] <gave me> otium at Hethefield.
<I[177] had> never quiett, nor anything of happinesse till[178] divested of all,
1670, 1671[AB]: at what time providence raysed me (unexpectedly) good
friends—the right honourable Nicholas, earl of Thanet, with whom I was
delitescent at Hethfield in Kent[AC] neer a yeare, and then was invited ...;
anno ..., Sarney; Sir Christopher Wren; Mr. Ogilby; then Edmund Wyld,
esq., R<egiae> S<ocietatis> S<ocius>, of Glasely-hall, Salop (sed in
margine), tooke me into his armes, with whom I most commonly take my
diet and sweet otium's.
Anno 1671, having sold all and disappointed as aforesaid of moneys I
received, I had so strong[179] an impulse[180] to (in good part) finish my[181]
Description of Wilts, 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[182] ⦻: makes me lethargique.
[183]
<My> stomach <was> so tender that I could not drinke claret without
sugar, nor white wine, but would disgorge. <It was> not well ordered till
1670.
☞ A strange fate that I have laboured under never[184] in my life to enjoy
one entire monethe[VII.] or 6 weekes otium for contemplation.
[VII.] Once at Chalke in my absconding Oct. anno ...; at Weston[185] anno....

My studies (geometry) were on horse back[VIII.], and <in> the house of
office: (my father 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 + a dust basket, some wherof are to be valued.
[VIII.] So I got my Algebra, Oughtred in my pocket, with some[186] information
from Edward Davenant, D.D., of Gillingham, Dorset.

His[187] chiefe vertue, gratitude.
Tacit. lib. IV § xx:—Cneus Lentulus[188], outre l' honneur du consulat et le
triumphes de Getules, avoit la gloire d'avoir vescu sans reproche dans sa
pauverté, et sans orgueil dans son opulence où il estoit parvenu de puis par
de voyes legitimes.
<I was> never riotous or prodigall; but (as Sir E. Leech said) sloath and
carelesnesse[189] <are> equivalent to all other vices.
My fancy lay most to geometrie. 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[190] he gave himselfe to drawing
and painting. At 9, a pourtraiter[191]; and soon was....
Reall character, <things[192] that> lay dead, I caused to revive by engaging
6 or 7 ... fungor vice cotis, etc.
Wheras very sickly in youth; Deo gratias, healthy from 16.

Amici.

A<nthony> Ettrick, Trin. Coll.
M. T.[193]—John Lydall.
Fr<ancis> Potter, of 666[194], C lettres[195].
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, χρονογραφία etc.
Mr. Ch<arles> Seymour, father[196] of the d<uke> of S<omerset>.
Sir Jo<hn> Stawell, M. T.[197]
Bishop of Sarum <Seth Ward>.
Dr. W<illiam> Holder.

Scripsit[198].

'The[199] Naturall History of Wiltshire.'
These 'Lives' (pro AW[200], 1679/80).
'Idea[201] of education of the noblesse,' in Mr. Ashmole's hands.
item, 'Remaynders of Gentilisme,' being observations on Ovid's
Fastorum.
memorandum, 'Villare Anglicanum interpreted.'
item, Faber Fortunae (for his own private use).

I. A. lived most at Broad-chalke in com. Wilts; sometimes at Easton Piers;
at London every terme. Much of his time spent in journeying to South
Wales (entaile[202]) 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[203]☍ old Jairer (?) taverne).
<I> expect preferment <through> Sir Ll. Jenkins[204].
[205]
It was I. A. that did putt Mr. Hobbes upon writing his treatise De
Legibus, which is bound up with his Rhetorique that one cannot find it but
by chance; no mention of it in the first title.
[206]
I have writt 'an Idea of the education of the Noblesse from the age of 10
(or 11) till 18': left with Elias Ashmole, esquire.
[207]
1673[208], die Jovis[209], 5to Martii, 9h 15´ + P.M. J. A. arrested <by> ...
Gardiner, serjeant, a lusty faire-haired solar fellow, prowd, insolent, et
omnia id genus.
[210]
March 25, 1675, my nose bled at the left nostrill about 4h. P.M. I doe
not remember any event[AD].

[211]
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.
[212]
Captain ... Poyntz (for service that I did him to the earle of Pembroke
and the earl of Abingdon[AE]) did very kindly make me a grant of a
thousand acres of land in the island of Tobago, anno Domini 1685/6, Febr.
2d. He advised me to send over people to plant[AF] 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 lunae (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 seale, of six hundred
acres in Pennsylvania[AG], 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.
[213]
John Aubrey[AH], March 20, 1692/3, about 11 at night robbed and 15
wounds in my head.
January 5th, 1693/4, an apoplectick fitt, circiter 4h. P.M.

[214]
Accidents of John Aubrey[AI].

Borne at Easton-Piers, March 12, 1625/6, 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.
I can remember it. I gott not health till 11, or 12: but had sicknesse of
vomiting for 12 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 yeares old, I had an issue (naturall) in the coronall suture of my
head, which continued running till 21.

1634: October[215]: 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 businesse, never permitted me to make any settlement to my
studie.
1651: about the 16 or 18 of April, I sawe that incomparable good
conditioned gentlewoman, Mris M. Wiseman, with whom at first sight I
was in love—haeret lateri[216].
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
Monmouthshire.
This yeare, and the last, was a strange year to me, and[217] of contradictions;
—scilicet love M. W.[218] and lawe-suites.
1656: December: Veneris morbus.
[219]
1657: Novemb. 27, obiit domina Katherina Ryves, with whom I was to
marry; to my great losse.
1658: ...[220]
1659: March or Aprill, like 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 hurt donne.
1661, 1662, 1663: about these yeares I sold my estate in Herefordshire.
...[221]: Janu., had the honour to be elected fellow of the Royal Society.
1664: June 11, 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 1; I made my first addresse (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.
<1667/8>: 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 howres; but did not then goe to triall.
1669[222]: March 5, was my triall at Winton, from 8 to 9, the judge being
exceedingly made against me, by my lady Hungerford. But 4 of the Venue
(?) appearing, and with much adoe, gott the moëity 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.

[223]
Memorandum:—St. John's night, 1673, in danger of being run through
with a sword by a young ...[224] at Mr. Burges' chamber in the Middle
Temple.
Quaere the yeare[225] 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: horoscope....[226])
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 ...226[226] threatnes danger to me from falls.
I have been twice in danger of drowning.

Notes.

[J] 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 1625/6, March 11th, 17h 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.
[K] 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.
Ἐὰν ᾖς φιλομαθής, ἔσῃ πολυμαθής. By pian piano I might have <attained to
learning>; though <my> memory <was> not tenacious, <yet I had> zeale to
learning, and ...[227] extraordinary, ... ...[228]; <but I was> bred ignorant at
Eston.'
[L] Henry Coley, in his 'Observations upon the geniture' of Aubrey, MS. Aubr.
23, fol. 105v, 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.'
[M] 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, 1642/3, at 11h
30´ P.M.'

MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 119v, 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.'
[N] 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
description of Easton-Piers. It is printed in J. E. Jackson's Aubrey's Wiltshire
Collections (Devizes, 1862), pp. 235 sqq.
[O] 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.'

[P] Aubrey in a marginal note seeks to bring his birth-day into connexion with
the Roman Quinquatria (March 19). The note is: 'Quinquatria: feast dedicated to
Minerva' <dupl. with 'Pallas'>.
[Q] 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[229]; selling away the mannor
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 employment
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[230], Sir William Petty, Sir John
Hoskyns, bishop of Sarum[231], 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 turne too?" You, I say,
know well that I am no puritan, nor an enimy to the old gentleman on the other
side of the Alpes. Truly, if I had a good parsonage of 2 or 300 li. per annum, (as
you told me) it would be a shrewd temptation.'—Aug. 29, 1676.
[R] Aubrey notes in the margin, (1) '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[232] to Mr. Thomas Hobbes.
He afterwards taught children here[233]. 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.'
[S] 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.
[T] In the margin Aubrey notes:—
'♄: strong impulse to ♄.' This means I suppose that the position of Saturn at his
nativity gave him a bias to the study of antiquities.
[U] This means, I suppose, that the copies he made sufficiently resembled the
pictures on the parlour wall. A note in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6v, perhaps refers to his
own skill in drawing, 'As Mr. Walter Waller's picture drawne after his death; è
contra, I have done severall by the life.' Walter Waller was vicar of Chalk, where
Aubrey lived: see in the life of Edmund Waller.
[V] Possibly "The mysteries of nature and art, viz.... drawing, colouring ...," by
J[ohn] B[ate], Lond. 1634, 4to.

[W] Here (fol. 3v) 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, 1679/80, 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. 3v):—'Horat. Epist. 2d.' <i.e.
Epist. ii. 2. 45>:—

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

[X] 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. 190v, on Oct. 22, 1672, he says, 'I will bring you about
March my two other draughts of Osney ruines, 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.
[Y] 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
Monmouthshire, 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.'
[Z] In MS. Aubr. 21, at fol. 75 is part of a draft of a will by Aubrey, probably the
one mentioned here (Ralph Bathurst 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 armes 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[234] 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 50s., with a stone in it.

Item, to Mr. William Hawes[235] of Trinity College aforsaid a ring of the like
value.

Item, to Mr. John Lydall[236] of the Colledge aforesaid a ring of the like value.

Item, to Mr. Ralf Bathurst[237] of Trinity College aforesaid a ring of the like
value.
Item, to Mris Mary Wiseman of Westminster, my best diamond ring.'
[AA] On a slip at fol. 101 of MS. Aubr. 23 is the jotting:—'Eston-pierse:
possession given, 25 March, 1671, P.M.'
[AB] 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. 141v,
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 Countrey 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.
[AC] In MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 113 is a note (dated 1672/3) 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 appearance.'
[AD] i.e. which followed after this bleeding. Bleeding at the nose was thought
ominous: see Clark's Wood's Life and Times, iii. 289, note 1.
[AE] 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.'
[AF] 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 li. gives 100 per annum: take a chymist with me, for brandy,
suger, etc., and goe halfe with him.'
[AG] 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. W. 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.'
[AH] This is noticed on a slip (fragment of a letter, '8 March, 1692/3' from
Edward Harley) at fol. 113 of MS. Aubr. 23:—'J. A. vulneratus die 20 Martii
inter 10 et 11 horas Londini. Deo gratias.'

[AI] This paper was acquired by Rawlinson in July ... 1746 (ibid. fol. 31v).
There is an inaccurate copy of it in MS. Ballard 14, foll. 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).
[238]
William Aubrey[AJ], Doctor of Lawes:—extracted from a MS.[AK] of
funeralls, and other good notes, in the hands of Sir Henry St. George, ...
[239]
, 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 staires rising into the quire eastward from
the same pillar towards the tombe of the right honble the lord William, earle
of Pembroke, and his funeralls were performed 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[240] of All-soules Colledge in Oxford (where
the same Lawe[241] 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 esteemed worthy to be called
to action in the commonwealth. 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 life 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[242] 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.
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 majestie, 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 possessed and enjoyed untill the time of
his death. Besides the great learning and wisdome that this gentleman was
plentifully endowed withall, 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[243] 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 gentlewoman Wilgiford his wife (the first
daughter of Mr. John Williams of Tainton in the countie of Oxford, whom

he 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, all of them maried, and having issue, as
followeth[IX.].
[IX.] Vide pedegre.

His eldest son Edward, maried unto Joane, daughter and one of the heires of
William Havard, in the countie of Brecon, esqre.
His second son Thomas maried Mary the daughter and heire of Anthony
Maunsell of Llantrithed, in the com. of Glamorgan, esqre.
His 3d son John,[X.] being then of the age of 18 yeares (or much
thereabouts), was maried to Rachel, one of the daughters of Richard
Danvers of Tockenham, in com. Wilts, esqre.
[X.] John Whitgift, archbishop of Canterbury, was his guardian, and the doctor's
great friend. I have heard my grandmother say that her husband told her that his
grace kept a noble house, and that with admirable order and oeconomie; and that
there was not one woman in the family.—Vide the archbishop of Canterbury's
case in Sir Edward Cooke's Reportes where he is mentioned.

His eldest daughter Elizabeth, maried to Thomas Norton of Norwood 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 proceeded 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 kindnesse was remembred by King James att his
comeing-in to England, who asked after[244] him, and probably[245] would
have made him Lord Keeper, but he dyed, as appeares, a little[246] before
that good opportunity happened. His majestie sent for his sonnes[247], 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 Annales, which
be pleased to see[AL] 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 Bench, in his Reports, about the legitimacy of the earle
of Hertford.[XI.] Quaere if it was Edward the father[AM], or els his son
William, about the mariage with the ladie Arbella Stuart?
[XI.] Memorandum: Mr. Shuter, the proctor, told me that the Doctor appealed to
Rome about the earle of Hartford's suite, tempore reginae Elizabethae.
[248]
[Johannes[249] David Rhesus M.D. makes an honourable mention of
him in his Welsh grammar in folio, pag....; as also in his preface.]
[250]
[Linguae Cymraecae institutiones accuratae, J. David Rhoesus, folio,
London, 1592, pag. 182 (quaere if he is not mentioned in the Welsh
preface):—
Caeterum nunc et propter eorum authoritatem et quod huic loco
inter alia maxime quadrent, non pigebit antiquissima
Taliessini[AN] Cambrobrytannica carmina subjungere, furtim
(quae mea est audacia) et eo nesciente, a me surrepta, et
clanculum calamo commissa, ex ore, vesperi fortuitò juxta
proprium ignem pro solito in sua cathedra considentis, et haec
una cum aliis carminibus memoriter, et non sine delectatione
quadam decora, proferentis, ornatissimi et doctissimi viri domini
Gulielmi Aubraei, Cambrobrytanni ab illustrissima Aubraeorum
familia oriundi, linguae Cambrobrytannicae peritissimi
eximiique patriae suae decoris et ornamenti, Juris utriusque

Doctoris celeberrimi, ac regiae majestati à Supplicum Libellis
constituti Domini, et amici 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.]
[251]
Memorandum:—old Judge Atkins[252] (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[253] of
Doctors Commons hath the MSS. of this bishop's tryall.
[254]
De legati deliquentis judice competente dissertatio, autore Richardo
Zoucheo, Juris Civilis professore Oxoniae, Oxon 1657, 12mo, 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 principem ad quem legatus est concitat,
legati privilegiis gaudeat et An, ut hostis, poenae subjaceat,
eidem responderunt, ejusmodi legatum, jure gentium et civili
Romanorum, omnibus legati privilegiis excidisse et poenae
subjiciendum.
[255]
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[256].
He sate many times as Lord Keeper, durante bene placito, and made[257]
many decrees, which Mr. Shuter, etc., told me they had seen.
Vide Anthony Wood's Hist. et Antiq.: he was principal of New Inne.
Memorandum:—the Penkenol, i.e. chiefe of the family, 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 William Aubrey[258],
also LL. Dr., who was the chiefe, plucked it off.
The learned John Dee was his great friend and kinsman, 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[259], 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 li. per annum wherof there
is now none left in the family. He made one Hugh George (his chiefe clark)
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., 15<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?

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.

Heroum 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 Auditori et Vicario in spiritualibus Generali, Exercitus
Regii ad St. Quentin Supremo Juridico, in Limitaneum Walliae
Consilium adscito, Cancellariae Magistro, et Reginae
Elizabethae à supplicum libellis: Viro exquisita eruditione,
singulari 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,
placidè reddidit;
Optimo patri Edvardus et Thomas, milites, ac Johannes, armiger,
filii moestissimi, posuerunt.
[260]
This Dr. W. Aubrey was related to the first William, earl of Pembroke,
two wayes (as appeares by comparing the old pedegre at Wilton with that of
the Aubreys); by Melin and Philip ap Elider (the Welsh men are all kinne);
and it is exceeding probable that the earle was instrumentall 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 honble the earle of Pembroke.
... Stephens, the clarke of St. Benets, Paules Wharfe, tells me that Dr. W.
Aubrey gave xxs. per annum for ever to that parish.

[261]
Vide the register of St. Benet's, Paule's Wharfe—quaere. Stephens, the
clark, sayeth that he gave xxs. per annum to the parish of St. Benet's,
Paule's wharfe, for ever: quaere.
[262]
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 Stae Mariae 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. W. Aubrey: supra, p. 59.>

[263]
My good coosen,
I have sente unto you again my yonge coosen[264] inclosede in a bagge, as
my wyffe cariethe yet one of myne; trustinge in God, that shortly both, in
theyr severall kyndes, shall come to lyght and live long, and your's having
genium, for ever. I knowe not, for lack of sufficiencie 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 substance, weyght, and pythines of the multitude of argumentes and
reasones, or the manner for the methode, order, perspicuitie, 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 restreynte 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,[265] and hable readilie to withstande
any attempte foreyne or domesticall by sea? And where this noble realme
hath ben long defamede for suffringe 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 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 Calleys was, or a
brase of such townes placed in the most convenient parte of any continente
of France, or the Lowe-countrey. As her majestie of right is totius 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[266] 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 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, reservinge 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 realme beinge a matter lately
pecuted[267] by the knowledge et convenientia 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
verbum, 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[268] 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 are these, Prestat longè terrestribus copiis ac militum et ducum
virtute, quàm nautarum et similium hominum vilium arte, fiduciam ponere.
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 accordinge 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 28 of July.
Yours assuredlie at commawndement,

W.
Aubrey.

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

Notes.

[AJ] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:—'in the 1 and 6, gules[269], 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].'
[AK] 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:—(a) 'William Aubrey,
LL.D.: extract out of De jure feciali, and De legati deliquentis judice
competente, by Dr. Zouch,' as is done supra, p. 58; (b) 'Memorandum 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 Wood on Aug. 29, 1676,
says:—'This day accidentally Mr. St. George shewed me my grandfather, 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.'
[AL] 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 you
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.'
[AM] Edward Seymour, created earl of Hertford in 1559, had in 1553 married
secretly Katherine, daughter of Henry Grey, duke of Suffolk. In 1561 Elizabeth
sent them prisoners to the Tower, and the marriage was disputed in the law-
courts. William Seymour, his grandson, who succeeded as 2nd earl in 1621,
married in 1610 Arabella Stuart. She was sent prisoner to the Tower by James I:
but Dr. W. Aubrey had died in 1595.

[AN] Aubrey, in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6v, 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.>

[270]
Quarterly, on the 1 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.>

[271]
Chancellor Bacon:—The learned and great cardinal Richelieu was a
great admirer of the lord Bacon.
So was Monsieur Balzac: e.g. les Oeuvres diverses, dissertation sur un
tragedie, à Monsieur Huygens de Zuylichen, p. 158—'Croyons, pour
l'amour du chancilier Bacon, que toutes les folies des anciens sont sages et
tous leur songes mysteries.'
Quaere if I have inserted[272] 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.
[273]
Lord Chancellor Bacon:—Memorandum, this Oct. 1681, it rang over all
St. Albans that Sir Harbottle Grimston, 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.
[274]
Sir Francis Bacon, knight, baron of Verulam and viscount of St. Albans,
and Lord High Chancellor of England:—vide his life writt by Dr. William
Rawley before Baconi Resuscitatio, 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[275]. 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, hanc sedem in
memoriam ejusdem Jeremie extruxit, 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 friendship 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 owne
handwriting (an elegant Roman hand). 'Tis in the hands of Walter Charlton,
M.D., who begged it not long since of Mr. Faucet's grandsonne.

[276]

[277]
Richard[278], earle of Dorset, was a great admirer and friend of the lord
chancellor Bacon, and was wont to have Sir Thomas Billingsley[279] along
with him to remember and to putt-down in writing my lord's sayings at
table.
Edward, lord Herbert of Cherbery.
John Dun[280], 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 Underwoods, 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.'
[281]
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 returnes, 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 Seale,
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. 101.
Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker[XII.] who was
full of gravity in his speaking. His language (where he could
spare or passe-by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man ever[282]
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 man had their affections more in his
power. The feare of every man that heard him was lest he should
make an end.
[XII.] Dominus Verulanus.

Cicero is sayd to be the only wit that the people of Rome had,
equall'd to their empire, ingenium par imperio. We had many,
and in their severall ages (to take in but the former seculum) 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 preferr'd 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 downeward and eloquence growes
backward, so that he may be nam'd and stand as the marke and
ἀκμή 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
commonwealth of learning[283], for schooles they are the
seminaries of state and nothing is worthier 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 Organum, which though by the most of
superficiall 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[284].
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.
[285]
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 schollar can say; I would know what you can[286] 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 understood what they writt, because they understood it not clearly
themselves.
In short, all that were great and good loved 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 remembred it.

<Personal characteristics.>

He was Lord Protector during King James's progresse into Scotland, and
gave audience in great state to ambassadors in the banquetting-house at
Whitehall.
His lordship would many times have musique in the next roome where he
meditated.
The aviary at Yorke-house was built by his lordship; it did cost 300li.
At every meale, according to the season of the yeare, 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 Gorhambery, St. Albans
seemed as if the court were[287] 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 1000li. 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 servants[XIII.] kept their coaches, and some kept race-
horses—vide Sir Anthony Welden's Court of King James.
[XIII.] Sir Thomas Meautys, Mr. <Thomas> Bushell, Mr. ... Idney.
[288]
He was[289] a παιδεραστής. His Ganimeds and favourites tooke bribes;
but his lordship alwayes gave judgement secundum aequum et bonum. His
decrees in Chancery stand firme, i.e. there are fewer of his decrees reverst
then of any other Chancellor.

His dowager[290] maried her gentleman-usher, Sir (Thomas, I thinke)
Underhill, whom she made deafe and blind with too much of Venus. ☞ She
was living since the beheading of the late King.—Quaere where and when
she died.
He had a delicate[291], lively hazel eie; Dr. Harvey told me it was like the
eie of a viper.
I have now forgott what Mr. Bushell sayd, whether his lordship enjoyed his
Muse best at night, or in the morning.

<His poems.>

His lordship was a good poet, but conceal'd, as appeares by his letters. See
excellent verses of his lordship's which Mr. Farnaby translated into Greeke,
and printed both[292] in his Ἀνθολογία, scil.

The world's a bubble, and the life of man
Less then a span, etc.
[293]
Ἀνθολογία: Florilegium epigrammatum selectorum; Thomas Farnaby,
London, 1629, pag. 8.—'Huc elegantem viri clarissimi domini Verulamii
*παρῳδίαν adjicere adlubuit'—opposit to it on the other page—'quam
παρῳδίαν 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?

Domestick cares afflict the husband's bed
Or paines his hed;
Those that live single take it for a curse,
Or doe things[294] 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
W'are worse in peace.
What then remaines? but that we still should cry
Not to be borne, or, being borne, to dye.

<His writings.>

[295]
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, 8vo.

{.....
Essaies { . . . . .
{.....
Advancement of learning.
History of King Henry the 7th.
Novum Organon.—At the end of his Novum Organon Hugh Holland wrote
these verses:—

Hic liber est qualis potuit non scribere Stultus,
Nec voluit Sapiens: sic cogitavit Hugo.

Naturall Historie.
Of ambassadors: published by Francis Thynne 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
Resuscitatio.
A piece of philosophy halfe as thick as the grammar set forth by Dr.
Rawley, 1660.
.....
. . . . , 167—.

[296]
Apothegmata.

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 much: his lordship would offer them no more but so much.
They drew-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[297] 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.
Upon his being in dis-favour his servants suddenly went 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 Cæsar (Master of the Rolles) sent to his lordship in his necessity a
hundred pounds for a present[XIV.]; quaere + de hoc of Michael Malet.
[XIV.] Most of these enformations I have from Sir John Danvers.

His Lordship would often drinke 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[298] 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.>

[299]
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[300] 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 Inne), 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 it
was a damp bed that had not been layn-in in about a yeare before, which
gave him such a cold that in 2 or 3 dayes, as I remember he[301] 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.
[302]
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 Henry Wotton.
Franciscus Bacon, Baro de Verulam,
Sti Albani Vicecomes, seu, notioribus titulis,
Scientiarum Lumen, Facundiae Lex,
sic sedebat.
Qui postquam omnia Naturalis sapientiae
et Civilis arcana evolvisset,
Naturae decretum explevit
'Composita solvantur,'
Anno Domini MDCXXVI
aetatis LXVI.
Tanti viri
mem.
Thomas Meautys[XV.]
superstitis cultor,
defuncti admirator,
H. P.

[XV.] His lordship's secretarie, who maried a kinswoman (<Anne> Bacon), who
is now the wife of Sir Harbottle Grimston, Master of the Rolles.

<His relatives.>

[303]
He had a uterine[XVI.] brother Anthony Bacon, who was a very great
statesman and much beyond his brother Francis for the politiques, a lame
man, he was a pensioner to, and lived with ... earle of Essex. And to him he
dedicates the first edition of his Essayes, a little booke no bigger then a
primer, which I have seen in the Bodlyan Library.
[XVI.] His mother was <Anne> Cooke, sister of ... Cooke of Giddy-hall in
Essex, 2nd wife to Sir Nicholas Bacon.

His sisters were ingeniose 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.
[304]
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
commendation; 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
exercise herself therin.'

<His residences.>

[305]
I will write something of Verulam, and his house at Gorhambery.

At Verulam is to be seen, in some few places, some remaines of the wall of
this citie[XVII.]; which was in compass about ... miles. This magnanimous
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).
[XVII.] Verolamium, Virolamium, Cassivelani oppidum.

Within the bounds of the walls of this old citie of Verulam (his lordship's
Baronry) was Verulam howse, about ½ a mile from St. Albans; which his
Lordship built, the most ingeniosely contrived little pile[XVIII.], that ever I
sawe. No question but his lordship was the chiefest architect; but he had for
his assistant a favourite of his (a St. Albans man) Mr. ... Dobson (who was
his lordship's right hand) a very ingeniose person (Master of the Alienation
Office); but he spending his estate upon woemen[306], necessity forced his
son William Dobson to be the most excellent painter that England hath yet
bred, qui obiit Oct. 1648; sepult. S. Martin's in the fields[307].
[XVIII.] I am sorry I measured not the front and breadth; but I little suspected it
would be pulled downe for the sale of the materialls.
[308]
The view of this howse from the entrance into the gate by the high-way
is thus. The parallel[309] 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 Building. 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[310].

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 tunnells 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 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[311] 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). Memorandum:—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[312], one would have sworn
primo intuitu, that he had beheld another prospect through the howse: for,
as soon as the stranger was landed on the balconie, the conserge[313] 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 leade three parallell walkes: in
the middlemost three coaches may passe abreast: in the wing-walkes two
may. They consist 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 o
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 o
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 o
n n n n
m m m m
[314]
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
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.
(a) = cutt hedge about the island.
(b) = 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, are 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 howse, 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.[315]The Lord Chancellor
made an addition of 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 emblematicall, with mottos under each: for example, one I

remember is a ship tossed in a storme, the motto, Alter erit tum Tiphys.
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 potius. And on the wall, over the table, is painted
Ceres teaching the soweing of corne; the word, Moniti meliora.
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 into Oake-wood; over this dore in golden letters on blew
are these six verses[316].
[317]
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[318] 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 minutes, 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[319]. The walke<s>, both in the
coppices and other boscages, were most ingeniosely designed: at severall
good viewes[320], were erected elegant sommer-howses 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 sanctuary for phesants, 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 wont to say
was very wholsome because of the nitre in the aire and the universall spirit
of the world.
His lordship was wont to say, I will lay my mannor of Gorambery on't, to
which Judge ... made a spightfull reply, saying he would not hold a wager
against that, but against any other mannour of his lordship's he would. Now
this illustrious Lord Chancellor had only this mannor of Gorambery.

Roger Bacon (1214-1294).
[321]
Roger Bacon, friar ordinis <S. Francisci>:—Memorandum, in Mr.
Selden's learned verses before Hopton's Concordance of yeares, 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.
[322]
Friar Roger Bacon:—Dr. Gerard Langbain had a Catalogue[AO] of all
his workes, which Catalogue Dr. <Thomas> Gale, schoolmaster of Paule's,
haz now.

Note.

[AO] 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).
[323]
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.
Sir Thomas Bad's[324] father, a shoemaker, married the brewer's widow of
Portsmouth, worth 20,000 li.

Edward Bagshaw (1629-1671).
[325]
Edward Bagshaw was borne at Broughton in Northamptonshire; 42
when he dyed—from his widowe[AP].
[326]
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[327], 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., Newyeares day, in the fanatique burying-place by
the Artillery-ground in Moorfields, where his sorrowfull widdowe will
place his epitaph.
1500 or 2000 people were at his funerall.
[328]
'Here[329] lyes interred | the body of | Mr. Edward Bagshaw | minister of
the Gospell | who recieved from God | 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. | From
the reproaches of pretended friends | and persecutions of professed
adversaries | he | took sanctuary | by the will of God | in eternall rest.'

Note.

[AP] MS. Aubr. 27:—'A review and conclusion of the Antidote against Mr.
Baxter's palliated cure of Church Divisions,' by Edward Bagshaw, Lond. 1671,

has the note 'donum Margaretae, viduae autoris: Jan. 27, 1671 <i.e. [*½]>, Jo.
Awbrey.'

Jean Louis Guez de Balzac (1594-1655).
[330]
Monsieur de Balzac ended his dayes in a Cappucine's cell, and was
munificent to them: vide Entretiens de monsieur de Balzac, printed above
20 yeares since.

Richard Bancroft (1544-1610).

In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 119v, 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. Matthew Skinner.'
Finding that it is the portrait of Richard Bancroft, 'see that the
name is inscribed on it,' for future identification.

John Barclay (1582-1621).
Robert Barclay (1648-1690).
[331]
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[332], now (1688) an old man,
and a learned quaker, who wrote a Systeme of the Quakers' Doctrine in
Latine[333], dedicated 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.

Isaac Barrow (1630-1677).
[334]
Isaac Barrow, D.D.—from his father, (who was borne Aprill 22, 1600,
½ 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 linnen-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[335]> 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[336] after
King Charles IInd. 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 chapell when he
was in France and he could not get it again. His father travelled with the
King, Charles 2nd, where 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 schoole, first to Mr. Brookes at Charterhouse two yeares. His
father gave to Mr. Brookes 4 li. per annum, wheras his pay was but 2 li., 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[337] did, for that he337[337]
instructed him.
Afterwards to one Mr. Holbitch, about fower years, at Felton[338] in Essex;
from whence he was admitted of Peterhouse College in Cambridge first,
and went to schoole a yeare after. Then he was admitted of Trinity College
in Cambridge at 13 yeares 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 Exchange Alley.
His humour when a boy and after:—merry and cheerfull 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.
[339]
His father dealt in his trade to Ireland where he had a great losse, neer
1000 li.; upon which he wrote to Mr. Holbitch, a Puritan, to be pleased to
take a little paines more than ordinary 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 Seale, where he
continued so long as my lord continued.
This viscount Fairfax[340] died a young man. This viscount Fairfax, being a
schooleboy, maried a gentleman's daughter in the towne there, who had but
a thousand 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 1000 li. 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 profession 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 li. per annum: 'I warrant you,' sayd he, 'I will maintaine myselfe
with it.' His father replyed 'I'le 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.[341]Dr. Hill[342] was then master of the college. He mett
Isaac[343] 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
colledge account[344]. He was a candidate for the Greeke professor's place,
and had the consent of the University but Oliver Cromwell putt in Dr.
Widrington[345]; and then he travelled.
He was abroad 5 yeares[346], viz. in Italie, 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 himselfe.
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 consumed, and not a man lost, but not any goods saved—a
wonderfull preservation.

His personall valour—At Constantinople, being in company with the
English merchants, there was a Rhadamontade that would fight with any
man and bragged of his valour, and dared any man there to try him. So no
man accepting his challenge, said Isaac (not then a divine), 'Why, 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 yeare and a halfe, whether he would
or no.
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[347] 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.
[348]
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 Suffolke-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[349] 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
totus in hoc; and would sometimes be goeing out without his hatt on.
He was by no meanes a spruce man[350], but most negligent in his dresse.
As he was walking one day in St. James's parke, 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[351] 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.
Euclidis data succincte demonstrata, printed at Cambridge 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.
[352]
Lectiones XVIII Cantabrigiae in scholis publicis habitae in quibus
opticorum phaenomenωn genuinae rationes investigantur 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[353], 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 severall 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
chapell on Good Fryday the 13th day of April 1677, in 8vo.
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 Commandments, of the
doctrine of the Sacraments; in 8vo.
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,
deane 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, 6d.
[354]
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[355], 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.
[356]
Isaac Barrow, D.D., (<a> Cambridge <man>, borne in Essex), is buried
in the south crosse aisle of Westminster Abbey with this inscription[357]:—
Isaacus Barrow
S.T.P. Regi Carolo IIº 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 Greshamensis,
Graecae linguae et Matheseos apud Cantabrigienses suos,
Cathedras omnes, ecclesiam, gentem ornavit.
Collegium SS. Trinitatis praeses illustravit,
Jactis bibliothecae vere regiae fundamentis auxit.
Opes, honores, et universum vitae ambitum,
Ad majora natus, non contempsit sed reliquit seculo.
Deum quem 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
aetatis suae XLVII.
Monumentum hoc Amici posuere.
This epitaph was contrived by Dr. John Mapletoft 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 Elementorum libri XV
breviter demonstrati.
Anno ..., he travelled; was at Constantinople; sawe part of Graece, Italie,
France.
He was a good poet, of great modestie and humanity, careles of his dresse.

... Barrow (16..-168.).
[358]
Dr. ... Barrow, M.D., secretary to the lord generall 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 Batchcroft (15..-1670).
[359]
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 Societate Jesu,' and was much
scandalized at it. Sayd he, 'By all meanes leave-off this author, and read
Protestant mathematicall bookes.'
One sent this Doctor a pidgeon-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).
[360]
Kingston super Thames; north aisle chap<el>.
Spe resurrectionis felicis
heic juxta sita est
Elizabetha
conjux lectissima
Georgii Bate, M.D.,
Car. 2 medici 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).
[361]
Mr. Francis Beaumont was the son of Judge Beaumont[362]. There was a
wonderfull consimility of phansey[XIX.] between him and Mr. John Fletcher,
which caused that dearnesse of frendship between them.
[XIX.]

Utrumque nostrum[363] incredibili modo
Consentit astrum.

Horace, lib. 2, ode 17.

I thinke they were both of Queen's College in Cambridge.
I have heard Dr. John Earles (since bishop of Sarum), who knew them, say
that his maine businesse was to correct the overflowings[364] 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,
When all her marble is more dust then shee.'

Ex registro:—he was buryed at the entrance of St. Benedict's chapell where
<is> the earl of Middlesex' monument, in Westminster Abbey, March 9,
1615/6[XX.].
[XX.] Memorandum:—Isaac Casaubon was buryed at the entrance of the same
chapell. He dyed July 8, 1614.

I searched, severall yeares since, in the Register-booke of St. Mary Overies,
for the obiit of Mr. John Fletcher, which I sent to Mr. Anthony à Wood.
He hath a very good prefatory letter before Mr. Speght's edition of Sir
Geofrey Chaucer's Workes printed by Adam Islip, 1602, London, where he
haz judicious observations of his writing.

William Bedwell (15..-1632).
[365]
... Bedwell, professor of ... at Gresham College, translated into English
Pitisci Trigonometria. Published The turnament of Totnam. He was an
Essex man—from his grand-niece.

William Beeston (16..-1682).
[366]
Did I tell you that I have mett with old Mr ...[367] who knew all the old
English poets, whose lives I am taking from him: his father was master of
the ... play-house.
[368]
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. Shakespeare—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 Jonson.
[369]
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).
[370]
I did see, many yeares since, in a countrey-man's house, a little booke in
8vo in English, called
Arsmetrie, or the Art of numbring:
printed in an old black letter about Henry VIII. 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 measuring 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 Southwarke in Saint Thomas hospital by me James Nicolson.
'Tis a quarto.
[371]
This Sir Richard Benese was also author of a little booke, in 8vo,
called....
: quaere Absolom Leech for it—'tis about physick.

Berkeley.
[372]
Mris ... Barckley, sister of the late lord Fitz-Harding[373], was cosen
german to Mr. Sydney Godolphin, and also his mistresse. He loved her
exceedingly. After Mr. Godolphin's death she maried one Mr. Davys who I
thinke is now[374] dead, and she lives at Twicknam—from Philip Packer,
esq.

Willoughby Bertie, 3rd earl of Abingdon (1692-1760).
[375]
<Willoughby> Bertie, filius primus Jacobi Bertie, 2ndi filii Jacobi, comitis de
Abington, natus Westmonast. 28 die Novembris, 2h. P.M. 1692.—The child is yet
living, notwithstanding the 8th house[376]: mend the figure, but the time is right.
[377]
I know not how to retreive the fashion or shape of the old engine of the battering-
ramme, 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 hornes and ironworke
gilded.

[378]
Memorandum:—the battering ramme, the armes of
Bertie, hung in equilibrio in an engine they call the
triangles—from Mr. Nicolas Mercator: vide Bertie's coate
in primo volumine[379]. See[380] the old glasse windowes
in Aldersgate street—from Mr. <Edward> Bagshawe.

Henry Billingsley (15..-1606).
[381]
Sir Henry Billingsley[AQ], 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
Billingsley, 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 obitum 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[382] 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 countie of Salop. 'Tis a
Shropshire familie; but the village now is one Mr. Norton's.

This Sir Henry Billingsley was one of the learnedst 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 faire howse in Fenchurch 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 English 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[383] oake-wood adjoyning to it, about a mile ½[384] east of
Bristoll—quaere if[385], etc.
Vide de Sir Thomas Billingsley, pag. <44b>[386]; who was gentleman of the
horse to Richard, earl of Dorset. He 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[387] merchants travelled much abroad into Italie, Spaine, etc.
Quaere Mr. Abraham Hill of what company he was. Probably good
memorialls may be there found of his generous and publique spirit.

Respondet:—He was of the Goldsmiths' Company, where is a good picture
of him.
R. B., i.e. Robert[388] Billingsley, teaches Arithmetique and Mathematiques
at ... in.... He hath printed a very pretty little booke of arithmetique and
algebra, London (scilicet, <The> Idea of Arithmetic): was Sir Henry's great
grandson—from Mr. Abraham Hill, Regiae Societatis Socius.
[389]
In the table of benefactors in the church of St. Catherine Colman, viz.—
'1603 {Dame Elizabeth} Billingsley did will to the poor 1s. per
{Sir Henry }
weeke for ever and 200li. which their heires etc. have not payd'—
The minister here, Mr. Dodson, sayes 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[390]
and tell me.
[391]
Sir H. Billingsley—Mr. Leeke, mathematician, saith that he was of the
company of goldsmiths, quaere. Quaere 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.
[392]
Ex registro <of St. Catherine Coleman>:—Sir Henry Billingsley,
knight, buried in the vault under his pewe in the church of St. Catherine
Coleman, London, December the 18th, 1606. I find by 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 by the fire. In the parlour windowe are
scutchions of his family, which gett. There now lives Mr. Lucy[393], a great
merchant.

He was sheriff of the citie of London anno Domini <1584>, reginae
Elizabethae 26; he was Lord Mayor of the city of London anno Domini
<1596>, reginae Elizabethae 38—Sir Thomas Skinner served one part and
Sir Henry Billingsley the other:—Baker's Chronicle, reigne queen
Elizabeth.
[394]
Out of the visitation in the great booke[395] of Wilts, Dorset, and
Somerset:—

Sir Henry Billingsley, maried ...
Lord Mayer |
|
+--------------------------+---------------------
-------+
| |
|
1. Sir Henry Billingsley, 2. William Billingsley, m. ...
3. Thomas[396]
of Sysam in |
Glocestershire, |
filius et haeres. +--------------+-------
-------+
|
|
1. Henry Billingsley, m. ...
2. Thomas
of Graye's Inne |
|
+-------+-------+
| |
1. Blanch 2.
Elizabeth

[397]
Sir Henry Billingsley<'s life is> already donne[398]. Friar
Whitehead[AR], of Austin Friars (now Wadham College), did instruct him.
He kept him at his house and there I thinke he dyed.

Notes.

[AQ] Aubrey gives in colour this very elaborate coat:—'quarterly in the 1 and 4,
gules, a fleur-de-lys or, a canton of the second; in the 2, ..., on a cross between
four lions rampant 5 mullets ...; in the 3, per saltire or and azure two birds (?

martlets); impaling, quarterly, in the 1 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.'
[AR] 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.
[399]
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[400]): vide his scutcheon[401] above his picture before
his booke.
[402]
Martin Billingsley, who made the copie booke, 1623, port.[403] ut in
margine, '..., a cross between 4 lions rampant ..., 5 mullets ... on the cross.'

Richard Billingsley.
[404]
Richard Billingsley[405] scripsit:—
'An Idea of Arithmetick, at first designed for the use of the free-schoole at
Thurlow in Suffolk, by R. B. schoolmaster there': stitch't 8vo, 3 sheetes,
London, 'printed by J. Flesher, and are to be sold by W. Morden booke-
seller in Cambridge, 1655.'

Thomas Billingsley (obiit 167..).
[406]
Sir Thomas Billingsley was the best horseman in England, and out of
England no man exceeded him.
He taught this[407] earle <of Dorset> and his 30 gentlemen to ride the great
horse. He taught this[408] 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-; dyed praying on his knees.

John Birkenhead (1615-1679).
[409]
Sir John Birkenhead, knight, was borne at Nantwych[410] 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. Oxon.[411] Mr. Gwin[412], minister of Wilton, was his
contemporary there, who told me he wrote an excellent hand, and, in 163[7
or 8] 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[413] his businesse so well, that the
archbishop recommended him to All Soules' college to be a fellow, and he
was accordingly elected[414]. 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 Mercurius Aulicus, which he writt wittily enough, till the surrender of
the towne (which was June 24, 1646). He left a collection of all his
Mercurius Aulicus's and all his other pamphletts, which his executors (Sir
Richard Mason and Sir Muddiford Bramston) were ordered by the king to
give to the Archbishop of Canterbury's library.
After the surrender of Oxford, he was putt out of his fellowship by the
Visitors, and was faine to shift for himselfe 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 Testament of Philip earle of Pembroke,'
&c.

At the restauration of his majestie he was made Master of the Facultees, and
afterwards one of the Masters of Requests. He was exceedingly
confident[415], 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
166<1>, i.e. of the King's long parliament. Anno 167<9> upon the choosing
of this Parliament[416], he went downe to be elected, and at Salisbury
heard[417] how he was scorned and mocked at Wilton (whither he was
goeing) and called Pensioner, etc.—

[Vendidit hic 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 to the borough
where he intended to stand; but returned to London, and tooke it so to heart
that he insensibly decayed and pined away; and so, December ...[XXI.],
1679, dyed at his lodgeings in Whitehall, and was buried Saturday,
December 6, in St. Martyn's churchyard[XXII.] in-the-Fields, neer the church,
according to his will and testament. His executors intend to sett up an
inscription for him against the church wall.
[XXI.] quaere Anthony Wood to whom I writt the day of his death, which as I
remember was the same day that Mr. Hobbes died.

[XXII.] His reason[418] was because he sayd they removed the bodies out of the
church.

He had the art of locall memory; and his topiques were the chambers, &c.,
in All Soules colledge (about 100), so that for 100 errands, &c., he would
easily remember.
[419]
He was created Dr. of LL.; had been with the king[420]. His library was
sold to Sir Robert Atkins for 200 li. His MSS. (chiefly copies of records) for
900 li.

Henry Birkhead (1617-1696).
[421]
My old acquaintance, Dr. Henry Birkhed, formerly fellow of your
college[422] (but first was commoner of Trinity College Oxon) was an
universally <belove>d man.
He had his schoole education under Mr. Farnary[423] 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[424] of France. Now he is dead, it may be
look't-upon.

Richard Blackbourne (1652-17..?).
[425]
Richard Blackburne, Londinensis, 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 Mathematicians), 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).
[426]
... Blake, admirall, was borne at ... in com. Somerset; was[427] 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 swannes—from H. Norborne,
B.D., his contemporary there[428].
He served in the House of Commons for....[429] 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 7th'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 Anthony Wood's Hist. <et
Antiq. Oxon.>.

Sir Henry Blount (1602-1682).
[430]
Sir Henry Blount, Tittinghanger, natus Dec. 15, 1602, 9h P.M.
[431]
Sir Henry Blount obiit 9th Oct. last[432] in the morning.
[433]
Sir Henry Blount[AS], 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[434], where was a great
acquaintance[435] 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[AT] (the poet)
and travelled—voyage into the Levant. May 7, 1634, he embarqued at
Venice for Constantinople: vide his Voyage into the 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[436] 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 Heycock's[437] ordinary, neer
the Pallzgrave-head taverne, in the Strand, which was much frequented by
Parliament-men and gallants. One time colonel Betridge being there
(one[438] 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 XXs. piece on his bald crowne, that

the wenches should choose Sir Henry before Betridge; and Sir H. won the
wager. E<dmund> W<yld>, esq., was one of the witnesses.
Memorandum:—there was about 164.. a pamphlet (writt by Henry Nevill,
esq., ἀνονυμῶς) called The Parliament 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[439] then with ladies of quality[440].
☞ His estate left him by his father was 500 li. per annum, which he sold to
... (quaere) for an annuitie of 1000 li. per annum in anno Domini 16..; and
since his elder brother dyed.
Anno Domini 165<[*½]> 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 100 li. 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[d]] Wase, [daughter of Christopher
Wase[441]], who dyed 1679; by whom he haz two sonnes, ingeniose young
gentlemen. Charles Blount (his second son) hath writt Anima Mundi, 8vo,
167<9> (burnt by order of the bishop of London) and of Sacrifices, 8vo.
I remember twenty yeares since he inveighed much 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[442] they were to
unlearne againe, as a man that is buttond or laced too hard, must unbutton
before he can be at his ease. Drunkennesse 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 coffee house in Fuller's rents.
☞ The first coffee house in London[XXIII.] was in St. Michael's Alley in
Cornehill, opposite to the Church; which was sett up by 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, viz. to Bowman.

Memorandum:—the Bagneo, in Newgate Street, was built and first opened
in Decemb. 1679: built by ... (Turkish merchants).
[XXIII.] And the next was Mr. Farr's a barber, which was set up in anno....

He is a gentleman of a very clear judgement, great experience, much
contemplation, not of very 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 injury, but to impose on their understanding:—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 sham so
gravely, rode the next day to St. Alban's to enquire: comeing 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 storys as, &c., 'Why, gentlemen,' (sayd Sir H.) 'have you been there to
make 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 learne
debauchery; but he did bid them goe to see the executions at Tyburne,
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.:—Loquendum est cum vulgo, sentiendum cum
sapientibus.
He is now (1680) neer or altogether 80 yeares, his intellectualls good still,
and body pretty strong.
This last weeke[443] of Sept. 1682, he was taken very ill at London, and his
feet swelled; and removed to Tittinghanger.

Notes.

[AS] Aubrey gives in colours the coats:—'or, 2 bars nebulé sable [Blount]'; and
'or, 2 bars nebulé sable [Blount]; impaling, barry of six or and gules [Wase].'
Also the references (a) 'vide Anthony Wood's <Hist. et> Antiq. Oxon.'; (b) 'vide
Heralds' Office.' Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, writing on April 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.'
[AT] 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 (1495-1569).
[444]
Mr. Steevens[445], ... whom I mett lately accidentally, informed me thus:
—that bishop Bonner was of Broadgates hall; that he came thither a poor
boy, and was at first a skullion boy in the kitchin, afterwards became a
servitor, and so by his industry raysed to what he was.
When he came to his greatnes, in acknowledgement from whence he had
his rise, he gave[446] to the kitchin there a great brasse-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 (1601/2-1667).
[447]
John Booker, astrologer, natus Manchester, March 23, 1601, 20h 10´
P.M.

James Bovey (1622-16..).
[448]
James Bovey[AU] borne at London May 7th, 1622, 6 a clock in the
morning[449].
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[450] Philosophy, (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.
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 Assentistes, that
did furnish the Spanish and Imperiall 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 chiefe 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[451]
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[452],
strait, haire exceeding black and curling at the end, a dark hazell[453] 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 temperance, and deepe
thoughts, and a working head, never idle. From[454] 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
alwaies over-came. He had many lawe-suites with powerfull adversaries;
one lasted 18 yeares. 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.
He has one son, and one daughter who resembles him.
From 14 he began to take notice of all prudentiall rules as came in his way,
and wrote them downe, and so continued till this day, Sept. 28, 1680, being
now in his 59th yeare.
For his health he never had it very well, but indifferently, alwaies a weake
stomach, which proceeded from the agitation of the braine. His dyet was
alwayes fine diet: much chicken[455].
He wrote a Table of all the Exchanges in Europe.
[456]
He hath writt (which is in his custodie, and which I have seen, and
many of them read) these treatises, viz.
1. The Characters, or Index Rerum <etc.[457]>
[458]
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.
11. The Government of Power: in 2 tomes.
12. 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.
18. The Art of Buying and Selling[459].
19. The Art of Preserving Wealth.
20. The Art of Expending Wealth.
21. The Government of Secresy.
22. The Government of Amor Conjugalis: in 2 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, vizt. 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.
[460]
I have desired him to give these MSS. to the library of the Royal
Society.

He made it his businesse[461] to advance the trade of England, and many
men have printed his conceptions.

Note.

[AU] 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).
[462]
Earl of Corke:—vide countesse of Warwick's funerall sermon, 2 or 3
shops[463] within Paul's churchyard.
[464]
Earl of Corke[AV]—Thomas, earl of Strafford made him disgorge 1500
li. per annum, which he restored to the church—<from> Mr. ... Anderson.
Earl of Corke bought of captaine Horsey fourtie ploughlands 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., eâ 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[AW] without her father's consent—(quaere Secretary Fenton's
Christian name[AX]).
[465]
... 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, wayes, 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 Anthony Walker's Sermon.>

[466]
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 all respects: great
in the honour of her birth, being born 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 brother, to no other heritage than is
expressed in the device and motto, which his humble gratitude
inscribed on all the palaces he built,
God'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 unspotted
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,[467] and a fifth, more
than these titles speak, a soveraigne and peerlesse in a larger
province,—that of universall 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
widdower), came one morning to waite on Sir Jeofry Fenton, at
that time a great officer[XXIV.] of state in that kingdome of
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 Jeoffry 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,) asked him if he would stay for her? To which he
frankly answered him he would, and Sir Jeoffry 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.
[XXIV.] Secretary of Estate.

Nor did she derive less honour from the collateral, than the
descending 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 usefull learning
and accurate pens, may attone and[468]expiate, as well as shame,
the scandalous blemishes of a debauched, and the many
impertinencies of a scribling, age:—
(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 Orery, 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, that profound philosopher, accomplished humanist, and
excellent divine, I had almost sayd lay-bishop, as one hath stiled
Sir Henry Savil; whose works alone may make a librarie[XXV.].

[XXV.] Why does he not mention ... lord Killimeke[AY]; who was
slain at the great battell of Liskarrill, in Ireland?

The female branches also (if it be lawfull so to call them whose
virtues were so masculine, souls knowing no difference of sex)
by their honours and graces (by mutuall reflections) 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[469]that the present earle of Kildare is a
mixture of blood of Fitz-Geralds and Veres;
the fifth, the lady Katharine, who was married to the lord
viscount Ranelaugh[XXVI.], and mother to the present generous
earle of 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;
[XXVI.] <Arthur> Jones.

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
unmaried), was our excellent lady Mary, married to Charles,

earle of Warwick; of whom, if I should use the language of my
text, I should neither despair their pardon, nor fear the reproach
of rudeness—Many daughters, all his daughters, did virtuously
but thou—Prov. xxxi. 29, 30, 31.
----But shee[XXVII.] needed neither borrowed shades, nor
reflexive lights, to set her off, being personally great in all
naturall endowments and accomplishments of soul and body,
wisdome, beautie, favour, and virtue;
[XXVII.] Mary, countess of Warwick.

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 Herculem) discover by
that little[XXVIII.] tast of it the world hath been happy in, the
hasty fruit of one or two interrupted houres after supper, which
she professed to me, with a little regret, when she was surprised
with it's sliding into the world without her knowledge, or
allowance, and wholly beside her expectation;
[XXVIII.] Her ladyship's Pious Meditations.

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.

[AV] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:—'per bend crenellée 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 tricked in the
inner margin) has been cut out between fol. 14 and fol. 15 of MS. Aubr. 6. The
excision was made by Aubrey himself, a line being drawn by him across the
excision from fol. 14v 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.
[AW] Catherine Fenton, daughter of Sir Geoffrey Fenton, Secretary of State for
Ireland 1581-1603.
[AX] Anthony Wood, in answer to this query, suggests:—'Jeffrey, quaere.'
[AY] Lewis Boyle, second son of Richard, first earl of Cork, created viscount
Boyle of Kynalmeaky, 1627/8.

Robert Boyle (1626/7-1691).
[470]
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.
[471]
Mr. R. Boyle, when a boy at Eaton <was> verie sickly and pale—from
Dr. <Robert> Wood, who was his schoole-fellow.
[472]
The honourable Robert Boyle[AZ] esq., the <fifth> son of Richard
Boyle, the first earle of Corke, was borne at Lismor[XXIX.] in the county of
Corke, the <25> day of <January> anno <1626/7>.
[XXIX.] It was anciently an University, and a great towne or city. It had twenty
churches. 'Twas the seate of king John.—From Elizabeth, countesse of Thanet.

He was nursed by an Irish nurse, after the Irish manner, wher they putt the
child into a pendulous satchell (insted of a cradle), with a slitt for the child's
head to peepe out.
He learn't his Latin.... Went 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[473] any where
els.
He speakes Latin very well, and very readily, as most men I have mett with.
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
beholding to him for 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, whom I beseech God to blesse with a particular
blessing, I bequeath, &c.
Mr. R. H.[474], who has seen the rentall, sayes it was 3000 li. 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 chymists 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[BA], 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.

[AZ] Aubrey gives in colours the Boyle coat (supra, p. 119), with a mullet gules
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 Anthony Walker's
sermon.
[BA] The Gospels and Acts in Malay (in Arabic character), Oxford, 1677.

William Brereton, 3rd baron, (1631-1680).
[475]
William, lord Brereton, obiit March 17, 1680[476]; buried at St.
Martin's-in-the-fields: scripsit Origines Moriens in Latin verse.
[477]
William, lord Brereton[BB] 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 Algebrist.
He hath wrote a poem called Origines Moriens, a MS.
Obiit March 17, 1679/80, London, and is buried at St Martin's church in the
fields.
He was an excellent musitian, and also a good composer.

Note.

[BB] Anthony Wood adds the reference 'quaere in Coll. Exon.' Wood seems to
have thought that Sir 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 (1565-1613).
[478]
Mr. Edward Brerewood[BC] was borne....
He was of Brasen-nose College in Oxon. My old cosen Whitney[BD], 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 ponderibus et nummis (which he
dedicates to his countryman, Lord Chancellor Egerton, who was no doubt
his patron).
He was astronomie 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.

Notes.

[BC] Anthony Wood added the reference 'vide A. W.'s <Hist. et> Antiq.'; but
scored it out, finding himself anticipated in the text of the notice.
[BD] James Whitney, matric. April 19, 1611 at St. Mary Hall, but took his
degrees from Brasenose (Clark's Reg. Univ. Oxon. II. iii. 334).

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 (1556-1630/1).
[479]
Henry Briggs was borne at ... (vide Anthony Wood's Oxon. Antiquit.:
quaere his nephew who is beadle to Stationers' Hall; quaere Vaticinium
Carolinum, an English poem).
He was first of St. John's College in Cambridge. Sir Henry Savill sent for
him and made him his geometrie 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 honourable ... lord Nepier[BE]
of Marcheston about making the logarithmicall tables.
☞ Looking one time on the mappe of England he observed that the[480] 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[481] easie to be digged. Then he considered the
chardge of cutting between them and the convenience of making a mariage
between those rivers which would be of great consequence for cheape and
safe carrying of goods between London and Bristow, and though the
boates[482] goe slowly and with meanders, yet considering they goe 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 the civill warres brake-out. It happened by good
luck that one Mr. Matthewes of Dorset had some acquaintance with this Mr.
[483]
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 encouragement of the countrey or others. Upon the
restauration of King Charles II he renewed his designe and applyed
himselfe to the king and counsell. His majestie 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 ( ☞
an expert mathematician and a practicall man), being sent to survey the
mannor of Dantesey 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 200,000 li.
Insert his letter to Dr. John Pell de logarithmis written anno Dni 1628.
Mr. William Oughtred calls him the English Archimedes in....
An epitaph on H. Briggs among H. Burched's poems[BF].
[484]
Mr. Briggs—vide and quaere Dr. Whitchcot, behind St. Lawrence
Church; he knew him.——Respondet quod non.
[485]
Mr. Norwood to the reader, before his Trigonometrie:—'of the
construction and divers applications of Logarithmes Mr. Brigs hath written
a booke called Arithmetica Logarithmica, and since again began another
excellent worke of like nature entituled Trigonometria Britannica. 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.'

Notes.

[BE] John Napier, of Merchiston, born 1550, died 1617. His son Alexander was
created baron Napier in 1627.
[BF] 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
'Epitaphium D. Henrici Briggi ob mathesin et pietatem famigerati, denati 1631.
Januar. ult.' The second piece is 32 Latin verses 'in bibliothecam Oxoniensem
tertio amplificatam MDCXXXVI.'

Thomas Brightman (1562-1607).

<A Letter from Edward Gibson about Thomas Brightman[BG].>

[486]
Hawnes, Dec. 21,
<16>81.

Sir,
Since you have desired and have been put into an expectation of receiving
some information concerning Mr. Brightman, tho I have litle 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.
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,
E

dw. Gibson.
Dr. Fuller, amongst his Worthies, hath something of Mr. Brightman.
[487]
For Mr. John Aubrey: leave this at Mr. Hooke's lodging in Gresham
College.

Note.

[BG] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 3, Anthony Wood has jotted down 'quaere Mr. Aubrey
of Thomas Brightman, Dr. <William> Butler, Henry Billingsley, Sir George
Wharton'—Aubrey's notes, so far, about these four having been scanty.

In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 48v, opposite Gibson's letter Wood notes an odd omission in
it:—'Quaere in what church Mr. Thomas Brightman was buried?'

Alexander Brome (1620-1666).
[488]
H. Brome assured me that his brother Alexander was in his accedence at
4 yeares old and a quarter[BH].

Note.

[BH] This is a marginal note opposite the life of Katherine 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, 47, 48. Henry Brome was a London
bookseller.

Christopher Brookes (16..-1665).
[489]
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[490] 1649 an 8vo of about 2 sheetes, scil. 'A new quadrant
of more natural easie and manifold performance than any other heretofore
extant': but it was his father-in-lawe's[491] invention. I had it from his widow
about 1665.

Elizabeth Broughton.
[492]
In the Heralds' Office—Heref<ordshire>—

Edward Broughton, m. Isabell, daughter of
of Kington, eldest | Rafe Beeston, of
son, 1634 | Warwickshire.
|
Elizabeth.

<Arms[493]:—> '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[494], I know not, but I guesse before). At
last she grew common and infamous and gott[495] the pox, of which she
died.
I remember thus much of an old song of those dayes, 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[496] smock,
Libera nos, Domine.

In Ben Johnson's execrations against Vulcan, he concludes 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 doe
Thy wive's pox take thee, and Bess Broughton's too.

—In the first edition in 8vo her name is thus at length.
I see that there have been famous woemen before our times.

Vixêre fortes ante Agamemnona
Multi, etc.

Horace, lib. 4, ode 9.
I doe remember her father (1646), neer 80, the handsomest shaped man that
ever my eies beheld, a very wise man and of an admirable elocution. He
was a committee-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).
[497]
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 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[BI].
He was ... of the Navy office[BJ].
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 written by him[BK].>

[498]
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.

Notes.

[BI] He was President, 1663, from the incorporation of the Royal Society, to
1677.
[BJ] He was a Lord of the Admiralty in 1680, and again in 1682.
[BK] 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.'

William Browne (1591-1645).
[499]
The earle of Carnarvon does not remember Mr. Brown[BL], and I ask't
his lordship lately again if any of his servants doe: he assures me no.

Note.

[BL] The inquiry was made of Charles Dormer, second earl of Carnarvon.
William Browne, author of Britannia's Pastorals, had been tutor in 1624 to
Robert Dormer (created earl of Carnarvon in 1628) in Exeter College.

Robert Burton (1576/7-1639/40).
[500]
Memorandum. Mr. Robert Hooke of Gresham College told me that he
lay in the chamber in Christ Church that was Mr. Burton's, of whom 'tis
whispered that, non obstante all his astrologie and his booke of
Melancholie, he ended his dayes in that chamber by hanging him selfe.

Thomas Bushell (1594-1674).
[501]
Mr. Thomas Bushell was an ... shire man, borne ...: quaere Thomas
Mariet, esq. [He[502] was borne at Marston in ... shire, neer him.]
He was one of the gentlemen that wayted on the Lord Chancellour Bacon.
'Twas the fashion in those dayes for gentlemen to have 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 buttond Bushell.
He was only an English scholar, but had a good witt and a working and
contemplative head. His lord much loved him.
His genius lay most towards naturall philosophy, and particularly towards
the discovery, drayning, and improvement of the silver mines in
Cardiganshire[503], 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[504] 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[BM] to his parlor-wall at Chelsey, with some scheme, and I
beleeve is there yet: I sawe it there about 10 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, 'I[505] 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 4d., wherever he came he would find respect and
credit.
☞ Memorandum, after his master the lord chancellor dyed, he maried ...,
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
Jack[XXX.] Sydenham to gett a labourer to cleare some boscage which grew
on the side of the hill, and also to dig[506] a cavity in the hill to sitt, and read
or contemplate. The workman had not workt an hower before he discovers
not only a rock, but a rock of an unusuall figure with pendants like icecles
as at Wokey hole (Somerset), which was the occasion of making that
delicate grotto and those fine walkes.
[XXX.] <Jack Sydenham> lived before with Sir Charles Snell at Kington St.
Michaell. He was wont to carry me in his armes: a gracefull servant. He gave me
this account.

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 Cromwell, 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[507]
pointed pyramis is. In the garret there, is a long gallery, which he hung all
with[508] 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[509] 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[510] 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 where—he was 80 yeares of age.
[He[511] dyed in Scotland yard neer 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[512] my book (which J. S.[513] gave my
grandfather Isaac Lyte) in this place ... Goodall[BN], of Ch. Ch. Oxon,
composed[514] the musique; I remember the student of Ch. Ch. which sang
the songs (<I> now forgett his name).
[515]
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[516] 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[517] 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 majestie gave to Mr.
Bushell, but I beleeve long ere this time the dampnesse of the place haz
spoyled it with mouldinesse.
Memorandum:—the grotto[518] 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 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.
[519]
Mr. Bushell 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 Plea for Irish cattle.
Vide[520] φ 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.
[521]
Memorandum:—his ingeniose invention of aditus 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.
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 Abbey: vide the
Register. Somebody putt[522] B. B. upon the stone[XXXI.].—From Mr. Beech
the quaker.
[XXXI.] Now, 1687, gon: all new paved.

Notes.

[BM] '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.'
[BN] 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 (1612/3-1680).
[523]
Mr. Samuel Butler was[524] borne[XXXII.] at Pershore in Worcestershire,
as we suppose: his brother lives there.
[XXXII.] He was born in Worcestershire, hard by Barbon-bridge, ½ a mile from
Worcester, in the parish of St. John, Mr. Hill thinkes, who went to schoole with
him.

He went to schoole at Worcester—from Mr. Hill.
His father <was> a man but of slender fortune, and to breed him at schoole
was as much education as he was able to reach to. When[525] but a boy he
would make observations and reflections 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 musique. He was thinking once
to have made painting his profession—from Dr. Duke. His love to and skill
in painting made a great friendship 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 majestie 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 Hudibras, the first part anno 166.. which
tooke extremely[526]; so that the king and Lord Chancellor Hyde[XXXIII.]
would have him sent for, and accordingly he was sent for. They both
promised him great matters, but to this day he haz got no employment, only
the king gave him ... li.
[XXXIII.] The Lord Chancellor Hyde haz his picture in his library over the
chimney.

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.
Obiit Anno {Domini 1680}.
{circiter 70. }
He dyed of a consumption September 25; and buried 27, according to his
appointment[527], 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[528]
the eldest, helped to carry[529] the pall with Tom Shadwell, at the foot, Sir
Robert Thomas and Mr. Saunders, esq., at the head; Dr. Cole and Dr.
Davenant, middle]. His coffin covered with black bayes;
S. B. 1680[530].
[531]
Insert in vita Sam. Butler his verses of the Jesuites, not printed, which I
gave to you[532] about 12 or 14.

[533]
Hudibras unprinted.

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[534].
Spaine and[d] America had two designes
To sell their[535] 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[536]:—

Did not the learned Glynne and Maynard
To prove true subjects traytors straine hard?
[537]
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.
He painted well and made it (sometime) his profession.
He wayted some yeares on the countess of Kent: she gave her gentlemen
20li. 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.
[538]
Samuel Butler writt my lord [John[539]] Rosse's Answer to [Robert[540]]
the marquesse of Dorchester.
Memorandum:—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 (1535-1617/8).
[541]
...[542] 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[XXXIV.]:—About the
comeing-in of[543] king James, there was a minister of ... (a few miles from
Cambridge), that was to preach before his majestie at New-market. The
parson heard that the king was a great scholar, and studyed so excessively
that he could not sleep, so somebody gave him some opium, which had
made him sleep his last, had not Dr. Butler[544] used this following remedy.
He was sent for by the parson's wife. When 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 milk't. He turnes back,
and asked whose cowes those were. She sayd <her> husband's[545]. 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[XXXV.] to be taken out of his bed and putt into
the cowes warme belly, which after some time brought him to life, or els he
had infallibly dyed.
[XXXIV.] From Edmund Waller, esqre.

[XXXV.] Quaere[546] E. W. or Gale, who?

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[547]. 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[548] for him, at his owne chardge, in the fashion[549]
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 ( ☞ 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 ubi fueris, non est cur
velis vivere.
I thinke he left his estate to the apothecarie. He gave to the chapell of Clare-
hall, a bowle[550], for the communion, of gold (cost, I thinke, 2 or 300 li.),
on which is engraved 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[BO], 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 himselfe. About 9 or 10 at night old Nell
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.
[551]
A serving 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 importunity, 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.
A gent. lying a-dyeing, sent his servant with a horse for the doctor. The
horse being exceeding dry, ducks downe his head strongly into the water,
and plucks downe the Dr. over his head, who was plunged in the water over
head and eares. 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.
[552]
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., 'I 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.
commanded him to eate it up. This did the cure.

[553]
Inscription on his monument[554].

This inscription was sent to me by my learned and honoured friend, Dr.
Henry More, of Cambridge.

Nunc positis novus exuviis

Gulielmus Butlerus, Clarensis Aulae
quondam Socius, Medicorum omnium
quos praesens aetas vidit facile princeps,
hoc sub marmore secundum Christi adventum
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:
Butleri vivis munere, marmor iners.
Sic homines vivus, mira sic mortuus arte,
Phoebo chare senex, vivere saxa facis. Q
L
U
A
Butlero Herôum hoc posuere dolorque fidesque. IE
B
Hei! quid agam, exclamas et palles, Lector? At unum S
O
R Quod miseris superesse potest, locus hic monet: ora.
Obiit CIƆIƆCXVII. Janua. XXIX.
Aeta. suae LXXXIII.
[555]
A scholar made this drolling epitaph:—

Here lies Mr. Butler who never was Doctor,
Who dyed in the yeare that the Devill was Proctor[BP].

Memorandum:—There is now in use[556] in London a sort of ale called Dr.
Butler's ale.
[557]
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[558].
From Dr. H. More:—More's father was a very strong bodyed man. 'Twas
forty stooles he gave his father; he 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[559], '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[BQ] knew him, and I thinke was at that time[560] with
him.—From this Dr. Ridgely his sonne.
[561]
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 information I had
from Mr. Vere Philips, fellow of King's College, Cambridge.

Notes.

[BO] Thomas Gale, Head Master of St. Paul's School 1672-1697, D.D. Trin.
Coll. Cambr. 1675.
[BP] 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.
[BQ] Thomas Ridgley (Rugeley), M.D., St. John's, Cambr. 1608; his son Luke
Ridgely, M.D., Christ's, Cambr.

Cecil Calvert, 2nd baron Baltimore (1606-1675).
[562]
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,
contemporary with Mr. Francis Potter, B.D.
[563]
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
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).
[564]
Mr. William Camden, Clarencieux—vide Fuller's Holy State where is
something of his life and birth, etc.: vide England'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. Camden 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 Institutio Græcae Grammatices Compendiaria: in
usum Regiae Scholae Westmonasteriensis, 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 8º.
Annales reg. Elizabethae.
There is a little booke in 16mo. of his printed, viz.: A Collection of all the
Inscriptions then on the Tombes in Westminster Abbey.
'Tis reported, that he had bad eies[565] (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.
In his Britannia 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
Elizabetha, 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 ½
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
Hic
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 kept a Welsh servant to
improve him <in> that language, for the better understanding of our
antiquities.—From Mr. Samuel Butler.
[566]
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[XXXVI.], bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who did filch it from Mr.
Camden as he lay a dyeing.
[XXXVI.] ☞ Quaere Sir William Dugdale. Vide how bishop Hacket came by it.
[567]
Quaere Mr. Ashmole to retrive and looke out Mr. Camden's minutes
(memorandums) of King James I from his entrance into England, which Dr.
Thorndyke[XXXVII.] 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.
[XXXVII.] He (Dr. Th.) told Sir Wiliam Dugdale so, who told me of it.
[568]
Quaere Dr. Buzby if Mr. Camden ever resigned the schoolmaster's
place[569]? And if he did not dye at Westminster at the schoole house—vide
bishop Hackett's life, which is printed before his sermons.
[570]
Memorandum:—Mr. Camden's nativity is in his Memoires of King
James, which gett.
[571]
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[572], 'written and tricked with Mr. Camden's owne hand': ergo quaere
ibidem.
[573]
When my grandfather[574] went to schoole at Yatton-Keynell (neer
Easton-Piers) Mr. Camden came to see the church, and particularly tooke
notice of a little painted-glasse-windowe in the chancell, which (ever since
my remembrance) haz been walled-up, to save the parson the chardge of
glazing it.

William Canynges (1399-1474).
[575]
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
building, especially the gate-house. The best built churches of any city in
England, before these new ones at London since the conflagration. Severall
monuments and inscriptions.
Ratliff church (which was intended[576] for a chapel) is an admirable piece
of architecture of about Henry VII'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
annotations on Norton's Ordinall in Theatrum Chemicum, 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[BR]; ☞ but he was not interred there but at Westbury.

Note.

[BR] See J. Britton's Historical and Architectural essay relating to Redcliffe
Church, Bristol, with plans, views, account of its monuments, &c. 1813.

William Cartwright (1611-1643).
[577]
William Cartwright, M.A., Aedis Christi, Oxon., natus juxta Teuxbury
in com. Glocestriae, September, 1611; baptizatus[578] 26 Sept.
[579]
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 1st 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.
[580]
William Cartwright was borne at Northway neer Tewksbury,
Gloucestershire—this I have from his brother, who lives not far from
me[581], 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 was 4 yeares older.
His father was a gentleman of 300 li. 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 100 li. per annum, in Wiltshire, an impropriation, which his
son has now (but having many children, lives not handsomely and haz lost
his learning: he was by the second wife, whose estate this was). Old Mr.
Cartwright lived sometime at Leckhampton, Gloc., wher his daughters now
live.

Lucius Cary, viscount Falkland (1610-1643).
[582]
Lucius Carey[BS], 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 Rainesfords), 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 education at the University of
Dublin, in Ireland. He travelled, and had one Mr. ... (a very discreet
gentleman) to be his governor[BT], 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 Hawes, 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[583] (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[584] 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 my lord; it will cost me but the expence
of a few 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 presume 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 1, Scene 1.
N.B.:—my lord in his youth was very wild, and also mischievous, as being
apt to stabbe and doe bloudy mischiefs; but 'twas not long before he tooke-
up to be serious, and then grew to be an extraordinary hard student. I have
heard Dr. Ralph Bathurst[XXXVIII.] say that, when he was a boy, my lord
lived at Coventrey (where he had then a house), and that he would sett up
very late at nights at his study, and many times came to the library at the
schoole[XXXIX.] there.
[XXXVIII.] A mayd that lived with my lord lived with his father[BU].
[XXXIX.] There is Euclid's Harmoniques written with Philemon Holland's owne
hand, in a curious Greeke character; he was schoolmaster here.

The studies in fashion in those dayes (in 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[585]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> Crescy, of Merton Coll. (dean of <Leighlin> in Ireland, afterwards
a Benedictin monke), a great acquaintance of my lord's in those dayes (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 eie on them, would needs presently borrow 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 seat, and about 12 miles
from Oxford; his lordship was acquainted with the best witts of that
University, and his house was like a Colledge, full of learned men[586]. Mr.
William Chillingworth, of Trinity College in Oxford (afterwards 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[587]. For learned gentlemen of the country, his
acquaintance was Sir H. Rainesford, of ... neer Stratford-upon-Avon, now ...
(quaere Tom Mariet); Sir Francis Wenman[588], 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[589] 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 Majestie, in perswading him (after the victory[590] at
Rowndway-downe, and the taking of Bristowe), to sitt-downe 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 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> at 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[591] 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, I have been well enformed, by those that best knew
him, and[592] 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:
(nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae).

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, I
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....
He had an estate in Hertfordshire, at ..., which came by Morrison (as I take
it); sold not long before the late civill warres.

Notes.

[BS] Aubrey gives in trick the coat 'argent, on a bend sable, 3 roses of the field
[Cary],' surmounted with a viscount's coronet and wreathed with laurel for a
poet.
[BT] A pencil note in the margin says: 'quaere Baron Berty'; perhaps Vere Bertie,
Puisne Baron of the Exchequer, 1675. The query would be for the name of the
tutor on the foreign tour.
[BU] 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 (16..-1652?).
[593]
(From Mr. John Collins, mathematician:—) Sir Charles Cavendish[BV]
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 betooke himselfe to the study of the mathematiques,
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 Italie, 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 forwarder 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 for 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>.
He is mentioned by Mersennus. Dr. John Pell (who knew him, and made
him one of his XII jurymen contra Longomontanum) tells me that he writt
severall things in mathematiques for his owne pleasure.

Note.

[BV] 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, (1620-1643).
[594]
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,
Italie, &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 1642,
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 Herefordshire 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 by they would be mighty
high, quando nihil opus est.—Anno 1660 comeing one morning to Mr. 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 it; which putt me in mind of what
Mr. Charles Cavendish told me' (as before); 'the first word is Ἔννοια, he pronounced
it e̓́nnia.' The better way to explaine it is by prick-song,

Μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος · ἄνθρωπος.
[595]
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 majestie great service,
and gave signall proofes of his valour;—e.g. out of Mercurii Aulici—
Grantham, in Lincolnshire, taken by col. Cavendish for the king, 23
March, 1642/3, 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.

Mercurius Aulicus, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 1643; 'It was advertised from
Newarke that his majestie's forces having planted themselves at the siege
of Gainsborough in com. Linc., 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. Which
being observed by the rebells, they gott between him and his reserve,
routed his 16 troupes, being forespent with often watches, killed
lievetenant-colonel Markam, most valiantly fighting in defence of his
king and countrey. 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-off 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 donne either the 28 or 29 of July, 1643, for upon this terrible rout, the lord
Willoughby of Parham 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 ...,[XL.] but by order of his mother's will, when she was
buried at Darby (where she has erected a 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.
[XL.] Quaere if at Gainsborough or Newark? as I remember 'twas Newarke.

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
εἶδος ἄξιον τυραννίδος, the semblance and appearance of a man made to
governe. 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 We have donne our businesse.

'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 gentleman, 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,
invictus etiam morior.
[596]
'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[597] fell a prince, and a
great one too, in this respect greater then Abner; for Abner, that son of
Mars, deserved his father's epithite, ἀλλοπρόσαλλος, 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 immobilis erga Principem, 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 Fuimus joyned to his maternall[XLI.] 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 some
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. In 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[XLII.] 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[598], and a great one; thus Abner and
Cavendish run parallell in their titles and appellations.
[XLI.] His mother was daughter to the lord Bruce, whose ancestors had been
kings of Scotland.
[XLII.] Sir Robert Harley (son), an ingeniose gent. and expert soldier, haz
often sayd, that (generally) the commanders of the king's army would never
be acquainted with their soldiers, which was an extraordinary prejudice to the
kings cause. A captaine's good look, or good word (some times), does
infinitely winne them, and oblige them; and he would say 'twas to admiration
how souldiers will venture their lives for an obligeing officer.—quod N. B.

'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[599] his brother." Thus fell Abner; and thus Cavendish,—the
colonell's horse being mired in a bog at the fight before Gainsborough,
1643, the rebels surround him, and take him prisoner; and after he was
so, a base raskall comes behind him, and runs him through. Thus fell two
great men by treacherous handes.
'Thirdly and lastly, the place of his fall, that was in Israel.... Here Abner
fell in his, and Cavendish fell in our Israel—the Church of England.... In
this Church brave Cavendish 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.'

John Cecil, 4th earl of Exeter (1628-1678).
[600]
... Cecil, earl of Exeter (quaere my lord chief baron Montagu[601] de
nomine Christiano[602]), earle of Exeter, translated monsieur Balsac's letters,
as appeares by his epistle to my lord in the first volumne, lib. V, lettre V,
and Vol. 2d, 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).
[603]
Cecil, lord Burleigh:—Memorandum, the true name is Sitsilt, and is an
ancient Monmouthshire family, but now come to be about the size[604] 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 Cecilii.
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[605]
uncovered, and sayd that ''twas the lord Burleigh's custome, for (said he)
here is my Lord Chanceller, 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 preface of his translation of Cicero's Familiar
Epistles).

Thomas Chaloner (1595-1661).
[606]
Thomas Chaloner[BW], esq., [bred[607] up in Oxon], was the <third> son
of Dr <Thomas> Chaloner, who was tutor (i.e. informator[608]) 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 accomplishments of studies at home, and
travells in France, Italie, and Germanie.
About anno ... (quaere John Collins) riding a hunting in Yorkeshire (where
the allum workes now are), on a common, he[BX] tooke notice of the soyle
and herbage, and tasted the water, and found it to be like that where he had
seen the allum workes in Germanie. 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 Imi 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 heare of, onely an anonymous pamphlett, 8vo, scil. An
account of the Discovery of Moyses's Tombe; which was written very
wittily. It was about 1652. It did sett the witts of all the Rabbis of the
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[609] (sham), and would come thither
again about 11 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[BY] kept the castle at
the Isle of Man[XLIII.], where he had a prettie wench that was his concubine;
[610]
where when newes was brought him that there were some come to the
castle to demaund it for his majestie, 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.
[XLIII.] This is a mistake. E<dmund> W<yld> esq. assures me that 'twas James
Chaloner that dyed in the Isle of Man: and that Thomas Chaloner 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 li. per annum
(circiter), which Thomas had not.

Notes.

[BW] Aubrey gives in trick the coat 'azure, 3 cherubs' heads or.' In MS. Aubr. 8,
fol. 6v, is a note:—'Is Chaloner's shield cum vel sine chevron. Resp.—cum
chevron, prout per seale.'
[BX] Anthony Wood assigns the discovery, and first working, of the alum-mine
to Thomas Chaloner the father, towards the end of Elizabeth's reign.
[BY] Anthony Wood says that James Chaloner, brother of Thomas, poisoned
himself in 1660 at Peel Castle. Thomas died in 1661 at Middleburg in Zeeland.

George Chapman (1557-1634).
[611]
On the south side of St. Giles church in the churchyard by the wall, one
entire Portland stone[BZ], a yard and ½ high fere, 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.

[BZ] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 61v, Aubrey gives a rough drawing of the monument.
The lower part is an oblong block, 'thicknes ½ 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. 6v, 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 (1619/20-1707).
[612]
Walter Charleton, M.D., borne at Shepton-Malet[613] in com. Somerset,
Feb. 2d, 1619, about 6 h. P.M., his mother being then at supper.
[614]
'Dom. G. Charleton, D. M.: nascitur die Mercurii[615] 2/12 Febr., aerae
Christi 1619/20, hor. 12, mom. 18 P.M.'—this[616] is my lord William
Brounckar's doeing and is his owne handwriting.

Thomas Charnock (1526-1581).
[617]
Mr. <Andrew> Paschal, rector of Chedzoy, hath the originall scroll of
Mr. Charnock, scilicet, of the philosopher's stone.
[618]
Mr. Charnock, the chymist, mentioned in <Ashmole's> Theatrum
Chymicum, was buryed in Otterhampton neer Bridgewater, anno 1581[619],
April 21, aged 55 yeares—<from> Mr. Paschal: vide Mr. Paschal's lettre,
here inserted[620] before <the life of> Nicholas Mercator, p. 32.

[621]
Concerning Mr. Charnocke.

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 Athanor 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[622] ♁; abounding with a volatile[623] ☉ and used
for preparing 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
Athanor roome in which he kept his 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[624] 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.
[625]
To his much honoured friend John Aubrey, esqre., these present, at Mr.
Hooke's lodgeings in Gresham College, London.
[626]
Sir,
I received and returne thankes for yours.

Since my last I got leave to transcribe what Mr. Charnocke wrote on the
backside of the rolle, which 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 unlettered scholar. The inside of the rolle (which is all in
Latine, and perhaps the same with the scrowle mentioned in Theatrum
Chemicum, 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 mecum
or manuall that the students in that wisdome carryed about with them. I
presume 'twas drawn out of Raymund Lully, 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, 1555; 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 Athanor-room, if
I may so call it, drawn by his own hand, with course colours and work, but
ingeniously, an embleme of his worke, at which I gave some guesses, and
so about the walls of his chamber. I thinke 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 12 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 lived 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 neighbours, 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 afterwards 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, referred to the yeare 1574, for
(being so neare the red as the traditionall story sayes 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 Theatrum Chemicum, p. 478: for he makes 'the presse' to
have been (out of Stowe) 1558, 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 himselfe plainly averres in the 4 last lines of chapter 4 of his
Breviary (Theatrum Chemicum, 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 informations 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 knowledge, 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[627]....
[628]
I shall be glad to heare of a new edition of the Theatrum[629] and that
you will speed the printing of your MS. of Raymund Lullye's. If it doe not
goe soon to the presse, how joyfull 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.
[630]
The first thing written on the back side[631] 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 Charnocke, studient in
the sciencis off astronomie, physick, and naturall philosophie,
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. 56v, 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>
[632]
. . . . . . . . his pose
. . . . . on the white and red rose
. . . . black appere sartayne
. . . xx or it wax bright
. . . lx after to black againe
. . . xx or it be perfet[633] white
. . . it or all quick things be dedd
. . . . . or this rose be redd

Thomas Charnocke [in[634] 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[635] 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>rnock nother for all his philosophie
. . . <pr>yson and famyne he had not famysshed me
<Guy of W>arwicke nor Bevys of Southehampton
. . . . such a venomous dragon
. . . . fowght with Hidra the serpent
. . . . . e cowlde not have his intent
. . . . n the wyse inclose 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 Mli 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
Profitable for few things in conclusion
<Now th>at I ame now dying in myne owne 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 Lulli, 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[636]☉ or ☽ 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 Charnock changeth to a better cheere
For the sorrow that he hath sufferyd many a yere
Or that he could accomplish the regiment of his fyre
. . . . . . . . .[637] 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 his 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.
1554/5—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 himselfe alone
without a servant.
He continued it nine monthes; was within a month of his
reckoning; the crowe's head began to appear black.
1557—He, pressed on a warre proclaimed against the French
(Burnet's History, part 2, p. 355), broke and cast all away.
January 1, 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[638] and de Alchimia[639].
1573—the fragment[640] of 'knocke the child on the head.'
1574—that he never saw the white ferment to the red till that 50th
yeare of his age.
1576—the difficulty of the philosophick number in the roll.
1581—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 Theatrum Chemicum.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1328-1400).
[641]
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 li. 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 Ist) (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 Imi; and so it was, that ... ... was called into the starre chamber, and
was fined for it.... Judge Richardson[642] 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.
[643]
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, which goes with the howse from one to another—which see.

William Chillingworth (1602-1643/4).
[644]
William Chillingworth[CA], 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.[645], was his godfather and great friend. He sent his
grace weekly intelligence of what passed in the university[CB]. 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[CC],
filius Dris 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 majestie, were blowne-over. I am sorry so great a witt should have such
a naeve.

Absentem qui rodit amicum,
Qui non defendit alio culpante, solutos
Qui captat risus hominum famamque dicacis,
Fingere qui non visa potest, commissa tacere
Qui nequit: hic niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto.

Horat. lib. I, sat. iv.
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. Cheynell[CD], 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[CE],
his fellowe-collegiate at Trinity College and now one of the prebendarys of
this church:
Virtuti sacrum.
Spe certissimae resurrectionis
Hic reducem expectat animam
Gulielmvs Chillingworth,
S. T. P.
Oxonii natus et educatus,
Collegii Stae Trinitatis olim
Socius, Decus et Gloria.
Omni Literarum genere celeberrimus,
Ecclesiae Anglicanae adversus Romano-Catholicam
Propugnator invictissimus,
Ecclesiae Sarisburiensis Praecentor[XLIV.] dignissimus;
Sine Exequiis,
Furentis cujusdam Theologastri,
Doctoris Cheynell[XLV.],
Diris et maledictione sepultus:
Honoris et Amicitiae ergo,
Ab Olivero Whitby,
Brevi hoc monimento,

Posterorum memoriae consecratus,
Anno Salutis,
1672.[646]
[XLIV.] This is a mistake; he was not Chantor of the Church, but Chancellor of
the Church of Sarum, whose office was antiently to read a lecture in Latin,
quarterly, 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
never swore to all the points of the Church of England.
[XLV.] Minister of Petworth.

My tutor, W. Browne[CF], haz told me, that Dr. Chillingworth 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-head 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 think 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, that he
was like a lusty fighting fellow that did drive his enimies before him, but
would often give his owne party smart[647] back-blowes.
When Doctor Kettle, (the president of Trin. Coll. Oxon.) dyed[CG], 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 (Curle) 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[CH] for it.

Notes.

[CA] William Chillingworth was elected Scholar of Trinity June 2, 1618 (then of
St. Martin's parish, Oxon, aged 19), and Fellow, June 10, 1628.
[CB] 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.
[CC] Alexander Gill matr. at Trinity College, June 26, 1612, was Clerk at
Wadham College, April 20, 1613, but rejoined Trinity and from thence took his
D.D., March 9, 1636/7. He was usher to his father in St. Paul's School 1621-28,
being removed for the offence here related.
[CD] Francis Cheynell, a native of Oxford (like Chillingworth), Fellow of
Merton 1629, D.D. July 24, 1649.
[CE] Oliver Whitby, matr. at Trinity, Oct. 15, 1619; Archdeacon of Chichester,
Dec. 23, 1672.
[CF] William Browne, of Blandford St. Mary, Dorset, aged 16, elected Scholar
of Trinity May 28, 1635, M.A. March 18, 1641/2.
[CG] Anthony Wood, in a marginal note, objects—'This cannot be: Dr. Kettle
died after Chillingworth.' But Wood is wrong. Kettell died in July 1643;
Chillingworth in January, 1643/4; Potter was admitted President August 8, 1643.
[CH] '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).
[648]
John Clavell, the famous thiefe, borne May 11, 1601, 11h 30´ P.M.

John Cleveland (1613-1658).
[649]
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 Inne. He,
and Sam. Butler, &c. of Grayes Inne, had[650] 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[651], of ...).

George Clifford, earl of Cumberland (1558-1605).

[652]
Henry, earl of m. Anne, daughter of William,
Cumberland; obiit | lord Dacres of Gillesland.
12 Eliz. <1570>. |
+------------------+--------------------+
| |
George, earl of m. Marg<aret> Francis, earl m. Grisold,
Cumberland; | daughter <of of Cumberland, |
daughter of
obiit 3 Jacobi | Francis, earl obiit 1641. | Thomas
Hughes
<1605>. | of Bedford>. | of
Uxbridge,
| | esq.
| |
(1) Richard, m. Anne, m. (2) Philip, earl Henry, earl
m. Frances,
earl of | daughter of Pembroke and of
Cumberland, | daughter
Dorset | and heir. Montgomery. obiit 1643.
| of Robert
| Henry, earl
of | Cecill,
| Cumberland, was a poet.
His | earl of
| daughter (the countesse
of | Sarum.
| Corke and Burlington)
hath |
| severall[653] copies of
his |
+---------+------------+ making. +----------
---+
| | |
Margaret, m. John, Isabell m. James, Elizabeth m.
Richard <Boyle>,
| earl of earl of |
earl of Cork and
| Thanet. Northampton. |
Burlington.

+------+-------------------------+--------+ +---+---+
| | | | |
Nicholas, earl m. Elizabeth, John, Richard,
of Thanet, my daughter of obiit now
honoured lord; Richard, earl sine earle.
obiit November of Corke and prole.
27, 1679, sans Burlington.
issue.

[XLVI.]
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
owne lands from Yorkeshire to Westmorland. He had ... castles.
[XLVI.] From Elizabeth, countesse of Thanet.

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 cargo (the
richest without doubt that ever subject brought), the queene's councell
(where he had some that envyed him—
Virtutis comes Invidia)
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).
[654]
From the pedigree of the earles of Cumberland[CI] in the hands of
Elizabeth, countesse of Thanet, daughter of the earle of Burlington and
Corke.
George, <third> earl of Cumberland, had seaven[XLVII.] castles in the north.
He was buryed with his ancestors at Skippon Castle. Obiit about the
beginning of King James's raigne.
[XLVII.] Quaere quot castella[655].

Vide epistle to George, earl of Cumberland, before the History of the
Massacre.
Henry, <fifth> earl of Cumberland, was a poet; the countesse of Corke and
Burlington haz still his verses. He was of Christ Church, Oxon[CJ].
Nicholas, earl of Thanet, was wont to say that the mare of Fountaines-abbey
did dash, meaning that since they gott that estate (given to the church) they
did never thrive but still declined.

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 m. Anne, daughter of
William, lord
of Cumberland, obiit 12 Eliz., 8 | Dacres of
Gillesland, his second
Januarii 1570 <i.e. 69/70>. He | wife. She died in
Skipton Castle
was knight of the most noble order | in July 1581, and
was buryed in
of the Garter, and lord of | the vault of that
Church.
Westmorland and Vesse. Buried in |
Skippon Church. |
+-------------------------------+-----+
| |

1. George, third m. Margaret, 2. Francis, m. Mris
Grizell Hughes
earl of Cumberland, | daughter erearl of | of
Uxbridge, widow
knight of the | of Francis, Cumberland. | to
[656]
Thomas
Garter, that made | earl of | Nevill,
lord
the famous | Bedford. |
Abergavenny.
expedition to | |
America. Obiit | +------+
1605 in the Savoy | |
at London. Sepult. | |
in Skippon Church. | |
| |
Richard, m. Lady Anne m. Philip, Henry, lord m.
Frances Cecill,
earle of | Clifford earl of Clifford; |
only daughter of
Dorset. | (quaere Pembroke, last earl of |
Robert, earl of
Obiit at | obiit). etc. Cumberland |
Salisbury, Lord
Dorset | of that line. |
High Treasurer.
house, | Obiit in |
Obiit 14 Feb.
28 March, | Yorke, 1643. |
1643.
1624. | |
| +---+
| |
had issue only Elizabeth
maried Richard
two daughters. Clifford,
(1635) Boyle,
borne in
earle of
Skipton
Corke and
Castle. 1613.
Burlington.

[657]
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.

Notes.

[CI] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:—'checquy or and azure, a fess gules
[Clifford],' surmounted by an earl's coronet. Anthony Wood has a note here:
—'George, earl of Cumberland, A.M. 1592: A.B. Aed. Christi, 1608, quaere'—
this latter degree belongs to Henry, fifth earl.
[CJ] Matric. Jan. 30, 1606/7: took B.A. Feb. 16, 1608/9.

Sir Edward Coke (1551/2-1633).
[658]
Vide his life by ...: quaere his nephew or sonne[659] Roger Coke. Sir
Edward Coke[CK], 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 li.
land per annum[CL], 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. 1º Jacobi, being then attorney-generall.
His advice was that every man of estate (right or wrong) should sue-out his
pardon, which cost 5 li. which[660] was his fee.
He left an estate of eleaven thousand pounds per annum. Sir John
Danvers[CM], 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[CN]). 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[661], 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.
[XLVIII.]
He was of wonderfull painstaking, as appeares by his writings. He
was short-sighted but never used spectacles to his dyeing day, being then 83

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.
[XLVIII.] From Roger Coke.

He maried, his second wife, ..., the relickt of Sir ... Hatton, who was with
child when he maried her[662].—<from> <Elizabeth> lady Purbec; vide B.
Johnson's masque of the Gipsies.
He dyed at Stoke-poges in com. Bucks ... 1638[663] (quaere), but is buryed
at ... in Norfolk.
For his moralls, see Sir W. Raleigh's Tryall.
He shewed himselfe too clownish and bitter in his carriage to Sir Walter
Ralegh at his triall, where he sayes 'Thou traytor,' at every word, and 'thou
lyest like a traytor.' See it in Sir Walter Ralegh's life, Lond. 1678, 8vo.
His rule:—

Sex horas somno, totidem des legibus aequis,
Quatuor orabis, des epulisque duas,
Quod reliquum est tempus sacris largire Camenis.

He playes[664] 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[665], 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[666], which
you should have repeated,
Acteon ego sum'—
reflecting on his being a cuckold.

[667]
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[668] 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.

Notes.

[CK] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:—--'..., 3 eagles displayed ...'

[CL] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 97v, 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 li. a yeare land.'
[CM] 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.'
[CN] George Wilde, Serjeant at Law, 1614; father of Sir John Wilde, Chief
Baron of the Exchequer, 1648.

Jean Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683).
[669]
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.
Cardinal Mezarin found that his stables were very chardgeable 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).
[670]
John Colet, D.D., deane of St. Paule's, London—vide Sir William
Dugdale's Historie of Paule's church. After the conflagration his monument
being broken, his coffin, 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 ½ above the surface of the floore.

Henry Coley (1633-1695?).
[671]
My friend Mr. Henry Coley was borne in Magdalen parish in the city of
Oxon, Octob. 18, 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.
[672]
Henry Coley[CO] natus Oxon, neer Kettle-hall, Octob. 18, horâ 2. 15´ 4˝
P.M.—his father a joyner.
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 mathematiques. 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.

Note.

[CO] Aubrey gives 'ab Astronomiâ Britannicâ,' Coley's nativity and the 'latitudo
planetarum' at his birth, on the scheme

'Henry Coley, astrologer, born at Oxon, 1633, October 18, 2h 15´ 4˝ P.M., latit.
51° 42´.'

John Collins (1624/5-1683).
[673]
John Collins, accomptant, was borne at Wood-eaton neer Oxford,
March the 5th, 1624/5, about half an houre after 5 at night (Saturday night):
this I had from himselfe.
[674]
John Collins obiit London, November 10, 1683.
[675]
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 fisherie[676], 1682, printed by A. Godbid, 4to.
[677]
John Collins, a learned mathematician, fellow of the Royal Society:
scripsit plurima: he was not an University man, but was first prentice to
<Thomas> Allam the booke-binder.

Anthony Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury (1621-1682/3).
[678]
Anthony, earl of Shaftesbury:—Memoires relating the principall
passages of his life, in folio, stitcht, printed by Samuel Lee, 1681.

Samuel Cooper (1609-1672).
[679]
Samuel Cowper, his majestie's alluminer and my honord friend, obiit
May ..., 1672: sepultus in Pancrace chancell, next grave to father ...
Symonds, e societate Jesu—their coffins touch. Aetat. circiter 6—.

Thomas Cooper (1517?-1594).
[680]
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[681] his Dictionarie, (Thesaurus linguae Romanae et
Britannicae, 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
usefull worke. He was afterwards made bishop of Winton.
He dyed <29 Apr. 1594>.
In Thesaurum Thomae Cooper, Magdalenensis, hexasticon Richardi
Stephani.

Vilescat rutila dives Pactolus arena,
Hermus, et auriferi nobilis unda Tagi,
Vilescant Croesi gemmae Midaeque talenta,
Major apud Britones[XLIX.] eruta gaza patet:
Hoc, Wainflete, tuo gens Anglica debet alumno,
Qui vigili nobis tanta labore dedit.
[XLIX.] Verstegan deservedly blames him for that expression.
[682]
Mr. Pulleyn[683] tells me that Cowper who wrot the Dictionary was not
bishop of Winton but of Lincoln: vide and mend it[684].

Richard Corbet (1583-1635).
[685]
Epitaph on master Vincent Corbet, gardiner, father of the bishop: B.
J<onson's> Underwoods, p. 177.
[686]
Richard Corbet, episcopus (ex last edition of his poemes, in preface sc.
p. 16) was made deane of Christ Church, 1620; bishop of Oxon, 1628;
bishop of Norwich, 1632. Vide Anthony Wood's Antiq. Oxon.
[687]
Richard Corbet[CP], D.D., was the son of Vincent Corbet—vide his
poem—

'better[688] known
By Poynter's name then by his owne
Here lies 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, where
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 his camerades were at the taverne by the
crosse,[L.] (which by the way was then the finest of England; I remember it
when I was a freshman: it was admirable curious Gothique architecture, and
fine figures in the niches: 'twas one of those built by king ... for his queen:
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.
[L.] 'Twas after the fashion of the crosse in High-street in Bristowe, but more
curious worke. Quaere if not marble?

After the death of Dr. <William Goodwyn>, he was made deane of Christ-
church (quaere if ever canon); vide[689] part iii, pag. 7b.
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[690] starch't cleane,
Did preach before the King;
In his band string was spied
A ring that was tied[CQ],
Was not that a pretty thing?
If then without doubt,
In his text he was out
. . . . . . next,
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.
[691]
His conversation[692] was extreme pleasant. Dr. Stubbins[CR] 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 <1628> 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[693]
the ceremonie, sayd he, 'Beare-off there, or I'le confirme yee with my staffe.'
Another time being to lay his hand on the head of a man very bald, he turns
to his chaplaine (Lushington) and sayd, 'Some dust, Lushington,' (to keepe
his hand from slipping). There was a man with a great venerable beard;
sayd the bishop, 'You, behind the beard.'
His chaplain, Dr. Lushington[CS], 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 'Here's to thee, Lushington.'—From Josias
Howe, B.D., Trin. Coll. Oxon.
He built a pretty house (quaere) neer the cawsey beyond Friar Bacon's
studie.
He married[CT] ..., 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 Westminster, 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, Lushington.' He lyes
buried in the upper end of the choire at Norwich, [on the south side of the
monument of bishop Herbert, the founder, under a faire gravestone of free-
stone, from whence the inscription[CU] and scutcheon of brasse are
stollen[694]].
His poems are pure naturall witt, delightfull and easie.
Quaere what he hath writt besides his poems: vide part iii, p.[695] 7b.
It appeares by his verses to Master Ailesbury[CV], Dec. 9, 1618, that he had
knowledge of analyticall learning, being so well acquainted with him and
the learned Mr. Thomas Harriot.
[696]
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.
[697]
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, reading. A stone-horse happend to breake loose[698] ... he would
never ride in procession afterwards.
[699]
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.

[CP] Aubrey gives in colours the coat, 'or, a raven sable [Corbet],' wreathed with
laurel.

[CQ] An alternative reading is given:—

'A ring he espyed
In his band-string tyed.'

[CR] John Stubbinge, D.D., Ch. Ch., 1630: vicar of Ambrosden, co. Oxon.,
1635.
[CS] Thomas Lushington, D.D., Pembr., June 22, 1632, obiit Dec. 22, 1661.
Notes of his life are found in Wood MS. F. 39, fol. 203v, 204, 259.
[CT] Alice, daughter of Leonard Hutton, sometime Student of Christ Church,
Canon of St. Paul's 1609-1632.
[CU] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9, Aubrey has a note, 'bishop Richard Corbet: vide
memorandum 1671 in libro B pro reliquiis inscriptionis.' A copy of what was
still legible of the inscription is found in a letter from Aubrey to Wood in Wood
MS. F. 39.
[CV] Sir Thomas Aylesbury, 1576-1657, Master of the Requests. He had been of
Christ Church, Oxford.

Tom Coryat (1577-1617).
[700]
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[701] was sent for into the 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 lived 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 (1618-1667).
[702]
Mr. Abraham Cowley[CW]: 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 majestie 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[703]
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 ingeniose 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, Maro,
Deliciae, Decus, Desiderium aevi sui,
Hic juxta situs est.

Aurea dum volitant latè tua scripta per orbem,
Et famâ aeternùm vivis, divine Poeta,
Hic placidâ jaceas requie; custodiat urnam
Cana Fides, vigilentque perenni lampade Musae;
Sit sacer iste locus. Nec quis temerarius ausit
Sacrilegâ turbare manu venerabile bustum.
Intacti maneant, maneant per secula, dulcis
Coulei cineres serventque immobile saxum.

Sic vovet,

Votumque suum apud posteros sacratum esse voluit, qui viro
incomparabili posuit sepulcrale marmor, GEORGIUS dux
BUCKINGHAMIAE.
Abraham Cowley excessit e vitâ anno aetatis suae 49; et,
honorificâ pompâ elatus ex Aedibus Buckinghamianis, viris[LI.]
illustribus omnium ordinum exequias celebrantibus, sepultus est
die 3 mensis Augusti anno Domini 1667.
[LI.] His grace the duke of Bucks held a tassell of the pall.

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.[704] 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.
[705]
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 creditors for some debt. This I had from Mr. Dunning of London, a

scrivener, who is an acquaintance of Dr. Cowley's 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.

[CW] Aubrey notes that he was of 'Cambridge,' and gives in trick the coat:—--
'..., a lion rampant ..., within a bordure engrailed ...,' wreathed in laurel.

... Cradock.
[706]
Memorandum:—Mris Smyth[707] told me of one ... Cradock in the west
(where Mris Smyth's relations or birth) from a cratch dyed worth 10,000 li.
—Quaere de hoc, e.g. <at> Taunton or Warminster.

William Croone (1633-1684).
[708]
... 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.
[709]
Madam Curtin, a good fortune of 3000 li., 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).
[710]
'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 Carnwath 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.

Sir Charles Danvers (1568-1600/1).
[711]
Sir Charles Danvers was beheaded on Tower-hill with Robert, earle of
Essex, February the 6th, 1600[712]. 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[CX] 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 faylings, Wilts cannot shew two such[713] brothers.
His familiar acquaintance were ...[714], 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.
[715]
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.

Note.

[CX] In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 46, Aubrey writes, in reference to burials at Dantesey,
'quaere, if Sir Charles Danvers that was beheaded?—He was buryed in the
Tower chapell.' Aubrey's description of the burial-place of the Danvers family
(MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 46), with 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.

Elizabeth Danvers.
[716]
His[CY] 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 politician; great witt and spirit, but revengefull[717].
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[718]
she maryed Sir Edmund Carey, cosen-german to queen Elizabeth, but kept
him to hard meate.
Smyth of Smythcotes—Naboth's vineyard—digitus Dei[CZ].
The arcanum—'traditio lampadis' in the family of Latimer[DA] of poysoning
king Henry 8—from my lady Purbec.

Notes.

[CY] 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 nothing of a note added by Aubrey here,
which seems to read '... Cowley, crop-ear'd.'
[CZ] I do not know to what circumstance, in the history of the Danvers family,
Aubrey here applies 1 Kings xxi. 19.
[DA] Catherine Parr, last consort of Henry VIII, 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, earl of Danby (1573-1644).
[719]
Henry Danvers[DB], earl of Danby; vide his christning and epitaph in
libro[DC] A. in Dantesey church: vide <David> Lloyd's State-worthies, 8vo,
1679.
Quaere my brother William, and J. Stokes, for the examination order of the
murther[DD] at Cosham in North Wilts. Old L. Shippon, Oxon,
'From Turke and Pope,' etc.
R. Wisdome was then lecturer and preacht that day, and Henry Long
expired[720] in his armes. My great-grandfather, 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; inscription at Dantesey.
<He> gave to Sir Thomas Overbury cloath.
<He> perfected his Latin when a man by parson Oldham 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 11000 li. per annum at
the least; sold the 7 Downes, and turned the[721] ⓐ into lease; afterwards
bought fee-simple neer Cirencester.
[722]
Henry, earl of Danby, <was a> great oeconomist. All his servants
<were> sober and wise[723] in their respective places. <He> kept ...
gentlemen: <among them> colonel Legge[724] (governor of Portsmouth);
and his brother; Mr. Arthur Drake (brother of Sir ... Drake, baronet).
[725]
Earl of Danby—he was page to Sir Philip Sydney—from my cozen
Elizabeth Villers: quaere +.

[726]
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[727] a schoole—quaere the salary[DE] of both.

Notes.

[DB] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:—'<gules>, a chevron between 3 mullets
<or> [Danby]; quartering, <gules>, a saltire engrailed <argent>, an annulet for
difference [Nevill, lord Latimer],' surmounted by an earl's coronet.
[DC] i.e. in MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 46: see supra, p. 192. The epitaph contains English
verses by George Herbert.
[DD] Henry, brother of Sir Robert, Long was killed, possibly in fair fight, by Sir
Charles, brother of this Henry, Danvers: see the Archaeological Magazine, i.
306. In consequence, the Danvers brothers had to seek safety in France. In MS.
Aubr. 3, fol. 44v, Aubrey notes 'Sommerford magna—the assassination of Harry
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.'
[DE] See Jackson's Aubrey's Wiltshire Collections, p. 228.

Sir John Danvers (15..-1594).
[728]
Sir John Danvers, the father, <was> a most beautifull and good and
even-tempered person. His picture <is> yet extant—my cosen John Danvers
(his son[729]) haz it at ... Memorandum, George Herbert's verses on the
curtaine.
He was of a mild and peaceable nature, and his sonnes' sad accident[730]
brake his heart.
[731]
By the same[732] (orator of the University of Cambridge), 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[733], and I have donne.

Sir John Danvers (1588?-1655).
[734]
Sir John Danvers:—His first wife was the lady <Magdalen> Herbert, a
widowe, mother of the lord Edward 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[735] was
greatly displeased with him for this dis-agreable match.
[736]
Sir John, his sonne, was then[737] a child about six. An ingeniose
person, e.g. Chelsey house and garden, and Lavington garden[738]. 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[739] ingratiate 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 li. per annum), not entailed, <was> forfeited and given to
the duke of Yorke.
His son, John, by his last wife (<Grace> Hughes), has 500 li. per annum
(old land) in Oxonshire, which was part of judge[740] 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[741] <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[DF],
being the nativities of Robert Danvers, esq. (that is, Robert
Villers, son of the viscount Purbec[DG]), the lady Elizabeth his
wife, and their six children, vidt. foure daughters and two
sonnes, diligently calculated according to art by the Tables of
Regiomontanus by W. C.' This paper supplies the following
dates:—>

[742]
Robert Danvers[DH], esq., m. the lady Danvers[743], born
born 19 Oct., 1624, | Tuesday, 7 Aprill, 1629,
h
11 48´ P.M. | 5h 26´ P.M.

Mris Frances Danvers, born Friday 12 July 1650, 0h 16´ P.M.
Mris Elizabeth Danvers, born Monday 10 November 1651, 10h 21´ P.M.
Mris Ann Danvers, born Sunday 23 October 1653, 5h 10´ A.M.
Mris Mary Danvers, born Saturday 10 November 1655, 7h 28´ A.M.
Mr. Robert Danvers, born Saturday 14 Martii 1656/7, 5h 30´ A.M.
Mr. Edward Danvers, born Thursday 28 Martii 1661, 4h 9´ A.M.
[744]
Memorandum, 1676, July 19, P.M., about 6h, my lord viscount (Robert)
Purbec, filius, was hurt in the neck by Mr. Fielding[DI] in Fleet Street.
<Ask Elizabeth, viscountess Purbec> the year and day when her son, the
lord Purbec, 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 IId—I thinke in
the month of Aprill.

Notes.

[DF] In MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 97v, is a note:—'These,' I suppose the schemes given
on the recto of the leaf, 'were done when he,' Robert Danvers, 'was in
Caersbrooke Castle, prisoner, in the Isle of Wight.'

[DG] In MS. Aubr. 23, on a slip at fol. 121v, is the note:—'Lord ... Purbec,' i.e.
John Villiers, created viscount Purbeck in 1619, 'natus at Godbee, Sept. 6, 12h
P.M., 1591: melancholy. His mother saith he was borne Sept. 6, Monday, 12h
P.M., 1591. Mris Toman writeth that it was 2h 30´ P.M.'
[DH] 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.
[DI] Robert Fielding ('Beau' Fielding) afterwards married his widow, Margaret,
daughter of Ulick Burke, marquis of Clanricarde.

Michael Dary (16..-1679).
[745]
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[746] his fingers rotted and gangraened. He was an old man; I guesse
about 66 +.

Edward Davenant, merchant (15..-16..).
[747]
Edward Davenant, merchant: he lies buried behind the bishop's stall at
Sarum with this inscription[748]:—
Literas, lyceo, rerumque usus, emporio, etc.
[749]
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[750] 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..-1679/80).
[751]
Edward Davenant[DJ], 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[752] man in his time, and
deserves to be remembred. He was of a healthy complexion[753], rose at 4 or
5 in the morning, so 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 10000 li.; 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
stayres 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 fratrem, hujus ecclesiae praesulem,
Sequebatur aemulus. Omnes in illius pectore
Fulserunt Gratiae, sed praenituit Pietas,
Quae in egenos tantum non fuit prodiga.
Post varios casus, in vitae actu ultimo
Cum luctu[754] bonorum, plausu omnium, exiit.
Quid multis? Scias hoc, lector: vivus memoria
Pollebat mirâ, mortuus redolet suavi.

Obiit anno { Aetatis suae ...
{ Aerae Christianae ...
[755]
Dr. Edward Davenant was borne at his father's howse 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
Colledge in Cambridge, of which house his uncle, John Davenant,
(afterwards bishop of Sarum), was head, where[756] 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 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 five 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[757] 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 heare of the New (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 and his predecessor,
Dr. <John> Jessop, had been vicars one hundred and ... yeares, and lyes

buryed in the chancell there. Obiit March 9th, 1679/80, and was buried the
31 of the same month.
He was heire to his uncle, John Davenant, bishop of Sarum. Memorandum:
—when bishop Coldwell[DK] 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 unprovided for, so the king or rather duke of Bucks gave
bishop Davenant the bishoprick out of pure charity[DL]. Sir Anthony
Weldon sayes (in his Court of King James), '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 li. 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 li.) 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.
☞ Memoria. He had an excellent way of improving his children's
memories, which was thus: he would make one of them read a chapter or
&c., and then they were (sur le champ) 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 vivâ 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.'

[758]
Edward Davenant, D.D., obiit 12 of March 1679/80, and is seated in the
north side of the east end of the chancell at Gillingham, Dorset.—From
Anthony Ettrick, esq.
[759]
By Dr. Edward Davenant, S.T.P., Versus mnemonici ad computationes
cossicas. Memorandum:—Dr. Davenant hath excellent explanations of
these verses, which transcribe: his son James[DM], at Oriel College Oxon,
hath them.

Notes.

[DJ] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:—'gules, between 9 cross-crosslets fitchée or,
3 escallops ermine [Davenant].'
[DK] John Coldwell was consecrated Dec. 26, 1591, and died Oct. 14, 1596.
[DL] Robert Tounson, consecrated July 9, 1620, died May 15, 1621, leaving a
widow and fifteen children. The congé d'élire on behalf of Davenant was issued
May 29, 1621.
[DM] James Davenant, matric. at Oriel, July 23, 1656.

John Davenant (1576-1641).
[760]
John Davenant, episcopus Sarum: his epitaph made by bishop
Pierson[761].
He bought the advowson of Newton-tony, Wilts, which he gave to Queene's
College[762], Cambridge—quaere if not others.
He hung the choire of Sarum with purple velvet, which was plundered in
the sacrilegious times.

Sir William Davenant (1605/6-1668).
[763]
Sir William Davenant[DN], knight, Poet Laureate, was borne [about[764]
the end of February—vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon.—baptized 3 of March
A.D. 1605/6], in ... street in the city of Oxford at the Crowne taverne.
His father was John Davenant, a vintner there, a very grave and discreet
citizen: his mother was a very beautifull woman, and of a very good witt,
and of conversation extremely agreable. They had three sons, viz. 1,
Robert[LII.], 2, William[765]; 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).
[LII.] Robert[766] was a fellow of St. John's College in Oxon: then preferred to
the parsonage of West Kington by bishop Davenant, whose chaplaine he was.

Mr. William Shakespeare was wont to goe into Warwickshire once a yeare,
and did commonly in his journey lye at this house in Oxon. where he was
exceedingly respected. [I[767] 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[768] contented[769] enough to be thought his son. [He[770] would tell
them the story as above, in which way his mother had a very light
report[771].]
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.
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[772] in it, but without the expected successe; the spider would goe
over, and thorough and thorough, unconcerned.
He was next a servant (as I remember, a page also) to Sir Fulke Grevil[773]
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[774]
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 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.
[775]
In 1641, 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 10000 li. 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 à 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 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 8vo. 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, our quiet.'

This last word Mr. Hobs told me was the occasion of their writing.
Here he layd an ingeniose designe to carry a considerable 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 uno ore—'Tout tisseran!'

i.e. We are all weavers! Will. <took> 36, as I remember, if not[776]more, and
shipped them; and[777] 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 Caresbroke-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<ed> with so
much generosity and goodnes, as, upon their owne accounts and meer
motion, to try what they could to save Sir William's life who had been so
civill to them and a meanes to save theirs, to come to London: and
acquainting the Parliament with it, upon their petition, etc., Sir William's
life was saved[LIII.].
[LIII.] 'Twas Harry Martyn that saved Sir William Davenant's life in the Howse.
—When they were 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. Martyn's Life, where by this very jest,
then[778] forgot, the lord Falkland saved H. Martyn's Life.

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 the Siege of Rhodes (1st
and 2d 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 majestie Charles II.
Then was Sir Wm. 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> 166<8>
[LIV.]
.
[LIV.] It is now a Tennis court again, upon the building of the duke's house in
Dorset garden.