AUBREY'S 'BRIEF LIVES' (continued 4)

I have heard my grandfather Lyte say that one pipe was handed from man to man round about the table. They had first silver pipes; the ordinary sort made use of a walnutshell and a straw.

It was sold then for it's wayte in silver. I have heard some[LXX.] of our old yeomen neighbours say that when they went to Malmesbury or Chippenham market, they culled out their biggest shillings to lay in the scales against the tobacco.

Sir W. R., standing in a stand at Sir Robert Poyntz' parke at Acton, tooke a pipe of tobacco, which made the ladies quitt it till he had donne.

Within these 35 years 'twas scandalous for a divine to take tobacco.

Now, the customes of it are the greatest his majestie hath—

Rider's Almanac (1682, scilicet)—'Since tobacco brought into England by Sir Walter Raleigh, 99 yeares, the custome whereof is now the greatest of all others and amounts to yearly ...'

[786]Mr. Michael Weekes of the Royall Societie assures me, out of the custome-house bookes, that the custome of tobacco over all England is 400,000 li. per annum.

[787]Mr. Weekes, register[788] of the Royal Society and an officer of the custome-house, does assure me that the customes of tobacco over all England is four hundred thousand pounds per annum.

<Personal characteristics.>

[789]He was a tall, handsome, and bold man: but his naeve was that he was damnable proud. Old Sir Robert Harley of Brampton-Brian Castle, who knew him, would say 'twas a great question who was the proudest, Sir Walter, or Sir Thomas Overbury, but the difference that was, was judged on Sir Thomas' side.

[790]His beard turnd up naturally.—I have heard my grandmother say that when she was young, they were wont to talke of this rebus, viz.,

[794]Old Sir Thomas Malett, one of the justices of the King's Bench tempore Caroli I et II, knew Sir Walter; and I have heard him say that, notwithstanding his so great mastership in style and his conversation with the learnedst and politest persons, yet he spake broad Devonshire to his dyeing day. His voice was small, as likewise were my schoolfellowes', his grandnephewes[795].

[796]Sir Walter Ralegh was a great chymist; and amongst some MSS. reciepts, I have seen some secrets from him. He studyed most in his sea-voyages, where he carried always a trunke of bookes along with him, and had nothing to divert him.

[797]Memorandum:—he made an excellent cordiall, good in feavers, etc.; Mr. Robert Boyle haz the recipe, and makes it and does great cures by it.

[798]A person so much immerst in action all along and in fabrication of his owne fortunes, (till his confinement in the Tower) could have but little time to study, but what he could spare in the morning. He was no slug; without doubt, had a wonderfull waking spirit, and great judgment to guide it.

<His residences.>

Durham-house was a noble palace; after he came to his greatnes he lived there, or in some apartment of it. I well remember his study, which was a little turret that looked into and over the Thames, and had the prospect which is pleasant perhaps as any in the world, and which not only refreshes the eie-sight but cheeres the spirits, and (to speake my mind) I beleeve enlarges an ingeniose man's thoughts.

Shirburne castle, parke, mannor, etc., did belong (and still ought to belong) to the church of Sarum. 'Twas aliened in ... time (quaere bishop of Sarum) to ...; then ...; then Sir W. R. begged <it> as a bôn from queen Elizabeth: where he built a delicate lodge in the park, of brick, not big, but very convenient for the bignes, a place to retire from the Court in summer time, and to contemplate, etc. Upon his attainder, 'twas begged by the favorite Carr, earl of Somerset, who forfeited it (I thinke) about the poysoning of Sir Thomas Overbury. Then John, earl of Bristowe, had it given him for his good service in the ambassade in Spaine, and added two wings to Sir Walter Ralegh's lodge. In short and indeed 'tis a most sweet and pleasant place and site as any in the West, perhaps none like it.

<His acquaintance.>

In his youth his companions were boysterous blades, but generally those that had witt; except otherwise uppon designe to gett them engaged for him,—e.g. Sir Charles Snell, of Kington Saint Michael in North Wilts, my good neighbour, an honest young gentleman but kept a perpetuall sott, he engaged him to build a ship (the Angel Gabriel) for the designe for Guiana, which cost him the mannor of Yatton-Keynell, the farme at Easton-Piers, Thornhill, and the church-lease of Bishops Cannings; which ship, upon Sir Walter Raleigh's attainder, was forfeited. No question he had other such young....

From Dr. John Pell:—In his youthfull time, was one Charles Chester, that often kept company with his acquaintance; he was a bold impertenent fellowe, and they could never be at quiet for him; a perpetuall talker, and made a noyse like a drumme in a roome. So one time at a taverne Sir W. R. beates him and seales up his mouth (i.e. his upper and neather beard) with hard wax. From him Ben Johnson takes his Carlo Buffono (i.e. 'jester') in Every Man out of his Humour.

[799]He was a second to the earle of Oxford in a duell. Was acquainted and accepted with all the hero's of our nation in his time.

Sir Walter Long, of Dracot (grandfather to this old Sir James Long) maried a daughter of Sir John Thynne, by which meanes, and their consimility of disposition, there was a very conjunct friendship between the two brothers (Sir Carew and Sir Walter) and him; and old John Long, who then wayted on Sir W. Long, being one time in the Privy-Garden with his master, saw the earle of Nottingham wipe the dust from Sir Walter R.'s shoes with his cloake, in compliment.

<Portraits of him.>

In the great parlour at Downton, at Mr. Ralegh's, is a good piece (an originall) of Sir W. in a white sattin doublet, all embrodered with rich pearles, and a mighty rich chaine of great pearles about his neck, and the old servants have told me that the pearles were neer as big as the painted ones.

He had a most remarkeable aspect, an exceeding[800] high forehead, long-faced, and sour eie-lidded, a kind of pigge-eie.

N.B.—At ... an obscure taverne, in Drury-lane (a bayliff's), is a good picture of this worthy, and also of others of his time; taken upon some execution (I suppose) formerly.

<Miscellaneous anecdotes.>

[801]I have heard old major Cosh say that Sir W. Raleigh did not care to goe on the Thames in a wherry boate: he would rather goe round about over London bridg.

[802]My old friend James Harrington, esq. [Oceana] was well acquainted with Sir Benjamin Ruddyer, who was an acquaintance of Sir Walter Ralegh's. He told Mr. J. H. that Sir Walter Ralegh being invited to dinner to some great person where his son was to goe with him, he sayd to his son 'Thou art expected to-day at dinner to goe along with me, but thou art such a quarrelsome[803], affronting ...[804], that I am ashamed to have such a beare in my company.' Mr. Walter humbled himselfe to his father, and promised he would behave himselfe mighty mannerly. So away they went (and Sir Benjamin, I think, with them). He sate next to his father and was very demure at least halfe dinner time. Then sayd he, 'I, this morning, not having the feare of God before my eies but by the instigation of the devill, went[805]....' Sir Walter being strangely surprized and putt out of his countenance at so great a table, gives his son a damned blow over the face. His son, as rude as he was, would not strike his father, but strikes over the face the gentleman that sate next to him and sayd 'Box about: 'twill come to my father anon.' 'Tis now a common-used proverb.

[806]He loved[807] ... one of the mayds of honor[LXXI.].... She proved with child and I doubt not but this hero tooke care of them both, as also that the product was more then an ordinary mortall[808].

[809]'Twas Sir Walter Ralegh's epigram on Robert Cecil, earle of Salisbury, who died in a ditch 3 or 4 miles west from Marleborough, returning from Bathe to London, which was printed in an 8vo booke about 1656 (perhaps one of Mr. Osborne's):—

—This I had from old Sir Thomas Malett, one of the Judges of the King's Bench, who knew Sir Walter Ralegh, and did remember these passages.

<Raleigh in James I's reign.>

[810]I have now forgott (vide History) whether Sir Walter was not for the putting of Mary, queen of Scotts, to death; I thinke, yea. But, besides that, at a consultation at Whitehall, after queen Elizabeth's death, how matters[811] were to be ordered and what ought to be donne, Sir Walter Raleigh declared his opinion, 'twas the wisest way for them to keep the government[812] in their owne hands, and sett up a commonwealth, and not be subject to a needy beggerly nation. It seemes there were some of this caball[813] who kept not this so secret but that it came to king James's eare; who at ... (vide Chronicle) where the English noblesse mett and recieved him, being told upon their presentment to his majesty their names, when Sir Walter Raleigh's name was told ('Ralegh') said the king 'On my soule, mon, I have heard rawly of thee.'—He was such a person (every way) that (as King Charles I sayes of the lord Strafford) a prince would rather be afrayd of then ashamed of. He had that awfulnes and ascendency in his aspect over other mortalls, that the king....

It was a most stately sight, the glory of that reception of his majesty, where the nobility and gentry were in exceeding rich equippage, having enjoyed a long peace under the most excellent of queens; and the company[814] was so exceeding numerous that their obedience[815] carried a secret dread with it. King James did not inwardly like it, and with an inward envy sayd that, though so and so (as before), he doubted not but he should have been able on his owne strength (should the English have kept him out) been able to have dealt with them, and get his right. [LXXII.]Sayd Sir Walter Raleigh to him, 'Would to God that had been put to the tryall.' 'Why doe you wish that?' sayd the king.—'Because,' said Sir Walter, 'that then you would have knowne your friends from your foes.' But that reason of Sir Walter was never forgotten nor forgiven.

[816]He was praefectus ( ...[817]) of Jarsey (Caesaria).

[818]Old major[LXXIII.] Stansby of ..., Hants, a most intimate friend and neighbour and coetanean of the late earle of Southampton (Lord Treasurer), told me from his friend, the earle, that as to the plott and businesse (vide Chronicle) about the lord Cobham, etc., he being then governor of Jersey[819], would not fully, or etc., doe things unles[820] they would goe to his island and there advise and resolve about it; and that really and indeed Sir Walter's purpose was when he had them there, to have betrayed them and the plott, and to have then delivered-up to the king and made his peace.

As for his noble design in Guiana, vide the printed bookes. Vide a Latin voyage which John, lord Vaughan, showed me, where is mention of captaine North (brother to the lord North) who went with Sir Walter, where is a large account of these matters. Mr. Edmund Wyld knew him[821] and sayes he was a learned and sober gentleman and good mathematician, but if you happened to speake of Guiana he would be strangely passionate and say 'twas 'the blessedst countrey under the sun,' etc., reflecting on the spoyling that brave designe.

[822]Vide de illo in Capt. North, pag.[823] 18 b.

[824]When he was attached by the officer about the businesse which cost him his head, he was carryed in a whery[825], I thinke only with two men. King James was wont to say that he was a coward to be so taken and conveyed, for els he might easily have made his escape from so slight a guard.

<His imprisonment, death, and burial.>

He was prisoner in the Tower ... (quaere) yeares; quaere where his lodgeings were?

He there (besides his compiling his History of the World) studyed chymistry. The earle of Northumberland was prisoner at the same time, who was the patrone to Mr. ... Harriot and Mr. Warner, two of the best mathematicians then in the world, as also Mr. Hues (<who wrote> de Globis). Serjeant Hoskins (the poet) was a prisoner there too.

I heard my cosen Whitney say that he saw him in the Tower. He had a velvet cap laced, and a rich gowne, and trunke hose.

[826]He was scandalizd with atheisme; but he was a bold man, and would venture at discourse which was unpleasant to the church-men. I remember <the> first lord[827] Scudamour sayd ''twas basely sayd of Sir W. R., to talke of the anagramme of Dog.' In his speech on the scaffold, I heard my cosen Whitney say (and I thinke 'tis printed) that he spake not one word of Christ, but of the great and incomprehensible God, with much zeale and adoration, so that he concluded he was an a-christ, not an atheist.

He tooke[LXXIV.] a pipe of tobacco a little before he went to the scaffold, which some formall persons were scandalized at, but I thinke 'twas well and properly donne, to settle his spirits.

I remember I heard old father ... Symonds (è Societate Jesu) say, that ..., a father, was at his execution[828], and that to his knowledge he dyed with a lye in his mouth: I have now forgott what 'twas. The time of his execution was contrived to be on my Lord Mayer's day (viz. the day after St. Simon and Jude) 1618, that the pageants and fine shewes might drawe away[829] the people from beholding the tragoedie of one of the gallants worthies that ever England bred. Buryed privately under the high alter at St. Margaret's church, in Westminster, on ... (vide Register); in which grave (or neer) lies James Harrington, esq., author of Oceana.

Mr. Elias Ashmole told me that his son Carew Ralegh told him he had his father's skull; that some yeares since, upon digging-up the grave, his skull and neck-bone being viewed, they found the bone[830] of his neck lapped over so, that he could not have been hanged. Quaere Sir John Elowys for the skull, who married Mr. Carew Ralegh's daughter and heire.

[831]Sir W. Raleigh—Baker's Chronicle, p. 441—'A scaffold was erected in the Old Palace Yard, upon which, after 14 yeares reprivement, his head was cutt off. At which time such abundance of bloud issued from his veines that shewed he had stock of nature enough left to have continued him many yeares in life though now above 3-score yeares old, if it had not been taken away by the hand of violence. And this was the end of the great Sir Walter Raleigh, great sometimes in the favour of queen Elizabeth, and (next to Sir Francis Drake) the great scourge and hate of the Spaniard; who had many things to be commended in his life, but none more than his constancy at his death, which he tooke with so undaunted a resolution that one might percieve he had a certain expectation of a better life after it, so far he was from holding those atheisticall opinions, an aspersion whereof some had cast upon him.'

[832]In the register of St. Margaret's, Westminster, in the moneth of October, Sir Walter Raleigh is entred, and is the last of that moneth, but no dayes of the moneth are sett downe, so that he being beheaded on the Lord Mayer's day, was buryed the.... He was buryed as soon as you are removed from the top of the steps towards the altar, not under the altar.—from Elias Ashmole, esq.

On Sir Walter Rawleigh.

This I found among the papers of my honoured friend and neighbour Thomas Tyndale, esq., obiit ... 167-, aet. 85. This Stukely was....

<His writings.>

[833]At the end of the History of the World (vide last folio, Hist. World), he laments the death of the most noble and most hopefull prince Henry,[834] whose great favourite he was, and who, had he survived his father, would quickly have enlarged him, with rewards of honour. So upon the prince's death ends his first part of his History of the World, with a gallant eulogie of him, and concludes[835], Versa est in luctum cithara mea; et cantus[836] meus in vocem flentium.

He had[LXXVI.] an apparatus for the second part, which he, in discontent, burn't, and sayd, 'If I am not worthy of the world, the world is not worthy of my workes.'

[837]His booke sold very slowly at first, and the bookeseller complayned of it, and told him that he should be a looser by it, which put Sir W. into a passion; and sayd that since the world did not understand it, they should not have his second part, which he tooke and threw into the fire, and burnt before his face.

Mr. Elias Ashmole saies that Degore Whear in his Praelectiones Hyemales gives him an admirable encomium, and preferres him before all other historians.

[838]Verses W. R. before Spencer's F. Queen.

[839]He was somtimes a poet, not often[840].—Before Spencer's Faery Q. is a good copie of verses, which begins thus:—

Methinkes I see the grave wher Laura lay;

at the bottome W. R.: which, 36 yeares since, I was told were his.

[841]Scripsit.

A dialogue between a Privy Councellor and a Justice of Peace.

The father's advice to his son.

Historie of the World.

Maximes of State.

History of William the Conqueror—Thomas Gale hath it.

Edmund Wyld, esq., hath his[842] (a manuscript) ☞ 'A tryall of oares and indications of metalls and mines.'

[843]E<dmund> W<yld>, esq., hath his MSS. of mines and trialls of mineralls—quod vide.

Vide Mr. Coniers[LXXVII.], apothecary, for Sir Walter Raleigh's examination (the originall).

<His friends.>

[844]His intimate acquaintance and friends were:—

...[845], earle of Oxford.

Sir Francis Vere.

Sir Horatio Vere.

Sir Francis Drake.

Nicholas Hill.

<Thomas> Cavendish.

Mr. Thomas Hariot.

Sir Walter Long, of Dracot in Wilts.

Cavaliero Surff,

etc.

Ben: Johnson.

When Serjeant Hoskyns was a prisoner in the Tower, he was Sir Walter's Aristarchus.

<Copy of a letter by him.>

[846]A copie[LXXVIII.] of Sir W. Ralegh's letter, sent to Mr. Duke, in Devon, writt with his owne hand.

Mr. Duke,

I wrote to Mr. Prideaux to move you for the purchase of Hayes[LXXIX.], a farme sometime in my father's possession. I will most willingly give whatsoever in your conscience you shall deeme it worth, and if at any time you shall have occasion to use me, you shall find me a thankefull friend to you and yours. I am resolved, if I cannot entreat you, to build at Colliton; but for the naturall disposition I have to that place, being borne in that house, I had rather seate myselfe there then any where els; I take my leave, readie to countervaile all your courtesies to the utter of my power.

Court, the xxvi of July, 1584. Your very willing friend, In all I shall be able, Walter Ralegh.

<Addenda.>

<His last lines.>

These lines Sir Walter Ralegh wrote in his Bible, the night before he was beheaded, and desir'd his relations with these words, viz. 'Beg my dead body, which living is denyed you; and bury it either in Sherburne or Exeter church.'

<His burial-place.>

[848]The bishop of Sarum <Seth Ward> saieth that Sir Walter Raleigh lyes interred in St. Marie's church at Exon, not the cathedral: but knowes not if any inscription or monument be for him.

[849]<James Harrington> lyes buried in the chancell of St. Margarite's church at Westminster, the next grave to the illustrious Sir Walter Raleigh, under the south side of the altar where the priest stands.

Sir Walter Raleigh hath neither stone nor inscription. Mr. Ashmole was the first told me of Sir Walter Raleigh. His son[850] was buryed since the king's restauration in his father's grave.

<MS. account of his trial.>

[851]I am promised the very originall examination of Sir Walter Ralegh, in the Tower, by Lord Chancellor Bacon, George Abbot (archbishop of Canterbury), and Sir Edward Coke, under their owne hands, to insert in my booke.

<His 'History of the World.'>

[852]An attorney's father (that did my businesse in Herefordshire, before I sold it[853]) maryed Dr. <Robert> Burhill's widdowe. She sayd that he <Burhill> was a great favourite of Sir Walter Ralegh's (and, I thinke, had been his chaplayne): but all or the greatest part of the drudgery of his booke, for criticismes, chronology, and reading of Greeke and Hebrew authors, was performed by him for Sir Walter Ralegh, whose picture my friend haz as part of the Doctor's goods.

Walter Raleigh, son of Sir Walter (1593-1617).

[854]Sir Walter Ralegh's eldest son, Walter, by his first wife, was killed in America, as you may find in the Historie of the World, which see.

My cosen Whitney[855] was coetanean with this Walter Ralegh at Oxon. I have now forgot of what house he was of[856]: but I remember he told me that he was a handsome lusty stout fellow, very bold, and apt to affront. Spake Latin very fluently; and was a notable disputent and courser, and would never be out of countenance nor baffeled; fight[857] lustily; and, one time of coursing, putt a turd in the box, and besmeared[858] it about his antagonist's face.

Walter Raleigh, grandson of Sir Walter (16—-1663).

He was knighted[861] by king Charles II at the same time when Sir Thomas Overbury was, and some wished that they might both have better fortunes than the other Sir Walter Ralegh and the other Sir Thomas Overbury. So you see Sir John Elowys married a daughter and co-heire of Sir Walter Raleigh.

... Ralphson (—— -1683/4).

[862]Mr. ... Ralphson, a nonconformist, was buried in London at ..., March 14th, 1683/4; above a 1000 persons were at his funerall.

Note.

This note is referred to by Anthony Wood in Clark's Wood's Life and Times, iii. 91. Wood gave Aubrey several commissions to make inquiries about non-conformists, as is seen in the following notes:—MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6—'Nonconformists: vide Mr. Collins neer Grub Street and <Francis> Smyth the bookeseller.' MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 7—'Vide Mr. Collins a nonconformist in an alley by Grub Street towards Finsbery at a sadler's; quaere de Anthony Wood's note of nonconformists which was sent[863] to Thankfull Owen': here Wood adds 'I desire without any delay to get this paper.'

Thomas Randolph (1605-1634/5).

[864]Thomas Randolph, the poet, Cambr.[865]:—I have sent to A. à Wood his nativity[866] etc., which I had from his brother John, an attorney (who lives at ...), viz. Thomas Randolph was the eldest son of William Randolph by his wife Elizabeth Smyth; he was borne at Newnham neer Daintre in Northamptonshire, June the fifteenth, 1605.

At the age of nine yeares, he wrot the history of our Saviour's incarnation in English verse, which his brother John haz to shew under his owne handwriting—never printed, kept as a rarity.

From Mr. Needler:—his haire was of a very light flaxen, almost white (like J. Scroope's). It was flaggy, as by his picture before his booke appeares. He was of a pale ill complexion and pock-pitten—from Mr. Thomas Fludd, his scholefellow at Westminster, who sayes he was of about my stature or scarce so tall[867].

His father was steward to Sir George Goring in Sussex. He had been very wild in his youth; and his father (i.e. grandfather to Thomas Randolph) left him but a groat or 3d. in his will, which when he recieved he nailed to the post of the dore—vide + A. W. lres[868]. His father was a surveyor of land, i.e. a land measurer.

Anno Domini <1623> he was elected to Trinity College in Cambridge.

Anno ... he rencountred captain Stafford[869] (an ingeniose gent. and the chiefe of his family, and out of which the great duke of Bucks brancht) on the roade.... He gave him a pension of I thinke C^li. per annum, and he was tutor to his son and heir.

He was very praecocis ingenii, and had he lived but a little longer had been famae suae superstes.

He writt (as before mentioned) the history of our Saviour's incarnation (at 9 yeers old).

Aristippus, and the Joviall Pedler, 2 shewes, quarto, printed at London by....

Cornelianum dolium, a comoedie in Latin, 8vo, ἀνονυμῶς[870].

The Jealous Lovers, a comedie: printed.

His Poems, with The Muses Looking-glas, and Amyntas, printed at Oxon by Francis Bowman, 16—, in 4to; after, 16—, by him again in 8vo.

The epitaph on William Laurence in Westminster cloysters[871]—

[Dr. Busby, schoolmaster of Westminster, was Tom Randolph's schoolfellow and coetanean, and sayth that he made these verses—'tis his vaine:—

Obiit Dec. 28, 1621, aetatis suae 29.]

He dyed in the twenty-eighth yeare of his age at Mr. <William> Stafford's, Blatherwyck, aforesayd; was there buryed March 17, 1634, in the aisle of that church among that noble family.

Sir Christopher, lord Hatton, erected to his memorie a monument of white marble—quaere his epitaph; I thinke A<nthony> W<ood> haz it.

I sent to A. Wood his brother's letter to me from whence I had most of this, and also his epitaph which my lord Hatton gott Mr. H.[879] rector of Hadham in Essex[880] to make, but it is puerile.

Eleanor Ratcliffe, Countess of Sussex (16—-1666).

[881]Countesse of Sussex[882]: a great and sad example of the power of lust and slavery of it. She was as great a bea<u>tie as any in England and had a good witt. After her lord's death (he was jealous) she sends for ... (formerly) her footman, and makes him groom of the chamber. He had the pox and shee knew it; a damnable sot. He waz not very handsom, but his body of an exquisit shape (hinc sagittae). His nostrills were stufft and borne out with corkes in which were quills to breath through. About 1666 this countess dyed of the pox.

Robert Record (1510?-1558).

[883]Robert Record, M.D.—his life is in lib. 2, p. 174 of[884] Historia et Antiquitates Universitatis Oxon., among the writers of All Soules College[885].

He was the first that wrote a good arithmetical treatise in English, which hath been printed a great many times, viz. his 'Arithmetick, containing the ground of arts in which is taught the general parts rules and operations of the same in whole numbers and fractions after a more easie and exact methode then ever heretofore, first written by Robert Record, Dr. in Phisick,' printed....

It was dedicated 'to the most mighty prince Edward the 6th by the grace of God king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, etc.' In the end of which epistle:—

'how some of these statutes may be applied to use as well in our time as in any other time I have particularly declared in this book and some other I have omitted for just considerations till I may offer them first unto your majestie to weigh them as to your highness shall seem good. For many things in them are not to be published without your highness knowledge and approbation, namely because in them is declared all the rates of all oyles, for all standards from an ounce upwards, with other mysteries of mint-matters, and also most part of the varieties of coines that have been current in this realme by the space of 600 yeares last past, and many of them were currant in the time that the Romans ruled here. All which with the ancient description of England and Ireland, and my simple censure of the same, I have almost compleated to be exhibited to your highnesse.'—

Quaere if ever published?

'To the reader:—It shall induce me to set forth those further instructions concerning geometric and cosmography which I have already promised and am sure hath not hitherto in our English tongue been published.'—

Quaere of these.

The Whetstone of Witt, which is the second part of Arithmetick, containing the extraction of rootes, the cossicke practice, with the rule of equation and the workes of surd nombers. Quarto; dedicated 'to the right worshipfull the governors, consulles, and the rest of the company of venturers into Muscovia.' Here he speakes:—'For your commodities I will shortly set forthe suche a book of navigation'—quaere de hoc libro—'as I dare saie shall partly satisfy and contente not onely your expectation but also the desire of a great nomber beside. Wherein I will not forget specialy to touche bothe the old attempte for the northerly navigations and the late good adventure with the fortunate successe in discovering that voyage which no man before you durst attempt sith the time of king Alfred his reigne, I meane by the space of 700 yere, nother ever any before that time had passed that voiage except onely Ohthere that dwelt in Halgolande who reported that jorney to the noble king Alurede, as it doeth yet remain in auncient recorde of the old Saxon tongue.—In that book also I will show certain meanes how without great difficultie you may saile to the North-east Indies and so to Camul Chinchital and Balor which be countries of great commodities; as for Chatai lieth so far within the land toward the South Indian seas that the journey is not to be attempted untill you be better acquainted with those countries that you must first arrive at.—At London the xii day of November 1557.'

Preface:—'by occasion of trouble upon trouble I was hindered from accomplishing this work as I did intend.'

In the last leafe of this booke he is frighted by the hasty knocking of a messenger at the dore and sayes—'then is there no remedie but that I must neglect all studies and teaching for to withstand these dangers. My fortune is not so good to have quiet time to teache.'

The Castle of Knowledge, printed at London, 1596, quarto[886], and is dedicated 'to the most mightie and most puissant princesse, Marie, by the grace of God, Queen of England, Spaine, both Sicilies, France, Jerusalem, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Archduchesse of Austria, Duchesse of Milaine, Burgundie, and Brabant, Countesse of Haspurge, Flanders, Tyroll, etc.'

He was the first that ever writ of astronomie in the English tongue.

In an admonition for orderly studying of the author's workes before this booke there is an intimation in verse that he wrote these five bookes, scilicet, (1) The Ground of Arts, (2) the Pathway to Knowledge, (3) the Gate of Knowledge, (4) the Castle of Knowledge, (5) the Treasury of Knowledge.

All that I have seen of his are written in dialogues between the master and scholar.

[887]Can you[888] enforme me where Dr. Record lies buried? Me thinks Mr. Stow should mention him.

John David Rhees (1534-1609).

[889]Johannes David Rhesus, M.D.:—he wrote a compendium of Aristotle's Metaphysiques in the British language, mentioned in his epistle to Sir <Edward> Stradling before his Welsh Grammar. 'Twas in Jesus College library, Oxon, and my cosen Henry Vaughan (Olor Iscanus) had it in his custody. Dr. Rhees averres[890] there that the British language is as copious in expressing congruous termes of art as the Greeke or any language whatsoever. I have sent to Henry Vaughan for it.

[891]I have not yet heard from my cosen Henry Vaughan ('Olor Iscanus') concerning your queres[892] of Dr. David Rhese the physitian, which I wonder at.

John Rider (1562-1632).

[893]Memorandum—Rider is a Berks family, portant 'party per chevron argent and sable 3 crescents counter-chang'd.' Quaere if bishop <John> Rider, the author of the Dictionary, was a Berkshire man.

George Ripley (14— -1490?).

[894]George Ripley was a canon of Burlington, the greatest chymist of his time. Mr. Elias Ashmole has the draught of his monument there.

Mr. Meredith Lloyd (an able chymist, and who informed his majestie and Sir Robert Moray herin) hath a MS. in 8vo, 3 inches thick, transcribed by T. P. 1580, viz.:—Medulla Philosophiae, in English; item, Ripley's XII Gates, in English verse (more full then in Mr. Ashmole's Theatrum Chymicum)—'Geo. Ripley finivit opus, anno 1471'—with the astronomicall tables comprehending the secret of the booke.

Item, Mr. Meredith Lloyd haz here in this collection another MSS. of Chymistry ἀνονυμῶς.

Item, another MS. of Birford, a monk of Ford.

Item, The Mirror of Light[895], another MS.

Item, another of an ἀνόνυμος[896], on the same subject.

The Ordinall of Alchymy, by Norton, MS.

Item, de Mercurio et lapide philosophorum, MS.

In this volumne is also bound-up Ripley's Ars chymica quod sit licita recte exercentibus.

Item, Mercurii Trismagisti 7 tractat.

Item, ejusdem, Tabulae Smaragdinae.

Studium concilii conjugii de massa Solis et Lunae, impress. Argentorati, 1566.

I have not had leisure to peruse this rare treasure enough[897]; but I remember Ripley trounces the monkes of Westminster for cheating the citizens of London, promising them making of gold.

... Robartes.

[898]Concerning Furzecutters.—Brianston by Blandford in Dorset was, tempore Henr. 8, belonging to (Sir John, I thinke) Rocklington. He had a faire estate, and no child; and there was a poor cottager whose name was Rogers that had a pretty wife whom this knight did visit and had a mind to have a child by her. As he did suppose, he afterwards had; and in consideration of affection, etc., settled his whole estate on this young Rogers. William, lord marquesse Hartford (duke of Somerset), was son of the grand-daughter of this Rogers.

This present lord Roberts of Truro (now earl of Radnor) his grandfather (or great-grandfather) was a furze-cutter at ... in Cornwall—which I have heard old parson Wodenot of Linkenhorne in Cornwall say many times.

... Robson.

[899]Mr. <Fabian> Philips also[900] tells me that ... Robson was the first that brought into England the art of making Venice glasses, but Sir Edward Zouche (a courtier and drolling favourite of King James) oppressed this poor man Robson, and forc't it from him, by these 4 verses to King James, which made his majestie laugh so that he was ready to bes— his briggs. The verses are these:—

The king granted this ingeniose manufacture to Zouch, being tickled as aforesayd with these rythmes; and so poor Robson was oppressed and utterly undon, and came to that low degree of poverty that Mr. Philips told me that he swept the yard at Whitehall and that he himselfe sawe him doe it.

Sir Robert Mansell had the glasse-worke afterwards, and employed Mr. James Howell (author of The Vocall Forest) at Venice as a factor to furnish him with materialls for his worke.

Henry Rolle (1589-1656).

[901]I remember, about 1646 (or 1647) that Mr. John Maynard (now Sir John, and serjeant), came into Middle Temple hall, from Westminster-hall, weary with business, and hungry, when we had newly dined. He sate downe by Mr. Bennet Hoskyns (the only son of serjeant Hoskyns the poet), since baronet, and some others; who having made an end of their commons, fell unto various discourse, and what was the meaning of the text (Rom. 5. 7) 'For a just man one would dare to die; but for a good man one would willingly die.' They askt Mr. Maynard what was the difference between a just man and a good man. He was beginning to eate, and cryd:—'Hoh! you have eaten your dinners, and now have leasure to discourse; I have not.' He had eate but a bitt or two when he reply'd:—'I'le tell you the difference presently: serjeant Rolle is a just man, and Matthew Hale is a good man'; and so fell to make an end of his dinner. And there could not be a better[902] interpretation of this text. For serjeant Rolle was just, but by nature penurious; and his wife made him worse: Matthew Hale was not only just, but wonderfully charitable and open handed, and did not sound a trumpet neither, as the hypocrites doe.

Laurence Rooke (1623-1662).

[903]Laurence Rooke, borne at ... in Kent, was of <King's> Colledge in Cambridge, a good mathematician and a very good man, an intimate friend of Dr. Seth Ward (now lord bishop of Sarum).

I heard him reade at Gresham College on the sixth chapter of Clavis Mathematica, an excellent lecture: quaere for his papers which the bishop of Sarum haz.

He was a temperate man and of strong constitution, but tooke his sicknesse of which he dyed by setting up often for astronomicall observations. He lyes buried in the church of St. Bennet Finke in London, neer the Old Exchange.

His deare friend the bishop (then of Exon) gave to the Royall Societie a very faire pendulum clock, dedicated to Mr. Rooke's memory, with this inscription[904]:—

Societati Regali ad scientiam naturalem promovendam institutae dono dedit Reverendus in Christo pater, Sethus, episcopus Exon, ejusdem societatis sodalis in memoriam Laurentii Rook viri omni literarum genere instructissimi in Collegio Greshamensi primum Astronomiae deinde Geometriae professoris dictaeque societatis nuper sodalis, qui obiit Jun. 26, 1662.

Seth <Ward>, now lord bishop of Salisbury, hath all Mr. Rooke's papers: quod N.B.

This inscription was never set up; made, I thinke, by Ralph Bathurst; quaere Mr. Abraham Hill.

Note.

In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 117, attached to the notice of William Camden, are pp. 17-24 of Lewis du Moulin's Latin orations, 1652. On p. 18 of this, Aubrey writes: 'I found this fragment amongst the papers of Mr. Laurence Rooke in bishop Seth Ward's study after his death.' Page 19 begins: 'Oratio in laudem ... Cambdeni,' July 10, 1652, beginning: 'Cum muneris ratio postulet.'

Walter Rumsey (1584-1660).

[906]Judge Rumsey: vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon.

Walter Rumsey, of Lanover, in com. Monmouth, esquier (borne there), was of <Gloucester Hall> in Oxon; afterwards of the society of Graye's Inne, where he was a bencher.

He was one of the judges in South Wales, viz. Caermarthen, Pembrokeshire, and Cardigan circuit. He was so excellent a lawyer, that he was called The Picklock of the Lawe.

He was an ingeniose man, and had a philosophicall head; he was most curious for graffing, inoculating, and planting, and ponds. If he had any old dead plumbe-tree, or apple-tree, he lett them stand, and planted vines at the bottome, and lett them climbe up, and they would beare very well.

He was one of my councell in my law-suites in Breconshire about the entaile. He had a kindnesse for me and invited me to his house, and told me a great many fine things, both naturall and antiquarian.

He was very facetious, and a good musitian, playd on the organ and lute. He could compose.

He was much troubled with flegme, and being so one winter at the court at Ludlowe (where he was one of the councesellours), sitting by the fire, spitting and spawling, he tooke a fine tender sprig, and tied[907] a ragge at the end, and conceited he might putt it downe his throate, and fetch-up the flegme, and he did so. Afterwards he made this instrument of whale-bone. I have oftentimes seen him use it. I could never make it goe downe my throat, but for those that can 'tis a most incomparable engine. If troubled with the wind it cures you immediately. It makes you vomit without any paine, and besides, the vomits of apothecaries have aliquid veneni in them. He wrote a little 8vo booke, of this way of medicine, called Organon Salutis: London, printed for Daniel Pakeman, at the Rainebowe, in Fleet-street, 1659, scil. the second edition, dedicated to Henry <Pierrepont>, marquess of Dorchester. I had a young fellow (Marc Collins), that was my servant, that used it incomparably, more easily than the Judge; he made of them. In Wilts, among my things, are some of his making still. The Judge sayd he never sawe any one use it so dextrously in his life. It is no paine, when downe your throate; he would touch the bottome of his stomach with it. There is praefixt a letter from the Judge to Sir Henry Blount, knight; to which is annexed Sir Henry Blount's ingeniose answer.

John Rushworth (1607-1690).

[908]I was borne in Northumberland[909], but my parents were both born in the county of York. The title of the books I writ went by the name of Historicall Collections; except The earle of Strafford's triall, which I toke with my owne pen in characters at the time of his triall, which I have impartially published in folio. And I gave the first president of my method in writing and declaring onely matter of fact in order of time, without observation or reflection: but Dr. Nalson, a learned man, finds fault with me, but I leave it to posterity to judg.

I being neere of kin to Sir Thomas Fairfax, the parlament's generall, he made choice of me to be his secretary in the wars[910], by which means I am beter inabled to give account of military affairs, both in the first wars and in the second which hapened in the year 1648—all which I am now upon perfeting the same, but the times favors not the comeing of it forth.

There is an other thing which inables me the better to proceed with the work I am now upon, my privity to all debates and passages in the house of Commons: for that house made choice of me to be assistant at the table to Mr. Ellsing, clark of that parlament to the house of Commons, by which means I was privey to all circumstances in there procedings.

I might perticularly remonstrate more concernements of my owne, as being with the king Charles the first at the camp at Barwick, at the great councill at York, at Newborne[911] nere Newcastle upon the Scots invading of England, et cetera.

Both the houses of parlament had the confidence in me that they sent by me ther[912] addresses to the king after he left the parlament and went to Yorke. And it so fell out that I rode severall times, with that expedition betwen London and Yorke (being one hundred and fivetey miles) in 24 hours at a time.

Sir[913], pardon my boye's ignorance in writeing:

Jo. Rushworth[914]. Southwarke, July 21, 1687.

Mr.[915] Rushworth tells me he is superannuated. He hath forgott to putt downe the name of the place where borne: as also that he was secretary to Sir Orlando Bridgeman, when Lord Keeper of the great seale, which was a considerable place.

[916]Yesterday I saw Mr. Rushworth: which was a great mortification. He hath quite lost his memory with drinking brandy. Remembred nothing of you, etc. His landlady wiped his nose like a child.

[917]John Rushworth, of Lincoln's Inne, esq., historian, died in the Rules Court Alley in Southwarke, at the widow Bayley's house, a good woman and who was very carefull and tendfull of him, on Monday the twelfth day of May 1690[918]; and was buried the Wednesday following behind the pulpit in St. George's church in Southwarke. He was about 83, onwards to 84. He had no son, but 3 or 4 daughters, virtuous woemen: one is maried to Sir Francis Vane of ... in the north. He had forgot his children before he died.

Richard Sackville, third earl of Dorset (1589-1624).

[919]Richard, earle of Dorset (eldest son[920] and heire to the Lord Treasurer): he lived in the greatest grandeur of any nobleman of his time in England. He had 30 gentlemen, and gave to each 50 li. per annum, besides keeping his horse. George Villiers (after, duke of Bucks) was a pe<ti>tioner to have had a gentleman's place under him, and miss't it, and within a 12 moneth was a greater man himselfe; but the duke ever after bore a grudge to the earl of Dorset.—from the countesse of Thanet[921].

Richard Sackville, fifth earl of Dorset (1622-1677).

[922]Richard Sackville[BB], earle of Dorset[923], father of this earle (Richard)—'twas he that translated[BC] the Cid, a French comoedie, into English, about 1640.

Obiit anno Domini 167<7>; sepult. with his ancestors at Knoll in Kent. He was a fellow of the Royall Societie. He maried <Frances> Cranfield, daughter of the earle of Middlesex, by whome he had severall sonnes and daughters.

His eldest sonne is Richard, earl of Dorset and Middlesex, a most noble lord and my most kind friend.

Obiit 16<77>.

Notes.

Thomas Sackville, first earl of Dorset (1536-1608).

[925]Epigram on the earle of Dorset, who dyed suddenly at the council-boord.

These verses I transcribed out of the collection of my honoured friend and neighbour, Thomas Tyndale, esq.

Memorandum:—the tryall was with this Sir Richard Temple's great grandfather[926]. The Lord Treasurer had in his bosome some writings, which as he was pulling-out to give in evidience, sayed 'Here is that will strike you dead!' and as soon as he had spoken these words, fell downe starke dead in the place.—from Sir Richard Temple. (Memorandum:—an extraordinary perturbation of mind will bring an apoplexie: I know severall instances of it.)

'Twas this lord that gott Salisbury house cum appurtenantiis, juxta St. Bride's, in exchange for a piece of land, neer Cricklade in Wilts, I thinke called Marston, but the title was not good, nor did the value answer his promise.—from Seth, <bishop of> Sarum, who sayes that all the parish of St. Bride's belonged to the bishop of Sarum, as also all Shoe-lane.

Note.

In an old common-place book, of date circ. 1612, in Lincoln College library, is found this version of the lines:—

Robert Sanderson (1587-166[2/3]).

[927]Dr. Robert Sanderson[BD], lord bishop of Lincoln, would confesse to his intimate friends, that 'he studied and mastered only Tully's Offices[LXXX.], Tho. Aquinas's Secunda Secundae and Aristotle's Rhetorique, and that all other bookes he read but cursorily': but he had forgott, by his favour, to speake of Aristot. Organon, etc. (Logique bookes), els he could never have compiled his owne excellent Logique,—from Seth Ward, bishop of Sarum, and <John> Pierson, bishop of Chester, his great friends. And bishop Ward sayd that he[928] would doe the like were he to begin the world again.

He was a lover of musique, and was wont to play on his base violl, and also to sing to it. He was a lover of heraldry, and gave it in chardge in his articles of enquiry; but the clergie-men made him such a lamentable imperfect returne that it signified nothing. The very Parliamentarians reverenced him for his learning and his vertue, so that he alwayes kept his living, quod N.B. (the information in the Oxon. Antiq.[BE] was false).

He had no great memorie, I am certaine not a sure one; when I was a fresh-man and heard him read his first lecture, he was out in the Lord's Prayer. He alwayes read his sermons and lectures. Had his memorie been greater his judgement had been lesse: they are like two well-bucketts.

In his Logique, he recommends disputation to young men, as the best exercise for young witts. Under his picture, before his booke, is 'Aetat. 76, 1662.'

Notes.

George Sandys (1578-1643/4).

[929]In Boxley register thus:—'Georgius Sandys, poetarum Anglorum sui saeculi facile princeps, sepultus fuit Martii 7, stilo Anglicano, anno Domini 1643.'

I happened to speake with his niece, my lady Wyat, at whose howse, viz. at Boxley abbey, he dyed. She saies he told her a little before he dyed that he was about 63.

He lies buried in the chancel neer the dore on the south side, but without any remembrance or stone—which is pitty so sweet a swan should lye so ingloriously.

He had something in divinity ready for the presse, which my lady lost in the warres—the title of it shee does not remember.

William Saunderson (15—-1676).

[930]<In> Westminster abby[931] north aisle, the very place where colonel ... Matthews his statue was erected by the Parliament, to whom by his will he left all his estate.—This monument is of alablaster, a bust, but no coate of armes.

M.S. Guliel. Saundersoni, equit. aurati Regiaeque camerae generos. ordinar., viri à natalibus, ab eruditione, ab invicta sua erga principes fide, a scriptis, a candore, clari. Scripsit inter alia inque lucem emisit vitarum Mariae Scotorum reginae, Jacobi, et Caroli I historias idiomate Anglicano. Post varias clades sub nupera perduellium tyrannide acceptas, post diuturnos labores domi peregreque fortiter exantlatos, vitae hujus umbratilis satur, plus quam nonagenarius, animi tamen integer, transit ad meliorem, Julii 15 anno Christianorum MDCLXXVI. H.M. Conjugi optime de se merito quicum L annos concorditer vixerat Brigitta Edvardi Tyrelli eq. aurat. filia, virginumque nobilium sereniss. Catharinae reginae ancillantium (ut vocant) Mater M.P.

[932]Sir W. Saunderson:—he did read and write to his dying day. Sir Christopher Wren said that as he wrote not well so he wrote not ill. He dyed at Whitehall (I was then there): went out like a spent candle—died before Dr. <William> Holder could come to him with the sacrament. Quaere his family and coat of arms.

Sir Henry Savile (1549-1621/2).

[933]Sir Henry Savill[BF], knight, was borne in Yorkshire (vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon.).... He was a younger (or <son> of a younger) brother, not borne to a foot of land. He came to Merton Coll. Oxon. <1565>; made Warden there <1585>.

He was a learned gentleman, as most was of his time. He would faine have been thought (I have heard Mr. Hobbes say) to have been as great a scholar as Joseph Scaliger. But as for mathematiques, I have heard Dr. Wallis say that he look't on him to be as able a mathematician as any of his time. He was an extraordinary handsome and beautifull man; no lady had a finer complexion.

Queen Elizabeth favoured him much; he read (I think) Greeke and Politiques to her. He was also preferred to be Provost of Eaton colledge <1596>.

He was a very severe governour, the scholars hated him for his austerity. He could not abide witts: when a young scholar was recommended to him for a good witt, 'Out upon him, I'le have nothing to doe with him; give me the ploding student. If I would look for witts I would goe to Newgate, there be the witts[LXXXI.];' and John Earles (afterwards bishop of Sarum) was the only scholar that ever he tooke as recommended for a witt, which was from Dr. <William> Goodwyn, <dean> of Christ Church.

He was not only a severe governor, but old Mr. Yates[BH] (who was fellow in his time) would make lamentable complaints of him to his dyeing day, that he did oppresse the fellows grievously, and he was so great and a favourite to the Queen, that there was no dealing with him; his naeve was that he was too much inflated with his learning and riches.

He was very munificent, as appeares by the two lectures he has given of Astronomy and Geometry. Bishop Seth Ward, of Sarum, has told me that he first sent for Mr. <Edmund> Gunter, from London, (being of Oxford university) to have been his[934] Professor of Geometrie: so he came and brought with him his sector and quadrant, and fell to resolving of triangles and doeing a great many fine things. Said the grave knight, 'Doe you call this reading of Geometrie? This is shewing of tricks, man!' and so dismisst him with scorne, and sent for <Henry> Briggs, from Cambridge.

I have heard Dr. Wallis say, that Sir H. Savill has sufficiently confuted Joseph Scaliger de Quadratura Circuli, in the very margent of the booke: and that sometimes when J. Scaliger sayes 'A B = C D ex constructione,' Sir H. Savill writes sometimes in the margent, 'Et dominatio vestra est asinus ex constructione.'

He left only one daughter, which was[935]maried to Sir ... Sedley, of ... in Kent, mother to this present Sir Charles Sedley, who well resembles his grandfather Savill in the face, but is not so proper a man.

Sir H. Savill dyed at, and was buried at Eaton colledge, in the chapell, on the south east side of the chancell, under a faire black marble grave-stone, with this inscription:—

He had travelled very well, and had a generall acquaintance with the learned men abroad; by which meanes he obtained from beyond sea, out of their libraries, severall rare Greeke MSS., which he had copied by an excellent amanuensis for the Greeke character.

... putt a trick upon him, for he gott a friend to send him weekely over to ... in Flanders (I thinke), the sheetes of the curious Chrysostome that were printed at Eaton, and translated them into Latin, and printed them Greeke and Latin together, which quite spoyled the sale of Sir Henry's.

Memorandum:—he gave his collection of mathematicall bookes to a peculiar little library belonging to the Savillian Professors[BI].

Notes.

Sylvanus Scory (15— -1617).

[936]Sylvanus Scory (quaere if he was not knighted?) was the son and heire of <John> Scory, bishop of Hereford.

His father, John Skory, in the raigne of King Edward the Sixt, was bishop of Rochester, and translated from thence to Chichester, and afterwards to Hereford; 'who departed this life, at his house, at Whitburn, in com. Hereff., 26 Junii, Anno Domini 1585'—this out of an epitaph on his wife Elizabeth, who hath an inscription in St. Leonard's Shoreditch church.

He was a very handsome gentleman, and had an excellent witt, and his father gave him the best education, both at home and beyond the seas, that that age would afford, and loved him so dearly that he fleeced the church of Hereford to leave him a good estate, and he did let such long, and so many, leases, that, as M^ris Masters (daughter of Herbert Westphaling, esq., eldest son and heir to bishop Westphaling, of Hereford) told me, they were not out till about these 60 yeares. To my best remembrance, she told me the estate left him was 1500 li. per annum, which he reduced to nothing (alloweing himselfe the libertie to enjoy all the pleasures of this world), and left his sonne so poor, that when he came among gentlemen, they would fancy a crowne or ten shillings[937] for him.

I have heard Sir John Denham say (at Chalke, 1652), that he haz been well enformed that he was the most accomplished gentleman of his time. 'Tis a good testimoniall of his worth, that Mr. Benjamin Johnson (who ever scorned an unworthy patrone) dedicated his ... to him. I have heard Sir John Denham also say that he was the greatest confident and intimate favorite of Monsieur of France (brother to the French king), who was a suitor to queen Elizabeth, and whom her majestie entirely loved (and as a signall of it one time at St. Paule's church, London, openly kissed him in time of divine service) and would have had him for her husband, but only for reasons of state. When her majestie dismissed him, 'twas donne with all passion and respecte imaginable. She gave him royall presents; he was attended to Dover by the flower of the court; among others, by this sparke of whom I now write. When Monsieur tooke his leave of him he told him that though 'twas so that her majestie could not marie him (as aforesayd), yet he knew that she so much loved him that she would not deny him any request, wherby he might honour and benefit a friend; and accordingly writes his love-letter to his mistresse, the queen of England, and in it only begges that single bôn[938], to looke upon Mr. Scorie (the bearer) with a particular and extraordinary grace, for his sake; delivered[939] him the letter (and as I take it, gave him a jewell). As Sylvanus returned to London, through Canterbury, the mayer there (a shoemaker), a pragmaticall fellow, examined him, who and whence, etc. and what his business was, and if he had a passe? 'Yes,' quod he, 'I have a passe,' and produces Monsieur's letter, superscribed to her majestie, which, one would have thought, had been enough to have shewen. The mayor presently[940] breakes open the love-letter, and reades it. I know not how, this action happened to take wind, and 'twas brought to court, and became so ridicule that Sylvanus Scory was so laughed at and jeer'd that he never delivered the letter to the queen, which had been the easiest and most honourable step to preferment that mortall man could have desired.

John Securis.

[941]I have heard my old great-uncle, Mr. Thomas Browne, say that when he was a school boy there was one Dr. Securis a noted physitian at Salisbury (who was contemporary with this Dr. Mouffett[942]). He writt Almanacks—I have only seen two, which Henry Coley haz, which were for the yeares of our Lord 15[81[943]].

1580, a prognostication for the yeare of our Lord God MDLXXX, made and written in Salisbury by John Securis, Maister of Artes and Physick. London, cum privilegio regiae majestatis.

1581, eodem autore, wherunto is joynd a compendium or brief instruction how to keepe a moderate diet. London, etc.—Vide his preface wherin he speakes ☞ of haile-stones neer Salisbury as big as a child's fist of three or fower yeeres old.

Dorothy Selby.

[944]From Mr. Marshall[945]:—

Dedicated to the pious memory of Dame Dorothy Selby [etc.]

John Selden (1584-1654).

[946]Mr. John Selden when young did copie[947] records for Sir Robert Cotton—from Fabian Philips.

[948]John Selden, esq., was borne (as appeares by his epitaph, which he himselfe made, as I well remember archbishop Usher, Lord Primate, who did preach his funerall sermon, did then mention scil. as to spe certae resurrectionis) at Salvinton, a hamlet belonging to West Terring, in the com. of Sussex.

His father was a yeomanly man, of about fourty pounds per annum, and played well on the violin, in which he tooke delight, and at Christmas time, to please him selfe and his neighbours, he would play to them as they danced. My old lady Cotton[LXXXII.] (wife to Sir Robert Cotton, grandmother to this Sir <John> Cotton) was one time at Sir Thomas Alford's, in Sussex, at dinner, in Christmas time, and Mr. John Selden (then a young student) sate at the lower end of the table, who was lookt upon then to be of parts extraordinary, and some body asking who he was, 'twas replyed, his son that is playing on the violin <in> the hall[LXXXIII.]. I have heard Michael Malet (judge[BJ] Malet's son) say, that he had heard that Mr. John Selden's father taught on the lute. He had a pretty good estate by his wife.

He (vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon.) was of Hart-hall in Oxon, and Sir Giles Mompesson told me that he was then of that house[BK], and that he was a long scabby-pold boy, but a good student.

Thence he came to the Inner Temple. His chamber was in the paper buildings which looke towards the garden, ... staire-case, uppermost story, where he had a little gallery to walke in.

He was quickly taken notice of for his learning, and was sollicitor and steward to the earl of Kent[BL], whose countesse (was) an ingeniose woman....[949] After the earle's death he married her. He had a daughter[950], if not two, by ...; one was maried to a tradesman in Bristowe.... Mris. Williamson, one of my lady's woemen, a lusty, bouncing woman, ... robbed him on his death-bed....

His great friend heretofore was Mr. ... Hayward, to whom he dedicates his Titles of Honour; also Ben Johnson.

His treatise that Tythes were not jure divino drew[951] a great deale of envy upon him from the clergie. W. Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, made him make his recantation before the High Commission Court, of which you may have an account in Dr. Peter Heylen's Historie. After, he would never forgive the bishops, but did still in his writings levell them with the presbyterie. He was also severe and bitter in his speeches against ship-money, which speeches see.

He was one of the Assembly of Divines, and <Bulstrode> Whitlock, in his memoires, sayes that he was wont to mock the Assembly men about their little gilt Bibles, and would baffle them sadly: sayd he, 'I doe consider the original.'

[952]<Richard> Montague, <bishop> of Norwich, was his great antagonist; vide the bookes writt against each other.

He never owned the mariage with the countesse of Kent till after her death, upon some lawe account. He never kept any servant peculiar, but my ladie's were all at his command; he lived with her in Aedibus Carmeliticis (White Fryers), which was, before the conflagration, a noble dwelling.

He kept a plentifull table, and was never without learned company. He rose at ... clock in the morning (quaere Sir J. C.[BM]) and went to bed at....

He was temperate in eating and drinking. He had a slight stuffe, or silke, kind of false carpet, to cast[953] over the table where he read and his papers lay[954], when a stranger came-in, so that he needed not to displace[955] his bookes or papers.

He wrote ...: vide A. Wood's Antiq. Oxon. for the catalogue of the bookes writt by him.

He dyed of a dropsey; he had his funerall scutcheons all ready ... moneths before he dyed.

When he was neer death, the minister (Mr. <Richard> Johnson) was comeing to him to assoile him: Mr. Hobbes happened then to be there; sayd he, 'What, will you that have wrote like a man, now dye like a woman?' So the minister was not let in.

He dyed in Aedibus Carmeliticis (aforesayd) the last day of November, Anno Domini 1654; and on Thursday, the 14th day of December, was magnificently buryed in the Temple church. His executors were Matthew Hales (since Lord Chiefe Justice of the King's Bench), John Vaughan (since Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas), and Rowland Jewkes, Esq.: quaere the fourth executor[BN]. They invited all the Parliament men, all the benchers, and great officers. All the judges had[956] mourning, as also an abundance of persons of quality. The Lord Primate of Ireland, <James> Usher, preach't his funerall sermon.

His grave was about ten foot deepe or better, walled up a good way with bricks, of which also the bottome was paved, but the sides at the bottome for about two foot high were of black polished marble, wherein his coffin (covered with black bayes) lyeth, and upon that wall of marble was presently lett downe a huge black marble stone of great thicknesse, with this inscription:

Heic jacet corpus Johannis Seldeni, qui obiit 30 die Novembris, 1654.

Over this was turned an arch of brick (for the house would not loose their grownd), and upon that was throwne the earth, etc. and on the surface lieth another faire grave-stone of black marble, with this inscription:

I. SELDENVS, I. C. heic situs est.

This coate[957] ('..., 3 roses on a fess, between 3 swans' necks, erased, collared' [this is the coate of Baker]) is on the flatt marble; but is, indeed, the coate of his mother, for he had none of his owne, though he so well deserved it. 'Tis strange (me thinke) that he would not have one.

On the side of the wall above, is a faire[958] inscription of white marble: the epitaph he made himselfe as is before sayd, and Marchamond Needham, making mention of it in his Mercurius Politicus, sayd 'twas well he did it, for no man els could doe it for him. He was buried by Mr. <Richard> Johnson, then Master of the Temple, the directory way, where Mr. Johnson tooke an occasion to say[BO], 'a learned man sayes that when a learned man dies a great deale of learning dies with him: then certainly in this,' etc.

[959]Joannes Seldenus heic juxta situs, Natus est XVI Decembris, MDLXXXIV, Salvintoniae, Qui viculus est Terring occidentalis in Sussexiae maritimis, Parentibus honestis, Joanne Seldeno Thomae filio, e quinis secundo, Anno MDXLI nato, et Margareta filia et haerede unica Thomae Bakeri de Rushington, ex equestri Bakerorum in Cantio familia, filius e cunis superstitum unicus, aetatis fere LXX annorum. Denatus est ultimo die Novembris, Anno Salutis Reparatae MDCLIV, per quam expectat heic RESVRRECTIONEM Felicem.

He would tell his intimate friends, Sir Bennet Hoskyns, etc., that he had nobody to make his heire, except it were a milke-mayd, and that such people did not know what to doe with a great estate. Memorandum:—bishop Grostest, of Lincoln, told his brother, who asked him to make him a grate man; 'Brother,' said he, 'if your plough is broken, I'le pay the mending of it; or if an oxe is dead, I'le pay for another: but a plough-man I found you, and a plough-man I'le leave you'—Fuller's Holy State, p....

He never used any artificiall help to strengthen his memorie: 'twas purely naturall.

He was very tall, I guesse about 6 foot high; sharp ovall face; head not very big; long nose inclining to one side; full popping eie (gray). He was a poet[LXXXIV.], and Sir John Suckling brings him in the 'Session of the Poets.'

He was one of the assembly of divines in those dayes (as was also his highnesse ... Prince Elector Palatine[BP]), and was like a thorne in their sides; for he did baffle and vexe[960] them; for he was able to runne them all downe with his Greeke and antiquities.

Sir Robert Cotton (the great antiquary, that collected the library) was his great friend, whose son, Sir Thomas Cotton, was obnoxious to the Parliament, and skulked in the countrey: Mr. Selden had the key and command of the library, and preserved it, being then a Parliament man.

He intended to have given his owne library to the University of Oxford[LXXXV.], but received disobligation from them, for that they would not lend him some MSS.; wherfore by his will he left it to the disposall of his executors, who gave it to the Bodlean library, at Oxon.

He understood ... languages:—Latin, Greeke, Hebrew, Arabique, besides the learned modern.

In his writing of ... he used his learned friend, Mr. Henry Jacob, of Merton College, who did transcribe etc. for him, and as he was writing, would many times putt-in things of his owne head, which Mr. Selden did let stand, as he does, in his preface, acknowledge.

In his younger yeares he affected obscurity of style, which, after, he quite left off, and wrote perspicuously. 'Twill be granted that he was one of the greatest critiques of his time.

I remember my sadler who wrought many yeares to that family[961] told me that Mr. Selden had got more by his marriage then he had done by his practise. He was no eminent practiser at barre; not but that he was or might have been able enough; but after he had got a dulce ocium he chiefly addicted himselfe to his more ingeniose studies and records.

I have heard some divines say (I know not if maliciously) that 'twas true he was a man of great reading, but gave not his owne sentiment.

He was wont to say 'I'le keepe myselfe warme and moyst as long as I live, for I shall be cold and dry when I am dead.'

[962]John Selden, esq., would write sometimes, when notions came into his head, to preserve them, under his barber's hands. When he dyed his barber sayd he had a great mind to know his will, 'For,' sayd he, 'I never knew a wise man make a wise will.' He bequeathed his estate (40,000 li. value) to four executors, viz. Lord Chiefe Justice Hales, Lord Chief Justice Vaughan, Rowland Jukes, and ... (his flatterer)—from Fabian Philips.

Notes.

William Shakespear (1564-1616).

[963]Mr. William Shakespear was borne at Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwick. His father was a butcher, and I have been told heretofore by some of the neighbours, that when he was a boy he exercised his father's trade, but when he kill'd a calfe he would doe it in a high style, and make a speech. There was at that time another butcher's son in this towne that was held not at all inferior to him for a naturall witt, his acquaintance and coetanean, but dyed young.

This William being inclined naturally to poetry and acting, came to London, I guesse, about 18; and was an actor at one of the play-houses, and did act exceedingly well (now B. Johnson was never a good actor, but an excellent instructor).

He began early to make essayes at dramatique poetry, which at that time was very lowe; and his playes tooke well.

He was a handsome, well shap't man: very good company, and of a very readie and pleasant smooth witt.

The humour of ... the constable, in Midsomernight's Dreame, he happened to take at Grendon in Bucks—I thinke it was Midsomer night that he happened to lye there—which is the roade from London to Stratford, and there was living that constable about 1642, when I first came to Oxon: Mr. Josias Howe is of that parish, and knew him. Ben Johnson and he did gather humours of men dayly where ever they came. One time as he was at the tavern at Stratford super Avon, one Combes, an old rich usurer, was to be buryed, he makes there this extemporary epitaph,

He was wont to goe to his native countrey once a yeare. I thinke I have been told that he left 2 or 300 li. per annum there and thereabout to a sister. Vide his epitaph in Dugdale's Warwickshire.

I have heard Sir William Davenant and Mr. Thomas Shadwell (who is counted the best comoedian we have now) say that he had a most prodigious witt, and did admire his naturall parts beyond all other dramaticall writers. He was wont to say (B. Johnson's Underwoods) that he 'never blotted out a line in his life'; sayd Ben: Johnson, 'I wish he had blotted-out a thousand.'

His comoedies will remaine witt as long as the English tongue is understood, for that he handles mores hominum. Now our present writers reflect so much upon particular persons and coxcombeities, that twenty yeares hence they will not be understood.

Though, as Ben: Johnson sayes of him, that he had but little Latine and lesse Greek, he understood Latine pretty well, for he had been in his younger yeares a schoolmaster in the countrey.—from Mr. ... Beeston[964].

Ralph Sheldon (1623-1684).

[965]Ralph Sheldon, of Beoley, esq., natus at Weston, Warwickshire, Aug. 4, 1623, about 5 of the clock in the morning.

Memorandum the plott brake out in Oct. 1678. His house was search't; he disarmed; and afterwards a prisoner at Warwick.

Anno ..., very like to dye of a dropsey—quaere Sir Thomas Millington de hoc.

Faire Madam Frances Sheldon (one of the maydes of honour[966]) was born 24 Febr. at 8 or 9 at night. She was 23 last Febr. (1677/8).

Note.

This Ralph Sheldon was Anthony Wood's friend: see Clark's Wood's Life and Times, ii. 227, iii. 98.

John Sherburne (1616-1635).

[967]Sir Edward Shirbourn, knight, natus 18º Sept. A.D. 1616, hora 10 A.M. A little past halfe an hower after was born his twin brother John, who died anno aetatis 19º.

Both were borne before eleaven a clock; both excellent scholars; and excellent poets.

John, before he dyed, translated Ovid's Epistles, and better (I am informed, by Sir Edward, and John Davys of Kidwelly) then any we have in print.

James Shirley (1594-1666).

[968]James Shirley:—capt. <Edward> Shirburne, and Mr. <Thomas> Stanley (<author of> de vitis philosophorum, who was his scholar), say that he was of no University: bred a Paule's schole scholar.

He taught in Shoe lane: quaere.

Thomas Shirley (1638-1678).

[969]Thomas Shirley[BQ], M.D., of Weston-neston in Suffolk, edidit[BR] 'A true and perfect account of the examination confession tryall and condemnation, and execution of Joan Perry and her two sonnes for the supposed murther of Mr. William Harrison, being one of the most remarkable occurrences that hath happened in the memory of man': Lond., for Rowland Reynolds next Arundel gate opposite to St. Clements Church, 1676, stitch't, 4to.

Vide in <Sir Thomas> Herbert's travells, where are honourable remembrances of his relations in Persia.

Notes.

John Sloper.

[970]Mrs. Abigail Sloper [Grove] borne at Broad Chalke neer Salisbury, A.D. 1648 (the widowe Chalke sayeth 'twas on a Thursday). She was baptized May 4th, 1648. Goodwife Smyth (then a servant there) sayeth she beleeves she was borne 14 of Aprill. Pride; lechery; ungratefull to her father; maried, ...; runne distracted, ...; recovered,....

John Sloper, my godson, baptized Feb. 7, 1649.

Note.

John Sloper, father of these two, was vicar of Broad Chalk, Wilts.; see in the life of John Hales.

Jane Smyth (1649-16—).

[971]Mris Jane Smyth borne at ... the 15th of April 1649, between fower and 5 a clock in the morning.—She was told on Venus's day, i.e. Fryday[972]: if not so, 'twas on a Tuesday. It was the April after the beheading King Charles the first. It thundered and lightened and the house was on fire then.

My almanac, 1676, says the natalis was the 14th April[973]—quod N.B.: but Mrs. J. S. tells me again 'twas the fifteenth.

About 7 yeares old she lived in Sussex, Redhill, neer which Mr. Bradshaw, schoolmaster, lived—uxores germanorum.

On her trunk is:—

1662, I. Ƨ.

She came the second time to London halfe a yeare before the great plague in 1665.

She was sick of a feaver A.D. 1665; she sayd, not in London.

She was like to dye of St. Anthonie's fire about Michaelmas 1675. Mris Smyth fell sick dangerously of a pleurisie about the first weeke of October 1675. About the latter end of March 1675/6 she had a terrible chronicall disease[974], under which she laboured a 12 month or +. The first weeke in August 1683, in extreme danger of death by a suppression of urine, the ureters being stopped.

[975]Now I conclude with an earnest request that you would please to enquire for a colledge lease, as you did for Edward Shirbourne[976] (whom nobody can find[977]). It is for that obliging body, Mris Smith, that lives with Mr. Wyld. They cohabite, as Mary, countess of Pembroke, with Sir Martin Lister. I owe most of Mr. Wyld's civility from her goodness. And herein you will doe me the greatest kindness that you could imagine, for I am more obliged to her than to anybody. I beseech you, for God's sake, to mind this humble request of mine.

Charles Snell (1639-16—).

[978]Charles Snell, armiger, natus December 30, 1639, between 8 and 9 P.M. He maried September 1672.

Note.

Charles Snell lived near Fordingbridge in Hampshire. He occurs in these 'Brief Lives' and other Aubrey MSS. as a frequent correspondent of Aubrey's on matters astrological.

John Speed (1542-1629).

[979]He is in effigie, a faire monument, not much unlike Mr. Camden, in the south side of the chancell of St. Giles Cripplegate[980].

P.M. Charissimorum Parentum

Johannis Speed civis Londinensis, mercatorum scissorum fratris, servi fidelissimi regiarum majestatum Elizabethae Jacobi et Caroli nunc superstitis, terrarum nostrarum geographi accurati et fidi, Antiquitatis Britannicae historiographi, Geneologiae sacrae elegantissimi delineatoris, qui postquam annos 77 superaverat non tam morbo confectus quam mortalitatis taedio lassatus, corpore se levavit July 28, 1629, et jucundissimo Redemptoris sui desiderio sursum elatus, carnem hic in custodiam deposuit, denuò cum Christus venerit recepturus et Susannae suae suavissimae <conjugis> quae postquam duodecim illi filios et sex filias pepererat, annos quinquaginta septem junctis utriusque solatiis cum illo vixerat, liberos gravi et frequenti hortamine ad Dei cultum sollicitaverat, pietatis et charitatis opere quotidiano praeluxerat, emori demum erudiit suo exemplo quae septuagenaria placide in Christo obdormivit, et fidei suae mercedem habuit Martii vicesimo octavo Anno Domini MDCXXVIII.

John Speidell.

[981]Mr. ... Spiedell:—he taught mathematiques in London, and published a booke in quarto named Spiedel's Geometrical Extractions (London[982], 163-), which made young men have a love to geometrie.

Sir Henry Spelman (1562-1641).

[983]Sir Henry Spelman, knight, borne at ... (quaere Henry Spelman, his grandson).

From Mr. Justice Ball[984] at Windsore:—when he was about 10 or 12 he went to schoole to a curs't schoolmaster, to whom he had an antipathie. His master would discountenance him, and was very severe to him, and to a dull boy he would say as very a dunce as H. Spelman. He was a boy of great spirit, and would not learne there. He was (upon his importunity) sent <to> another schoolmaster, and profited very well. I have heard his grandson say, that the Spelmans' witts open late.

He was much perplexed with lawe-suites and worldly troubles, so that he was about 40 before he could settle himselfe to make any great progresse in learning, which when he did, we find what great monuments of antiquarian knowledge he has left to the world. W. Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, had a great esteeme for him, and made him one of the ... of the High Commission Court; yet (he being one that was extreme rigid as to the licensing of bookes, and against any nouvelle) hindred the printing of the 2d part of his Glossary, which began at M, where there were three M's that scandalized the Archbishop, viz.—Magna Charta; Magnum Consilium Regis; and....

From George Lee:—he was a handsome gentleman (as appeares by his picture in Bibliotheca Cottoniana), strong and valiant, and wore allwayes his sword, till he was about 70 or +, when, finding his legges to faulter through feeblenes as he was walking, 'Now,' said he, ''tis time to leave off my sword.'

When his daughter-in-lawe (Sir John's wife) returned home from visitting her neighbours, he would alwaies aske her what of antiquity she had heard or observed, and if she brought home no such account, he would chide her (jestingly).

He lies buried in the south crosse-aisle of Westminster abbey, at the foot of the pillar opposite to Mr. Camden's monument, but without any word of inscription or monument hitherto (1680).[985]I very well remember his penon that hung-up there, but it was either taken downe or fell downe when the scaffolds were putt up at the coronation of his majestie king Charles II.

Sir William Dugdale knew Sir Henry Spelman, and sayes he was as tall as his grandson, Harry Spelman. He haz been told that Sir Henry did not understand Latin perfectly till he was fourty years old. He said to Sir William, 'We are beholding to Mr. Speed and Stowe for stitching up for us our English History.' It seemes they were both taylers—quod N.B.

Note.

Aubrey notes that he was of 'Cambr.'; and gives in trick the coat:—'sable, 9 plates between two flaunches argent,' and adds, 'the crest is a wyld man.'

Edmund Spenser (1553-1598/9).

[986]Mr. Edmund Spencer was of Pembrooke-hall in Cambridge; he misst the fellowship there which bishop Andrewes gott. He was an acquaintance and frequenter of Sir Erasmus Dreyden. His mistris, Rosalind, was a kinswoman of Sir Erasmus' lady's. The chamber there at Sir Erasmus' is still called Mr. Spencer's chamber. Lately, at the College takeing-downe the wainscot of his chamber, they found an abundance of cards, with stanzas of the 'Faerie Queen' written on them.—from John Dreyden, esq., Poet Laureate.

Mr. Beeston sayes he was a little man, wore short haire, little band and little cuffs.

[987]Edmund Spenser:—Mr. Samuel Woodford (the poet, who paraphras'd the Psalmes) lives in Hampshire neer Alton, and he told me that Mr. Spenser lived sometime in these parts, in this delicate sweet ayre; where he enjoyed his muse, and writt good part of his verses. I have said before that Sir Philip Sydney and Sir Walter Ralegh were his acquaintance. He had lived some time in Ireland, and wrote[988] a description of it, which is printed with Morison's History, or Description, of Ireland.

Sir John Denham told me, that archbishop Usher, Lord Primate of Armagh, was acquainted with him, by this token: when Sir William Davenant's Gondibert came forth, Sir John askt the Lord Primate if he had seen it. Said the Primate, 'Out upon him, with his vaunting preface, he speakes against my old friend, Edmund Spenser.'

In the south crosse-aisle of Westminster abbey, next the dore, is this inscription:

☜

'Heare lies (expecting the second comeing of our Saviour Christ Jesus) the body of Edmund Spencer, the Prince of Poets of his tyme; whose divine spirit needs no other witnesse then the workes which he left behind him. He was borne in London, in the yeare 1510, and dyed in the yeare 1596.'

William Stafford (1593-1684). Robert Stafford (1588-1644).

[989]William Stafford, of Thornbury in com. Gloc., esq., descended of the family of the duke of Buckingham, was a student of Christ Church, Oxon. Old Dr. Fell[990] was his tutor. About 30 yeares + since[991] he printed a pamphlet, viz. The reasons of the warre. I thinke he was a parliament man—but of that party he was. He dyed about May last, 1684, aged ... <at> Thornbury.

[992]Dorothy, sister to William Stafford aforesayd, married to her first husband, <Robert> Stafford, her kinsman, who was of Exeter Coll., and pupill to Dr. John Prideaulx. He wrote a thin 4to Geographie, which I have read. I remember he begins thus:—

'Indignation made Juvenal a poet and me a geographer.'

Thomas Stanley (1625-1678).

[993]Thomas Stanley, esqr., son to Sir Thomas Stanley, born at Cumberlow....

His praeceptor, Mr. William Fairfax, in his father's howse.

Was of Pembrooke hall in Cambridge, where he took the degree of Master of Arts.

Was admitted ad eundem gradum in Oxford.

Writ his poems about the years 1646, 1647.

His History of Philosophy, in the years 1655, 1656.

His Aeschylus about the same time.

Dy'd April 12, 1678. Buried at St. Martin's in the Fields, in the middle isle.

His eldest sonne is Thomas Stanley, esq., of the Middle Temple, jurisconsultus[994]. He hath left two other sonnes, viz. 2. George, 3. Charles.

Thomas Stanley, the sonne, aforesayd, translated Aelian's Variae Historiae at 14 yeares of age. He was also of Pembrooke-hall in Cambridge.

Quaere his sonne pro nativitate patris and also of what age he was when he went to Cambridge.

Richard Staper (15—- 1608).

[995]Richard Staper, alderman of London:—On the south wall of St. Martin Outwich church, London, is a faire monument with this inscription, viz.—

Here resteth the bodie of the worshipfull Richard Staper, elected alderman of this citty anno 1594. He was the greatest merchant in his time, the chiefest actor in the discovery of the trades of Turkey and East India, a man humble in prosperity, painfull and ever ready in affaires publique, and discreetly carefull of his private, a liberall howsekeeper, bountifull to the poore, an upright dealer in the world, and a divout aspirer after the world to come, much blessed in his posterity, and happy in his and their allyaunces. He dyed the last June anno Domini 1608.

Intravit ut exiret.

Besides the figures of himselfe and wife are 5 sonnes and 4 daughters. At the top of the monument is a shippe.

Note.

Aubrey gives in trick three coats:—(1) 'argent, a cross between 4 estoyles sable'; (2) the same; impaling, ..., a cross ...; (3) the coat of the clothworkers' company, viz., <sable> a chevron ermine between <2 hauettes> in chief <argent> and in base <a teazel or>.

Thomas Stapleton (1535-1598).

[996]Thomas Stapleton, D.D., e Societate Jesu (vide Anthony Wood's Antiq. Oxon.) was born at Henford[997] in Sussex, which is about the middle of the river that runnes to Shoreham.

He was formerly of New Colledge in Oxon. ☞ Quaere of attorneys of that countrey if his familie continues[998] in those parts still: and if so, if his picture is there or elswhere; and quaere for it at the Convent at Lovaine where he died. Dr. John[999] Lamphire, principall of Hart Hall, would present it to the Schooles[1000].

Note.

Thomas Stapleton, of Henfield, Sussex, adm. probationer of New College Jan. 18, 1552/3; adm. Fellow Jan. 18, 1554/5: resigned his fellowship in 1559.

Thomas Stephens (1620-16—).

[1001]Mr. Steevens[1002], formerly of Pembrocke College, my old acquaintance there; but formerly at Blandford schole in Dorset, where he was usher about a yeare and by whom I reap't much information: since schoolemaster of Buckingham; and last, of Worcester: a very good and ingeniose person.

Richard Stokes (16—- 1681).

[1003]<Richard> Stokes, M.D.—his father was fellow of Eaton College (quaere if not prebend of Windsor[1004], and if not schoolmaster of Eaton? quaere Christopher Wase de hiis).

He was bred there and at King's College. Scholar to Mr. W. Oughtred for Mathematiques (Algebra). He made himselfe mad with it, but became sober again, but I feare like a crackt glasse: vide my Lives[1005], and Surrey notes[1006]. Edidit Mr. Oughtred's 'Trigonometrie.' Became a Roman Catholique; maried unhappily at Liege, dog and catt, etc. Became a sott. Dyed in Newgate, prisoner for debt, ... April, 1681 (quaere Mr. Everard diem).

John Stowe (1525-1605).

[1007]He was of the company of the Merchant Taylors, as by the scutcheon of that company[1008] doeth appeare—quaere +[1009] of that company.

St. Andrewes Undershaft, London, i.e. under, or by, the Maypole, which was anciently called a shaft. It stood over against the west end of the church, where now Mr. <Michael> Weekes's howse is.

His monument is in effige, sitting with a little table before him, with a booke. He was a handsome sanguine old man. 'Tis well carved (of wood) and painted.

On the north side of the chancel at the upper end[BS]:—

Memoriae Sacrum

Resurrectionem in Christo hic expectat Johannes Stowe, Civis Londinensis, qui, in antiquis monumentis eruendis accuratissima diligentia usus, Angliae Annales et Civitatis Londini Synopsim, bene de sua, bene de postera aetate meritus, luculenter scripsit. Vitaeque stadio pie et probe decurso, obiit aetatis anno 80

Die 5 Aprilis 1605.

Elizabetha conjux, ut perpetuum sui amoris testimonium, dolens ...

[1010]Sir William Dugdale told me that speakeing of ... Stowe to Sir Henry Spelman, Sir Henry told him that he had 'stich't us up a historie.' He was a taylor.

Note.

Thomas Street (1621/2-1689).

[1011]Mr. Thomas Streete[LXXXVI.], astronomer, was borne[BT] in Ireland, his widowe thinkes, at Castle Lyons, March the 5^th, 1621.

Anno 1661 he printed that excellent piece of Astronomia Carolina, which he dedicated to king Charles II, and also presented it well bound to prince Rupert and the duke of Monmouth, but never had a farthing of any of them.

Afterwards he published an Appendix to his Astronomia Carolina, 4to, which makes it perfect—printed for Francis Cossinet at the Anchor and Mariner in Tower Street, 1664.

Before this appendix he writes thus, scilicet:—

'I doe here think it fitting for once publiquely to propose unto all the world that by the farther blessing of God on my astronomical studies since the publication of my Astronomia Carolina I can discover and demonstrate the never yet discovered art and science of finding ☞ the true longitude, and can make it universally practicable at sea and land with the like ease and certainty as the latitude, and though the failings of severall specious pretenders to this discovery have almost perswaded the world to believe the impossibility thereof, if those that are most concerned herein will accept of it, either upon the same termes which them selves have already offered or other the like just and proportionable considerations, this proposall shall be (God willing) on my part faithfully and according to the attest of competent judges performed; otherwise I intend not to proceed any farther with it.

'Thomas Streete.'

[1012]He had the true motion of the moon by which he could doe it—(he hath finished the tables of the moon and also of Mercury, which was never made perfect before)—but two of his familiar acquaintance tell me that he did not committ this discovery to paper: so it is dead with him. He made attempts to be introduced to king Charles II and also to king James II, but courtiers would not doe it without a good gratuitie.

He was of a rough and cholerique humour. Discoursing with prince Rupert, his highnesse affirmed something that was not according to art; sayd Mr. Street, 'whoever affirmes that is[1013] no mathematician.' So they would point at him afterwards at court and say 'There's the man that huff't prince Rupert.'

<Scripsit:—>

[1014]Memorial verses relating to the Calendar, 4to.

Some Almanacks, for about three yeares, dedicated to Elias Ashmole, esquire: but was not encouraged for his great paines.—He was one of Mr. Ashmole's clarkes in the Excise office, which was his chiefest lively-hood.

The Planetary Systeme, with a description of the house, (Mr. Morden haz of them)—this was about 1670.

[1015]He hath left with his widowe (<who> lives in Warwick lane at the signe of the ...) an absolute piece of Trigonometrie, plain and spherical, in MS., more perfect than ever was yet donne, and more cleare and demonstrated.

He dyed in Chanon-row (vulgarly Channel-rowe) at Westminster, the 17th of August 1689, and is buried in the church yard of the new chapell there towards the east window of the chancel, scilicet, within twenty or 30 foot of the wall.

Hee made this following epitaph himself:—

His acquaintance talke of clubbing towards an inscription. No man living haz deserved so well of astronomie.

Note.

Sir Francis Stuart.

[1016]This Sir Francis Stuart[1017] was uncle (or great uncle) to the present dutchesse of Richmond.

He was a sea-captaine, and (I thinke) he was one summer a vice or rere-admirall. He was a learned gentleman, and one of the club at the Mermayd, in Fryday street, with Sir Walter Ralegh, etc., of that sodalitie: heroes and witts of that time. Ben Jonson dedicates The Silent Woman to him.

'To the truly noble by all titles Sir Francis Stuart.

'This makes that I now number you not only in the names of favour but the names of justice to what I write, and doe presently call you to the exercise of the noblest and manliest vertue as coveting rather to be freed in my fame by the authority of a judge than the credit of an undertaker.'

Henry Stubbe (1631/2-1676).

[1018]Dr. Henry Stubbs, physitian at Warwick, drowned July the middest 1676, riding between Bath and Bristol. Born 1631 Febr.

Sir John Suckling (1608/9-1641).

[1019]Sir John Suckling[BU], knight, was the eldest son of <Sir John> Suckling, of the Green Cloath, tempore[1020] ... (I thinke, Car. I). His mother was the daughter of.... He was borne <Febr. 1608/9>.

I have heard Mris Bond say, that Sir John's father was but a dull fellow (her husband, Mr. Thomas Bond, knew him): the witt came by the mother.

Quaere Dr. Busby if he was not of Westminster schoole? he might be about his time. I have heard Sir William Davenant say that he went to the university of Cambridge at eleaven yeares of age, where he studied three or four yeares (I thinke, four). By 18 he had well travelled France and Italie, and part of Germany, and (I thinke also) of Spaine.