AUBREY'S 'BRIEF LIVES'

... Ingelbert.

[A]Mr. Ingelbert was the first inventer or projector of bringing the water from Ware to London[1] called Middleton's water. He was a poore-man, but Sir Hugh Middleton[2], alderman of London, moneyed the businesse; undertooke it; and gott the profit and also the credit of that most usefull invention, for which there[3] ought to have been erected a statue for the memory of this poore-man from the city of London.—From my honoured and learned friend Mr. Fabian Philips, filiser of London, etc., who was in commission about this water.

Notes.

John Innocent (14— -1545).

[4]At Doctors Commons is 'argent on gules a mayd stark naked with a chaplet in her hand dexter.' The name I could never learn, till by chance, in Hampshire, by a courtier. It is the coate of Dr. Innocent, deane of Paule's and master of St. Crosses, tempore Henrici VII. Borne at Barkehamsted, Hertfordshire; where he built a free-schole, where this coat is in severall places. 'Tis endowed with 500li. per annum for 120 scholars from any part of England. The Visitor is the Warden of All Soules, Oxon.

Henry Isaacson (1581-1654).

[5]Mr. Henry Isaacson was secretary to Lancelot Andrews, lord bishop of Winton. Was borne in this parish (of St. Katharine Coleman) anno Domini 1581; christned—ex registro[I.]—Septemb. 17^th; and buried in this church. He died about the 7th of December, 1654. He had severall children: four sonnes still living, one is a minister at Stoke neer Ipswych in Suffolk.

In the chancell here[6] I find this inscription, on a marble grave-stone, viz.:

'Here lyeth the body of Richard Isaacson, esq., Eastland merchant, and free of the Paynters Stayners of this citie of London, who having lived in this parish 58 yeares, slept in the Lord 19 January, Anno Domini 1620. [II.]Henricus filius et haeres hoc memorabile posuit pietatis ergo.'

[7]Memorandum:—<Thomas> Bourman, Dr. of Divinity, of Kingston upon Thames, did know Mr. Isaacson, and told me that he was a learned man, which I easily believed when I heard he was secretary to that learned prelate, who made use of none but for merit. The Dr. told me that when he presented his Chronologie to his majestie King Charles the first, 'twas in the matted gallery at White-hall[III.]. The <king> presently discerned the purpose of the treatise, and turned to his owne birth; sayd the King, 'Here's one lye to begin with.' It seemes that Mr. Isaacson had taken it out of ... (a foreigner), who used the other account. Poor Mr. Isaacson was so ashamed at this unlucky rencounter, that he immediately sneak't away and stayd not for prayse or reward, both which perhaps he might have had, for his majestie was well pleased with it. He wrote severall little bookes, besides his Chronologie: quaere of the minister's wife (his niece) their titles. He was of Pembroke-hall, in Cambridge. He was there about Master of Arts standing.

[8]Concerning Henry Isaacson[9].

Sir,

I find that my grandfather dyed in St. Cathrin Coleman's parish London, the 19^e January, 1620, and to my best rememberance upon his gravestone in the chancell it was ingraven that hee had lived in the said parrish 58 yeares. He <was> fined for not serving the office of shereif of London, being chosen in the yeare 1618.

My father died in St. Cathrin Coleman's parrish above-said about the 7^e of December, 1654, which is neare 34 years after my grandfather's death. I calculate from the tyme of his birth to my grandfather's death to bee 39 yeares: ad[10] the 34 yeares after my grandfather's death to the 39 before: 39 + 34 makes 73 yeares his age—which all the familie agree that hee was seaventy three yeares of age when hee died, soe that hee was borne in anno 1581. Borne in anno 1581, dyed aged 73, makes 1654 the yeare when he dyed. And in all probabillity hee was borne in St. Kathrin Coleman's parrish, my grandfather having lived soe long tyme there: the church booke, if extant, will soone resolve yow—I never heard any thing to the contrary.

My brother William Isaacson could more exactly give you an account of the degrees he tooke, if any, but the University was Cambriege and the College Pembrooke-Hall. I thinke I have heard hee was Mr. of Arts standing, but am somthing uncertayne of this.

Rand. Isaacson. Fifeild, the 21^e Aprill 1681.

[11]In the table of benefactors in the Church of St. Catherine Colman, viz.—

'1620: Mr. Richard Isaacson'—the chronologer[12]—'2 li. 12s. per annum to the poor.'

James I (1566-1625).

<A life of 'James R.' is entered in the index to MS. Aubrey 6 (see vol. i. p. 8), as contemplated by Aubrey. If written, the life was hostile in tone, as may be seen from the following query towards it (Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 347: 8 Sept. 1680):—

'Pray search that booke[13], and see if you can find the ballad, or verses, on the coronation of king James—

... Jaquinto.

[14]Dr. Jaquinto: physitian to pope ..., then to king James[15]. He went into the marshes of Essex, where they putt their sheep to cure them of the rott, where he lived sometime purposely to observe what plants the sheep did eat, of which herbs he made his medicine for the consumption, which Mr. E. W.[16] haz.

David Jenkins (1586-1663).

[17]Judge Jenkins, prisoner in the Tower of London, Windsor, etc., <eleven> yeares, for his loyalty. He would have taken it kindly to have been made one of the judges in Westminster Hall, but would give no money for it, [so[18] the Lord Chancellor Hyde never preferred him].

He was of very good courage. Rode in the lord Gerard's army in Pembrokeshire, in the forlorne-hope, with his long rapier drawne holding it on-end.

Obiit Dec. 3, anno Domini 1663; sepult. at Cowbridge church in the south aisle in Glamorganshire. No remembrance yet (1682) set up for him.

[Quaere[19] Sir Robert Thomas whereabout in the church or chancell.]

[20]David Jenkins hath writt a learned treatise of the lawe, in folio, of cases twice judged (quaere nomen); and an 'opusculum' (Lex terrae, etc.) in 16mo.

Borne at ... in Glamorganshire. He was of Edmund Hall. Afterwards of Graye's inne. One of the judges[21] in South Wales. Imprisoned a long time in the Tower, Newgate, and Windsore. Was the only man that never complied. Dyed about 1665, at Cowbridge in Glamorganshire.

He marryed Sir John Aubrey's sister.

[22]David Jenkins, judge, was borne at Hensol, the place where he lived, in the parish of Pendeylwyn in com. Glamorgan. He was reciting this verse out of Ausonius, not long before he dyed, to Sir Llewellin Jenkins:—

Et baculo innitens, in qua reptabat arena.

Scripsit Opuscula, contayning severall little treatises, viz. Lex terrae, etc.; Rerum judicatarum censurae octo, in folio; praeter alias ejusdem naturae ineditas.

He was one of the judges of the Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembrokeshire circuit before the wars. In the warres he was taken prisoner at Hereford. Long time prisoner in the Tower, Newgate, Wallingford, and Windsore. Never submitted to the usurping power (I thinke, the only man). All his estate was confiscated; and was always excepted by the parliament in the first ranke of delinquents.

In his circuit in Wales at the beginning of the warres, he caused to be indicted severall men of those parts (that were parliament, etc. engaged against the king) for highe treason; and the grand jury indicted them. Afterwards, when he was prisoner in Newgate, some of these grandees came to him to triumph over him, and told him that if they had been thus in his power, he would have hanged them. 'God forbid els!' replied he—which undaunted returne they much admired.

The parliament intended to have hanged him; and he expected no lesse, but resolved to be hangd with the Bible under one arme and Magna Charta under the other. And hangd he had been, had not Harry Martyn told them in the house that

Sanguis martyrum est semen ecclesiae,

and that that way would doe them more mischiefe. So his life was saved, and they removed him out of the way to Wallingford Castle.

He dyed upwards (something[23]) of fowrscore yeares of age at Cowbridge in the county of Glamorgan,[24] on St. Nicholas day, November[25] the sixth, 1663; and in that church lyes buried, yet without a monument, but I thinke my cosen intends one.

'Tis pitty he was not made one of the judges of Westminster-hall for his long sufferings; and he might have been, he told me, if he would have given money to the Chancellor—but he scornd it. He needed it not, for he had his estate againe (1500 li. per annum), and being old and carceribus confractus. Mr. T. H., Malmesburiensis, told him one day at dinner that 'that hereafter would not shew well for somebodie's honour in history.'

[26]Sir Llewellin Jenkins remembers himself kindly to you. He hath made a very fine inscription (which is an abstract of his life) in laxe Iambiques for judge David Jenkins. I would have him send it to you, but he is too modest.

Sir Leoline Jenkins (1623-1685).

[27]Sir Lleuellin Jenkins, knight, was borne at Llantrithid in the countie of Glamorgan, anno domini....

His father (whom I knew) was a good plaine countreyman, a coppyholder of Sir John Aubrey, knight and baronet (eldest son of Sir Thomas), whose mannour it is.

He went to schoole at Cowbridge, not far off.

David Jenkins, that was prisoner in the Tower (maried a sister of Sir John Aubrey), was some remote kin to him; and, looking on him as a boy towardly, diligent, and good, he contributed something towards his education.

Anno Domini 164<1>, he was matriculated of Jesus College in Oxford, where he stayed till (I thinke) he tooke his degree of Bac. Artium.

About that time Sir John Aubrey sent for him home to enforme his eldest sonne Lewis Aubrey (since deceased, 1659) in grammar; and that he might take his learning the better, he was taught in the church-house where severall boyes came to schoole, and there were 6 or 7 gentlemen's sonnes (Sir Francis Maunsell, bart.; Mr. Edmund Thomas; Mr. ... ...) boarded in the towne. The young gentlemen were all neer of an age, and ripe for the University together; and to Oxford they all went under Mr. Jenkins' care about anno 1649 or 50, but by reason of the disturbances of those times, Sir John would not have his sonne of any college. But they all studyed at Mr. (now Sir) Sampson White's house, a grocer, opposite to University College. Here he stayed with my cosen about 3 yeares or better, and then, in anno 165- (vide Mr. Hobbes' de Corpore, 'twas that yeare), he travelled with my cosen and two or 3 of the other gentlemen into France, where they stayd about 3 yeares and made themselves masters of that language.

He first began[28] the Civill lawe, viz., bought <Arnold> Vinnius on Justinian, 1653[29].

When he brought home Mr. Lewis Aubrey, he returned to Jesus College (quaere, if he was of the foundation).

After his majestie's restauration Dr. <Francis> Maunsell was restored to his principallship of that house, but being very old and wearie of worldly cares, he kept it not long, before he resigned it to Mr. Jenkins.

Gilbert Sheldon, archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir John Aubrey were co-etanei, and contracted a great friendship at Oxon in their youth, which continued to their deaths. In the troublesome times after Dr. Sheldon was expelled, he was a yeare (I thinke) or two with Sir John at Llantrithid, where he tooke notice of the vertue and assiduity of the young man Mr. Jenkins. After the king's restauration Sir John Aubrey recommended Mr. Jenkins to him; made him. Anno <1668> he was archbishop of Canterbury: Sir <William> Meyric, LL.D. and Judge of <the Prerogative Court of Canterbury>, dyed, and the archbishop conferred that place on Mr. Jenkins.

Anno ... he had the honour of knighthood.

Anno 1673, <he> was sent with Sir Joseph Williamson, plenipotentiaries, to Nemeghen: I remember that very time they went away was opposition of Saturn and Mars. I sayd then to the earl of Th<anet> that if that ambassade came to any good I would never trust to astrologie again.

Anno 167- sent ambassador to ..., from whence he returned anno 16[79/80].

March 25, 1680, he was made Principall Secretary of Estate.—When I came to wayte on him to congratulate for the honour his majestie had been pleased to bestowe on him, he recieved me with his usuall courtesie, and sayd that 'it had pleased God to rayse-up a poore worme to doe his majestie humble service.'

He haz a strong body for study, indefatigable, temperate and vertuous. God blesse him.

When Mary the queen-mother dyed at Paris, the king of Fraunce caused her jewells and treasures to be locked up and sealed. His majestie of Great Britaine sent Sir Llewellin (which is Leoline in Latin) to Paris concerning the administration [1668[30]].

George Johnson (1625/6-1683).

[31]It pleased God at Whitsuntide last to bereave me of a deare, usefull, and faithfull friend Mr. Johnson who had the reversion of the place of Master of the Rolles; who generously, for friendship and neighbourhood sake (we were borne the same weeke and within 4 miles and educated together), gave me the graunt to be one of his secretaries—which place is worth 500 li. per annum. He was a strong lustie man and died of a malignant fever, infected by the earl of Abington's brother, making of his will. It was such an opportunity that I shall never have the like again.

[B]George Johnson, esq., borne at Bowdon parke, March the sixth 1625/6; respondet that he remembers his mother sayed 'twas just at noone. His mother was three dayes in labour with him.

Fever at Bowdon about 1669; quaere R. Wiseman.

Fever, most dangerous, at London Nov. and Dec, 1677.

Burghesse of Devises, 166-; made one of the judges of Ludlow, ...; maried about 1660; reader of the Middle Temple,....

Mr. Vere Bertie[32] was his chamber-fellowe in anno 1655, the wintertime, which was his rise.

My honoured and kind friend George Johnson, esq., died at his house at Bowdon-lodge, of an ague and feaver on the 28th of May[33] at 10^h A.M., being Whit-munday,

cujus animae propitietur Deus.

His death is an extraordinary losse to me, for that had he lived to have been Master of the Rolles I had been one of his secretarys, worth 600 li. +:—sed fiat voluntas Domini.

He went from London the Monday before; came home Tuesday; ill that night. Thursday pretty well. Fell ill again of an intermitting fever and died.

Note.

Inigo Jones (1573-1652).

[34]Inigo Jones' monument[C]—this tombe is on the north side of the church, but his bodie lies in the chancell about the middle. The inscription mentions that he built the banquetting howse and the portico at St. Paule's.—Mr. Marshall in Fetter lane tooke away the bust, etc. here to his howse, which see. Quaere Mr. Oliver + de hoc.

[35]Inigo Jones: vide epitaph at Mr. Marshall's.

Mr. <John> Oliver, the city surveyor, hath all his papers and designes, not only of St. Paul's Cathedral etc. and the Banquetting-house, but his designe of all Whitehall, suiteable to the Banquetting house; a rare thing, which see.

Memorandum:—Mr. Emanuel Decretz (serjeant painter to King Charles 1st) told me in 1649, that the catafalco of King James at his funerall (which is a kind of bed of state erected in Westminster abbey, as Robert, earl of Essex, had, Oliver Cromwell, and general Monke) was very ingeniosely designed by Mr. Inigo Jones, and that he made the 4 heades of the Cariatides (which bore up the canopie) of playster of Paris, and made the drapery of them of white callico, which was very handsome and very cheap, and shewed as well as if they had been cutt out of white marble.

Note.

Thomas Jones (16— -1682).

[36]... Jones, B.D., obiit at the house of <Francis> Charlton, esq.; buried the 8th of October, Sunday, 1682, at East Barnet in Middlesex: [student[37] sometime of Ch. Ch.; master ...].

Ben Jonson (1574-1637).

[38]Mr. Benjamin Johnson[D], Poet Laureat;—I remember when I was a scholar at Trin. Coll. Oxon. 1646, I heard Dr. Ralph Bathurst[E] (now deane of Wells) say that Ben Johnson was a Warwyckshire man—sed quaere. 'Tis agreed that his father was a minister; and by his epistle dedicat.[IV.] of 'Every Man ...' to Mr. William Camden that he was a Westminster scholar and that Mr. W. Camden was his school-master.

[Anthony[39] Wood in his Hist. <et Antiq. Univ. Oxon.>, lib. 2, p. 273, sayes he was borne in Westminster: that (at riper yeares) after he had studied at Cambridge he came of his owne accord to Oxon and there entred himselfe in Ch. Ch. and tooke his Master's degree in Oxon (or conferred on him) anno 1619.]

His mother, after his father's death, maried a brick-layer; and 'tis generally sayd that he wrought sometime with his father-in-lawe[40] (and particularly on the garden-wall of Lincoln's Inne next to Chancery-lane—from old parson <Richard> Hill, of Stretton, Hereff., 1646), and that ... ..., a knight, a bencher, walking thro' and hearing him repeat some Greeke verses out of Homer, discoursing with him, and finding him to have a witt extraordinary, gave him some exhibition to maintaine him at Trinity college in Cambridge, where he was ... ... (quaere).

Then he went into the Lowe-countreys, and spent some time (not very long) in the armie[41], not to the disgrace of ..., as you may find in his Epigrammes.

Then he came over into England, and acted and wrote, but both ill, at the Green Curtaine, a kind of nursery or obscure playhouse, somewhere in the suburbes (I thinke towards Shoreditch or Clarkenwell)—from J. Greenhill.

Then he undertooke againe to write a playe, and did hitt it admirably well, viz. 'Every man ...' which was his first good one.

Serjeant John Hoskins, of Herefordshire, was his father. I remember his sonne (Sir Bennet Hoskins, baronet, who was something poeticall in his youth) told me, that when he desired to be adopted his son: 'No,' sayd he, ''tis honour enough for me to be your brother; I am your father's son, 'twas he that polished me, I doe acknowledge it.'

He was (or rather had been) of a clear and faire skin; his habit was very plaine. I have heard Mr. Lacy, the player, say that he was wont to weare a coate like a coach-man's coate, with slitts under the arme-pitts. He would many times exceed in drinke (Canarie was his beloved liquour): then he would tumble home to bed, and, when he had thoroughly perspired, then to studie. I have seen his studyeing chaire, which was of strawe, such as old woemen used, and as Aulus Gellius is drawen in.

When I was in Oxon, bishop Skinner (of Oxford), who lay at our College, was wont to say that he understood an author as well as any man in England.

He mentions in his Epigrammes a sonne that he had, and his epitaph.

Long since, in King James' time, I have heard my uncle Danvers say (who knew him), that he lived without Temple Barre, at a combe-maker's shop, about the Elephant and Castle. In his later time he lived in Westminster, in the house under which you passe as you goe out of the churchyard into the old palace; where he dyed.

He lies buryed[V.] in the north aisle in the path of square stone (the rest is lozenge), opposite to the scutcheon[42] of Robertus de Ros, with this inscription only on him, in a pavement square, of blew marble, about 14 inches square,

O RARE BENN IOHNSON

which was donne at the chardge of Jack Young (afterwards knighted) who, walking there when the grave was covering,[43] gave the fellow eighteen pence to cutt it.

His motto before his (bought) bookes was, Tanquam Explorator. I remember 'tis in Seneca's Epistles.

He was a favourite of the Lord Chancellor Egerton, as appeares by severall verses to him. In one he begges his lordship to doe a friend of his a favour.

'Twas an ingeniose remarque of my lady Hoskins, that B. J. never writes of love, or if he does, does it not naturally.

He killed Mr. ... Marlow, the poet, on Bunhill, comeing from the Green-Curtain play-house.—From Sir Edward Shirburn.

[45]Ben Johnson:—Ben Jonson had 50 li. per annum for ... yeares together to keepe off Sir W. Wiseman of Essex from being sheriff. At last king James prickt him, and Ben came to his majestie and told him he 'had prickt him to the heart' and then explaynd himselfe (innuendo Sir W. W. being prickt sheriff) and got him struck off.

Vide his Execration against Vulcan. Vide None-such-Charles. When B. J. was dyeing king Charles sent him but X li. Quaere T. Shadwell pro notes of B. J. from the duke of Newcastle; and also quaere Thomas Henshawe (as also de saxis in Hibernia). Quaere my lord Clifford of the gentleman that cutt the grasse under Ben Jonson's feet, of whom he sayd 'Ungratefull man! I showed him Juvenal.'

[46]B. Jonson; one eye[47] lower then t'other and bigger. He tooke a catalogue from Mr. Lacy of the Yorkshire words[48]—his hint to Tale of a Tub for the clownery.

[49]Ben Johnson had one eie lower than t'other, and bigger, like Clun, the player: perhaps he begott Clun. He tooke a catalogue from Mr. Lacy (the player) of the Yorkshire dialect[50]. 'Twas his hint for clownery to his comoedy called The Tale of a Tub. This I had from Mr. Lacy.

[51]King James made him write against the Puritans, who began to be troublesome in his time.

A Grace by Ben Johnson, extempore, before King James.

The king was mighty enquisitive to know who this Raph was. Ben told him 'twas the drawer at the Swanne tavernne, by Charing-crosse, who drew him good Canarie. For this drollery his majestie gave him an hundred poundes.

[52]This account[F] I received from Mr. Isaac Walton (who wrote Dr. John Donne's &c. Life), Decemb. 2, 1680, he being then eighty-seaven years of age. This is his owne hand writing.

[53]Ffor yo^r ffriend's que. this:

I only knew Ben Johnson: but my lord of Winton knew him very well, and says he was in the 6º, that is the vpermost fforme in Westminster scole. At which time his father dyed, and his mother marryed a brickelayer, who made him (much against his will) to help him in his trade. But in a short time, his scole maister, Mr. Camden, got him a better imployment, which was to atend or accompany a son of Sir Walter Rauleyes in his travills. Within a short time after their returne, they parted (I think not in cole bloud) and with a loue sutable to what they had in their travills (not to be comended); and then, Ben began to set up for himselfe in the trade by which he got his subsistance and fame. Of which I nede not giue any account. He got in time to haue a 100 li. a yeare from the king, also a pention from the Cittie, and the like from many of the nobilitie, and some of the gentry, w^h was well payd for loue or fere of his raling in verse or prose, or boeth. My lord of Winton told me, he told him he was (in his long retyrement, and sicknes, when he saw him, which was often) much aflickted that hee had profain'd the scripture, in his playes; and lamented it with horror; yet, that at that time of his long retyrement, his pentions (so much as came yn) was giuen to a woman that gouern'd him, with whome he liud and dyed nere the Abie in West mimster; and that nether he nor she tooke much care for next weike, and wood be sure not to want wine; of which he vsually tooke too much before he went to bed, if not oftner and soner. My lord tells me, he knowes not, but thinks he was borne in Westminster. The question may be put to Mr. Wood very easily vpon what grownds he is positiue as to his being borne their? he is a friendly man and will resolue it. So much for brave Ben. You will not think the rest so tedyus, as I doe this.

Ffor yo^r 2 and 3º que. of Mr. Hill and Bilingsley, I doe nether know, nor can learn any thing worth teling you.

[54]For y^r two remaining que. of Mr. Warner and Mr.

Harriott, this:—Mr. Warner did long and constantly lodg nere the water-stares or market in Woolstable (Woolstable is a place or lane not far from Charing Crosse, and nerer to Northumberland howse). My lord of Winchester tells me he knew him, and that he saide he first fownd out the cerculation of the blood, and discover'd it <to> Do^r Haruie (who said that 'twas he (himselfe) that found it), for which he is so memorably famose. Warner had a pention of 40 li. a yeare from that earle of Northumberland that lay so long a prisner in the Towre, and som alowance from Sir Tho. Alesbery with whome he vsually spent his sumer in Windesor park, and was welcom, for he was harmless and quet. His winter was spent at the Wolstable, where he dyed in the time of the Parliament of 1640, of w^ch, or whome, he was no louer.

Mr. Harriott; my lord tells me, he knew him also: that he was a more gentile man, then Warner. That he had 120 li. a yeare pention from the said earle (who was a louer of ther studyes) and his lodging in Syon howse, where he thinks, or beliues, he dyed.

This is all I know or can learne for yo^r friend; which I wish may be worth the time and treble of reading it.

J. W. Nou^er. 22, 80.

I forgot to tell, that I heard the sermon preacht for the lady Danuers, and have it: but thanke y^r ffriend.

Notes.

John Kersey (1616-167-?).

[55]John Kersey, borne at Bodicot in Oxfordshire neer Banbury, anno domini 1616. Scripsit;—Arithmetique, 8vo; and two volumes of Algebra, folio.

Obiit in Shandos street, London, neer St. Martin's lane, anno domini 167-. He died of a consumption.

He did survey.

Ralph Kettell (1563-1643).

[56]Ralph Kettle, D.D., praeses Coll. Trin. Oxon., was borne at <King's Langley> in Hertfordshire.

The lady Elizabeth Pope brought him in to be a scholar of the house at eleaven yeares of age[G] (as I have heard Dr. Ralph Bathurst say).

I have heard Dr. Whistler[57] say that he wrote good Latin, and Dr. Ralph Bathurst (whose grandmother, ... Villers, he maried), that he scolded the best in Latin of any one that ever he knew. He was of an admirable healthy constitution.

He dyed a yeare + after I came to the Colledge, and he was then a good deale above 80 (quaere aetatem), and he had then a fresh ruddy complexion. He was a very tall well growne man. His gowne and surplice and hood being on, he had a terrible gigantique aspect, with his sharp gray eies. The ordinary gowne he wore was a russet cloath gowne.

He was, they say, white[58] very soon; he had a very venerable presence, and was an excellent governour. One of his maximes of governing was to keepe-downe the juvenilis impetus[VI.]. He was chosen President anno Domini <1598/9> the second after the foundation of the College.

He was a right Church of England man, and every Tuesday, in terme time, in the morning, the undergraduates (I have forgott if baccalaurs) were to come into the chapell and heare him expound on the 36 Articles[59] of the Church of England. I remember he was wont to talke much of the rood-loft, and of the wafers: he remembred those times. On these dayes, if any one had committed a fault, he should be sure to heare of it in the chapell before his fellow collegiates.

<On[60] these days, he would be sure to> have at him that had a white cap on; for he concluded him to have been drunke, and his head to ake. Sir[61] John Denham had borrowed money of Mr. Whistler, the recorder[62], and, after a great while, the recorder askt him for it again. Mr. Denham laught at it, and told him he never intended that. The recorder acquainted the President, who, at a lecture in the chapell, rattled him, and told him, 'Thy father,' (judge[63]) 'haz hanged many an honester man.' In my time, Mr. Anthony Ettrick and some others frighted a poor young freshman of Magd. Hall with conjuring, which when the old Dr. heard of: on the next Tuesday, sayd he, 'Mr. Ettrick'—who is a very little man—'will conjure up a jackanapes to be his great-grand-father.'

He sawe how the factious in religion in those dayes drew, and he kept himselfe unconcerned. W. Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, sent him one time a servant of his with venison, which the old Dr. with much earnestnes refused, and sayd that he was an old man, and his stomach weake, and he had not eaten of such meate in a long time, and by no meanes would accept of it; but the servant was as much pressing it on him on the other side, and told the President that he durst not carry it back[64] againe. Well, seing there was no avoyding it, the President asked the servant seriously, if the archbishop of Canterbury intended to putt in any scholars or fellowes[65] into his College?

Mr. ... ... one of the fellowes (in Mr. Francis Potter's time) was wont to say, that Dr. Kettel's braine was like a hasty-pudding, where there was memorie, judgement, and phancy all stirred together. He had all these faculties in great measure, but they were all just so jumbled together. If you had to doe with him, taking him for a foole, you would have found in him great subtilty and reach: è contra, if you treated with him as a wise man, you would have mistaken him for a foole. A neighbour of mine (Mr. La<urence> St. Low[H]) told me he heard him preach once in St. Marie's Church, at Oxon. He began thus: 'being my turne to preach in this place, I went into my study to prepare my selfe for my sermon, and I tooke downe a booke that had blew strings, and look't in it,[66]and 'twas sweet Saint Bernard. I chanced to read such a part of it, on such a subject, which haz made me to choose this text——.' I know not whether this was the only time or no that he used this following way of conclusion:—'But now I see it is time for me to shutt up my booke, for I see the doctors' men come-in wiping of their beardes from the ale-house.'—(He could from the pulpit plainly see them, and 'twas their custome in sermon to go there, and about the end of sermon to returne to wayte on their masters).

He had two wives, if not three, but no child (quaere). His second wife was a Villiers, or rather (I thinke) the widowe of ... Villers, esq., who had two beautifull daughters, co-heires. The eldest, whom severall of good estate[67] would gladly have wedded, he would needs dispose of himselfe, and he thought nobody so fitt a husband for this angelique creature as one Mr. Bathurst, of the College, a second brother, and of about 300 li. per annum, but an indifferent scholar, red fac'd, not at all handsome.

But the Doctor's fashion was to goe up and down the college, and peepe in at the key-holes to see whether the boyes did follow their books or no. He seldome found Bathurst minding of his booke, but mending of his old doublet or breeches. He was very thrifty and penurious, and upon this reason he caried away this curious creature. But she was very happy in her issue; all her children were ingeniose and prosperous[68] in the world, and most of them beautifull.

About ... (neer 70 yeares since, I suppose,) one Mr. Isham (elder brother to Sir Justinian Isham), a gentleman-commoner of this howse, dyed of the small pox. He was a very fine gentleman, and very well beloved by all the colledge, and severall of the fellowes would have preacht his funerall sermon, but Dr. Kettle would not permitt it, but would doe it himselfe; which the fellowes were sorry for, for they knew he would make a ridiculous piece of worke of it. But preach the Dr. did: takes a text and preaches on it a little while; and then takes another text, for the satisfaction of the young gentleman's mother; and anon he takes another text, for the satisfaction of the young gentleman's grandmother. When he came to the panegyrique, sayd he, 'He was the finest, swet[69] young gentleman; it did doe my heart good to see him walke along the quadrangle. Wee have an old proverbe that Hungry dogges will eate dirty puddings; but I must needes say for this young gentleman, that he always loved[VII.] sweet'—he spake it with a squeaking voice—'things,'—and there was an end.

He observed that the howses that had the smallest beer had most drunkards, for it forced them to goe into the town to comfort their stomachs; wherfore Dr. Kettle alwayes had in his College excellent beer, not better to be had in Oxon; so that we could not goe to any other place but for the worse, and we had the fewest drunkards of any howse in Oxford.

He was constantly at lectures and exercises in the hall to observe them, and brought along with him his hower-glasse; and one time, being offended at the boyes, he threatned them, that if they would not doe their exercise better he 'would bring an hower-glass two howers long.'

He was irreconcileable to long haire; called them hairy scalpes, and as for periwigges (which were then very rarely worne) he beleeved[71] them to be the scalpes of men cutt off after they were hang'd, and so tanned and dressed for use. When he observed the scolars' haire longer then ordinary (especially if they were scholars of the howse), he would bring a paire of cizers in his muffe (which he commonly wore), and woe be to them that sate on the outside of the table[I]. I remember he cutt Mr. Radford's[72] haire with the knife that chipps the bread on the buttery-hatch, and then he sang (this is in the old play—Henry VIII<'s time>—of Grammar[73] Gurton's needle)

'Mr.[J] Lydall,' sayd he, 'how doe you decline tondeo? Tondeo, tondes, tonedi?'

One time walking by the table where the Logick lecture was read, where the reader was telling the boyes that a syllogisme might be true quoad formam, but not quoad materiam; said the President (who would putt-in sometimes), 'There was a fox had spyed a crowe upon a tree, and he had a great mind to have him[74], and so getts under the tree in a hope, and layes out his tayle crooked like a horne, thinking the crowe might come and peck at it, and then he would seise him. Now come we' (this[75] was his word), 'I say the foxe's tayle is a horne: is this a true proposition or no?' (to one of the boyes). 'Yes,' sayd he (the Dr. expected he should have sayd No; for it putt him out of his designe); 'Why then,' said he, 'take him and toot him'; and away he went.

He dragg'd with one (i.e. right[76]) foot a little, by which he gave warning (like the rattlesnake) of his comeing. Will. Egerton (Major-Generall Egerton's younger brother), a good witt and mimick, would goe so like him, that sometime he would make the whole chapell rise up, imagining he had been entring in.

As they were reading of inscribing and circumscribing figures, sayd he,'I will shew you how to inscribe a triangle in a quadrangle. Bring a pig into the quadrangle, and I will sett the colledge dog at him, and he will take the pig by the eare; then come I and take the dog by the tayle, and the hog by the tayle, and so there you have a triangle in a quadrangle; quod erat faciendum.'

He preach't every Sunday at his parsonage at Garsington (about 5 miles off). He rode on his bay gelding, with his boy Ralph before him, with a leg of mutton (commonly) and some colledge bread. He did not care for the countrey revells, because they tended to debauchery. Sayd he, at Garsington revell, 'Here is Hey for Garsington! and Hey for Cuddesdon! and Hey Hockly! but here's nobody cries, Hey for God Almighty!'

Upon Trinity Sunday (our festival day) he would commonly preach at the Colledge, whither a number of the scholars of other howses would come, to laugh at him. In his prayer (where he was of course to remember Sir Thomas Pope, our founder, and the lady Elizabeth his wife, deceasd), he would many times make a willfull mistake, and say, 'Sir Thomas Pope our Confounder[77],' but then presently recall himselfe.

He was a person of great charity. In his college, where he observed diligent boyes that he ghessed had but a slender exhibition from their friends, he would many times putt money in at their windowes; that his right hand did not know what his left did.[78]Servitors that wrote good hands he would sett on worke to transcribe for him and reward them generosely, and give them good advise. Mris. Howe, of Grendon, sent him a present of hippocris, and some fine cheese-cakes, by a plain countrey fellow, her servant. The Dr. tastes the wine:—'What,' sayd he, 'didst thou take this drinke[79] out of a ditch?' and when he saw the cheese-cakes:—'What have we here, crinkum, crankum?' The poor fellow stared on him, and wondered at such a rough reception of such a handsome present; but he shortly made him amends with a good dinner and halfe-a-crowne. The parsonage of Garsington (which belongs to the college) is worth ... per annum, and this good old Doctor, when one of his parish[80], that was an honest industrious man, happened by any accident to be in decay and lowe in the world, would let his parsonage to him for a yeare, two, or three, fourty pounds a yeare under value.

In his younger yeares he had been chaplain to <Thomas> Bilson, bishop of Winton.

In August, 1642, the lord viscount Say and Seale came (by order of the Parliament) to visit the colleges, to see what of new Popery they could discover in the chapells. In our chapell, on the backside of the skreen, had been two altars (of painting well enough for those times, and the colours were admirably fresh and lively). That on the right hand as you enter the chapell was dedicated to St. Katharine, that on the left was of the taking our Saviour off from the crosse. My lord Say sawe that this was donne of old time, and Dr. Kettle told his lordship 'Truly, my Lord, we regard them no more then a dirty dish-clout'; so they remained untoucht, till Harris's time[81], and then were coloured over with green. The windowes of the chapell were good Gothique painting, in every columne a figure;—e.g. St. Cuthbert, St. Leonard, St. Oswald. I have forgott the rest. 'Tis pitty they should be lost. I have a note of all the scutcheons in glasse about the house. 'Twas pitty Dr. Bathurst tooke the old painted glasse out of the library. Anciently, in the chapell, was a little organ over the dore of the skreen. The pipes were, in my time, in the bursery.

[82]Memorandum:—till Oxford was surrendred we sang the reading psalmes on Sundayes, holy-dayes, and holy-day eves; and one of the scholars of the house sang the ghospell for the day in the hall, at the latter end of dinner, and concluded, Sic desinit Evangelium secundum beatum Johannem (or etc.): tu autem, Domine, miserere nostri.

He <Kettle> sang a shrill high treble; but there was one (J. Hoskyns[K]) who had a higher, and would play the wag with the Dr. to make him straine his voice up to his.

[83]Memorandum:—there was in my time a rich pall[84] to lay on a coffin, of crimson velvet, with a large plaine crosse on it of white silke or sattin.

[85]'Tis probable this venerable Dr. might have lived some yeares longer, and finisht his century, had not those civill warres come on: which much grieved him, that was wont to be absolute in the colledge, to be affronted and disrespected by rude soldiers. I remember, being at the Rhetorique lecture in the hall, a foot-soldier came in and[86] brake his hower-glasse. The Dr. indeed was just stept out, but Jack Dowch[L] pointed at it. Our grove was the Daphne for the ladies and their gallants to walke in, and many times my lady Isabella Thynne[VIII.] would make her entrey with a theorbo or lute played before her. I have heard her play on it in the grove myselfe, which she did rarely; for which Mr. Edmund Waller hath in his Poems for ever made her famous. One may say of her as Tacitus sayd of Agrippina, Cuncta alia illi adfuere, praeter animum honestum. She was most beautifull, most humble, charitable, etc. but she could not subdue one thing. I remember one time this lady and fine Mris. Fenshawe[IX.] (her great and intimate friend, who lay at our college), would have a frolick to make a visitt to the President. The old Dr. quickly perceived that they came to abuse him; he addresses his discourse to Mris. Fenshawe, saying, 'Madam, your husband[M] and father I bred up here, and I knew your grandfather; I know you to be a gentlewoman, I will not say you are a whore; but gett you gonne for a very woman.' The dissolutenesse of the times, as I have sayd, grieving the good old Doctor, his dayes were shortned, and dyed <July> anno Domini 1643, and was buried at Garsington: quaere his epitaph.

Seneca's scholar Nero found fault with his style, saying 'twas arena sine calce: now Dr. Kettle was wont to say that 'Seneca writes, as a boare does pisse,' scilicet, by jirkes.

I cannot forget a story that Robert Skinner, lord bishop of Oxford, haz told us:—one Slymaker[N], a fellow of this College long since, a fellow of great impudence, and little learning—the fashion was in those dayes to goe, every Satterday night (I thinke), to Joseph Barnes' shop, the bookeseller (opposite to the west end of St. Mary's), where the newes was brought from London, etc.—this impudent clowne would alwayes be hearkning to people's whisperings and overlooking their letters, that he was much taken notice of. Sir Isaac Wake, who was a very witty man, was resolved he would putt a trick upon him, and understood that such a Sunday Slymaker was to preach at St. Mary's. So Sir Isaac, the Saterday before, reades a very formall lettre to some person of quality, that cardinal Baronius was turned Protestant, and was marching with an army of 40,000 men against the Pope. Slymaker hearkned with greedy eares, and the next day in his prayer before his sermon[O], beseeched God[87]'of his infinite mercy and goodnesse to give a blessing to the army of cardinall Baronius, who was turnd Protestant, and now marching with an army of forty thousand men,' and so runnes on: he had a Stentorian voice, and thunderd it out. The auditors all stared and were amazed: ... Abbot (afterwards bishop of Sarum[88]) was then Vice-cancellor, and when Slymaker came out of the pulpit, sends for him, and asked his name: 'Slymaker,' sayd he; 'No,' sayd the Vice-canc., ''tis Lyemaker.'

Dr. Kettle, when he scolded at the idle young boies of his colledge, he used these names, viz. Turds, Tarrarags (these were the worst sort, rude rakells), Rascal-Jacks, Blindcinques, Scobberlotchers (these did no hurt, were sober, but went idleing about the grove with their hands in their pocketts, and telling the number of the trees there, or so).

[89]To make you merry I'le tell you a story that Dr. Henry Birket[90] told us tother day at his cosen <Thomas> Mariet's, scilicet that about 1638 or 1640 when he was of Trinity College, Dr. Kettle, preaching as he was wont to doe on Trinity Sunday, told 'em that they should keepe their bodies chast and holy: 'but,' said he, 'you fellows of the College here eate good commons and drinke good double-beer ... and that will gett-out.' How would the good old Dr. have raunted and beat-up his kettle-drum, if he should have seen such luxury in the College as there is now! Tempora mutantur.

Notes.

Ludolph van Keulen (1554?-1610).

[91]Ludolphus van Ceulin was first, by profession, a fencing-master; but becomeing deafe, he betooke himselfe to the studie of the mathematiques wherin he became famous.

He wrote a learned booke, printed at ... in 4to of the proportion of the diameter of a circle to the peripherie: before which is his picture, and round about it in the compartiment are swords and bucklers and holberts, etc.,—weapons: the reason wherof I understood not till D^r. John Pell gave the aforesaid account, who had it from Sir Francis Godolphin, who had been his scholar as to fencing and boarded in his house.

He dyed at Leyden anno ..., aetat. 56, as I remember (vide); and on his monument, according to his last will, is engraved the proportion abovesayd, which is....

Richard Kitson.

[92]My lodging is at the George Inne in Little Drury lane, very early or late, or at other times at Mr. Samuell Eyres his chamber at Lincolne's Inne or at Mr. John Hancock's chamber in the Middle Temple—Ric. Kitson.

Direct your letter in the country to me at my house in Amesbury neere Salisbury, Wiltes.

I use to be at Salisbury Tuesdayes and Saturdayes weekely—R. K.

Richard Knolles (154- -1610).

[93]<The> author of the battaile of Lepanto[94] <was> hangd at Tyburne; he was reduced to such necessity.

The lord Burleigh, when he read <Richard> Knolls' Turkish history was particularly extremely pleased at the discription of the battail of Lepanto; sent for Knolles, who told him an ingeniose young man came to him, hearing what he was about, and desired that he might write that, having been in that action. I thinke he has taught schoole about Sandwych.

My lord hunted after him, and traced him from place to place, and at last to Newgate. He was hanged but a 14 night before. He unluckily lost a good opportunity of being preferred—<from> Mr. Smyth, Magd. Coll.

John Lacy (16— -1681).

[95]John Lacy, player, of the King's house, borne at ... neer Doncaster in Yorkshire. Came to London to the ... playhouse, 1631. His master was.... Apprentice (as were also ... and Isaac) to Mr. John Ogilby.

B. Jonson tooke a note of his Yorkshire words and proverbes for his Tale of a Tub, several 'Gad kettlepinns!'

1642 vel 3, lievetenant and quartermaster to the lord Gerard[96]. Vide Dr. Earles' Character of a Player.

He was of an elegant shape, and fine[97] complexion.

His majestie (Charles II^d) haz severall pictures of this famous comoedian at Windsore and Hampton Court in the postures of severall parts that he acted, e.g., Teag, Lord Vaux, the Puritan.

He dyed of.... He made his exit on Saturday September 17th 1681, and was buryed in the farther churchyard of St. Martyn's in the fields on the Monday following, aged....

Scripsit these comoedies: that is to say,

... ...

Edward Lane (1605-1685).

[98]Edward Lane, who wrote against ... Du Moulin[P]: the title of his booke is ..., London, printed for W. Crooke, A.D....

In a letter from him to Mr. Crooke, thus, viz.:—

'As to the postscript of your letter, wherein I am desired to give an account of my academicall education, etc., know that in the yeare 1622, after I had been brought up to some learning in Paule's Schoole, London, I was admitted into St. John's Colledge, in Cambridge, where the president was my tutor; and after I had duely performed all that was required of me both in College and Schooles, I tooke my degree there of Master in Arts in the yeare 1629. And ten yeares after that, viz. in the yeare 1639, I was admitted ad eundem gradum in the university of Oxford. In the yeare 1630, my Lord Keeper Coventrey gave <me> a little vicarage in Essex, called North Strobury; and in the yeare 1635 his good Lordship removed me to the place where I now am. This I concieve is all that is now enquired of me by you.—The Lord give me grace so to number my dayes that I may apply my heart better then I have yet donne to Spiritual Wisdome.

Good sir, I am your true friend and servant, Edward Lane.' Sparsholt, Hants. Novemb. 16, 1681.

Note.

Sir Henry Lee (1530-1610/1). Sir Henry Lee (15— -1631).

[99]Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley in com. Oxon was a gentleman of a good estate, and a strong and valiant person.

He was raunger of Woodstocke parke, and (I have heard my old cosen Whitney say) would many times in his younger yeares walke at nights in the parke with his keepers.

Sir Gerard Fleetwood succeeded him in this place[X.]; as his nephew Sir William Fleetwood did him, and him the earl of Rochester.

This Sir Henry Lee's nephew and heire (whom I remember very well; he often came to Sir John Danvers') was called Whip-and-away. The occasion of it was thus:—this old hero declining in his strength by age and so not being able to be a righter of his owne wronges as heretofore—

Ovid. Metamorp. lib. xv, fab. 3 <l. 227>—

some person of quality had affronted him. So he spake to Sir Henry Lee his heire to lie in wayte for him about the Bell Inne in the Strand with halfe a dozen or more lustie fellowes at his back and as the partie passed along to give him a good blow with his cane and whip and away, the tall fellowes should finish the revenge. Whether 'twere nicety of conscience or cowardice, but Sir Henry the younger absolutely refused it. For which he was disinherited, and <Sir Henry the elder> setled his whole estate upon a keeper's sonne of Whitchwood-forest of his owne name, a one-eied young man, no kinne to him, from whom the earle of Lichfield[100] now is descended, as also the lady Norris and lady Wharton.

He was never maried, but kept woemen to reade to him when he was a bed. One of his readers was parson Jones[101] his wife of Wotton. I have heard her daughter (who had no more witt) glory what a brave reader her mother was and how Sir Harry's worship much delighted to heare her. But his dearest deare was Mris. Anne Vavasour. He erected a noble altar monument of marble (☞ see it) wheron his effigies in armour lay; at the feet was the effigies of his mistresse Mris. Anne Vavasour. Which occasioned these verses:—

Memorandum: some bishop did threaten to have this monument defaced (at least to remove Mris. A. Vavasour's effigies).

<Pedigree of the Lees of Ditchley.>

[103](1) Old Sir Henry Lee[104] of Ditchley, com. Oxon.

(2) Sir Henry Lee, whom they called Whip-and-away, was cosen-german to the other Sir Henry; he dyed a batchelor, sine prole.

Old Sir Henry Lee, knight of the Garter, and was supposed brother of queen Elizabeth. He ordered that all his family should be christned Harry's.

This account I take from my lady Elizabeth viscountesse Purbec, the eldest daughter of Sir John Danvers, sister to the lady Anne Lee.

William Lee (15— -1610).

[111]Mr. William Lee, A.M., was of Oxon[112] (I thinke, Magdalen Hall[Q]). He was the first inventor of the weaving of stockings by an engine of his contrivance. He was a Sussex man borne, or els lived there. He was a poor curate, and, observing how much paines his wife tooke in knitting a payre of stockings, he bought a stocking and a halfe, and observed the contrivance of the stitch, which he designed in his loome, which (though some of the appendent instruments of the engine be altered) keepes the same to this day. He went into France, and there dyed before his loome was made there. So the art was, not long since, in no part of the world but England. Oliver Protector made an act that it should be felonie to transport this engine. Vide Stowe's Chronicle and Baker's Chronicle, if any mention of it. This information I tooke from a weaver (by this engine) in Pear-poole lane, 1656. Sir John Hoskyns, Mr. Stafford Tyndale, and I, went purposely to see it.

Note.

William Lilly (1601-1681).

[113]W. Lilly—<life> donne by himselfe penes Mr. Elias Ashmole.

[114]Mr. W. Lilly obiit at his house in Hersham, Thursday, June 9, and is to be buried at Walton chancel[115] this day, scil. June 10, 1681. He was borne on May day 1601[116]: had he lived till next May he had been full fourscore. He setled his estate at Hersham, 200 li. per annum, on ... Whitlock, esqre, sonne of the Lord Commissioner Whitlock[117] (who was his great patrone).

[118]Mr. William Lilly, astrologer: he wrote his owne life very largely, which Elias Ashmole, esq., hath. Memorandum he predicted the great comete which appeared in anno Domini[119] 168<0>, in his almanack 1677, which was the last that he wrote himselfe with his owne hands; for afterwards he fell blind. Memorandum, to bind up the almanack aforesayd with other 8vo pamphlets, for 'tis exceeding considerable.

[120]Ne oblivione contereretur urna Gulielmi Lillii astrologi peritissimi qui fatis cessit V^to Idus Junii anno Christi Juliano MDCLXXXI Hoc illi posuit amoris monumentum Elias Ashmole, armiger.

On a black marble (good marble; 7 li.[121]) gravestone in the middle towards the north wall of Walton-on-Thames <church>.

Quaere—he wrote his own life which Mr. Ashmole hath and is dedicated to him.

Franciscus Linus.

[122]Father Franciscus Linus, i.e. Hall, was borne in London—which captain Robert Pugh, è Societate Jesus, assured me, who was his great acquaintance.

He was of the Societie of Jesus and lived most at Liège, where he dyed....

He writt a learned discourse, de coloribus, which Sir Kenelm Digby quotes with much praise in his philosophie.

He printed a discourse of dialling in 4to, Latin, and made the Jesuits College there the finest dialls in the world, which are described in that booke. The like dialls he made (which resemble something a ... of candlesticks) in the garden at Whitehall, which were one night, anno Dni. 167- (4[123], as I take it), broken all to pieces (for they were of glasse spheres) by the earl of Rochester, lord Buckhurst, Fleetwood Shephard, etc., comeing in from their revells. 'What!' said the earl of Rochester, 'doest thou stand here to ... time?' Dash they fell to worke. Ther was a watchman alwayes stood there to secure it.

He wrote a piece of philosophy in Latin in 8vo, called....

He had great skill in the optiques, and was an excellent philosopher and mathematician, and a person of exceeding suavity, goodnes, and piety, insomuch that I have heard father Manners, è Soc. Jes., say that he deserved canonisation.

Memorandum—he writ a little tract, about halfe a sheet or not much more, of Transubstantiation, proveing it metaphysically and by naturall reason—which I have seen.

[124]Franciscus Linus (Hall), Jesuite, at Leige. He told me he was born in London; see more in my memorandums of him to Mr. Anthony Wood.

Sir Kenelme Digby, in his booke of bodies, in the chapter of colours, speakes with a very great respect of Mr. ... Hall.

He writ and published a prety little booke in 8vo (or lesse) of natural philosophy—quaere nomen.

Sir Matthew Lister (1564-1656).

[125]Sir Matthew Lister was born at Thornton in Craven in Yorkshire. His nephew Martin Lister, M.D., R.S.S.[126], from whose mouth I have this information, tells me he was of Oriel College in Oxon; he thinkes he was a fellowe.

He built that stately house at Ampthill in Bedfordshire (now the earle of Alesbury's). He sent for the architects from Italie.

He died at Burwell neer Lowth in Lincolnshire about 1656 or 1657, aged 92 yeares.

He was physitian to queen Anne (queen of king James). See the list of the names of the physitians before the London dispensatorie; as I remember, he was then president of the Physitians' College at London.

He printed nothing that Dr. Martin Lister knowes of (Sir Matthew Lister bred him up).

[127]Mr. <Edmund> Wyld sayes Sir Matthew Lister built the house for Mary, countesse of Pembroke. He was her surveyour, and managed her estate[128]. The seat at Ampthill is now in the possession of the earl of Alesbury, whose grandfather (the earl of Elgin) bought it of the countesse of Pembroke.—That he was president of the Physitians College appeares by the dedication of the London dispensatory to him, being then president.

Evans Lloyd.

[129]1582: Almanack, supputated specially for the elevation and meridian of London but may generally serve for all England—by Evans Lloyd, student in Astronomie.

'Tis dedicated 'To the right honourable Sir Thomas Bromley, Lord Chancellour of England, and one of her majestie's most honourable privy councell.' He concludes thus:—'Your honour's most humble and dutifull, Evans Lloyd, late student in Oriall Colledge in Oxford.'

Martin Lluelyn (1616-1681/2).

[130]Martin Lluellyn was borne on Thursday the 12 of December 1616, a quarter befor 11 of clock in the night, the moon newly entred into Capricorn and near the full in Gemini. He was the seventh son, without any daughter between. He was christned on the 22 day of December at Litle St. Bartholomeu's church near Smithfeild, London: buried in the left chancel of Wicombe church near the wall.

[131]He lies interred in the middle of the north aisle of the chancell, towards the step or elevation, of Chipping Wickham in the county of Bucks, under a fair black marble gravestone.

Sir James Long (1613-1658/9).

[132]Sir James Long, baronet:—I should now be both orator and soldier to give this honoured friend of mine, 'a gentleman absolute[133] in all numbers,' his due character.

Only son of Sir W. L.; borne at South Wraxhall in Wilts. Westminster scholar; of Magd. coll. Oxon; Fisher there. Went to France. Maried anno ... D.[134] Leech, a most elegant beautie and witt, daughter of Sir E. L., 25 aetat. In the civill warres, colonel of horse in Sir Fr. Dodington's brigade. Good sword-man; horseman; admirable extempore orator pro harangue; great memorie; great historian and romanceer; great falkoner and for horsemanship; for insects; exceeding curious and searching long since, in naturall things.

Oliver, Protector, hawking at Hownselowe heath, discoursing with him, fell in love with his company, and commanded him to weare his sword, and to meete him a hawkeing, which made the strict cavaliers look on him with an evill eye.

Scripsit 'History and Causes of the Civill Warre,' or 'Reflections' (quaere); 'Examination of witches at Malmesburie.'

Note.

MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 187, is a coloured sketch by Aubrey of Sir James Long of Draycot and himself hawking; fol. 189 is Aubrey's pencil drawing for it.

Richard Lovelace (1618-1658).

[135]Richard Lovelace[R], esq.: he was a most beautifull gentleman.

Ovid. Metamorph.[136] fab. 5 (Echo), lib. III.

Obiit in a cellar in Long Acre, a little before the restauration of his majestie. Mr. Edmund Wyld, etc. have made collections for him, and given him money.

One of the handsomst men of England. He was of ... in Kent, 500 li. per annum and + (quaere E. W.).

He was an extraordinary handsome man, but prowd. He wrote a poem called Lucasta[XI.], 8vo, printed London by Thomas Harper to be sold at the Gun in Ivy lane, 1649[137].

He was of Glocester hall[138], as I have been told.

He had two younger brothers, viz. colonel Francis Lovelace, and another brother <William> that died at Carmarthen (prout per poema).

George Petty, haberdasher, in Fleet Street, carried xxs. to him every Monday morning from Sir ... Many and Charles Cotton, esq., for ... (quaere quot) moneths, but was never repayd[S].

Notes.

Cyprian Lucar.

[139]Mr. Cyprian Lucar[T] published a very profitable treatise in 4to for young beginners in the Mathematicks, intituled

'Lucar solace, divided into fower bookes, which in part are collected out of diverse authors in diverse languages, and in part devised by Cyprian Lucar, gentleman. Imprinted at London by Richard Field anno Domini 1590.'

It is dedicated 'to the right worshipfull his brother-in-law Maister William Roe, esquier, and alderman of the honorable citie of London.' This dedicatory epistle is a well writ and close stile. He expresseth himselfe short and cleare and to have been a publick-spirited and a good man as well as learned and ingenious. He dates it 'From my house in London the 1 day of May in the yeare of the creation of the world 5552, and in the yeare of our redemption 1590.'

The contents of the four bookes of Lucar Solace:—

'The first book containeth definitions of divers words and terms, names and lengthes of divers English measures, the true difference between an acar of land measured with a pearch of 12 foot, 18 foot, 20 foote, or 24 foote in length, and an acar of land measured with a pearch of 16 foot and an halfe foote in length, names and types of divers geometrical instruments, names and dwelling places of workmen which can make and doe sell such instruments, meanes to discerne whether or no the edge of a ruler is right, and infallible instructions by which an ingenious reader may readily measure upon any smooth table, drummes head, stoole or other superficies measurable lengths, bredthes, heights, and depthes, apply known lengthes, bredthes, heights, and depthes to many good purposes, know recorded heighthes, lengthes, and bredthes of some famous monuments in Sarum, in Westminster and in the honorable citie of London, know the antiquitie of the sayd citie of London, draw the true plat of any place, make a fit scale for any platt or mappe, reduce many plats into one fair mappe, reduce a mappe from a bigge forme to a lesse forme, and from a lesse forme to a bigge forme, and learne to know the commodities and discommodities of places.

[140]'The second book sheweth how an ingenuous person may measure a right-lined distance between any two places described in a mappe, how he may measure the circuite and superficiall content of any described peece of land, how he may find the centre of any polygonon equiangle figure, how he may find the center of any circle, how he may make by a part of the circumference the whole circumference agreeing unto that part, how he may bring any right lined figure into triangles and how he may know what number of angles in a right-lined figure are equall to any certain number of right angles.

'The third book instructeth the reader to make any triangle, square, or long-square, to erect a plumbe line upon any part or point of a line, to divide any circle into divers numbers of equall parts, to make any polygonon equiangle figure, to make an egge-forme figure, to know when a figure is inscribed within another figure or circumscribed about another figure, to inscribe certain rightlined figures within certain other rightlined figures, to circumscribe certain rightlined figures about certain other rightlined figures, to divide a right line into so many equall parts as he will, to tell whether a thing seen afar off doth stand still, goe from him, or come towards him, to draw a line equall to any assigned arch-line or to the whole circumference of any assigned circle or to any assigned part of a circle, to draw a circular line equall to any assigned right line, to separate, lay out, and inclose within a long square, one, two or three acars of land by diverse waies from any peece of ground adjoyning, to change a figure of one forme into an equall figure of another appointed forme, to make a right line angle equall to a right line angle given, to draw a parallel to a right line given, and to cube any assigned sphere.

'The fourth booke teacheth the reader to know fruitfull barren and minerall grounds, growthes ages and solid contents of trees, and where a good air is. It doth also teach the reader to build for the preservation of health, to make a tunnell of a chimney so as no smoak shall annoy him in his house, to fell timber and make sound boords for buildings, to sink a well in due time and in a place where water may be found, and to know whether a new found spring of water will drie up in a hot and dry summer; also it sheweth how water in a shallow well is more wholesome than water in a deep well, how every well ought to be uncovered[141]and often times drawn drie, how the use of water is necessary, how divers sorts of water have divers qualities, how there are divers meanes to trie among many sorts of water which water is best, how great store of water may be thrown out of a new-devised squerte upon any fired house or other thing, how water may be brought in pipes or in gutters within the ground to any appointed sesterne, how the depth of any sea may be found, how the force of running waters which weare away land may be broken; how wet grounds and bogges may be drained, and how by the art taught in these 4 bookes the ingenuous reader may devise new workes, strange engins and instruments not only for private pleasure but also for sundry purposes in the common-wealth.'

Memorandum:—in the XXIII chapter of the third booke of Lucar Solace, in the beginning of the chapter, he quotes the 67 chapter of his booke ☞ intituled Lucar appendix, which I never saw.

Note.

Henry Lyte (1529(?)-1607).

[142]I will enquire at Lyte's-Cary when Henry Lyte[143], esq., dyed.—He translated Dodantus' Herball, and writt a little pamphlet, which I have, called 'The light of Britaine, being a short summary of the old English history,' dedicated to queen Elizabeth.

He began the genealogy of king James, derived from Brute; which his eldest son Thomas Lyte, of Lyte's-Cary aforesaid, finished, and presented to king James. It is most rarely donne and exquisitly limmed by a limmer—all the kings' pictures, etc. King James, after it had hung some time at Whitehal, ordered him to have it[144]again and to gett <it> ingraved, which was donne. Mr. Humble of Pope's-head alley had the plates before the fire: I hope they are not lost—it is most curiously donne, by Hole. It is as big as the greatest map of England that ever I sawe. Mr. Camden much admired, and at the foot writt 6 or 8 verses with his owne hand:—

etc.—which I have forgott.

T. Lyte writt the best print hand that ever I yet sawe. The originall, which is now in the parlour at Lyte's-Cary, was writt with his hand, and limmed by a famous artist.

[145]They[146] both lye buried in a burying place belonging to them in the church at Charlton Makerell in Somersetshire.

[147]Henry Lyte lived to the age of 78, and was buried in the north aisle of the church of Charlton Makarell in Somersetshire anno 1607—which aisle belongs to Lyte's-Cary.

Isaac Lyte (1576/7-1659/60).

[148]Mr. Isaac Lyte, of Easton-Piers, my honoured grand-father, was born there March XIX, 1576; hora ignoratur. Baptizatus March XIX, 1576—ex registro.

Obiit Febr. 21, 1659, die Martis[149], circiter horam quartam mane.

Mris Israel Lyte, my honoured grandmother, died Febr. 24, 1661/2, inter horas 3 et 4 P.M.

Sir John Mandeville.

[150]☞ Captain Robert Pugh[151] assures me that Sir John Mandeville, the famous traveller, lyes buryed at Liege in Germany, with which note amend lib. B[152], where I thought he had been buryed at St. Alban's abbey church as Mr. Thomas Gore told me. But I thinke I remember something writt of him there in a table on a pillar or wall: but he was there borne (as in his life).

Gervase Markham (1568-1637).

[153]Mr. ... Markham: he wrote of husbandry and huswifry, 4to; of horsemanship, 4to; of the art of shooting with the long bow, 8vo; etc.—quaere.

He was a Nottinghamshire gentleman. His brother Sir Gryffin Markham was servant to the emperor ..., and did deserve well of him.

This ... Markham, the writer, dyed poor.—Old Jack Markham (late gentleman-usher to the queen) from whom I have these informations told me he hath given <him> many a crowne.

William Marshall (1606-16—).

[154]William Marshall, sculptor, natus Oct. 7, horâ 0 min. 23 P.M., 1606.—Conjunction of Mercury and Leo made him stammer.

Sir Henry Martin (1562-1641).

[155]Sir Henry Martin, LL.D., was borne at Stoke-Poges in the countie of Bucks; his father a copy-holder there of about 60 li. per annum. He was formerly a fellow of New Colledg, Oxon. He left his sonne 3000 li. per annum.

[156]H. Martyn.—his father <Sir Henry> has a handsome monument at Becket in Berks which he purchased of Sir ... Essex.

Note.

Henry Martyn, of the parish of 'S. Michael in Basingeshall,' London, was adm. probationer of New College, Aug. 19, 1580, and Fellow July 6, 1582; vacated his fellowship in 1595. He was Judge of the Admiralty, Dean of the Arches, and Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Aubrey (MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 12^v) gives for his coat, 'argent, 2 bars gules, each charged with 3 besants.'

Henry Martin (1602-1680).

[157]Henry Martin, esq., son and heir of Sir Henry Martin, knight, Judge of the Arches, was borne at <Oxford>.

Henry, the son, was of the university of <Oxford[158]>; travelled France, but never Italie. His father found out a rich wife for him, whom he married something unwillingly. He was a great lover of pretty girles, to whom he was so liberall that he spent the greatest part of his estate.

When he had found out a maried woman[159] that he liked (and he had his emissaries, male and female, to looke out) he would contrive such or such a good bargain, 20 or 30 li. per annum under rent, to have her neer him. He lived from his wife a long time. If I am not mistaken shee was sometime distempered by his unkindnesse to her.

King Charles I had complaint against him for his wenching. It happened that Henry was in Hyde-parke one time when his majestie was there, goeing to see a race. The king espied him, and sayd aloud, 'Let that ugly rascall be gonne out of the parke, that whore-master, or els I will not see the sport.' So Henry went away patiently, sed manebat alta mente repostum. That sarcasme raysed the whole countie of Berks against him[160]: he[161] was as far from a Puritane as light from darknesse. Shortly after[162], (1641) he was chosen knight of the shire of that county, nemine contradicente, and proved a deadly enemy to the king.

He was a great and faithfull lover of his countrey, and never gott a farthing by the Parliament. He was of an incomparable witt for reparte's; not at all covetous; humble, not at all arrogant, as most of them were; a great cultor of justice, and did always in the house take the part of the oppressed.

Anno 1660 he was obnoxious for having been one of the late king's judges, and he was in very great danger to have suffred as the others did (he pleaded only the king's Act or Proclamation at Breda, which he shewd in his hand), but (as he was a witt himselfe) so the lord Falkland saved his life by witt, saying, 'Gentlemen, yee talke here of makeing a sacrifice; it was the old lawe[163], all sacrifices were to be without spott or blemish; and now you are going to make an old rotten rascall a sacrifice.' This witt tooke in the house, and saved his life.

He was first a prisoner at the Tower; then at Windsore (removed from thence because he was an eie-sore to his majestie etc.); from thence to Chepstowe, where he is now (1680). During his imprisonment his wife relieved him out of her joincture, but she dyed....

His stature was but midling; his habit moderate; his face not good. Sir Edward Baynton was wont to say that his company was incomparable, but that he would be drunke too soon.

His speeches in the house were not long, but wondrous poynant, pertinent, and witty. He was exceeding happy in apt instances. He alone haz sometimes turned the whole house. Makeing an invective speech one time against old Sir Henry Vane, when he had don with him, <he> said, But for young Sir Harry Vane——and so sate him downe. Severall cryed out—'What have you to say to young Sir Harry?' He rises up: Why! if young Sir Harry lives to be old; he will be old Sir Harry! and so sate downe, and set[164] the house a laughing, as he oftentimes did.—Oliver Cromwell once in the house called him, jestingly or scoffingly, 'Sir Harry Martin.' H. M. rises and bowes, 'I thanke your majestie, I alwayes thought when you were king, that I should be knighted.'—A godly member made a motion to have all profane and unsanctified persons expelled the Houses. H. M. stood up and moved that all the fooles might be putt out likewise, and then there would be a thin house.—He was wont to sleep much in the house (at least dog-sleepe): alderman Atkins made a motion that such scandalous members as slept and minded not the businesse of the house, should be putt-out. H. M. starts up—'Mr. Speaker, a motion has been to turne out the Nodders; I desire the Noddees may also be turnd out.'—H. M. sayd that he had 'seen the Scripture fulfilld—Thou hast exalted the humble and meeke; thou hast filled the emptie with ... things, and the rich hast thou sent emptie away.'—See a pretty speech of his in print about the comeing in of the Scotts to assist and direct us.

[165]Henry Martyn made the motion in the house to call the addressers to account (viz. those that addressed to Richard Cromwell, Protector, to stand by him with their lives and fortunes), and that all the addressers that were of it (of the house) might be turnd[166] out as enemies to the commonwealth of England and betrayers of their trust to bring in government by a single person. Had not Dick Cromwell sneak't away, then it is certaine that the Rump would have cutt-off his head, as I am well assurd from a deare friend[167] of mine.

Memorandum that Dr. <John> Wilkins (who[168] maried his[169] aunt) was very instrumentall in perswading persons of quality and corporations to addresse: but what did it signifie?

Henry Martin, esq.; 'you[170] have already made your little less.'

His short lettre to his cosen Stonehouse of [Radley[171]] by Abingdon that 'if his majestie should take advice of his gunsmiths and powder-men he would never have peace'—from Sir John Lenthall: as also of his draweing the remonstrance of the Parliament when 'twas formed a commonwealth—within five or six lines of the beginning he sayes 'restored to it's auncient goverment[172] of a commonwealth.' When 'twas read Sir Henry Vane stood up and repremanded and 'wondred at his impudence to affirme such a notorious lye.' H. M., standing up, meekely replied that 'there was a text had much troubled his spirit for severall dayes and nights of the man that was blind from his mother's womb[173] whose sight was restored[174] at last,' i.e. was restored to the sight which he should have had.

[175]Insert the song of

'Oliver came to the House like a spright' etc.

Obiit at Chepstowe, a prisoner, September ... (about the middle) anno Domini 1680.

He was very hospitable and exceeding popular in Berks, the whole countie.

Memorandum when his study was searcht they found lettres[XII.] to his concubine, which was printed 4to. There is witt and good nature in them.

Becket in the parish of Shrineham, his chiefe seate: in the Vale of White-horse: now major Wildman's.

Richard Martin (1570-1618).

[177]Richard Martin[U] was borne....

Insert here his picture[V] which I sent to Mr. A. Wood[W].

He was of the ancient familie of the Martins of Athelminston in the countie of Dorset, a very faire seate. The name was lost about 50 yeares since by a daughter and heire, who was maried to ... Bruen, who had a daughter and heire maried to Sir Ralph Banks, who sold it to Sir Robert Long (1668). In the church are severall noble monuments. Their crest is an ape; men use to say 'a Martin ape.'

(In queen Elizabeth's time, one Penry of Wales wrote a booke[XIII.] called Martin Marprelate, on which there was this epigram:—

He was a very handsome man, a gracefull speaker, facetious, and well-beloved. I thinke he dyed of a merry symposiaque.

He was recorder but a moneth before his death[178].

These verses were written on his Bible:—

J. Hoskyns.

He is buried in the north side of the Temple church, where is a faire monument of him kneeling, with this inscription, made by his friend serjeant Hoskyns:—

Salve Lector.

Vale Jurisconsulte.

[179]Richard Martin[180], recorder of London.

Ben Johnson dedicates his comoedie called the Poetaster to him:—

'A thankefull man owes a courtesie ever, the unthankefull but when he needes. For whose innocence, as for the author's, you were once a noble and timely undertaker to the greatest justice of this kingdome.'

Died of a symposiaque excesse with his fellow-witts[X]. Was not recorder above a quarter of a yeare: quaere Sir <John> Hoskins.

Notes.

Andrew Marvel (1620-1678).

[201]Mr. Andrew Marvell: his father was minister of ... (I thinke, Hull: quaere) ..., he was borne.

He had good grammar-education: and was after sent to ..., in Cambridge.

In the time of Oliver the Protector he was Latin Secretarie. He was a great master of the Latin tongue; an excellent poet in Latin or English: for Latin verses there was no man could come into competition with him. The verses called The Advice to the Painter were of his making.

His native towne of Hull loved him so well that they elected him for their representative in Parliament, and gave him an honourable pension to maintaine him.

He was of a middling stature, pretty strong sett, roundish faced, cherry cheek't, hazell eie, browne haire. He was in his conversation very modest, and of very few words[202]: and though he loved wine he would never drinke hard in company, and was[XIV.] wont to say that, he would not play the good-fellow in any man's company in whose hands he would not trust his life.

He kept bottles of wine at his lodgeing, and many times he would drinke liberally by himselfe to refresh his spirits, and exalt his muse. I remember I have been told (Mr. Haake and Dr. Pell) that the learned ... (an High-German) was wont to keep bottells of good Rhenish-wine in his studie, and when he had spent his spirits he would drinke a good rummer of it.

James Harrington, esq. (autor Oceanae), was his intimate friend. John Pell, D.D., was one of his acquaintance. He had not a generall acquaintance.

He wrote The Rehersall transprosed, against Samuel Parker, D.D.; Mr. Smirke, (stich't, 4to, about 8 sheets); The naked Trueth.

Obiit Londini, Aug. 18. 1678; and is buried in St. Giles church in-the-fields about the middle (quaere iterum) of the south aisle. Some suspect that he was poysoned by the Jesuites, but I cannot be positive.

I remember I heard him say that the earle of Rochester[203] was the only man in England that had the true veine of satyre.

He[204] lies interred under the pewes in the south side of Saint Giles' church in-the-fields, under the window wherein is painted in glasse a red lyon, (it was given by the inneholder of the Red Lyon Inne in Holborne) and is the ... window from the east. This account I had from the sexton that made his grave.

Philip Massinger (1584?-1639/40).

[205]My brother Tom searcht the register of Wilton from the beginning and talk't with old men. Philip Massinger was not buried there; but his wife dyed at Cardiffe in Wales, to whom the earl of Pembroke payd an annuity.

[206]This day I searched the register of St. Saviour's, Southwark, by the playhouse then there, vulgo St. Mary's Overy's; and find Philip Massinger buryed March 18th, 1639. I am enformed at the place where he dyed, which was by the Bankes side neer the then playhouse, that he was buryed about the middle of the Bullhead-churchyard—i.e. that churchyard (for there are four) which is next the Bullhead taverne, from whence it has its denomination. He dyed about the 66th yeare of his age: went to bed well, and dyed suddenly—but not of the plague.

Thomas May (1595-1650).

[207]He stood candidate for[208] the laurell after B. Jonson; but Sir William Davenant caried it—

manet alta mente repostum,

perhaps.

A great acquaintance of Tom Chaloner. Would, when inter pocula, speake slightingly of the Trinity.

Shammed[209].

Amicus: Sir Richard Fanshawe. Mr. <Emanuel> Decretz heard (was present at) the debate at their parting before Sir Richard went to the king, where both camps were most rigorously banded[210].

Clap. Came of his death after drinking with his chin tyed with his cap (being fatt); suffocated.

Quaere Anthony Wood pro epitaph[211], etc.

Lord Chief Justice <John> Vaughan, amicus—verses.

<Scripsit.>

The Heire.

Quaere Mr. <John> Dreyden, if not another <play.>

Lucan, and Supplementum.

Translation of Georgiques, 16mo.

Historie of Civill War and Epitome.

His translation of Lucan's excellent poeme made him in love with the republique, which tang[212] stuck by him.

In the Session of Poets by Sir John Suckling:—

'There was Lucan's translator too.'

[213]Thomas May, esq., a handsome man, debaucht ad omnia; lodged in the little[214]by Canon-rowe, as you goe through the alley. Translated Virgil's Georgiques. Writt:—Breviary of the historie of the Parliament of England (London, 1650; reprinted 1680, 8vo.); History of the victorious Edward IIId., in English verse, by Charles I's speciall command (8vo, 1639); and also Henry İİd., in English verse, both in 8vo.

[215]As to Tom May, Mr. Edmund Wyld told me that he was acquainted with him when he was young, and then he was as other young men of this towne are, scil. he said he was debaucht ad omnia: but doe not by any meanes take notice of it—for we have all been young. But Mr. Marvel in his poems upon Tom May's death falls very severe upon him.

He was choaked by tyeing his cap.

That of Lucan is true, scil., that it made him incline[216] to a republic.

He was of the Sussex Mayes, as appeares by his coate of armes: but where borne or of what university I know not, and cannot enquire.

Dr. <Thomas> Triplet's monument is set up[217] where his stood. Thomas May's inscription was, after it was pulled downe, in St. Bennet's chapell, i.e. where the earl of Middlesex's monument is: but perhaps now converted to some use.

[218]By[219] Camden:—

Quem Anglicana respublica habuit vindicem, ornamentum literaria, secli sui vatum celeberrimus, deliciae futuri, Lucanus alter plus-quam Romanus, historicus fidus, equitis aurati filius primogenitus, Thomas Maius H. S. E. Qui paternis titulis claritatis suae specimen usque adeo superaddidit ut a supremo Anglorum senatu ad annales suos conscribendos fuerit accitus. Tandem, fide intemerata Parlamento praestita, morte inopina noctu correptus, diem suum obiit Id. Nov. Anno[220] libertatis { humanae } restitutae { MDCL. { Angliae } { II. Aetatis suae LV. Hoc in honorem servi tam bene meriti Parlamentum Reipublicae Angl. P. P.

Dr. Triplet's monument now stands in the place where this did.

This was a very fine monument of white marble. This inscription I had much adoe to find out, after severall enquiries severall yeares. It is putt upside downe in the chapell where the earle of Middlesex tombe is.

His coate is 'gules, a fess inter six billets or.'

Nicholas Mercator (1640-1686/7).

[221]Mr. Nicholas Mercator[Y]: his father was ... ... Philip Melancthon was his great-grandmother's brother.

He is of little stature, perfect; black haire, of a delicate moyst curle; darke[222] eie, but of great vivacity of spirit. He is of a soft temper, of great temperance (amat Venerem aliquantum): of a prodigious invention, and will be acquainted (familiarly) with nobody. His true German name is Nicolas Kauffman, i.e. chapman, i.e. Mercator.

The first booke he printed was his Cosmographia, at ..., where he uses his German name, 'qua sternitur fundamentum Trigonometriae sphericorum, Logarithmicae, Astronomiae sphaericae, Geographiae, Histiodromiae gnomonicae; a Nicola Kauffman, Holsato-Dantisc., Anno MDCLI.'

Nicolai Mercatoris in Geometriam introductio brevis quâ magnitudinum ortus ex genuinis principiis et ortarum affectiones ex ipsa genesi derivantur, printed at London 1678, before a little booke of Euclid's Elements demonstrated after a new method.

Astronomia[Z], printed at London, 167-.

Logarithmotechnia; the first part printed with ... of Slusius, anno Domini, 166-: the second part of it, being 8 sheets 4to, lyes in the hands of Mr. Moyses Pitts and is a most admirable piece.

Astrologia: unprinted: in 4to, altogether after a new manner and on other principles.

A treatise of musique[AA], in 4to, inch + thick[223], unprinted.

Memorandum:—Mr. Nicholas Mercator made and presented to King Charles the 2^d a clock ('twas of a foote diameter) which shewed the inequality of the sunn's motion from the apparent motion, which the king did understand by his informations, and did commend it, but he never had a penny of him for it.

Well! This curious clock was neglected, and somebody of the court happened to become master of it, who understood it not; he sold it to Mr. Knib, a watch-maker, who did not understand it neither, who sold it to Mr. Fromantle (that made it) for 5 li. who askes now (1683) for it 200 li.

Anno 1682, mense Febr., Mr. N. Mercator left London; went with his family to Paris, being invited thither by Monseigneur Colbert.

Nicholas Mercator, Holsatus, mathematicus, obiit Parisiis, 4to Januarii 1686/7: he went to Paris (being invited thither by Monseigneur Colbert) the 30th of November, 1682:—from his son, David Mercator.

Notes.

Christopher Merret (1614/5-1695).

[224]Christopher Merret, M.D., of the College of Physicians, London, was borne in Winchcumbe in Gloucestershire, 1614, Feb. XVI about XI at night.

[225]Scripsit against the apothecaries, etc.

Thomas Merry (16— -1682).

[226]Thomas Merry[XV.], esq., was born at ... in Leicestershire. His father or grandfather was one of the clarkes of the green-cloth.

He was disciple to Sir Jonas Moore; became an excellent logist. He had donne all Euclid in a shorter and clearer manner than ever was yet donne, and particularly the tenth booke: I have seen it. But he never stitch't it up; and, after his death, when I came to enquire for it, it was disparted like Sibyllae folia, and severall of the papers lost. I got what I could find and brought them to the Royal Society, where they were committed to Mr. Paget to peruse, but they were so imperfect (he said) they were not fit to be printed. What is become of them now God knowes.

[228]Thomas Merry, esq., a great algebrist and a great Whig, dyed at Westminster Octob.... 1682, and lies in the vault of his grandfather at Waltham-Stowe in Essex.

Sir Hugh Middleton (1555-1631).

[229]From Dr. Hugh Chamberlayn, M.D.—that King James took a moiety of the profitts of the New River from Sir Hugh Middleton. Some say 'twas in consideration of money advanced by the king; but this is not certain. He did indeed reconvey this back to him and his heires, etc., for a rent of 500 li. per annum, which is duly payd, but I think graunted him from his majestie.

[230]This Sir Hugh Middleton had his picture in Gold-smyths' hall with a waterpott by him, as if he had been the sole inventor. Mr. Fabian Philips sawe Ingolbert[231] afterwards, in a poore rug-gowne like an almesman, sitting by an applewoman at the Parliament stayres.

[232]Memorandum that now (1681/2) London is growne so populous and big that the New River of Middleton can serve the pipes to private houses but twice a weeke.—quod N. B.

John Milton (1608-1674).

<This life is found in MS. Aubr. 8, foll. 63-68^v. Aubrey's notes for it were at first very slight, but were increased by information afterwards obtained from Milton's widow, from his brother Christopher, and from his nephew Edward Phillips. In the life as now printed these later notes, brought in very disjointedly into the MS., have been set in their proper places.

When he first began writing his 'Lives,' Aubrey set aside fol. 103^v of MS. Aubr. 6 (opposite the life of Andrew Marvell) for Milton, writing the heading 'Mr. John Milton' and in the margin drawing a wreath of laurel, for a poet. Afterwards he scored the heading out, and added the reference, 'vide part iii^d.' i.e. MS. Aubr. 8. Again, in MS. Aubr. 8, he at first set aside fol. 93 for the life of 'Mr. John Milton,' but afterwards scored the heading out, and wrote there the life of Dr. John Overall.

In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 63, Aubrey gives in trick the coat for Milton:—'argent, a double-headed eagle displayed gules legged and beaked sable: crest, an arme dexter holding an eagle's head and neck erased gules.' And, for Bradshaw, he gives the coat, 'argent, 2 bendlets sable,' noting 'his mother was a Bradshaw.'

On fol. 68^v, in the pedigree, he gives the coats:—'Jeff<rey>, azure, a fret or, on a chief or a lion passant gardant sable: impaling [Haughton], sable, 3 bars argent': Bradshaw, as above; Powell of Foresthill and Webber, left blank; and Minshull, '..., an estoyle over a crescent ... a canton....'>

<His parentage.>

[233]Quaere Christopher Milton, his brother, of the Inner Temple, bencher[234].

[241]Mr. John Milton was of an Oxfordshire familie.

His grandfather, ..., (a Roman Catholic), of Holton, in Oxfordshire, neer Shotover[242].

His father was brought-up in the University of Oxon, at Christ Church, and his grandfather disinherited him because he kept not to the Catholique religion[XVIII.]. So therupon he came to London, and became a scrivener (brought up by a friend of his; was not an apprentice), and gott a plentifull estate by it, and left it off many yeares before he dyed.—He was an ingeniose man; delighted in musique; composed many songs now in print, especially that of Oriana[XIX.].

[243]I have been told that the father composed a song of fourscore parts for the Lantgrave of Hess, for which <his> highnesse sent a meddall of gold, or a noble present. He dyed about 1647[244]; buried in Cripplegate church, from his house in the Barbican.

<His birth.>

[245]His son John was borne in Bread Street, in London, at[246] the Spread Eagle, which was his house [he had also in that street another house, the Rose; and other houses in other places].

He was borne anno Domini ... the ... day of ..., about ... a clock, in the....

[247]☞ Quaere Mr. Christopher Milton to see the date of his brother's birth.

[248][John Milton[249] was born the 9th of December, 1608, die Veneris[250], half an hour after 6 in the morning.]

<His precocity.>

[251]Anno Domini 1619, he was ten yeares old, as by his picture; and was then a poet.

<School, college, and travel.>

His school-master then was a Puritan, in Essex, who cutt his haire short.

He went to schoole to old Mr.[252] Gill, at Paule's schoole. Went, at his owne chardge[253] only, to Christ's College in Cambridge at[254] fifteen, where he stayed eight yeares at least[255]. Then he travelled into France and Italie (<he> had Sir H. Wotton's commendatory letters). At Geneva he contracted a great friendship with[256] the learned Dr. Deodati of Geneva:—vide his poems. He was acquainted[257] with Sir Henry Wotton, ambassador at Venice, who delighted in his company. He was severall[XX.] yeares beyond sea, and returned[258] to England just upon the breaking-out of the civill warres.