Chapter D: O. M (1)

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Georgius Chapmannus
Poeta Homericus Philosophus
. . . . . . o (etsi Christianus
. . . . . . otus) per quam celeriter
. . . V: LXXVII fatis concessit
. . . die Maii anno Salutis
Humanae M D C XXXIV
H. S. E.
Ignatius Jones architectus
regius ob honorem bonarum
literarum familiari suo
hoc monumentum
D. S. P. F. C.

_Note._

[BZ] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 61ᵛ, Aubrey gives a rough drawing of the monument. The lower part is an oblong block, 'thicknes 1/2 yard: one entire Portland stone' with the inscription on the front. Above is a laurel wreath carved in stone. Behind is what seems to be a mural tablet.

In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6ᵛ, Aubrey asks, 'quaere if ... Chapman is in the first part?' i.e. in MS. Aubr. 6 (Lives, Part i.): but no life of Chapman is found in that volume.

=Walter Charleton= (1619/20-1707).

[612]Walter Charleton, M.D., borne at Shepton-Malet[613] in com. Somerset, Feb. 2ᵈ, 1619, about 6 h. P.M., his mother being then at supper.

[614]'Dom. G. Charleton, D. M.: nascitur die Mercurii[615] 2/12 Febr., aerae Christi 1619/20, hor. 12, mom. 18 P.M.'--this[616] is my lord William Brounckar's doeing and is his owne handwriting.

=Thomas Charnock= (1526-1581).

[617]Mr. <Andrew> Paschal, rector of Chedzoy, hath the originall scroll of Mr. Charnock, scilicet, of the philosopher's stone.

[618]Mr. Charnock, the chymist, mentioned in <Ashmole's> _Theatrum Chymicum_, was buryed in Otterhampton neer Bridgewater, anno 1581[619], April 21, aged 55 yeares--<from> Mr. Paschal: vide Mr. Paschal's lettre, here inserted[620] before <the life of> Nicholas Mercator, p. 32.

[621]_Concerning Mr. Charnocke._

Sir,

Mr. Wells of Bridgewater performed his promise. He writes that the house was lately pulled down, and is new built from the ground, all except the wall at the east end. He could make nothing of what was only left over the chimney; but he found the little dore that led out of the lodging-chamber into the little _Athanor_ roome. Of that you have an account in the enclosed draught.

The two roses I take to be the white and red, termes common with Charnocke for the two magisteries. The two animals over them I suppose are wolves, denoting the[622] ♁; abounding with a volatile[623] ☉ and used for preparing and purifying one of the principal ingredients into the worke. Out of it growes (if those authors may be credited) most precious fruits.

I obliged a painter to goe over soon after I had been there and take all he could find exactly. He was there, but I could never get anything from him: an ingeniose man, but egregiously carelesse.

Looking back I find this noted by me--June 22, 1681; the place in the _Athanor_ roome in which he kept his lampe was stone-work about 15 inches deep and so much square in the clear from side to side. Over it a wooden collar with a rabit[624] as to lett-in a cover close. No place to come into the square but by the collar, contrived probably after the accident of burning his tabernacle mentioned in his printed pieces.

I find this added:--'Twas painted about the chimney thus:--on the left side of the chimney proceeded from a red stalk streaked with white, first, a paire of red branches, then a paire of white, then of red, then one of white to the top; something like a rabbit's head painted looking from the chimney to the foot of the sayd stalk.--The next picture separated as by a pillar on the chimney:--from one stalke, two white branches, of either side one; then two red, above; then two white; then at the top this , the balls of a dusky yellow.--The next picture is also distinguished by a pillar on the chimney to the right side: this <is> quite obscured by smoake.

In the left corner of the roome another picture described, with double branches, white, then red, then white, then one on the top red.

This is all I can say of that place, of which I wish I were capable of sending a better account.

The other side of Mr. Wells's paper gives you one of the schemes in the middle of the roll, which is now by me.

The transcription of the thing, said to be Ripley's, should cost Mr. Ashmole nothing, were I not under an obligation not to impart it to any. It may be greatly to his losse who did communicate it to me, if the owner should know I have it. If I can contrive a way to send it with leave I shall be ambitious to gratify that worthy person.

your etc.
And. Paschall.

[625]To his much honoured friend John Aubrey, esqre., these present, at Mr. Hooke's lodgeings in Gresham College, London.

[626]Sir,

I received and returne thankes for yours.

Since my last I got leave to transcribe what Mr. Charnocke wrote on the backside of the rolle, which I heer send you. I kept as neare as I could to the very errours of his pen, by which it may in part be seen that he was, as he professes, an _unlettered_ scholar. The inside of the rolle (which is all in Latine, and perhaps the same with the scrowle mentioned in _Theatrum Chemicum_, p. 375) was composed by a great master in the Hermetic philosophy and written by a master of his pen. Some notes written in void spaces of it by Mr. Charnocke's hand shew he did not (at least throughly) understand it. But it seemes to me that this rolle was a kind of _Vade mecum_ or manuall that the students in that wisdome carryed about with them. I presume 'twas drawn out of Raymund Lully, of which I shall be able to gaine fuller satisfaction when I have his workes come down.

I was also, since my last, at Mr. Charnocke's house in Comag, where the rolle was found; and saw the place where 'twas hid. I saw the litle roome and contrivance he had for keeping his worke, and found it ingeniosely ordered so as to prevent a like accident to that which befell him New Yeare's day, 1555; and this pretty place joining as a closet to his chamber was to make a servant needlesse and the worke of giving attendance more easy to himselfe. I have also a litle iron instrument found there which he made use of about his fire. I sawe on the doore of his little _Athanor_-room, if I may so call it, drawn by his own hand, with course colours and work, but ingeniously, an embleme of his worke, at which I gave some guesses, and so about the walls of his chamber. I thinke there was in all 5 panes of this worke, all somewhat differing from each other, some very obscure and almost worne out. They told me that people had been unwilling to dwell in that house, because reputed troublesome,--I presume from some traditionall storyes of this person, who was looked on by his neighbours as no better than a conjurer.

As I was taking horse to come home from this pleasant entertainment, I see a pretty ancient man come forth of the next doore. I asked him how long he had lived there. Finding that it was the place of his birth, I inquired if he had ever heard anything of that Mr. Charnocke. He told me he had heard his mother (who dyed about 12 or 14 yeares since and was 80 yeares of age at her decease) often speake of him; that he kept a fire in, divers yeares; that his daughter lived with him; that once he was gone forth, and by her neglect (whome he trusted it with in his absence) the fire went out and so all his worke was lost; the brazen head was very neare comeing to speake, but so was he disappointed.

I suppose the pleasant-humoured man--for that he was so appeares by his breviary--alludeing to Frier Bacon's story, did so put off the inquisitivenes of his simple neighbours, and thence it is come down there by tradition till now.

Indeed it appeares by the inclosed lines that when he wrote the rolle he had attained but to the white stone, which is perhaps not half the way to the red,

('Put me to my sister Mercury, I congeale into silver'); and, if the old woman's tale were true, he might afterwards be going on and be come neare to the red and then that vexing accident might befall him; and this might be, notwithstanding what is sayd in the fragment, referred to the yeare 1574, for (being so neare the red as the traditionall story sayes he was) he might see in that 50th yeare of his age that the white was ferment to the red.

You may observe my calculation differs in one thing from Mr. Ashmole's in his notes upon _Theatrum Chemicum_, p. 478: for he makes 'the presse' to have been (out of Stowe) 1558, but I (out of Dr. Burnet's History) 1557; and consequently he supposes the presse to have been after the finishing of the Breviary, but I presume he set on the Breviary after he was pressed. So indeed he himselfe plainly averres in the 4 last lines of chapter 4 of his Breviary (_Theatrum Chemicum_, p. 296). I mention this to give a reason for my dissenting from your worthy friend, to whome I must intreat you to communicate these informations that I have had opportunity to gather, and also present my humble service.

Sir,

I thought when I set pen to paper to have given you an account of some conversation I have had with a person who is a zealous friend and admirer of this sort of knowledge, but I see I have already gone beyound bounds. I shal onely say he hath almost convinced me that it is not so hidden and obscure, so difficult and unaccountable, as men commonly seeme to beleeve. I am in hopes to receive, by Mr. Hooke's and Mr. Lodwick's favour, the lamp for which he was pleased to give directions some time since.

I have not yet seen my miller and his invention, though he promised to bring it to me; I presume 'tis not yet ready. I expect him dayly.

Pray give my humble service to our worthy friend, and to Mr. Pigott.

I am sure I now need the[627]....

[628]I shall be glad to heare of a new edition of the _Theatrum_[629] and that you will speed the printing of your MS. of Raymund Lullye's. If it doe not goe soon to the presse, how joyfull should I be to have the perusall of it! 'Tis the onely grievous thing I suffer in this solitude that I may not see good bookes and good men, but I must be content.

[630]The first thing written on the back side[631] is as followes:--

At Stockeland, Bristowe, iiii myles from Brigewater, 1566.

The principall rules of naturall philosophy figuratively set
fourth to the obtayning of the philosopher's stone, collectyd
out of xl auctors by the unletteryd scholer Thomas Charnocke,
studient in the sciencis off astronomie, physick, and naturall
philosophie, the same year that he dedicatyd a booke off the
science to queene Elizabeth of Englande which was Anno Domini
1566, and the viii yere off her raigne.

* * * * *

<MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 56ᵛ, gives the rest of the writing on the
back of the roll; but the outer edge of the leaf is torn off,
and the writing consequently imperfect>

[632]. . . . . . . . his pose
. . . . . on the white and red rose
. . . . black appere sartayne
. . . xx or it wax bright
. . . lx after to black againe
. . . xx or it be perfet[633] white
. . . it or all quick things be dedd
. . . . . or this rose be redd
Thomas Charnocke [in[634] red letters]
1572.

This is the philosopher's dragon which eateth upp his one tayle
Beinge famisshed in a doungen of glas and all for my prevayle
<Ma>ny yeres I keapt this dragon in pryson strounge.
<Bef>ore I coulde mortiffy him I thought it lounge
<But> at the lenght by God's grace yff ye beleve my worde
<I> vanquished him wythe a fyrie sword.

[Then[635] followes the picture of a dragon with a black stone under his foot, with a white stone neare his breast, with a red stone over his head: his tayle is turned to his gapeing mouth.]

The dragon speketh:--

. . . . souldiers in armoure bright
. . . <n>ot have kylled me in fyelde in fighte
. . . <Cha>rnock nother for all his philosophie
. . . <pr>yson and famyne he had not famysshed me
<Guy of W>arwicke nor Bevys of Southehampton
. . . . such a venomous dragon
. . . . fowght with Hidra the serpent
. . . . . e cowlde not have his intent
. . . . n the wyse inclose too in a toonne off brasse
. . . . d shutt up in a doungeon of glasse
. . . . lyffe was so quick and my poyson so strounge
. . . . e cowlde kyll me it was full lounge
. . . . he hyld me in prison day and nyght
. . <k>eapt me from sustenance to mynishe me myght
. . . When I saw none other remedye
. . . very hunger I eate myne one bodye
. . . . . by corruption I became black and dedd
<Th>at precious stone which is in my hedd
. . . be worth a Mˡⁱ to him that hath skyll
<F>or that stone's sake he wysely dyd me kyll
<In d>eath I dyd hym forgyve even at the very hower
<Se>inge that he wylbe beneficiall unto the poore
When I was alyve I was but stronge poyson
Profitable for few things in conclusion
<Now th>at I ame now dying in myne owne blood
<N>ow I do excell all other wordeley good
<A> new name is given me of those that be wysse
<No>w I ame named the elixer off great price
<If y>ou wyll make prouff, put to me my sister mercury
<I will co>ngoyle hir into sylver in the twinkling off an eye
. . . . . . qualites I have many mo
. . . <foo>lyshe and ingenorant shall never kno
Few prelates and Masters of art within this reame
Do knowe aryght what I do meane
My great grawnt-father was killyd by Ravnde Lulli, knight of Spayne
And my g<r>awnt-father by Syr Gorge Rippley, a chanon of Yenglande sartayne
And my father by a chanon of Lechefelde was kylled truly
Who gave hym to his man Thomas Davton when he dyd dye
And my mother by Mr. Thomas Norton off Bristow slayn was
And each of these were able to make[636]☉ or ☽ in a glasse
And now I ame made the great and riche elixer allso
That my master shall never lack whether he ryde or go
But he and all other must have great feare and aye
As secrettely as they can to exchaunge my increase awaye.
* * * * *
Here Charnock changeth to a better cheere
For the sorrow that he hath sufferyd many a yere
Or that he could accomplish the regiment of his fyre
. . . . . . . . .[637] or he saw his desier
Wherefore in thy hartt now prease God allway
And do good deeds with it whatsoever thou may
Therefore thy god gave this science unto thee
To be his stuarde and refresh the poore and needie.

Anno D. 1526--Thomas Charnocke borne at Feversham in Kent.

He travailed all England over to gain his knowledge.

1554/5--He attained the secret from his master of Salisbury
close, who dying left his worke with him.

He lost it by fireing his tabernacle on a New Yeare's
day.

About this time being 28 yeares of age, he learned the
secret againe of the prior of Bathe.

He began anew with a servant, and againe by himselfe
alone without a servant.

He continued it nine monthes; was within a month of his
reckoning; the crowe's head began to appear black.

1557--He, pressed on a warre proclaimed against the French
(Burnet's History, part 2, p. 355), broke and cast
all away. January 1, he began; July 20, he ended, his
Breviary.

1562--He marryed Agnes Norden at Stockland, Bristoll.

1563--He buryed Absolon his son.

1566--He dedicated a booke to Queen Elizabeth 9 yeares after
the Breviary was penned.

He dated the rolle at Stockland.

1572--He wrote the posy on the rolle.

He wrote his aenigma ad Alchimiam[638] and de
Alchimia[639].

1573--the fragment[640] of 'knocke the child on the head.'

1574--that he never saw the white ferment to the red till that
50th yeare of his age.

1576--the difficulty of the philosophick number in the roll.

1581--Buryed at Otterhampton neare Stockland out of his house at
Comage where he kept his worke.

1587--Bridget Charnock (probably his daughter that kept his house
when his fire was sayd to go out), marryed to one ...
Thatcher in Stockland.

Collected out of the Roll, the register, and _Theatrum Chemicum_.

=Geoffrey Chaucer= (1328-1400).

[641]Sir Geffrey Chaucer: memorandum--Sir Hamond L'Estrange, of ..., in ... had his Workes in MS., a most curious piece, most rarely writt and illumined, which he valued at 100 _li._ His grandson and heire still haz it.--From Mr. Roger L'Estrange.

He taught his sonne the use of <the> astrolabe at 10; prout per his treatise of the Astrolabe.

Dunnington Castle, neer Newbury, was his; a noble seate and strong castle, which was held by the King (Charles Iˢᵗ) (who governour?) but since dismanteled.

Memorandum:--neer this castle was an oake, under which Sir Jeofrey was wont to sitt, called _Chaucer's-oake_, which was cutt downe by ... ... tempore Caroli Iᵐⁱ; and so it was, that ... ... was called into the starre chamber, and was fined for it.... Judge Richardson[642] harangued against him long, and like an orator, had topiques from the Druides, etc. This information I had from ... an able attorney that was at the hearing.

His picture is at his old howse at Woodstock (neer the parke-gate), a foot high, halfe way: has passed from proprietor to proprietor.

[643]One Mr. Goresuch of Woodstock dined with us at Rumney marsh, who told me that at the old Gothique-built howse neer the parke-gate at Woodstock, which was the howse of Sir Jeffrey Chaucer, that there is his picture, which goes with the howse from one to another--which see.

=William Chillingworth= (1602-1643/4).

[644]William Chillingworth[CA], D. D.,--vide Anthony Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._ in Trinity College--was borne in Oxford. His father was a brewer.

About anno ... he was acquainted with one ... who drew him and some other scholars over to Doway, where he was not so well entertained as he thought he merited for his great disputative witt. They made him the porter (which was to trye his temper, and exercise his obedience): so he stole over and came to Trinity College againe, where he was fellowe.

William Laud, A. B. C.[645], was his godfather and great friend. He sent his grace weekly intelligence of what passed in the university[CB]. Sir William Davenant (poet laureat) told me that notwithstanding this doctor's great reason, he was guiltie of the detestable crime of treachery. Dr. Gill[CC], filius Dʳⁱˢ Gill (schoolmaster of Paules schoole), and Chillingworth held weekely intelligence one with another for some yeares, wherein they used to nibble at states-matters. Dr. Gill in one of his letters calles King James and his sonne, the old foole and the young one, which letter Chillingworth communicates to W. Laud, A. B. Cant. The poore young Dr. Gill was seised, and a terrible storme pointed towards him, which, by the eloquent intercession and advocation of Edward, earle of Dorset, together with the teares of the poore old Doctor his father, and supplication on his knees to his majestie, were blowne-over. I am sorry so great a witt should have such a naeve.

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

HORAT. lib. I, sat. iv.

He was a little man, blackish haire, of a saturnine complexion.

The lord Falkland (vide <life of> lord Falkland) and he had such extraordinary clear reasons, that they were wont to say at Oxon that if the great Turke were to be converted by naturall reason, these two were the persons to convert him.

He lies buried in the south side of the cloysters at Chichester, where he dyed of the _morbus castrensis_ after the taking of Arundel castle by the parliament: wherin he was very much blamed by the king's soldiers for his advice in military affaires there, and they curst _that little priest_ and imputed the losse of the castle to his advice. In his sicknesse he was inhumanely treated by Dr. Cheynell[CD], who, when he was to be buryed, threw his booke into the grave with him, saying, 'Rott with the rotten; let the dead bury the dead.' Vide a pamphlet of about 6 sheets writt by Dr. Cheynell (maliciously enough) where he gives an account of his life.

This following inscription was made and set-up by Mr. Oliver Whitby[CE], his fellowe-collegiate at Trinity College and now one of the prebendarys of this church:

Virtuti sacrum.
Spe certissimae resurrectionis
Hic reducem expectat animam
GULIELMVS CHILLINGWORTH,
S. T. P.
Oxonii natus et educatus,
Collegii Sᵗᵃᵉ Trinitatis olim
Socius, Decus et Gloria.
Omni Literarum genere celeberrimus,
Ecclesiae Anglicanae adversus Romano-Catholicam
Propugnator invictissimus,
Ecclesiae Sarisburiensis Praecentor[XLIV.] dignissimus;
Sine Exequiis,
Furentis cujusdam Theologastri,
Doctoris Cheynell[XLV.],
Diris et maledictione sepultus:
Honoris et Amicitiae ergo,
Ab OLIVERO WHITBY,
Brevi hoc monimento,
Posterorum memoriae consecratus,
Anno Salutis,
1672.[646]

[XLIV.] This is a mistake; he was not Chantor of the Church, but Chancellor of the Church of Sarum, whose office was antiently to read a lecture in Latin, quarterly, in the pulpit in the library, either in Theologie or the Canon Lawe. Since the Reformation 'twas commuted into preaching on the Holy-dayes. He never swore to all the points of the Church of England.

[XLV.] Minister of Petworth.

My tutor, W. Browne[CF], haz told me, that Dr. Chillingworth studied not much, but when he did, he did much in a little time. He much delighted in Sextus Empeiricus. He did walke much in the College grove, and there contemplate, and meet with some _cod's-head_ or other, and dispute with him and baffle him. He thus prepared himselfe before-hand. He would alwayes be disputing; so would my tutor. I thinke it was an epidemick evill of that time, which I think now is growne out of fashion, as unmannerly and boyish. He was the readiest and nimblest disputant of his time in the university, perhaps none haz equalled him since.

I have heard Mr. Thomas Hobbes, Malmesb. (who knew him), say, _that he was like a lusty fighting fellow that did drive his enimies before him, but would often give his owne party smart[647] back-blowes_.

When Doctor Kettle, (the president of Trin. Coll. Oxon.) dyed[CG], which was in anno <1643> Dr. Chillingworth was competitor for the presidentship, with Dr. Hannibal Potter and Dr. Roberts. Dr. Han. Potter had been formerly chaplain to the bishop of Winton, who was so much Dr. Potter's friend, that though (as Will Hawes haz told me) Dr. Potter was not lawfully elected, upon referring themselves to their visitor (bishop of Winton), the bishop (Curle) ordered Dr. Potter possession; and let the fellowes gett him out if they could. This was shortly after the lord Falkland was slaine, who had he lived, Dr. Chillingworth assured Will Hawes, no man should have carried it against him: and that he was so extremely discomposed and wept bitterly for the losse of his deare friend, yet notwithstanding he doubted not to have an astergance[CH] for it.

_Notes._

[CA] William Chillingworth was elected Scholar of Trinity June 2, 1618 (then of St. Martin's parish, Oxon, aged 19), and Fellow, June 10, 1628.

[CB] For another instance of reports sent to Laud (who was Chancellor of Oxford 1630-41) about Oxford matters, see Clark's Wood's _Life and Times_, ii. 238.

[CC] Alexander Gill matr. at Trinity College, June 26, 1612, was Clerk at Wadham College, April 20, 1613, but rejoined Trinity and from thence took his D.D., March 9, 1636/7. He was usher to his father in St. Paul's School 1621-28, being removed for the offence here related.

[CD] Francis Cheynell, a native of Oxford (like Chillingworth), Fellow of Merton 1629, D.D. July 24, 1649.

[CE] Oliver Whitby, matr. at Trinity, Oct. 15, 1619; Archdeacon of Chichester, Dec. 23, 1672.

[CF] William Browne, of Blandford St. Mary, Dorset, aged 16, elected Scholar of Trinity May 28, 1635, M.A. March 18, 1641/2.

[CG] Anthony Wood, in a marginal note, objects--'This cannot be: Dr. Kettle died after Chillingworth.' But Wood is wrong. Kettell died in July 1643; Chillingworth in January, 1643/4; Potter was admitted President August 8, 1643.

[CH] 'Astergance,' apparently an Aubrey form for 'abstergence,' i.e. consolation. The meaning perhaps is:--although Chillingworth was grieved for Falkland's (or Kettell's) death, he had looked for the consolation of being promoted to the Presidentship of his College.

=John Clavell= (1601-1642).

[648]John Clavell, the famous thiefe, borne May 11, 1601, 11ʰ 30´ P.M.

=John Cleveland= (1613-1658).

[649]John Cleveland was borne at ... (quaere Mr. Nayler) in Warwickshire. He was a fellow of St. John's Colledge in Cambridge, where he was more taken notice of for his being an eminent disputant, then a good poet. Being turned out of his fellowship for a malignant he came to Oxford, where the king's army was, and was much caressed by them. He went thence to the garrison at Newark upon Trent, where upon some occasion of drawing of articles, or some writing, he would needs add a short conclusion, viz. 'and hereunto we annex our lives, as a labell to our trust.' After the king was beaten out of the field, he came to London, and retired in Grayes Inne. He, and Sam. Butler, &c. of Grayes Inne, had[650] a clubb every night. He was a comely plump man, good curled haire, darke browne. Dyed of the scurvy, and lies buried in St. Andrew's church, in Holborne, anno Domini 165. (quaere Mr. Nayler[651], of ...).

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

[XLVI.]This George, earl of Cumberland, built the greatest fleet of shipping that ever any subject did. He had a vast estate, and could then ride in his owne lands from Yorkeshire to Westmorland. He had ... castles.

[XLVI.] _From Elizabeth, countesse of Thanet._

The best account of his expedition with his fleet to America is to be found in Purchas's _Pilgrim_. He tooke from the Spaniards to the value of seaven or 8 hundred thousand poundes. When he returned with this riche cargo (the richest without doubt that ever subject brought), the queene's councell (where he had some that envyed him--

_Virtutis comes Invidia_)

layed their heads together and concluded 'twas too much for a subject to have, and confiscated it all to the queen, even shippes and all, and to make restauration to the Spaniard, that he was forced to sell fifteene thousand pounds per annum. My lady Thanet told me she sawe the accounts in writing. The armada of the Argonautes was but a trifle to this.

As I take it, Sir Walter Ralegh went this brave voyage with his lordship; and Mr. Edmund Wright, the excellent navigator; and, not unlikely, Mr. Harriot too.

This was the breaking of that ancient and noble family; but Robert, earl of Salisbury (who was the chiefest enemie) afterwards maried his daughter, as above, as he might well be touch't in conscience, to make some recompence after he had donne so much mischiefe.

That he was an acquaintance of Sir Walter Raleigh, I remember by this token, that Sir James Long told me that one time he came to Draycot with Sir Walter Raleigh from Bathe, and, hunting a buck in the parke there, his horse made a false step in a conie-borough and threw him and brake the kennell-bone of his shoulder.

=Henry Clifford=, earl of Cumberland (1591-1643).

[654]From the pedigree of the earles of Cumberland[CI] in the hands of Elizabeth, countesse of Thanet, daughter of the earle of Burlington and Corke.

George, <third> earl of Cumberland, had seaven[XLVII.] castles in the north. He was buryed with his ancestors at Skippon Castle. Obiit about the beginning of King James's raigne.

[XLVII.] Quaere quot castella[655].

Vide epistle to George, earl of Cumberland, before the _History of the Massacre_.

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

[657]Henry, the last earle of Cumberland, was an ingeniose gentleman for those times and a great acquaintance of the Lord Chancellor Bacon's; and often writt to one another, which lettres the countesse of Corke and Burlington, my lady Thanet's mother, daughter and heir of that family, keepes as reliques; and a poeme in English that her father wrott upon the Psalmes and many other subjects, and very well, but the language being now something out of fashion, like Sir Philip Sydney's, they will not print it.

_Notes._

[CI] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:--'checquy or and azure, a fess gules [Clifford],' surmounted by an earl's coronet. Anthony Wood has a note here:--'George, earl of Cumberland, A.M. 1592: A.B. Aed. Christi, 1608, quaere'--this latter degree belongs to Henry, fifth earl.

[CJ] Matric. Jan. 30, 1606/7: took B.A. Feb. 16, 1608/9.

=Sir Edward Coke= (1551/2-1633).

[658]Vide his life by ...: quaere his nephew or sonne[659] Roger Coke. Sir Edward Coke[CK], knight, Lord Chiefe Justice of the King's Bench, was borne at ... in Norfolke. I heard an old lawyer ( ... Dunstable) of the Middle Temple, 1646, who was his country-man, say that he was borne to 300 _li._ land per annum[CL], and I have heard some of his country say again that he was borne but to 40 _li._ per annum. What shall one beleeve?

Quaere Roger Coke of what house he was in Cambridge, or if ever at the University.

Old John Tussell (that was my attorney) haz told me that he gott a hundred thousand pounds in one yeare, viz. 1º Jacobi, being then attorney-generall. His advice was that every man of estate (right or wrong) should sue-out his pardon, which cost 5 _li._ which[660] was his fee.

He left an estate of eleaven thousand pounds per annum. Sir John Danvers[CM], who knew him, told me that when one told him his sonnes would spend the estate faster then he gott it, he replyed 'they cannot take more delight in spending of it then I did in the getting of it.'

He was chamber-fellow to the Lord Chiefe Baron Wyld's father (Serjeant Wyld[CN]). He built the black buildings at the Inner Temple (now burn't) which were above the walke toward the west end, called then 'Coke's buildings.'

After he was putt out of his place of Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench[661], to spite him, they made him sheriff of Buckinghamshire, anno Dni ...; at which time he caused the sheriff's oath to be altered, which till that time was, amongst other things, to enquire after and apprehend all Lollards. He was also chosen, after he was displaced, a burghesse to sitt in Parliament.

[XLVIII.]He was of wonderfull painstaking, as appeares by his writings. He was short-sighted but never used spectacles to his dyeing day, being then 83 yeares of age. He was a very handsome proper man and of a curious complexion, as appeares by his picture at the Inner Temple, which his grandson gave them about 1668, at length, in his atturney-generall's fusted gowne, which the house haz turned into judge's robes.

[XLVIII.] From Roger Coke.

He maried, his second wife, ..., the relickt of Sir ... Hatton, who was with child when he maried her[662].--<from> <Elizabeth> lady Purbec; vide B. Johnson's masque of the Gipsies.

He dyed at Stoke-poges in com. Bucks ... 1638[663] (quaere), but is buryed at ... in Norfolk.

For his moralls, see _Sir W. Raleigh's Tryall_.

He shewed himselfe too clownish and bitter in his carriage to Sir Walter Ralegh at his triall, where he sayes 'Thou traytor,' at every word, and 'thou lyest like a traytor.' See it in Sir Walter Ralegh's life, Lond. 1678, 8vo.

His rule:--

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

He playes[664] with his case as a cat would with a mouse, and be so fulsomely pedantique that a school boy would nauseate it. But when he comes to matter of lawe, all acknowledge him to be admirable. When Mr. Cuff[665], secretary to the earle of Essex, was arraigned, he would dispute with him in syllogismes, till at last one of his brethern said, 'Prithee, brother, leave off: thou doest dispute scurvily.' Cuff was a smart man and a great scholar and baffeld him. Said Cooke

'Dominum cognoscite vestrum';

Cuff replied,'My lord, you leave out the former part of the verse[666], which you should have repeated,

_Acteon_ ego sum'--

reflecting on his being a cuckold.

[667]The world expected from him a commentary on Littleton's Tenures; and he left them his Common-place book, which is now so much made use of.

Sir Edward Coke did envie[668] Sir Francis Bacon, and was wont to undervalue his lawe: vide de hoc in the lord Bacon's lettres, where he expostulates this thing with Sir Edward Coke, and tells him that he may grow when that others doe stand at a stay.

Memorandum:--he was of Clifford's Inne before he was of the Inner Temple, as the fashion then was first to be of an Inne of Chancery.

Memorandum:--when the play called _Ignoramus_ (made by one Ruggle of Clare-hall) was acted with great applause before King James, they dressed Sir Ignoramus like Chief Justice Coke and cutt his beard like him and feigned his voyce. Mr. Peyton, our vicar of Chalke, was then a scholar at Kings College and sawe it. This drollery did ducere in seria mala: it sett all the lawyers against the clergie, and shortly upon this Mr. Selden wrote of Tythes not jure divino.

_Notes._

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

[CL] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 97ᵛ, Aubrey has this note:--'Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice--when I was first of the Middle Temple, I heard an old (80 <years old>) Norfolke gentleman of the <name of> Dunstable affirme that Sir Edward Coke was borne but to 300 _li._ a yeare land.'

[CM] This story is repeated at the foot of the leaf:--'Sir John Danvers told me that he had heard one say to him, reflecting on his great scraping of wealth, that his sonnes would spend his estate faster then he gott it. He replied, they cannot take more delight in the spending of it then I did in the getting of it.'

[CN] George Wilde, Serjeant at Law, 1614; father of Sir John Wilde, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, 1648.

=Jean Baptiste Colbert= (1619-1683).

[669]Monsieur ... Colbert was a merchant and an excellent accomptant, i.e. for Debtor and Creditor. He is of Scotish extraction and that obscure enough, his grandfather being a Scotish bag-piper to the Scotch regiment.

Cardinal Mezarin found that his stables were very chardgeable to him, and was imposed upon in accompts. He hearing of this merchant Colbert to be a great master in this art, sends for him and desires him to make inspection into his accounts and putt him into a better method to avoyd being abused. Which he did, and that so well that he imployed him in ordering the accounts of all his estate and found him so usefull that he also made use of him to methodize and settle the accompts of the king. This was his rise.--From Dr. John Pell.

=John Colet= (1466-1519).

[670]John Colet, D.D., deane of St. Paule's, London--vide Sir William Dugdale's Historie of Paule's church. After the conflagration his monument being broken, his coffin, which was lead, was full of a liquour which conserved the body. Mr. Wyld and Ralph Greatorex tasted it and 'twas of a kind of insipid tast, something of an ironish tast. The body felt, to the probe of a stick which they thrust into a chinke, like brawne. The coffin was of lead and layd in the wall about 2 foot 1/2 above the surface of the floore.

=Henry Coley= (1633-1695?).

[671]My friend Mr. Henry Coley was borne in Magdalen parish in the city of Oxon, Octob. 18, 1633. His father was a joyner over against the Theater.

He is a tayler in Graies Inne lane.

He hath published an ingeniose discourse called _Clavis Astrologiae_, in English, 1669.

He is a man of admirable parts, and more to be expected from him every day: and as good a natured man as can be. And comes by his learning meerly by the strong impulse of his genius. He understands Latin and French: yet never learned out his grammar.

[672]Henry Coley[CO] natus Oxon, neer Kettle-hall, Octob. 18, horâ 2. 15´ 4˝ P.M.--his father a joyner.

He was a woman's tayler: tooke to the love of astrologie, in which he grew in a short time a good proficient; and in Mr. W. Lilly's later time, when his sight grew dimme, was his amanuensis.

He hath great practise in astrologie, and teacheth mathematiques. He hath published _Clavis Astrologiae_, 1675, a thick octavo, the second edition, wherein he has compiled clearly the whole science out of the best authors.

_Note._

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

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

=John Collins= (1624/5-1683).

[673]John Collins, accomptant, was borne at Wood-eaton neer Oxford, March the 5th, 1624/5, about half an houre after 5 at night (Saturday night): this I had from himselfe.

[674]John Collins obiit London, November 10, 1683.

[675]John Collins:--adde his sheet _Of interest_, and _Plea for Irish cattle_: all the rest are set downe, but not when printed. And also his _Historie of salt and fisherie_[676], 1682, printed by A. Godbid, 4to.

[677]John Collins, a learned mathematician, fellow of the Royal Society: scripsit plurima: he was not an University man, but was first prentice to <Thomas> Allam the booke-binder.

=Anthony Cooper=, earl of Shaftesbury (1621-1682/3).

[678]Anthony, earl of Shaftesbury:--Memoires relating the principall passages of his life, in folio, stitcht, printed by Samuel Lee, 1681.

=Samuel Cooper= (1609-1672).

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

=Thomas Cooper= (1517?-1594).

[680]Thomas Cooper, Magdalenensis--vide Anthony Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._: quaere if he was not schoolmaster at Winchester Colledge?

Dr. Edward Davenant told me that this learned man had a shrew to his wife, who was irreconcileably angrie with him for sitting-up late at night so, compileing[681] his Dictionarie, (_Thesaurus linguae Romanae et Britannicae_, Londini, 1584; dedicated to Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, and Chancellor of Oxford). When he had halfe-donne it, she had the opportunity to gett into his studie, tooke all his paines out in her lap, and threw it into the fire, and burnt it. Well, for all that, that good man had so great a zeale for the advancement of learning, that he began it again, and went through with it to that perfection that he hath left it to us, a most usefull worke. He was afterwards made bishop of Winton.

He dyed <29 Apr. 1594>.

_In Thesaurum Thomae Cooper, Magdalenensis, hexasticon Richardi Stephani._

Vilescat rutila dives Pactolus arena,
Hermus, et auriferi nobilis unda Tagi,
Vilescant Croesi gemmae Midaeque talenta,
Major apud Britones[XLIX.] eruta gaza patet:
Hoc, Wainflete, tuo gens Anglica debet alumno,
Qui vigili nobis tanta labore dedit.

[XLIX.] Verstegan deservedly blames him for that expression.

[682]Mr. Pulleyn[683] tells me that Cowper who wrot the Dictionary was not bishop of Winton but of Lincoln: vide and mend it[684].

=Richard Corbet= (1583-1635).

[685]Epitaph on master Vincent Corbet, gardiner, father of the bishop: B. J<onson's> _Underwoods_, p. 177.

[686]Richard Corbet, episcopus (ex last edition of his poemes, in preface sc. p. 16) was made deane of Christ Church, 1620; bishop of Oxon, 1628; bishop of Norwich, 1632. Vide Anthony Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._

[687]Richard Corbet[CP], D.D., was the son of Vincent Corbet--vide his poem--

'better[688] known
By Poynter's name then by his owne
Here lies engaged till the day
Of raysing bones and quickning clay:
No wonder, reader, that he hath
Two sirnames in one epitaph,
For this one doth comprehend
All that both families could lend--

who was a gardner at Twicknam, as I have heard my old cosen Whitney say. Vide in B. Johnson's _Underwoods_ an epitaph on this Vincent Corbet, where he speakes of his nurseries etc., p. 177.

He was a Westminster scholar; old parson Bussey, of Alscott in Warwickshire, went to schoole with him--he would say that he was a very handsome man, but something apt to abuse, and a coward.

He was a student (vide Anthony Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._) of Christ-church in Oxford. He was very facetious, and a good fellowe. One time he and some of his acquaintance being merry at Fryar Bacon's study (where was good liquor sold), they were drinking on the leads of the house, and one of the scholars was asleepe, and had a paire of good silke stockings on. Dr. Corbet (then M.A., if not B.D.) gott a paire of cizers and cutt them full of little holes, but when the other awaked, and percieved how and by whom he was abused, he did chastise him, and made him pay for them.

After he was D. of Divinity, he sang ballads at the Crosse at Abingdon on a market-day. He and some of his camerades were at the taverne by the crosse,[L.] (which by the way was then the finest of England; I remember it when I was a freshman: it was admirable curious Gothique architecture, and fine figures in the niches: 'twas one of those built by king ... for his queen: vide Chronicle). The ballad singer complaynd, he had no custome, he could not putt-off his ballades. The jolly Doctor putts-off his gowne, and putts-on the ballad singer's leathern jacket, and being a handsome man, and had a rare full voice, he presently vended a great many, and had a great audience.

[L.] 'Twas after the fashion of the crosse in High-street in Bristowe, but more curious worke. Quaere if not marble?

After the death of Dr. <William Goodwyn>, he was made deane of Christ-church (quaere if ever canon); vide[689] part iii, pag. 7b.

He had a good interest with great men, as you may find in his poems, and with the then great favourite, the duke of Bucks; his excellent witt was lettres of recommendation to him. I have forgott the story, but at the same time that Dr. <Samuel> Fell thought to have carried it, Dr. Corbet putt a pretty trick on <him> to lett him take a journey on purpose to London for it, when he had already the graunt of it.

He preacht a sermon before the king at Woodstock (I suppose king James, quaere) and no doubt with a very good grace; but it happened that he was out, on which occasion there were made these verses:--

A reverend deane,
With his band[690] starch't cleane,
Did preach before the King;
In his band string was spied
A ring that was tied[CQ],
Was not that a pretty thing?
If then without doubt,
In his text he was out
. . . . . . next,
The ring without doubt
Was the thing putt him out,
For all that were there,
On my conscience, dare sweare,
That he handled it more than his text:--

vide the verses.

[691]His conversation[692] was extreme pleasant. Dr. Stubbins[CR] was one of his cronies; he was a jolly fatt Dr. and a very good house-keeper; parson of <Ambrosden> in Oxfordshire. As Dr. Corbet and he were riding in Lob-lane, in wett weather, ('tis an extraordinary deepe dirty lane) the coach fell; and Dr. Corbet sayd that Dr. Stubbins was up to the elbowes in mud, he was up to the elbowes in Stubbins.

Anno Domini <1628> he was made bishop of Oxford, and I have heard that he had an admirable, grave, and venerable aspect.

One time, as he was confirming, the country people pressing in to see[693] the ceremonie, sayd he, '_Beare-off there, or I'le confirme yee with my staffe_.' Another time being to lay his hand on the head of a man very bald, he turns to his chaplaine (Lushington) and sayd, '_Some dust, Lushington_,' (to keepe his hand from slipping). There was a man with a great venerable beard; sayd the bishop, '_You, behind the beard_.'

His chaplain, Dr. Lushington[CS], was a very learned and ingeniose man, and they loved one another. The bishop sometimes would take the key of the wine-cellar, and he and his chaplaine would goe and lock themselves in and be merry. Then first he layes downe his episcopall hat,--'_There lyes the Dr._' Then he putts of his gowne,--'_There lyes the Bishop_.' Then 'twas,--'_Here's to thee, Corbet_,' and '_Here's to thee, Lushington_.'--From Josias Howe, B.D., Trin. Coll. Oxon.

He built a pretty house (quaere) neer the cawsey beyond Friar Bacon's studie.

He married[CT] ..., whom 'twas sayd he begott. She was a very beautifull woman, and so was her mother. He had a son (I think Vincent) that went to schoole at Westminster, with Ned Bagshawe; a very handsome youth, but he is run out of all, and goes begging up and downe to gentlemen.

He was made bishop of Norwich, Anno Domini <1632>. He dyed <28 July, 1635>. The last words he sayd were, '_Good night, Lushington_.' He lyes buried in the upper end of the choire at Norwich, [on the south side of the monument of bishop Herbert, the founder, under a faire gravestone of free-stone, from whence the inscription[CU] and scutcheon of brasse are stollen[694]].

His poems are pure naturall witt, delightfull and easie.

Quaere what he hath writt besides his poems: vide part iii, p.[695] 7b.

It appeares by his verses to Master Ailesbury[CV], Dec. 9, 1618, that he had knowledge of analyticall learning, being so well acquainted with him and the learned Mr. Thomas Harriot.

[696]I have not seen the date of his _Iter Boreale_; but it ends thus:--

We return'd, but just with so much ore,
As Rauleigh from his voyage, and no more.

[697]Memorandum:--his antagonist Dr. <Daniel> Price, the anniversarist, was made deane of the church at Hereford. Dr. <William> Watts, canon of that church, told me, 1656, that this deane was a mighty pontificall proud man, and that one time when they went in procession about the cathedrall church, he would not doe it the usually way in his surplice, hood, etc., on foot, but rode on a mare, thus habited, with the Common-Prayer booke in his hand, reading. A stone-horse happend to breake loose[698] ... he would never ride in procession afterwards.

[699]In the cathedral church of Norwich, upper end of the choeur, towards the steppes to the altar, in the middle is a little altar-tombe of bishop Herbert the founder; south of which tombe is a faire freestone gravestone of bishop Corbet, the inscription and shield of brasse are stollen. Vide A. Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._ <His> son <is a> fainiant.

_Notes._

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

[CQ] An alternative reading is given:--

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

[CR] John Stubbinge, D.D., Ch. Ch., 1630: vicar of Ambrosden, co. Oxon., 1635.

[CS] Thomas Lushington, D.D., Pembr., June 22, 1632, obiit Dec. 22, 1661. Notes of his life are found in Wood MS. F. 39, fol. 203ᵛ, 204, 259.

[CT] Alice, daughter of Leonard Hutton, sometime Student of Christ Church, Canon of St. Paul's 1609-1632.

[CU] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 9, Aubrey has a note, 'bishop Richard Corbet: vide memorandum 1671 in libro B pro reliquiis inscriptionis.' A copy of what was still legible of the inscription is found in a letter from Aubrey to Wood in Wood MS. F. 39.

[CV] Sir Thomas Aylesbury, 1576-1657, Master of the Requests. He had been of Christ Church, Oxford.

=Tom Coryat= (1577-1617).

[700]Old major Cosh was quartered (Sept. 18, 1642) at his mother's house at Shirburne in Dorsetshire; her name was Gertrude.

This was when Sherburne castle was besieged, and when the fight was at Babell hills, between Sherburn and Yeovill: the first fight in the civill warres that was considerable. But the first _brush_ was between the earle of Northampton (father to Henry, the lord bishop of London) and the lord Brooke, neer Banbury: which was the later end of July, or the beginning of August, 1642. I[701] was sent for into the countrey to my great griefe, and departed the 9th of Aug. 'Twas before I went away, I beleeve in Aug. Quaere de hoc.

But to returne to T. Coryat: had he lived to returne into England, his travells had been most estimable, for though he was not a wise man, he wrote faithfully matter of fact.

=Abraham Cowley= (1618-1667).

[702]Mr. Abraham Cowley[CW]: he was borne in Fleet-street, London, neer Chancery-lane; his father a grocer, at the signe of....

He was secretarie to the earle of St. Alban's (then lord Jermyn) at Paris. When his majestie returned, the duke of Buckingham hearing that at Chertsey was a good farme of about ... _li._ per annum, belonging to the queene-mother, goes to the earl of St. Alban's and the commissioners to[703] take a lease of it. They answered that 'twas beneath his grace to take a lease of them. That was all one, he would have it, payd for it, and had it, and freely and generously gave it to his deare and ingeniose friend, Mr. Abraham Cowley, for whom purposely he bought it.

He lies interred at Westminster Abbey, next to Sir Jeffrey Chaucer, N., where the duke of Bucks has putt a neate monument of white marble, viz. a faire pedestall, wheron the inscription:--

Abrahamus Couleius,
Anglorum Pindarus, Flaccus, Maro,
Deliciae, Decus, Desiderium aevi sui,
Hic juxta situs est.

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Brief Lives, Vol. 1Chapter D: O. M (1)

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