Chapter IV: Part 4

[373]... Muffett, M.Dr., lived in his later time at Bulbridge (at the west end of Wilton--it belongs to the earle of Pembroke) at the mannor-house there, which is a faire old-built house. This Bulbridge is adjoyning to Wilton; the river[374] only parts it.

At this place he dyed and lyes ☞ buryed at Wilton, but no memoriall of him--vide the Register.

The earl of Pembroke's steward told me that he findes by the old bookes and accounts that a pension of ... was payd him yearly. He was one of the learnedest physitians of that age. He writt a booke in Latin in folio _de insectis_ which Dr. John Pell told me (quaere) heretofore was first begun by a friar.... There was printed, long since his death, his booke _Of Meates_ (in quarto, English), about 1649. Vide; I have it.

[375]... Mouffet:--quaere brother[376] Tom; vide the register at Wilton; write to Mr. Gwyn[377] de hoc.--Thomae Moufeti, Londinatis, Opera sumptibus Theodori de Mayerne edita, 1634.

=... Munday= (16---166-).

[378]Mr. ... Munday, a merchant, was a great traveller, and travelled from Archangel to the East Indies by land. He wrote _Memoires_ of all his journeys, a large folio, wherein he had draughts of their cities, habits[379], customs, etc.

He had a great collection of natural rarities, coynes, prints, etc.

Mr. Baker[380] knew him.

He died at Penrhyn in Cornwall about 20 yeares since. Quaere for them[381].

=Robert Murray= (1633-1725).

[382]Mr. Robert Murray is a citizen of London, a milliner, of the company of cloathworkers. His father, a Scotchman; mother, English. Borne in the Strand, Anno Dni. 1633, December; christened <Dec.> 12ᵗʰ.

The penny-post was sett up anno Domini 1680, Our Lady day, being Fryday[383], a most ingeniose and usefull project. Invented by Mr. ... Murray[384] first, and then Mr. Dockery[385] joyned with him. It was set up Feb. 1679/80.

Mr. Murray[386] was formerly clarke to the generall company for the revenue of Ireland, and afterwards clark to the committee of the grand excise of England; and was the first that invented and introduced into this city the club of commerce consisting of one of each trade, whereof there were after very many erected and are still continued in this city. And also continued[387] and sett-up the office or banke of credit at Devonshire house in Bishopsgate Street without, where men depositing their goods and merchandize were furnished with bills of current credit on 2/3 or 3/4 of the value of the said goods answering to the intrinsique value of money, whereby the deficiency of coin might be fully subplyed: and for rendring the same current, a certaine or competent number of traders (viz. 10 or 20 of each trade, wherof there be 500 severall trades within the citty) were to be associated or formed into such a society or company of traders as might amongst them compleat the whole body of commerce, whereby any possest of the said current credit might be furnisht amongst themselves with any kind of goods or merchandise as effectually as for money could do elsewhere.

=Richard Napier= (1559-1634).

[388]Dr. Richard Napier[AE]:--he was no Doctor, but a divine (rector Lindfordiensis) and practised physick--natus Maii 4, 1559, 11 h. 4´ P.M. in urbe Exoniae.

[389]Dr. Napier was uncle and godfather to Sir Richard Napier.

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

[AE] He is found at Exeter College ('Richard Napper'), aet. 17, Dec. 20, 1577. Aubrey intended to include his life in his collection, and has mentioned it in the index to MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 9ᵛ:--'... Nepier, M.D.: <his life is> donne by Mr. Ashmole.' Ashmole's, and Aubrey's, interest in him arose from his astrological practice: 'nativities had (Dec. 1681) from Elias Ashmole, esq., out of Dr. Napier's papers,' are found in MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121, 121ᵛ, and on a slip there.

=Sir Richard Napier= (1608-1675/6).

[390]Yesterday I was with Mr. Elias Ashmole, who tells me that Sir Richard Napier[AF] was of Allsoules, and about 1642.

I writt to you from Mr. Ashmole in a former letter[AG] that Sir Richard Napier is buryed at Lindford, but died at Besels-leigh; but before he came thither, he lay at an inne at ..., where, when the chamberlain brought him up to his chamber, and the Dr. look't on the bed and saw a dead man lye in or on the bed--'What!' sayd he, 'do you lodge me where a dead man lies?' Sayd the chamberlain, 'Sir, here is no dead man.' The Dr. look't at it again, and saw _it was him selfe_. And from thence he went (ill) to Besil's-leigh and died.

[391]On Sunday last I dined with Mr. Ashmole, who bids me answer you[AH] _positively_ that Sir Richard Napier never did write anything, and sayes he haz acquainted you thus much before by letter.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[AF] He was nephew of the preceding. He matriculated at Wadham in 1624; was fellow of All Souls in 1628; and created M.D. in Nov. 1642.

[AG] On June 29, 1689: now in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 386ᵛ:--'Sir Richard Napier was buried at Lynford, in Buckinghamshire: it was his manour, which his sonne sold for 19,500 _li._'

[AH] This note is a postscript torn from a letter addressed, no doubt to Anthony Wood, by 'your faithful friend, J. Aubrey.'

=Sir William Neale= (1610-1690/1).

[392]Sir William Neale, knight, skowt-master generall to king Charles the first, died on the 24th of March last 1690/1, in Grayes Inne lane, being 81 yeares old. He was buried, according to his desire, in Convent-garden church, and lies at the west dore, first by the christning pew. When he died, he was the oldest field-officer of king Charles the first.

He was not lesse than 6 foot high: very beautifull in youth--I remember him: and of great courage, but a great plunderer and cruell.

He lived in towne ever since the Plott, and that worthy generous gentleman Edmund Wyld, esq., was much supporting to him. His mother and Sir William were cosens german. But for these 5 yeares last past his gowtes etc. emaciated him extremely; so that he did often put me in mind of that of Ovid. Metamorph. <XV. 229>,

Fletque Milo senior cum spectat inanes
Illos, qui fuerant solidorum more tororum
Herculeis similes, fluidos pendere lacertos.

He died poenitent.

He was the grandsonne of ... Neale, esq., of Wollaston near Northampton, who maried one of Sir Edmund Conquest's sisters, of Houghton-Conquest, Bedfordshire. Sir Francis Clarke of Houghton-Conquest aforesaid (father of Mr. Edmund Wyld's mother, a daughter and heir) maried another sister of Sir Edmund Conquest.

Sir William maried major-generall Egerton's sister, by whom he had issue William, a lusty stout fellow, of the guards, who died about the abdication, and two daughters.

=Richard Neile= (1562-1640).

[393]The father of ... Neile, archbishop of Yorke, was a tallow-chandler in Westminster--from old major Cosh.

=William Neile= (1637-1670).

[394]I have sent now to Sir Paul Neile, whose father was archbishop of Yorke, for his sonne. Memorandum:--a better-natured man[395] never lived: for his worth Dr. <John> Wallis can better characterise him than I can.

[396]William Neile, esq., gentleman of the privy chamber in ordinary to king Charles the 2nd, eldest son to Sir Paul Neile, eldest son to the archbishop of Yorke, was borne at Bishops-thorpe (a house belonging to the archbishops of Yorke) neer Yorke, December the seventh, 1637; and dyed at his father's howse in White Waltham in Berkshire, August 24th, 1670, and is buried in White Waltham church. Enquire of Dr. Wallis of his rare invention, which he has printed in one of his bookes: never before found out by man.

=John Newton= (1622-1678).

[397]Dr. Newton, now parson of Rosse in Herefordshire, told me that he was of Edmund hall: yet living; and lives-like, for when his stomach is out of order, he cures himselfe by eating a piece of hott roast beefe off the spitt.--[398]Dr. J. Newton:--he told me he was borne in Bedfordshire, but would not tell me where.

[399]... Newton, D.D., minister of Ross, dyed there on Christmas day 1678, and buried in the chancell at Rosse neer the middle of the south wall. He was against learning of Latin in a mathematicall school.

=John Norden= (1548-1625).

[400]John Norden--from Mr. Bagford, a good antiquary, Mr. Crump's acquaintance.

He lived at Fulham, and (perhaps) died there.

He made mappes of Middlesex, Hartfortshire, Surrey, and Hampshire, and also Cornwall; and he did not only make the mappes aforesaid but hath writt[401] descriptions of them, which Mr. Bagford hath, in quarto. The description of Cornwall (I thinke) was not printed; but Dr. Gale of Paule's schoole hath it in manuscript, quod N.B.

He printed a booke called a Preparative to Speculum Britanniae, in 8vo; item, his Travellers Guide, in 4to.

Mr. Morgan, the herald painter, gives us an account in his Armorie, that he had, in his custodie, Kent, Essex, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, and Hants.

In the end of Mr. Gregorie's posthumous workes, he gives us an account of the excellency of Mr. Norden's mappes, and Saxton's too.

His dialogues I have, in 4to, printed first, 1610; dedicated to <Robert> Cecil, earle of Salisbury, whose servant he was, (I suppose) steward or surveyor.

Sometime or other I will looke into the church at Fulham: he died ('tis thought) in King James the first raigne.

Mr. Wood! pray add this to the rest of the lives.

=Roger North= (1585?-1652).

[402]Captain Roger North was brother to <Dudley, 3rd> lord North. He was a great acquaintance of Sir Walter Ralegh's and accompanied him in his voyages. He was with him at Guiana, and never heard that word[403] but he would fall into a passion for the miscariage of that action.

He was a great algebrist, which was rare in those dayes; but he had the acquaintance of his fellow-traveller Mr. Hariot.

He and his voyages are much cited in.... Voyages in Latin in folio (quaere nomen libri a domino J. Vaughan[404]).

He was a most accomplished gentleman.

He died in Fleet Street about anno Domini 1656 or 57, and buryed....

He had excellent collections and remarques of his voyages, which were all unfortunately burnt in Fleet Street at the great conflagration of the city.--From my <friend> Sir Francis North, Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas, his nephew, and Edmund Wyld, esq., who knew him very well.

He dyed about the time of the fire (?); quaere iterum.

This family speakes not well of Sir Walter Raleigh, that Sir Walter designed to breake with the Spanyard, and to make himselfe popular in England. When he came to ..., he could not show them where the mines of gold were. He would have then gonne to the king of France (Lewis XIII), but his owne men brought him back.

[405]Capt. North--quaere if of Oxon[406]: I thinke of University College.

=Thomas North= (1535-1601).

[407]Mr. Thomas North, that translated Plutarch's Lives (my lord chief justice[408] tells me) was great-uncle to his grandfather.

=Richard Norwood= (1590?-1675).

[409]Mr. Richard Norwood:--where he was born I cannot yet learn.

Norwood is an ancient family: about 300 yeares since St. Low maried with a daughter and heire of them and quarters the coate in the margent[410]. They flourish still in Gloucestershire, the mannour of Lakhampton belonging to them.--'Tis probable that this learned Norwood was that countreyman.

In his Epistle to the Reader before his Trigonometrie:--

'but I am already sensible of the unfriendly dealings of some,
even of our own countreymen, who, when these tables were
printing and almost finished, came to the printing house and
not onely tooke a sufficient view of them there, but carried
away a president without the printer's leave, and have caused
them to be printed beyond sea, the impression or a great part
of it being already come over.

Tower-hill, anno 1631, November 1.'

My edition is the third, 1656; and there hath been one since.

The Seaman's practice, containing a fundamental probleme in navigation experimentally verified, namely, touching the compasse of the earth and sea, and the quantity of a degree, in our English measure; also an exact method or form of keeping a reckoning at sea in any kind or manner of sayling, with certain tables and other rules usefull in navigation; as also the plotting and surveying of places, the latitude of the principal places in England, the finding of the currents at sea and what allowance is to be given in respect of them, by Richard Norwood, reader of the Mathematicks, London, 1655, 4to--dedicated to Robert, earle of Warwick.

He, at his owne chardge, measured with a chaine from Barwick to Christ Church (he sayes he came up in ten or eleven dayes) in order to the finding the quantitie of a degree, and so the circumference of the earth and sea, in our known measures--July 1, 1636.

He also published a treatise of the modern way of fortification, 163-, in 4to.

By a letter from Nicholas, earle of Thanet, to me, concerning his purchase in the Bermudas, not dated, but writ about 1674 or 5--thus:--'as to old Mr. Norwood, to whom the Royal Society would send some quaeres, is lately dead, as his sonne informes me, who lately went captaine in that ship wherein I sent my gardiner and vines to the Bermudas. He was aged above 90.'

[411]Trigonometrie, both plain and sphaerical, by Richard Norwood, reader of the Mathematicks. 'This seaventh edition being diligently corrected; in divers difficult places explained; new table of the starres' right ascentions and declinations added; and the whole worke very much enlarged by the author himselfe.' Printed for William Fisher at the Postern gate neer the Tower, etc., 1678.

'To the Reader. If any man thinke it should be a hinderance to them who have been at the chardge to print that which Mr. Briggs hath begun upon that subject, he may be pleased to take notice that though we both handle the same thing, yet it is in a different manner, and there is scarce any one proposition handled by us both; besides his is in Latine, mine in English. Towerhill, anno 1631, November 1.'

=William Noy= (1577-1634).

[412]From Fabian Philips, esq.:--

Mr. attorney-generall Noy was a great lawyer and a great humorist. There is a world of merry stories of him.

A countrey-fellow of Cumberland[413]....

He would play at spanne-counter with the taverne-barre-boy.

A countrey clowne asked for a good inne, and he bids him ride into Lincoln's Inne, and asked if his horse went to hay or to grasse.

He caused the breeches of a bencher of Lincolne's Inne to be taken-in by a tayler and made him beleeve that he had the dropsie.

One time he mett accidentally with Butler[414], the famous physitian of Cambridge, at the earle of Suffolke's (Lord Treasurer[415]). They were strangers to each other, and both walking in the gallerie. Noy was wearied, and would be gonne. Butler would know his name. Noy had him to the Peacock Taverne in Thames Street, and fudled all that day.

Another time Noy and Pine of Lincolne's Inne went afoot to Barnet with clubbes in their hands, like countreyfellowes. They went to the Red Lyon inne; the people of the house were afrayd to trust them, fearing they might not pay.

[416]Ex registro Brandford, thus:--'William Noy, the king's attorney, buried August the 11th day, 1634.' Buried under the communion table, not alter-waies, in the chancell at New Brentford in the county of Middlesex, under a stone broken; brasse lost and inscription.

=John Ogilby= (1600-1676).

[417]Mr. John Ogilby[AI] natus[418] November 17, 5ʰ 15´ mane, 1600.

[419]John Ogilby, esq., was borne at ... (quaere Mr. John Gadbury[AJ]) in Scotland, November ..., 1600, Scorpione ascendente. He was of a gentleman's family, and bred to his grammar.

[420]<He> would not tell where in Scotland he was borne: quaere. He sayd drollingly that he would have as great contests hereafter for the place of his birth as of Homer's: but he made this rythme:--

At ... cleare
ther did I well fere
where[421] ... man.

[422]Mr. Gadbury sayes that Mr. Ogilby told him (he was very sure) that he was borne either in or neer Edinburgh. Sed tamen quaere de hoc of Mr. Morgan his grandson.

[423]Mr. John Ogilby, borne ... in Scotland, of a gentleman's family; bred a scholar. In[424] his youth bred to dancing at London: which he afterwards professed. His father spent his estate and fell to decay; and J. O. by his owne industry[XXXVIII.] at or about the age of 12 or 13, he relieved his parents.

[XXXVIII.] Spangles, needles.

[425]His father[AK] had spent his estate, and fell to decay, and was a prisoner in the King's Bench, whom, together with his mother, his son relieved by his owne industry, being then but about the age of 12 or 13 yeares. By the advantage of his sonne's industry, he raysed a small summe of money, which he adventured in the lottery for the advancement of the plantation in Virginia, anno ... and he gott out of prison by this meanes. His motto (of his lott) was,

'I am a poor prisoner, God wott,
God send me a good lott,
I'le come out of prison, and pay all my debt.'

It so happened that he had a very good lott, that did pay his debts.

[426]John (the son) bound himselfe apprentice to one Mr. Draper[427], who kept a dancing-schoole in Grayes-Inne-Lane, and in short time arrived to so great excellency in that art, that he found meanes to purchase his time of his master and sett up for himselfe.

When the duke of Buckingham's great masque[428] was represented at court (vide Ben Jonson), anno ... (quaere), he was chosen (among the rest) to performe some extraordinary part in it, and high-danceing, i.e. vaulting and cutting capers, being then in fashion, he, endeavouring to doe something extraordinary, by misfortune of a false step when he came to the ground, did spraine a veine on the inside of his leg, of which he was lame ever after, which gave an occasion to say that 'he was an excellent dancing master, and never a good leg.'

He taught 2 of the lord Hopton's (then Sir Ralph) sisters to dance, then at Witham in Somersetshire; and Sir Ralph taught[429] him to handle the pike and musket, scil. all the postures.

[430]Anno[431] ... (the yeare before lord Strafford went to Ireland[432], Deputie) he kept a dancing school in the Black-Spread-Eagle Court (then an inne) in Grayes Inne lane. Mr. John Lacy, the player, from whom I take this information, was his apprentice.

[433]In the yeare ..., he went over into Ireland to Thomas, earle of Strafford, Lord Liuetenant there, and was there enterteined to teach in that family. And here it was that first he gave proofs of his inclination to poetry, by paraphrasing upon some of Æsop's fables. (He writt a fine hand.) He had[434] a warrant from the Lord Livetenant to be Master of the Ceremonies for that kingdome; and built a little[435] theatre in St. Warburgh street, in Dublin. It was a short time before the rebellion brake out, by which he lost all, and ran thorough many hazards, and particularly being like to have been blow'n-up at the castle of Refarnum neer Dublin.

[436]Anno 16--he went into Ireland with the lord Strafford (Deputy) and rode in his troupe of guards, as one of my lord's gentlemen, which gave occasion of his writing an excellent copie of verses called _The description of a trouper_, which gett[437].

Mr. J. O. was[438] in the Lord Lieutenant's troope of guards, and taught his lady and children to dance; that was his place. And he there made those excellent verses _of the Troupe_r (quaere). 'Twas there he....

knees 'gainst knees
(umbonibus umbo).

Upon this Mr. Chantrel[XXXIX.] putt him upon learning the Latin tongue (in the 40 aetat. +), and taught him himself and tooke a great deale of paines with him. This was the first time he began his Latin. He stayed in Ireland a good while after the warres broke-out.

[XXXIX.] Mr. Chantrel[439], chaplaine to Sir George Ratcliffe, favourite. Sir George Ratcliffe was afterwards the duke of York's governour in France.

[440]After John Ogilby had built the theatre at Dublin, he was undon at the Irish rebellion. He was wreckt at sea, and came to London very poor, and went on foot to Cambridge.

[441]Mr. J. Ogilby wrote at Dublin (being then of the gaurdes of the earle of Strafford) the character of a trooper, in English verse, which is very witty: Mr. Morgan hath promised to gett it for me. He built the theatre at Dublin. He was undon at the Irish rebellion; returning to England, was wreckt at sea, and came to London very poor and went on foot to Cambridge.

[442]He wrote a play at Dublin, call'd _The Merchant of Dublin_, never printed.

[443]He came into England about the yeare 1648 (vide the date of his Virgil, 8vo). He printed[XL.] Virgill, translated by himselfe into English verse, 8vo, 164-, dedicated to the right honourable William, lord marquesse of Hertford, who loved him very well.

[XL.] Virgil, 8vo; Aesop, in 4to, next.--MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 20.

After he had translated Virgil, he learned Greeke[XLI.] of Mr. Whitfield[444], a Scotch bishop's son, and grew so great a proficient in it that he fell-to to translate Homer's Iliads, 1660.

[XLI.] Mr. Ogilby learnt Greeke in 1653.--MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121ᵛ.

Next, as if by a prophetique spirit, foreseeing the restauration of King Charles IIᵈ, and also the want there might be of Church Bibles, he[445]printed the fairest impression, and the most correct of English Bibles, in royall and imperiall paper, that ever was yet donne.

He printed and published his majestie's entertainment at his coronation, in folio with cutts, 1662.

The same yeare (1662) he went into Ireland again, being then, _by patent_ (before, but by _warrant_) master of the revells, having disputed his right with Sir William Davenant, who had gott a graunt, and built a noble theatre at Dublin, which cost 2000 _li._, the former being ruined[446] in the troubles.

His Odysses came out in 1665. People did then suspect, or would not beleeve that 'twas he was the author of the paraphrase upon Æsop, and to convince them he published a 2ᵈ volume, which he calles his Æsopiques, which[447] he did during the sicknesse, in his retirement at Kingston upon Thames, after he had published Homer's Iliads and Odysses.

His History of China, in fol., anno ... (before the fire); then his History of Japan.

The generall and dreadfull conflagration burn't all that he had, that he was faine to begin the world again, being then at best worth 5 _li._

He had such an excellent inventive and prudentiall witt, and master of so good addresse, that when he was undon he could not only shift handsomely (which is a great mastery[448]), but he would make such rationall proposalls that would be embraced by rich and great men, that in a short time he could gaine a good estate again, and never failed in any thing he ever undertooke but allwayes went through with profits and honour[449].

Being thus utterly undon again by the fire, he made his proposalls for the printing of a faire English _Atlas_[450], of which he lived to finish the Historys of Africa, America, and part of Asia. And then, being encouraged by the king and the nobility to make[451] an actuall survey of England and Wales[AL], he proceeded in it so far as to an actuall survey of the roads both in England and Wales, which composed his ... volume of his _Britannia_, published....

[452]Mr. John Ogilby died Sept. 4, 1676; and was buried in the vault at St. Bride's.

[453]Vide his obiit in Almanack[454] 1675: quaere Mr. Lacy.

[455]Anno ... John Ogilby maried ..., the daughter of ... Fox[XLII.], of Netherhampton, neer Wilton in com. Wilts, who was borne as he was wont to say 'in the first Olympiad,' scil. when the first race was ran at Sarum in Henry[456], earle of Pembroke's time. She had only one daughter by him, maried to ... Morgan, who left a son who now suceeds his grandfather as his majestie's cosmographer. She dyed in London ... being aged ... (neer 90[457]).

[XLII.] Servant to the earl of Pembroke, a good liverie.

[458]His wife dyed 3 or 4 dayes before Xtmas 1677, aetatis circiter[459] 112.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[AI] This life of Ogilby is found confusedly in two drafts in MS. Aubr. 7, foll. 19ᵛ-20ᵛ, and MS. Aubr. 8, foll. 44-47ᵛ.

In MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 19ᵛ, and in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 44, Aubrey gives the coat: '..., a lion passant gardant crowned ..., a mullet for difference'; and notes that 'the crest is a 1/2 virgin in an earle's coronet holding a castle.'

[AJ] Gadbury, Aubrey thought, must have been told the place of Ogilby's birth with a view to constructing his horoscope.

[AK] The first draft, in MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 20, runs:--

'His father was then a prisoner at the King's bench; by the advantage of his son's industry, raysed a small some of money, which he adventured in the lottery (in such a yeare ...--since 1600--quaere annum) for the advancement of the plantation in Virginia: but he gott out of prison by this meanes. His motto was

I am a poor prisoner, God wott:
God send me a good lott[460]
I'le come out of prison and pay all my debt.

It so happened that he had a very good lott, that pay<d> all his debt.'

[AL] Aubrey came near being employed on this survey. Writing on Aug. 12, 1672, MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 181, he says:--

'I had gone sooner into Kent, but Dr. Wren, my deare friend, without my knowledge contrived an employment for me, which he referred to me to consider of it. So I shall till Michaelmas terme.

'Tis this.--Mr. Ogilby is writing the history of all England: the map is mending already. Now the Dr. told him if that were all, it would be no very great matter. He was pleased to tell him that he could not meet with a fitter man for that turne then J. A. Now it's true it suites well enough with my genius; but he is a cunning Scott, and I must deale warily with him, with the advice of my friends. It will be February next before I begin, and then between that and November followeing I must <s>curry over all England and Wales.... The king will give me protection and letters to make any inquiries, or etc.'

=Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby= (1631/2-1712).

[461]Lord Treasurer, Thomas, earle of Danby, natus A.D. 1631º, Febr. 19º, hor. 15 min. 53 P.M.--latit. 54.

[462]'20 Febr., 1631/2, fower a clock in the morn.'--I take this to be the Lord Treasurer's <nativity>, scil. Thomas, earle of Danby. Respondet--'tis so.

=William Oughtred= (1574-1660).

[463]Gulielmus Oughtred[AM] natus 5 Martii 1574, 5ʰ P.M.

[464]Mr. Oughtred:--Mr. <John> Sloper tells me that his father was butler of Eaton Colledge: he remembers him, a very old man.

[465]William Oughtred:--vide Henry Coley's _Astrologie_.--A note from my honoured and learned friend Thomas Flud, esq., who had been High Sheriff of Kent, _scilicet_, he was Mr. Oughtred's acquaintance. He told me that Mr. Oughtred confessed to him that he was not satisfied how it came about that one might foretell by the starres, but so it was that it fell out true as he did often by his experience find. Mr. T. Flud obiit....

[466]_This[467] from Mr. Uniades, who was his scholar._

[Mr. Oughtred's children:--

1. William.
2. Henrey: haz a son (of the Custom-house).
3. Benjamin: a bachelor: yet living.
4. Simon.
5. Edward.
6. George.
7. John.
Marget.
Judeth: married a glazier.
Elizabeth.

One of them <married> to Christopher Brookes of Oxford, a mathematical-instrument-maker.]

[468]Mr. William Oughtred, B.D., Cambr., was borne at Eaton, in Buckinghamshire, neer Windsor, Anno Domini 1574, March the fifth, 5 hours P.M.

His father taught to write at Eaton, and was a scrivener; and understood common arithmetique, and 'twas no small helpe and furtherance to his son to be instructed in it when a schoole-boy. His grandfather came from the north for killing a man. The last knight of the family was one Sir Jeffrey Oughtred. I thinke a Northumberland family (quaere).

Anno Domini ... he was chosen to be one of the King's scholars at Eaton Colledge (vide register). A.D. ... he went to King's Colledge, in Cambridge.

Anno aetatis 23, he writt there his Horologiographia Geometrica, as appeares by the title.

Anno Domini ... he was instituted and inducted into the rectory or parsonage of Albury, in com. Surrey, lett for[469] a hundred pounds per annum: he was pastor of this place fifty yeares.

He maried ... Caryl (an ancient family in those parts), by whom he had nine sonnes (most lived to be men) and four daughters. None of his sonnes he could make[470] scholars.

He was a little man, had black haire, and blacke eies (with a great deal of spirit). His head[471] was always working. He would drawe lines and diagrams on the dust.

His oldest son Benjamin, who lives in the house with my cosen Boothby (who gives him his dyet) and now an old man, he bound apprentice to a watchmaker; who did worke pretty well, but his sight now failes for that fine worke. He told me that his father did use to lye a bed till eleaven or twelve a clock, with his doublet on, ever since he can remember. Studyed late at night; went not to bed till 11 a clock; had his tinder box by him; and on the top of his bed-staffe, he had his inke-horne fix't. He slept but little. Sometimes he went not to bed in two or three nights, and would not come downe to meales till he had found out the _quaesitum_.

He was more famous abroad for his learning, and more esteemed, then at home. Severall great mathematicians came over into England on purpose to converse[472] with him. His countrey neighbours (though they understood not his worth) knew that there must be extraordinary worth in him, that he was so visited by foreigners.

When Mr. Seth Ward, M.A. and Mr. Charles Scarborough, D.M., came (as in pilgrimage, to see him and admire him)--they lay at the inne at Sheeres (the next parish)--Mr. Oughtred had against their comeing prepared a good dinner, and also he had dressed himselfe, thus, an old red[473] russet cloath-cassock that had been black in dayes of yore, girt with a old leather girdle, an old fashion russet hatt, that had been a bever, tempore reginae Elizabethae. When learned foreigners came and sawe how privately he lived, they did admire and blesse themselves, that a person of so much worth and learning should not be better provided for.

Seth Ward, M.A., a fellow of Sydney Colledge in Cambridge (now bishop of Sarum), came to him, and lived with him halfe a yeare (and he would not take a farthing for his diet), and learned all his mathematiques of him. Sir Jonas More was with him a good while, and learn't; he was but an ordinary logist before. Sir Charles Scarborough was his scholar; so Dr. John Wallis was his scholar; so was Christopher Wren his scholar; so was Mr. ... Smethwyck, Regiae Societatis Socius. One Mr. Austin (a most ingeniose man) was his scholar, and studyed so much that he became mad, fell a laughing, and so dyed, to the great griefe of the old gentleman. Mr. ... Stokes, another scholar, fell mad[474], and dream't that the good old gentleman came to him, and gave[475]him good advice, and so he recovered, and is still well. Mr. Thomas Henshawe, Regiae Societatis Socius, was his scholar (then a young gentleman). But he did not so much like any as those that tugged ☞ and tooke paines to worke out questions. He taught all free.

He could not endure to see a scholar write an ill hand; he taught them all presently to mend their hands. Amongst others Mr. T. H.[476] who when he came to him wrote a lamentable hand, he taught to write very well. He wrote a very elegant hand, and drew his schemes most neatly, as they had been cut in copper. His father (no doubt) was an ingeniose artist at the pen and taught him to write so well.

He was an astrologer, and very lucky in giving his judgements on nativities; he would say, that he did not understand the reason why it should be so, but so it would happen; he did beleeve that some genius or spirit did help. ☞ He has asserted the rational way of dividing the XII houses according to the old way, which (the originall) Elias Ashmole, esq., haz of his owne handwriting; which transcribe. Captaine George Wharton hath inserted it in his Almanack, 1658 or 1659.

The countrey people did beleeve that he could conjure, and 'tis like enough that he might be well enough contented to have them thinke so. I have seen some notes of his owne handwriting on Cattan's Geomantie.

He has told bishop Ward, and Mr. Elias Ashmole (who was his neighbour), that 'on this spott of ground,' (or 'leaning against this oake,' or 'that ashe,') 'the solution of such or such a probleme came into my head, as if infused by a divine genius, after I had thought on it without successe for a yeare, two, or three.'

Ben Oughtred told me that he had heard his father say to Mr. Allen (the famous mathematicall instrument-maker), in his shop, that he had found out the Longitude; _sed vix credo_.

Nicolaus Mercator, Holsatus (whose mathematicall writings ...), went to see him few yeares before he dyed. 'Twas about midsommer, and the weather was very hott, and the old gentleman had a good fire, and used Mr. Mercator with much humanity (being exceedingly taken with his excellent mathematicall witt), and one piece[477] of his courtesie was, to be mighty importunate with him to sett on his upper hand next the fire; he being cold (with age) thought he[478] had been so too.

He[479] was a great lover of chymistry, which he studyed before his son Ben can remember, and continued it; and told John Evelyn, of Detford, esq., R.S.S., not above a yeare before he dyed, that if he were but five yeares (or three yeares) younger, he doubted not to find out the philosopher's stone. He used to talke much of the mayden-earth[XLIII.] for the philosopher's stone. It was made of the harshest cleare water that he could gett, which he lett stand to putrify, and evaporated by cimmering[480]. Ben tended his furnaces. He has told me that his father would sometimes say that he could make the stone. Quicksilver refin'd and strain'd, and gold as it came naturall over[XLIV.]----

[XLIII.] Quaere for what he sayd it was good?

[XLIV.] This line is imperfect. It is blurred in my notes.

The old gentleman was a great lover of heraldry, and was well knowne[481] with the heralds at their office, who approved his descent[XLV.].

[XLV.] Dr. <Richard> Blackburne haz his genealogie, of his owne drawing. He loved heraldry.--MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 8.

Memorandum:--he struck-out above halfe of the accedence, and wrote new instead. He taught a gentleman in halfe a yeare to understand Latin, at Mr. Duncombe's his parishioner. Quaere his daughter Brookes at Oxford for it[482].

[483]His wife was a penurious woman, and would not allow him to burne candle after supper, by which meanes many a good notion is lost, and many a probleme unsolved; so that Mr. <Thomas> Henshawe, when he was there, bought candle, which was a great comfort to the old man.

The right honᵇˡᵉ Thomas[484] Howard, earle of Arundel and Surrey, Lord High Marshall of England, was his great patron[485], and loved him intirely. One time they were like to have been killed together by the fall at Albury of a grott, which fell downe but just as they were come out. ☞ My lord had many grotts about his house, cutt in the sandy sides of hills, wherin he delighted to sitt and discourse.

In the time of the civill warres the duke of Florence invited him over, and offered him 500 _li._ per annum; but he would not accept of it, because of his religion.

Notwithstanding all that has been sayd of this excellent man, he was in danger to have been sequestred, and ... Onslowe that was a great stickler against the royalists and a member of the House of Commons and living not far from him--he translated his _Clavis_ into English and dedicated it to him to clawe with him, and it did soe his businesse and saved him from sequestration. Now this Onslowe was no scholar and hated by the country[486] for bringing his countrymen of Surry into the trap of slaughter when so many petitioners were killed at Westminster and on the roads in pursuite, anno Domini 16--.

I have heard his neighbour ministers say that he was a pittiful preacher; the reason was because he never studyed it, but bent all his thoughts on the mathematiques; but when he was in danger of being sequestred for a royalist, he fell to the study of divinity, and preacht (they sayd) admirably well, even in his old age.

He was a good Latinist and Graecian, as appears in a little treatise of his against one Delamaine, a joyner, who was so sawcy to write against him (I thinke about his circles of proportion): upon which occasion I remember I have seen, many yeares since, twenty or more good verses made[487], which begin to this purpose:--

Thus may some mason or rude carpenter[488]
Putt into the ballance his rule and compasses
'Gainst learned Euclid's pen, etc.

Enquire for them and insert them.

Before he dyed he burned a world of papers, and sayd that the world was not worthy of them; he was so superb. He burned also severall printed bookes, and would not stirre, till they were consumed. His son Ben was confident he understood magique. Mr. Oughtred, at the Custom House, (his grandson) has some of his papers; I myselfe have his Pitiscus, imbelished with his excellent marginall notes, which I esteeme as a great rarity. I wish I could also have got his Bilingsley's Euclid, which John Collins sayes was full of his annotations.

He dyed the 13ᵗʰ day of June, 1660, in the yeare of his age eighty-eight + odde dayes. Ralph Greatrex, his great friend, the mathematicall instrument-maker, sayed he conceived he dyed with joy for the comeing-in of the king, which was the 29ᵗʰ of May before. 'And are yee sure he is restored?'--'Then give me a glasse of sack to[489]drinke his sacred majestie's health.' His spirits were then quite upon the wing to fly away. The 15ᵗʰ of June he was buried in the chancell at Albury, on the north side neer the cancelli. I had much adoe to find the very place where the bones of this learned and good man lay (and 'twas but 16 yeares after his death). When I first ask't his son Ben, he told me that truly the griefe for his father's death was so great, that he did not remember the place--now I should have thought it would have made him remember it the better--but when he had putt on his considering cap (which was never like his father's), he told as aforesaid, with which others did agree. There is not to this day any manner of memorial for him there, which is a great pitty. I have desired Mr. John Evelyn, etc., to speake to our patrone, the duke of Norfolk, to bestowe a decent inscription of marble on him, which will also perpetuate his grace's fame. I asked Ben concerning the report[490] of his father's dyeing a Roman Catholique: he told me that 'twas indeed true that when he was sick some priests came from my lord duke's (then Mr. Henry Howard, of Norfolk) to him to have discoursed with him, in order to his conversion to their church, but his father was then past understanding. Ben was then by, he told me.

His _Clavis Mathematica_ was first dedicated to the lord <Thomas[491]> Howard, earle of Arundel and Surrey, and Lord Marshall of England, anno Domini MDCXXXI, London, apud Thomam Harperum.

His _Clavis Mathematica, denuo limata sive potius fabricata_ was printed by the said Thomas Harper, 1648.

_Editio tertia auctior et emendatior_ was at Oxford, 1652; where Dr. John Wallis, the Savillian professor, corrected the presse. The old gentleman in his Preface to the Reader mentioned with much respect Seth Ward (Savillian professor of Astronomy), Dr. Charles Scarborough, John Wallis, Mr. Christopher Wren, and Mr. Robert Wood.

He writt a stitch't pamphlet about 163(?4) against ... Delamaine.

His first edition of his Circles of Proportion was in 4to, and dedicated to Sir Kenelm Digby, printed.... The second edition was at Oxford, 165-.

He writt a little pamphlett in 8vo, viz. _The new artificiall gauging-rod, with the use therof_, London, printed by Augustin Matthewes, 1633. Ben, <his son>, gave me a copie of it; but this art is since much improved.

He wrote a little treatise of watchmaking for the use of his son Benjamin, who told me that Mr. Horton of Whitehall, of the Woodyard, haz the true copie of it.

Memorandum:--about 1678 were printed at Oxon at the Theatre some opuscula of his....

I have heard Mr. Hobbes say, and very truely, that with all his great skill in Algebra, he did never adde one proposition to Geometrie: he could bind up a bundle well.

Mr. John Sloper, vicar of Broad Chalke (which is in the gift of King's College, Cambridge) tells me that Mr. Oughtred's father was the pantler of Eaton College.

Memorandum:--there is a booke of lives in folio, by ... Lloyd, and among others this Mr. Oughtred: which see.

Memorandum:--Richard Blackbourne, of London, M.D., hath Mr. W. Oughtred's genealogie of his owne draweing; gett it for Mr. Elias Ashmole.

[492]Worthy Sir,

I made bold lately when I sent my book in a leter to Mr. Wood[493] to nominate you and Mr. Wallis together with him, to whose judgment and discretion I commit all my right and interest for the printing therof at Oxford. I nowe have sent the Epistle, which, though written long since, yett was soe mislayed and mingled with many other papers, that I thought it lost, and light but lately upon it. Therin I make noe unloving mention of your self and Dr. Scarbrough, whose surname I remember not.

I hope neyther of you will take my officiousnesse in evell part. Yett yf anything shall displease, you are intreated of me to alter it or raze it with a blott; but yf in and by your suffrage it maye passe, I would intreat you to supplie the Doctor's surname.

I have another suit, and that is in behalf of Mr. Brookes, late chosen manciple of Wadham Colledg, that you would be pleased to commend him and give him what countenance you can with the Warden of the house. He is a very honest man, well travelled and experienced in the world, and is also an exact workman in his trade of making mathematical instruments in metall.

Sir, you will be pleased to remember my best respects to Mr. Wallis and favourably to pardon this troublesome interruption of him who am,

Your truly loving freind to my power,
WILLIAM OUGHTRED.

Aldburie
April 19, 1651.

To my very worthy and loving freind, Mr. Seth Ward, at Wadham Colledg in Oxford, present.

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

[AM] Aubrey gives in colours the coat: 'gules, a cross moline or (vide the Heralds' office if any charge on the cross)'; and notes that the 'crest' is 'a head like a hare's head.' He adds also the references:--(_a_) 'vide his life writt by ..., in 8vo'; (_b_) 'quaere Mr. Elias Ashmole for his nativity.' He has drawn the figure for the insertion of the planetary signs, and left it blank.

=William Outram= (1625-1679).

In Westminster Abby south aisle, white marble inscription.[494]

Prope jacet
Gulielmus Outram, S.T.P.
ex agro Derbiensi, collegiorum apud Cantabrigienses
S. et individuae Trinitatis et Christi socius, hujus
ecclesiae canonicus et Leycestr. archidiaconus,
Theologus consummatus et omnibus
numeris absolutus, Scriptor nervosus et accuratus,
Concionator egregius et assiduus primo in agro Lincoln.
postea Londini et tandem apud S. Margaretam Westmon.
ubi confecit postremum vitae suae cursum magna
cum laude nec minore fructu. Sed in tantis laboribus
et animi contentione dum sacrarum literarum et
sanctorum patrum studio ardebat ut in renum dolores
inciderit, quibus diu afflictus et tandem fractus
aequissimo animo e vita discessit
Aug. XXIII anno Dni MDCLXXIX
postquam impleverat annum
quinquagesimum quartum.

His grave-stone (a faire black marble) is not far off from the above-mentioned inscription. There is written on it thus, viz.:--

...

He was a tall spare leane pale consumptive man; wasted himself much, I presume, by frequent preaching.

Scripsit....

=John Overall= (1560-1619).

[495]Dr. Overall and his wife:--

Dr. <John> Overall was deane of St. Paules, London.

I see his picture in[496] the rationale writt by <Anthony> Sparrow, bishop of Exon, in the beginning wherof are the effigies[497] of L<ancelot> Andrews, bishop of Winton, Mr. <Richard> Hooker, and John Overall, bishop of Norwich--before which is writt _Ecclesiae et Liturgiae Anglicanae vindices_. Quaere if this deane was that bishop.

I know not what he wrote or whether he was any more than a common-prayer Doctor; but most remarqueable by his wife, who was the greatest beautie in her time in England. That she was so I have it attested from the famous limmer[498] Mr. <John> Hoskins[499] and other old painters, besides old courtiers. She was not more beautifull than she was obligeing and kind, and was so tender-hearted that (truly) she could scarce denie any one. She had (they told me) the loveliest eies that ever were seen, but wondrous wanton. When she came to court or to the playhouse, the gallants would so flock round her. Richard, the earle of Dorset, and his brother Edward, since earle, both did mightily adore her. And by their report he must have had a hard heart that did not admire her. Bishop Hall sayeth in his Meditations that 'there is none so old that a beautifull person loves not; nor so young whom a lovely feature moves not.'

The good old deane, notwithstanding he knew well enough that he was horned, loved her infinitely: in so much that he was willing she should enjoy what she had a mind to.

Among others who were charmed by her was Sir John Selby of Yorkshire. 1656, old Mris Tyndale (of the Priory near Easton-piers), who knew her, remembres a song made of her and Sir John, part whereof was this, vizt.:--

The deane of Paule's did search for his wife,
And where d'ee thinke he found her?...[500]

etc.

On these two lovers was made this following copie of pastorall verses (vide the ballad-booke _in Museo Sheldoniano_[501]), e.g.

[502]Downe lay the shepherd swaine
So sober and demure,
Wishing for his wench againe[503]
So bonny and so pure,
With his head on hillock lowe
And his armes akimboe,
And all was for the losse of his
Hye nonny nonny noe.

His teares fell as thinne
As water from the still,
His haire upon his chinne
Grew like thyme upon a hill,
His cherry cheekes[504] pale as snowe
Did testifye his mickle woe,
And all was for the losse of his
Hye nonny nonny noe.

Sweet she was, as kind a love
As ever fetter'd swayne;
Never such a daynty one
Shall man enjoy again.
Sett a thousand on a rowe
I forbid that any showe
Ever the like of her
Hey nonny nonny noe.

Face she had of filberd hue,
And bosom'd[505] like a swan;
Back she had of bended ewe,
And wasted by a span.
Haire she had as black as crowe
From the head unto the toe
Downe, downe, all over her
Hye nonny nonny noe.

With her mantle tuck't-up high
She foddered her flock
So bucksome and alluringly,
Her knee upheld her smock.
So nimbly did she use to goe,
So smooth she danc't on tip-toe,
That all men were fond of her
Hye nonny nonny noe.

[506]She smiled like a Holy-day
And simpred like the Spring,
She pranck't it like a popingaie
And like a swallow sing,
She trip't it like a barren doe,
She strutted like a gor-crowe,
Which made the men so fond of her
Hye nonny nonny noe.

To sport it on the merry downe
To daunce the lively Haye
To wrastle for a green gowne
In heate of all the daye
Never would she say me no
Yet me thought I had thô
Never enough of her
Hye nonny nonny noe.

But gonne she is, the prettiest[507] lasse
That ever trod on plaine.
What ever hath betide of her
Blame not the shepherd swayne
For why? she was her owne foe
And gave her selfe the overthrowe
By being so franke of her
Hye nonny nonny noe.

Finis.

=Sir Thomas Overbury= (1581-1613).

[508]Sir Thomas Overbury, knight:--ex registro capellae Turris Lond., scilicet. 'Anno Domini 1613, Sir Thomas Overbury, poysoned, buryed September 15ᵗʰ.'

His father was one of the judges of South Wales, viz. Caermarthen, Cardigan, and Pembroke circuites. He lived in his later time at Burghton on the hill in Glocestershire. Sir Giles Overbury was his eldest brother, who dyed in London in St. Clements Danes parish about 1651 or 2.

Scripsit:--Characters, Of education of youth, a stitch't 8vo. Translated Ovid _de remedio amoris_--which I have ('twas one of old Dr. Kettle's bookes).

Sir Nicholas Overbury, _m._ ... Palmer.
judge. |
|
+-------------------+---+-----------------------+
| | |
1. Sir Giles. 2. Sir Thomas, (sine prole). 3. Walter, of Barton.
| |
| +----+----+
Sir Thomas (orbus). | |

=Charles Pamphlin= (1649-1678).

[509]This is the copie of his mother's owne handwriting:--

'Charles Pamphlin was borne the last day of August before day, the howre I did justly know but I guesse it might be about 3 or 4 a clock in the morning, being Fryday the August after the king was beheaded; which I thinke was 29 yeares since, last August.'

He was hanged in Convent Garden on a gibbet, for stealing his Majestie's chapell-plate, May 22, 1678.

=John Partridge= (1643/4-1715).

[510]John Partridge, astrologue, the son of ... Partridge (yet living, 1680, an honest waterman at Putney[511] in Surrey).

He was borne, as by his scheme[512] appeares, January the 18ᵗʰ, 1643/4, lat. London.

He was taught[513] to read, and a little to write. He learn'd no farther then _As in praesenti_.

He was bound apprentice to a shoe-maker in ..., anno aetat....; where he was kept hard to his trade.

At 18 he gott him a Lillie's grammar, and Goldman's dictionary, and a Latin bible, and Ovid's Metamorphoses.

He is of an excellent healthy constitution and great temperance, of indefatigable industrie, and sleepes but ... houres.

In ... yeeres he made himselfe a competent master of the Latin tongue, well enough to reade any astrologicall booke, and quickly became a master of that science. He then studyed the Greek tongue, and also the Hebrew, to neither of which he is a stranger. He then studyed good authors in physique, and intends to make that his profession and practyse; but is yet (1680) a shoemaker in Convent Garden.

_Scripsit_, viz.:--

first, The Hebrew Kalendar, 1678.

Ecclesilogia (almanack), 1679.

The same againe, 1680.

Vade Mecum, 8vo.

The King of France his nativity.

A discourse of two moones.

Mercurius Coelestis (almanack), 1681.

Prodromus, a discourse of the conjunction of Saturn and Mars, anno 1680.

=James Peele.=

[514]Maister James Peele--'tis a folio, 1569:--

¶The pathewaye to perfectnes in th' accomptes of debitour and creditour, in manner of a dialogue very pleasant and profitable for merchauntes and all other that minde to frequent the same, once again set forth and very much enlarged by James Peele, citizen and salter of London, Clercke of Christes Hospitall, practiser and teacher of the same, imprinted at London in Paule's church-yard by Thomas Purfoote, dwelling at the signe of the Lucrece, Aug. 16.

He is drawne before his booke in his gowne and a cap (scilicet, like the cappes the undergraduates weare), short haire and long beard.

It is dedicated to the right worshipful master John Mershe, esq., governour, the assistants, and companie of the Merchaunte Adventurers of England.

In the dialogue between the merchant and the schoolemaster, the merchant thanks him and sayes 'It is now street time, wherfore I must begonne.' In those times, before the Royal Exchange was built by Sir Thomas Gresham, the merchants did meet in the street as now a dayes at the Exchange. The place was what we now call the old Change; but I believe the street was then broader than it is now.

In those dayes[515] they did alwaies upon the top of the first clean leafe in the inventorie booke write thus:--

'In the name of God, Amen.
1566
December the xxxi daye.'

=John Pell= (1610/1-1685).

<When Aubrey had finished the first sketch of this life he
submitted it for revision to Dr. Pell, who made several
corrections. To these Aubrey draws attention by a note:--'This
is Dr. Pell's owne hand-writing:' it is a neat print-like hand.
These corrections in the text here are enclosed in square
brackets.>

[516]John Pell[AN], S.T.Dr., was the son of John, who was the son of John.

John Pell, D.D., was the son of John Pell, ...[517] of Southwyck in Sussex, in which parish he was borne, at ..., on St. David's day (1st of March) 1610[518], horâ ... (his youngest uncle guessed about noon).