Chapter VIII: Part 8

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

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

[LXXXI.] This I was told[BG] by Robert Skinner, bishop of Oxon, 1646.

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

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

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

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

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

* * * * *
* * * * *

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

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

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

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[BF] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:--'argent, on a bend sable, 3 owls of the field [Savile].'

[BG] Aubrey seems to have had a special interest in this story. He notes it twice in MS. Aubr. 21 (fol. 2, and fol. 4):--'Sir H. Savile--If you'l have witts, goe to Newgate.'

[BH] Leonard Yates, fellow of Merton in 1593, rector of Cuxham, co. Oxon., 1608, died 1662, aged _circ._ 92. His son, John Yates, was M.A. of Trinity in 1639, and probably Aubrey knew him there.

[BI] This Collection was incorporated with the Bodleian in 1884: Macray's _Annals of the Bodleian_, p. 329. Stephen Peter Rigaud (Savilian Professor of Geometry 1810-1827, and of Astronomy 1827-1839) had, in his time, thoroughly examined it, and found many books missing.

=Sylvanus Scory= (15-- -1617).

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

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

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

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

=John Securis.=

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

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

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

=Dorothy Selby.=

[944]From Mr. Marshall[945]:--

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

She was a Dorcas
Whose curious needle turn'd the abused stage
Of this lewd world into a golden age:
Whose pen of steele, and silken inke, enroll'd
The acts of Jona in records of gold;
Whose art disclos'd that plott, which had it taken,
Rome had triumph't and Britaine's walls had shaken.
Shee was
In heart a Lydia, and in tongue a Hanna,
In zeale a Ruth, in wedlock a Susanna.
Prudently simple, providently wary,
To the world a Martha, and to heaven a Mary.

=John Selden= (1584-1654).

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

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

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

[LXXXII.] She was living in 1646, or 1647, an old woman, 80+.

[LXXXIII.] This from Sir William Dugdale, from the lady Cotton.--Mr. Fabian Philips told me that when J. Selden was young he did copie records for Sir Robert Cotton.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I. SELDENVS, I. C. _heic situs est_.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[LXXXIV.] He haz a learned copie of verses before Hopton's 'Concordance of Yeares'; before Ben Jonson's Workes; &c.

The poets met, the other day,
And Apollo was at the meeting, they say,
* * * * *
'Twas strange to see how they flocked together:
There was Selden, and he stood next to the chaire,
And Wenman not far off, which was very faire,
etc.

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

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

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

[LXXXV.] Memorandum:--Mr. Fabian Philips says that Mr. Selden had given his library to Oxford at first, but that the University had disobliged <him> by not lending him a MS. or MSS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[BJ] Sir Thomas Mallet, Justice of the King's Bench 1641-45, 1660-63.

[BK] John Selden matric. at Hart Hall Oct. 24, 1600, aged 15. Giles Mompesson matric. at Hart Hall, same day, aged 16.

[BL] Henry Grey succeeded as 7th earl of Kent in 1623, died 1639. His widow Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Gilbert Talbot, 7th earl of Shrewsbury, died Dec. 7, 1651, bequeathing her estate to Selden.

[BM] It is not clear whether this is 'Sir J. C.' or 'Sir J. H.' (in a monogram). If the former, perhaps 'Sir John Cotton'; if the latter, as is more probable, then perhaps Sir John Hoskyns, son of Sir Bennet, p. 223.

[BN] Anthony Wood adds the note: 'Vide Collect. ex Convoc. 1653,' i.e. Wood's own Collections ex reg. Convoc. Oxon. (MS. Bodl. 594): see Clark's Wood's _Life and Times_, i. 187, 209.

[BO] Reported slightly more fully by Aubrey, writing April 7, 1673, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 199ᵛ:--'Mr. Johnson, minister of the Temple, buryed him, secundum usum Directory, where, amongst other things, he quoted "the sayeing of a learned man" (he did not name him) "that when a learned man dies, there dyes a great deale of learning with him," and that "if learning could have kept a man alive our brother had not dyed."'

[BP] Charles Louis. 'He received permission from the House of Commons to sit and hear on Oct. 24, <1643>, but does not seem to have actually made his appearance till the 28th: when an address of welcome was made by the Prolocutor, Dr. <William> Twisse, who had been at one time chaplain to the princess <his mother>, and a reply was made by the prince. Somewhat fragmentary notes of his speech are found in the first volume of the minutes of the Westminster Assembly, which has never been published'--a note kindly sent me by Dr. A. F. Mitchell, Emeritus Professor of Ecclesiastical History in St. Andrews.

=William Shakespear= (1564-1616).

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

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

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

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

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

Ten in the hundred the Devill allowes,
But Combes will have twelve, he sweares and vowes:
If any one askes who lies in this tombe,
'Hoh!' quoth the Devill, ''Tis my John o Combe.'

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

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

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

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

=Ralph Sheldon= (1623-1684).

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

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

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

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

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

=John Sherburne= (1616-1635).

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

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

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

=James Shirley= (1594-1666).

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

He taught in Shoe lane: quaere.

=Thomas Shirley= (1638-1678).

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

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

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[BQ] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:--'paly of 6, or and azure, a canton ermine.'

[BR] Anthony Wood notes here:--'This was written by Sir Thomas Overbury of Bourton on the hill to Dr. Thomas Shirley.' See Clark's Wood's _Life and Times_, i. 452.

=John Sloper.=

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

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

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

=Jane Smyth= (1649-16--).

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

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

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

On her trunk is:--

1662,
I. Ƨ.

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

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

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

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

=Charles Snell= (1639-16--).

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

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

=John Speed= (1542-1629).

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

P.M. Charissimorum
Parentum

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

=John Speidell.=

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

=Sir Henry Spelman= (1562-1641).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

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

=Edmund Spenser= (1553-1598/9).

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

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

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

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

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

[Sidenote: ☞]

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

=William Stafford= (1593-1684).

=Robert Stafford= (1588-1644).

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

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

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

=Thomas Stanley= (1625-1678).

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

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

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

Was admitted _ad eundem gradum_ in Oxford.

Writ his poems about the years 1646, 1647.

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

His Aeschylus about the same time.

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

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

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

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

=Richard Staper= (15--- 1608).

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

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

Intravit ut exiret.

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

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

=Thomas Stapleton= (1535-1598).

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

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

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

=Thomas Stephens= (1620-16--).

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

=Richard Stokes= (16--- 1681).

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

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

=John Stowe= (1525-1605).

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

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

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

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

Memoriae Sacrum

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

Die 5 Aprilis 1605.

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

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

[BS] Aubrey gives a drawing of the monument. At the top are the arms of the Merchant Tailors' Company, viz. 'argent, a royal tent between two parliament robes gules lined ermine, on a chief azure a lion passant guardant or.' Underneath is 'his effigies.' On the right side, the legend _Aut scribenda agere_ over the figure of his 'Annales of England'; on the left, the legend _Aut legenda scribere_ over the figure of his 'Survey of London.'

=Thomas Street= (1621/2-1689).

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

[LXXXVI.] His astronomical tables are the best that ever were yet made.

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

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

Before this appendix he writes thus, scilicet:--

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

'THOMAS STREETE.'

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

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

<_Scripsit:_-->

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

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

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

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

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

Hee made this following epitaph himself:--

'Here lies the earth of one that thought some good,
Although too few him rightly understood:
Above the starres his heightned mind did flye,
His hapier spirit into Eternity.'

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

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

[BT] MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 87, is a lithographed chart for inserting a scheme of nativity, 'sold by George Parker at the Leopard in Newgate Street.' On it Aubrey has put the scheme for the subject of this biography, on the calculation 'Mr. Thomas Street natus March 5ᵗʰ, 1621, at 5ʰ 43´ 12˝ P.M., latitude 51° 46´.' Some notes about astrological conjunctions at various times in his life follow; and the note 'maried at 55ᵃⁿⁿ. 232ᵈⁱᵉˢ.'

=Sir Francis Stuart.=

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

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

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

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

=Henry Stubbe= (1631/2-1676).

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

=Sir John Suckling= (1608/9-1641).

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

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

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

He returned into England an extraordinary accomplished gentleman, grew famous at court for his readie sparkling witt which was envyed, and he was (Sir William sayd) the bull that was bayted. He was incomparably readie at repartyng, and his witt most sparkling when most sett-upon and provoked.

He was the greatest gallant of his time, and the greatest gamester, both for bowling[LXXXVII.] and cards, so that no shop-keeper would trust him for 6_d._, as to-day, for instance, he might, by winning, be worth 200 _li._, the next day he might not be worth half so much, or perhaps be sometimes _minus nihilo_. Sir William (who was his intimate friend, and loved him intirely) would say that Sir John, when he was at his lowest ebbe in gameing, I meane when unfortunate, then would make himselfe most glorious in apparell, and sayd that it exalted his spirits, and that he had then best luck when he was most gallant, and his spirits were highest.

[LXXXVII.] He was one of the best bowlers of his time in England. He playd at cards rarely well, and did use to practise by himselfe a bed, and there studyed how the best way of managing the cards could be. His sisters comeing to the Peccadillo-bowling-green crying for the feare he should loose all <their> portions.

Sir William would say that he did not much care for a lord's converse, for they were in those dayes damnably proud and arrogant, and the French would say that 'My lord d'Angleterre ...[1021] comme un mastif-dog'; but now the age is more refined, and much by the example of his gracious majestie, who is the patterne of courtesie.

Anno Domini 163- there happened, unluckily, a difference between Sir John Suckling and Sir John Digby (brother to Sir Kenelme) about a mistresse or gameing, I have now forgott. Sir John was but a slight timberd man, and of midling stature; Sir John Digby a proper person of great strength, and courage answerable, and yielded to be the best swordman of his time. Sir John, with some 2 or 3 of his party assaults Sir John Digby goeing into a play-house; Sir J. D. had only his lacquey with him, but he[1022] flew on them like a tigre, and made them run. 'Twas pitty that this accident brought the blemish of cowardise to such an ingeniose young sparke. Sir J. D. was such a hero that there were very few but he would have served in the like manner.

Anno Domini 163- when the expedition was into Scotland, Sir John Suckling, at his owne chardge, raysed a troope of 100 very handsome young proper men, whom he clad in white doubletts and scarlett breeches, and scarlet coates, hatts, and ... feathers, well horsed, and armed. They say 'twas one of the finest sights in those dayes. But Sir John Menis made a lampoon[BV] of it (vide the old collection of lampoons):

'The ladies opened the windows to see
So fine and goodly a sight-a,' &c.

I thinke the lampoon sayes he made an inglorious chardge against the Scotts.

Quaere in what army he was in the Civill Warres.

[1023]Anno ... he went into France, where after some time being come to the bottome of his fund that was left, reflecting on the miserable and despicable condition he should be reduced to, having nothing left to maintaine him, he (having a convenience for that purpose, lyeing at an apothecarie's house, in Paris) tooke poyson, which killed him miserably with vomiting. He was buryed in the Protestants church-yard. This was (to the best of my remembrance) 1646.

His picture, which is like him, before his Poems, says that he was but 28 yeares old when he dyed.

He was of middle stature and slight strength, brisque round eie, reddish fac't and red nose (ill liver), his head not very big, his hayre a kind of sand colour; his beard turnd-up naturally, so that he had brisk and gracefull looke. He died a batchelour.

Memorandum:--he made a magnificent entertainment in London, at ..., for a great number of ladies of quality, all beauties and young, which cost him ... hundreds of poundes, where were all the rarities that this part of the world could afford, and the last service of all was silke stockings and garters, and I thinke also gloves.