Chapter IV: Appendix: 265 (3)

Harvey was certainly in England on the 26th of March, 1632, for on that day he drew up a set of rules for the Library of the College of Physicians, towards a site for which he had subscribed £100 on the 22nd of December, 1630. The necessity for a new set of rules to govern the use of the Library seems to have been due to an important bequest of 680 volumes presented by Dr. Holsbosch, a graduate in medicine, and a German who had practised surgery and physic in England for fifty years, though he had not attached himself to the College. The new regulations laid down that the key of the room was to remain in the keeping of the President, whilst the key of the book-cases was kept by the Senior Censor. The Library was to be open on all College days to the Fellows, Candidates, and Licentiates; but no book was to be taken away from the College without leave from the President and Censor and the deposit of a "sufficient caution" for its value. Harvey was also present at a meeting of the College of Physicians on the last day of May, 1632, when he signed a petition to the King, praying him to limit the sale of certain poisons unless the purchaser was willing to give his name.

There is no record of the exact date at which Harvey was made Physician in Ordinary to the King Charles I., though the time is fixed approximately by the following extract from the minutes at St. Bartholomew's Hospital:--

"Monday 25 April 1631 at a Court [of Governors]
held in the Mansion house in the presence of
Sir Robert Ducy Lord Mayor, President.

"DR. ANDREWES

"It is granted that Richard Andrewes Doctor of Physic shall have
the reversion, next avoidance and place of physician to this
hospital after the death, resignation or other departure of Doctor
Harvey now physician to this hospital late sworn Physician in
Ordinary for his Majesty's Household, with the yearly stipend
thereunto now belonging."

The actual date of his appointment seems to have been at some time during the quarter ending Lady Day, 1630, for the Calendar of State Papers (Domestic Series) contains the record, "3 July 1635. To William Harvey, one of his Majesty's physicians in ordinary, his annuity for a year ending at Our Lady Day 1631 £300." And again on the 17th of July, 1635, "Dr. William Harvey £25;" and a few months later, on the 5th of February, 1635-1636--"Dr. William Harvey upon his annuity of £300 per annum £150." These entries also make it appear that although his salary amounted to the considerable sum of £300 a year, it was paid very irregularly and by small instalments.

Harvey's appointment as personal physician to the King seems to have brought him into close connection with his master, and it was no doubt at this time that Charles allowed him to obtain the intimate knowledge of the habits and structure of the deer which was afterwards turned to such good use in the treatise on Development. Harvey, in fact, became the personal friend of his king, he accompanied him everywhere, and consequently took a share in the hunting excursions to which his Majesty was so devoted.

This constant attendance at Court naturally interfered with Harvey's professional duties, and his colleagues at St. Bartholomew's Hospital soon began to complain of his absence.

"At a Court held on Sunday 19 January 1632-1623,

"In presence of Sir Robert Ducie Knight &
Baronet, President.

"DR. HARVY

"It hath been thought convenient upon complaint of some of the
chirurgions of this hospital that whereas Doctor Harvy physician
for the poor of the said hospital by reason of his attendance on
the King's Majesty cannot so constantly be present with the poor
as heretofore he hath been, but sometimes doth appoint his deputy
for the same. That therefor Doctor Andrewes physician in reversion
of the same place to this hospital in the absence of Doctor
Harvey do supply the same place whereby the said poor may be more
respected and Doctor Andrewes the better acquainted to perform the
same office when it shall fall [vacant], and in the mean time to
be recompensed by this court yearly as shall be thought fit. This
order not to prejudice Dr. Harvy in his yearly fee or in any other
respect than aforesaid."

Early in 1633 Harvey received the commands of Charles I. to attend him on his journey to Scotland, and the annexed Minute shows that he again endeavoured to gain the permission of the Governors of the hospital to allow Dr. Smith to act for him in his absence.

"13 May Anno Domini 1633.

"This day came into this Compting house Doctor Smith physician by
the appointment of Dr. Harvey, physician to this hospital who is to
attend the King's Majesty into Scotland and tendered his service
to Mr. Treasurer and other the Governors for the poor in the behalf
and absence of Doctor Harvey. Answer was made by Mr. Treasurer that
Doctor Andrewes physician in reversion to this house was by the
Court ordered to attend the occasions of this house in the absence
of Doctor Harvey and to have allowance from this house accordingly.
Nevertheless if Doctor Smith pleased to accompany Doctor Andrewes
in the business, this house would be very well content, unto which
Doctor Smith replied that if Dr. Andrewes was appointed and did
perform accordingly, there is no need of two."

It seems to be evident from these Minutes that Dr. Smith was Harvey's nominee. He was his life-long friend, and he only survived a fortnight the opening of the Harveian Museum, of which he was the most active promoter. Dr. Andrewes, on the other hand, had powerful City influence to back him. He was a distinguished graduate of St. John's College, Oxford. He had been educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, and stood high in the favour of the Merchant Taylors' Company. He died the 25th of July, 1634.

Charles' tour in Scotland was fraught with the most momentous consequences both to himself and his kingdom. He was crowned with great pomp in the Abbey Church at Holyrood, and the rochet worn by the Bishop of Moray when he preached before the assembled Court on this occasion was an innovation which gave the greatest offence to the people. Their discontent was still further increased by an order from the King enjoining the ministers to wear surplices and the Bishops vestments instead of the Geneva gown to which they had been accustomed since the Reformation. The dissatisfaction thus aroused culminated in the Liturgy tumults of 1637, when Jenny Deans launched her stool at the head of the Bishop of St. Giles whilst he was preaching in Edinburgh. The tumults in turn led to the formation of "the Tables" and to the taking of "the Covenant," which are so familiar to every student of the history of the Civil War.

Harvey must have been in close attendance upon the King during the whole of his stay in Scotland, but he probably interested himself very little in the proceedings of the Court or in the hot discussions between the rival sects around him. We know, indeed, that, he was thinking about the method by which a chick is formed within the egg, and that to solve the point he paid a visit to the Bass Rock, of which he gives the following description in the eleventh essay of his treatise on Development:--

"In the barren island of the East Coast of Scotland, such flights of almost every kind of seabirds congregate, that were I to state what I have heard from those who were worthy of credit, I fear I should be held guilty of telling greater stories than they who have committed themselves about the Scottish geese produced as they say from the fruits of certain trees (which they had never seen) that had fallen into the sea.[4] What I have seen myself, however, I will relate truthfully.

"There is a small island, Scotsmen call it the Bass (let it serve as a type of all the rest), lying near the shore, but in deep water. It is so rugged and precipitous that it might rather be called a huge stone or rock than an island, for it is not more than a mile in circumference. The whole surface of the island in the months of May and June is almost completely carpeted with nests, birds, and fledglings. There are so many that you can scarcely avoid stepping upon them, and when they fly the crowd is so great that it hides the sun and the sky like a cloud. The screaming and the din too are so great that you can hardly hear any one speaking close to you. If you look down upon the sea, as if from a tower or tall precipice, whichever way you turn you will see an enormous number of different kinds of birds skimming about and gaping for their prey, so that the sea looks like a pond which is swarming with frogs in springtime, or like those sunny hills looked at from below when they are covered with numerous flocks of sheep and goats. If you sail round the island and look up you see on every ledge, shelf, and recess innumerable flocks of birds of every sort and size, more numerous than the stars seen at night in the unclouded moonless sky, and if you watch the flights that come and go incessantly, you might imagine that it was a mighty swarm of bees. I should hardly be believed if I said what a large revenue was obtained annually from the feathers and from the old nests (used for firing) and from the eggs, which are boiled and then sold, though the owner told me himself. There is one feature, too, which seems to be especially worthy of note because it bears closely upon my argument and is clear proof of what I have just said about the crowd of birds. The whole island shines brilliantly white to those who approach it, and the cliffs are as bright as if they were made of the whitest chalk; yet the natural colour of the rock is dusky and black. It is due to a brittle crust of the whitest colour that is spread over all and gives the island its whiteness and brilliancy, a crust of the same consistence, colour, and nature as the shell of an egg."

Harvey was in London again on the 5th of October, 1633, for on this day, at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, "upon the motion of Dr. Harvey, physician to this house, it is thought fit that Tuesday se'night in the afternoon be the time that the Governors shall hear himself and the Chirurgeons upon some particulars concerning the good of the poor of this house and reformation of some orders conceived to be in this house. And the Chirurgeons and the Apothecary to be warned to meet accordingly. And Mr. Alderman Mowlson, Sir Maurice Abbott, Mr. Alderman Perry, and others the Governors here present, are intreated to meet at the Compting house to hear and determine the same." Accordingly, on the 15th of October some radical changes were made in the management of the hospital, as is indicated in the next Minute. The articles are introduced with the following preface, which gives a clear account of the high estimation in which Harvey's services were held at this time. "This day Dr. Harvey, physician to this hospital, presented to this court [of Governors] certain articles for the good and benefit of the poor of this house, which the Governors have taken into their considerations and do allow and order them to be put in practice. And all defaults in the not performance of any of the said articles to be corrected and amended by the Governors as they in their discretions shall think fit and convenient.

"Forasmuch as the poor of this house are increased to a greater number than formerly have been, to the great charge of this hospital, and to the greater labour and more necessary attendance of a physician. And being much more also than [it] is conceived one physician may conveniently perform.

"And forasmuch as Dr. Harvey, the now physician to this hospital, is also chosen to be physician to his Majesty, and [is] thereby tied to daily service and attendance on his Majesty,

"It hath been thought fit and so ordered, that there shall be for this present occasion two physicians for this hospital. And that Dr. Andrewes, physician in reversion, be now admitted to be also an immediate physician to this hospital. And to have the salary or yearly fee of £33 6s, 8d. for his pains henceforth during the pleasure of this court.

"And this court, for the long service of the said Dr. Harvey to this hospital, and in consideration that he is physician to his Majesty, do give and allow him leave and liberty to dispose of himself and time, and to visit the poor no oftener than he in his discretion shall think fit.

"And it is ordered that Mr. Treasurer shall also pay unto the said Dr. Andrewes the sum of £20 for his pains taken in visiting and prescribing for the poor of this house for this year last past by the direction and at the request of the Governors of this house.

"Also at the suit of the apothecary (for the considerations abovesaid), it is thought fit and so granted, that £10 be yearly added to his salary from Michaelmas last past for and towards the maintenance of a journeyman to be daily present in the apothecary's shop in this hospital to help him in the dispatch of his business during the pleasure of this court.

"Likewise at the motion of Dr. Harvey, it is granted that Mr. Treasurer shall pay unto Dr. Smith, who was the deputy of Dr. Harvey and by him appointed in his absence to visit the poor of this hospital, the sum of £10 in gratuity from this court, and he is thereupon intreated in respect the hospital hath now two physicians, that he do not henceforth trouble himself any more to visit or prescribe to the poor of this hospital."

On the same day (October 15, 1633), "Dr. Harvey, physician to this hospital, presented to this court certain orders or articles by him thought fit to be observed and put in practice, viz.:--

"1. That none be taken into the Hospital but such as be curable, or
but a certain number of such as are incurable.

"Allowed.

"2. That those that shall be taken in for a certain time be
discharged at that time by the Hospitaller, unless they obtain a
longer time. And to be discharged at the end of that time also.

"In use.

"3. That all such are certified by the doctor uncurable, and
scandalous or infectious shall be put out of the said house or to
be sent to an outhouse,[5] and in case of sudden inconvenience this
to be done by the Doctor or Apothecary.

"Allowed.

"4. That none be taken into any outhouse on the charge of this
Hospital but such as are sent from hence.

"Allowed.

"5. That no Chirurgion, to save himself labour, take in or present
any for the doctor; otherwise the charge of the Apothecary's
shop will be so great, and the success so little, as it will be
scandalous to the house.

"Allowed.

"6. That none lurk here for relief only or for slight causes.

"Allowed.

"7. That if any refuse to take their physic, they may be discharged
by the Doctor or Apothecary or punished by some order.

"Allowed.

"8. That the Chirurgions, in all difficult cases or where inward
physic may be necessary, shall consult with the Doctor, at the
times he sitteth once in the week and then the Master [_i.e._, the
Surgeon] himself relate to the Doctor what he conceiveth of the
cure and what he hath done therein. And in a decent and orderly
manner proceed by the Doctor's directions for the good of the poor
and credit of the house.[6]

"Agreed unto.

"9. That no Chirurgion or his man do trepan the head, pierce the
body, dismember [amputate], or do any great operation on the body
of any but with the approbation and by the direction of the Doctor
(when conveniently it may be had) and the Chirurgions shall think
it needful to require.

"Agreed unto.

"10. That no Chirurgion or his man practice by giving inward physic
to the poor without the approbation of the Doctor.

"Allowed.

"11. That no Chirurgion be suffered to perform the cures in this
house by his boy or servant without his own oversight or care.

"Allowed.

"12. That every Chirurgion shall shew and declare unto the Doctor
whensoever he shall in the presence of the patient require him,
what he findeth and what he useth to every external malady; that
so the Doctor being informed may better with judgment order his
prescriptions.

"The Chirurgions protest against this.[7]

"13. That every Chirurgion shall follow the direction of the Doctor
in outward operations for inward causes for the recovery of every
patient under their several cures, and to this end shall once in
the week attend the Doctor, at the set hour he sitteth to give
directions for the poor.

"Agreed by the Chirurgions.

"14. That the Apothecary, Matron, and Sisters do attend the Doctor
when he sitteth to give directions and prescriptions, that they may
fully conceive his directions and what is to be done.

"Allowed.

"15. That the Matron and Sisters shall signify and complain to the
Doctor, or Apothecary in the Doctor's absence, if any poor lurk in
the house and come not before the Doctor when he sitteth or taketh
not his physic but cast it away and abuse it.

"Allowed.

"16. That the Apothecary keep secret and do not disclose what the
Doctor prescribeth nor the prescriptions he useth but to such as
in the Doctor's absence may supply his place and that with the
Doctor's approbation.

"Allowed."

The ordinances are peremptory, and for many years they governed the action of the Hospital in the control of the patients. Some of them, indeed (as §6), are still acted upon. They show that Harvey was determined to maintain the superior status of the physicians, and there is but little room to doubt that this was one of the guiding principles of his life. In February, 1620, he was appointed by the College of Physicians to act with Dr. Mayerne and Dr. William Clement in watching the proceedings of the surgeons who were moving Parliament in their own interest. For this purpose he attended a Conference at Gray's Inn on the 17th of February, 1620, and he afterwards went to Cambridge; but he failed to induce the University to co-operate with the College of Physicians.

On the 4th of July, 1634, Harvey gave a tanned human skin to the College of Physicians, and on the same day by the order of the President he made a speech to the Apothecaries persuading them to conform to the orders of the College.

On the 7th of August, 1634, John Clarke was granted the reversion of Harvey's office of Physician to St. Bartholomew's Hospital "in the room and place of Dr. Andrewes late deceased. And this Hospital do order that after Doctor Harvey his death or departure, there be but one Physician forthwards." Harvey, however, outlived Dr. Clarke, who died in 1653 and was buried in St. Martin's, Ludgate, but as Harvey did not attend the Hospital after 1643 Clarke probably acted as sole Physician to the Hospital for ten years before he died. He was President of the College of Physicians 1645-1649.

The year 1634 was long memorable on account of "the Lancashire witches," whose story is not yet quite forgotten. Their accusation, as in that of the great outbreak at Salem in New England in 1692, began in the lying story of a child. Edward Robinson, a boy of ten, and the son of a woodcutter living on the borders of Pendle Forest in Lancashire, played truant and to excuse himself accused Mother Dickenson of being a witch. The boy, being examined by the magistrates, told his story so openly and honestly that it was at once believed. He said that as he was roaming in one of the glades of the forest picking blackberries he saw two greyhounds which he thought belonged to one of the gentlemen living in the neighbourhood. A hare appearing at the same time he hied on the dogs, but neither of them would stir. Angry at the beasts he took up a switch and was about to punish them when one of the dogs started up as a woman, the other as a little boy. The woman was Mother Dickenson, who offered him money to sell his soul to the devil, but he refused. She then took a bridle out of her pocket, and shaking it over the head of the other little boy he instantly became a horse. Mother Dickenson seized Robinson in her arms and sprang upon the animal. They rode with inconceivable swiftness over forests, fields, bogs, and rivers until they came to a large barn. The witch alighted, and taking him by the hand led him inside. There he saw seven old women pulling at seven halters which hung from the roof. As they pulled, large pieces of meat, lumps of butter, loaves of bread, basins of milk, hot puddings and black puddings fell from the halters on to the floor. Thus a supper was provided, and when it was ready other witches came to share it. Many persons were arrested, for the boy was led about from church to church to identify those he had seen in the barn.

The story made a great sensation and Sir William Pelham wrote to Lord Conway that "the greatest news from the country is of a huge pack of witches which are lately discovered in Lancashire, whereof it is said nineteen are condemned and that there are at least sixty already discovered. It is suspected that they had a hand in raising the great storm wherein his Majesty was in so great danger at sea in Scotland." Popular report exaggerated the number arrested, but seven of the accused were condemned and Bishop Bridgman, of Chester, was requested to examine them. He went to the gaol and found that three had died and another, Janet Hargreaves, lay "past hope of recovery." Of the three examined by him two declared that they had no knowledge of witchcraft, but the third, Margaret Johnson, a widow of sixty, whom the Bishop describes as a person of strong imagination and weak memory, confessed to have been a witch for six years. She told him, "There appeared to her a man in black attire, who said, if she would give him her soul she should have power to hurt whom she would. He called himself Mamilion, and appeared in the shape of a brown-coloured dog, a white cat, and a hare, and in these shapes sucked her blood."

The report of the Bishop to Secretary Coke reached the ears of the King, who commanded Henry Earl of Manchester, the Lord Privy Seal, to write:--

"To Alexander Baker Esq. and Sarjeant Clowes
his Majesty's Chirurgions.

"These shall be to will and require you forthwith to make choice
of such midwives as you shall think fit to inspect and search the
bodies of those women that were lately brought by the sheriff of
the County of Lancaster indicted for witchcraft and to report unto
you whether they find about them any such marks as are pretended:
wherein the said midwives are to receive instructions from Mr. Dr.
Harvey his Majesty's Physician and yourselves.

"Dated at Whitehall the 29 June 1634.

"H. MANCHESTER."

The prisoners, who were then at the Ship Tavern in Greenwich, were brought to London upon the receipt of the King's order. They were examined and the following certificate was issued:--

"Surgeons Hall in Monkwell Street, London.

"2 July A.D. 1634.

"We in humble obedience to your Lordship's command have this
day called unto us the Chirurgeons and midwives whose names are
hereunder written who have by the directions of Mr. Dr. Harvey
(in our presence and his) made diligent search and inspection on
those women which were lately brought up from Lancaster and find as
followeth, viz.:--

"On the bodies of Jennett Hargreaves, Ffrances Dicconson and Mary
Spencer nothing unnatural nor anything like a teat or mark or any
sign that any such thing hath ever been.

"On the body of Margaret Johnson we find two things (which) may be
called teats. The first in shape like to the teat of a bitch but in
our judgement nothing but the skin as it will be drawn out after
the application of leeches. The second is like the nipple or teat
of a woman's breast, but of the same colour with the rest of the
skin without any hollowness or issue for any blood or juice to come
from thence."

The report is signed by ten midwives, by Alexander Reid, M.D., the lecturer on Anatomy at the Barber Surgeons' Hall, whom Harvey seems to have deputed to take his place, and by six surgeons evidently chosen from amongst the most eminent of those then practising in London.

The result of this report was that four of the seven convicted witches were pardoned, an exercise of mercy "which may have been due," says Mr. Aveling, "to the enlightened views and prompt and energetic action of Dr. Harvey."

There is no doubt that at this time and throughout his life Harvey practised every branch of his profession. That he was primarily a physician is evident; that he was a surgeon is shown by the fact that in his will he bequeathed to Dr. Scarborough his "silver instruments of surgery," whilst in his writings he says, "Looking back upon the office of the arteries, I have occasionally, and against all expectation, completely cured enormous sarcoceles by the simple means of dividing or tying the little artery that supplied them, and so preventing all access of nourishment or spirit to the part affected, by which it came to pass that the tumour on the verge of mortification was afterwards easily extirpated with the knife or searing iron." No one, reading his treatise on Development, can doubt for a moment that he was well versed in the diseases of women and in such practical midwifery as the prejudices and habits of the time allowed him to become familiar. Specialism, indeed, as it is now understood in England, did not exist at this time, though there was a debased form in which men attended only to outward injuries or to internal complaints.

Harvey sometimes got into trouble with his cases, as must always happen even to the most experienced. The records of the Barber Surgeons' Company contain the following notice under the date 17th of November, 1635. It has the marginal note, "Dr. Harvey's ill practise":--

"This day Wm. Kellett being called here in Court for not making presentation of one of Mr. Kinnersley's maids that died in his charge, he said here in Court that Mr. Doctor Harvey being called to the patient did upon his view of the patient say, that by means of a boulster [poultice?] the tumour on the temporal muscle could be discussed and his opinion was that there was no fracture but the vomiting came by reason of the foulness of the stomach and to that purpose prescribed physic by Briscoe the Apothecary, so the patient died by ill practice, the fracture being neglected and the Company not called to the view." When a person was dangerously ill of a surgical disease in London it was long the custom for the practitioner to call in those surgeons who held an official position in the Barber Surgeons' Company. This was called "viewing" the patient. It divided the responsibility whilst it ensured that everything possible was done for the relief of the patient.

In this year too Harvey was ordered by the King to examine the body of Thomas Parr, who is said to have died at the extraordinary age of 152 years and nine months, having survived through the reigns of nine princes. He had lived frugally in Shropshire until shortly before his death, when he was brought to London by Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, who showed him to the King. Harvey examined the body on the 16th of November, 1635, the birthday--as he is careful to note--of Her Serene Highness Henrietta Maria, Queen of Great Britain, France, and Ireland. The notes of the autopsy came into the possession of Harvey's nephew Michael, who presented them to Dr. Bett, and they were not printed until 1669, when they were published in Dr. Bett's work "On the Source and Quality of the Blood." The notes give a clear account of the appearances seen upon opening the body, and the very practical conclusion is drawn that as all the internal parts seemed so healthy the old man might have escaped paying the debt due to nature for some little time longer if nothing had happened to interfere with his usual habits. His death is therefore attributed to the change from the pure air of Shropshire to that of London, and to the alteration in his diet which necessarily attended his residence in the house of a great nobleman.

The mutual interest taken by the Earl of Arundel and Harvey in old Parr may have led to the friendship which existed between the two men; perhaps, too, Lord Arundel--the prince of art collectors, to whom we owe the Arundel marbles--had detected in Harvey some similar love of art which rendered him a kindred spirit. It is clear that some bond of union existed, for in the following year--1636--Lord Arundel was sent to Vienna as Ambassador Extraordinary to the Emperor Ferdinand in connection with the peace which the Protestant States of Germany had concluded in 1635. The mission left England in April, 1636; and the Clarendon State Papers contain a letter dated from Cologne in May in which Lord Arundel speaks of a visit to the Jesuits' new college and church, where he says "they received me with all civility," and then adds jokingly, "I found in the College little Doctor Harvey, who means to convert them." There are no means of knowing when or why Harvey left England, but he seems to have attached himself to the Embassy and to have visited with it the principal cities on the way to Vienna.

He used the opportunity to make the acquaintance of the leading scientific men in Germany, as he had already introduced himself to those in France on a former journey. On the 20th of May, 1636, he was at Nuremberg, where he wrote to Caspar Hofmann offering to demonstrate the circulation of the blood. He has heard, he says, that Hofmann complained of his theory, that "he impeached and condemned Nature of folly and error, and that he had imputed to her the character of a most clumsy and inefficient artificer in suffering the blood to become recrudescent, and making it return again and again to the heart in order to be reconcocted only to grow effete again in the arterial system: thus uselessly spoiling the perfectly made blood merely to find her something to do." Tradition says that Harvey actually gave this demonstration in public, and that it proved satisfactory to every one except to Hofmann himself. The old man--then past the grand climacteric--remained unconvinced, and as he continued to urge objections Harvey at length threw down his knife and walked out of the theatre.

We are indebted to Aubrey for the following anecdote, which is probably more true than some of his other statements about Harvey, for it is in exact accordance with what we know of his habits. Aubrey says that one of the Ambassador's gentlemen, Mr. William Hollar--the celebrated painter--told him that in this voyage "Dr. Harvey would still be making observations of strange trees and plants, earths, &c., and sometimes [he was] like to be lost. So that my Lord Ambassador would be really angry with him, for there was not only a danger of thieves, but also of wild beasts." How real the danger was may be gauged by remembering that the party was passing through the country devastated by the Thirty Years' War, which had still to drag out its disastrous length until it was brought to a close by the peace of Westphalia in 1648--a time so productive of lawlessness that it was only two years since Wallenstein, the great Commander-in-chief of the Imperial forces, had been murdered by those who were afterwards publicly rewarded by his Imperial master.

Harvey parted company with the Embassy at Ratisbon, for in a letter dated from there he is spoken of as "Honest little Harvey whom the Earl is sending to Italy about some pictures for his Majesty." From Ratisbon he proceeded to Rome, where the pilgrims' book at the English College shows that he dined in the refectory on the 5th of October, 1636. Dr. Ent dined there the same night. The two travellers probably met by arrangement, for Ent was born at Sandwich, closely allied as a Cinque Port to Folkestone, Harvey's native home. He was educated too in Cambridge--at Sidney Sussex College--and after five years at Padua he took his degree of Doctor of Physic on the 28th of April, 1636. Harvey and Ent had therefore much in common, and they remained firm friends until Harvey died. Ent's love for Harvey led him to defend the doctrine of the circulation against the attacks of Parisanus; Harvey's love for Ent caused him to entrust to him the essay on Development; to be printed or preserved unpublished as Ent should think most fit.

Nothing is known of Harvey's return to England except that he was in London attending to his duties and seeing his patients at the end of the year 1636.

The following certificate appears to be the only record left of his work during the next two years. It is dated the 2nd of December, 1637:

"Having had experience of the disposition and weakness of the
body of Sir Thomas Thynne, Knight (who hath been and still is
our patient), we testify that we are of opinion that it will be
dangerous for the health of his body to travel this winter into the
country and place of his usual abode until he hath better recovered
his health and strength.

"WILL. HARVEY."