Chapter III: Part 3

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

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

=Sir Hugh Middleton= (1555-1631).

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

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

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

=John Milton= (1608-1674).

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

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

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

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

<_His parentage._>

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

[XVI.] John, he[237] beleeves.

[XVII.] Mr. Milton lived next towne to Fosthill[238] within half a mile like [Holton], and they[239] were raungers of the forest[240].

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

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

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

[XVIII.] Quaere--he found a bible in English, in his chamber.

[XIX.] Quaere Mr. J. Playford pro Wilby's sett of Oriana's.--MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 65.

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

<_His birth._>

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

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

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

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

<_His precocity._>

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

<_School, college, and travel._>

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

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

[XX.] Quaere, how many? Resp., two yeares.

[259]From his brother, Christopher Milton:--when he went to schoole, when he was very young, he studied very hard, and sate-up very late, commonly till 12 or one a clock at night, and his father ordered the mayde to sitt-up for him, and in those yeares (10) composed many copies of verses which might well become a riper age. And was a very hard student in the University, and performed all his exercises there with very good applause. His first tutor there was Mr. Chapell; from whom receiving some unkindnesse[XXI.], he was afterwards (though it seemed contrary to the rules of the college) transferred to the tuition of one Mr. Tovell, who dyed parson of Lutterworth.

[XXI.] Whip't him.

[260]He went to travell about the year 1638 and was abroad about a year's space, cheifly in Italy.

<_Return to England._>

Immediately after his return he tooke a lodging at Mr. Russell's, a taylour, in St. Bride's churchyard, and took into his tuition his sister's two sons, Edward and John Philips, the first 10, the other 9 years of age; and in a year's time made them capable of interpreting a Latin authour at sight, etc. And within three years they went through the best of Latin and Greec poetts[261]--Lucretius and Manilius[XXII.], of the Latins; Hesiod, Aratus, Dionysius Afer, Oppian, Apollonii _Argonautica_, and Quintus Calaber. Cato, Varro, and Columella _De re rustica_ were the very first authors they learn't.--As he was severe on one hand, so he was most familiar and free in his conversation to those to whome most sowre in his way of education. N.B. he made his nephews songsters, and sing, from the time they were with him.

[XXII.] and with him the use of the globes, and some rudiments of arithmetic and geometry.

<_First wife and children._>

[262]He maried his first wife[XXIII.] <Mary> Powell, of Fosthill, at Shotover, in Oxonshire, anno Domini ...; by whom he had 4 children. <He> hath two daughters living: Deborah was his amanuensis (he taught her Latin, and to read Greeke[263] to him when he had lost his eie-sight, which was anno Domini ...).

[XXIII.] She was a zealous royalist, and went without her husband's consent to her mother in the king's quarters. She dyed anno Domini....

<_Separation from his first wife._>

[She[264] went from him to her mother's at ... in the king's quarters, neer Oxford], anno Domini ...; and wrote the _Triplechord_ about divorce.

[265]Two opinions[266] doe not well on the same boulster. She was a ...[267] royalist, and went to her mother to the king's quarters, neer Oxford. I have perhaps so much charity to her that she might not wrong his bed: but what man, especially contemplative, would like to have a young wife environ'd and storm'd by the sons of Mars, and those of the enemi partie?

[268]His first wife (Mrs. Powell, a royalist) was brought up and lived where there was a great deale of company and merriment[269]. And when she came to live with her husband, at Mr. Russell's, in St. Bride's churchyard, she found it very solitary; no company came to her; oftentimes heard his nephews beaten and cry. This life was irkesome to her, and so she went to her parents at Fost-hill. He sent for her, after some time; and I thinke his servant was evilly entreated: but as for matter of wronging his bed, I never heard the least suspicions; nor had he, of that, any jealousie.

<_Second wife._>

[270]He had a middle wife, whose name was (he[271] thinkes, Katharin) Woodcock. No child living by her.

<_Third wife._>

[272]He maried his second[273] wife, Elizabeth Minshull, anno ... (the year before the sicknesse): a gent. person, a peacefull and agreable humour.

<_His public employment._>

He was Latin secretary to the Parliament[274].

<_His blindness._>

[275]His sight began to faile him at first upon his writing against Salmasius, and before 'twas fully compleated one eie absolutely faild. Upon the writing of other bookes, after that, his other eie decayed.

[276]His eie-sight was decaying about 20 yeares before his death: quaere, when starke[277] blind? His father read without spectacles at 84. His mother had very weake eies, and used spectacles presently after she was thirty yeares old.

<_Writings after his blindness._>

[278]After he was blind he wrote these following bookes, viz. _Paradise Lost_, _Paradise Regained_, _Grammar_, _Dictionarie_ (imperfect)--quaere +.

[279]I heard that after he was blind that he was writing a Latin Dictionary (in the hands of Moyses Pitt[280]). Vidua affirmat she gave all his papers (among which this dictionary, imperfect) to his nephew, a sister's son, that he brought up, ... Philips, who lives neer the Maypole in the Strand (quaere). She has a great many letters by her from learned men, his acquaintance, both of England and beyond sea.

<_His later residences._>

He lived in several places, e.g. Holborne neer King's-gate. He died in Bunhill, opposite to the Artillery-garden wall.

<_His death and burial._>

He died of the gowt[281] struck in, the 9th or 10th of November, 1674, as appeares by his apothecarye's booke.

He lies buried in St. Giles's Cripplegate, upper end of chancell at the right hand, vide his gravestone[282].--Memorandum his stone is now removed; for, about two yeares since (now, 1681), the two steppes to the communion table were raysed. I ghesse John Speed and he lie together.

<_Personal characteristics._>

His harmonicall and ingeniose soul did lodge[283] in a beautifull and well-proportioned body:--

In toto nusquam corpore menda fuit.

Ovid. <1 _Amor._ 5, 18.>

[284]He was a spare man. He was scarce so tall as I am--quaere, quot feet I am high: resp., of middle stature.

He had abroun[285] hayre. His complexion exceeding[286] faire--he was so faire that they called him _the lady of Christ's College_. Ovall face. His eie a darke gray.

[287]He had a delicate tuneable voice, and had good[288] skill. His father instructed him. He had an organ in his howse: he played on that most.

[289]Of a very cheerfull humour.--He would be chear-full even in his gowte-fitts, and sing.

He was very healthy and free from all diseases: seldome tooke any physique (only sometimes he tooke manna): only towards his latter end he was visited with the gowte, spring and fall.

He had a very good[290] memorie; but I beleeve that his excellent method of thinking and disposing did much to helpe his memorie.

[291]He pronounced the letter R (littera canina) very hard--[292]a certaine signe of a satyricall witt--from John Dreyden.

<_Portraits of him._>

[293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

[294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

<_His habits._>

[295]His exercise was chiefly walking.

He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight. He had a man read to him. The first thing he read was the Hebrew Bible, and that was[296] at 4 h. manè 1/2 h. +. Then he contemplated[297].

At 7 his man came to him again, and then read to him again, and wrote till dinner: the writing was as much as the reading. His (2) daughter, Deborah, could read to him Latin, Italian and French, and Greeke. <She> maried in Dublin to one Mr. Clarke (sells[298] silke, etc.); very like her father. The other sister is (1) Mary, more like her mother.

After dinner he used to walke 3 or four houres at a time (he alwayes had a garden where he lived); went to bed about 9.

Temperate man, rarely dranke between meales.

Extreme pleasant in his conversation, and[299] at dinner, supper, etc.; but satyricall.

<_Notes about some of his works._>

[300]From[301] Mr. E. Philips:--All the time of writing his _Paradise Lost_, his veine began at the autumnall aequinoctiall, and ceased at the vernall (or thereabouts: I believe about May): and this was 4 or 5 yeares of his doeing it. He began about 2 yeares before the king came-in, and finished about three yeares after the king's restauracion.

In the 4th[302] booke of _Paradise Lost_ there are about six verses of Satan's exclamation to the sun, which Mr. E. Philips remembers about 15 or 16 yeares before ever his poem was thought of. Which verses were intended for the beginning of a tragoedie which he had designed, but was diverted from it by other businesse.

[303][Whatever[304] he wrote against monarchie was out of no animosity to the king's person, or owt of any faction or interest, but out of a pure zeale to the liberty of mankind, which he thought would be greater under a fre state than under a monarchiall goverment. His being so conversant in Livy and the Roman authors, and the greatness he saw donne by the Roman common-wealth, and the vertue of their great commanders[305] induc't him to.]

[306]From Mr. Abraham Hill:--Memorandum: his sharp writing against Alexander More, of Holland, upon a mistake, notwithstanding he had given him by the ambassador[XXIV.] all satisfaction to the contrary: viz. that the booke called 'Clamor[307]' was writt by Peter du Moulin. Well, that was all one; he having writt it, it should goe into the world; one of them was as bad as the other.

[XXIV.] Quaere the ambassador's name of Mr. Hill? Resp., Newport, the Dutch ambassador.

[308]Memorandum:--Mr. Theodore Haak, Regiae Societatis Socius, hath translated halfe his Paradise Lost into High Dutch in such blank verse, which is very well liked of by Germanus Fabricius, Professor at Heidelberg, who sent to Mr. Haak a letter upon this translation:--'incredibile est quantum nos omnes affecerit gravitas styli, et copia lectissimorum verborum,' etc.--vide the letter.

[309]Mr. John Milton made two admirable panegyricks, as to sublimitie of witt, one on Oliver Cromwel, and the other on Thomas, lord Fairfax, both which his nephew Mr. Philip hath. But he hath hung back these two yeares, as to imparting copies to me for the collection of mine with you[310]. Wherfore I desire you in your next to intimate your desire of having these two copies of verses aforesayd. Were they made in commendation of the devill, 'twere all one to me: 'tis the ὕψος that I looke after. I have been told 'tis beyond Waller's or anything in that kind.

<_Catalogue of his writings._>

[311]Quaere his nephew, Mr. Edward Philips, for a perfect catalogue of his writings. Memorandum, he wrote a little tract of education.

[312]1. Of Reformation. } Qu. whether two
Against prelatical Episcopacy. } books?
2. The reason of Church Goverment.
3. A defence of Smectymnuus.
4. The Doctrin and Disciplin of Divorce. }
5. Colasterion. } All these in prosecution
6. The Judgement of Martin Bucer. } of the same subject.
7. Tetrachordon (of divorce). }
Areopagitica, viz. for the libertie of the presse.
Of Education.
Iconoclastes.
Tenure of Kings and Magistrates.
Defensio populi Anglicani.
Defensio 2ᵈᵃ contra Morum.
Defensio 3ᵗⁱᵃ.
His Logick.
Of the powr of the civil magistrate in ecclesiastical affairs.
Against Hirelings (against Tythes).
Of a Commonwealth.
Against Dr. Griffith.
Of Toleration, Heresie, and Schisme.

[313]_Catalogus Librorum[XXV.]._

[XXV.] Set them downe according to order of time.

1. Poëms, 8vo, printed.... Twice printed. Some writt but at 18.

Of Reformation.

2. Εἰκονοκλάστης, printed at....

3. pro populo Anglicano defensio, contra Salmasium.

4. Tetrachordon, 4to: of divorce.

5. Paradise { Lost, 4to. } Edward Philips his cheif
6. { Regained, 4to. } amanuensis.

7. Latine epistles, 8vo. { Familiar.
{ Politique.

8. Latin grammar in English, 8vo.

9. The history of Britain from the first tradicionall beginning continued to the Norman Conquest, 4to, London, MDCLXX, for James Alesly, Rose and Crowne, Paul's Churchyard. Scripsit prout per effigiem [sed falsam] 1670, aetat. 62.

10. A letter of education to Mr. S. Hartlib (with his poëms).

11. A brief history of Muscovia and other less knowne countries lyeing eastward. Advertisement:--'writt by the author's owne hand before he lost his sight and intended to have printed it before his death.'

12. His logick.

13. _Idea Theologiae_ in MS. in the handes of Mr. Skinner, a merchant's sonne, in Marke-lane. Memorandum there was one Mr. Skinner of the Jerkers office up 2 paire of stayres at the Custome-house.

14. He wrote a dictionary called _Idioma linguae Latinae_ (from Mr. Packer who was his scholar).

<_An almost contemporary life of Milton._>

[314]Quaere Mr. <Andrew> Allam, of Edmund-hall, Oxon, of John Milton's life writt by himselfe[315]: vide pagg....

<_His acquaintance._>

[316]He was visited much by learned <men>; more then he did desire.

He was mightily importuned to goe into France and Italie. Foraigners came much to see him, and much admired him, and offer'd to him great preferments to come over to them: and the only inducement of severall foreigners that came over into England, was chiefly to see Oliver Protector, and Mr. John Milton; and would see the house and chamber wher _he_ was borne. He was much more admired abrode then at home.

His familiar learned acquaintance were Mr. Andrew Marvell, Mr. Skinner, Dr. Pagett, M.D.

Mr. <Cyriack> Skinner, who was his disciple.

John Dreyden, esq., Poet Laureate, who very much admires him, and went to him to have leave to putt his Paradise Lost into a drama in rhymne. Mr. Milton recieved him civilly, and told him he would give him leave to tagge his verses.

His widowe assures me that Mr. T. Hobbs was not one of his acquaintance, that her husband did not like him at all, but he would acknowledge[317] him to be a man of great parts, and a learned man. Their interests and tenets did[318] run counter to each other; vide in Hobbes' _Behemoth_.

=George Monk= (1608-1670).

[319]G. M[320]. was borne at ... in Devon (vide Devon in Heralds' Office), a second son of ..., an ancient familie, and which had about Henry 8's time 10,000 _li._ per annum (as he himselfe sayd).

He was a strong, lusty, well-sett young fellow; and in his youth happened to slay a man[XXVI.], which was the occasion of his flying into the Low-countries, where he learned to be a soldier.

[XXVI.] From Mʳⁱˢ Linden, his kinswoman, a Devon woman whose name was Monke.

At the beginning of the late civill warres, he came over to the king's side, where he had command (quaere in what part of England).

Anno ... he was prisoner in the Tower, where his semstres, Nan Cl<arges> (a blacksmith's[XXVII.] daughter), was kind to him; in a double capacity. It must be remembred that he then was in want[XXVIII.], and she assisted him. Here she was gott with child. She was not at all handsome, nor cleanly. Her mother was one of the five woemen barbers.

[XXVII.] The shop is still of that trade; the corner-shop, the first turning on the right hand as you come out of the Strand into Drury-lane; the howse is now built of brick.

[XXVIII.] He was taken prisoner by the Parliament forces, and kept in the Tower; and the trueth was, he was forgotten and neglected at Court, that they did not thinke of exchanging him, and he was in want.

Anno ... (as I remember, 1635) there was a maried woman in Drury-lane that had clapt (i.e. given the pox to) a woman's husband, a neighbor of hers. She complained of this to her neighbour gossips. So they concluded on this revenge, viz. to gett her and whippe her and ...; which severities were executed and put into a ballad. 'Twas the first ballad I ever cared for the reading of: the burden of it was thus:--

Did yee ever heare the like
Or ever heard the same
Of five woemen-barbers
That lived in Drewry lane?

Vide the Ballad-booke[321].

Anno ... her brother, T<homas> Cl<arges>, came a ship-board to G. M. and told him his sister was brought to bed. 'Of what?' sayd he. 'Of a son.' 'Why then,' sayd he, 'she is my wife.' He had only this child.

Anno.., (I have forgott by what meanes) he gott his libertie, and an employment under Oliver (I thinke) at sea, against the Dutch, where he did good service; he had courage enough. But I remember the sea-men would laugh, that in stead of crying _Tack about_, he would say _Wheele to the right_ (or _left_).

Anno 16.. he had command in Scotland (vide his life), where he was well beloved by his soldiers, and, I thinke, that country (for an enemie). Oliver, Protector, had a great mind to have him home, and sent him a fine complementall letter, that he desired <him> to come into England to advise with him. He sent his highnesse word, that if he pleased he would come and waite upon him at the head of 10,000 men. So that designe was spoyled.

Anno 1659/60, Febr. 10th (as I remember), being then sent for by the Parliament to disband Lambert's armie, he came into London with his army about one a clock P.M.[XXIX.] He then sent to the Parliament this letter, which[322], printed, I annex here. Shortly after he was sent for to the Parliament house; where, in the howse, a chaire was sett for him, but he would not (in modestie) sitt downe in it. The Parliament (Rumpe[XXX.]) made him odious to the citie, purposely, by pulling down and burning their gates (which I myselfe sawe). The Rumpe invited him to a great dinner, Febr. ... (shortly after); from whence it was never intended that he should have returned (of this I am assured by one of that Parliament). The members stayd till 1, 2, 3, 4 a clock, but at last his excellency sent them word he could not come: I beleeve he suspected some treacherie.

[XXIX.] on a Saterday. On Sunday (the next day) Sir Ralph Sydenham (his countreyman) went and dined with him, and after dinner told him that God had putt a good opportunity into his handes, innuend. restoring the king; to which he gave an indefinite answer, and sayd he hoped he should doe like an honest man. We that were Sir Ralph's acquaintance were longing for his coming home to supper for the generall's answer, who kept him till 9 at night. He, after the king's restauration, made him Master of Charter-howse.

[XXX.] _the Rumpe of a Howse_: 'twas the wooden invention of generall Browne (a woodmonger).

You must now know that long before these dayes, colonel <Edward> Massey, and Thomas Mariett, of Whitchurch in Warwickshire, esqre, held correspondence with his majestie, who wrote them letters with his owne hand, which I have seen. Both these were now in London privately. Tom Mariett laye with me (I was then of the Middle Temple); G. M. lay at Draper's hall[323] in Throckmorton-street. Col. Massey (Sir Edward afterwards), and T. Mariett every day were tampering with G. M., as also col. <John> Robinson (afterward Liewtenant of the Tower: whom I remember they counted not so wise as King Salomon); and they could not find any inclination or propensity in G. M. for their purpose, scil. to be instrumentall to bring in the king. Every night late, I had an account of all these transactions abed, which like a sott as I was, I did not, while fresh in memorie, committ to writing, as neither has T. M.[XXXI.]: but I remember in the maine, that they were satisfied he no more intended or designed the king's restauration, when he came into England, or first came to London, then his horse did. But shortly after finding himselfe at a losse; and that he was (purposely) made odious to the citie, as aforesayd--and that he was a lost man--by the Parliament; and that the generality of the citie and country were for the restoring the king, having long groaned under the tyranny of other governments; he had no way to save himselfe but to close with the citie, etc., again. Memorandum that Thredneedle-street was all day long, and late at night, crammed with multitudes, crying out _A free Parliament, a free Parliament_, that the aire rang with their clamours[324]. One evening, viz. Feb.... (quaere diem) he comeing out on horseback[325], they were so violent that he was almost afrayd of himselfe, and so, to satisfie them (as they use to doe to importunate children), _Pray be quiet, yee shall have a free Parliament_. This about 7, or rather 8 as I remember at night. Immediately a loud holla and shout was given, all the bells in <the> city ringing, and the whole citie looked as if it had been in a flame by the bonfires, which were prodigiously great and frequent and ran like a traine over the citie, and I sawe some balcone's that began to be kindled. They made little gibbetts, and roasted[326] rumpes of mutton; nay, I sawe some very good rumpes of beefe[327]. Healths to the king, Charles II, were dranke in the streets by the bonfires, even on their knees; and this humor ran by the next night to Salisbury, where was the like joy; so to Chalke, where they made a great bonfire on the top of the hill; from hence to Blandford and Shaftesbury, and so to the Land's-end: and perhaps it was so over all England. So that the return of his most gracious majestie was by the hand of GOD[XXXII.]; but as by this person meerly accidentall, whatever the pompous History in 8vo. sayes (printed at ... opposite to St. Dunstan's church: quaere if not writt by Sir Thomas Clargies, brother to her Grace, formerly an apothecary; and was physician to his army, and 1660 was created M. Dr., who commonly at Coffee-houses uses to pretend strange things, of his contrivances, and bringing-on of his brother-in-lawe to ...).

[XXXI.] Quaere T. M. iterum de his.

[XXXII.] A Domino factum est istud: et est mirabile in oculis nostris. Hoc[328] est dies quam fecit dominus, exultemus et laetemur in ea.--Psm. cxviii. 23, 24.

Well! A free Parliament was chosen, and mett the ... of.... Sir Harbottle Grimston, knight and baronet, was chosen Speaker. The first thing he putt to the question was, 'Whether CHARLES STEWARD should be sent for, or no?' 'Yea, yea,' _nemine contradicente_. Sir John Greenvill (now earle of Bathe) was then in towne, and posted away to Bruxells; found the king at dinner, little dreaming of so good newes, rises presently from dinner, had his coach immediately made readie, and that night gott out of the king of Spaine's dominions into the prince of Orange's country, I thinke, Breda[XXXIII.].

[XXXIII.] This I have heard bishop John Earles and his wife Bridget, then at Bruxells, say, severall times.

Now, as the morne growes lighter and lighter, and more glorious, till it is perfect day, so[329]it was with the joy of the people. Maypoles, which in the hypocriticall times, 'twas ... to sett-up, now were sett up in every crosse-way: and at the Strand, neer Drury-lane, was sett-up the most prodigious one for height, that (perhaps) was ever seen; they were faine (I remember) to have the assistance of the sea-men's art to elevate it; that which remaines (being broken with a high wind anno ..., I thinke about 1672) is but two parts of three of the whole height from the grownd, besides what is in the earth. The juvenile and rustique folkes at that time had so much their fullnesse of desires in this kind, that I thinke there have been very few sett-up since. The honours conferred on G. M. every one knowes.

His sence might be good enough, but he was slow, and heavie. He dyed anno ... and had a magnificent funerall, suitable to his greatnesse. His figure in his robes was very artificially donne, which lay in a catafalco under a canopie, in or neer the east end of Westminster abby, a moneth or 6 weekes. Seth Ward, lord bishop of Sarum (his great acquaintance), preached his funerall sermon, which is printed for.... His eldest brother dyed sine prole, about the time of the King's returne. His other brother, <Nicholas Monk[330]> was made bishop of Hereford. G. M. and his duchess dyed within a day or two of each other. The bishop of Sarum told me that he did the last office of a confessor to his grace; and closed his eies, as his lordship told me himselfe.

Some moneths before G. M.'s comeing into England, the king sent Sir Richard Grenvill (since earl of Bath) to him to negotiate with him that he would doe him service, and to correspond with him. Said he, 'If opportunity be, I will doe him service; but I will not by any meanes have any correspondence[331] with him'; and he did like a wise man in it; for if he had he would certainly have been betrayed.

'Twas shrewd advice which <William> Wyld, then Recorder of London, gave to the citizens, i.e. to keep their purse-strings fast; els, the Parliament would have payed the army and kept out the king.

He was first an ensigne, and after a captain, in the Lowe-countreys, and for making false musters was like to have been ... which he afterward did not forget:--from major Cosh.

This underneath was writt on the dore of the House of Commons.

Till it be understood
What is under Monke's hood,
The citizens putt in their hornes.
Untill the ten dayes are out,
The Speaker[XXXIV.] haz the gowt,
And the Rump, they sitt upon thornes.

[XXXIV.] Lenthall.

Memorandum:--Mr. Baron Brampton hath invited me to his chamber to give me a farther account of generall Monk.--I[332] let slip the opportunity, and my honoured friend is dead.

=Sir Jonas Moore= (1617-1679).

[333]Sir Jonas More: vide[334] Φ, p. 128. Sciatica he cured it, by boyling his buttock. The D.[335] Y. said that 'Mathematicians and physicians had no religion': which being told to Sir Jonas More, he presented his duty to the D. Y.[336] and wished 'with all his heart that his highnesse _were a mathematician too_': this was since he was supposed to be a Roman Catholic.

[337]He was a clarke under Dr. Burghill, Chancellor of Durham. Parson Milbourne, in the Bishoprick, putt him upon the Mathematiques, and instructed him in it. Then he came to the Middle Temple, London, where he published his Arithmetique, and taught it in Stanhop-street. After this, gott-in with the lord Gorges, earle of Bedford, and Sir Thomas Chichiley, for the surveying of the fennes:--from captain Sherbourne.

Mr. ... Gascoigne (of the North, I thinke Yorkeshire), a person of good estate, a most learned gentleman, who was killed in the civill warres in the king's cause, a great mathematician, and bred by the Jesuites at Rome, gave him good information in mathematicall knowledge. Pray inquire of our friend, Mr. Ralph Sheldon, for as many memorialls of him[AB] as you can: he was one of the most accomplisht gentlemen of his time.

[338]Sir Jonas Moore[AC] was borne at Whitelee in Lancashire, towards the bishoprick of Durham. He was inclined to mathematiques when a boy, which some kind friends[339] of his (whom he mentions in the preface of his first edition of his Arithmetique, dedicated to ... about 1647, and Edmund Wyld, esq.), and afterwards Mr. Oughtred, more fully enformed him; and then he taught gentlemen in London, which was his livelyhood.

When the great levell of the fennes was to be surveyed, Mr. Wyld aforesaid who was his scholar and a member of Parliament was very instrumentall in helping him to the employment of surveying it, which was his rise, which I have heard him acknowledge with much gratitude before severall persons of quality, since he was a knight, and which evidenced an excellent good nature in him.

☞ Memorandum:--when he surveyed the fennes, he observed the line that the sea made on the beach, which is not a streight line (quaere what line?), by which meanes he gott great credit in keeping-out the sea in Norfolke; so[340] he made his bankes against the sea of the same line that the sea makes on the beach; and no other could doe it, but that the sea would still breake-in upon it.

Memorandum:--he made a modell of <a> citadell for Oliver Cromwell, to bridle the city of London, which Mr. Wyld has; and this citadell was to have been the crosse building of St. Paule's church.

Upon the restauration of his majestie he was made Master Surveyor of his majestie's ordinance and armories.

A.D. 167- he received the honour of knighthood. He was a good mathematician, and a good fellowe.

He dyed at Godalmyng, comeing from Portsmouth to London ..., and was buried Septemb. 2ᵈ 1679, at the Tower Chapell, with sixtie peices of ordinance (equal to the number of his yeares). He was tall and very fat, thin skin, faire, cleare grey eie.

He alwayes intended to have left his library of mathematicall bookes to the Royall Societie, of which he was a member; but he happened to dye without making a will, wherby the Royal Societie have a great losse.

His only sonne, Jonas, had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him, August 9, 1680, at Windsor; 'his majestie being pleased to give him this marke of his favour as well in consideration of his owne abilities, as of the faithfull service of his father deceased' (_London Gazette_, no. 1537)--but young Sir Jonas, when he is old, will never be _old Sir Jonas_, for all the Gazette's elogie.

Memorandum:--speake to Sir Christopher Wren to gett the wooden sphaere that was made for Prince Henry by Mr. <Edward> Wright, out of young Sir Jonas Moore's handes, into the king's again.

I remember Sir Jonas told us that a Jesuite (I think 'twas Grenbergerus, of the Roman College) found out a way of flying, and that he made a youth[341] performe it. Mr. Gascoigne taught an Irish boy the way, and he flew over a river in Lancashire (or therabout), but when he was up in the ayre, the people gave a shoute, wherat the boy being frighted, he fell downe on the other side of the river, and broke his legges, and when he came to himselfe, he sayd that he thought the people had seen some strange apparition, which fancy amazed him. This was anno 1635, and he spake it in the Royall Societie, upon the account of the flyeing at Paris, two yeares since. Vide the Transactions.

I remember I have heard Sir Jonas say that when he began mathematiques, he wonderfully profited by reading Billingesley's Euclid, and that 'twas his excellent, cleare, and plaine exposition of the 4ᵗʰ proposition of the first booke of the Elements, did first open and cleare his understanding: quod N.B.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[AB] i.e. William Gascoigne: vol. i. p. 260. Ralph Sheldon of Beoly was a Catholic; and at his house Anthony Wood received much information about Catholic writers: Clark's Wood's _Life and Times_, iii. 98.

[AC] Aubrey gives in trick the coat: 'azure, a swan within a bordure engrailed argent.'

=Sir Robert Moray= (16---1673).

[342]Sir Robert Moray, knight:--he was of the ancient family of the Morays in Scotland. He was borne ... (as I take it, in the Highlands), anno domini.... The Highlanders (like the Swedes) can make their owne cloathes; and I have heard Sir Robert say that he could doe it.

He spent most of his time in France. After his juvenile education at schoole and the University he betooke himselfe to military employment in the service of Lewis the 13th. He was at last Lieuetenant-Colonel to.... He was a great master of the Latin tongue and was very well read. They say he was an excellent soldier.

He was far from the rough humour of the camp breeding, for he was a person the most obliging about the court and the only man that would doe a kindnesse _gratis_ upon an account of friendship. A lacquey could not have been more obsequious and diligent. What I doe now averre I know to be true upon my owne score as well as others. He was a most humble and good man, and as free from covetousness as a Carthusian. He was abstemious and abhorred woemen. His majesty was wont to teaze at him. 'Twas pitty he was a Presbyterian.

He was the chiefe appuy of his countreymen and their good angel. There had been formerly a great friendship between him and the duke of Lauderdale, till, about a yeare or two before his death, he went to the duke on his returne from Scotland and told him plainly that he had betrayed his countrey.

He was one of the first contrivers and institutors of the Royall Societie and was our first president, and performed his charge in the chaire very well.

He was my most honoured and obligeing friend, and I was more obliged to him then to all the courtiers besides. I had a great losse in his death, for, had he lived, he would have got some employment or other for me before this time. He had the king's eare as much as any one, and was indefatigable in his undertakings. I was often with him. I was with him three houres the morning he dyed; he seemed to be well enough[343]. I remember he dranke at least 1/2 pint of faire water, according to his usuall custome.

His lodgeing where he dyed was the leaded pavillion in the garden at Whitehall. He dyed suddenly July 4ᵗʰ about 8 hours P.M. Aº.D. 1673. Had but one shilling in his pocket, i.e. _in all_. The king buryed him. He lyes by Sir William Davenant in Westminster abbey.

He was a good chymist and assisted his majestie in his chymicall operations.

=Sir Thomas More= (1480-1535).

[344]Sir Thomas More[AD], Lord Chancellour:--his countrey-howse was at Chelsey, in Middlesex, where Sir John Danvers built his house. The chimney-piece of marble in Sir John's chamber, was the chimney-piece of Sir Thomas More's chamber, as Sir John himselfe told me. Where the gate is now, adorned with two noble pyramids, there stood anciently a gate-house, which was flatt on the top, leaded, from whence is a most pleasant prospect of the Thames and the fields beyond. On this place the Lord Chancellour More was wont to recreate himselfe and contemplate. It happened one time that a Tom of Bedlam came-up to him, and had a mind to have throwne him from the battlements, saying 'Leap, Tom, leap.' The Chancellour was in his gowne, and besides ancient, and not able to struggle with such a strong fellowe. My lord had a little dog with <him>; sayd he 'Let us first throwe the dog downe, and see what sport that will be'; so the dog was throwne over. 'This is very fine sport,' sayd my lord, 'let us fetch him up, and try once more.' While the madman was goeing downe, my lord fastned the dore, and called for help, but ever after kept the dore shutt.

Memorandum that in his Utopia his lawe[345] is[XXXV.] that the young people are to see each other stark-naked before marriage. Sir <William> Roper, of ... in[346] Eltham in Kent, came one morning, pretty early, to my lord, with a proposall to marry one of <his> daughters. My lord's daughters were then both together a bed in a truckle-bed in their father's chamber asleep. He carries Sir <William> into the chamber and takes the sheet by the corner and suddenly whippes it off....[347] Here was all the trouble of the wooeing.--This account I had from my honoured friend old Mris. Tyndale, whose grandfather Sir William Stafford was an intimate acquaintance of this Sir ... Roper, who told him the story.

[XXXV.] Vide _Utopia_, pp. 195, 196, de proco et puella, concerning marriage--MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 42.

This Sir <William> Roper (from whom[348] is descended the lord Tenham) had in one piece, drawne by Hans Holbeine, the pictures of Sir Thomas More, his lady, and all his children, which hung at his house aforesaid in Kent: but about 1675 'twas presented as a raritie to King Charles II and hangs in Whitehall.

His discourse was extraordinary facetious. Riding one night, upon the suddaine, he crossed himself _majori cruce_, crying out[XXXVI.] 'Jesu Maria! doe not you see that prodigious dragon in the sky?' They all lookt-up, and one did not see it, nor the tother did not see it. At length one had spyed it, and at last all had spied. Wheras there was no such phantôme; only he imposed on their phantasies.

[XXXVI.] Vide Erasmi Colloquia--'Spectrum.'

After he was beheaded, his trunke was interred in Chelsey church, neer the middle of the south wall, where was some slight monument[XXXVII.] erected, which being worne by time, about 1644 Sir ... Laurence, of Chelsey (no kinne to him), at his own proper cost and chardges, erected to his memorie a handsome faire inscription of marble.

[XXXVII.] Sir Thomas More's inscription is in the south side of the chancell <in Chelsea church>--Sir John Laurence of Chelsey repaired Sir Thomas More's inscription (quaere lady Purbec when).--Sir John Laurence, baronet, obiit 1638.--MS. Aubr. 7, fol. 16.

His head was upon London bridge: there goes this story in the family, viz. that one day as one of his daughters was passing under the bridge, looking on her father's head[349], sayd she, 'That head haz layn[350] many a time in my lapp, would to God it would fall into my lap as I passe under.' She had her wish, and it did fall into her lappe, and is now preserved in a vault in the cathedrall church at Canterbury. The descendant of Sir Thomas, is Mr. More, of Chilston, in Herefordshire, where, among a great many things of value plundered[351] by the soldiers, was his chap, which they kept for a relique. Methinks 'tis strange that all this time he is not canonized, for he merited highly of the church.

Memorandum:--in the hall of Sir John Lenthall, at Bessils-Lye in Berks, is an original of Sir Thomas and his father, mother, wife, and children, donne by Hans Holbein. There is an inscription in golden letters of about 60 lines, which I spake to Mr. Thomas Pigot, of Wadham College, to transcribe, and he has donne it very carefully. Aske him for it. Vide Mr. Thomas Pigot, in part[352] iii.

Memorandum:--about the later end of Erasmus's _Epistolae_, Antverp edition, pag. 503, 504, 505, is an epitaph for Sir Thomas More, and another for his lady.

Memorandum:--Sir Thomas More's father had a countrey house at Gubbins in Hertfordshire, which is in the familie still, who are still Catholiques; whether he was borne there or no, non constat:--<from> Seth Ward, episcopus Sarum.

[353]Educatus in aula cardinalis Morton, prout in Utopia pag. 49, 50.

Sir John Lenthall at Besilslye haz a rare and large picture of Hans Holbein's painting in his hall there, where are the figures, as big as the life, of Sir Thomas <More> and his father (a judge) and mother, wife and children, and a long inscription, which gett Mr. Pigot to transcribe, for it begins to be defaced.

Sir Thomas More, knight: Quaestiones duae:--

--An chimaera bombinans in vacuo possit comedere secundas
intentiones?

--An averia capta in Withernamio sint replegiabilia?

Memorandum:--his folio, English.

Epigrammata, 16mo.

Utopia.--Vide in Utopia his titles of civis Londiniensis and vicecomes Londiniensis.

His behaviour on the scaffold.

[354]☞ See about the later end of Erasmus' Epistolae (in the Antverp edition, 8vo, 'tis in pagg. 503, 504, 505) an epitaph made for Sir Thomas More, and another for his wife (as I thinke, never set up). But be sure to obtaine a copie of the inscription under his picture and of his family at Basilleigh, which Mr. Thomas Pigot hath, and he only can help you to it. Therin are remarques of that family nowhere els to be had.

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

[AD] Aubrey gives the coat: '..., a chevron between 3 heath-cocks ...' wreathed with laurel. He adds: 'This coate of armes is in the hall at New Inne, of which house I presume Sir Thomas was, according to the education of former times.'

He adds the references 'see part iii, p. 45 b' (i.e. MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 97ᵛ in the life of Thomas Pigot), and 'vide A. Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._'

=Lancelot Morehouse= (16---1672).

[355]Mr. Launcelot Moorhouse, minister of Pertwood (40 _li._ per annum), about 6 miles from Kilmanton, a very learned man, and a solid and profound mathematician, wrote against Mr. Francis Potter's booke of 666, and falls upon him, for that 25 is not the true roote, but the propinque root; to which Mr. Potter replied with some sharpnes, and that it ought not to be the true roote, for this agrees better with his purpose. The manuscript pro and con Mr. Morehouse gave to Seth Ward, bishop of Sarum, 1668; together with a MS. in folio (in French) of legues between ... king of England and ... king of France, and a prophecy concerning England, curiously written in Latin verse, one sheet in 4to, which he rescued from the tayler's sheeres.

Mr. Moorhouse (of Cambridge) is dead and left his many excellent mathematicall notes to his ingeniose friend, John Graunt, of Hindon.

He writt in 4to de Quadratura Circuli; wherin is a great deale of witt and learning; but at last Dr. Davenant (his neighbour) evinced him of his paralogisme. I would have it printed (for it is learnedly[356] donne) to show where and how great witts may erre and be decieved.

He was a man of a very searching witt, and indefatigable at solving a question, as I have heard Dr. Edward Davenant oftentimes say.

He was either of Clare-hall or King's Colledge. Westmoreland by birth. Curate at Chalke to Mr. Waller. He was preferred by bishop <Humphrey> Hinchman to Little Langford, where he dyed about 1672.

=Sir Thomas Morgan= (16---1679).

[357]The life of Sir Thomas Morgan will be printed in about three weekes time by....

From Mr. Howe:--

[_Clarissimo fortissimoque Thomae Morgano, equiti aurato, imperatorum hujus aetatis facile principi._

Quae non in terris sensit gens bellica quantus
Dux sit Morganus, compede, strage, fugâ?
Ashleus, Austriacus, Condaeus, Monkus et ipse,
Lesleiusque aquilas erubuêre tuas.
Fairfaxus, Glencarnus, famaque Middletoni,
Hopton jure prior sed tibi Marte minor.
Victrices culpas delemus, vidimus ex quo
Erecta auspiciis sceptra Britanna tuis,
Et Carolum regnis reducem et Monkum modo fultum
Auxiliis fusum Lamberitumque tuis.
Inclytus Arthurus tibi conterranneus olim,
Herôe Arthuro credimus esse satum.
<by> ... Jones[358], B.D.]

[359]Sir Thomas Morgan:--Sir John Lenthall told me that at the taking of Dunkyrke, Marshall Turenne, and, I thinke, Cardinall Mezarine too, had a great mind to see this famous warrior. They gave him a visitt, and wheras they thought to have found an Achillean or gigantique person, they sawe a little man, not many degrees[360] above a dwarfe[361], sitting in a hutt of turves, with his fellowe soldiers, smoaking a pipe about 3 inches (or neer so) long, with a green hatt-case on. He spake with a very exile tone, and did cry-out to the soldiers, when angry with them, 'Sirrah, I'le cleave your skull!' as if the wordes had been prolated by an eunuch.

He was of meane parentage in Monmouthshire. He went over to the Lowe-Countrie warres about 16, being recommended by some friend of his to some commander there, who, when he read the letter, sayd, 'What! has my cosen ... recommended a _rattoon_ to me?' at which he tooke pett, and seek't his fortune (as a soldier) in Saxon Weymar.

He spake Welch, English, French, High Dutch, and Lowe Dutch, but never a one well. He seated himself at Cheuston, in Herefordshire.

[362]Sir Thomas Morgan: quaere Dr.[363] Jones.--Quaere Mr. Howe at Peter Griffiths', in Yorke buildings, neer the staires: he was his secretary and haz his memoires.--Quaere Mr. Jones for a copie of Sir Thomas Morgan's epitaph.--He lies buried in St. Martyn's church <in-the>-fields, London: quaere if his tombe is erected. Obiit about 1679.

[364]Thomas Morgan:--vide Mr. Howe at Mr. Griffyn's howse in York buildings, below Mi. Kent, next house but one or two to the water: he was his secretary and has his memoires. Quaere Mr. Jones for the copie of his epitaph. He lies interred in St. Martin's church: quaere if his tombe is erected. Obiit about 1679.

=William Morgan= (1622-16--).

[365]Mariana Morgan, ... daughter of major Morgan of Wells, was borne there, New Yeare's Eve's eve, XX yeares since next New Yeare's Eve, about 5 or 6 a clock P.M. She is a swidging lustie woman.

[366]William Morgan, first son of captain William Morgan, was borne at Wells, the 6th of November, Saterday morning, something before day. When he dyed he was 22 and as much as from the time of his birth. He dyed last Xtmas, viz. 1674, the Fryday after XII day[367]. Memorandum in 1670 he was very like to dye of a feaver. Anno ..., he maried (I think not much above a yeare before his death). Anno ... he dyed.

[368]Thomas Morgan, second sonne, natus ibidem, September 14, 1657 (about midnight, his mother thinkes). He was idle and unfortunate, and dyed 167-. Seemed to have Saturne much his enemie.

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

These Morgans of Wells were 'cousins' of Aubrey: see in the life of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey. The William Morgan who is there mentioned I take to be William Morgan (son of John Morgan, gent., of Worminster, co. Som.) who matriculated at Christ Church on Dec. 13, 1639, aged 17, to be the Captain (or Major) William Morgan of this notice. William Morgan, the son, of this notice, is probably William Morgan (son of William Morgan of Wells, co. Som., gent.) who matriculated at Trinity College, May 27, 1669, aged 16.

=John Morton= (1410-1500).

[369]Cardinal Morton:--lettre from A. Ettrick, esq., 9 July 1681:--'The grant of Morton's coate was not to the cardinal, but I beleeve he like other great new clergie-men tooke the libertie to use what coate he pleased; but about the 7th of Henry VIII <1515>, the coate is granted by three heralds to one of the same family with a _gratis dictum_ recital in the grant of a descent of a pretty many auncestors ingraffing him into the family of Bawtry (vide [370] of Bawtry) in Yorkshire. This Sir Edward Bysh shewed me in the Heralds' Office.'--Quod vide.

Vide _Utopia_, pp. 49, 50, an immortall elogie; Sir Thomas More in aula ejus educatus.

[371]In my last I gave you some memoirs of cardinall Morton, and that the tradicion of the countrey people in Dorset, when I was a schooleboy there at Blandford, was that he was a shoe-maker's son of Bere in com. praedict.: but Sir William Dugdale ... sayes 'by no meanes I must putt in writing hear-sayes.'

His coate is this[372], 'quarterly, gules and ermine, in the first quarter a goat's head erased ...': which something resembles the shoemakers' armes, who give 'three goates' heades,' as you may see in the signe without Bocardo.

This coate of Moreton is in the west chamber of the Katherine-wheele Inne at Great Wiccomb in Bucks, with (as I remember) the cardinall's cappe.

=Thomas Mouffet= (1553-1604).

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Brief Lives, Vol. 2Chapter III: Part 3

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