Chapter VI: Part 6

[676]_Orinda_--From Mr. J. Oxenbridge, her uncle (now prisoner in the Fleet on her account for a dept of her husband, scil. bound for him 28 yeares since), and lady Montagu.

Mris[677] Katharine Fowler was the daughter of John Fowler of London, merchant (an eminent merchant in Bucklersbury), and Katherine Oxenbridge, daughter of ... Oxenbridg, M.D., President of the Physicians' College--quaere de hoc in <the London> Dispens<atory>.

She was ... christned in Woollchurch. If alive now (July 1681), she might be 48 or 49; vide register[678].

[679]Katharine, the daughter of John Fowler and Katharine his wife, was baptized January 11, 1631, as per the register booke of St. Mary Woole-church appeareth.

I say,

Robert Watkins, churchwarden.

[680]She went to schoole at Hackney to Mris Salmon, a famous schoolmistris, Presbyterian, <John> Ball's catechism[681]. _Amici_[682],--Mris Mary Aubrey and Mris ... Harvey since, lady (Sir ...) Deering. Loved poetrey at schoole, and made verses there. She takes after her grandmother Oxenbridge, her grandmother, who was an acquaintance of Mr. Francis Quarles, being much inclined to poetrie herselfe.

Maried to James Philips of the Priorie at Cardigan, esq., about 1647 (scil. the yeare after the army was at Putney), by whom she had one sonne, dead (in her booke), and one daughter married to Mr. Wgan of ..., in some degree like her mother.

She was very religiously devoted when she was young[683]; prayed by herself an hower together, and tooke sermons _verbatim_ when she was but 10 yeares old.

She died of the small pox in Fleet Street. Shee lies buried at St. Benet-Sherehog at the end of Syth's lane in London.

_Ex registro istius ecclesiae_:--'Mris Katherine Philippes, the wife of James Philippes, was buried the 23 of June 1664 in the north ayle under the great stone with the brasen monyment'--the brasse is now lost.

She was when a child much against the bishops, and prayd to God to take them to him, but afterwards was reconciled to them. Prayed aloud, as the hypocriticall fashion then was, and was overheared--vide [=a] of T<homas> H<obbes> Civill Warres and Satyre against Hypocrites.

My cozen Montague <told me that she had a> read pumpled face; wrote out verses in innes, or mottos in windowes, in her table-booke.

[684]Memorandum:--_La Solitude_ de St. Amant was englished by Mris Katherine Philips. 'Tis 20 stanzas--I thinke not yet printed--I had them from Elizabeth, the countesse of Thanet, 1672.

Quaere what shee wrote?

_Poemes._

_Pompey_--tragedy.

She went into Ireland (after her mariage) with the lady Dungannon (whom she calles _Lucatia_); and at Dublin she wrote Pompey.

Her husband had a good estate, but bought Crowne landes; he mortgaged, etc. His brother Hector tooke off the mortgages and haz the lands.

From her cosen Blacket, who lived with her from her swadling cloutes to eight, and taught her to read:--She informes me viz.--when a child she was mighty apt to learne, and she assures me that she had read the Bible thorough before she was full four yeares old; she could have sayd I know not how many places of Scripture and chapters. She was a frequent hearer of sermons; had an excellent memory and could have brought away a sermon in her memory. Very good-natured; not at all high-minded; pretty fatt; not tall; reddish faced.

Quaere my cosen Montagu[685] when she began to make verses.--Quaere how many children she had.--Quaere her coat of arms, and her husband's.

Major-Generall Skippen[686] was her mother's third husband.

'She[687] lies interred under a gravestone with her father and grandfather and grandmother, just opposite to the dore of the new churchyard, about 3 yards distant'--quaere if from the doore or the opposite wal; and quaere if any inscription on her relations on the said stone.

She had only one daughter ... who is maried to ... Wgan esq. of Pembrokeshire or Caermarthenshire--quaere iterum her uncle Oxenbridge.

=Thomas Pigot= (1657-1686).

[688]Mr. Thomas Pigot was borne at Brindle, in Lancashire, about eleven a clock at night (sed quaere his brother Henry + de hoc)--from Mr. Pond.

[689]I have got Mr. Pigot's birth, as to the month and howre from his kinswoman who was at his mother's labour and recieved him in her lapp. If you are acquainted with his brother, desire him to give you the anno Domini.

[690]Mr. Thomas Pigot, M.A. Coll. Wadh., my worthy friend, obiit August 14, A.D. 1686, of a feaver, about one a clock in the afternoon.

He was fellow of Wadham College and chaplain in ordinary to the earle of Ossory, at whose house in St. James' Square he deceased. He was buried in St. James's church by St. James's fields, Sunday the 15th, in the middle aisle between the pulpit and the railes of the communion-table of the north side of this aisle, in the grave of Mr. Rigby, the first rector[691] here, upon whose coffin he lies. His head lies under 14.

His brother haz a MS. of musick written by him, a little 4to.

Quaere for his decyphering the inscription on Sir Thomas More's family-picture at Bessills-Leigh. Memorandum--this decyphering gives great light to the antiquitie of the family which els would be lost utterly.

He haz some pieces of _opus tessellatum_ found at or near Badmanton (the duke of Beauford's) not long before his death.

=Thomas Pittis= (1636-1687).

[692]Dr. Thomas Pittis, rector of St. Botolph's Bishopsgate, died Wednesday in Christmas weeke in December 1687. He was buryed in the Isle of Wight at the west Cowes.

He haz a sonne of the same College[693] in Oxford that he was of.

=Sir William Platers.=

[694]Sir William Plater[695], knight, was a Cambridgeshire gentleman at.... He had a good estate (about 3000 _li. per annum_). He was a very well bred gentleman, as most was of those times; had travelled France, Italie, etc., and understood well those languages. He was one of the Long Parliament in the time of the late warres.

He was a great admirer and lover of handsome woemen, and kept severall. Henry Martyn and he were great cronies, but one time (about 1644) there was some difference between them--Sir William had gott away one of Henry's girles, and Sir John Berkinhead inserted in his _Mercurius Aulicus_ how the saintes fell out. He was temperate and thriftie as to all other things.

He had onely one sonne, who was handsome and ingeniose, and whome he cultivated with all imaginable care and education[696].... He allowed his son liberally but enjoyned him still temperance, and to sett downe his expences[697]....

The father was a good linguist and a good antiquary. This beloved sonne of his dyeing ..., shortned his father's dayes. He built the triumphall-like arch wheron the king's armes is in the partition between church and chancell at St. Margaret's Westminster, under which he lies buried. The following inscription is on the arch[AS], viz....

[698]Sir William Platers[AT], knight and baronet; about 5000 _li._ per annum. His sonne very ingeniose, and made a very good returne of his education. He was a colonel in the king's army and was killed in his service, which his father tooke so to heart that he enjoyed not himselfe afterwards.

Henry Martyn, his crony, invited him to a treat, where Sir William fell in love with one of his misses and slockst her away--which Sir J<ohn> B<irkenhead> putt in the _Mercurius Aulicus_.

In St. Margaret's Westminster he erected a monument against the south wall for Mr. James Palmer[AU], B.D., sequestred minister of St. Bride's London. He (Mr Palmer) was a very pious good man, and a benefactor to his native parish here, where he built an almes-howse; obiit 1659; and this monument was erected at the sole chardge of Sir William Platers, knight and baronet--sett downe so there.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[AS] Aubrey notes the inscription in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 29:--'St. Margaret's Westminster.

Erected at the charge of Sir William
Platers, Knight and Baronet, anno 1662.'

To which he adds the note:--

'Hee departed this life the 19th of Aprill anno 1668--idem[699], east side.'

Here Anthony Wood makes the query:--

'Who doe you meane by this person that died 1668?' And Aubrey answers:--

'Sir William Platers. I doe not enter him here as a worthie, but he does _implere locum_. He was a merry man in the raigne of the Saints. _Mercurius Aulicus_ made a good sport with him and Henry Martin.'

[AT] Aubrey gives in trick the coat: 'bendy wavy of six argent and azure'; but leaves blank the coat it impales.

[AU] James Palmer, B.A., of Magd. Coll., Cambr., 1601/2; B.D. 1613; vicar of St. Bride's, Fleet Street, 1616-45.

=Sir Thomas Pope= (1508-1559).

[700]Sir Thomas Pope, founder of Trinity College, Oxon, bought church-lands without money. His way was this. He contracted, and then presently sold long leases, for which he had great fines and but a small rent. These leases were out in the reigne of King James the first, and then the estate was worth 8000 pounds per annum. He could have rode in his owne lands from Cogges (by Witney) to Banbury, about 18 miles.

[701]I have a curious MSS. manuall of Sir Thomas Pope, which if I thought would be chained in Trinity College library, I would dedicate it there, but I know not how magistracy, etc., have altered somebody[702].

=Sir John Popham= (1531-1607).

[703]Sir John Popham[AV], Lord Chiefe Justice of the King's Bench, was the ... son of ... Popham, of ... in the countie of Somerset.

He was of the Societie of ... and for severall <years> addicted himselfe but little to the studie of the lawes, but profligate company, and was wont to tak a purse with them. His wife considered her and his condition, and at last prevailed with him to lead another life, and to stick to the studie of the lawe: which, upon her importunity, he did, being then about thirtie yeares old. <He> spake to his wife to provide a very good entertainment for his camerades to take his leave of them; and after that day fell extremely hard to his studie, and profited exceedingly. He was a strong, stout man, and could endure to sit at it day and night[LIX.]; became eminent in his calling, had good practise; called to be a Serjeant <1578>, a Judge <1592>: vide _Origines Juridiciales_.

[LIX.] The picture of a common law(y)er:--He must have 'an iron head, a brazen face, and a leaden breech.'

Sir ... (John, I think) Dayrell, of Littlecote, in com. Wilts, having gott his ladie's waiting woman with child, when her travell came, sent a servant with a horse for a midwife, whom he was to bring hood-winked. She was brought, and layd the woman, but as soon as the child was borne, she sawe the knight take the child and murther it, and burnt it in the fire in the chamber. She having donne her businesse was extraordinarily rewarded for her paines, and sent blinfold away. This horrid action did much run in her mind, and she had a desire to discover it, but knew not where 'twas. She considerd with herselfe the time that she was riding, and how many miles might be rode at that rate in that time, and that it must be some great person's house, for the roome was 12 foot high; and she could know the chamber if she sawe it. She went to a Justice of Peace, and search was made. The very chamber found. The knight was brought to his tryall; and to be short, this judge had this noble howse, parke, and mannor, and (I thinke) more, for a bribe to save his life[LX.].

[LX.] Sir John Popham gave sentence according to lawe; but being a great person and a favourite, he[704] procured a _noli prosequi_.

I have seen his picture; he was a huge, heavie, ugly man. He left a vast estate to his son, Sir Francis (I thinke ten thousand pounds, per annum); he lived[705] like a hog, but his sonne John was a great waster, and dyed in his father's time.

He[706] was the greatest howse-keeper in England; would have at Littlecote 4 or 5 or more lords at a time. His wife (Harvey) was worth to him, I thinke, 60000 _li._, and she was as vaine as he, and she sayd that she had brought such an estate, and she scorned but she would live as high as he did; and in her husband's absence would have all the woemen of the countrey thither, and feast them, and make them drunke, as she would be herselfe. They both dyed by excesse; and by luxury and cosonage by their servants, when he dyed, there was, I thinke, a hundred thousand pound debt.

Old Sir Francis, he lived like a hog, at Hownstret in Somerset, all this while with a moderate pittance.

Mr. John would say that his wive's estate was ill gott, and that was the reason they prospered no better; she would say that the old judge gott the estate unjustly, and thus they would twitt one another, and that with matter of trueth.

I remember this epitaph was made on Mr. John Popham:--

Here lies he, who, not long since,
Kept a table like a prince,
Till Death came, and tooke away.
Then ask't the old man, What's to pay?

[707]Memorandum:--at the hall in Wellington[AW] in the countie of Somerset (the ancient seate of the Pophams), and which was this Sir John's, Lord Chiefe Justice, (but quaere if he did not buy it?) did hang iron shackells, of which the tradicion of the countrey is that, long agoe, one of the Pophams (lord of this place) was taken and kept a slave by the Turkes for a good while, and that by his ladie's great pietie, and continuall prayers, he was brought to this place by an invisible power, with these shackells on his legges, which were here hung up as a memoriall, and continued till the house (being a garrison) was burn't. All the countrey people steadfastly beleeve the trueth hereof.

[708]Lord Chief Justice Popham first brought in (i.e. revived) brick building in London (scil. after Lincolne's Inne and St. James's); and first sett-afoote the Plantations,--e.g. Virginia (from Fabian Philips)--which he stockt or planted out of all the gaoles of England.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[AV] Aubrey gives in trick the coat: 'argent, on a chief gules 2 bucks' heads caboshed or, a crescent for difference.'

[AW] MS. Wood F. 49, fol. 139, has a note which Wood describes to be by 'Francis Snow, of Merton College,' viz. '"Sir John Popham, Lord Chiefe Justice of England, Privy Councellor of Queen Elizabeth and King James, aged 76, died 10 of June 1607": at Wellington in Somerset, this cost me a shilling.' Wood notes that the words are 'on his monument: which is all written thereon, and therefore print it.'

=Samuel Pordage= (1633-1691?).

[709]Samuel Pordage I knew very well. He was head-steward of the lands to the right honourable Philip, earl of Pembroke.

His father was called Dr. Pordage, a physitian and astrologer; I know not whether he was rector. His picture was graved three or four yeares since, I thinke 'tis before a book.

The son (Samuel), a civil courteous person, and a handsome man; gave me (1660) his translation of Seneca's _Troas_ in English; and I think he hath printed something since.

=Francis Potter= (1594-1678).

[710]Mr. Francis Potter's father[711] was one of the benefactors to the organ at the cathedrall church at Worcester, and there amongst others is this coate--'..., a chevron between 3 flower-vases ...' [Potter].

[712]Francis Potter, B.D., borne at Mere, a little market-towne in Wilts, 'upon Trinity-Sunday-eve 1594, in the evening.'--'Anno Domini 1625, December 10ᵗʰ, horâ decimâ, inventum est mysterium Bestiae' as he went up the staire to his chamber (which was at his brother's, scil. the great roome that nowe is added to the President's lodgeing).

[713]'A.D. 1625, December 10ᵗʰ, hora decima inventum est Mysterium Bestiæ'--these words I found wrote in his Greeke Testament. He told me the notion came into his mind as he was goeing up staires into his chamber at Trin. Coll. which was the senior fellowe's chamber then (he lay with his brother, Dr. Hannibal Potter): this chamber is now united to the President's lodgeings.

[714]Francis Potter, B.D.: Anthony Ettrick adviseth me to write

'To the worthy successor of Mr. Potter at Kilmington,'

and it will oblige the said rector to speed an answer, and also an account of the picture of Sir Thomas Pope--No answer! Quaere my brother Tom who is successor; and quaere and vide register and place of buriall.

[715]Mr. Francis Potter, B.D., was borne at the [vicaridge[716]] house at Mere in the county of Wiltes, anno Domini [1594, upon Trinity Sunday eve, in the evening].

His father was minister there, and also of Kilmanton in com. Somerset about 3 miles distant, and was also a prebendary of the Cathedrall Church of Worcester. He had three sonnes, Hannibal, Francis, and.... His wife's name was Horsey, of the worshipfull and ancient family of the Horseys of Clifton in com. Dorset.

He was taught his grammar learnings by Mr. <Henry> Bright (the famous school master of those times) of the schoole at Worcester.

Anno ætatis <15> (vide A. Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._) he went to Trinity Colledge in Oxon, where his father (who was an Oxfordshire man borne) had been a fellowe. His brother Hannibal was his tutor. Here he was a commoner twenty-seaven yeares, and was senior to all the house but Dr. Kettle and his brother.

His genius lay most of all to the mechanicks; he had an admirable mechanicall invention, but in that darke time wanted encouragement, and when his father dyed (which was about 1637) he succeeded him in the parsonage of Kilmanton, worth, per annum, about 140_li._ He was from a boy given to draweing and painting. The founder's (Sir Thomas Pope's) picture in Trinity Colledge hall is of his copying. He had excellent notions for the raysing of water; I have heard him say, that he could rayse the water at Worcester with lesse trouble, i.e. fewer ..., then there are; and that he had never seen a water-house engine, but that he could invent[717] a better. Kilmanton is on a high hill, and the parsonage-well is extraordinary deepe. There is the most ingeniose and usefull buckett-well, that ever I sawe. Now, whereas some deepe wells have wheeles for men or doggs to go within them, here is a wheele of ... foot diameter, with steps (like stayres) to walke on as if you were goeing up staires, and an ordinary bodye's[718] weight drawes-up a great bucket, which holdes a barrell, and the two bucketts are contrived so that their ropes alwaies are perpendicular and consequently parallell, and so never interfere with one another. Now, this vast buckett would be to combersome to overturne to power out the water; and therefore, he contrived a board with lifts about the sides, like a trough, to slide under the bucket, when 'tis drawne up; and at the bottom of the buckett is a plug, the weight of the water jogging upon the sliding trough, the water powres out into the trough, and from thence runnes into your paile, or other vessell. 'Tis extremely well worth the seeing. I have[719] taken heretofore a draught of it. I have heard him say that he would have undertaken to have brought up the water from the springs at the bottom of the hill to the towne of Shaftesbury, which is on a waterles hill.

Anno Domini 16<25> (see[720] part ii) goeing into his chamber, the notion of 25, the roote of 666, for the roote of the number of the Beast in the Revelation, came into his head; so he opposed 25 to 12, the roote of 144.

When he tooke his degree of Batchelaur in Divinity, his question was, An Papa sit Anti-Christus? Aff.--In his younger yeares he was very apt to fall into a swoune, and so he did when he was disputing in the Divinity-schoole upon that question.--I remember he told me that one time reading Aristotle de Natura Animalium, where he describes how that the lionesses, when great with young, and neer their time of parturition, doe goe between two trees that growe neer together, and squeeze out their young ones out of their bellies; he had such a strong idea of this, and of the paine that the lionesse was in, that he fell into a swoune.

He was of a very tender constitution, and sickly most of his younger yeares. His manner was, when he was beginning to be sick, to _breath strongly_ a good while together, which he sayed did emitt the noxious vapours.

He was alwayes much contemplative, and had an excellent philosophicall head. He was no great read man; he had a competent knowledge in the Latin, Greeke, and Hebrue tongues, but not a critique. Greeke he learn'd by ... Montanus's Interlineary Testament[721], after he was a man, without a grammar, and then he read Homer. He understood only common Arithmetique, and never went farther in Geometrie then the first six bookes of Euclid; but he had such an inventive head, that with this foundation he was able to doe great matters in the mechaniques, and to solve phaenomena in naturall philosophy. He had but few bookes, which when he dyed were sold for fifty-six shillings, and surely no great bargaine. He published[722] nothing but his _Interpretation of the number 666_, in 4to, printed at Oxford, 1642, which haz been twice translated into Latin, into French, and other languages[AX]. He made the fine diall with its furniture, on the north wall of the quadrangle at Trinity Colledge, which he did by Samminitiatus's booke of Dialling (it haz been gonne about 1670, and another is there putt). He lived and dyed[723] a batchelour. He was hospitable, vertuous, and temperate; and, as I sayd before, very contemplative. He lookt the most like a monk, or one of the pastours of the old time, that I ever sawe one. He was pretty long visagd and pale cleare skin, gray eie. His discourse was admirable, and all new and unvulgar. His house was as undeckt[724] as a monke's cell; yet he had there so many ingeniose inventions that it was very delightfull. He had a pretty contrived garden there, where are the finest box hedges of his planting that ever I sawe. The garden is a good large square; in the middle is a good high mount, all fortified (as you may say) and adorned with these hedges, which at the interstices of ... foot have a high pillar (square cutt) of box, that shewes very stately and lovely both summer and winter.

On the buttery-dore in his parlour he drew his father's picture at length, with his booke (fore-shortned), and on the spectacles in his hand is the reflection of the Gothique south windowe. I mention this picture the rather, because in processe of time it may be mistaken by tradition for his son Francis's picture, author of the booke aforesayd.

I never have enjoyed so much pleasure, nor ever so much pleased with such philosophicall and heartie entertainment as from him. His booke was in the presse at Oxford, and he there, when I was admitted of the College, but I had not the honour and happinesse to be acquainted with him till 1649 (Epiphanie), since which time I had a conjunct friendship with him to his death, and corresponded frequently with him. I have all his letters by me, which are very good, and I beleeve neer 200, and most of them philosophicall.

I have many excellent good notes from him as to mechaniques, etc., and I never was with him but I learn't, and alwayes tooke notes; but now indeed the Royall Societie haz out-donne most of his things, as having a better apparatus, and more spare money. I have a curious designe of his to drawe a landskip or perspective (1656), but Sir Christopher Wren hath fallen on the same principle, and the engine is better work't. He was smyth and joyner enough to serve his turne, but he did not pretend to curiosity in each. He gave me a quadrant in copper, and made me another in silver, of his owne projection, which serves for all latitudes. He shewed me, 1649, the best way of making an arch was a parabola with a chaine; so he tooke of his girdle from his cassock, and applyed it to the wall, thus:

He invented and made with his owne handes a paire of beame[725] compasses, which will divide an inch into a hundred or a thousand parts. At one end of the beame[725] is a roundle, which is divided into 100 equall parts, with a sagitta to turne about it with a handle: this handle turnes a skrew of a very fine thread, and on the back of the saile or beame is a graduation. With these compasses he made the quadrants aforesayd. He gave me a paire of these compasses, which I shewed to the[726] Royall Societie at their first institution, which they well liked, and I presented them as a rarity to my honoured friend, Edmund Wyld, esqre. There are but[727] two of them in the world.

☞ Memorandum that at the Epiphanie, 1649, when I was at his house, he then told me his notion of curing diseases, etc. by transfusion of bloud[LXI.] out of one man into another, and that the hint came into his head reflecting on Ovid's story of Medea and Jason, and that this was a matter of ten yeares before that time. About a yeare after, he and I went to trye the experiment, but 'twas on a hen, and the creature to little and our tooles not good: I then sent him a surgeon's lancet. Anno ... I recieved a letter from him concerning this subject, which many yeares since I shewed, and was read and entred in the bookes of the Royall Societie, for Dr. Lower would have arrogated the invention to himselfe, and now one [R.[728] Griffith,] Dr. of Physique, of Richmond, is publishing a booke of the transfusion of bloud, and desires to insert Mr. Potter's letter: which I here annex in perpetuam rei memoriam.

[LXI.] Memorandum:--Mr. Meredith Lloyd tells me that Libavius speakes of the transfusion of bloud, which I dare sweare Mr. F. Potter never sawe in his life.

[729]'Worthy Sir,

'I am sorrie that I can as yet give you no better account of that experiment of which you desire to heare. I am as yet frustrated _in ipso limine_ (but it is by my owne unexpertnes, who never attempted any such thing upon any creature before); for I cannot, although I have tried divers times, strike the veine so as to make him bleed in any considerable quantity.

'I have prepared a little cleare transparent vessel (like unto a bladder), made of the[730] craw of a pullet; and I have fastened an ivory pipe to one of the neckes of it, and I have put it into a veine which is most conspicuous about the lowest joint of the hinder legges; and yet I cannot procure above 2 or 3 drops of blood to come into the pipe or the bladder.

'I would have sent this bladder and pipe in my letter unto you but that I feare it might be an occasion that my letter might not come into your hands.--This is the rude figure of it which I do here set down because I thinke it the most convenient for this purpose:--

'_a_ = the necke of the craw which goeth to the mouth.

'_b_ = the other necke which goeth from the craw to the gissar.
Another pipe may be tied to this end and put into the veine
of another living creature at the same time.

'_d_ = a little crooked ivory pipe, fastened (as a clister pipe
is) to a bladder.

'_e_ = the capacity of the craw or bladder.'

'Sir,

'I received that oyle in a little glasse which you had from Mr. Decreet and a receipt in another letter, and I desire you not to impute it to my unthankefulnes that I did not thanke you for it in my last letter. I have most times such sorrow and discontents in my breast which make me forget my selfe and my best friends and such things as I most delight in.

'If I should have occasion to write anything unto you in characters you may be pleased to remember this key, that the three first letters and every other three letters doe _quiescere_ and that a comma is placed at the end of every word. As for example this writing:--

'Sed cæssat ar, otracci elusus, subest:--
'that is,
'cæsar occisus est,

'You need but cancell or make a line under every other three letters, and then you may easily and speedily read it, as this example:--

'_Sed_ cæs_sat_ ar, o_tra_cci _elu_sus, _sub_est.

'~Sed~ cæs~sat~ ar, o~tra~cci ~elu~sus, ~sub~est.

'Sir,

'I humbly present my service and best wishes unto you and shall still be

'Yours, in all true affection, to be commanded

FFRANCIS POTTER.

'Kilmanton,
Decemb. 7º, 1652.'

<The address (on fol. 62ᵛ) is:--

'To the right worshipfull, his
'much honoured friend, Mr. John
'Aubrey, at the signe of the
'Rainebowe, a stationer's shop
'In Fleetstreet by Temple
'gate, give these
'Post-payd.'

The letter has been sealed with numerous seals: e.g. (1) a rose; (2) 'on a cross, 5 pheons; impaling, 2 lions rampant combattant'; (3) Aesculapius, with his staff, a vase in front of him; (4) a male head, in profile, with long hair and moustaches; (5) an antique head, with basket-work cap having a circle of spikes round it.>

[731]Anno Domini 166--he was chosen fellowe of the Royall Societie, and was there admitted and recieved with much respect.

As he was never a strong man, so in his later times he had his health best, only about four or five yeares before his death his eie-sight was bad, and before he dyed quite lost. He dyed ... and is buryed in ... of the chancell at Kilmanton.

Memorandum: he played at chesse as well as most men. Col. Bishop, his contemporary at Trinity Coll., is accounted the best of England. I have heard Mr. Potter say that they two have played at Trin. Coll. (I thinke 2 daies together) and neither gott the maistery. Memorandum: he would say that he look't upon the play at chesse <as> very fitt to be learn't and practised by young men, because it would make them to have a foresight and be of use to them (by consequence) in their ordering of humane affaires. Quod N.B.

He haz told me that he had oftentimes dream't that he was at Rome, and being in fright that he should be seised on and brought before the pope, did wake with the feare.[LXII.]

[LXII.] Pope ... (against whom Robert Grotest, bishop of Lincolne, wrote) dreamt that the bishop of Lincolne came to him, and gave him a great blowe over the face with his staffe: vide Platinam.

'Twas pitty that such a delicate inventive witt should be staked to a private preferment in an obscure corner (where he wanted ingeniose conversation), from whence men rarely emerge to higher preferment, but contract a mosse on them like an old pale in an orchard for want of ingeniose conversation, which is a great want even to the deepest thinking men (as Mr. Hobbes haz often sayd to me).

The last time I sawe this honoured friend of mine, Octob. 1674. I had not seen him in 3 yeares before, and his lippitude then was come even to blindnesse, which did much grieve me to behold. He had let his beard be uncutt, which was wont to be but little. I asked him why he did not get some kinswoman[732] or kinsman of his to live with him, and looke to him now in his great age? He answer'd me that he had tryed that way, and found it not so well; for they did begrudge what he spent that 'twas too much and went from them, whereas his servants (strangers) were kind to him and tooke care of him.

In the troublesome times 'twas his happinesse never to bee sequestred. He was once maliciously informed against to the Committee at Wells (a thing very common in those times). When he came before them, one of them (I have forgot his name) gave him a pint of wine, and gave him great prayse, and bade him goe home, and feare nothing.

[733]Kilmington, November 8ᵗʰ, 1671.

Sir,

I recieved your letter but yesterday. I was borne upon Trinitie Sunday eave; baptized May the 22, 1594, but what day of the moneth Trinity Sunday was that year[734] I know not.

1671
1594
----
0077

I heare that bis<hop> Ironsid is lately dead, but where hee was borne or when he was buried I know not.

I will see those bookes you mention if I can get them.

I have writte no booke called _The Key of Knowledg_, but there is a booke called _The Key of the Scripture_ written by a London divine, who is something large upon the Revelation, and preferreth my interpretation of 666 before all others.

I shalbe very glad to see you here at Kilmington; and rest,

Your humble servant

FRANCIS POTTER.

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

[AX] Aubrey, in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 199, writing on April 7, 1673, says: 'Mr. Francis Potter's "666" was translated into Latin by an Almaigne or a Swisse, whose name I have forgott, and printed, as I remember, at Basil. Dr. John Pell told me it is in French, and one of the Dutch languages (but which I have forgott).'

=Hannibal Potter= (1592-1664).

[735]At Oxford (and I doe believe the like at Cambridge) the rod was frequently used by the tutors and deanes on his pupills, till bachelaurs of Arts; even gentlemen-commoners. One Dr. I knew (Dr. Hannibal Potter, Trin. Coll. Oxon) right well that whipt his scholar with his sword by his side when he came to take his leave of him to goe to the Innes of Court.

=Vavasor Powell= (1618-1670).

[736]_Life and death of Vavasour Powell_, 1671, p. 106:--Mr. Vavasour Powell 'was borne of honest and honourable parentage. His father, Mr. Richard Powell, of a very ancient family in Wales, living in the burough of Knocklas in Radnorshire, where his ancestors had lived some 100 yeares before; his mother of the Vavasors, a family of great antiquity, that came out of Yorkshire into Wales: and so by both allyed to most of the best families in North Wales. He was brought up a scholar, and taken by his uncle Mr. Erasmus Powell to be curate at Clun, where he also kept a schoole.'

Concerning his severall imprisonments, vide pag. 126, etc.

Mrs. Bagshawe haz heard him say that he was at Jesus College, Oxon; and Mr. Oliver, a minister, did remember it. Vavasor Powell told Mris Bagshaw of a sermon that he preached when he was of Jesus College.

Vide his _Life_[737] concerning his imprisonments etc.--'Sir J. A.' there is Sir John Aubrey; and 'Dr. B.' is Dr. Basset, LL.D.; 'C.' is Caerdif in Glamorganshire.

[738]Vavasour Powell--Mr. Edward Bagshawe, his friend and fellow-prisoner, edidit[739] scil.:--

'Israel's Salvation, or a collection of the prophecies which concern the calling of the Jewes and the glory that shall be in the later dayes,' by E. B.: London, printed for Francis Smith of the Elephant and Castle without Temple barre, 1671.

He wrote a very good concordance, printed <1671>.

=Sir Robert Poyntz= (1589-1665).

[740]Sir Robert Pointz of Iron-acton in com. Gloc., knight of the Bath, is the same family with Clifford (as may be seen by the pedegree), Clifford being called _de Pons_ till he was lord of Clifford Castle in com. Hereff. adjoyning to Breconshire.

In Henry III they maried with a daughter and heire of Acton, by whom they had the mannor aforesayd and perhaps other lands.

<Sir Robert was of> Linc. Coll.[741] Vide the rest in tom.[742] iii.

[743]When I was sick of the smallpox at Trinity College[744], Mr. Saul, who was an old servant of his, told me I thinke that he was of Lincoln (or, perhaps, that he lay there in the warres).

[745]Sir Robert Poynts, knight of the Bath; his seate was Iron Acton, in com. Gloc., which came to that family by match of daughter and heire, tempore Hen. III. Mr. Player, Mr. Anthony Ettrick's son-in-lawe, who bought this estate, June, 1684, haz all the old evidences, and can farther enforme me.

But this family and Clifford are the very same, as may be seen by the pedegre of Clifford, who was _de Pons_ till he gott Clifford-castle, in com. Hereff. juxta com. Brecon.

This family have had a great estate, and were men of note at Court.

Sir Robert, son of Sir John, Poyntz of whom I now write, and with whom I had some small acquaintance, was a loyall, sober, and a learned person. His study, law; chiefly towards the Civill Lawe. Since[746] the king's restauration he published in print, a pamphlet, about the bignesse of a good play-booke, entitled, _The Right of Kings_ (or to that purpose[747]; but to my best remembrance, that is the very title).

As I remember he told me when I was of Trin. Coll. Oxon, 1643, that he was of Lincoln college. He maried first, Gresill, one of the daughters and co-heires of ... Gibbons, of ... Kent, by whom he had only two daughters.

After her decease he had a naturall sonne by Cicely Smyth, who had been his lady's chamber-mayd, whose name was John, as I remember, who maried ... daughter of ... Cesar, in com. Hertf. He dyed without issue about 4 or 5 years since (1684), or lesse. So there is an end of this ancient family.

Memorandum:--Newark (now the seate of Sir Gabriel Lowe) was built by Sir Robert's grandfather to keep his whores in. Sir Robert dyed at ... anno Domini 16-- and buryed....

=William Prynne= (1600-1669).

[748]Memorandum Sir John B<irkenhead> and Mr. Prinne were allwayes antagonists in the Parliament howse.

William Prinne[AY], esq., was borne (as his nephew George Clarke assures me[749]: quaere plus de hoc) at Aust in Glocestershire, where his father had an estate. I find by the Heralds' bookes that he is descended of an ancient family (vide Bibliothecam Sheldonianam[AZ], no. 115). His father, and also he, lived at ... wyck[750], a pleasant seate in Somerset, about 3 miles from Bathe, where his grand-father, ... Sherston, his mother's father, lived, and had been mayer, and a very wise magistrate; here[751] he learn't his grammar-learning. He was of Oriall College in Oxon[BA], where, I thinke, he tooke the degree of M.A. From hence, anno ... was admitted of Lincoln's-Inne. He was alwayes temperate and a very hard student, and he had a prodigious memorie.

Anno <1637> he was stigmatiz'd[LXIII.] in the pillorie, and then banished to Cornet-castle in <Guern>sey[752], where he was very civilly treated by the governour ... Carteret, a very ancient familie in that island. Anno 164<0> he was, with Burton and Bastwyck, called home by the Parliament, and hundreds mett him and them, out of London, some miles.

[LXIII.] His eares were not quite cutt off, only the upper part, his tippes were visible. Bishop William Lawd, A. B. Cant., was much blamed for being a spectator, when he was his judge: vide Osburne.

He was a learned man, of immense reading, but is much blamed for his unfaithfull quotations.

His manner of studie was thus: he wore a long quilt cap, which came, 2 or 3, at least, inches, over his eies, which served him as an umbrella to defend his eies from the light. About every 3 houres his man was to bring him a roll and a pott of ale[LXIV.] to refocillate his wasted spirits. So he studied and dranke, and munched some bread: and this maintained him till night; and then he made a good supper. Now he did well not to dine, which breakes of one's fancy, which will not presently be regained: and 'tis with invention as a flux--when once it is flowing, it runnes amaine; if it is checked, flowes but _guttim_: and the like for perspiration--check it, and 'tis spoyled.

[LXIV.] Goclenius[753], professor at ... in Germany did better; he kept bottles of good Rhenish wine in his studie, and, when his spirits wasted, dranke a good rummer of it.

Thou that with ale, or viler liquors,
Didst inspire Wythers, Prinne, and Vicars[LXV.],
And teach, though it were in despight
Of nature and the starres, to write,
&c.

_Hudibras_: part 1st.

[LXV.] Was one of the assembly and tryers.

He was burghesse of the citie of Bath, before and since the king's restauration. He was also Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London.

He endured severall imprisonments for the king's cause, and was (really) very instrumentall in his restauracion.

..., upon the opening of the Parliament, viz. letting in the secluded members, he girt on his old long rustie sword (longer then ordinary). Sir William Waller marching behind him (as he went to the Howse), W. Prynne's long sword ranne between Sir William's short legges, and threw him downe, which caused laughter.

He was of a strange Saturnine complexion. Sir C. W.[754] sayd once, that he had the countenance of a witch.

He dyed at his chamber in Lincolne's-Inn, anno ... and is interred at ... Quaere Ant. Wood <pro> catalogo librorum.

[755]William Prynne, esq., was buryed under Lincolne's Inne chapell, ut apparet ex inscriptione et inscripta tabula in capella suspensa, viz.

'Gulielmus Prynne, armiger, de Banco hujus hospitii, obiit 24º die Octobris, anno Domini 1669, aetatis 69.'

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[AY] Aubrey gives in trick the coat: 'or, a fess engrailed azure, between 3 escallop shells gules.'

[AZ] i.e. no. 115 of the MSS. in the library of Ralph Sheldon of Beoly: afterwards bequeathed by Sheldon to the Heralds' College: Clark's Wood's _Life and Times_, iii. 98, 115.

[BA] Matric. April 24, 1618; B.A. Jan. 22, 1620/1.

=Robert Pugh= (1609-1679).

[756]Captain Pugh, my acquaintance, a writer and a poet. Bred up in Societate Jesu; but turn'd out because he was a captaine, viz. in the late warres.

He hath a Latin poem, printed, which will be augmented; and printed a booke against Dr. <George> Bates' _Elenchus motuum nuperorum_.

He was borne of a good family in ... North Wales (I thinke, Caernarvonshire).

[757]The native place of captain R. Pugh is spelt thus--Penrhyn.--When you saw him at Bathe, he wrot this discourse in 8vo, viz.

Bathonensium et Aquisgranensium thermarum comparatio, variis adjunctis illustrata: R. P.: epistola ad illustrissimum virum, Rogerum, Castlemaini comitem: Londini: Jo. Martyn, at the Bell in St. Paul's church-yard, 1676.

He was educated at St. Omar's.

When his studie was searcht, his orders were there found, and also a lettre from the Queen-mother, whose confessor he had sometimes been, to the king, that, if he should fall into any danger of the lawe, upon sight of that lettre he should obtaine his majestie's pardon.

[758]My honoured friend, captain Robert Pugh, dyed in Newgate, on January 22 <1678/9>, Wednesday night, 12 a clock; and lyes buryed in Christ Church churchyard on the north side, a yard or two from the wall, neer about the middle of the length. He writt a booke, which is almost finished, 'Of the severall states and goverments that have been here since the troubles,' in the earl of Castlemaine's hands.

All his bookes were seised on; amongst others his almanac, wherin he entred omnia Caroli II deliramenta[759], which was carryed to the councell boord: but, as I have sayd, the earl of Castlemain hath gott the former-mentioned treatise.

=Francis Quarles= (1592-1644).

[760]Francis Quarles, lived at Bath at the Katherine-wheele inne (opposite to the market-house), and wrote there, a yeare or two.

=William Radford= (1623-1673).

[761]William Radford, my good friend and old acquaintance and fellow coll<egiate>, ended his dayes at Richmond, where he taught schoole, 14 dayes since. I was with him when he first tooke his bed.

And when I was sick of the small-pox at Trinity College Oxon, he was so kind as to come to me every day and spend severall houres, or I thinke melancholy would have spoyled a scurvey antiquary. He was recounting not many dayes before he dyed your brother Ned's voyage[762] and Mr. <Thomas> Mariett's to London on foote.

[763]Mris Anne Radford, the widowe of Mr. William Radford, schoolmaster of Richmond, is now (1673) 33 yeares old. Was borne the 4th of June at 4ʰ P.M. She haz a solar face (yet the sun <in her horoscope> could not be _in ascendente_), and thrives well, and has a good sound judgment.

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

William Radford (of North Weston, Oxon, aged 17) was elected Scholar of Trinity June 4, 1640, and afterwards Fellow; took M.A. July 4, 1646; and was ejected from his fellowship by the Parliamentary Visitors in June, 1648.

=Sir Walter Raleigh= (1552-1618).

[764]Sir Walter Ralegh, knight:--vide Howe's continuation of Stowe's Chronicle.--Vide Gerard Winstanley's _Worthies of England_, where he hath 5 or 6 leaves concerning Sir Walter Ralegh.

<_Coat[765] of arms._>

[766]Gules, four fusils conjoined in bend argent.

<_Pedigree._>

... Ralegh _m._ (2nd wife) Katherine Champernon _m._ ... Gilbert.
| |
| Adrian Gilbert, chymist,
| sine prole.
+-------------+----------------------------------+
| |
Sir Carewe _m._ ..., relict ... _m._ Sir Walter _m._ (2nd) ... ...
Ralegh, | of Sir John Throckmorton | Ralegh, 4tus |
3tius | Thynne, of | filius. |
filius; | Longleate. | |
obiit 1623, | Walter R., killed Carew R., _m._ ...
sepultus at | in America, sine of ... in |
Downton, | prole; vide History Surrey. |
Wilts. | of the World, by +--------+
| Sir W. Ralegh, |
| pag. --. ... R. _m._ Sir John
| | Elowys.
+--------+----------------------------+-----------------+ ...
| | |
Gilbert R. _m._ ... <daughter Captain George Walter Raleigh, D.D.,
| of> Sir Giles Ralegh, sine deane of Wells and rector
| Wroughton. prole. of Chedzoy in Somerset: a
+-----+------------------+------------+ millenarie (his tract of
| | | that doctrine is lost),
1. Gilbert, _m._ ... 2. Walter, 3. Thomas, but he was conformable,
| Godard. sine prole. sine prole. and chaplaine to King
| Charles 1st: vide
... _m._ ... Erneley, of Whitehall. proximam pag.[767]
|
... _m._ ...

<_His marriages and issue._>

[768]He had two wives. His first was <Elizabeth> Throckmorton; second, ... ..., mother of Carew Ralegh, second[769] son.

[770]Sir John Elwowys maried the daughter and heir of Sir Walter Ralegh, who was the sonn of Carew Ralegh of ... in Surrey, who was the second son of Sir Walter Ralegh, the hero. Quaere Sir John Ellowys pro his skull[771] pro Oxon or Royal Societie.

[772](I[773] cannot yet heare where Sir Edward Shirburne is.) About the beginning of April I shall satisfy you about Carew Ralegh's daughter--I doe verily believe 'twas his only child.

<_His brother's family._>

[774]Sir Carew Ralegh, of Downton in com. Wilts, was his eldest[LXVI.] brother, who was gentleman of the horse to Sir John Thynne of Longleate, and after his death maryed his lady; by whom he had children as in the pedigre.

[LXVI.] They (Walter and Tom, his grand-children) say that Sir Carew was the _elder knight_.

I have heard my grandfather say that Sir Carew had a delicate cleare voice, and played singularly well on the olpharion[LXVII.] (which was the instrument in fashion in those dayes), to which he did sing.

[LXVII.] 'Tis as big as a lute, but flatt-bellyed with wire strings.

His grand-children, Walter and Tom (with whom[775] I went to schoole at Blandford in Dorset 4 yeares) had also excellent tuneable voices, and playd their parts well on the violl; ingeniose, but all proud and quarrelsome.

<_At Oxford._>

Sir Walter Ralegh was of ... in Oxford: vide de hoc Anthony Wood's _Antiquities_.

<_A 'poor' scholar._>

[776]In his youth for severall yeares--quaere Anthony Wood how long[777]--he was under streights for want of money. I remember that Mr. Thomas Child of Worcestershire told me that Sir Walter borrowed a gowne of him when he was at Oxford (they were both of the same College), which he never restored, nor money for it.

[778]Sir Walter Ralegh was of Oriel College. Mr. Child's father of Worcestershire was his chamber-fellow, and lent him a gowne, which he could never gett, nor satisfaction for it.--from Mr. Child.

<_Raleigh in Elizabeth's reign._>

[779]He went into Ireland, where he served in the warres, and shewed much courage and conduct, but [LXVIII.]he would be perpetually differing with ... (I thinke, Gray) then Lord Deputy; so that at last the hearing was to be at <the> councell table before the queen, which was that he desired; where he told his tale so well and with so good a grace and presence that the queen tooke especiall notice of him and presently preferred him. (So that it must be before this that he served in the French warres.)

[LXVIII.] Quaere + Mr. Justice Ball.

[780]Queen Elizabeth loved to have all the servants of her Court proper men, and (as beforesaid Sir W. R.'s gracefull presence was no meane recommendation to him). I thinke his first preferment at Court was Captaine of her Majestie's guard. There came a countrey gentleman (or sufficient yeoman) up to towne, who had severall sonns, but one an extraordinary proper handsome fellowe, whom he did hope to have preferred to be a yeoman of the guard. The father (a goodly man himselfe) comes to Sir Walter Raleigh a stranger to him, and told him that he had brought up a boy that he would desire (having many children) should be one of her majestie's[781]guard. Quod Sir Walter Raleigh 'Had you spake for your selfe I should readily have graunted your desire, for your person deserves it, but I putt in no boyes.' Said the father, 'Boy, come in.' The son[782] enters, about 18 or 19, but such a goodly proper young fellow, as Sir Walter Raleigh had not seen the like--he was the tallest of all the guard. Sir Walter Raleigh sweares him immediately; and ordered him to carry-up the first dish at dinner, where the Queen beheld him with admiration[LXIX.], as if a beautifull young giant had stalked in with the service[783].

[LXIX.] Like Saul, taller by the head and shoulders then other men.

[784]Vide lord Bacon's apothegms and letters. As the queen (Elizabeth) was playing on the virginalls, ... made this observation, that 'when _Jack's_ went up, _keys_ went downe,' reflecting on Ralegh.

<_Tobacco._>

[785]He was the first that brought tobacco into England, and into fashion.--In our part of North Wilts, e.g. Malmesbury hundred, it came first into fashion by Sir Walter Long.

I have heard my grandfather Lyte say that one pipe was handed from man to man round about the table. They had first silver pipes; the ordinary sort made use of a walnutshell and a straw.

It was sold then for it's wayte in silver. I have heard some[LXX.] of our old yeomen neighbours say that when they went to Malmesbury or Chippenham market, they culled out their biggest shillings to lay in the scales against the tobacco.

[LXX.] Josias Tayler.

Sir W. R., standing in a stand at Sir Robert Poyntz' parke at Acton, tooke a pipe of tobacco, which made the ladies quitt it till he had donne.

Within these 35 years 'twas scandalous for a divine to take tobacco.

Now, the customes of it are the greatest his majestie hath--

Rider's Almanac (1682, scilicet)--'Since tobacco brought into England by Sir Walter Raleigh, 99 yeares, the custome whereof is now the greatest of all others and amounts to yearly ...'

[786]Mr. Michael Weekes of the Royall Societie assures me, out of the custome-house bookes, that the custome of tobacco over all England is 400,000 _li._ per annum.

[787]Mr. Weekes, register[788] of the Royal Society and an officer of the custome-house, does assure me that the customes of tobacco over all England is four hundred thousand pounds per annum.

<_Personal characteristics._>

[789]He was a tall, handsome, and bold man: but his naeve was that he was damnable proud. Old Sir Robert Harley of Brampton-Brian Castle, who knew him, would say 'twas a great question who was the proudest, Sir Walter, or Sir Thomas Overbury, but the difference that was, was judged on Sir Thomas' side.

[790]His beard turnd up naturally.--I have heard my grandmother say that when she was young, they were wont to talke of this rebus, viz.,

The enemie to the stomack[791], and the word of disgrace[792],
Is the name[793] of the gentleman with a bold face.

[794]Old Sir Thomas Malett, one of the justices of the King's Bench tempore Caroli I et II, knew Sir Walter; and I have heard him say that, notwithstanding his so great mastership in style and his conversation with the learnedst and politest persons, yet he spake broad Devonshire to his dyeing day. His voice was small, as likewise were my schoolfellowes', his grandnephewes[795].

[796]Sir Walter Ralegh was a great chymist; and amongst some MSS. reciepts, I have seen some secrets from him. He studyed most in his sea-voyages, where he carried always a trunke of bookes along with him, and had nothing to divert him.

[797]Memorandum:--he made an excellent cordiall, good in feavers, etc.; Mr. Robert Boyle haz the recipe, and makes it and does great cures by it.