Chapter IX: Part 9

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Anno Domini 1637 Sir John Suckling, William Davenant, poet laureat (not then knighted), and Jack Young came to the Bathe. Sir John came like a young prince for all manner of equipage and convenience, and Sir W. Davenant told me that he had a cart-load of bookes carried downe, and 'twas there, at Bath, that he writt the little tract in his booke about Socinianism. 'Twas as pleasant a journey as ever men had; in the heighth of a long peace and luxury, and in the venison season. The second night they lay at Marlborough, and walking on the delicate fine downes at the backside of the towne, whilest supper was making ready, the maydes were drying of cloathes on the bushes. Jack Young had espied a very pretty young girle, and had gott her consent for an assignation, which was about midnight, which they happened to overheare on the other side of the hedge, and were resolved to frustrate his designe. They were wont every night to play at cards after supper a good while; but Jack Young pretended wearinesse, etc. and must needes goe to bed, not to be perswaded by any meanes to the contrary. They had their landlady at supper with them; said they to her, 'Observe this poor gentleman how he yawnes, now is his mad fit comeing uppon him. We beseech you that you make fast his dores, and gett somebody to watch and looke to him, for about midnight he will fall to be most outragious: gett the hostler, or some strong fellow, to stay-up, and we will well content him, for he is our worthy friend, and a very honest gentleman, only, perhaps, twice in a yeare he falls into these fitts.' Jack Young slept not, but was ready to goe out as the clock struck to the houre of appointment, and then goeing to open the dore he was disappointed, knocks, bounces, stampes, calls, 'Tapster! Chamberlayne! Hostler!' sweares and curses dreadfully; nobody would come to him. Sir John and W. Davenant were expectant all this time, and ready to dye with laughter. I know not how he happened to gett-open the dore, and was comeing downe stayres. The hostler, a huge lusty fellow, fell upon him, and held him, and cryed, 'Good sir, take God in your mind, you shall not goe out to destroy your selfe.' J. Young struggled and strived, insomuch that at last he was quite spent and dispirited, and faine to goe to bed to rest himselfe. In the morning the landlady of the house came to see how he did, and brought him a cawdle. 'Oh sir,' sayd she, 'you had a heavy fitt last night, pray, sir, be pleased to take some of this to comfort your heart.' Jack Young thought the woman had been mad, and being exceedingly vexed, flirted the porrenger of cawdle in her face. The next day his camerades told him all the plott, how they crosse-bitt him. That night they went to Bronham-house, Sir Edward Baynton's (then a noble seat, since burnt in the civill warres), where they were nobly entertained severall dayes. From thence, they went to West Kington, to parson ... Davenant, Sir William's eldest brother, where they stayd a weeke--mirth, witt, and good cheer flowing. From thence to Bath, six or seven miles.

Memorandum:--parson Robert Davenant haz told me that that tract about Socinianisme was writt on the table in the parlour of the parsonage at West Kington.

[1024]My lady Southcot, whose husband hanged himselfe, was Sir John Suckling's sister, to whom he writes a consolatory letter, viz. the first. She afterwards maried ... Corbet, D.D., of Merton Coll. Oxon[BW]. At her house in Bishop's Gate-street, London, is an originall of her brother, Sir John, of Sir Anthony van-Dyke, all at length, leaning against a rock, with a play[1025]-booke, contemplating. It is a piece of great value. There is also another rare picture, viz. of that pretty creature, Mris Jane Shore, an originall.

When his _Aglaura_ was <acted>, he bought all the cloathes himselfe, which were very rich; no tinsill, all the lace pure gold and silver, which cost him ... I have now forgott. He had some scaenes to it, which in those dayes were only used at masques.

Memorandum:--Mr. Snowdon tells me, that after Sir John's unluckie rencounter, or quarrell, with Sir John Digby, wherin he was baffled: 'twas strange to see the envie and ill nature of people to trample, and scoffe at, and deject one in disgrace; inhumane as well as un-christian. The lady ... Moray (quaere) had made an entertainment for severall persons of quality at Ashley (in Surrey, near Chertsey), whereat Mr. Snowdon then was. There was the countesse of Middlesex, whom Sir John had highly courted, and had spent on her, and in treating her, some thousand of pounds. At this entertainment she could not forbeare, but was so severe and ingrate as to upbraid Sir John of his late recieved baffle; and some other ladys had their flirts. The lady Moray (who invited them) seing Sir John out of countenance, for whose worth she alwaies had a respect: 'Well[1026],' sayd shee, 'I am a merry wench, and will never forsake an old friend in disgrace, so <co>me sitt downe by me, Sir John' (said she), and seated him on her right hand, and countenanced him. This raysed Sir John's dejected spirites that he threw his reparties about the table with so much sparklingness and gentilenes of witt, to the admiration of them all.

[1027]Sir John Suckling--from Mr. William Beeston--invented the game of cribbidge. He sent his cards to all gameing places in the country, which were marked with private markes of his: he gott 20,000 _li._ by this way. Sir Francis Cornwallis made _Aglaura_, except the end.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[BU] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:--'parted per pale gules and argent, 3 bucks or; a crescent for difference,' wreathing it in laurel. On this he notes: (_a_) 'This coat was in his banner when he went into Scotland'; (_b_) 'Suckling of Wotton in Norfolke'; (_c_) 'vide Heralds' Office'; (_d_) 'Memorandum:--this Sir John <Suckling> is not to be found in the <Heralds'> Office: quaere Sir ... Bourman of White Hall.' Dr. Philip Bliss has added also the reference: 'vide part iii, pag. 4b,' i.e. MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 10ᵛ, the passage given _supra_.

[BV] In the letter in which Aubrey speaks of writing this life (_supra_ i. p. 2: MS. Ballard 14, fol. 131) he says:--'I want the scoffing ballad that Sir John Menis made against him, upon his fine troope and his running away. To which Sir John Suckling replyed in another ballad:--

"I prithee, foole, who ere thou bee,
That madest this fine sing-song of mee
... a sott
... or els some rebell Scott."

Pray, search Mr. <Ralph> Sheldon's ballad collections for them.'

[BW] Anthony Wood objects here: 'Dr. Corbet married Sir Nathaniel Brent's daughter': see Clark's Wood's _Life and Times_, i. 235.

=Thomas Sutton= (1532-1611).

[1028]... Sutton, founder of the Hospitall[1029]--from old Thomas Tyndale, esq., the father--was first a garrison-soldier at Barwick[1030]. He was a lusty healthy handsome fellowe, and there was a very rich brewer who brewed to the navy, etc., who was ancient and he had maried a young buxome wife.... The old brewer doted on his desirable wife and dies and left her all his estate which was great[1031].

Sutton was a man of good understanding, and improved it[1032] admirably well, but the particular wayes by which he did it I have now forgot; but he was much upon mortgages, and fed severall with hopes of being his heire.

'Twas from him that B. Johnson tooke his hint of the fox, and by Seigneur Volpone is meant Sutton.

The later end of his dayes he lived in Fleetstreet at a wollendraper's shop opposite to Fetterlane, where he had so many great chests full of money that his chamber was ready to groane under it; and Mr. Tyndale, who knew him and I thinke had money of him on mortgage during his lawe-suite (vide the lord Stafford's case in Coke's Reports), was afrayd the roome would fall. He lived to establish his hospitall, and was governor there himselfe. Obiit....

The earle of Dorset (I thinke, Richard) mightily courted him and presented[1033] him, hoping to have been his heire; and so did severall other great persons.

Vide his life in 4to.

=William Sutton= (1562-1632).

[1034]Mr. William Sutton came to Ch. Ch. Oxon at eleaven. He wrote much, but printed nothing but a little 8vo against the Papists.

_Note._

FOOTNOTES:

The Matric. Reg. does not bear out the statement as to his age: he appears there as matriculating Nov. 20, 1580, aged 18. He _may_ have previously been chorister. He was elected Student of Ch. Ch. in 1579; took B.D. in 1592; and was Aubrey's schoolmaster at Blandford St. Mary's, Dorsetshire, where he was rector from 1592 till his death.

=Sir Philip Sydney= (1554-1586).

[1035]Sir[1036] Philip Sydney, natus 29 November, 1554, 19ʰ 50´ P.M., Cantiae, polo 51° 52´; ex MSS. Eliae Ashmole[1037], armigeri.

[1038]Sir Philip Sydney[BX], knight, was the most accomplished cavalier of his time. He was the eldest son of the right honourable Sir Henry Sydney, knight of the noble order of the Garter, Lord President of Wales, and Lord Deputie of Ireland, 1570. I suppose he was borne at Penshurst in Kent (neer Tunbridge); vide.

He had the best tutors provided for him by his father that could then be had, as ... Vide my Grammar[BY] notes.

He travelled France, Italie, Germany; he was in the Poland warres, and at that time he had to his page[LXXXVIII.] (and as an excellent accomplishment) Henry Danvers (afterwards earle of Danby), then second son of Sir John Danvers of Dantesey in Wilts, who accounted himselfe happy that his son was so bestowed. He makes mention, in his Art of Poesie, of his being in Hungarie (I remember).

[LXXXVIII.] This my cosen Elizabeth Danvers, now viscountesse Purbec, his niece, has told.

He was not only of an excellent witt, but extremely beautifull; he much resembled his sister, but his haire was not red, but a little inclining, viz. a darke amber colour. If I were to find a fault in it, methinkes 'tis not masculine enough; yett he was a person of great courage. He was much at Wilton with his sister, and at Ivy-church[1039] (which adjoyns to the parke pale of Clarindon Parke), situated on a hill that overlookes all the country westwards, and north over Sarum and the plaines, and into that delicious parke (which was accounted the best of England) eastwards. It was heretofore a monastery (the cloysters remayne still); 'twas called coenobium Edrosium. My great uncle, Mr. Thomas Browne, remembred him; and sayd that he was often wont, as he was hunting on our pleasant plaines, to take his table booke out of his pocket, and write downe his notions as they came into his head, when he was writing his Arcadia, (which was never finished by him).

He was the reviver of poetry in those darke times, which was then at a very low ebbe,--e.g. 'The Pleasant Comoedie of Jacob and Esau,' acted before King Henry VIII's grace (where, I remember, is this expression, that _the pottage was so good, that God Almighty might have putt his finger in't_); 'Grammar Gurton's Needle'; and in these playes there is not 3 lines but there is 'by God,' or 'by God's wounds.'

He was of a very munificent spirit, and liberall to all lovers of learning, and to those that pretended to any acquaintance with Parnassus; in so much that he was cloyd and surfeited with the poetasters of those dayes. Among others[1040] Mr. Edmund Spencer[1041] made his addresse to him, and brought his _Faery Queen_. Sir Philip was busy at his study, and his servant delivered[1042] Mr. Spencer's booke to his master, who layd it by, thinking it might be such kind of stuffe as he was frequently troubled with. Mr. Spencer stayd so long that his patience was wearied, and went his way discontented, and never intended to come again. When Sir Philip perused it, he was so exceedingly delighted with it, that he was extremely sorry he was gonne, and where to send for him he knew not. After much enquiry he learned his lodgeing, and sent for him, mightily caressed <him>, and ordered his servant to give him ... pounds in gold. His servant sayd that that was too much; 'No,' said Sir Philip, 'he is ...,' and ordered an addition.

From this time there was a great friendship between them, to his dying day.

I have heard Dr. Pell say, that he haz been told by ancient gentlemen of those dayes of Sir Philip, so famous for men at armes, that 'twas then held as great a disgrace for a young gentleman[1043] to be seen riding in the street in a coach, as it would now for such a one to be seen in the streetes in a petticoate and wastcoate; so much is the fashion of the times nowe altered.

He maried the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, Principall Secretary of Estate (I thinke his only child--quaere), whom he loved very well....

Having recieved some shott or wound in the warres in the Lowe-countreys, where he had command of ... (the Ramikins, I thinke), he <acted> contrary to the injunction of his physitians and chirurgions, which cost him his life: upon which occasion there were some roguish verses made.

His body was putt in a leaden coffin (which, after the firing of Paule's, I myselfe sawe), and with wonderfull greate state was carried from ... to St. Paule's church, where he was buried in our Ladie's Chapell: vide Sir William Dugdale's _Paul's_, and epitaph. There solempnized this funerall all the nobility and great officers of Court; all the Judges and Serjeants at Lawe; all the soldiers, and commanders, and gentry that were in London; the Lord Mayer, and Aldermen, and Livery-men. His body was borne on men's shoulders (perhaps 'twas a false coffin).

When I was a boy 9 yeares old, I was with my father at one Mr. Singleton's, an alderman and wollen-draper in Glocester, who had in his parlour, over the chimney, the whole description of the funerall, engraved and printed on papers pasted[1044] together, which, at length, was, I beleeve, the length of the room at least; but he had contrived it to be turned upon two pinnes, that turning one of them made the figures march all in order. It did make such a strong impression on my young[1045] phantasy, that I remember it as if it were but yesterday. I could never see it elswhere. The house is in the great long street, over against[1046] the high steeple; and 'tis likely it remaines there still. 'Tis pitty it is not re-donne.

In St. Mary's church at Warwick is a sumptuose monument of the lord Brooke, round a great altar of black marble is only this inscription:--

'Here lies the body of Sir Fulke Grevill, knight, servant to Q. Elizabeth, counsellor to K. James, and friend to Sir Philip Sydney.'

On a little tablet of wood:--

'England, Netherlands, the Heavens and the Arts
Of ... Sydney hath made ... parts;
... for who could suppose,
That one heape of stones could Sydney enclose.'

[1048]_Key of Pembroke's Arcadia[BZ]._

Sir,

All the good bodies thanke you for your remembrance, which I ought to have told you sooner if a paine in my head had not hinderd me.

I wishe I could give you the key you desire, but all I know of it is not worth anything; though conversant amongst his relations, could learne noe more then Pamela's being my lady Northumberland[1049], Philo[clea] my lady Rich[1050], two sisters, the last beloved by him, upon whose account he made his _Astrophell and Stella_; Miso, lady Cox, Mopse, lady Lucy, persons altogether unknowne now; Musid[orus] and Pericles, the two ladies' husbands. Lord Ri[ch] being then his friend, he perswaded her mother to the match, though he repented afterwards: she then very young and secretly in love with him but he no consern for her. Her beauty augmenting, he sayes in his _Astrophel and Stella_, he didnt think 'the morn would have proved soe faire a daye.' Their mother[1051] was beautifull and gallant (whether he meant Ginesia by her or noe, I know not); but their father died, they being young. She remaried to Dudley, Leycester and Northumberland, and afterwards to her gentleman of the horse, Sir Cristopher Blunt, which was beheaded with lord Essex. It was thought he meant himself by Amphi[alus] and his lady, Sir Francis Walsingham's daughter and heire, the queen of Corinth. If he did make his owne character high, they sayd Philisides was himself to, but it was all a guesse. He made it young, and diyng desired his folies might be burnt.

Some others I have heard guessed at, but have forgot. Therfore canot satisfie the lady, which I would for your sake.

I give you thankes but shall not want my grandmother's epitaph (which was for a relation of ours heere, who desird it), having found it of your giving.

I knew of my brother's place, but know nothing of his mariyng yett.

My service to your brother. I am sorry all thinges should not answear both your desires.

You have perfectly the good wishes of,

Your humble servant,
D. TYNDALE.

[Langton[1052] in Lincolneshire]
Feb. 18, 1686/7.

Service to my lady Long. Whye doe you tell us no newes? Does not Mrs. Mason's mar[1053]....

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[BX] Aubrey gives in trick the coat, 'or, a pheon vert [Sydney],' wreathed in laurel (as is his custom for a poet). Dr. Philip Bliss has added the reference 'See part iii ante p. 24 for his birth,' i.e. the horoscope in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 41ᵛ--_ut supra_ p. 247.

[BY] MS. Aubr. 22: see vol. i. p. 123.

[BZ] This is the title given by Aubrey to D. Tyndale's letter. The letter is inserted between foll. 81, 82 of MS. Aubr. 6. It is addressed--'ffor Mr. John Aubry, to be left at Mr. Hooke's lodging in Gresham Coledge, p. postpᵈ.'

=Sir Robert Talbot= (1641/2-1681).

[1054]Sir Robert Talbot natus 1641/2, Friday, January 21, 14ʰ 0´ 14˝ P.M.

Sent by King Charles 2ᵈ into France to cure Madamosille d'Orleans, May last, 1678.

Oct. 1678, knighted.

A second voyage into France, being sent for by that king, Decʳ. 1678.

Married February 1678/9.

He dyed about September 1681.

[1055]Sir Robert Talbot, ague doctor, natus 21 Januarii 1641/2, 14ʰ 0´ 14˝ P.M.

=John Tap.=

[1056]... Tappe:--he writ a very good Arithmetique for those times, with an introduction to Algebra, in English, in 8vo.

=John Taylor= (1580-1654).

[1057]John Tayler, the water-poet:--his Workes are a fair folio, printed, London, 1630.

<He> was borne in the citie of Glocester:--.... Tayler, a painter, was his brother[1058], who told me thus 23 yeares since (he lives yet at Oxon): and his picture hung in the Schooles gallery.

He came to London and bound himselfe to a water-man, in which capacity he wrote his poems. I have heard Josias Howe, M.A., say that he will choose out 6 verses (quaere) there as good as you will find in any other.

He was very facetious and diverting company; and for stories and lively telling them, few could out-doe him.

Anno 1643, at the Act time, I sawe him at Oxon. I guesse he was then neer 50. I remember he was of middle stature, had a good quick looke, a black velvet, a plush-gippe and silver shoulder-belt; was much made of by the scholars, and was often with Josias Howe at Trinity College.

He had heretofore in the long peace severall figgaries, e.g. he came from London to Salisbury in his skuller. He went so to Calais. He went to Scotland (I think round Great Britaine) _littus legens_ in his skuller.

Ever since the begining of the civill warres he lived in Turne-stile-alley in Long Acre, about[1059] the middle on the east side over against the Goate (now[1060]), where he sold ale. His conversation was incomparable for three or four mornings' draughts. But afterwards you were entertained with _crambe bis cocta_. His signe was his owne head, and very like him, which about 22 yeares since was removed to the alehowse, the corner howse opposite to Clarendon howse. Under his picture are these verses; on one side:--

There's many a head stands for a signe.
Then, gentle reader, why not mine?

On the other:--

Though I deserve not, I desire
The laurell wreath, the poet's hire.

This picture is now almost worne out.

Obiit ... (about 25 years since): sepult. in the church-yard of St. Martin's-in-the-fields.

[1061]John Taylor, water poet, quaere his _obiit_. Quaere his brother the paynter at Oxon. A<nthony> W<ood> respondet that he haz notes from the paynter who is dead.

=Silas Taylor= (1624-1678).

[1062]Mr. Baker, the printseller, by the Royal Exchange, hath a MS., a thin folio, viz. the description of Harwich and all its appurtenances and antiquities by capt. Silas Tayler.

[1063]Captain Silas Tayler: vide A. Wood's _Hist. et Antiq. Oxon._ He was a captaine in the Parliament army, under col. <Edward> Massey. He was a sequestrator, in Herefordshire, and had, in those times, great power, which power he used civilly and obligeingly, that he was beloved by all the King's party.

He was very musicall, and hath composed many things, and I have heard anthemes of his sang before his majestie, in his chapell, and the king told him he liked them. He had a very fine chamber organ in those unmusicall dayes. There was a great friendship between Matthew Lock, since organist of the Queen's chapell, and him[LXXXIX.].

[LXXXIX.] M. Lock maryed Mr. Garnon's daughter, in Herefordshire.

His father left him a pretty good estate, but he bought church lands and had the moeity of the bishop's palace, at Hereford, where he layd out much money in building and altering. Col. John Burch[1064] had the other moeity.

The times turning, he was faine to disgorge all he had gott, and was ruined, but Sir Paul Neile got for him the keeper of the King's stores at Harwich, worth about C_li._ per annum.

He was a great lover of antiquities, and ransackt the MSS. of the Church of Hereford (there were a great many that lay uncouth and unkiss).

He also garbled the library of the church of Worcester, and evidences, where he had the originall grant of King Edgar (θαλασσιαρχης) whence the Kings of England derive their right to the soveraignty of the sea. 'Tis printed in Mr. Selden's _Mare Clausum_. I have seen it many times, and it is as legible as but lately written (Roman character). He offered it to the king for 120_li._ but his majesty would not give so much. Since his death, I acquainted the Secretary of Estate that he dyed in debt, and his creditors seised on his goods and papers. He told me that it did of right belong to Worcester Church. I told one of their prebends, and they cared not for such things. I beleeve it haz wrapt herings by this time.

He had severall MSS. by him of great antiquity: one thin 4to. of the Philosopher's Stone, in Hieroglyphicks, with some few Latin verses underneath; the most curiously limned that ever I sawe. His Majesty offered him 100_li._ for it, and he would not accept it. Tell Dr. Crowder[1065] of the deed of king Edgar.

Memorandum:--Capt. Tayler search<ed> the Records in the Tower, etc., and retrived some privileges that the borough[1066] had lost, for which the borough ought ever to have his remembrance in esteeme: and tho' he dyed above 100_li._ in their debt, yet the towne lost not by him, for the reason aforesaid.

The history or collection of this ancient borough he pawned a little before his death to Mr. Baker, the printseller by the Old Exchange, for 4_li._ 15_s._ I acquainted Sir Philip Parker, whom the borough uses to choose for their burghesse, to buy it for his borough. He would not lay out so much money, which would doe them more service then all his roast-beefe, wine, and ale at an election.

_Digitus Dei[1067]._ All that family came to unfortunate ends. His eldest sonne, wife, and children, were all burnt in their beds in ... near Lothbury; another son, ...; another son (a dragoon[1068]), a churchyard wall fell on him and killed him.

[1069]He surveyed very ingeniously and carefully the antiquities of Herefordshire, scil. about 3/4 of the county, before the restauration of his majesty. He then left the country and went to his friend, Sir Edward Harley, then governour of Dunkirke, who gave him some command.--These papers[1070] are in the hands of Sir Edward Harley at Brampton-Bryan Castle.

[1071]Silas Domville _alias_ Taylor, comitatus Salopiensis, xviᵗᵒ die mensis Julii anno Domini MDCXXIVᵗᵒ in Harleya natus: in scholis Westmonasteriensi, Salopiensi (Scrobesbyriensi, si placeat), et aliis alumnatus: in tabulis publicis Aulae Novi Hospitii Oxoniensis circa annum MDCXLI conscriptus erat. Anno MDCLX apparatus bellici, armorum, et munimentorum rerum nauticarum Harvici in extrema maritima parte Essexiae pro serenissimo rege Carolo secundo usque adhuc ab anno MDCLXV custos et agens.

Inter alios libros scripsit de terrarum partitione inter liberos secundum tenuram Wallensium, Anglicé the History of Gavel kind, et ad finem ejusdem historiolam quandam ducum Normannorum tempore Henrici primi Latiné scriptam divulgavit, quae vocatur Brevis relatio.... In historia et descriptione comitatus Herefordiensis per quadriennium, immo vero lustrum, enixe laboravit sed nec absolute aut ad plenum perfecit.

[1072]For what other bookes, besides Gavel-kind, I have wrote, as my name for cogent reasons when first printed was not to them because of the nature of them, soe I shall not be soe vaine as now, after soe long a sleep, to awaken them with it.

=Herbert Thorndyke= (16--- 1672).

[1073]Mr. Herbert Thorndyke was borne at ... in Lincolnshire, went to schoole at ... (quaere if at Westminster); ..., was fellow of Trinity College in Cambridge; afterwards prebendary of Westminster[1074].

He was a good poet. I have seen a _poemation_ of his on the death of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, in Latin hexameters, about 100 verses or better.

He was (as I am enformed by Seth Ward, Lord Bishop of Sarum, and other learned men) one of the best scholars and mathematicians of this age.

He printed ... but he does not write clearly (quaere Dr. Pell de hoc).

Richard Busby, schoolmaster of Westminster, has his MSS.; quaere what they are.

He dyed[1075] <July>, 167<2>; and lies interred in the north-east angle of Westminster cloysters, next to the grave-stone of <Thomas> Nurse, M.D., a piece of a blew marble stone on him but yet no inscription.

He made his own inscription which is mentioned by Mr. Andrew Marvell in his _Rehearsall Transpros'd_, viz.:--

Hic jacet corpus Herberti Thorndike
praebendarii hujus ecclesiae, qui vivus
veram Reformatae Ecclesiae
rationem et modum precibus
studiisque persequebatur.
Tu, Lector, requiem et beatam
in Christo resurrectionem precare.

A parallel written by the bishop[1076] and found under his owne hand and appointed for his epitaph, but I heare that Dr. <William> Lloyd his successor will have it altered to avoyd offence:--

Exuviae[1077] Isaaci, Asaphensis episcopi,
In manus Domini depositae,
In spem laetae resurrectionis
per sola Christi merita.
O vos transeuntes[1078] domum[1079] Domini,
Domum orationis,
Orate pro conservo vestro
Ut inveniam misericordiam die Domini.
June 30, 1680.

=John Tombes= (1603-1676).

[1080]Mr. John Tombs, B.D. (quaere A. Wood's _Antiq. Oxon._) was borne at Beaudley in Worcestershire; his father was a....

Anno Domini <1617/8> he was admitted at Magdalen-hall, in Oxon. Anno <1621>, A.B.; Anno <1624>, A.M. He read to pupills, and was tutor there to John Wilkins, afterwards bishop of Chester. He was a great master of the Greeke tongue, and the Hebrue he understood well. He alwaies carried a little Greeke Testament about with him; he had <it> almost memoriter. He was an admirable disputant; I remember he was wont to say, that to be a good disputant, 'tis requisite for one to be a good grammarian, as well as logician. I have forgott if he was pupill to the learned Mr. <William> Pemble; but his favourite he was. He was soon taken notice of for his curious searching, piercing witt: he preached somewhere eastwards from Oxon, and had a company[1081] followed him; and 'twas predicted he would doe a great deale of mischiefe to the Church of England, reflecting upon what ... sayes, that the greatest witts have donne the most mischiefe to the Church, introducing new opinions, etc. Anno ... he was vicar of a market-towne[1082] in Herefordshire, where he was very well beloved by his parish, and Sir ... Croftes, eldest brother to the now bishop of Hereford, built a house in Leominster, to live there, to heare him preach. Anno ... he writt ..., 8vo, dedicated to John Scudamore, viscount Slego, baron of ... drum[1083]. Anno 1645, 1646, he was master of the Temple at London, i.e. minister. In 1647 he was supplanted there by parson Johnson. Then he went into his owne country, to Beaudley (a market-towne), at which time Mr. Baxter (his antagonist) preacht at Kitterminster, the next market-towne, two miles distant. They preacht against one another's doctrines, and printed against each other. Mr. Tombes was the Coryphæus of the Anabaptists: both had great[1084] audience; they went severall miles on foot to each doctor. Once (I thinke oftner), they disputed face to face, anno ...; and the followers were like two armies, about 1500 of a party; and truly, at last they fell by the eares, hurt was donne, and the civill magistrate had much adoe to quiet them. About anno 1664 he came to the Act at Oxford (quaere), and did there _in vesperiis_ sett up a challenge to maintaine _contra omnes gentes_ the Anabaptisticall doctrine; but not a man would grapple with him. Now, though _primâ facie_ this might seeme very bold to challenge a whole University, 'twas not so very strange neither, for he came throughly prepared, after 30 yeares' study and thoughts, and most of them surprised.

_Scripsit_....

Dr. <Robert> Sanderson, lord bishop of Lincolne, and he, had a greate esteeme for each other, so also had Dr. <Thomas> Barlowe (now bishop there). Putting aside his Anabaptisticall positions, he was comformable enough to the Church of England. About 1658 or 9, he maried the widowe of ... Dove, of Salisbury, and went to hear the Common Prayer there, and recieved the Sacraments; and sometimes wayted on bishop Ward, who respected him for his learning. He was thought to be as great a divine as most we had after bishop Sanderson dyed. I remember he never, or seldome, was wont to say Our Saviour Christ, but _My Lord Christ_. He seemed to be a very pious and zealous Christian. I have heard him say (though he was much opposite to the Romish religion) that truly, for his part, should he see a poor zealous friar goeing to preach, he should pay[1085] him respect. He was but a little man, neat limbed, a little quick searching eie, sad, gray. He dyed at Salisbury, May 22, and was buried 25th, in St. Edmund's church-yard, anno Domini 1676, opposite to the steeple, a good distance on the north side. His daughter dyed 7 yeares before him, and haz a grave-stone on her, with an inscription. He lyes there, and in the same stone is since engraven an inscription to the purpose already written of Mr. John Tombes.

[1086]Deare Sir[CA],

According to your desire I have sent you (although long, for it), my cozen Gore and my cozen Gastrell's nativityes; also your brother William who is now in this countrey desired mee to send you up Mr. Francis Potter's place of interment in the church at Killmanton, and the inscriptions on Mr. Tombs' and his daughter's tombston.

I have enquired of Mr. Kent; and hee sayth that Mr. Potter is buryed in Killmanton church, but in what part of the church hee knoweth not.

The inscription on Mr. Tombes his tomb is first:--

'Here lyeth the body of Elizabeth the wife of Mr. Wolston Abbott,'

and under itt this inscription on the same stone:--

'Here <lyeth> the body of Mr. John Tombes, Batchelour in Divinity, a constant preacher of God's word, who deceased the 22ᵈ of May 1676, aged 73.'

I will finish Mr. Penruduck's[CB] genesis as soone as I can; but I am somewhat bussy att present; therefore must begge his pardon.

I will write to H. Coley shortly, for lately I received a letter from him.

Soe in hast I am, Sir,

Your faythfull servant to bee commanded,
CHARLES SNELL.

[Sidenote:

Sarum;
Saturday,
2ᵈᵒ Aprilis 1618.]

Yesterday the good lord bishop of Sarum arrived att his pallace in the Close.

[1087]To John Aubrey, esq., att Mr. Hooke's chamber in Gresham Colledge with care these present.

London.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[CA] This letter from Charles Snell to Aubrey is sealed with the following coat:--'... a cross pattée crossed; quartering, ... 3 roses on a fess between 6 martlets.'

Aubrey has on it a jotting 'Memorandum his life as to Dove,' and in MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 15, the note 'Mr. ... Tombes: mend the mistake of ... Dove's widdowe,' i.e. _supra_, p. 259, correct the statement that 'he maried the widowe of ... Dove.' He married the widow of Wolston Abbott of Salisbury: Aubrey in MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 360: July 14, 1681.

[CB] George Penruddock, of Broad Chalk, born at Westminster.--MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 61.

=Ezreel Tonge= (1621-1680).

[1088]Ezreel Tong[CC], D.D., was borne at Tickell, in Yorkshire, between Bautre and Doncaster.

Obiit ... Decemb., sepultus 23 Decemb. <1680> in the vault of the church-yard of St. Mary Stayning, London; where, before the conflagration, was a church, of which he was the parson[1089]; but I have heard his brother, captain Tong (of the King's Guards) say 'twas worth but 18 _li._ per annum, for he had gathered it.

Mr. <Thomas> Jones (who preached his funerall sermon: printed) sayes that he haz left two tomes in folio of alchymie. His excellency lay _there_.

About 1658, or 1659, the then-Power made an Academie of the Bishop's Pallace at Durham, for the benefit of the North. Dr. Tonge was the governour, or one of the professors. Ned Bagshawe was proposed to have been another. The Dr. had an excellent schoole there, and followed precisely the Jesuites' method of teaching; and boyes did profit wonderfully, as needes they must, by that method.

He afterwards taught at Islington, at Sir Thomas Fisher's house[CD], where was a long gallery, and he had severall printed heads of Caesars, &c.; verbes under such a head, governed a dative case; under another, an ablative. The boyes had it as readie as could be. I have been there.

[1090]Ezerel Tong, D.D.:--Mr. Cadnam, bookeseller, New Exchange, hath his papers, among which is a MS. (folio) of chymistrie: quaere title. Respondet quod non: Captain Tonge (his brother) gave all his papers to my lord Culpepper[1091], when he went to Virginia. I spake to Sir R. Reding to quaere <about them>, and my lord heeded not such things. So there is a precious collection of other men's labours lost.

[1092]Ezerel Tong, D.D., invented (among other things) the way of teaching children to write a good hand in twenty dayes' time, by writing over, with black inke, copies printed from copper-plates in red inke:--viz., the children (scilicet, about 8 or 9 aetatis) were to do it four howers in the day; i.e. 2 howers or 2 halfe-howers in the morning at a time (as the boyes' temper could endure it, without tyring him); and then to play as long; and then to it again, to keep up the idea in the child fresh. Since his death, Mr. Robert Moray (projector[1093] of the Penney Post) haz engraven severall plates printed-off in red letters, by which meanes boyes learne (to admiration) as aforesayd--quod N.B.

His funerall sermon was preached in the church of St. Michael, Wood-street; the church of St. Mary Stayning being burn't, and never to be re-edified, but both parishes putt together.

_Notes._

FOOTNOTES:

[CC] Aubrey gives in trick the coat, 'azure, a bend or cottised argent, between six martlets or,' and notes 'this is the same coat that is borne by Delabere.'

[CD] MS. Aubr. 22 is a collection of short treatises, chiefly on Latin grammar. Of this Aubrey says:--'Memorandum:--this collection of grammatical learning (and another in 8vo) is in relation to my idea of the education of the noblesse,' i.e. is in preparation for MS. Aubr. 10 _infra_.--In this volume is a treatise 'by Dr. Tonge, Brampton Castle, Dec. 23, 1672,' entitled 'Dr. Tonge _de punctis_,' 3 pp., dealing with Wasmuth's rules for punctuation.

Also, _An epitome of Grammar_, by Ezerel Tonge, D.D., being 18 memorial verses, beginning

'Eight parts, two numbers, six cases, these.'

Also, a prospectus of Tong's school, 'At Islington in or near Sir Richard Fisher's house, next the church, having a prospect into Canbury fields'; and on the back of it a scheme of the terminations in the declension of Latin nouns. Also, 4 pp. of memorial verses (Latin), and (in MS.) a scheme for the conjugation of verbs.

MS. Aubr. 10 is Aubrey's 'The idea of education of a young gentleman.' In this, chapter 3 (i.e. foll. 13-20) is 'An introduction to the Latin tongue, by Ezerel Tong, D.D.'

=Nathaniel Torporley= (1563-1632).

[1094]Mr. J.[1095] Torporley--Mr. <Robert> Hooke affirms to me that Mr. J. Torporley was amanuensis to Vieta[1096]; but from whom he had that information he haz now forgot, but he had good and credible authority for it, and bids me tell you that he was certainly so.

He printed something against Vieta by the name of John Poulterey (a disguised name, the same letters a little transpos'd).

[1097]Memorandum:--Mr. Nicholas Mercator (who taught the last earl of Northumberland[1098], then lord Percy, at Petworth) assures me that the earle of Northumberland who was prisoner in the Tower gave also a pension to one Mr. ... Torporley, Salopiensis, a learned man; and that in the library of that family (I thinke) at Petworth, are some papers of his: quaere iterum.

Ex catalogo librorum Bibliothecae Bodleianae:

_Nath. Torporlaeus_, Diclides coelometricae, seu valvae astronomicae universales: Lond. 1602, 4to: C. 46 _Art._

=Thomas Triplett= (1603-1670).

[1099]Next to Dr. Outram's inscription <in the south aisle of Westminster abbey> stands this of Dr. Triplett, in the very place where Mr. Thomas May's stood, of white marble[1100]:--

Hic requiescit vir
Reverend. Dr. Thomas Triplett,
ex agro Oxoniensi,
Praebendarius hujus ecclesiae,
Qui postquam ad annum aetatis septuagesimum
pietate et cultus assiduitate, Deo,
Graecae linguae peritia non vulgari, doctis,
largitate et continua beneficentia, egenis,
morum innocua jucunditate, omnibus,
carum se praebuisset,
Ab hac vita ad meliorem commigravit,
Anno Domini 1670
Die Julii 18.

He went to schoole to Dr. Gill, as appeares by his ballad[1101], which will last longer then any sermon that ever he made.

After his sequestration[1102] he kept a schoole at Dublyn (when the king was beheaded); afterwards at Hayes, Surrey, 12 miles from London. 'Twas here our[1103] common friend George Ent went to schoole to him, who told me that he had forgot the smart of his old master, Gill; he was very severe.

I'le tell you a story of our old friend. His master Triplett was a great lover of honey, and one of his schoolefellow's mother having sent a pott of honey to the doctor, G. Ent putt his schoolefellow to beg a little of his master, and he had gott a manchet and so they would have a _regalio_. The doctor was in his study; and the boy takes the confidence to approach, with his 'Quaeso, praeceptor, da mihi mel.' G. Ent was sneaking behind. Qᵈ. the disturbed doctor, 'You audacious raskall,' and gave him a good cuffe on the ear, 'how dare you be thus impudent? Sirrah, who putt you on?' The boy answered (whiningly) 'G. Ent.' The enraged doctor flies out of his study (he was a very strong man), gives poore George a kick in the breech, and made him fly downe a flight of 7 or 8 staires to the landing-place, where his head first came to. He was stunn'd, but 'twas well his neck was not broken. 'Twas a most cruel and inhumane act to use a poore child so. It so happened that a day or two before G. E. had shaled a tooth. He writes a letter to his father (now Sir George Ent) and incloses the tooth in it; relates the story and that he lost the tooth by that meanes[1104]. The next day the grave and learned Dr. Ent comes to Hayes (the fame of whose learning and testimonie did give great credit and reputation to this schoole); expostulates with the doctor about his sonne. To be short, tooke him away, and placed him with Mr. William Radford at Richmond (an honest sequestred fellow of Trinity College, Oxon, and an excellent schoolmaster, having been bred at Thame under Dr. Birt[1105] and afterwards sent to Winton.) This accident well-nigh did breake Dr. Triplett's schoole. But shortly after this time, happened the restauration of his majestie, and then he was also restored to his former preferments.

=Thomas Tusser= (1527-1580).

[1106]Memorandum:--Edward Bullock, of Fayburne-hall, in Essex, esq. assures me, that this Tusser was borne at Riven-hall in Essex. The howse wherein he was borne they doe yet shew. He rented the parsonage of Fairested. He speakes in his booke of the people's cosening him of his tythes.

=William Twisse= (1574-1646).

[1107]... Twisse, D.D., of Newbury:--his sonne Dr. ... Twisse, minister of the new church neer Tothil street, Westminster, told me that he had heard his father say that when he was a schoole-boy at Winton Colledge that he was a rakell, and that one of his schoolefellowes and camerades (as wild as himselfe) dyed there; and that his father goeing in the night to the house of office, the phantome or ghost of his dead schoolefollow appeared to him and told him 'I am damn'd'; and that this was the beginning of his conversion.

Memorandum:--the Dr. had a melancholique and hypo-condriaque temperament.

=John Twyne= (15--- 1581).

[1108]Jo. Twini, Bolingdunesis, Angli, de rebus Albionicis, Britannicis, atque Anglicis commentariorum libri 2, ad Thomam Twinum, filium: Lond. 1599.

The father was schoolmaster of St. Saviour's in Canterbury. John Leland haz verses on him.

=Thomas Twyne= (1543-1613).

[1109]☞ From Mr. Meredith Lloyd--'The Breviarie of Britaine of Humphrey Lloyd, dedicated to Ortelius, translated out of Latine by Mr. Twyne, wherein are the etymologies of the Welsh names, rivers, cities, etc.' He says that the Latin edition is altogether false writt, which names Mr. Twyne hath printed true in the English edition.

=Thomas Tyndale= (1588-1671/2).

In those days (Elizabetha regina) the great men had a gate (the yettes), and when a senator went to the Parliament-house a-foote, or a horse-back with his foot-cloath, he had at his heeles 1/2 a dozen or 10 tall fellowes with blew coates and badges and long basket-hilt swords. Now forsooth only a laquey and a little spitt-pig[1110].

T. T.--The advantage that king Charles I had: gentlemen tho[1111] kept good horses, and many horses for a man-at-armes, and men that could ride them; hunting horses. Now we are come all to our coaches forsooth! (Sir Philip Sydney[1112]). Now young men are so farre from managing good horses, they know not how to ride a hunting nag nor handle their weapons. So God help the king if, etc.

In Sir Philip Sydney's time 'twas as much disgrace for a cavalier to be seen in London rideing in a coach in the street as now 'twould be to be seen in a petticoate and wastcoate. They rode in the streets then with their rich footcloathes, and servants wayting on them with blewe coates and badge, 6[1113], 8, 12 +.

T. T., an old gentleman that remembers Queen Elizabeth's raigne and court, one of true gravity and prudence, not one that depends upon the grave cutt of his beard to be thought so. He hath seen much in his time both at home and abroade; and with much choler inveighes against things now:--'Alas! O' God's will! Now-a-dayes every one, forsooth! must have coaches, forsooth! In those dayes gentlemen kept horses for a man-at-armes, besides their hackney and hunting horses. This made the gentry robust and hardy and fitt for service; were able to be their owne guides in case of a rout or so, when occasion should so require[1114]. Our gentry forsooth in these dayes are so effeminated that they know not how to ride on horseback.--Tho when the gentry mett, it was not at a poor blind sordid alehouse, to drinke up a barrell of drinke and lie drunke there two or three dayes together; fall together by the eares. They mett tho in the fields, well-appointed, with their hounds or their hawkes; kept up good hospitality; and kept a good retinue, that would venture that bloud and spirit that filled their vaines which their masters' tables nourisht[1115]; kept their tenants in due respect of them. We had no depopulacion in those dayes.

'You see in me the ruines of time. The day is almost at end with me, and truly I am glad of it: I desire not to live in this corrupt age. I foresawe and foretold the late changes, and now easily foresee what will follow after. Alas! O' God's will! It was not so in Queen Elizabeth's time: then youth had[1116] respect to old age.

'Revels--Tho the elders and better sort of the parish sate and beheld the pastimes of the young men, as wrastling, shooting at butts, bowling, and dancing. All this is now lost; and pride, whoreing, wantonnesses, and drunkennesses. Tho the charity of the feast, St. Peter's box[1117], maintayned the old impotent poore.'

=James Usher= (1580/1-1655/6).

[1118]Memorandum:--... Usher, Lord Primate <of Ireland>, was at Llantrithed[1119] for severall moneths, and divertised himselfe much to talke with the poore people to understand Welsh, for that 'it had,' he sayd, 'a great affinity with the Irish.' He sayd the Old Testament was translated by the Universities, but the New Testament was translated by the bishops; but the Old is much better donne.

=Henry Vaughan= (1621-1695).

=Thomas Vaughan= (1621-1666/7).

[1120]There are two Vaughans, twinnes, both very ingeniose and writers. One writt a poeme called _Olor Iscanus_ (Henry Vaughan, the first-borne), and another booke of Divine Meditations. His brother wrote severall treatises, whose names I have now forgott, but names himself _Eugenius Philalethes_.

They were borne at Llansanfraid in Brecknockshire, by the river Uske (Isca). Their grandmother was an Aubrey: their father, a coxcombe and no honester then he should be--he cosened me of 50_s._ once.

Eugenius Philalethes was of Jesus College. Whither Henry was I have forgotten; but he was a clarke sometime to Judge Sir Marmaduke Lloyd[1121].

[1122]Henry Vaughan, 'Silurist':--you know Silures contayned Breconockshire, Herefordshire, etc.

[1123]My brother and I were borne att Newton, in Brecknockshire, in the parish of St. Briget's, in the year 1621.

I stayed not att Oxford to take my degree, but was sent to London, beinge then designed by my father for the study of the law, which the sudden eruption of our late civil warres wholie frustrated.

My brother continued there for 10 or 12 yeares, and I thinke he could be noe lesse than Master of Arts. He died upon an imployment for his majesty, within 5 or 6 miles of Oxford, in the yeare that the last great plague visited London. He was buried by Sir Robert Murrey, his great friend (and then secretary of estate for the kingdome of Scotland); to whome he gave his bookes and MSS.

[1124]My profession allso is physic, which I have practised now for many years with good successe (I thanke God) and a repute big enough for a person of greater parts than my selfe.

[1125]My brother died in the seaven and fortieth year of his age, upon the 27th of Februarie in the yeare 1666, and was buried upon the first of March.

[1126]Sir Robert Moray ... told me he buryed <my cosen Thomas Vaughan> at Albery neer Ricot within three miles of Oxford. He dyed at Mr. [Sam.[1127]] Kem's howse, the minister.

=Edward de Vere=, 17th earl of Oxford (15--- 1604).

[1128]Mr. Thomas Henshawe, Regiae Societatis Socius, tells me that Nicholas Hill was secretary to ..., the great earle of Oxford, who spent fourty thousand pounds per annum in seaven yeares travell. He lived at Florence in more grandeur than the duke of Tuscany[1129].

This earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to queen Elizabeth, happened to ..., at which he was so abashed[1130] that he went to travell 7 yeares. On his returne the queen welcomed him home and sayd, 'My lord, I had forgot the ...'

A poor man[1131] askt of Mr. Hill one time to give him 6_d._ (or 1_s._ or such an almes). Sayd Mr. Hill 'What doest say, if I give thee ten pounds?' 'Oh!' sayd he, 'ten pounds would make me a man.' And he did put it downe in the account--'Item, x_li._ for making a man'--which his lordship allowed and was well pleased at it.

=Villiers=, duke of Buckingham.

[1132]George Villiers, 1st duke of Buckingham, natus 28 Aug. 1592, 4ʰ 40´ A.M., at Brookesby, Leicestershire.

George, filius of the duke of Buckingham, natus 30 Januarii, 1627/8; obiit in Yorkshire, Saturday, 16 Apr. 1687.

[1133](_a_) George, duke of Buckingham, borne Aug. 28, Thursday, 15ʰ P.M. 1595.--(_b_) George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, natus Tuesd. 28 Aug. 1592, 16ʰ 45´ P.M.--[Here (_b_) the yeare is 1592; but in the former (_a_) 1595.]

The duke's sonne borne Wedn. 30 January 1627/8, 1ʰ P.M.

The countesse of Bucks[1134] died of a dropsi and phisick, 14 Apr. 1632.

[1135]Vide in _Vaticinium Poeticum_ de obitu lord Francis Villers[1136].

=William de Visscher.=

[1137]From Mr. Bovey:--William de Visscher, merchant in London, borne at Emden in East Frisland in Germany, a Hans-towne--now under the Dutch. At 2 yeares old was brought into England by his father, an eminent merchant; lived 55 yeares in one house at St. Mary Hill, and dyed in the 74th yeare of his age. He lived there till the fire of London; he dyed about 3 yeares after--he did not enjoy himselfe afterwards.

In the last great dearth of corne in England, which was in anno[XC.] ..., when there was a great complaint and cry of the poore, he bade them bee of good comfort for they should not starve, for he would give them his labour and the use of his estate for that yeare. He being a man of vast credit, gave his factors order that what corne they could buy at such and such rates beyond sea, to hire flye-boates and send them over to the port of London, of which he bought in one yeare two thousand five hundred sayle. The corne that cost him 12_s._ per bushell beyond sea, he sold here for 14_s._; and some of the places from whence he had corne (they selling it by reason of the greatnesse of the price) afterwards wanted it themselves and were faine to be supplied from hence, i.e. in some places, for which they were faine to pay halfe value more then the first cost, or els must have starved.

[XC.] + Quaere annum. About 30 years since. I beleive it was 1647, or 1648--quaere.

Many disasters happened to many of the shippes that were bound for London (some that never arrived were destroyed by foule weather; some wind-bound so long till their corne fired for want of ayering, and was faine to be throwne over-board) that in the whole matter, after all the adventures runne, he did not gaine five and twenty hundred pounds. The fly-boates caryed 800 tunne, and some more.

He left two sonnes and <one> daughter behind him, named Isabella (who was maried to Mr. James Bovey, by which he haz one sonne and one daughter).

He was a very eminent merchant, as most was of his time; and was valued by common reputation (when he maried his daughter) to be worth sixscore thousand pounds.

He stayed in London during the whole time of the plague, and had not all that time one sick in his family. He was a temperate man, and had his house very cleanly kept.

=Isaac Vossius= (1618-1688).

[1138]Isaac Vossius died at his lodgeings in Windsor Castle, February the tenth, anno 1688/9; and hath left the best private library, they say, in the world. 'Tis sayd king William will buy it to send into Holland[1139].

=Johannes Gerhardus Vossius= (1577-1649).

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Brief Lives, Vol. 2Chapter IX: Part 9

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