by John Aubrey
In the same year, 1692, another letter passed between John Aubrey and Anthony Wood. Accidentally I spoke with Mr. Gadbury, who is extremely incens’t against you, it ran. He sayes that you have printed lyes concerning him. For the first volume of “Athenae Oxoniensis” had now appeared in London and in it Wood had raked up an old scandal about the astrologer’s father, who, according to Aubrey, when he was a taylor, takes the measure of a young Lady for a gowne, and clappes up a match. He tells me what you have wrote, Aubrey’s letter continues, and I am sorry for it, for he was civil to you, and was an ingeniose loyall Person. In October of the same year, he wrote to Wood again: I shewed your letter to Mr. Gadbury, wherin you tell him that what he desires should be amended as to Himselfe shall be donne in the Appendix to be printed: but he huff’t and pish’t, saying that your Copies are flown abroad and the Scandalls are irrevocable and that he will have a fling at you in Print to vindicate himselfe. But Wood remained blind to the indiscretion he had committed. “I wonder at nothing more,” he said, “then that Mr. Gadbury should take it amiss of those things that I say of him: for whereas the generalitie of scholars did formerly take him to have been bred an Academician because he was borne at Oxon, and so, consequently, not to be much admired, now their eyes being opened and knowing that his education hath been mechanical they esteeme him a Prodigie of Parts and therefore are much desirous that his picture may hang in the public gallery at the Schooles.” This storm was but a foretaste of what was to follow, for with the appearance of Wood’s second volume, disaster finally overwhelmed the long collaboration between the two antiquaries.
Now that Anthony Wood’s work was published, Aubrey received back from him The Minutes of Lives, only to find that the manuscript had been mutilated. INGRATITUDE, wrote poor Aubrey on the first of the remaining pages. This part the second, Mr. Wood haz gelded from page 1 to page 44 and other pages too are wanting wherein are contained Truths, but such as I entrusted no body with the sight of, but himselfe: whom I thought I might have entrusted with my Life. There are severall papers that may cutt my throate. I find too late Memento diffidere [Take care to distrust] was a Saying worthy one of the Sages. He hath also embezilled the Index of it—quod N.B. It was stitch’t up when I sent it to him. Novemb. 29, 1692. Aubrey’s anxiety was well founded: for Anthony Wood had cut out the lives of James I and the Duke of Monmouth amongst others, and his behaviour to his devoted assistant had been so bitter of late that Aubrey did well to have doubts about the safety of his throat.
The reason for Wood’s unforgivable conduct soon became apparent, however, for the second volume of “Athenae Oxoniensis” had no sooner appeared than he found himself surrounded by threats. “Mr. Henry Cruttenden told me,” he confided to his Journal, “that in New Coll. common-chamber severall of their fellowes said that I had abused their relations and that when dark nights come they would beat me.” Nor was this the worst, for a rumour floated down from London “that the Presbyterians will raise a tax (two hundred thousand pounds) to give to the King that he will hang me.” For in his book Wood had not scrupled to tell the truth, particularly if it was unpleasant, and as ill luck would have it, it was a remark that he had copied from Aubrey that precipitated the storm. In his life of Judge Jenkins, Wood had foolishly repeated Aubrey’s story about Lord Chancellor Hyde’s corruption, and though Hyde had been banished for these very practices twenty-eight years before and had been dead for twenty years, his son, Lord Clarendon, issued a writ against Anthony Wood for libel.
It was this affair that finally changed Wood’s attitude towards John Aubrey. Hearne has reported the humorous relationship of their early friendship: “Anthony used to say of him, when he was at the same time in company: Look, yonder goes such a one, who can tell you such and such stories, and I’le warrant Mr. Aubrey will break his neck downstairs rather than miss him.” This amiable attitude was now to disappear forever and Aubrey became in Wood’s view “roving and magotie-headed, and sometimes little better than crased.”
One thing has always been said, though, in Anthony Wood’s favour; that he confined his accusations of Aubrey to his Journal and never mentioned in court the source of the libellous statement, even though his whole defence rested on the fact that “those things that are excepted against are not of the author’s invention but what he found in letters sent to him from persons of knowne reputation, of which he is ready at any time to take his oath in any court of judicature. Which letters being at larg written, he for his own security did curtaile and contract them to what they now are without mentioning the name of the person. Yet notwithstanding this they are excepted against.” And notwithstanding this, Anthony Wood was fined forty pounds, was expelled from the University and, on the last day of July, 1693, saw his book publicly burnt at Oxford by the common hangman.
But hidden amongst Tanner’s papers there lies a letter that passed between Aubrey and Anthony Wood in December, 1692. All the last week I was ill, it ran, but on sunday I went to my Lord Abingdon, who saluted me with a sad aspect, and a sadder Intimation: sc. that he was exceedingly grieved for the Trouble that was comeing upon me: I was mightily surprized: sayd he, the Earl of Clarendon hath told me, that Mr. Wood hath confessed to him, that he had the Libell from me: as also the other informations. I do admire that you should deale so unkindly with me, that have been so faithfull a friend to serve you ever since 1665, as to doe so by me. The Libell was printed, and not uncommon: Could not you have sayd, that you bought it: or had it of George Ent: or some body that is dead—To be short, my Lord is resolved to ruine me: pray let me know by the next post, what ’tis that you have donne against me, that I may be the better enabled to make my Defences. My heart is ready to breake: thus hoping to hear from you I rest, Yours J. Aubrey. But no reply came: no reply for over eighteen months: and this biographer is confirmed in his opinion of Anthony Wood’s treachery.
Early next year, Aubrey deposited his precious Lives in the Ashmolean, with special instructions that Anthony Wood was never to know about the bequest, for he still feared the vindictiveness of his late friend. But even so, his kindness of heart did not allow him to upbraid Wood for his shabby treatment of the Lives, until over a year after the debacle which he had unwittingly caused; and then he took the edge off his complaint by suggesting the resumption of their friendship. Mr. Wood, he wrote from Boarstall on September 2nd, 1694, I thought I should have heard from you ere this time. I have been ill ever since I came from Oxford, till within these 5 days, of a Surfeit of Peaches, etc; so that I was faine to send to Kit White for a good Lusty Vomit. I could not eat a bitt of flesh for six days, but abstinence hath pretty well settled me again. Your unkindnes and choleric humour was a great addition to my ilnes. You know I have allwayes loved you, and never thought I tooke paines enough to serve you: and I was told by severall at Oxford, and so the last yeare, that you can never afford me a good word. You have cutt out a matter of 40 pages out of one of my volumnes, as also the Index: (Was ever any body so unkind?) and I remember you told me comeing from Hedington, that there were some things in it that would cutt my throat. I thought you so deare a friend that I might have entrusted my life in your hands, and now your unkindnes doth almost break my heart. Having made this complaint, Aubrey was unable to carry his resentment any farther. I would have you come the next week, he continued, for a fortnight hence Sir John Aubrey goes into Glamorganshire, and will have me with him. You cannot imagine how much your unkindnes vext and discomposed me. So God bless you. Tuissimus, J. A. I would have you come hither as early as you can, Aubrey added in postscript, because of perusing the MS. and seeing the gardens, for the afternoon will be taken up with good fellowship.
This letter at last stirred Anthony Wood into answering Aubrey’s previous accusation. “I must tell you,” he wrote, “that in your letter dated 3 Dec. 1692 you go forward to plague and disturb my thoughts without examination. At length when you came to towne an yeare after you told me it was a Banter. Now I appeal to all the world whither this was not an u
nworthy thing that you did never let me know it by letter to comfort my thoughts, only by word of mouth a yeare after and that by accident.” After which Anthony Wood upbraids Aubrey on many counts, referring again and again to “your most wicked and silly letter,” and proving himself to have been so kindly and faithful friend that this biographer feels bound to reject Wood’s version of the affair. Having Aubrey at a disadvantage, however, Wood seized the opportunity to bring up every grievance that had ever occurred to him. Aubrey had deserted him in his trouble, Aubrey had left a book to Trinity College Library that really belonged to him, and, worst of all, in “that rascally letter that had been soaked in a pucket of ale,” he had been unjustly accused of cutting up Aubrey’s Lives. Not content with this written reprimand, Anthony Wood welcomed their suggested meeting as an opportunity to continue the quarrel. “If you bring any body with you,” he said ominously, “let him be only a servant, because I have several things to say to you.”
And on this note, this strange friendship ended, for no further letters passed between the two, and on November 28th, 1695, Anthony Wood died a solitary and painful death in his attic room at Oxford. I am extreemely sorrowfull for the death of my dear Friend, and old Correspondent Mr. Anthony Wood, Aubrey wrote to Tanner when the news reached Llantrithid, who (though his spleen used to make him chagrin, and to chide me) yet we could not be asunder, and he would alwayes seek me at my Lodgeings with his darke-Lanthorne, which should be a Relick. I hoped that he would have lived, to have given me a cast of his office, in naming the place of my obyt and grave; which I hope will be here: here is fine red earth, but not deep. I am glad you have all his papers, who will be faithfull to him, and finish what he left undone.
Aubrey was now in his seventieth year, and having transferred his papers to Thomas Tanner, he at last had the leisure to complete a book for publication. “John Aubrey talkes desperately of putting his Monumenta Britannica in the Press,” wrote Edmund Gibson at this time, but it was a very different work that was eventually to appear. My Lord, runs the dedication to the Earl of Abingdon, When I enjoyed the Contentment of Solitude in Your pleasant Walks and Gardens at Lavington the last Summer, I reviewed several scattered Papers which had lain by me for several Years; And then presumed to think, that if they were put together they might be somewhat entertaining: I therefore digested them there in this Order, in which I now present them to Your Lordship. It was my intention to have finished my Description of Wilts (half finished already) and to have Dedicated it to Your Lordship: but My Age is now too far spent for such Undertakings: I have therefore devolved that Task on my Countrey-man, Mr. T. Tanner, who hath Youth to go through with it, and a Genius proper for such an Undertaking. Wherefore, I humbly beseech Your Lordship to accept of this small Offering, as a grateful Memorial of the profound Respect which I have for You, who have for many Years taken me into your Favour and Protection. My Lord, May the Blessed Angels be Your careful Guardians: such are the Prayers of Your Lordship’s Most Obliged and Humble Servant, J. Aubrey.
Aubrey’s enduring reputation as a superstitious fool came from this book, the only publication of his long life. For although he said elsewhere, I know that some will nauseate these old Fables: but I doe profess to regard them as the most considerable pieces of Antiquity, I collect: and that they are to be registred for Posterity, to let them understand the Encroachment of Ignorance on Mankind: and to see what strange Absurdity Man can by Custome and education be brought to believe: he made no such reservation in regard to this work, which is a hotch-potch of myths and gullibility entitled:—
MISCELLANIES
VIZ.
i. Day-Fatality.
ii. Local-Fatality.
iii. Ostenta.
iv. Omens.
v. Dreams.
vi. Apparitions.
vii. Voices.
viii. Impulses.
ix. Knockings.
x. Blows Invisible.
xi. Prophesies.
xii. Marvels.
xiii. Magick.
xiv. Transportation in the Air.
xv. Visions in a Beril, or Glass.
xvi. Converse with Angels+Spirits.
xvii. Corps-Candles in Wales.
xviii. Oracles.
xix. Extasie.
xx. Glances of
xxi. Second-Sighted-Persons.
Collected by J. Aubrey, Esq;
Although Aubrey included too large a number of dreary coincidences under these enticing headings, he managed also to bring in many fascinating stories. Some are connected directly with the superstitions of the time: At Paris, when it begins to Thunder and Lighten, he says, they do presently Ring out the great Bell at the Abbey of St. German, which they do believe makes it cease. The like was wont to be done heretofore in Wiltshire; when it Thundred and Lightned, they did Ring St. Adelm’s at Malmesbury Abbey. The curious do say, that the Ringing of Bells exceedingly disturbs Spirits: and again: It is a thing very common to nail Horse-shoes on the Thresholds of Doors: Which is to hinder the power of Witches that enter into the House. Most Houses of the West-end of London have the Horse shoe on the Threshold. It should be a Horse-shoe that one finds. Other passages are purely descriptive. At Leghorn, and other Ports in Italie, when Shippes arrive, the Courtizans runne to the Mariners with their Lutes and Ghitarres, playing and singing, with their Haire dissheveld, and Breasts naked, to allure them. In like manner at Gosprit, neer Portsmouth, where the Seamen lye, the Towne is full of wanton wenches, and there is never a house but hath a Virginall in it: and (they say) scarce 3 honest women in the Town.
Near Letterkenny in the County of Donegall, Aubrey says, reverting to superstition, a party of the Protestants had been surpriz’d sleeping by the Popish-Irish, were it not for several Wrens that just wakned them by dancing and pecking on the Drums as the Enemy were approaching. For this reason the wild Irish mortally hate these Birds to this day, calling them Devils Servants, and killing them wher ever they catch them; They teach their Children to thrust them full of Thorns: You’ll see sometimes on Holidays a whole Parish running like mad-men from Hedg to Hedg a Wren-hunting. In the chapter on Impulses, Aubrey says, Oliver Cromwell had certainly this Afflatus. One that I knew, that was at the Battle of Dunbar, told me that Oliver was carried on with a Divine Impulse; he did Laugh so excessively as if he had been drunk; his Eyes sparkled with Spirits. He obtained a great Victory; but the Action was said to be contrary to Human Prudence. The same fit of Laughter seiz’d Oliver Cromwell, just before the Battle of Naseby; as a Kinsman of mine, and a great Favourite of his, Colonel J. P. then present, testifi’d. Cardinal Mezarine said, that he was a lucky Fool.
In the Miscellanies Aubrey was not above showing how some superstitious beliefs could misfire: I have seen some Rings made for sweet-hearts, he said, with a Heart enamelled held between two right hands. See an Epigramme of G. Buchanan on two Rings that were made by Q. Elizabeths appointment, which being layd one upon the other shewed the like figure. The Heart was 2 Diamonds, which joined made the Heart. Q. Eliz. kept one moeitie and sent the other as a Token of her constant Friendship to Mary Queen of Scotts; but she cutt off her Head for all that. Nor is Aubrey’s irrepressible sense of humour absent, as the following tales show. This is an old piece of Priest-cheate, he says. The Image of the B. Virgin nodded at St. Bernard, and said (id est, the Priests boy with a tube behind the statue) Good morrow Father Bernard. I thanke your Ladyship, qd he, but St. Paul saieth that it is not lawfull for women to speake in the church. And of his own time, Aubrey reported that the second Lady of Sr. Walter Long (whither voluntarily, or upon Sr. Walter’s desire I have forgott) did make a Solemn Promise to him, on his Death-bed, that she would not marry after his Decease. But not long after, one Sir Somerset Fox, a very Beautiful young Gentleman, did win her Love: so that notwithstanding her Promise aforesaid, she married him at South-wrax-hall. As he lead her by the hand from the Church into the Parlour, the Picture of Sr. Walter, that then hung over the Parlour-dore (the String being eaten off wi
th the rust of the naile) fell down upon her Ladyship, and crack’d in the fall: (it was painted on wood as the fashion was in those days). This made her Ladyship reflect on her Promise, and drew some Tears from her Eyes.
It is reported concerning the Lord Duffus (in the Shire of Murray) his Predecessors, says Aubrey, that upon a time, when he was walking abroad in the Fields near to his own House, he was suddenly carried away, and found the next Day at Paris in the French King’s Cellar with a Silver Cup in his Hand; that being brought into the King’s Prescence and question’d by him, Who he was? And how he came thither? He told his name, his Country, and the place of his Residence, and that on such a Day of the Month (which proved to be the Day immediately preceeding) being in the Fields, he heard the noise of a Whirl-wind, and of Voices crying Horse and Hattock (this is the Word which the Fairies are said to use when they remove from any place) whereupon he cried (Horse and Hattock) also, and was immediately caught up, and transported through) the Air, by the Fairies to that place, where after he had drunk heartily he fell a sleep, and before he awoke, the rest of the Company were gone, and had left him in the posture wherein he was found. It’s said, the King gave him the Cup which was found in his Hand, and dismiss’d him. But not all Transportation in the Air was as uneventful as this, and Aubrey has left a record of one of the earliest air disasters, albeit an indirect one: A Gentleman of my Acquaintance was in Portugal, Anno 1655, he says, when one was Burnt by the Inquisition for being brought thither from Goa in East India, in the Air, in an incredible short time. This subject always fascinated Aubrey, and he mentioned many other cases of flying in the course of his works. Indeed he went further still, for amongst his inventions is the following note: Fill or force in smoake into a Bladder and try if the Bladder will not be carryed up in the Ayre. If it is so, several bladders may drawe a man up into the ayre a certain hight, as the Holly-berrys arise to the middle of water in a glass. Memorandum try to what hight they will ascend in a deep vessell, and also try other Berryes if any will doe so. He even proposed building a flying machine, but wise man that he was, he was going to take no risk without a parachute: Memorandum to propose that Mr. Packer sends to Norfolk or Suffolke to the gentleman that hath with much curiosity measured the feathers in the wings of severall Birds and taken the proportions of them and the, weight of their bodies, and to send to Mr. Francis Potter for his notions of Flying and of being safely delivered upon the ground from great Heights with a sheet, etc.