by John Aubrey
In the letter which Aubrey attached to the Minutes of Lives, when he first sent them to Anthony Wood in 1680, he fully explained his aims and intentions. Sir! he said then, I have, according to your desire, putt in writing these Minutes of Lives tumultuarily, as they occurr’d to my thoughts or as occasionally I had information of them. They may easily be reduced into order at your leisure by numbring them with red figures, according to time and place, &c. ’Tis a Taske that I never thought to have undertaken till you imposed it upon me, sayeing that I was fitt for it by reason of my generall acquaintance, having now not only lived above a halfe a Centurie of yeares in the world, but have also been much tumbled up and downe in it which hath made me much knowne; besides the moderne advantage of Coffee-howses in this great Citie, before which men knew not how to be acquainted, but with their owne Relations, or societies. I might add that I come of a longaevous race, by which meanes I have imped some feathers of the wings of Time, for severall Generations; which does reach high. When I first began, I did not thinke I could have drawne it out to so long a Thread.
I here lay-downe to you (out of the conjunct friendship between us) the Trueth, and, as neer as I can and that religiously as a Poenitent to his Confessor, nothing but the trueth: the naked and plaine trueth, which is here exposed so bare that the very pudenda are not covered, and affords many passages that would raise a Blush in a young Virgin’s cheeke. So that after your perusall, I must desire you to make a Castration (as Raderus to Martial) and to sowe-on some Figge-leaves—i.e. to be my Index expurgatorius.
What uncertainty doe we find in printed Histories? they either treading too neer on the heeles of trueth that they dare not speake plaine, or els for want of intelligence (things being antiquated) become too obscure and darke! I doe not here repeat any thing already published (to the best of my remembrance) and I fancy my selfe all along discourseing with you; alledgeing those of my Relations and acquaintance (as either you knew or have heerd of) ad faciendam Fidem: so that you make me to renew my acquaintance with my old and deceased Friends, and to rejuvenescere (as it were) which is the pleasure of old men. ’Tis pitty that such minutes had not been taken 100 yeares since or more: for want wherof many worthy men’s Names and Notions are swallowd-up in oblivion; as much as these also would have been, had it not been through your Instigation: and perhaps this is one of the usefullest pieces that I have scribbeld.
I remember one sayeing of Generall Lambert’s, that ‘the best of men are but men at the best’; of this, you will meet with divers examples in this rude and hastie collection. Now these Arcana are not fitt to lett flie abroad, till about 30 yeares hence, he concludes, for the author and the Persons (like Medlars) ought to be rotten first.
The measure of his success is in the following pages, and is complete. For Aubrey had the rare gift of creating, and not just recording, life, and he has himself summed up his achievement in words that cannot be bettered: These Remaines are tanquam Tabulata Naufragy. [like fragments of a shipwreck] that after the Revolution of so many Years and Govenments have escaped the Teeth of Time and (which is more dangerous) the Hands of mistaken Zeale. So that the retriving of these forgotten Things from Oblivion in some sort resembles the Art of a Conjuror, who makes those walke and appeare that have layen in their graves many hundreds of yeares: and to represent as it were to the eie, the places, Customes and Fashions, that were of old Times.
AUBREY’S BRIEF LIVES
GEORGE ABBOT
* * *
[Born 1562. Archbishop of Canterbury. Educated at Guildford Grammar School and Balliol College, Oxford. In 1592 he was appointed private chaplain to Lord Buckhurst, the Chancellor of the University, and in 1597 he became Master of University College, where he wrote for his pupils A Briefe Description of the whole World, which included an account of America. He was an extreme Puritan and, besides accusing Laud of Papacy and heresy, he burnt religious pictures in the market-place. His pamphleteering made him unpopular at Oxford when he was Vice-Chancellor, and in 1605 he committed one hundred and forty undergraduates to prison for sitting with their hats on in his presence at St. Mary’s Church. He revised the New Testament for the Authorised Version. Having won James I’s approval by his efforts to re-establish episcopacy in Scotland, he was made Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in 1609, and was translated to London in 1610. The next year, Secretary Calvert remarked: By a strong north wind coming out of Scotland, Abbot was blown over the Thames to Lambeth. As Archbishop of Canterbury, Abbot continued his struggle against Arminianism, burning two members of that faith and torturing another. He lost favour by his opposition to the Countess of Essex’s divorce, but, having re-established his position in 1615 by the introduction of George Villiers (later Duke of Buckingham) at Court, he seized the opportunity to make his elder brother Bishop of Salisbury. In 1621, he accidentally shot a gamekeeper with a cross-bow while hunting, and though he settled £20 a year on the keeper’s widow, which soon procured her another husband, and was also formally pardoned by the King, the Bishops Elect, of whom Laud was one, refused to be consecrated by him. In 1627 he was stripped of all authority by Charles I, and although, when he was restored to favour in 1628, the other prelates, who were gaping after his Benefice, were warned that his Grace perhaps may eat the Goose which shall graze upon his grave, he never again took any part in affairs of State, but lived in retirement until his death in 1633.]
WHEN ARCH-BISHOP ABBOT’S Mother (a poor Cloathworker’s Wife in Gilford) was with Child of him, she did long for a Jack or Pike, and she dreamt that if she should Eat a Jack, her Son in her Belly should be a great Man. Upon this she was indefatigable to satisfy her Longing, as well as her Dream. She first enquir’d out for this Fish: but the next Morning, goeing with her Payle to the River-side (which runneth by the Howse, now an Ale-house, the Signe of the 3 Mariners) to take up some Water, a good Jack accidentally came into her Payle. She took up the much desir’d Banquet, dress’d it, and devour’d it almost all her selfe, or very neare. This odd Affair made no small Noise in the Neighbourhood, and the Curiosity of it made severall People of Quality offer themselves to be Sponsors at the Baptismal Fount when she was deliver’d. This their Poverty accepted joyfully, and three were chosen, who maintained him at School, and University afterwards, his father not being able. This is generally recieved for a trueth.
It was Bred up a Scholar in the Town, and by degrees, came to be Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. Old Nightingale was his servant, and weepes when he talkes of him. Every one that knew, loved him. He was sometimes Cholerique.
THOMAS ALLEN
* * *
[Born 1542. Mathematician. Educated at Trinity College, Oxford. Bachelor of Arts 1563. Fellow 1565. Master of Arts 1567. He obtained the patronage of the Earl of Northumberland, but refused the offer of a bishopric from the Earl of Leicester, as he preferred a life of retirement. He was described by Fuller as having succeeded to the skill and scandal of Friar Bacon. Died 1632.]
MR. ALLEN WAS a very cheerfull, facetious man, and every body loved his company, and every Howse on their Gaudie-dayes were wont to invite him.
The great Dudley, Earle of Leicester, made use of him for casting of Nativities, for he was the best Astrologer of his time. Queen Elizabeth sent for him to have his advice about the new Star that appeared in the Swan or Cassiopeia (but I think the Swan) to which he gave his Judgement very learnedly.
In those darke times, Astrologer, Mathematician, and Conjurer were accounted the same things; and the vulgar did verily beleeve him to be a Conjurer. He had a great many Mathematicall Instruments and Glasses in his Chamber, which did also confirme the ignorant in their opinion, and his servitor (to impose on Freshmen and simple people) would tell them that sometimes he should meet the Spirits comeing up his staires like Bees. Now there is to some men a great Lechery in Lying, and imposing on the understandings of beleeving people, and he thought it for his credit to serve such a Master.
He was generally acquainted, and every long Vacation he rode into the Co
untrey to visitt his old Acquaintance and Patrones, to whom his great learning, mixt with much sweetnes of humour, rendred him very welcome. One time being at Hom Lacy in Herefordshire, at Mr. John Scudamore’s (grandfather to the Lord Scudamor) he happened to leave his Watch in the Chamber windowe. (Watches were then rarities.) The maydes came in to make the Bed, and hearing a thing in a case cry Tick, Tick, Tick, presently concluded that that was his Devill, and tooke it by the String with the tongues, and threw it out of the windowe into the Mote (to drowne the Devill). It so happened that the string hung on a sprig of an elder that grew out of the Mote, and this confirmed them that ’twas the Devill. So the good old Gentleman gott his Watch again.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
* * *
[Born 1555. Divine. Sometime Dean of Westminster and Chaplain-in-ordinary to Queen Elizabeth. Under James I, he rose into great favour and was made successively Bishop of Chichester, of Ely and, in 1618, of Winchester. He attended the Hampton Court Conference and was general editor of the Authorised Version of the Bible. Bishop Andrewes was a man of the very greatest learning and it is said that the awe of his presence was wont to restrain King James from that unseemly levity in which he was rather too prone to indulge. Died 1626.]
LANCELOT ANDREWES, LORD Bishop of Winton, was borne in London; went to Schoole at Merchant Taylors schoole. Mr. Mulcaster was his schoolemaster, whose picture he hung in his Studie.
Old Mr. Sutton, a very learned man in those dayes, of Blandford St. Maries, Dorset, was his school fellow, and sayd that Lancelot Andrewes was a great long boy of 18 yeares old at least before he went to the University.
The Puritan faction did begin to increase in those dayes, and especially at Enamuel College. This party had a great mind to drawe in this learned young man, whom (if they could make theirs) they knew would be a great honour to them. They carried themselves outwardly with great sanctity and strictnesse. They preached up very strict keeping and observing the Lord’s day: made, upon the matter, damnation to breake it, and that ’twas less Sin to kill a man. Yet these Hypocrites did bowle in a private green at their colledge every Sunday after Sermon; and one of the Colledge (a loving friend to Mr. L. Andrewes) to satisfie him, one time lent him the Key of a Private back dore to the bowling green, on a Sunday evening, which he opening, discovered these zealous Preachers with their Gownes off, earnest at play. But they were strangely surprised to see the entrey of one that was not of the Brotherhood.
There was then at Cambridge a good fatt Alderman that was wont to sleep at Church, which the Alderman endeavoured to prevent but could not. Well! this was preached against as a signe of Reprobation. The good man was exceedingly troubled at it, and went to Andrewes his Chamber to be satisfied in point of Conscience. Mr. Andrewes told him, that it was an ill habit of Body, not of Mind, and that it was against his Will; advised him on Sundays to make a more sparing meale, and to mend it at Supper. The Alderman did so, but Sleepe comes on again for all that, and was preached at; comes againe to be resolved with Teares in his eies. Andrewes then told him he would have him make a good heartie meal as he was wont to doe, and presently take out his full sleep. He did so, came to St. Maries, where the Preacher was prepared with a Sermon to damne all who slept at Sermon, a certain signe of Reprobation. The good Alderman, having taken his full nap before, lookes on the Preacher all Sermon time, and spoyled the design. But I should have sayd that Andrewes was most extremely spoken against and preached against for offering to assoile or excuse a sleeper in sermon time. But he had learning and witt enough to defend himselfe.
His good learning quickly made him known in the University, and also to King James, who much valued him for it, and advanced him, and at last made him Bishop of Winchester: which Bishoprick he ordered with great Prudence as to government of the Parsons, preferring of ingeniose persons that were staked to poore livings and did delitescere. He made it his Enquiry to find out such men. Amongst severall others (whose names have escaped my memorie) Nicholas Fuller (he wrote Critica Sacra), Minister of Allington, neer Amesbury in Wilts, was one. The Bishop sent for him, and the poor man was afrayd and knew not what hurt he had donne. Makes him sitt downe to Dinner and, after the Desert, was brought in, in a dish, his Institution and Induction, or the donation of a Prebend; which was his way.
He dyed at Winchester house in Southwark, and lies buried in a Chapell at St. Mary Overies, where his Executors have erected (but I beleeve according to his Lordship’s will, els they would not have layed out 1000 pounds) a sumptuose Monument for Him.
He had not that smooth way of Oratory, as now. It was a shrewd and severe animadversion of a Scotish Lord, who, when King James asked him how he liked Bp. A.’s sermon, said that he was learned, but he did play with his Text, as a Jack-an-apes does, who takes up a thing and tosses and playes with it, and then he takes up another, and playes a little with it. Here’s a pretty thing, and there’s a pretty thing!
FRANCIS BACON: VISCOUNT ST. ALBANS
* * *
[Born 1561. Philosopher and statesman. He went through the various steps of the legal profession, entered Parliament in 1584, and then wrote papers on public affairs, including A Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth urging strong measures against the Catholics. He made the acquaintance of the Earl of Essex, who treated him with generosity and endeavoured to advance him in his career; nevertheless, having been appointed to investigate the causes of Essex’s revolt in 1601, he was largely responsible for the Earl’s conviction. The accession of James I gave a favourable turn to Bacon’s fortunes and he was knighted in 1603; becoming Solicitor-General in 1607, Attorney-General in 1613, Lord Keeper in 1617, Lord Chancellor and Baron Verulam in 1618, and Viscount St. Albans in 1621. In the same year, a Parliamentary Committee on the Administration of the Law charged him with corruption under twenty-three counts; and so clear was the evidence that he made no attempt at defence. He was sentenced to a fine of £40,000; to be committed to the Tower during the King’s pleasure (which was that he should be released in a few days); to be perpetually banished from Court; and to be incapable of holding office or sitting in Parliament ever again. The remaining years of his life were spent in literary and philosophical work. It was Bacon’s ambition to create a new system of philosophy, based on a right interpretation of nature, to replace that of Aristotle; and his development of inductive philosophy did in fact revolutionise future thought, for he did more than anyone else to free the intellect from preconceived notions and to direct it to the unbiased study of facts. He wrote The Advancement of Learning, The History of Henry the Seventh, The New Atlantis, Maxims of the Law and his Essays. Bacon died in 1626, leaving debts of £22,000. Pope described him as the wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind.]
IN HIS LORDSHIP’S prosperity, Sir Fulke Grevil, Lord Brooke, was his great Friend and acquaintance; but when he was in disgrace and want, he was so unworthy as to forbid his Butler to let him have any more small Beer, which he had often sent for, his stomach being nice, and the small beere of Gray’s Inne not liking his pallet. This has donne his memorie more dishonour then Sir Philip Sidney’s friendship engraven on his monument hath donne him Honour.
Richard, Earle of Dorset, was a great admirer and friend of the Lord Chancellor Bacon, and was wont to have Sir Thomas Billingsley along with him, to remember and to putt downe in writing my Lord’s sayings at Table.
Mr. Ben Johnson was one of his friends and acquaintance, as doeth appeare by his excellent verses on his Lordship’s birthday, and in his Underwoods, where he gives him a Character, and concludes that about his time and within his view were borne all the Witts that could honour a Nation or helpe studie.
The learned and great Cardinal Richelieu was a great admirer of the Lord Bacon.
He came often to Sir John Danvers at Chelsey. Sir John told me that when his Lordship had wrote The History of Henry 7, he sent the Manuscript copie to him to desire his opinion of it before ’twas printed. Qd. Sir John, Your Lordship knowes that I am no Scholar. ’Tis no matter, said my
Lord: I knowe what a Schollar can say; I would know what you can say. Sir John read it, and gave his opinion what he misliked (which I am sorry I have forgott) which my Lord acknowledged to be true, and mended it; Why, said he, a Scholar would never have told me this.
Mr. Thomas Hobbes was beloved by his Lordship, who was wont to have him walke with him in his delicate groves where he did meditate: and when a notion darted into his mind, Mr. Hobbs was presently to write it downe, and his Lordship was wont to say that he did it better then any one els about him; for that many times, when he read their notes he scarce understood what they writt, because they understood it not clearly themselves.
In short, all that were great and good loved and honoured him. (Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chiefe Justice, alwayes envyed him, and would be undervalueing his Lawe, as you may find in my Lord’s lettres, and I knew old Lawyers that remembred it.)