by John Aubrey
A Gent. with a red ugly, pumpled face came to him for a cure. Said the Dr., I must hang you. So presently he had a device made ready to hang him from a Beame in the roome, and when he was e’en almost dead, he cutt the veines that fed these pumples and lett out the black ugley Bloud, and cured him.
That he was chymical I know by this token, that his mayd came running in to him one time like a slutt and a Furie; with her haire about her eares, and cries, Butler! come and looke to your Devilles your selfe, and you will; the stills are all blowne up! She tended them, and it seems gave them too greate a heate. Old Dr. Ridgely knew him, and I thinke was at that time with him.
He was much addicted to his humours, and would suffer persons of quality to wayte sometimes some hours at his dore, with Coaches, before he would receive them. Dr. Gale, of Paule’s School, assures me that a French man came one time from London to Cambridge, purposely to see him, whom he made staye two howres for him in his Gallery and then he came out to him in an old blew gowne. The French gentleman makes him 2 or 3 very lowe Bowes to the ground. Dr. Butler whippes his Legge over his head, and away goes into his chamber, and did not speake with him.
WILLIAM CAMDEN
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[Born 1551. Antiquary and historian. He was appointed Headmaster of Westminster School in 1593. He made tours of antiquarian investigation up and downe England, and published his Britannia in 1586. In 1597 he was made Clarencieux King-at-Arms, which freed him from his academic duties and enabled him to devote more time to his historical work. His other principal books are Annals of the Reign of Elizabeth, Monuments and Inscriptions in Westminster Abbey and a collection of Ancient English Historians. He wrote principally in Latin, but his Britannia was translated into English by Philemon Holland in 1610. Died 1623.]
DR. NICHOLAS MERCATOR has Stadius’s Ephemerides, which had been one of Mr. Camden’s; his name is there (I knowe his hand) and there are some notes by which I find he was Astrologically given.
In his Britannia he haz a remarkable Astrologicall observation, that when Saturn is in Capricornus a great Plague is certainly in London. He had observed it all his time, and setts downe the like made by others before his time. Saturn was so posited in the great plague 1625, and also in the last great plague 1665. He likewise delivers that when an Eclipse happens in Scorpio that ’tis fatall to the Towne of Shrewsbury.
Mr. Camden told Sir Robert Filmore that he was not suffered to print many things in his Elizabetha, which he sent over to his acquaintance and correspondent Thuanus, who printed it all faithfully in his Annalls without altering a word.
He was basted by a Courtier of the Queene’s in the Cloysters at Westminster for denigrating Queen Elizabeth in his History.
When my grandfather went to schoole at Yatton-Keynell (neer Easton-Piers) Mr. Camden came to see the church, and particularly tooke notice of a little painted-glasse-windowe in the chancell, which (ever since my remembrance) haz been walled-up, to save the parson the chardge of glazing it.
’Tis reported, that he had bad Eies (I guesse Lippitude) which was a great inconvenience to an Antiquary.
Mr. Camden much studied the Welch language, and kept a Welsh servant to improve him in that language, for the better understanding of our Antiquities.
Sir William Dugdale tells me that he haz Minutes of King James’s life to a moneth and a day, written by Mr. William Camden (those memoires were continued within a fortnight of his death) as also his owne life, according to yeares and daye, which is very briefe, but 2 sheetes, Mr. Camden’s owne hand writing. Sir William Dugdale had it from John Hacket, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who did filch it from Mr. Camden as he lay a dyeing.
He lies buried in the South Cross-aisle of Westminster Abbey, his effigies on an Altar; in his hand a Booke, on the leaves wherof is writt BRITANNIA.
I have heard Sir Wm. Dugdale say, that though Mr. Camden had the Name, yet Mr. Glover was the best Herald that did ever belong to the Office. He tooke a great deale of paines in searching the Antiquities of severall Counties. He wrote a most delicate hand, and pourtrayed finely.
There is (or late was) at a Coffee house at the upper end of Bell-yard (or Shier-lane) under his owne hand, a Vistation of Cheshire, a most curious piece, which Sir Wm. Dugdale wish’t me to see; and he told me that at York, at some ordinary house (I thinke a house of entertainment) he sawe such an elaborate piece of Yorkshire. But severall Counties he surveyd, and that with great exactnes, but after his death they were all scattered abroad, and fell into ignorant hands.
WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT
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[Born 1611. Dramatist and divine. He was educated at the Free School at Cirencester and afterwards, as a King’s Scholar, at Westminster, whence he was chosen in 1628 Student of Christ Church, Oxford. Having taken the degree of M.A. in 1635, he entered into holy orders and became, according to Anthony Wood, the most florid and seraphical preacher in the University. On the 1st of September, 1642, he was nominated one of the Council of War and on the 16th of September he was imprisoned by the Lord Say, but was released on bail and next April was chosen Junior Proctor of the University. He died at Oxford on the 29th of November, 1643, of a malignant fever (called the camp-disease) and was buried on the 1st of December at the upper end of the north aisle of Christ Church Cathedral. His reputation amongst his contemporaries was enormous, and Fell said of him: Cartwright was the utmost man could come to. Lloyd is still more enthusiastic in his praise: To have the same person cast his net and catch souls as well in the pulpit as on the stage! A miracle of industry and witt, sitting sixteen hours a day at all manner of knowledge, an excellent preacher in whom hallowed fancies and reason grew visions and holy passions, raptures and extasies, and all this at thirty years of age! When The Royal Slave, a Tragi-Comedy, was performed before the King and Queen by the students of Christ Church in 1636, the Court unanimously acknowledg’d that it did exceed all things of that nature which they had ever seen, and his early death was felt to deal a mortal blow to the stage. The King, who was then at Oxford, being asked why he wore black on the day of Cartwright’s funeral, replied that since the Muses had so much mourned for the loss of such a son, it would be a shame for him not to appear in mourning for the loss of such a subject.]
GLOCESTERSHIRE IS FAMOUS for the birth of William Cartwright at a place called Northway neer Tewksbury. Were he alive now he would be sixty-one. (This I have from his brother, who lives not far from me, and from his sisters whom I called upon in Glocestershire at Leckhampton. His sister Howes was 57 yeares old the 10 March last: her brother William was 4 yeares older.)
His father was a gentleman of 300 pounds per annum. He kept his Inne at Cirencester, but a year or therabout, where he declined and lost by it too. He had by his wife 100 pounds per annum, in Wiltshire, an impropriation, which his son has now (but having many children, lives not handsomely and haz lost his Learning: he was by the second wife, whose estate this was).
He writt a Treatise of Metaphysique, as also Sermons, particularly the Sermon that by the King’s command he preached at His return from Edge-hill fight.
William Cartwright was buried in the south aisle in Christ Church, Oxon. Pitty ’tis so famous a Bard should lye without an Inscription.
’Tis not to be forgott that King Charles 1st dropt a teare at the newes of his death.
LUCIUS CARY: VISCOUNT FALKLAND
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[Born 1610. Poet, statesman, courtier. Imprisoned in the Fleet to prevent him fighting a duel 1630. Vainly sought service in Holland before serving as a volunteer against the Scots 1639. Member of the Short and Long Parliaments. Spoke against Laud’s ecclesiastical tyranny and for Strafford’s attainder, but opposed the abolition of Episcopacy 1641. Secretary of State 1642. Accompanied Charles I to York and was sent to negotiate with Parliament 1642. Present at the siege of Gloucester. Despairing of peace, he threw away his life at Newbury fight in September 1643. His verses and philosophical tractates were published posthumously.]
HE M
ARIED LETICE, the daughter of Sir Richard Morison, by whom he had two sonnes; the eldest lived to be a man, died sine prole [without issue], the second was father to this Lord Falkland now living.
This Lady Letice was a good and pious Lady, as you may see by her Life writt about 1649 or 50, by John Duncomb D.D. But I will tell you a pretty story from William Hawes, of Trin. Coll., who was well acquainted with the Governor aforesaid, who told him that my Lady was (after the manner of woemen) much governed by, and indulgent to, the Nursery: when she had a mind to beg any thing of my Lord for one of her mayds, nurses, etc., she would not doe it by herselfe (if she could helpe it) but putt this Gentleman upon it, to move it to my Lord. My Lord had but a small estate for his Title; and the old gentleman would say, Madam, this is so unreasonable a motion to propose to my Lord that I am certaine he will never grant it; e.g. one time to lett a Farme twenty pound per annum: under value. At length, when she could not prevaile on him, she would say that, I warrant you, for all this, I will obtaine it of my Lord: it will cost me but the expence of a few Teares. Now she would make her words good: and this great Witt, the greatest master of Reason and Judgement of his time, at the long runne, being stormed by her Teares (I presume there were kisses and secret embraces that were also ingredients) would this pious Lady obtain her unreasonable desires of her poor Lord.
My Lord in his Youth was very wild, and also mischievous, as being apt to stabbe and doe bloudy mischiefs; but ’twas not long before he tooke up to be serious, and then grew to be an extraordinary hard student. I have heard Dr. Ralph Bathurst say that, when he was a boy, my Lord lived at Coventrey (where he had then a House) and that he would sett up very late at nights at his study, and many times came to the Library at the Schoole there.
The Studies in fashion in those dayes (in England) were Poetrey; and Controversie with the Church of Rome. My Lord’s Mother was a Zealous Papist, who being very earnest to have her son of her Religion, and her son upon that occasion, labouring hard to find the Trueth, was so far at last from setling on the Romish church, that he setled and rested in the Polish (I meane Socinianisme.) He was the first Socinian in England; and Dr. Hugh Crescy, of Merton Coll. (Dean of Leighlin in Ireland, afterwards a Bendictin Monke) told me that he himselfe was the first that brought Socinus’s bookes; shortly after, my Lord comeing to him, and casting his eie on them, would needs presently borrow them, to peruse; and was so extremely taken and satisfied with them, that from that time was his Conversion.
My Lord much lived at Tue, which is a pleasant seat, and about 12 miles from Oxford; his Lordship was acquainted with the best Witts of that University, and his House was like a Colledge, full of Learned men. Mr. William Chillingworth, of Trinity College in Oxford (afterwards D.D.) was his most intimate and beloved favourite, and was most commonly with my Lord. His chaplaine Charles Gataker was an ingeniose young Gentleman, but no Writer. For learned Gentlemen of the Country, his acquaintance was Mr. Sandys, the Traveller and Translator; Ben. Johnson; Edmund Waller, Esq.; Mr. Thomas Hobbes, and all the excellent of that peacable time.
In the Civill-warres he adhered to King Charles I, who after Edge-hill fight made him Principall Secretary of Estate (with Sir Edward Nicholas) which he dischardged with a great deal of Witt and Prudence, only his advice was very unlucky to his Majestie, in perswading him (after the victory at Rowndway-downe, and the taking of Bristowe) to sitt-downe before Glocester, which was so bravely defended by that incomparably vigilant Governor, Col. Massey, and the diligent and careful soldiers and citizens (men and woemen) that it so broke and weakened the King’s Army, that ’twas the procatractique cause of his ruine. After this, all the King’s matters went worse and worse. At the fight at Newbery, my Lord Falkland being there, and having nothing to doe to chardge; as the two armies were engageing, rode in like a mad-man (as he was) between them, and was (as he needs must be) shott. Some that were your superfine discoursing politicians and fine Gentlemen, would needs have the reason of this mad action of throwing away his Life so, to be his discontent for the unfortunate advice given to his master as aforesaid; but, I have been well enformed, by those who best knew him, and knew intrigues behind the curtaine (as they say) that it was the griefe of the death of Mris. Moray, a handsome Lady at Court, who was his Mistresse, and whom he loved above all creatures, was the true cause of his being so madly guilty of his own Death, as afore mentioned.
The next day, when they went to bury the dead, they could not find his Lordship’s body; it was stript and trod-upon and mangled, so there was one that wayted on him in his chamber would undertake to know it from all other bodyes, by a certaine Mole his Lordship had in his Neck, and by that marke did finde it. He lies interred at Great Tue, but, I thinke, yet without any monument.
In the dining roome, there is a picture of his at length, and like him (’twas done by Jacob de Valke, who taught me to paint.) He was a little man and of no great strength of body; he had blackish haire, something flaggy, and I thinke his eies black. Dr. Earles would not allow him to be a good poet, though a great Witt; he writt not a smoth verse, but a great deal of Sense.
SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH
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[Born 1591. Mathematician. Brother of the first Duke of Newcastle. Accompanied Sir Henry Wotton to France 1612. Knighted 1619. M.P. for Nottingham 1624, 1628 and 1640. On the outbreak of the Civil War he served for the King, under his brother, as lieutenant-general of horse 1642. Despairing of the Royal cause, he went to Hamburg in 1644 and remained on the Continent until 1651. He then returned to London, where he lived in extreme poverty as his estates had been confiscated. He was at last admitted to compound, on making submission to Parliament, and bought back Welbeck and Bolsover, which had been confiscated from his brother. Died 1654.]
SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH was the younger Brother to William, Duke of Newcastle. He was a little, weake, crooked man, and nature having not adapted him for the Court nor Campe, he betooke himself to the Study of the Mathematiques, wherin he became a great Master. His father left him a good Estate, the revenue wherof he expended on bookes and on learned men.
He had collected in Italie, France, &c., with no small chardge, as many Manuscript Mathematicall bookes as filled a Hogges-head, which he intended to have printed; which if he had lived to have donne, the growth of Mathematicall Learning had been 30 yeares or more forwarder then ’tis. But he died of the Scurvey, contracted by hard study, about 1652, and left an Attorney of Clifford’s Inne, his Executor, who shortly after died, and left his Wife Executrix, who sold this incomparable Collection aforesaid, by weight to the past-board makers for Wast-paper. A good Caution for those that have good MSS. to take care to see them printed in their life-times.
He writt severall things in Mathematiques for his owne pleasure.
CHARLES CAVENDISH
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[Born 1620. Royalist General. Travelled in the East 1638–1640. Served under the Prince of Orange 1641. At the beginning of the Civil War he became a volunteer in the Guards. He was given a troop after Edgehill. He raised a regiment of horse and was given command in Nottinghamshire and Lincoln. He was victorious at Grantham, Ancaster and Burton-on-Trent, but was defeated and slain at Gainsborough in 1643, at the age of twenty-three.]
CHARLES CAVENDISH, COLONEL, was second son to the Right Honourable Earle of Devonshire, brother to this present Earle, William.
He was well educated, and then travelled into France, Italie, &c.; but was so extremely delighted in travelling, that he went into Greece, all over; and that would not serve his turne but he would goe to Babylon, and then his Governour would not adventure to goe any further with him; but to see Babylon he was to march in the Turks armie.
Upon his returne into England the Civill Warres brake-out, and he tooke a Commission of a Colonel in his Majestie’s Cause, wherin he did his Majestie great service, and gave signall proofs of his Valour.
He was the Souldiers’ Mignion, and his Majestie’s Darling, designed by him Generall of the Northern Horse (and his Commi
ssion was given him) a great marke of Honour for one of about five and twenty: Thus shall it be donne to the man whom the King delights to Honour.
Col. Cavendish was a Princely person, and all his actions were agreable to that character: he had in an eminent degree the semblance and appearance of a man made to governe. Methinkes he gave cleare this indication, the King’s Cause lived with him, the King’s Cause died with him; when Cromwell heard that he was Slaine, he cried upon it We have donne our Businesse.
And yet two things (I must confess) this Commander knew not, pardon his ignorance, he knew not to Flie away—he knew not how to aske quarter—though an older did, I meane Henderson; for when this bold person entred Grantham on the one side, that wary Gentleman, who should have attaqued it, fled away on the other. If Cato thought it Usurpation in Caesar to give him his Life, Cavendish thought it a greater for Traytors and Rebells of a common Size to give him his. This brave Hero might be opprest (as he was at last by numbers) but he could not be conquered.
What wonders might have been expected from a Commander so Vigilant, so Loyall, so Constant, had he not dropt downe in his blooming age? But though he fell in his green yeares, he fell a prince, and a great one too; one whose Loyaltie to his great Master nothing could shake.
An high Extraction to some persons is like the Dropsie, the greatnesse of the man is his disease, and renders him unwieldlie: but here is a Person of great Extract free from the swelling of Greatness, as brisk and active as the lightest Horseman that fought under him. In some parts of India, they tell us, that a Nobleman accounts himselfe polluted if a Plebeian touch him; but here is a person of that rank who used the same familiaritie and frankness amongst the meanest of his Souldiers, the poorest miner, and amongst his equalls; and by stooping so low, he rose the higher in the common account, and was valued accordingly as a Prince, and a Great one.