by John Aubrey
Sir Robert Harley, an ingeniose Gent and expert Soldier, haz often sayd, that (generally) the Commanders of the King’s Army would never be acquainted with their Soldiers, which was an extraordinary Prejudice to the King’s Cause. A Captaine’s good look, or good word (some times) does infinitely winne them and oblige them; and he would say ’twas to admiration how Souldiers will venture their Lives for an obligeing Officer.
Consider Abner in the Manner of his Fall, that was by a treacherous hand, and so fell Cavendish. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab tooke him aside in the Gate to speake with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth Rib, that he died, for the bloud of Asahel his brother. Thus fell Abner; and thus Cavendish,—the Colonell’s horse being mired in a bog at the Fight before Gainsborough, 1643, the Rebels surround him, and take him Prisoner; and after he was so, a base raskall comes behind him, and runs him through. Thus fell two great men by treacherous handes.
And lastly, the place of his Fall, that was in Israel. Here Abner fell in his, and Cavendish fell in our Israel—the Church of England. In this Church brave Cavendish fell, and what is more then that, in this Churches quarrel.
Thus I have compared Colonel Cavendish with Abner, a fighting and a famous man in Israel; you see how he does equal, how he does exceed him.
THOMAS CHALONER
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[Born 1595. Regicide. M.P. for Richmond in Yorkshire 1645–1653. Commissioner in Munster 1647. He was one of Charles I’s judges, and although he was absent on the last day, when sentence was given, he signed the death warrant. Councillor of State 1651. In 1653, at the violent dissolution of the Long Parliament, Cromwell called him a drunkard. M.P. for Scarborough 1659. Excluded from pardon 1660. Died 1661.]
THOMAS CHALONER, ESQ., was a well bred Gentleman, and of very good naturall parts, and of an agreable Humor. He had the accomplishments of Studies at home, and Travells in France, Italie and Germanie.
Riding a-hunting in Yorkshire (where the Allum Workes now are) on a Common, he tooke notice of the soyle and herbage, and tasted the water, and found it to be like that where he had seen the Allum workes in Germanie. Wherupon he gott a Patent of the King (Charles I) for an Allum-worke (which was the first that ever was in England) which was worth to him two thousand pounds per annum, or better; but some Courtiers did thinke the Profitt too much for him, and prevailed so with the King, that, notwithstanding the Patent aforesayd, he graunted a Moietie, or more, to another (a courtier) which was the reason that made Mr. Chaloner so interest himselfe for the Parliament-cause, and, in revenge, to be one of the King’s Judges.
He was as far from a Puritan as the East from the West. He was of the Naturall Religion, and of Henry Martyn’s Gang, and one who loved to enjoy the pleasures of this life. He was (they say) a good Scholar, but he wrote nothing that I heare of, onely an anonymous pamphlett An Account of the Discovery of Moyses’s Tombe; which was written very wittily. It was about 1652. It did sett the Witts of all the Rabbis of the Assembly then to worke, and ’twas a pretty while before the Shamme was detected.
He had a trick sometimes to goe into Westminster-hall in a morning in Terme-time, and tell some strange story (Sham) and would come thither again about 11 or 12 to have the pleasure to heare how it spred; and sometimes it would be altered, with additions, he could scarce know it to be his owne. He was neither proud nor covetous, nor a hypocrite: not apt to doe injustice, but apt to revenge.
After the restauration of King Charles the Second, he kept the Castle at the Isle of Man, where he had a pretty Wench that was his Concubine; where when Newes was brought him that there were some come to the Castle to demaund it for his Majestie, he spake to his Girle to make him a Possett, into which he putt, out of a paper he had, some Poyson, which did, in a very short time, make him fall a-vomiting exceedingly; and after some time vomited nothing but Bloud. His Retchings were so violent that the Standers by were much grieved to behold it. Within three howres he dyed. The Demandants of the Castle came and sawe him dead: he was swoln so extremely that they could not see any eie he had, and no more of his nose than the tip of it, which shewed like a Wart, and his Coddes were swoln as big as one’s head.
WILLIAM CHILLINGWORTH
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[Born 1602. Divine. Educated at Oxford. Falling into theological doubts, he became a convert to Roman Catholicism and studied at the Jesuit College at Douay in 1630. In the following year he returned to Oxford and, after further consideration of the points at issue, he rejoined the Church of England. This exposed him to violent attacks by the Romanists, in reply to which he published in 1637 The Religion of the Protestants a Safe Way to Salvation. He was regarded as one of the ablest controversialists of the Anglican Church. Died 1644.]
WILLIAM CHILLINGWORTH, D.D., was borne in Oxford. His father was a Brewer.
About anno 1630, he was acquainted with one who drew him and some other scholars over to Doway, where he was not so well entertained as he thought he merited for his great Disputative Witt. They made him the porter (which was to trye his temper, and exercise his obedience) so he stole over and came to Trinity College again, where he was fellowe.
William Laud, A.B.C., was his Godfather and great friend. He sent his Grace weekly intelligence of what passed in the University. Sir William Davenant (poet laureat) told me that notwithstanding this Doctor’s great Reason, he was guilty of the detestable Crime of Treacherie. Dr. Gill, Filius Dris. Gill (Schoolmaster of Paules-schoole) and Chillingworth held weekely intelligence one with another for some yeares, wherein they used to nibble at states-matters. Dr. Gill in one of his letters calles King James and his sonne, the old foole and the young one, which letter Chillingworth communicates to W. Laud, A. B. Cant. The poore young Dr. Gill was seised, and a terrible storme pointed towards him, which, by the eloquent intercession and advocation of Edward, Earle of Dorset, together with the Teares of the poore old Doctor, his father, and supplications on his knees to his Majestie, were blowne-over. I am sorry so great a witt should have such a naeve.
He was a little man, blackish haire, of a Saturnine complexion. He never swore to all the points of the Church of England.
The Lord Falkland and he had such extraordinary clear reasons, that they were wont to say at Oxon that if the great Turke were to be converted by naturall reason, these two were the persons to convert him.
When Doctor Kettle (the president of Trin. Coll. Oxon.) dyed, which was in anno 1643, Dr. Chillingworth was Competitor for the Presidentship, with Dr. Hannibal Potter and Dr. Roberts. Dr. Han. Potter had been formerly Chaplain to the Bishop of Winton, who was so much Dr. Potter’s friend, that though (as Will Hawes haz told me) Dr. Potter was not lawfully elected, upon referring themselves to their visitor (Bishop of Winton), the Bishop (Curle) ordered Dr. Potter possession; and let the fellowes gett him out if they could. This was shortly after the Lord Falkland was slaine, who had he lived, Dr. Chillingworth assured Will. Hawes, no man should have carried it against him: and that he was so extremely discomposed and wept bitterly for the losse of his deare Friend, yet notwithstanding he doubted not to have an astergance for it.
My tutor, W. Browne, haz told me, that Dr. Chillingworth studied not much, but when he did, he did much in a little time. He much delighted in Sextus Empeiricus. He did walke much in the College grove, and there contemplate, and meet with some cod’s-head or other, and dispute with him and baffle him. He thus prepared himselfe before-hand. I thinke it was an Epidemick evill of that time, which I thinke is growne out of fashion, as unmannerly and boyish. He was the readiest and nimblest Disputant of his time in the university, perhaps none haz equalled him since.
I have heard Mr. Thomas Hobbes, Malmsb. (who knew him) say, that he was like a lusty fighting fellow that did drive his enimies before him, but would often give his owne party smart back-blowes.
He lies buried in the south side of the Cloysters at Chichester, where he dyed of the morbus castrensis [siphylis] after the taking of Arundel castle by the Parliament: wherin he
was very much blamed by the King’s soldiers for his Advice in military affaires there, and they curst that little Priest and imputed the Losse of the Castle to his advice. In his sicknesse he was inhumanely treated by Dr. Cheynell, who, when he was to be buryed, threw his booke into the grave with him, saying, Rott with the rotten; let the dead bury the dead.
GEORGE CLIFFORD: EARL OF CUMBERLAND
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[Born 1558. Courtier and Adventurer. Succeeded his father as third Earl 1570. Having run through a great part of his very handsome property, he seized on the opportunity offered by the war with Spain to re-establish himself. In 1588 he commanded the Elizabeth Bonaventure, a Queen’s ship of 600 tons, against the Spanish Armada and, after the decisive action off Gravelines, carried the news of the victory to the camp at Tilbury. The reports of his gallantry so pleased the Queen, that she lent him the Golden Lion, and later the Victory, to undertake expeditions to the South Seas. At his own expense, he fitted out ten privateering expeditions against Spain and Spanish America between 1586 and 1598, sailing personally with those of 1589, 1591, 1593 and 1598. At Court he was in high favour with the Queen, whose glove, set with diamonds, he wore as a plume in his hat. But want of fortune or management attended all his expeditions, and his loss seemed greater than his gain. Having at his majority inherited a large property, he was nearly a thousand pounds in debt when he died in 1605.]
THIS GEORGE, EARL of Cumberland, built the greatest Fleet of shipping that ever any Subject did. The Armada of the Argonautes was but a trifle to this. He was the greatest Navigator and did the most prodigious things at sea that ever any subject did at his own cost: he had a little fleet of (I thinke 20) brave ships of his own building and manning: for doing whereof he sold the Inheritance of above sixteen thousand pounds per annum; did great things against the Spaniard, etc: in the West Indies, whose atchievements would have much more compensated his chardges. But the Queen and councell when he had donne these things, seised on all his prizes and kept his ships, saying it was not to the safety of State to have any subject doe such great things.
He had a vast Estate, and could then ride in his owne lands from Yorkeshire to Westmorland.
The best account of his Expedition with his Fleet to America is to be found in Purchas’s Pilgrim. He tooke from the Spaniards to the value of seaven or 8 hundred thousand poundes. When he returned with this rich Cargo (the richest without doubt that ever Subject brought) the Queene’s Councell (where he had some that envyed him—Virtutis comes Invidia: [Envy is the attendant of Greatness]) layed their heads together and concluded ’twas too much for a Subject to have, and confiscated it all to the Queen, even the Shippes and all, and to make restauration to the Spaniard, that he was forced to sell fifteene thousand pounds per annum.
This was the breaking of that ancient and noble Family; but Robert, Earl of Salisbury (who was the chiefest Enemie) afterwards maried his Daughter, as he might well be touch’t in conscience, to make some recompence after he had donne so much mischiefe.
As I take it, Sir Walter Ralegh went this brave Voyage with his Lordship; and Mr. Edmund Wright, the excellent Navigator; and, not unlikely, Mr. Harriot too.
SIR EDWARD COKE
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[Born 1552. Judge and law writer. Educated at Norwich Free School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Went to reside in Clifford’s Inn in 1571, where he soon obtained a good practice. He married Bridget Paston, who brought him £30,000, besides a considerable property in land, and throughout his life he steadily added to his possessions. Advanced by Burghley’s influence, he became Recorder of London and Solicitor-General in 1592, Speaker of the House of Commons in 1593 and Attorney-General in 1594. To spite Bacon, he married Burghley’s granddaughter in 1598. Began publishing his Law Reports 1600. He showed great rancour in the trials of Essex, Raleigh and the Gunpowder Plotters. Decided against the King’s authority to make law by proclamation 1610. Compelled, through Bacon’s influence and against his own wish, to become Chief Justice of the King’s Bench 1613. Suspended, partly through Bacon’s representations to James I, and then dismissed from this office 1616. Though he returned to power later, his chief fame rests on his Reports, which established the supremacy of the Common Law in England. Died 1634.]
WHEN I WAS first of the Middle Temple, I neard an old Lawyer, who was his country-man affirme that Sir Edward Coke, Knight, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, was borne but to 300 pounds a yeare land, and I have heard some of his country say again that he was borne but to 40 pounds per annum. What shall one beleeve?
He was of Clifford’s Inne before he was of the Inner Temple, as the fashion then was first to be of an Inne of Chancery.
Old John Tussell (that was my attorney) haz told me that he gott a hundred thousand pounds in one yeare, viz. 1° Jacobi, being then Attorney-Generall. His advice was that every man of Estate (right or wrong) should sue-out his Pardon, which cost 5 pounds which belonged to him.
He left an estate of eleaven thousand pounds per annum. Sir John Danvers, who knew him, told me that he had heard one say to him, reflecting on his great scraping of wealth, that his sonnes would spend his Estate faster than he gott it; he replyed, They cannot take more delight in the spending of it then I did in the getting of it.
His second wife, Elizabeth, the relickt of Sir William Hatton, was with Child when he maried her: laying his hand on her belly (when he came to bed) and finding a Child to stirre, What, sayd he, Flesh in the Pott. Yea, quoth she, or els I would not have maried a Cooke.
He shewed himselfe too clownish and bitter in his carriage to Sir Walter Ralegh at his Triall, where he sayes Thou Traytor, at every word, and thou lyest like a Traytor.
He will play with his Case as a Cat would with a mouse and be so fulsomely Pedantique that a Schoole boy would nauseate it. But when he comes to matter of Lawe, all acknowledge him to be admirable.
When Mr. Cuff, secretary to the Earle of Essex, was arraigned, he would dispute with him in Syllogismes, till at last one of his brethern said, Prithee, brother, leave off: thou doest dispute scurvily. Cuff was a smart man and a great Scholar and baffeld him. Said Cooke, Dominum cognoscite vestrum [Know your own Master] Cuff replied, My Lord, you leave out the former part of the verse, which you should have repeated, Acteon ego sum, reflecting on his being a Cuckold.
After he was putt out of his place of Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, to spite him, they made him Sheriff of Buckinghamshire; at which time he caused the Sheriff’s oath to be altered, which till that time was, amongst other things, to emquire after and apprehend all Lollards. He was also chosen, after he was displaced, a Burghesse to sitt in Parliament.
He was of wonderfull painstaking, as appeares by his Writings. He was short-sighted but never used spectacles to his dyeing day, being then 83 yeares of age. He was a very handsome proper man and of a curious compexion, as appeares by his Picture at the Inner Temple, which his grandson gave them about 1668, at length, in his Atturney generall’s fusted gowne, which the House haz turned into Judge’s robes.
The world expected from him a Commentary on Littleton’s Tenures; and he left them his Common-place book, which is now so much made use of.
Memorandum:—when the Play called Ignoramus (made by one Ruggles of Clare-hall) was acted with great applause before King James, they dressed Sir Ignoramus like Chief Justice Coke and cutt his beard like him and feigned his voyce. This drollery did sett all the Lawyers against the Clergie, and shortly upon this Mr. Selden wrote of Tythes not jure divino.
JEAN BAPTISTE COLBERT
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[Born 1619. Statesman. Louis XIV made it a rule to work in person at what he called his business as king. He carried on his operations regardless of the great dignitaries of the land, closeting himself with three or four confidential ministers, and himself deciding all the important business of government in accordance with the reports they made to him. Since these ministers were men of bourgeois origin, Louis XIV imagined himself to be dealing with mere cler
ks who were the instruments of his will. But as a matter of fact, since they possessed experience of affairs and were acquainted with the details of administration, they were able to suggest to the King whatever decisions they desired him to make. The most active of these ministers was Colbert, for whom was created the new office of Controller-General of Finance with which he combined two other Secretaryships of State so as to concentrate in his own hands all business except the army and diplomacy. Colbert had no new ideas to contribute: in his view the most important thing was to keep the greatest possible quantity of money in the kingdom; he therefore tried to discourage imports and to hamper the maritime trade of other countries, while encouraging the manufacture of industrial products in France by creating trading companies, each of which enjoyed a monopoly in a certain field. But all these companies went bankrupt, leaving only a few traces behind them, such as the Gobelins and Beauvais tapestry works, the mirror manufactory of Saint-Gobain and the lace of Chantilly and Alencon. While he was responsible for the navy, Colbert tried in vain to revive the galleys in the Mediterranean, but his influence produced effects on the Atlantic fleet which have lasted until the present day. For he imposed registration and compulsory service on all the sailors and fishermen of France and he founded the Naval Pensions Fund, the most ancient insurance fund in France. He died in 1683.]