by John Aubrey
MONSIEUR COLBERT WAS a Merchant and an excellent Accomptant, i.e. for Debtor and Creditor. He is of Scotish extraction and that obscure enough, his grandfather being a Scotish bag-piper to the Scotch regiment.
Cardinal Mezarin found that his Stables were very chardgeable to him, and was imposed upon in his Accompts. He hearing of this merchant Colbert to be a great master in this Art, sends for him and desires him to make inspection into his accounts and putt him into a better method to avoyd being abused. Which he did, and that so well that he imployed him in ordering the accounts of all his Estate and found him so usefull that he also made use of him to methodize and settle the Accompts of the King. This was his Rise.
JOHN COLET
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[Born 1467. Scholar and theologian. He was the son of a wealthy citizen, who was twice Lord Mayor of London. The only survivor of a family of twenty-two, he went to Oxford and Paris, and thence to Italy, where he learned Greek and probably met Savonarola. Deciding to enter the Church, several livings were conferred on him by his family in 1485, while he was still a minor and long before he was ordained: for it was not until 1497 that he became a deacon and, the year after that, a priest. He continued to follow his studies, devoting himself chiefly to St. Paul’s Epistles, on which he lectured in Latin at Oxford. He was outspoken against the corruptions of the Church, and would have been called to account but for the protection of Archbishop Warham: he was, in fact, later accused of heresy and treason. He had the spirit of a scientific enquirer, holding that the first four chapters of Genesis should be considered as poetry rather than fact, and that we should love God rather than know Him. He became friendly with Erasmus in 1498, and Sir Thomas More called him his spiritual director. In 1504 he was appointed Dean of St. Paul’s. He inherited a vast fortune on his father’s death in 1505, and spent £40,000 of it on the foundation of St. Paul’s School. It is rather for his learning and his attitude to the advancement of knowledge, than for his own writings, that he has such a high place in the history of English literature. He died in 1519.]
JOHN COLET, D.D., Deane of St. Paule’s, London. After the Conflagration (his Monument being broken) somebody made a little hole towards the upper edge of his Coffin, which was closed like the coffin of a Pye and was full of a Liquour which conserved the body. Mr. Wyld and Ralph Greatorex tasted it and ’twas of a kind of insipid tast, something of an Ironish tast. The Coffin was of Lead, and layd in the Wall about 2 foot ½ above the surface of the Floore.
This was a strange rare way of conserving a Corps: perhaps it was a Pickle, as for Beefe, whose Saltness in so many years the Lead might sweeten and render insipid. The body felt, to the probe of a stick which they thrust into a chinke, like boyld Brawne.
THOMAS COOPER
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[Born 1517. Divine and scholar. The son of an Oxford tailor. It had been Cooper’s intention to take Orders, but having adopted Protestant views, he found himself checked by the accession of Queen Mary. He therefore changed his pursuit, took a degree in Physic and began to practise in Oxford. In 1545 Thomas Lanquet died while writing a Chronicle of the World: he had brought it down from the Creation to A.D. 17, and Cooper undertook to carry it on to the reign of Edward VI. Cooper’s Chronicle A.D. 17–1547 was published in 1549. In 1548 he had published a Latin Dictionary. On the death of Mary he was ordained, and in 1565 he published his Thesaurus Linguae Romanorum, which delighted Queen Elizabeth so much that she expressed her determination to promote the author as far as lay in her power. Cooper was therefore made Dean of Christ Church and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford in 1567, Dean of Gloucester in 1569, Bishop of Lincoln in 1570 and of Winchester in 1584. His wife was utterly profligate, but he refused to be divorced, even when the heads of the University offered to arrange it for him, declaring that he would not charge his conscience with such a scandal. He was lampooned by Martin Mar-Prelate in 1588 and 1589 and published an Admonition in his own defence in the latter year. He died in 1594.]
DR. EDWARD DAVENANT told me that this learned man had a shrew to his wife: who was irreconcileably angrie with him for sitting-up late at night so, compileing his Dictionarie.
When he had halfe-donne it, she had the opportunity to gett into his studie, tooke all his paines out in her lap, and threw it into the fire, and burnt it. Well, for all that, the good man had so great a zeale for the advancement of learning, that he began it again, and went through with it to that Perfection that he hath left it to us, a most usefull Worke. He was afterwards made Bishop of Winton.
RICHARD CORBET
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[Born 1582. Divine. He was friendly with the powerful Duke of Buckingham, who procured the Deanery of Christ Church for him in 1620. In 1628 when the Deanery was required by the Earl of Dorset for Brian Duppa, Corbet was elected to the vacant see of Oxford, and was translated to Norwich in 1622. He was acknowledged the best poet of all the bishops of England, and though his verse was usually in a rollicking satiric vein, he wrote one extremely bitter poem Upon Mrs. Mallet, an unhandsome gentlewoman that made love to him. He died in 1635.]
RICHARD CORBET, D.D., was the son of Vincent Corbet, who was a Gardner at Twicknam. He was a Westminster scholar; old Parson Bussey, of Alscott in Warwickshire, went to schoole with him. He would say that he was a very handsome man, but something apt to abuse, and a Coward.
He was a Student of Christ Church in Oxford. He was very facetious, and a good Fellowe. One time, he and some of his acquaintance being merry at Fryar Bacon’s study (where was good liquor sold) they were drinking on the Leads of the house, and one of the scholars was a sleepe, and had a paire of goode silke stockings on. Dr. Corbet (then M.A. if not B.D.) gott a paire of Cizers and cutt them full of little Holes, but when the other awaked, and perceived how and by whom he was abused, he did chastise him, and made him pay for them.
After he was Doctor of Divinity, he sang Ballads at the Crosse at Abingdon on a market-day. He and some of his Camerades were at the Taverne by the Crosse (which, by the way, was then the finest of England; I remember it when I was a Freshman; it was admirable curious Gothique Architecture, and fine Figures in the niches; ’twas one of those built by King Edward I for his Queen). The Ballad-singer complayned he had no custome; he could not putt-off his Ballads. The jolly Dr. putts-off his Gowne, and putts-on the Ballad-singer’s Leathern jacket, and being a handsome man, and had a rare full Voice, he presently vended a great many, and had a great Audience.
He was made Deane of Christ Church. He had good Interest with great men, as you may find in his Poems, and with the then great Favourite, the Duke of Bucks. His excellent Witt was lettres of recommendation to him. I have forgott the story, but at the same time that Dr. Fell thought to have carried it, Dr. Corbett putt a pretty trick on, to lett him take a journey on purpose to London for it, when he had already the Graunt of it. His Poems are pure naturall Witt, delightfull and easie.
He preached a Sermon before the King at Woodstock (I suppose King James) and no doubt with a very good grace; but it happened that he was out, on which occasion there were made these verses:
A reverend Deane,
With his Ruffe starch’t cleane,
Did preach before the King:
In his Band-string was spied
A Ring that was tyed,
Was not that a pritty thing?
The Ring without doubt
Was the thing putt him out,
So oft hee forgot what was next;
For all that were there,
On my conscience dare sweare
That he handled it more than his Text.
His conversation was extreme pleasant. Dr. Stubbins was one of his Cronies; he was a jolly fatt Dr. and a very good house-keeper; parson in Oxfordshire. As Dr. Corbet and he were riding in Lob Lane in wett weather (’tis an extraordinary deepe, dirty lane) the coach fell; and Dr. Corbet sayd that Dr. Stubbins was up to the elbowes in mud, he was up to the elbowes in Stubbins.
He was made Bishop of Oxford, and I have heard that he
had an admirable, grave and venerable aspect.
One time, as he was Confirming, the country-people pressing in to see the Ceremonie, sayd he, Beare off there, or I’le confirm yee with my Staffe. Another time, being to lay his hand on the head of a man very bald, he turns to his chaplaine, Lushington, and sayd, Some Dust, Lushington, (to keepe his hand from slipping). There was a man with a great venerable Beard: sayd the Bishop, You, behind the Beard.
His Chaplain, Dr. Lushington, was a very learned and ingeniose man, and they loved one another. The Bishop sometimes would take the key of the wine-cellar, and he and his Chaplaine would goe and lock themselves in and be merry. Then first he layes downe his Episcopall hat—There lyes the Doctor. Then he putts off his gowne—There lyes the Bishop. Then ’twas, Here’s to thee, Corbet, and Here’s to thee, Lushington.
He married Alice Hutton, whom ’twas sayd he bigott. She was a very beautifull woman, and so was her mother. He had a son that went to schoole at Westminster, with Ned Bagshawe: a very handsome youth, but he is run out of all, and goes begging up and downe to Gentlemen.
His Antagonist, Dr. Price the Anniversarist, was made Deane of Hereford. Dr. Watts, Canon of that church, told me that this Deane was a mighty Pontificall proud man, and that one time when they went in Procession about the Cathedral church, he would not doe it the usually way in his surplice, hood, etc., on foot, but rode on a mare thus habited, with the Common prayer booke in his hand, reading. A stone horse happend to breake loose, and smelt the mare, and ran and leapt her, and held the Reverend Deane all the time so hard in his Embraces, that he could not gett off till the horse had done his bussinesse. But he would never ride in procession afterwards.
The last words he sayd were, Good night, hushington.
ABRAHAM COWLEY
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[Born 1618. Poet. In childhood he was greatly influenced by reading Spenser, a copy of whose poems was in the possession of his mother. This, he said, made him a poet. His first book, Poetic Blossoms, was written when he was only ten and published when he was fifteen. At Cambridge he was distinguished for his graceful translations. On the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the Royalists, was turned out of his College, and in 1646 followed the Queen to Paris, where he remained for twelve years, during which time he rendered unwearied service to the royal family and was employed on delicate diplomatic missions. At the Restoration he wrote some loyal odes, but was disappointed by being refused the Mastership of the Savoy, and retired to the country. Cowley’s fame among his contemporaries was much greater than that which posterity has accorded to him. He is said by Pope to have died of a fever brought on by lying in the fields after a drinking-bout in 1667.]
MR. ABRAHAM COWLEY: he was borne in Fleet-street, London, neer Chancery-lane; his father a Grocer.
He writ when a Boy at Westminster Poems and a Comedy called Love’s Riddle, dedicated to Sir Kenelme Digby.
A. C. discoursed very ill, and with hesitation.
In December 1648, King Charles the first, being in great trouble, and prisoner at Caeresbroke, or to be brought to London to his Triall; Charles Prince of Wales being then at Paris, and in profound sorrow for his father, Mr. Abraham Cowley went to wayte on him; his Highnesse asked him whether he would play at Cards, to diverte his sad thoughts. Mr. Cowley replied, he did not care to play at cards; but if his Highness pleasd, they would use Sortes Virgilianae (Mr. Cowley always had a Virgil in his pocket). The Prince accepted the proposal, and prick’t his pinne in the fourth booke of the Æneids. The Prince understood not Latin well, and desired Mr. Cowley to translate the verses, which he did admirably well, and Mr. George Ent (who lived in his house at Chertsey, in the great plague 1665) shewed me Mr. Cowley’s owne hand writing.
By a bold people’s stubborn arms opprest,
Forced to forsake the land he once possess’t,
Torn from his dearest sonne, let him in vaine
Seeke help, and see his friends unjustly slain.
Let him to base unequal termes submit,
In hope to save his crown, yet loose both it
And life at once, untimely let him dy,
And on an open stage unburied ly.
Now as to the last part, I well remember it was frequently and soberly affirmed by officers of the army, &c. Grandees, that the body of King Charles the First was privately putt into the Sand about White-hall; and the coffin that was carried to Windsor and layd in King Henry 8th’s vault was filled with rubbish, or brick-batts. Mr. Fabian Philips, who adventured his life before the King’s Tryall, by printing, assures me, that the Kings Coffin did cost but six shillings: a plain deale coffin.
He was Secretarie to the Earle of St. Albans (then Lord Jermyn) at Paris. When his Majestie returned, George, Duke of Bucks, hearing that at Chertsey was a good Farme belonging to the Queene-mother goes to the Earl of St. Alban’s and the commissioners to take a Lease of it. Said the Earle to him, That is beneath your Grace, to take a Lease. That is all one, qd. he, I desire to have the favour to buy it for my money. He payd for it, and had it, and freely and generously gave it to his deare and ingeniose friend, Mr. Abraham Cowley, for whom purposely he bought it: which ought not to be forgotten.
He lies interred at Westminster Abbey, next to Sir Jeffrey Chaucer, where the Duke of Bucks has putte a neate Monument of white marble; above that a very faire Urne, with a kind of Ghirland of Ivy about it. His Grace the Duke of Bucks held a tassell of the Pall.
Vide his Will, scilicet, for his true and lasting Charity, that is, he settles his Estate in such a manner that every yeare so much is to be payd for the enlarging of poor Prisoners cast into Gaole by cruel Creditors for small Debts. I doe think this memorable Benefaction is not mentioned in his life in print before his Workes; it is certainly the best method of Charity.
SIR CHARLES DANVERS
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[Born 1568. Soldier. His brothers were Henry, Earl of Danby and Sir John Danvers. Charles Danvers was elected a Member of Parliament in 1586, when he was eighteen. He served under Lord Willoughby in the Netherlands and was knighted by his commander in 1588. He and his brother Henry were outlawed for killing a neighbour, Henry Long, in a quarrel in 1593 and they took refuge in France, where Henri IV received them kindly and interceded with Queen Elizabeth in their behalf. However, it was not until 1598 that they were pardoned. In 1599 Charles Danvers was given a colonel’s commission in the army that accompanied Essex to Ireland and later joined in Essex’s abortive rising in 1601. He made a full confession, admitting his guilt, and was beheaded the same year.]
SOMMERFORD MAGNA—THE assassination of Harry Long was contrived in the parlour of the Parsonage here: R. Wisdome was then Lecturer and preacht that day, and Henry Long expired in his armes. My great-grandfather, R. Danvers, was in some trouble about it, his Horses and Men being in that Action. His Servants were hanged.
Sir John Danvers, the father, was a most beautifull and good and even-tempered person. He was of a mild and peacable nature, and his sonnes’ sad accident brake his heart.
George Herbert’s verses pinned on the Curtaine of the picture of old Sir John:
Passe not by: search and you may
Find a Treasure worth your stay.
What makes a Danvers would you find?
In a faire Bodie, a faire Minde.
Sir John Danvers’ earthly part
Here is copyed out by Art:
But his heavenly and divine
In his Progenie doth shine.
Had he only brought them forth
Know that much had been his Worth.
Ther’s no Monument to a Sonne:
Reade him there, and I have donne.
His picture is yet extant: my Cosen John Danvers (his Son) haz it.
Sir Henry Danvers, Knight, Earle of Danby and Baron of Dauntesey, was second sonn of old Sir John Danvers of Dauntesey Knight. He was of a magnificent and munificent spirit: and made that noble Physick-garden at Oxford, and endowed it with I think 30 pounds per annum.
; Henry, Earl of Danby, was page to Sir Philip Sydney. He perfected his Latin when a man by parson Oldham of Dodmerton; was a perfect master of the French; a Historian; Tall and spare; Temperate; sedate and solid; a very great favorite of Prince Henry. He bred up severall brave young Gentlemen, and preferred them, e.g. Colonel Leg, since Earl of Dartmouth, and severall others; lived most at Cornbury; a great Improver of his Estate, to eleaven thousand pounds per annum at the least, neer twelve. A great Oeconomist: He allowed three thousand pounds per annum only for his Kitchin. All his servants were sober and wise in their respective places.
He was made a Knight of the Garter A.D. 1633. For many years before St. Georges Feast had not been more magnificently kept, then when this Earle with the Earle of Morton were installed Knights of the Garter. One might then have beheld the abridgment of English, and Scotish in their Attendance. The Scotish Earle (like Zeuxis his Picture) adorned with all art and costlinesse: whilst our English Earle (like to the plaine sheet of Apelles) by the gravity of habit, gott the advantage of the Gallantry of his Corrival with judicious beholders.
He never maried; and by his Will made 1639, setled his Estate on his hopefull Nephew Henry D’Anvers (only sonne of Sr John Danvers) snatch’t away (before fully of age) to the great griefe of all good men.
Full of Honour, Wounds, and Dayes, he dyed Anno Domini 1643, and lies buried in a little Chapel made for his Monument, on the north side of Dantesey-church; near to the Vault where his father and ancestors lie.