by John Aubrey
’Twas Harry Martyn that saved Sir William Davenant’s life in the Howse. When they were talking of sacrificing one, then said Henry that in Sacrifices they always offered pure and without blemish: now yee talke of making a Sacrifice of an old rotten rascall. Vide H. Martyn’s life, where by this very jest, then forgott, the Lord Falkland saved H. Martyn’s life.
Being freed from imprisonment, because Playes (scil. Tragedies and Comoedies) were in those Presbyterian times scandalous, he contrives to set up an Opera stylo recitativo, wherein Serjeant Maynard and severall Citizens were engagers. It began at Rutland howse in Charter-house-yard; next at the Cock-pitt in Drury-Lane, where were acted very well, stylo recitativo, Sir Francis Drake, and the Siege of Rhodes. It did affect the Eie and eare extremely. This first brought Scenes in fashion in England; before, at playes, was only a Hanging.
Anno Domini 1660 was the happy restauration of his Majestie Charles II. Then was Sir William made, and the Tennis-Court in Little Lincolnes-Inne-fielde was turn’d into a Play-house for the Duke of Yorke’s Players, where Sir William had Lodgeings, and where he dyed.
I was at his funerall. He had a coffin of Walnutt-tree; Sir John Denham sayd ’twas the finest coffin that ever he sawe. His body was carried in a Herse from the Play-house to Westminster-abbey, where, at the great West dore, he was received by the Singingmen and Choristers, who sang the Service of the Church (I am the Resurrection, etc.) to his Grave, which is in the South crosse aisle, on which, on a paving stone of marble, is writt, in imitation of that on Ben Johnson: O rare Sir Will. Davenant.
But me thought it had been proper that a Laurell should have been sett on his Coffin—which was not donne.
JOHN DEE
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[Born 1527. Mathematician and astrologer. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, where the clever stage effects he introduced into a performance of Aristophanes’ Peace procured him his lifelong reputation of being a magician. Studied at Louvain 1548. Lectured on Euclid at Paris 1550. Rector of Upton-upon-Severn 1553. Acquitted by the Star Chamber of a charge of practising sorcery against Queen Mary’s life, but put under the surveillance of Bishop Bonner as a possible heretic. Suggested to Queen Mary the formation of a Royal Library of Ancient Manuscripts 1556. Visited Venice 1563. Made a voyage to St. Helena. Travelled to Hungary to present his Monas Hieroglyphica to Maximilian II 1563. Explained the appearance of a new star 1572. At her request, he gathered descriptions of newly discovered countries for Queen Elizabeth 1580. Made calculations to facilitate the adoption in England of the Gregorian Calendar 1583. Went to Prague and had interviews with the Emperor Rodolph II and Stephen of Poland (1584) but was compelled to leave by the representations of the Bishop of Piacenza 1585. He headed a small confraternity, which dissolved in 1589, for seeking the Philosopher’s Stone and invoking the angels. Warden of Manchester College 1595–1604. Fruitlessly petitioned James I to be formally cleared of the imputation of being a magician 1604. Wrote A Treatise of the Rosie Crucean Secrets. He invented the phrase “The British Empire.” Died 1608.]
HEE HAD A very faire cleare rosie complexion; a long beard as white as milke; he was tall and slender; a very handsome man. His Picture in a wooden cutt is at the end of Billingsley’s Euclid. He wore a Gowne like an Artist’s gowne, with hanging sleeves, and a slitt; a mighty good man he was.
My great Grandfather, Will: Aubrey, and he were Cosins, and intimate acquaintance. Mr. Ashmole hath letters between them, under their owne hands, viz. one of Dr. W. A. to him (ingeniosely and learnedly written) touching the Sovraignty of the Sea, of which J. D. writt a booke which he dedicated to Queen Elizabeth and desired my great grandfather’s advice upon it. Dr. A.’s countrey-house was at Kew, and J. Dee lived at Mortlack, not a mile distant. I have heard my grandmother say they were often together.
Among the MSS. in the Bodlean library of Doctor Gwyn, are severall letters between him and John Dee, of Chymistrey and Magicall Secrets.
Meredith Lloyd sayes that John Dee’s printed booke of Spirits, is not above the third part of what was writt, which were in Sir Robert Cotton’s Library; many whereof were much perished by being buryed, and Sir Robert Cotton bought the field to digge after it. He told me of John Dee, etc., conjuring at a poole in Brecknockshire, and that they found a wedge of Gold; and that they were troubled and indicted as Conjurors at the Assizes; that a mighty storme and tempest was raysed in harvest time, the countrey people had not knowen the like.
Old Goodwife Faldo (a Natif of Mortlak in Surrey) did know Dr. Dee, and told me that he did entertain the Polonian Ambassador at his howsein Mortlak, and dyed not long after; and that he shewed the Eclipse with a darke Roome to the said Ambassador. She beleeves that he was eightie years old when he dyed. She sayd, he kept a great many Stilles goeing. That he layd the storme. That the Children dreaded him because he was accounted a Conjurer. He recovered the Basket of Cloathes stollen, when she and his daughter (both Girles) were negligent: she knew this.
He used to distill Egge-shells, and ’twas from hence that Ben: Johnson had his hint of the Alkimist, whom he meant.
He was a great Peace-maker; if any of the neighbours fell out, he would never lett them alone till he had made them friends. He told a woman (his neighbour) that she laboured under the evill tongue of an ill neighbour (another woman) which came to her howse, who he sayd was a Witch.
He was sent Ambassador for Queen Elizabeth (Goody Faldo thinkes) into Poland. The Emperour of Muscovia, upon report of the great learning of the Mathematician, invited him to Mosco, with offer of two thousand pound a yeare, and from Prince Boris one thousand markes; to have his Provision from the Emperor’s Table, to be honourably received, and accounted as one of the chief men in the Land. All of which Dee accepted not.
His regayning of the Plate for a friend’s Butler, who comeing from London by water with a Basket of Plate, mistooke another basket that was like his. Mr. J. Dee bid them goe by water such a day, and looke about, and he should see the man that had his basket, and he did so; but he would not gett the lost horses, though he was offered severall angells.
Arthur Dee, his sonne, a Physitian at Norwych and intimate friend of Sir Thomas Browne, M.D., told Dr. Bathurst that (being but a Boy) he used to play at Quoits with the Plates of Gold made by Projection in the Garret of Dr. Dee’s Lodgings in Prague and that he had more than once seen the Philosopher’s Stone.
SIR JOHN DENHAM
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[Born 1615. Poet and architect. Son of the Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland. He began his literary career with a tragedy, The Sophy (1641), which seldom rises above mediocrity. His poem, Cooper’s Hill (1642), is the work by which he is remembered. It is the first example in English of a poem devoted to local description and was extravagantly praised by Dr. Johnson; but the place now assigned to Denham is a much more humble one. In his earlier years he suffered for his Royalism: but after the Restoration he enjoyed prosperity. Died 1669.]
SIR JOHN DENHAM was unpolished with the smallpox: otherwise a fine complexion. He was of the tallest, but a little incurvetting at his shoulders, not very robust. His haire was but thin and flaxen, with a moist curie. His gate was slow, and was rather a Stalking (he had long legges.) His Eie was a kind of light goose-gray, not big; but it had a strange Piercingness, not as to shining and glory, but (like a Momus) when he conversed with you he look’t into your very thoughts.
He was admitted of Trinity Colledge in Oxford: I have heard Mr. Josias Howe say that he was the dreamingst young fellow; he never expected such things from him as he haz left the world. When he was there he would Game extremely; when he had played away all his money he would play away his Father’s wrought rich gold Cappes. He was as good a Student as any in the House. Was not suspected to be a Witt.
He was much rooked by Gamesters, and fell acquainted with that unsanctified Crew, to his ruine. His father had some suspition of it, and chid him severely, wherupon his son John (only child) wrot a little Essay, Against Gameing, and to shew the Vani
ties and Inconveniences of it, which he presented to his father to let him know his detestation of it. But shortly after his Father’s death (who left 2000 or 1500 pounds in ready money, 2 houses well furnished, and much plate) the money was played away first, and next the plate was sold. I remember about 1646 he lost 200 pound one night at New-cutt.
He was generally temperate as to drinking; but one time when he was a Student of Lincolne’s-Inne, having been merry at the Taverne with his Camerades, late at night, a frolick came into his head, to gett a playsterer’s brush and a pott of Inke, and blott out all the Signes between Temple-barre and Charing-crosse, which made a strange confusion the next day, and ’twas in Terme time. But it happened that they were discovered, and it cost him and them some moneys. This I had from R. Estcott, Esq., that carried the Inke-pott.
At last, viz. 1640, his Play of The Sophy came out, which did take extremely. Mr. Edmund Waller sayd then of him, that he broke-out like the Irish Rebellion: three score thousand strong, before any body was aware.
At the beginning of the Civill Warre he was made Governor of Farnham Castle for the King, but he was but a young Soldier, and did not keepe it. In 1643, after Edgehill fight, his Poeme called Cowper’s-hill was printed at Oxford, in a sort of browne paper, for then they could gett no better.
1647 he conveyed, or stole away the two Dukes of Yorke and Glocester from St. James’s (from the Tuition of the Earle of Northumberland) and conveyed them into France to the Prince of Wales and Queen-mother.
Anno 1652, he returned into England, and being in some straights was kindly entertayned by the Earle of Pembroke at Wilton, where I had the honour to contract an acquaintance with him. He was, as I remember, a yeare with my Lord of Pembroke at Wilton and London; he had then sold all the Lands his Father had left him.
The parsonage-house at Egham (vulgarly called The Place) was built by Baron Denham; a house very convenient, not great, but pretty, and pleasantly scituated, and in which his son, Sir John, (though he had better seates) did take most delight in. He sold it to John Thynne, Esq. In this parish is a place called Cammomill-hill, from the Cammomill that growes there naturally; as also west of it is Prune-well-hill (formerly part of Sir John’s possessions) where was a fine Tuft of Trees, a clear Spring, and a pleasant prospect to the East, over the levell of Middlesex and Surrey. Sir John tooke great delight in this place, and was wont to say (before the troubles) that he would build there a Retiring-place to entertaine his muses; but the warres forced him to sell that as well as the rest. He sold it to Mr. Anstey. In this parish W. and by N. (above Runney-Meade) is Cowper’s Hill, from whence is a noble prospect, which is incomparably well described by that Sweet Swan, Sir John Denham.
In the time of the Civill-warres, George Withers, the Poet, begged Sir John Denham’s Estate at Egham of the Parliament, in whose cause he was a Captaine of Horse. It happened that G. W. was taken prisoner, and was in danger of his Life, having written severely against the King, &c. Sir John Denham went to the King, and desired his Majestie not to hang him, for that whilest G. W. lived, he should not be the worst Poet in England.
He was much beloved by King Charles the first, who much valued him for his ingenuity. He graunted him the reversion of the Surveyor of His Majestie’s buildings, after the decease of Mr. Inigo Jones; which place, after the restauration of King Charles II he enjoyed to his death, and gott seaven thousand pounds, as Sir Christopher Wren told me of, to his owne knowledge. Sir Christopher Wren was his Deputie.
He burlesqued Virgil, and burnt it, sayeing that ’twas not fitt that the best Poet should be so abused. In the verses against Gondibert, most of them are Sir John’s. He was satyricall when he had a mind to it.
His first wife was the daughter and heire of Mr. Cotton of Glocestershire, by whom he had 500 pounds per annum, one son, and two daughters.
He maried his 2nd wife, Margaret Brookes, a very beautifull young lady: Sir John was ancient and limping. The Duke of Yorke fell deepely in love with her (though I have been morally assured he never had any carnall knowledge of her). This occasioned Sir John’s distemper of madness, which first appeared when he went from London to see the famous Freestone quarries at Portland in Dorset, and when he came within a mile of it, turned back to London again, and did not see it. He went to Hounslowe, and demanded rents of Lands he had sold many yeares before; went to the King, and told him he was the Holy Ghost. But it pleased God that he was cured of this distemper, and writt excellent verses (particularly on the death of Mr. Abraham Cowley) afterwards. His 2nd lady had no child: was poysoned by the hands of the Countess of Rochester, with Chocolatte.
RENÉ DESCARTES
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[Born 1596. Philosopher, mathematician and scientist. Descartes was the founder of modern philosophy, for his outlook was profoundly affected by the new physics and astronomy. He was the first philosopher since Aristotle not to accept the foundations laid by his predecessors, but to attempt to construct a complete philosophic edifice de novo. To obtain complete quiet, he enlisted in the Dutch army 1617. On the outbreak of the Thirty Years’ War he transferred to the Bavarian army 1619. In Bavaria, during the winter of 1619, the weather being cold, he got into a stove in the morning, and stayed there all day meditating; by his own account his philosophy was half finished when he came out. In 1621 he gave up fighting, but his meditation was so constantly interrupted in civilian life that, in 1628, he joined the army that was besieging La Rochelle. From 1629 until 1649, he lived in Holland to escape persecution, but even so he himself suppressed his book, Le Monde, which maintained two heretical doctrines: the earth’s rotation and the infinity of the universe. In September 1649, Queen Christina of Sweden sent a warship to fetch Descartes as she wanted daily lessons from him, but it turned out that she could not spare the time except at five in the morning, and this unaccustomed early rising in the cold of a Scandinavian winter was too much for Descartes, who fell ill and died in 1650.]
THE SOCIETIE OF Jesus glorie in that theyr order had the educating of him.
He was too wise a man to encomber himselfe with a Wife; but as he was a man, he had the desires and appetities of a man; he therefore kept a good conditioned hansome woman that he liked, and by whom he had some Children (I thinke 2 or 3.) ’Tis pity but comeing from the Braine of such a father, they should be well cultivated.
He was so eminently learned that all learned men made visits to him, and many of them would desire him to shew them his Instruments (in those dayes mathematicall learning lay much in the knowledge of Instruments, and, as Sir Henry Savile sayd, in doeing of tricks) he would drawe out a little Drawer under his Table, and shew them a paire of Compasses with one of the Legges broken; and then, for his Ruler, he used a sheet of paper folded double.
Mr. Hobbes was wont to say that had Des Cartes kept himselfe wholy to Geometrie that he had been the best Geometer in the world but that his head did not lye for Philosophy. He did very much admire him, but sayd that he could not pardon him for writing in the Defence of Transubstantiation, which he knew to bee absolutely against his judgement, and donne meerly to putt a compliment on the Jesuites.
SIR EVERARD DIGBY
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[Born 1578. Conspirator. His father died when he was fourteen and his wardship was purchased from the Crown by Roger Manners, who sold it at an advanced price to young Digby’s mother. The heir to large estates and connected with many of the greatest families in England, he soon appeared at Court, where he was appointed to an office in the Household. But he spent the greater part of his time in the country, hunting and hawking. In 1596 he married a great heiress. He was converted to Catholicism at Court by John Gerard in 1599, and his wife and mother soon followed his example. When James I came to England, Digby was among the gathering which welcomed the King at Belvoir Castle and he received the honour of knighthood there, but the Catholics were disappointed by James I and Digby joined the Gunpowder Plot. His task was to prepare for a rising in the Midlands, when the catastrophe should have been
brought about, and it was settled that he should invite a large number of the disaffected gentry to meet him at Dunchurch in Warwickshire to join in a hunt, when, it was rumoured, strange news might be expected. This gathering was fixed for 5th November, 1605, but was not a success and quickly dissolved when some of the plotters arrived from London with news of their failure. Fleeing to Holbeach House in Gloucestershire, the conspirators determined to sell their lives dearly, but Sir Everard deserted them, only to be captured some days later. He was tried in Westminster Hall and was executed on Thursday, 30th June, 1606.]
SIR EVERARD DIGBY was a most gallant Gentleman and one of the handsomest men of his time.
’Twas his ill fate to suffer in the Powder-plott. When his heart was pluct out by the Executioner (who, secundum formam, cryed, Here is the heart of a Traytor!) it is credibly reported, he replied, Thou liest!
SIR KENELM DIGBY
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[Born 1603. Author, naval commander and diplomatist. After leaving Oxford he travelled a great deal. While in France, the Queen-Mother, Marie de Medicis, whom he met at a masked ball, made immodest advances to him: to avoid her importunities, he spread a report of his death and went to Italy by sea. During the ceremony of knighthood, James I turned his face away from the naked sword, owing to constitutional nervousness, and would have thrust the point into Digby’s eye had not Buckingham interposed. He was engaged in sea-fighting and conquered the French and Venetian fleets in the Mediterranean in 1627. Digby was imprisoned by the Parliament in 1642 at The Three Tobacco Pipes nigh Charing Cross, where his charming conversation made the prison a place of delight. During the Civil War he was active on the side of the King, and on the failure of his cause he was banished for a time. He was the author of several religious and quasi-scientific books, including one On the Cure of Wounds by means of a sympathetic powder which he imagined he had discovered: this powder was to be rubbed on the weapon causing the wound, not on the wound itself. Died 1665.]