Aubrey's Brief Lives

by John Aubrey

  SIR KENELME DIGBY, Knight, a Gentleman absolute in all Numbers, was the eldest son of Sir Everard Digby, who was accounted the handsomest Gentleman in England. Sir Everard sufferd as a Traytor in the Gun-powder-Treason; but King James restored his estate to his son and heire.

  He was borne at Gotehurst, Bucks on the eleventh of June: see Ben Johnson, 2d volumne:—

  Witnesse thy Actions done at Scanderoon

  Upon thy Birthday, the eleaventh of June.

  (Mr. Elias Ashmole assures me, from two or 3 Nativities by Dr. Nepier, that Ben: Johnson was mistaken and did it for the ryme-sake.)

  Sir Kenelme Digby was held to be the most accomplished Cavalier of his time. He went to Glocester Hall in Oxon, anno 1618. The learned Mr. Thomas Allen (then of that house) was wont to say that he was the Mirandula of his age.

  He was such a goodly handsome person, gigantique and great voice, and had so gracefull Elocution and noble addresse, etc., that had he been drop’t out of the Clowdes in any part of the World, he would have made himself respected. But the Jesuites spake spitefully, and sayd ’twas true, but then he must not stay there above six weekes. He was Envoyé from Henrietta Maria (then Queen-mother) to the Pope, where at first he was mightily admired; but after some time he grew high, and Hectored with his Holinesse, and gave him the Lye. The pope sayd he was mad.

  Tempore Caroli Imi he received the Sacrament in the Chapell at Whitehall, and professed the Protestant Religion, which gave great scandal to the Roman Catholiques; but afterwards he looked back.

  In the Times of Confusion, the Bishop of Winchester’s Lodging in Southwark, being a large Pile of Building, was made a Prison for the Royalists; and here Sir Kenelm Digby wrote his Book of Bodies, and diverted himself in Chymistry, and used to make artificial precious Stones, as Rubies, Emeralds, &c. out of Flint, as Sir Francis Dodington, Prisoner with him at the same Time, told me.

  He was well versed in all kinds of Learning. And he had also this vertue, that no man knew better how to abound and to be abased, and either was indifferent to him. No man became Grandeur better; sometimes again he would live only with a Lackey, and Horse with a foote-cloath.

  He was very generous, and liberall to deserving persons. When Abraham Cowley was but 13 yeares old, he dedicated to him a Comedy, called Love’s Riddle, and concludes in his Epistle—The Birch that whip’t him then would prove a Bay. Sir K. was very kind to him.

  He was of undaunted courage, yet not apt in the least to give offence. His conversation was both ingeniose and innocent.

  Sir John Hoskyns enformes me that Sir Kenelme Digby did translate Petronius Arbiter into English.

  He maried, much against his Mother’s consent, that celebrated Beautie and Courtezane, Mrs. Venetia Stanley, whom Richard Earle of Dorset kept as his Concubine, and had children by her, and setled on her an Annuity of 500 pounds per annum, which after Sir K. D. maried was unpayd by the Earle; and for which Annuity Sir Kenelme sued the Earle, after marriage, and recovered it. He would say that a handsome lusty man that was discreet might make a vertuose wife out of a Brothell-house. This Lady carried herselfe blamelessly, yet (they say) he was jealous of her. Richard, Earle of Dorset, invited her and her husband once a yeare, when with much desire and passion he beheld her, and only kissed her hand, Sir Kenelme being still by. She dyed suddenly, and hard-hearted woemen would censure him severely.

  After her death, to avoyd envy and scandall, he retired in to Gresham Colledge at London, where he diverted himselfe with his Chymistry, and the Professors good conversation. He wore there a long mourning cloake, a high crowned hatt, his beard unshorne, look’t like a Hermite, as signes of sorrowe for his beloved wife, to whose memory he erected a sumptuouse monument, now quite destroyed by the great Conflagration.

  He was borne to three thousand pounds per Annum. What by reason of the Civil-warres, and his generous mind, he contractedst great Debts, and I know not how (there being a great falling out between him and his then only son, John) he settled his Estate upon Cornwalleys, a subtile sollicitor, and also a Member of the House of Commons, who did put Mr. John Digby to much charge in Lawe.

  Mr. John Digby brought me a great book, as big as the biggest Church Bible that ever I sawe, and the richliest bound, bossed with silver, engraven with scutchions and crest (an ostrich) it was a curious velame. It was the History of the Family of the Digbyes, which Sir Kenelme either did, or ordered to be donne. There was inserted all that was to be found any where relating to them, out of Records of the Tower, Rolles, &c. All ancient Church monuments were most exquisitely limmed by some rare Artist. He told me that the compileing of it did cost his father a thousand pound. Sir Jo. Fortescue sayd he did beleeve ’twas more. When Mr. John Digby did me the favour to shew me this rare MS., This booke, sayd he, is all that I have left me of all the Estate that was my Father’s.

  Sir Kenelm Digby, that renowned Knight, great Linguist, and Magazen of Arts, was born and died on the Eleventh of June, and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day. Hear his Epitaph, composed by Mr. Farrer:

  Under this Stone the Matchless Digby lies,

  Digby the Great, the Valiant, and the Wise:

  This Age’s Wonder, for his Noble, Parts;

  Skill’d in six Tongues, and learn’d in all the. Arts.

  Born on the day he died, th’ Eleventh of June,

  On which he bravely fought at Scanderoon.

  ’Tis rare that one and self-same day should be

  His day of Birth, of Death, of Victory.

  VENETIA DIGBY

  * * *

  [Born 1600. She was secretly married to Sir Kenelm Digby in the Spring of 1625 and their first child was born in the October of that year: but the marriage was not acknowledged until 1627. Absurd reports were circulated that Digby had killed her by insisting on her drinking Viper-wine to preserve her beauty. At the time of her death in 1633, Ben Jonson, Thomas May, Joseph Ruther, Owen Feltham, William Habington, Lord George Digby and Aurelian Townsend commemorated her loss in verse.]

  VENETIA STANLEY WAS the daughter of Sir Edward Stanley. She was a most beautifull desireable Creature, and being maturo viro was left by her father to live with a tenant and servants at Enston Abbey in Oxfordshire: but as private as that place was, it seemes her Beautie could not lye hid. The young Eagles had espied her, and she was sanguine and tractable, and of much Suavity (which to abuse was great pittie.)

  In those dayes, Richard, Earle of Dorset (eldest son and heire to the Lord Treasurer) lived in the greatest splendor of any nobleman in England. Among other pleasures that he enjoyed, Venus was not the least. This pretty creature’s fame quickly came to his Lordship’s eares, who made no delay to catch at such an opportunity.

  I have now forgott who first brought her to Towne, but I have heard my uncle Danvers say (who was her contemporary) that she was so commonly courted, and that by Grandees, that ’twas written over her lodging one night in literis uncialibus:

  PRAY COME NOT NEER, FOR DAME VENETIA STANLEY LODGETH HERE.

  The Earle of Dorset aforesayd was her greatest Gallant, who was extremely enamoured of her, and had one, if not more children by her. He setled on her an Annuity of 500 pounds per annum.

  Among other young Sparkes of that time, Sir Kenelme Digby grew acquainted with her, and fell so much in love with her that he maried her, much against the good will of his mother, but he would say that a wise man, and lusty, could make an honest woman out of a Brothell-house.

  Sir Edmund Wyld had her picture (and you may imagine was very familiar with her) which picture is now at Droitwych, in Worcestershire, at an Inne in an entertayning-roome, where now the Towne keepe their Meetings. (She was first a Miss to Sir Edmund Wyld.) Also at Mr. Rose’s, a Jeweller in Henrietta-Street in Convent Garden, is an excellent piece of hers, drawne after she was newly dead.

  She had a most lovely and sweet turn’d face, delicate darke-browne haire. She had a perfect healthy constitution; strong; good skin; well-proportioned; much enclining to a Bona
Roba (near altogether.) Her face, a short ovall; darke-browne eie-browe about which much sweetness, as also in the opening of her eie-lidds. The colour of her cheekes was just that of the Damaske rose, which is neither too hott nor too pale. She was of a just stature, not very tall.

  Sir Kenelme had severall Pictures of her by Vandyke, &c. He had her hands cast in playster, and her feet and Face. See Ben Johnson’s 2d. volumne, where he hath made her live in Poetrey, in his drawing of her both Body and Mind:

  Sitting, and ready to be drawne,

  What makes these Tiffany, silkes, and lawne,

  Embroideries, feathers, fringes, lace,

  When every limbe takes like a Face! etc.

  When these Verses were made she had three children by Sir Kenelme, who are there mentioned, viz. Kenelme, George and John.

  She dyed in her bed, suddenly. Some suspected that she was poysoned. When her head was opened there was found but little braine, which her husband imputed to her drinking of viper-wine; but spitefull woemen would say ’twas a viper husband who was jealous of her that she would steale a leape. I have heard some say, e.g. my cosen Elizabeth Falkner, that after her mariage she redeemed her Honour by her strick’t living. Once a yeare the Earle of Dorset invited her and Sir Kenelme to dinner, where the Earle would behold her with much passion, and only kisse her hand.

  About 1676 or 5, as I was walking through Newgate-street, I sawe Dame Venetia’s Bust from off her tombe standing at a Stall at the golden Crosse, a Brasier’s shop. I perfectly remembred it, but the fire had gott-off the Guilding; but taking notice of it to one that was with me, I could never see it afterwards exposed to the street. They melted it downe. How these curiosities would be quite forgott, did not such idle fellowes as I am putt them downe.

  DESIDERIUS ERASMUS

  * * *

  [Born 1466. The leader of the Northern Renaissance, he was the illegitimate son of a priest. His guardians, having embezzled his money, cajoled him into becoming a monk, a step which he regretted all his life. In 1493 he became secretary to the Bishop of Cambrai, which enabled him to leave the monastery and travel. Though he hated scholasticism, he was for a time at the University of Paris. In 1499 he made his first visit to England, where he liked the fashion of kissing girls. Here he made friends with Colet and More, who persuaded him to undertake serious work rather than literary trifles. He therefore started to learn Greek in 1500, and brought out a Greek Testament, with a new Latin translation, in 1516. He also tried to learn Hebrew, but gave it up. He lived in England from 1509 until 1514, where he wrote his most famous book, The Praise of Folly, illustrated by Holbein, which contained a scathing attack on the abuses of the Church. However, he was so disgusted by the violence of the Protestant revolt, that he sided with the Catholics, and a controversy on Free Will with Luther forced him further and further into reaction. His timidity unfitted him for the intolerance which the Reformation had engendered, and he sank into obscurity and died in 1536.]

  HIS NAME WAS Gerard Gerard, which he translated into Desiderius Erasmus. Of Roterdam: he loved not Fish, though borne in a Fish-towne.

  He was begot (as they say) behind dores. His father tooke great care to send him to an excellent Schoole, which was at Dusseldorf, in Cleveland. He was a tender Chitt, and his mother would not entruste him at board, but tooke a house there, and made him cordialls.

  He was of the order of Augustine, whose habit was the same that the Pest-house-master at Pisa in Italie wore; and walking in that Towne, people beckoned him to goe out of the way, taking him to be the master of the Pest-house; and he not understanding the meaning, and keeping on his way, was there by one well basted. He made his complaint when he came to Rome, and had a dispensation for his habit.

  He studied sometime in Queens Colledge in Cambridge: his chamber was over the water. He mentions his being there in one of his Epistles, and blames the Beere there.

  Sir Charles Blount, of Maple-Durham, in Com. Oxon. (neer Reding) was his Scholar (in his Epistles there are some to him) and desired Erasmus to doe him the favour to sitt for his Picture, and he did so, and it is an excellent piece: which picture my cosen John Danvers, of Baynton (Wilts), haz: his wive’s grandmother was Sir Charles Blount’s daughter or granddaughter. ’Twas pitty such a rarity should have been aliend from the Family, but the issue male is lately extinct. I will sometime or other endeavour to gett it for Oxford Library.

  He had the Parsonage of Aldington in Kent, which is about 3 degrees perhaps a healthier place then Dr. Pell’s parsonage in Essex. I wonder they could not find for him better preferment; but I see that the Sun and Aries being in the second house, he was not borne to be a rich man.

  John Dreyden, Esq., Poet Laureat, tells me that there was a great friendship between his great grand-father’s father and Erasmus Roterodamus, and Erasmus was Godfather to one of his sonnes, and the Christian name of Erasmus hath been kept in the family ever since. The Poet’s second sonne is Erasmus.

  They were wont to say that Erasmus was Interpendent between Heaven and Hell, till, about the year 1655, the Conclave at Rome damned him for a Heretique, after he had been dead 120 yeares.

  His deepest divinity is where a man would least expect it: viz. in his Colloquies in a Dialogue between a Butcher and a Fishmonger.

  Julius Scaliger contested with Erasmus, but gott nothing by it, for, as Fuller sayth, he was like a Badger, that never bitt but he made his teeth meet.

  He was the of our knowledge, and the man that made the rough and untrodden wayes smooth and passable.

  THOMAS FAIRFAX: LORD FAIRFAX

  * * *

  [Born 1612. Soldier. Knighted 1640. Became a general for the Parliament 1642. Recaptured Leeds and captured Wakefield 1645. Commander-in-Chief of the Parliamentary Army 1645. Defeated Charles I at Naseby, where he captured a standard with his own hands, and stormed Bristol 1645. Reduced Oxford and received the thanks of Parliament 1646. Seized Charles I against his will 1647. Transmitted to the Commons the Army’s demand for the King’s punishment 1648. He was one of the King’s judges, but endeavoured to stop his execution 1649. State Councillor and Commander-in-Chief 1649. He resigned his command from unwillingness to invade Scotland 1650. He headed the Commission sent to Charles II at the Hague in 1660, to arrange his restoration. Died 1671.]

  THOMAS, LORD FAIRFAX of Cameron, Lord Generall of the Parliament-armie. When Oxford was surrendred, the first thing General Fairfax did was to sett a good Guard of Soldiers to preserve the Bodleian Library. ’Tis said there was more hurt donne by the Cavaliers (during their Garrison) by way of Embezilling and cutting off chaines of bookes, then there was since. He was a lover of Learning, and had he not taken this speciall care, that noble Library had been utterly destroyed, for there were ignorant Senators enough who would have been contented to have had it so.

  CARLO FANTOM

  * * *

  CAPTAIN CARLO FANTOM, a Croatian, spake 13 languages; was a Captain under the Earle of Essex. He was very quarrelsome and a great Ravisher. He left the Parliament Party, and went to the King Ch. the first at Oxford, where he was hanged for Ravishing.

  Sd. he, I care not for your Cause: I come to fight for your halfe-crowne, and your handsome woemen: my father was a R. Catholiq; and so was my grandfather. I have fought for the Christians against the Turkes; and for the Turkes against the Christians.

  Sir Robert Pye was his Colonel, who shot at him for not returning a horse that he tooke away before the Regiment. This was donne in a field near Bedford, where the Army then was, as they were marching to the relief of Gainsborough. Many are yet living that sawe it. Capt. Hamden was by: The bullets went through his Buff-coat, and Capt. H. sawe his shirt on fire. Capt. Carl. Fantom tooke the Bullets, and sayd he, Sir Rob. Here, take your bullets again. None of the Soldiers would dare to fight with him: they sayd, they would not fight with the Devil.

  Edmund Wyld, Esq., was very well acquainted with him, and gave him many a Treat, and at last he prevailed with him so far, towards the knowledge of t
his secret, that Fantom told him, that the Keepers in their Forests did know a certain herb, which they gave to Children, which made them to be shott-free (they call them Hard-men.)

  In a Booke of Trialls by Duell in foli (writ by Segar, I thinke) before the Combatants fight, they have an Oath administered to them by the Herald; where is inserted (among other things) that they have not about them either Charme or Herb.

  Martin Luther in his Commentaries on the First (or second Commandment, I thinke the First) saies that a Hard-man was brought to the Duke of Saxonies Court: he was brought into the great Hall and was commanded to be shott with a Musquet: the bullet drop’t downe and he had only a blew Spott on his Skin, where he was struck. Martin Luther was then by, and sawe the Bullet drop-downe.

  They say that a silver bullet will kill any Hardman, and can be beaten to death with cudgels. The Elector Palatine, Prince Robert’s Brother, did not believe at all, that any man could make himself hard.

  Robert Earl of Essex, General for the Parliament had this Capt. Fantom in high esteeme: for he was an admirable Horse-officer, and taught the Cavalry of the army the way of fighting with Horse: the General saved him from hanging twice for Ravishing; once at Winchester, 2nd at St. Albans: and he was not content only to ravish himselfe, but he would make his soldiers doe it too, and he would stand by and look on.