by John Aubrey
He met (comeing late at night out of the Horse-shoe Tavern in Drury lane) with a Liuetenant of Col. Rossiter, who had great jingling Spurres on. Qd. he, the noise of your Spurres doe offend me, you must come over the Kennel and give me satisfaction. They drew and parted at each other and the Lieuetenant was runne thorough and died within a hour or two: and ’twas not known, who killed him.
SIR WILLIAM FLEETWOOD
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[Born 1535. Recorder of London. Member of the Parliaments of 1572, 1584, 1586 and 1588. By the Earl of Leicester’s influence, he was elected Recorder of London in 1571, and soon became famous for vigorously and successfully enforcing the laws against vagrants, thieves, priests and papists. In 1576 he was committed to the Fleet Prison for a short time for breaking into the Portuguese Ambassador’s chapel under cover of the law against Popish recusants. In 1580 he was made Serjeant-at-Law and, in 1583, a Commissioner for the Reformation of Abuses in Printing. In the same year, he drafted a scheme for housing the poor and preventing the plague in London by maintaining open spaces. In 1588 he reported on the proceedings to be taken against Jesuits and, in 1589, on the right of sanctuary for criminals attaching to Saint Paul’s Cathedral. He resigned his office in 1591, on receipt of a pension of £100 per annum and died in 1594.]
HE WAS A very severe Hanger of Highwaymen, so that the Fraternity were resolved to make an example of him: which they executed in this manner. They lay in wayte for him not far from Tyburne, as he was to come from his House in Bucks; had a Halter in readinesse; brought him under the Gallowes, fastned the rope about his neck and on the Tree, his hands tied behind him (and servants bound) and then left him to the Mercy of his Horse, which he called Ball. So he cryed, Ho Ball. Ho, Ball—and it pleased God that his horse stood still till somebody came along, which was halfe a quarter of an hour or more. He ordered that this Horse should be kept as long as he would live, and it was so; he lived till 1646.
One day goeing on foote to Guild-hall with his Clarke behind him, he was surprised in Cheapside with a sudden and violent Loosenesse, neer the Standard. He turned up his breech against the Standard and bade his man hide his face; For they shall never see my Arse again, sayd he.
JOHN FLORIO
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[Born 1545. Author. His father, who was in 1550 preacher to a congregation of Italian Protestants in London, was forced to leave the country after charges of gross immorality had been brought against him. Florio matriculated at Magdalen, Oxford, in 1581, and according to Anthony Wood, was a teacher and instructor of certain scholars in the University. His first patron was the Earl of Leicester, after whose death he lived some years in the pay and patronage of Southampton, while to the Earl of Pembroke he was soon under heavy obligations. At the close of the sixteenth century Florio was living in London on intimate terms with all the chief literary men and their patrons. It is possible that Shakespeare modelled Holofernes in Love’s Labour’s Lost on Florio, and it is certain that his translation of Montaigne’s Essays (which was licensed to Edward Blount in 1599, but was not published until 1603) formed the basis of Gonzago’s description of an ideal state in The Tempest. Montaigne speaks now good English, wrote Sir William Cornwallis in 1600. It is done by a fellow less beholding to nature for his fortunes than wit, yet lesser for his face than his fortune. The truth is he looks more like a good fellow than a wise man, and yet he is wise beyond either his fortune or education. Florio died in 1625.]
JOHN FLORIO WAS borne in London in the beginning of King Edward VI, his father and mother flying from the Valtolin (’tis about Piedmont or Savoy) to London for Religion: Waldenses.—The family is originally of Siena, where the name is to this day.
King Edward dying, upon the persecution of Queen Mary, they fled back again into their owne countrey, where he was educated.
Afterwards he came into England, and was by King James made Informator to Prince Henry for the Italian and French tongues, and clarke to the closet to Queen Anne.
Scripsit:—First and Second Fruits, being two books of the Instruction to learne the Italian tongue: Dictionary; and translated Montagne’s Essayes.
He dyed of the great plague at Fulham anno 1625.
FRANCIS FRY
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(Transportation by an Invisible Power. A Letter from the Reverend Mr. Andrew Paschal, B.D., Rector of Chedzoy in Somerset, To John Aubery, Esq; at Gresham College.)
ABOUT NOVEMBER LAST, in the Parish of Spreyton, in the County of Devon, there appeared in a Field near the Dwelling-house of Phil: Furze, to his Servant Francis Fry, being of the age of 21 next August, an aged Gentleman with a Pole in his Hand, and like that he was wont to carry about with him when living, to kill Moles withall, who told the Young Man not to be afraid of him; but should tell his Master, i.e. his Son, That several legacies that he had bequeathed were unpaid, naming 10s. to one, 10s. to another, &c. Fry replied, that the party he last named was Dead. The Spectrum replied, he knew that, but said it must be paid to (and named) the next Relation. These things being performed, he promised he would trouble him no further. These small Legacies were paid accordingly. But the young Man having caried 20s. order’d by the Spectrum to his Sister Mrs. Furze of the Parish of Staverton near Totness, which Money the Gentlewoman refus’d to receive, being sent her, as she said, from the Devil. The same Night Fry lodging there, the Spectrum appear’d to him again, whereupon Fry challenged his promise not to trouble him, and said he had done all he had desir’d him; but that Mrs. Furze would not receive the Money. The Spectrum replied, that’s true indeed. But bid him ride to Totness and buy a Ring of that value, and that she would take! Which was provided for her, and receiv’d by her.
Then Fry rode homewards attended by a Servant of Mrs. Furze. But having come into Spreyton Parish, or rather a little before, he seem’d to carry an old Gentlewoman behind him, that often threw him off his Horse, and hurried him with such violence, as astonished all that saw him, or heard how horridly the Ground was beaten; and being come into his Master’s Yard, Fry’s Horse (a mean Beast) sprung at once 25 foot.
The trouble from the Man-Spectre ceased from this time. But the old Gentlewoman, Mrs. Furze, Mr. Furze’s second Wife, whom the Spectre at his first appearance to Fry called, That Wicked Woman my Wife (though I knew her, and took her for a very good Woman) presently after appears to several in the House, viz. to Fry, Mrs. Thomasin Gidley, Anne Langdon born in my Parish, and to a little Child which was forced to be remov’d from the House; sometimes in her own shape, sometimes in shapes more horrid, as of a Dog belching Fire, and of an Horse, and seeming to ride out at the Window, carrying only one pane of Glass away, and a little piece of Iron.
After this Fry’s Head was thrust into a narrow space, where a Man’s Fist could not enter, between a Bed and a Wall; and forced to be taken thence by the strength of Men, all bruised and bloody; upon this it was thought fit to Bleed him, and after that was done, the Binder was remov’d from his Arm, and convey’d about his Middle, and presently was drawn so very straight, it had almost killed him, and was cut asunder, making an ugly uncouth noise. Several other times with Handkerchiefs, Cravats and other things he was near strangled, they were drawn so close upon his Throat.
He lay one Night in his Periwig (in his Master’s Chamber, for the more safety) which was torn all to pieces. His best Periwig he inclosed in a little Box on the inside with a Joind-stool, and other weight upon it; the Box was snapp’d asunder, and the Wig torn all to flitters. His Master saw his Buckles fall all to pieces on his Feet: But, first I should have told you the Fate of his Shoe-strings, one of which a Gentlewoman greater than all exception, assured me that she saw it come out of his Shoe, without any visible Hand, and fling itself to the farther end of the Room; the other was coming out too, but that a Maid prevented and help’d it out, which crisp’d and curl’d about her Hand like a living Eel. The Cloathes worn by Anne Langdon and Fry (if their own) were torn to pieces on their backs. The same Gentlewoman, being the Daughter of the Minister of the Pari
sh, Mr. Roger Specott, showed me one of Fry’s Gloves, which was torn in his Pocket while she was by. I did view it near and narrowly, and do seriously confess that it is torn so very accurately in all the Seams and in other places, and laid abroad so artificially, and it is so dexterously tattered (and all done in the Pocket in a Minute’s time) as nothing Human could have done it; no Cutler could have made an Engine to do it so.
Other fantastical Freeks have been very frequent, as, the marching of a great Barrel full of Salt out of one Room to another; an Andiron laying itself over a Pan of Milk that was scalding on the Fire, and two Flitches of Bacon descending from the Chimney where they hung, and laid themselves over that Andiron. The appearing of the Spectrum (when in her own shape) in the same Cloathes to seeming, which Mrs. Furze her daughter-in-law has on. The intangling of Fry’s Face and Legs, about his Neck, and about the Frames of the Chairs, so as they have been with great difficulty disengaged.
Ben Jonson
From the portrait by Gerard Honthorst in the National Portrait Gallery
Thomas Hobbes
From the portrait by J. Michael Wright in the National Portrait Gallery
Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset
From the portrait by Isaac Oliver in the Victoria and Albert Museum
But the most Remarkable of all happened in that Day that I passed by the Door in my return hither, which was Easter-eve, when Fry, returning from Work (that little he can do) he was caught by the Woman Spectre by the Skirts of his Doublet, and carried into the Air; he was quickly mist by his Master and the Workmen, and great enquiry was made for Fran. Fry, but no hearing of him; but after half an Hour after, Fry was heard Whistling and Singing in a kind of Quagmire. He was now affected as he was wont to be in his Fits, so that none regarded what he said; but coming to himself an Hour after, he solemnly protested, That the Daemon carried him so high that he saw his Master’s House underneath him no bigger than a Hay-cock, that he was in perfect sense and prayed God not to suffer the Devil to destroy him; that he was suddenly set down in that Quagmire. The Workmen found one Shoe on one side of the House, and the other Shoe on the other side; his Periwig was espied next Morning hanging on the Top of a tall Tree.
It was soon observ’d, that Fry’s part of his Body that had laid in the Mud, was much benum’d, and therefore the next Saturday, which was the eve of Low-Sunday, they carried him to Crediton to be let Blood; which being done, and the Company having left him for a little while, returning they found him in a Fit, with his Fore-head all bruised and swoln to a great Bigness, none being able to guess how it came, till he recover’d himself, and then he told them, That a Bird flew in at the Window with a great force, and with a Stone in it’s Mouth flew directly against his Fore-head. The People looked for it, and found on the Ground just under where he sat, not a Stone, but a weight of Brass, or Copper, which the People were breaking, and parting it among themselves. He was so very ill that he could not ride but one Mile or little more that Night, since which time I have not heard of him, save that he was ill handled the next Day, being Sunday.
Indeed Sir you may wonder that I have not Visited that House, and the poor afflicted People; especially, since I was so near, and passed by the very Door: But, besides that they have called to their assistance none but Nonconforming Ministers, I was not qualified to be welcome there, having given Mr. Furze a great deal of trouble the last Year about a Conventicle in his House, where one of this Parish was the Preacher. But I am very well assured of the truth of what I have written, and (as more appears) you shall hear from me again.
I had forgot to tell you that Fry’s Mother came to me, grievously bewailing the miserable condition of her Son. She told me that the Day before he had five Pins thrust into his Side. She ask’d, and I gave her the best Advice I could. Particularly, that her Son should declare all that the Spectre, especially the Woman gave him in Charge, for I suspect, there is aliquid latens [something concealed]; and that she should remove him thence by all means. But I fear that she will not do it. For I hear that Anne Langdon is come into my Parish to her Mother, and that she is grievously troubled there. I might have written as much of her, as of Fry, for she had been as ill treated, saving the Aerial Journey. Her Fits and Obsessions seem to be greater, for she Scrieches in a most Hellish tone. Thomasin Gidley (though removed) is in trouble, as I hear.
THOMAS GOFFE
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[Born 1591. Divine and poet. Three of his tragedies were acted at Christ Church, Oxford, and his play The Careless Shepherdess was performed before the King and Queen at Salisbury. He was a woman-hater and a bachelor, until he was inveigled into marrying a parishioner at East Clandon, of which he was the incumbent from 1620 until his death. This lady was the widow of his predecessor, and she and her children by her first husband so persecuted poor Goffe that he died shortly after his marriage in 1629.]
THOMAS GOFFE THE Poet was Rector here; he was buried in the Middle of the Chancel, but there is nothing in Remembrance of him; his Wife, it seems, was not so kind. I find by the Register-Book, that he was buried, July 27, 1629. His Wife pretended to fall in Love with him, by hearing him preach: Upon which, said one Thomas Thimble (one of the Squire Bedell’s in Oxford, and his Confident) to him: Do not marry her: if thou dost, she will break thy Heart. He was not obsequious to his Friend’s sober Advice, but for her Sake altered his Condition, and cast Anchor here.
One time some of his Oxford Friends made a Visit to him. She look’d upon them with an ill Eye, as if they had come to eat her out of her House and Home (as they say). She provided a Dish of Milk, and some Eggs for Supper, and no more: They perceived her Niggardliness, and that her Husband was inwardly troubled at it (she wearing the Breeches) so they resolv’d to be merry at Supper, and talk all in Latin, and laugh’d exceedingly. She was so vex’d at their speaking Latin, that she could not hold, but fell out a Weeping, and rose from the Table. The next Day, Mr. Goffe order’d a better Dinner for them, and sent for some Wine: They were merry, and his Friends took their final Leave of him.
’Twas no long Time before this Xantippe made Mr. Thimble’s Prediction good; and when he died, the last Words he spake were: Oracle, Oracle, Tom Thimble, and so he gave up the Ghost.
JOHN GRAUNT
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[Born 1620. Statistician. He gained such esteem by his integrity as a merchant that he was able, when he was only thirty years old, to procure the Professorship of Music in Gresham College for his friend, Dr. William Petty. In 1662 appeared the first Natural and Political Observations made upon the Bills of Mortality by John Graunt, Citizen of London. With reference to the Government, Religion, Trade, Growth, Ayre, Diseases, and the several Changes of the said City. This work laid the foundation of the science subsequently styled Political Arithmetic by Sir William Petty. Charles II specially recommended Graunt to be chosen an original member of the Royal Society, advising the Society that if they found any more such tradesmen, they should be sure to admit them all without any more adoe. After his retirement, Graunt was admitted into the management of the New River Company and was rumoured, because of his Catholicism, to have cut off the supply of water to the city the night before the Fire of London. He died in 1674.]
CAPTAINE JOHN GRAUNT (afterwards, major) was borne 240 die Aprilis, at the 7 Starres in Burchin Lane, London, in the parish of St. Michael’s Cornhill, ½ an houre before eight a clock on a munday morning, the signe being in the 9 degree of Gemini that day at 12 a clock, Anno Domini 1620.
He was bred-up (as the fashion then was) in the Puritan way; wrote Short-hand dextrously; and after many yeares constant hearing and writing sermon-notes, he fell to buying and reading of the best Socinian bookes, and for severall yeares continued of that Opinion. At last, he turned a Roman Catholique, of which Religion he dyed a great Zealot.
To give him his due prayse, he was a very ingeniose and studious person, and generally beloved, and rose early in the morning to his Study before shop-time. He understood Latin and French. He was a
pleasant facetious Companion, and very hospitable.
He was by Trade, Haberdasher of small-wares, but was free of the Drapers-Company. A man generally beloved; a faythfull friend. Often chosen for his prudence and justnes to be an Arbitrator; and he was a great Peace-maker. He had an excellent working head, and was very facetious and fluent in his conversation.
He had gonne thorough all the Offices of the City as far as Common-councill-man. He was Common-councill-man two yeares. Captaine of the Trayned Band, severall yeares: Major of it, two or three yeares, and then layd downe trade and all other publique Employment for his Religion, being a Roman Catholique.
He wrote Observations on the bills of Mortality very ingeniosely, but I beleeve, and partly know, that he had his Hint from his intimate and familiar friend Sir William Petty, to which he made some Additions, since printed. And he intended (had he lived) to have writt more on the subject.
He wrott some Observations on the Advance of the Excise, not printed; and also intended to have written something of Religion.
Major John Graunt dyed on Easter-eve 1674, and was buryed the Wednesday followeing in St. Dunstan’s church in Fleetstreet in the body of the said church under the piewes towards the gallery on the north side, i.e. under the piewes (alias hoggsties) of the north side of the middle aisle (what pitty ’tis so great an Ornament of the Citty should be buryed so obscurely!) aetatis anno 540.
His death is lamented by all Good men that had the happinesse to knowe him; and a great number of ingeniose persons attended him to his grave. Among others (with Teares) was that ingeniose great Virtuoso, Sir William Petty, his old and intimate Acquaintance, who was sometime a student at Brasenose College.