Aubrey's Brief Lives

by John Aubrey

  ’TIS CERTAIN, THE Earles of Pembroke were the most popular Peers in the West of England; but one might boldly say, in the whole Kingdome. The Revenue of this Family was till about 1652, 16,000 pounds per annum. But with his Offices, and all He had thirty thousand Pounds per annum. And, as the Revenue was great, so the greatnesse of his Retinue, and Hospitality were answerable. One hundred and twenty Family uprising and down lyeing: whereof you may take out six or seven, and all the rest Servants, and Retayners.

  William 2d & Philip 3d Earles were gallant and handsome persons: they espoused not Learning, but were addicted to Field sports and Hospitality. Earle William entertained at Wilton, at his own Cost, King James the first, during the space of many moneths.

  King Charles 1st did love Wilton above all places: and came thither every Sommer. It was HE, that did put Philip (1st) Earle of Pembroke upon makeing this magnificent Garden and Grotto, and to new-build that side of the House that fronts the Garden with two stately Pavilions at Each end, all al Italiano. Wilton-garden was the third garden of the Italian mode. But in the time of King Charles IId, Gardening was much improved and became common: I doe beleeve, I may modestly affirm, that there is now (1691) ten times as much gardning about London as there was in A° 1660: and we have been since that time much improved in foreign plants: especially since about 1683, there have been exotick Plants brought into England, no lesse than seven thousand.

  William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke was a most noble Person, and the Glory of the Court in the Reignes of King James and King Charles. He was handsome, and of an admirable presence. He was the greatest Maecenas to learned Men of any Peer of his time: or since. He was very generous and open handed: He gave a noble Collection of choice Bookes, and Manuscripts to the Bodlaean Library at Oxford, which remain ther as an honourable Monument of his Munificence. ’Twas thought, had he not been suddenly snatcht away by Death (to the grief of all learned, and good men) that He would have been a great Benefactor to Pembroke Colledge in Oxford; whereas there remains only from him a great piece of Plate, that He gave there.

  His Nativity was calculated by old Mr. Thomas Allen: his death was foretold, which happened true at the time praedicted, at his House at Baynards Castle in London. He was very well in health; but because of the Fatal Direction which He lay under, he made a great Entertainment (a Supper) for his Friends: ate and dranke plentifully; went well to bed, and died in his sleep.

  Earl William was a most magnificent and brave Peer, and loved learned men. He was a good Scholar, and delighted in Poetrie: and did sometimes (for his Diversion) write some Sonnets and Epigrammes, which deserve Commendation: some of them are in print. He was of an Heroiq, and publick Spirit, Bountiful to his Friends, and Servants, and a great Encourager of Learned Men.

  Philip Earle of Pembroke (his Brother) did not delight in Books, or Poetry: but exceedingly loved Painting and Building, in which he had singular Judgement, and had the best Collection of any Peer in England, and was the great Patron to Sir Anthony van Dyck: and had most of his Painting. His Lordship’s chiefe delight was in Hunting and Hawking, both which he had to the greatest perfection of any Peer in the Realm.

  Wilton will appeare to have been an Academie, as well as Palace, and was (as it were) the Apiarie, to which Men, that were excellent in Armes, and Arts, did resort, and were carress’t; and many of them received honourable Pensions.

  As aforesaid, Philip the first Earle of that name, did not love Bookes, as his elder Brother William did: but when he was young, he had a wonderfull Sagacity or faculty of discerning Men: i.e. to espie the reality or deceit of Ambassadours and Ministers of Estate, which did render Him the more acceptable to King James the first.

  Philip Earle of Pembroke (sonne of Philip aforesayd) had an admirable Witt, and was contemplative but did not much care for reading. His chiefest Diversion was Chymistrie, which his Lordship did understand very well and he made Medicines, that did great Cures.

  It was the right hon. Philip (1st) Earle of Pembroke, that was the great Hunter. It was in his Lordship’s time (sc. tempore Jacobi I and Caroli I) a serene calme of Peace, that Hunting was at its greatest Heighth that ever was in this Nation. The Roman Governours had not (I thinke) the leisure; the Saxons were never at quiet; and the Baron’s Warres, and these of Yorke and Lancaster, took up the greatest part of the time since the Conquest: So that the Glory of the English Hunting breath’d its last with this Earle: who deceased about 1644, and shortly after the Forests and Parkes were sold, and converted into Arable.

  ‘Twas after his Lordship’s Decease, that I was a Hunter: that is to say with the right honble William, Lord Herbert of Cardiff, the aforesaid Philip’s Grandson.

  This present Earl of Pembroke (1680) has at Wilton, 52 Mastives and 30 Grey-hounds, some Beares, and a Lyon, and a matter of 60 fellowes more bestiall then they.

  THOMAS HOBBES

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  [Born 1588. Philosopher. For a great part of his life he was in the service of the Cavendish family and, in 1647, was appointed mathematical tutor to the Prince of Wales. When the Parliament of 1628 drew up the Petition of Right, Hobbes published a translation of Thucydides, with the expressed intention of showing the evils of democracy. It was not the actual occurrence of the Civil War that caused his opinions, but the prospect of it; naturally, however, his convictions were strengthened when his fears were realised and, in 1651, he published the Leviathan, which stressed the comfort of government. At the Restoration, Charles II awarded him a pension of £100 a year—which, however, His Majesty forgot to pay. Hobbes’ atheism soon got him into fresh trouble and he was refused leave to print anything in England on controversial subjects. He continued to produce important works nevertheless and they were printed at Amsterdam. His last book was published when he was eighty-seven. Died 1679.]

  THE DAY OF his Birth was April the fifth, Anno Domini 1588, on a Fryday morning, which that yeare was Good Fryday. His mother fell in labour with him upon the fright of the Invasion of the Spaniards.

  Mr. Hobbes’ father was Minister of Westport juxta Malmesbury, to which Brokenborough and Charlton doe belong as Chapells of Ease: the Vicaridge of Malmesbury is but xx nobles per annum = £6 13s. 4d. He was one of the Clergie of Queen Elizabeth’s time—a little Learning went a great way with him and many other ignorant Sir Johns in those days; could only read the prayers of the Church and the homilies; and disesteemed Learning (his son Edmund told me so) as not knowing the Sweetnes of it.

  Westport is the Parish without the West-gate (which is now demolished) which Gate stood on the neck of land that joines Malmesbury to Westport. Here was, before the late Warres, a very pretty church, consisting of 3 aisles, or rather a nave and two aisles, dedicated to St. Mary; and a fair spiresteeple, with five tuneable Bells, which, when the Towne was taken by Sir W. Waller, were converted into Ordinance, and the church pulled-downe to the ground, that the Enemie might not shelter themselves against the Garrison. The Steeple was higher then that now standing in the Borough, which much adorned the Prospect. The Windowes were well painted, and in them were Inscriptions that declared much Antiquitie; now is here rebuilt a Church like a Stable.

  The old vicar Hobs was a good Fellow and had been at cards all Saturday night, and at church in his sleep he cries out Trafells is troumps, viz. clubs. Then quoth the Clark, Then, Master, he that have Ace doe rub.

  He was a collirice man, and a parson (which I thinke succeeded him at Westport) provoked him (a purpose) at the church doore, soe Hobs stroke him and was forcd to fly for it and died in obscurity beyound London, about 80 yeares since.

  As to his Father’s ignorance and clownery, ’twas as good metal in the Oare which wants excoriating and refineing. A witt requires much cultivation, much paines, and art and good conversation to perfect a man.

  Thomas, the Father, had an elder Brother whose name was Francis, a wealthy man, and had been Alderman of the Borough; by Profession a Glover, which is a great Trade here, and in times past much greater. (Shall I expresse or
conceale this glover? The philosopher would acknowledge it.) Having no child, he contributed much to, or rather altogether maintained, his Nephew Thomas at Magdalen-hall in Oxon; and when he dyed gave him an agellum (a moweing-ground) called the Gasten-ground, lyeing neer to the Horse-faire, worth 16, or 18 poundes per annum; the rest of his Landes he gave to his nephew Edmund. Edmund was neer two yeares elder then his brother Thomas, and something resembled him in aspect, not so tall, but fell much short of him in his Intellect: though he was a good plain understanding countrey-man. He had been bred at Schoole with his brother; could have made Theme, and verse, and understood a little Greek to his dyeing day. He dyed about 13 yeares since, aetat. circiter 80.

  At fower yeer old Mr. Thomas Hobbes (Philosopher) went to Schoole in Westport church till 8—then the church was painted. At 8 he could read well and number a matter of 4 or 5 figures. After, he went to Malmesbury to Parson Evans. After him, he had for his Schoolemaster, Mr. Robert Latimer, a young man of about nineteen or twenty, newly come from the University, who then kept a private schoole in Westport. This Mr. Latimer was a good Graecian, and the first that came into our Parts hereabout since the Reformation. He was a Batchelour and delighted in his Scholar, T. H.’s company, and used to instruct him, and two or three ingeniose youths more, in the evening till nine a clock.

  When he was a Boy he was playsome enough, but withall he had even then a contemplative Melancholinesse; he would gett him into a corner, and learn his Lesson by heart presently. His haire was black, and his schoolfellows were wont to call him Crowe.

  At fourtenn yeares of age, he went away a good Schoole-scholar to Magdalen-hall, in Oxford. It is not to be forgotten that before he went to the University, he had turned Euripidis Medea out of Greeke into Latin Iambiques, which he presented to his Master. Mr. H. told me that he would faine have had them, to see how he did grow. Twenty odde yeares agoe I searcht all old Mr. Latimer’s papers, but could not find them; the Oven had devoured them.

  At Oxford Mr. T. H. used, in the Summer time especially, to rise very early in the Morning, and would tye the leaden-counters with Pacthreds, which he did besmere with birdlime, and bayte then with parings of cheese, and the Jack-dawes would spye them a vast distance up in the aire, and as far as Osney-abbey, and strike at the Bayte, and so he harled in the String, which the wayte of the counter would make cling about their Wings. (This story he happened to tell me, discoursing of the Optiques, to instance such sharpnes of sight in so little an eie.) He did not much care for Logick, yet he learnd it, and thought himself a good Disputant. He tooke great delight there to goe to the Booke-binders shops, and lye gaping on Mappes.

  After he had taken his Batchelor of Arts degree, the than principall of Magdalen-hall (Sir James Hussee: a great encourager of towardly youths) recommended him to his yong Lord (the Earl of Devonshire) when he left Oxon, who had a conceit that he should profitt more in his learning if he had a Scholar of his owne age to wayte on him then if he had the information of a grave Doctor. He was his Lordship’s page, and rode a hunting and hawking with him, and kept his privypurse.

  By this way of life he had almost forgott his Latin. He therefore bought him bookes of an Amsterdam print that he might carry in his pocket (particularly Caesar’s Commentarys) which he did read in the Lobbey, or Ante-chamber, whilest his Lord was making his Visits.

  He spent two yeares in reading romances and playes, which he haz often repented and sayd that these two yeares were lost of him—wherin perhaps he was mistaken too. For it might furnish him with copie of words.

  The Lord Chancellour Bacon loved to converse with him. He assisted his Lordship in translating severall of his Essayes into Latin, one, I well remember, is that Of the Greatnes of Cities: the rest I have forgott. His Lordship was a very Contemplative person, and was wont to contemplate in his delicious walkes at Gorambery, and dictate to Mr. Thomas Bushell, or some other of his Gentlemen, that attended him with inke and paper ready to sett downe presently his Thoughts. His Lordship would often say that he better liked Mr. Hobbes’s taking his thoughts, then any of the other, because he understood what he wrote, which the others not understanding, my Lord would many times have a harde taske to make sense of what they writt.

  1634: this summer—I remember ’twas in Venison season (July or August)—Mr. T. H. came into his Native Country to visitt his Friends, and amongst others he came then to see his old school-master, Mr. Robert Latimer, at Leigh-de-la-mer, where I was then a little youth at Schoole in the church, newly entred into my Grammar by him. Here was the first place and time that ever I had the honour to see this worthy, learned man, who was then pleased to take notice of me, and the next day visited my relations. He was then a proper man, briske, and in very good habit. His hayre was then quite black. He stayed at Malmsbury and in the neighborhood a weeke or better. His conversation about those times was much about Ben: Jonson, Mr. Ayton, etc. ’Twas the last time that ever he was in Wiltshire.

  He was 40 yeares old before he looked on Geometry; which happened accidentally. Being in a Gentleman’s Library, Euclid’s Elements lay open, and ’twas the 47 El. libri 1. He read the Proposition. By G—, sayd he (he would now and then sweare an emphaticall Oath by way of emphasis) this is impossible! So he reads the Demonstration of it, which referred him back to such a Proposition; which proposition he read. That referred him back to another, which he also read. Et sic deinceps [and so on] that at last he was demonstratively convinced of that trueth. This made him in love with Geometry.

  I have heard Mr. Hobbes say that he was wont to draw lines on his thigh and on the sheetes, abed, and also multiply and divide.

  He would often complain that Algebra (though of great use) was too much admired, and so followed after, that it made men not contemplate and consider so much the nature and power of Lines, which was a great hinderance to the Groweth of Geometrie; for that though algebra did rarely well and quickly, and easily in right lines, yet ’twould not bite in solid (I thinke) Geometry. Quod N.B.

  ’Twas pitty that Mr. Hobbs had not began the study of the Mathematics sooner, els he would not have layn so open. But one may say of him, as one sayes of Jos. Scaliger, that where he erres, he erres so ingeniosely, that one had rather erre with him then hitt the marke with Clavius.

  After he began to reflect on the Interest of the King of England as touching his affaires between Him and parliament, for ten yeares together his thoughts were much, or almost altogether, unhinged from the Mathematiques; which was a great putt-back to his Mathematicall improvement; for in ten yeares (or better) discontinuance of that Study (especially) one’s Mathematiques will become very rusty.

  When the Parliament sate that began in April 1640 and was dissolved in May following, and in which many pointes of the Regall Power, which were necessary for the Peace of the Kingdome and Safety of his Majestye’s Person, were disputed and denyed, Mr. Hobbes wrote a little Treatise in English, wherin he did sett-forth and demonstrate, that the sayd Powers and Rights were inseparably annexed to the Soveraignty, which soveraignty they did not then deny to be in the King; but it seemes understood not, or would not understand, that Inseparability. Of this Treatise, though not printed, many Gentlemen had copies, which occasioned much talke of the Author; and had not his Majestie dissolved the Parliament, it had brought him in danger of his life.

  Bp. Manwaring (of St. David’s) preach’d his Doctrine; for which, among others, he was sent prisoner to the Tower. Then thought Mr. Hobbes, ’tis time now for me to shift for my selfe, and so withdrew into France, and resided at Paris. This little MS. treatise grew to be his Booke De Cive, and at last grew there to be the so formidable LEVIATHAN; the manner of writing of which booke (he told me) was thus. He sayd that he sometimes would sett his thoughts upon researching and contemplating, always with this Rule that he very much and deeply considered one thing at a time (scilicet, a weeke or sometimes a fortnight). He walked much and contemplated, and he had in the head of his Staffe a pen and inke-horne, carried always a Note-book i
n his pocket, and as soon as a notion darted, he presently entred it into his Booke, or els he should perhaps have lost it. He had drawne the Designe of the Booke into Chapters, etc. so he knew whereabout it would come in. Thus that booke was made.

  He wrote and published the Leviathan far from the intention either of disadvantage to his Majestie, or to flatter Oliver (who was not made Protector till three or four yeares after) on purpose to facilitate his returne; for there is scarce a page in it that he does not upbraid him.

  His Majestie was displeased with him (at Paris) for a while, but not very long, by means of some’s complayning of and misconstruing his writing. But his Majestie had a good Opinion of him, and sayd openly, That he thought Mr. Hobbes never meant Him hurt.

  Anno 1650 or 1651, he returned into England, and lived most part in Fetter-lane, where he writt, or finished, his booke de Corpore, in Latin and then in English.

  He was much in London till the restauration of his Majesty, having here convenience not only of Bookes, but of learned Conversation. I have heard him say, that at his Lord’s house in the Countrey there was a good Library, and bookes enough for him, and that his Lordship stored the Library with what bookes he thought fitt to be bought; but he sayd, the want of learned Conversation was a very great inconvenience, and that though he conceived he could order his thinking as well perhaps as another man, yet he found a great defect. Methinkes in the country, for want of good conversation, one’s Witt growes mouldy.