by John Aubrey
The right honble Thomas Howard, Earle of Arundel and Surrey, Lord High Marshall of England, was his great Patron, and loved him intirely. One time they were like to have been killed together by the fall at Albury of a grott, which fell downe but just as they were come out. My Lord had many Grotts about his house, cutt in the Sandy sides of hills, wherin he delighted to sitt and discourse.
In the time of the Civill Warres the Duke of Florence invited him over, and offered him 500 pounds per annum; but he would not accept of it, because of his religion.
Notwithstanding all that has been sayd of this excellent man, he was in danger to have been Sequestred, and one Onslowe that was a great Stickler against the Royalists and a Member of the House of Commons and living not far from him—he translated his Clavis into English and dedicated it to him to clawe with him, and it did doe his businesse and saved him from Sequestration.
I have heard his neighbour Ministers say that he was a pittiful Preacher; the reason was because he never studyed it, but bent all his thoughts on the Mathematiques; but when he was in danger of being Sequestred for a Royalist, he fell to the study of divinity, and preacht (they sayd) admirably well, even in his old age.
He was a good Latinist and Graecian, as appears in a little Treatise of his against one Delamaine, a Joyner, who was so sawcy to write against him (I thinke about his circles of Proportion).
Nicolaus Mercator went to see him a few yeares before he dyed. ’Twas about Midsommer, and the weather was very hott, and the old gentleman had a good fire, and used Mr. Mercator with much humanity (being exceedingly taken with his excellent Mathematicall Witt) and one piece of his courtesie was, to be mighty importunate with him to sett on his upper hand next the fire; he being cold (with age) thought he had been so too.
Before he dyed he burned a world of Papers, and sayd that the world was not worthy of them; he was so superb. He burned also severall printed bookes, and would not stirre, till they were consumed. His son Ben was confident he understood Magique.
He dyed the 13th day of June, 1660, in the yeare of his age eighty-eight plus odde dayes. Ralph Greatrex, his great friend, the Mathematicall Instrument-maker, sayed he conceived he dyed with joy for the comeing-in of the King, which was the 29th of May before. And are yee sure he is restored? Then give me a glasse of Sack to drinke his Sacred Majestie’s health. His spirits were then quite upon the wing to fly away.
The 15th of June he was buried in the chancell at Albury. I had much adoe to find the very place where the bones of this learned and good man lay (and ’twas but 16 yeares after his death). When I first ask’t his son Ben, he told me that truly the griefe for his father’s death was so great, that he did not remember the place—now I should have thought it would have made him remember it the better—but when he had putt on his considering cap (which was never like his father’s) he told as aforesaid, with which others did agree.
I have desired Mr. John Evelyn, etc., to speake to our Patrone, the Duke of Norfolk, to bestowe a decent Inscription of marble on him, which will also perpetuate his Grace’s fame.
JOHN OVERALL
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[Born 1560. Divine. Regius Professor of Theology at Cambridge 1596–1607. Master of Catherine Hall 1598–1607. Dean of St. Pauls 1602. Took part in the Hampton Court Conference and the enlargement of the Church Catechism 1604. One of the Revisers of the Old Testament 1611. Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (1614) and of Norwich 1618. He was not given to preaching, because he found he had spoken Latin so long it was troublesome to him to speak English in a continued oration. Died 1618.]
I KNOW NOT what he wrote or whether he was any more than a common-prayer Doctor: but most remarqueable by his Wife, who was the greatest Beautie of her time in England. That she was so, I have it attested from the famous Limmer Mr. Hoskins, and other old Painters, besides old Courtiers. She was not more beautifull than she was obligeing and kind, and was so tender-hearted that (truly) she could scarce denie any one. She had (they told me) the loveliest Eies that were ever seen, but wondrous wanton. When she came to Court, or to the Play-house, the Gallants would so flock about her. Richard the Earle of Dorset, and his brother Edward, since Earle, both did mightily adore her. And by their report he must have had a hard heart that did not admire her. Bishop Hall sayeth in his Meditations that there is none so old, that a beautifull person loves not; nor so young, whom a lovely feature moves not.
The good old Deane, notwithstanding he knew well enough that he was horned, loved her infinitely: in so much that he was willing she should enjoy what she had a mind to.
Among others who were charmed by her was Sir John Selby, of Yorkshire. Old Mris. Tyndale (who knew her) remembres a song made of her and Sir John, part whereof was this, viz:—
The Deane of Paule’s did search for his wife,
and where d’ee thinke he found her?
Even upon Sir John Selbye’s bed,
as flatte as any Flounder.
Of these two Lovers was made this following copie of Pastorall verses:
Downe lay the Shepherd Swaine
so sober and demure
Wishing for his wench againe
so bonny and so pure
With his head on hillock lowe
and his armes akimboe,
And all was for the losse of his
hye nonny nonny noe.
His Teares fell as thinne
as water from the still,
His haire upon his chinne
grew like Thyme upon a hill,
His cherry cheekes pale as snowe
did testify his mickle woe
And all was for the losse of his
hye nonny nonny noe.
Sweet she was, as kind a Love
as ever fetter’d Swayne;
Never such a daynty one
shall man enjoy again.
Sett a thousand on a rowe
I forbid that any showe
Ever the like of her
hye nonny nonny noe.
Face she had of Filberd hue
and bosom’d like a Swan
Back she had of bended Ewe,
and wasted by a span.
Haire she had as black as Crowe
from the head unto the toe
Downe downe all over her
hye nonny nonny noe.
With her Mantle tuck’t up high
she foddered her flock
So bucksome and alluringly
her knee upheld her smock
So nimbly did she use to goe
so smooth she danc’t on tip-toe,
That all the men were fond of her
hye nonny nonny noe.
She smiled like a Holy-day,
she simpred like the Spring,
She pranck’t it like a Popingaie,
and like a Swallow sing:
She trip’t it like a barren Doe,
she strutted like a gor-crowe,
Which made the men so fond of her
hye nonny nonny noe.
To sport it on the merry downe
to daunce the Lively Haye;
To wrastle for a green gowne
in heate of all the day
Never would she saye me no
yet me thought I had thô
Never enough of her
hye nonny nonny noe.
But gonne she is the prettiest Lasse
that ever trod on plaine.
What ever hath betide of her
blame not the Shepherd Swayne
For why? she was her owne Foe,
and gave herselfe the overthrowe
By being so franke of her
hye nonny nonny noe.
FINIS.
JOHN PELL
* * *
[Born 1611. Mathematician. M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1630. Professor of Mathematics at Amsterdam (1643) and at Breda 1646. Returned to England in 1652 and was employed by Cromwell as a diplomat in Switzerland from 1654 to 1658. Rector of Fobbing 1661–85. Vicar of Laindon 1663–85.
D.D. Lambeth 1663. His mathematical reputation was great, but he accomplished little, and left nothing of moment. He died in poverty in 1685.]
JOHN PELL, S. T. Dr., was the son of John, who was the son of John. His father dyed when his son John was but 5 yeares old and six weekes, and left him an excellent Library.
He went to Schoole at the Free-schoole at Stenning, a Burrough towne in Sussex, at the first Founding of the schoole. At 13 yeares and a quarter old he went as good a scholar to Cambridge, to Trinity Colledge, as most Masters of Arts in the University (he understood Latin, Greek, and Hebrew) so that he played not much (one must imagine) with his schoolfellowes, for, when they had play-dayes, or after schoole-time, he spent his time in the Library aforesaid.
Before he went first out of England, he understood these Languages (besides his mother-tongue) viz. Latin, Greek, Hebrue, Arabique, Italian, French, Spanish, High-Dutch, and Low-Dutch.
Anno Domini 1632 he maried Ithamara Reginalds, second daughter to Mr. Henry Reginalds of London. He had by her 4 sonnes and 4 daughters borne in this order S., D., D., S., D., S., D., S.
In the year 1638 Mr. Theodore Haake came first to be acquainted with Mr. Pell by Mr. S. Hartlib’s meanes, who having heard of his extraordinarie parts in all kinde of learning, especially the Mathematics, perswaded that the same might be farre more usefully employed and improoved for the publick advancement of Learning, he never left soliciting and engaging frends heer to perswade Mr. Pell instead of keeping Scool, as he then did in Sussex, to come up to London, where he soon got into great esteem among the most learned, both Natives and Forreigners, with whom he conversed. But he so minded and followed still the Cultivating of his more abstracting Studies, and naturally averse from suing or stooping much for what he was worthy of, it was a good while before he obtained any suteable place or settlement.
Mr. Haake recommended him once to my Lord Bishop of Lincoln (quondam Lord Keeper of England) who became very desirous to see the Man, inviting them of purpose to dine once with his Lordship for the freer discourse of all sorts of literature and Experiments, to get a touch and taste that satisfaction Mr. Pell could give him. Which proved so pertinent and abundant that my Lord put the question to him whether he would accept of a Benefice which he was ready, glad, and willing to bestow on him for his Encouragement. Mr. Pell thankd his Lordship, saying he was not capacitate for that, as being no Divine and having made the Mathematics his main studie, for the great publick need and usefullnesse therof, which he had in a manner devoted himself to improve and advance to the uttmost of his reach and abilities. Which answer pleased my Lord so well that he replyed, Alasse! what a sad case it is that in this great and opulent kingdome there is no publick encouragement for the excelling in any Profession but that of the Law and Divinity. Were I in place as once I was, I would never give over praying and pressing his Majesty till a noble Stock and Fund might be raised for so fundamentall, universally usefull, and eminent Science as Mathematicks. And therupon his Lordship requested Mr. Pell to befriend him with his visits as often as he could spare time, promising him always a very hearty welcome. Yet Mr. Pell who was no Courtier came there no more.
In the mean time he communicated to his friends his excellent Idea Matheseos in half a sheet of paper, which got him a great deal of repute, both at home and abroad, but no other special advantage, till Mr. John Morian, a very learned and expert Gentleman, gave Mr. Haake notice that Hortensius, Mathematical Professor at Amsterdam, was deceased, wishing that their friend Mr. Pell might succeed. Sir William Boswell, his Majestie’s ambassador in Holland, being here then, Theodore Haake conferred with him about it, who promised all his assistance; and between them, and by these two, a call was procured from Amsterdam for Mr. Pell, in 1643: and in May 1644 T. H. met him settled there on his return out of Denmarke. Where he was, among others, dearly welcome to Gerardus Joannes Vossius.
And soon after his fame was much augmented by his refuting a large book of Longomontanus Quadratura, which caused the Prince of Orange (Henry Frederick) being about to erect an Academie at Breda, to borrow Mr. Pell from the Magistrate of Amsterdam, to grace his new Academe with a man of that fame for a few years. And there being comfortably stayed, the most learned of the then Parliament heer, jealous that others should enjoy a countryman of their own, they never left offers and promises till they got him hither to be—they gave out—Professor Honorarius heer. But the successe prov’d soon deficient, and reduced him to much inconvenience, as having now a charge of a pretty large Family, viz. his wife with 4 or 5 children. And this continued till in 1654 Oliver, Lord Protector, sent him Envoyé to the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland; resided chiefly at Zurich. He was sent out with the Title of Ablegatus, but afterwards he had order to continue there with the Title of Resident.
In 1658 he returned into England and so little before the death of Oliver Cromwell that he never sawe him since he was Protector.
Memorandum that in his Negociation he did no disservice to King Charles IId, nor to the church, as may appeare by his letters which are in the Secretarie’s Office.
Richard Cromwell, Protector, did not fully pay him for his business in Piedmont, wherby he was in some want; and so when King Charles II had been at home ten months, Dr. Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, perswaded him to take Holy Orders.
Gilbert Sheldon, Lord Bishop of Lundon, gave Dr. Pell the scurvy Parsonage of Lanedon cum Basseldon in the infamous and unhealthy (aguesh) Hundreds of Essex (they call it Kill-priest sarcastically) and King Charles the Second gave him the Parsonage of Fobing, 4 miles distant.
At Fobbing, seven curates dyed within the first ten yeares; in sixteen yeares, six of those that had been his Curates at Laindon are dead; besides those that went away from both places; and the death of his Wife, servants, and grandchildren.
Gilbert Sheldon being made Archbishop of Canterbury, John Pell was made one of his Cambridge Chapleines (He haz 2 Oxford Chaplaines and 2 Cambridge) and complaining one day to his Grace at Lambith of the unhealthinesse of his Benefice as abovesayd, sayd my Lord, I doe not intend that you shall live there. No, sayd Pell, but your Grace does intend that I shall die there.
Lord Brereton was sent to Breda to recieve the Instruction of this worthy Person, by his grandfather (George Goring, the Earle of Norwich) anno 1647, where he became a good proficient, especially in Algebra to which his Genius most inclined him and which he used to his dyeing day, which was 17 March, 1680: lies buried in St. Martin’s church in the Fields. I cannot mention this Noble Lord but with a great deale of Passion, for a more vertuous person (besides his great learning) I never knew. I have had the honour of his acquaintance since his comeing from Breda into England. Never was there greater love between Master and Scholar then between Dr. Pell and this Scholar of his, whose death hath deprived this worthy Doctor of an ingeniose Companion and a usefull Friend.
Now by this time (1680) you doubt not but this great, learned man, famous both at home and abroad, haz obtained some considerable Dignity in the Church. You ought not in modestie to ghesse at lesse then a Deanery. Why, truly, he is stak’t to this poor preferment still! For though the parishes are large, yet (Curates, etc., discharged) he cleares not above 3-score pound per annum (hardly fourscore) and lives in an obscure lodging, three stories high, in Jermyn Street, next to the signe of the Ship, wanting not only bookes but his proper MSS. which are many.
He could not cringe and sneake for preferment though otherwise no man more humble nor more communicative. He was cast into King’s Bench prison for Debt Sept 7, 1680.
In March 1682 he was very kindly invited by Daniel Whistler, M.D., to live with him at the Physitians College in London, where he was very kindly entertained; which the Dr. likt and accepted of, loving good cheer and good liquour, which the other did also; where eating and drinking too much, was the cause of shortning his daies. About the middle of June he fell extreme sick of a Cold and removed to a grandchild of his maried to one Mr. Hastings in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, Westminster, neer the to
wer, who now (1684) lives in Brownlow Street in Drury Lane, where he was like to have been burnt in his bed by a candle. Nov. 26, fell into convulsion fitts which had almost killed him.
Dr. Pell haz often sayd to me that when he solves a Question, he straines every nerve about him, and that now in his old age it brings him to a Loosenesse.
Dr. J. Pell was the first inventor of that excellent way or method of the marginall working in Algebra. He haz sayd to me that he did believe that he solved some questions non sine Divino auxilio [not without divine aid].
Dr. Pell had a brother a Chirurgian and Practitioner in Physick, who purchased an Estate of the Natives of New-York and when he died left it to his Nephew John Pell, only son of the Doctor, who is a Justice of the Peace in New Yorke, and lives well. It is a great estate 8 miles broad and several miles long. Dr. Pell thought to have gonne over to him.
Both his Parsonages are of the value of two hundred pounds per annum (or so accounted) but the Doctor was a most shiftless man as to worldly affaires, and his Tenants and Relations cousin’d him of the Profits and kept him so indigent that he wanted necessarys, even paper and Inke, and he had not 6d. in his purse when he dyed, and was buried by the Charity of Dr. Richard Busby and Dr. Sharp, Rector of St. Giles-in-the-fields and Dean of Norwich, who ordered his Body to lye in a Vault belonging to the Rector (the price is X pounds).
He dyed of a broaken heart.
WILLIAM PENN
* * *
[Born 1644. Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he became a Quaker and was in consequence expelled from the University. For attacking the doctrines of the Trinity, the Atonement and Justification by Faith, he was imprisoned in the Tower in 1668, where he wrote No Cross, No Crown. He was again imprisoned for preaching in 1671 and used his enforced leisure to write The Great Cause of Liberty of Conscience, an able defence of religious toleration. In 1681 he was granted the territory now forming the State of Pennsylvania by Charles II, and he determined to found there a community based upon the principles of toleration. But his later years were embittered by troubles in Pennsylvania and by the dishonesty of one of his agents, who nearly ruined him and who was the cause of his being imprisoned for debt. He died soon after his release in 1718.]