Aubrey's Brief Lives

by John Aubrey

  WILLIAM PENN WAS the eldest son of Sir William Penn, Knight, Admirall both of the English Navy before the Restauration of the King, and commanded as Captain-Generall under the Duke of York in 1665 against the Dutch Fleet. His father was a very good man, but no Quaker; was very much against his sonne.

  He was mighty lively but with Innocence, and extremely tender under rebuke; and very early delighted in retirement; much given to reading and meditating of the Scriptures, and at 14 had marked over the Bible. Oftentimes at 13 or 14 in his meditations ravisht with joy, and dissolved into teares.

  The first Sense he had of God was when he was 11 yeares old at Chigwell, being retired in a chamber alone; he was so suddenly surprized with an inward comfort and (as he thought) an externall glory in the roome that he has many times sayd that from thence he had the Seale of divinity and Immortality, that there was a God and that the Soule of man was capable of enjoying his divine communications. His schoolmaster was not of his Perswasion.

  About the Plague, growing entirely solitary, was employed by his father in a Journey into Ireland to the Duke of Ormond’s court: the diversions of which not being able to keepe downe the stronger motions of his Soule to a more religious and retired life, upon the hearing of one Thomas Lowe, a Trades man, of Oxon at Cork, 1667, was so thoroughly convinced of the simplicity and selfe-deniall of the way of the people called Quakers that from thence he heartily espoused that Judgement and Beliefe.

  Since which time he has passed a life of great variety of circumstances, both with respect to good and evill report, divers controversies orall and written, severall Imprisonments; one in Ireland, one in the Tower, 3rd in Newgate.

  Notwithstanding those many odd adventures of his Life, he hath severall times found favour from his Majestie and also the D. Y., with divers of the Nobilitye, and men of Quality and learning in this Kingdome.

  Travelled into Germany, Upper and Lower, annis 1671 and 1677, where severall were affected with his way. Did he gaine any to him in France? Negat.

  His Majestie owing to his father 10,000 pounds (which, with the interest of it, came not to lesse than 20,000 pounds) did in consideration therof grant to him and his heirs a province in America which his Majesty was pleased to name Pennsylvania, the 4th day of March 1681. His Patent for Transylvania is from the beginning of the 40th degree to 43 degrees in Latitude, and 5 degrees in Longitude from Chisapeak-bay.

  August 26, 1682, Saturday. This day about 4 a clock P.M., W. Penne, Esq., went towards Deale to launch for Pensylvania. God send him a prosperous and safe Voyage.

  He speaks well the Latin and the French tongues, and his owne with great mastership. He was chosen, nemine contradicente, Fellow of the Royal Societie, London, with much respecte. He often declares in the Assemblies of his Friends, and that with much eloquence and fervency of spirit: by which, and his perpetuall attendances on King and Prince for the reliefs of his Friends, he often exposes his health to hazard.

  W. Penn, Esq., married Gulielma Maria Springet, daughter of Sir William Springet, of the Springets of the Broyles in Sussex. She was a posthuma of her father, a young Gent of Religion and courage who dyed at the Siege of Arundel. His daughter was his Image in person and qualities, virtuous, generous, wise, humble, plaine; generally beloved for those good qualities and one more—the great cures she does, having great skill in physic and surgery, which she freely bestows.

  She early espoused the same way, about anno 1657. She was a great fortune to her husband, being worth de claro above 10,000 pounds. Her fortune, quality, and good humour gave her the importunity of many suitors of extraordinary condition, e.g. Lord Brookes and Lord John Vaughan, etc.; but valueing the Unity of beliefe and selfe deniall of her profession above the glories of the World, resisted their motions till Providence brought a man of equall condicion and fortune to herself to the syncere embracing of the same Fayth, whose mariage haz been crowned with a continued affection.

  Sir William Penn, Knight, his father, was a man of excellent naturall abilities, not equalled in his time for the knowledge of navall affayres: and instrumentall to the raysing of many families. Bred his son religiously; and, as the times grew loose, would have his sonn of the fashion, and was therfore extreme bitter at his sonne’s retirement. But this lasted not alwayes; for, in the conclusion of his life, he grew not only kind, but fonde; made him the judge and ruler of his Family; was sorry he had no more to leave him (and yet, in England and Ireland, he left him 1500 pounds per annum). But, which is most remarkeable, he that opposed his sonne’s way because of the crosse that was in it to the world’s Latitude, did himselfe embrace this faith, recommending to his son the plainesse and selfe deniall of it, sayeing, Keep to the plainesse of your way, and you will make an end of the Priests to the ends of the Earth. And so he deceased, desiring that none but his son William should close his eies (which he did).

  SIR WILLIAM PERTTY

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  [Born 1623. Political economist. He went to sea at an early age, but his precocious talents so excited the envy of his fellow-seamen that they deserted him on the coast of France with a broken leg. Instead of returning home, he studied on the Continent. He published economic treatises, the most important of which was entitled Political Arithmetic (1690) a term signifying what we now call statistics. He died in 1687.]

  HIS FATHER WAS by profession a clothier, and also did dye his owne cloathes: he left little or no estate to Sir William. About 12 or 13, i.e. before 15, he haz told me, happened to him the most remarkable accident of life (which he did not tell me) and which was the foundation of all the rest of his greatnes and acquiring riches. He haz told me that he never gott by Legacies, but only x pounds, which was not payd.

  He enformed me that, about 15, in March, he went over into Normandy, to Caen, in a vessell that went hence, with a little stock, and began to play the merchant, and had so good successe that he maintained himselfe, and also educated himselfe; this I guessed was that most remarkable accident that he meant. Here he learn’t the French tongue, and perfected himselfe in the Latin (before, but a competent smattering) and had Greeke enough to serve his turne. Here (at Caen) he studyed the Arts: he was sometime at La Flesshe in the college of Jesuites. At 18, he was (I have heard him say) a better Mathematician then he is now; but when occasion is, he knows how to recurre to more mathematicall Knowledge. At Paris he studyed Anatomie, and read Vesalius with Mr. Thomas Hobbes, who loved his company. Mr. H. then wrot his Optiques; Sir W. P. then had a fine hand in drawing and limning, and drew Mr. Hobbes Opticall schemes for him, which he was pleased to like. At Paris, one time, it happened that he was driven to a great streight for money, and I have heard him say, that he lived a weeke on two peniworth (or 3, I have forgott which, but I thinke the former) of Walnutts.

  He came to Oxon, and entred himselfe of Brasen-nose college. Here he taught Anatomy to the young Scholars. Anatomy was then but little understood by the university, and I remember he kept a body that he brought by water from Reding a good while to read upon some way soused or pickled. About these times Experimentall Philosophy first budded here and was first cultivated by these Vertuosi in that darke time.

  Anno Domini 1650 happened that memorable accident and experiment of the reviving Nan Green a servant maid, who was hang’d in the castle of Oxon for murdering her bastard-child. After she had suffer’d the law, she was cut downe, and carried away in order to be anatomiz’d by some yong physitians, but Dr. William Petty finding life in her, would not venter upon her, only so farr as to recover her life. Which being look’d upon as a great wonder, there was a relation of her recovery printed, and at the end several copies of verses made by the young poets of the Universitie were added.

  He was about 1650 elected Professor of Musique at Gresham Colledge, by, and by the Interest of his Friend Captaine John Graunt (who wrote the Observations on the Bills of Mortality) and at that time was worth but fourtie pounds in all the world.

  Shortly after, he was recommended to the Parliament to be one of t
he Surveyors of Ireland, to which employment Capt. John Graunt’s interest did also help to give him a Lift, and Edmund Wyld, Esq., also, then a Member of Parliament, and a good fautor of Ingeniose and good men, for meer meritt sake (not being formerly acquainted with him) did him great service, which perhaps he knowes not of.

  Severall made offers to the Parliament to survey it (when the Parliament ordered to have it surveyed) for 4000 pounds, 5000 pounds, 6000 pounds; but Sir William (then Dr.) went lower then them all and gott it. Sir Jonas More contemnd it as dangerous, loving to sleepe in a whole skin: he was afrayd of the Tories.

  By this Surveying Employment he gott an Estate in Ireland (before the restauration of King Charles II) of 18,000 pounds per annum, the greatest part wherof he was forced afterwards to refund, the former owners being then declared Innocents. He hath yet there 7 or 8000 pounds per annum and can, from the Mount Mangorton in the com. of Kerry, behold 50,000 Acres of his owne land. He hath an Estate in every province of Ireland.

  The Kingdome of Ireland he hath surveyed, and that with that exactnesse, that there is no Estate there to the value of threscore pounds per annum but he can shew, to the value, and those that he employed for the Geometricall part were ordinary fellowes, some (perhaps) foot-soldiers, that circumambulated with their box and needles, not knowing what they did, which Sir William knew right well how to make use of.

  Abraham Cowley

  From the portrait by Sir Peter Lely at Dulwich

  Andrew Marvell

  From the portrait by Adrian Hannemann in the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull

  I remember about 1660 there was a great difference between him and Sir Hierome Sanchy, one of Oliver’s knights. They printed one against the other: this knight was wont to preach at Dublin. The Knight had been a Soldier, and challenged Sir William to fight with him. Sir William is extremely short sighted, and being the challengee it belonged to him to nominate place and weapon. He nominates, for the place, a darke Cellar, and the weapon to be a great Carpenter’s Axe. This turned the knight’s challenge into Ridicule, and so it came to nought.

  Before he went into Ireland, he sollicited, and no doubt he was an admirable good Sollicitor. I have heard him say that in Solliciting (with the same paines) he could dispatch severall businesses, nay, better than one alone, for by conversing with severall he should gaine the more knowledge, and the greater Interest.

  In the time of the Warre with the Dutch, they concluded at the Councell-board at London, to have so many sea men out of Irland (I think 1500). Away to Irland came one with a Commission, and acquaints Sir William with it; sayes Sir William, You will never rayse this number here. Oh, sayd the other, I warrant you, I will not abate you a man. Now Sir William knew ’twas impossible, for he knew how many Tunne of shipping belongd to Ireland, and the rule is, to so many tunnes so many men. Of these shipps halfe were abroad, and of those at home so many men unfit. In fine, the Commissioner with all his diligence could not possibly rayse above 200 seamen there. So we may see how statesmen may mistake for want of this Politique Arithmetique.

  Another time the Councell at Dublin were all in a great racket for the prohibition of Coale from England and Wales, considering that all about Dublin is such a vast quantity of Turfe; so they would improve their rents, sett poor men on worke, and the City should be served with Fuell cheaper. Sir William prima facie knew that this project could not succeed. Sayd he, If you will make an order to hinder the bringing-in of Coales by foreigne vessells, and bring it in Vessells of your owne, I approve of it very well: But for your supposition of the cheapnesse of the Turfe, ’tis true ’tis cheape on the place, but consider carriage, consider the yards that must contayn such a quantity for respective houses, these yards must be rented; what will be the chardge? They supputated, and found that (every thing considered) ’twas much dearer then to fetch coale from Wales, or etc.

  Sir W. Petty was a Rota man, and troubled Mr. James Harrington with his Arithmeticall proportions, reducing Politie to Numbers.

  Anno 1660 he came into England, and was presently recieved into good grace with his Majestie, who was mightily pleased with his discourse. He can be an excellent Droll (if he haz a mind to it) and will preach extempore incomparably, either the Presbyterian way, Independent, Cappucin frier, or Jesuite.

  I remember one St. Andrewe’s day (which is the day of the Generall Meeting of the Royall Society for Annuall Elections) I sayd, Methought ’twas not so well that we should pitch upon the Patron of Scotland’s day, we should rather have taken St. George or St. Isidore (a Philosopher canonized). No, said Sir William, I would rather have had it on St. Thomas day, for he would not beleeve till he had seen and putt his fingers into the Holes, according to the Motto Nullius in verba [not bound to swear obedience to any man’s dogma].

  Anno Domini 1663 he made his double-bottom’d Vessell (launched about New-yeare’s tide) of which he gave a Modell to the Royall Societie made with his owne hands, and it is kept in the Repository at Gresham College. It did doe very good service, but happned to be lost in an extraordinary storme in the Irish sea. About 1665 he presented to the Royall Societie a Discourse of his (in manuscript, of about a Quire of paper) of Building of Shippes, which the Lord Brounker (then President) tooke away, and still keepes, saying, ’Twas too great an Arcanum of State to be commonly perused; but Sir William told me that Dr. Robert Wood, M.D. has a copie of it, which he himselfe haz not.

  Anno Domini 1667 he maried on Trinity Sunday the relict of Sir Maurice Fenton, of Ireland, Knight, daughter of Sir Hasdras Waller of Ireland, a very beautifull and ingeniose Lady, browne, with glorious Eies, by whom he hath some sonnes and daughters, very lovely children, but all like the Mother. He has a naturall Daughter that much resembles him, no legitimate child so much, that acts at the Duke’s Play-house.

  He is a proper handsome man, measured six foot high, good head of browne haire, moderately turning up. His eies are a kind of goose-gray, but very short sighted, and, as to aspect, beautifull, and promise sweetnes of nature, and they doe not decieve, for he is a marvellous good-natured person. Eie-browes thick, darke, and straight (horizontall).

  He is a person of an admirable inventive head, and practicall parts. He hath told me that he hath read but little, that is to say, not since 25 aetat., and is of Mr. Hobbes his mind, that had he read much, as some men have, he had not known so much as he does, nor should have made such Discoveries and improvements.

  He had his patent for Earle of Kilmore and Baron of Shelbrooke, which he stifles during his life to avoyd Envy, but his Sonne will have the benefit of the Precedency. (I expected that his Sonne would have broken-out a Lord or Earle: but it seemes that he had enemies at the Court at Dublin, which out of envy obstructed the passing of his Patent.)

  Monday, 20th March, he was affronted by Mr. Vernon: Tuesday following Sir William and his Ladie’s brother (Mr. Waller) Hectored Mr. Vernon and caned him.

  He has told me, that wheras some men have accidentally come into the way of preferment, by lying at an Inne, and there contracting an Acquaintance; on the Roade; or as some others have donne; he never had any such like opportunity, but hewed out his Fortune himselfe. To be short, he is a person of so great worth and learning, and haz such a prodigious working witt, that he is both fitt for, and an honour to, the highest preferment.

  Sir William Petty had a boy that whistled incomparably well. He after wayted on a Lady, a widowe, of good fortune. Every night this boy was to whistle his Lady asleepe. At last shee could hold out no longer, but bids her chamber-mayd withdrawe: bids him come to bed, setts him to worke, and marries him the next day. This is certeyn true.

  Sir William Petty died at his house in Peccadilly-street (almost opposite to St. James church) on fryday, 16th day of December, 1687, of a Gangrene in his foot, occasioned by the swelling of the Gowt, and is buried with his father and mother in the church at Rumsey, a little Haven towne in Hampshire.

  KATHERINE PHILIPS

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  [Born 1631. Poet. The daug
hter of John Fowler, a London merchant, she married James Philips in 1647. She adopted the pseudonym Orinda, to which her contemporaries prefixed the epithet Matchless. Her earliest verses were prefixed to the Poems of Henry Vaughan in 1651 and her collected verses appeared in 1667. She instituted a Society of Friendship, a literary salon for the discussion of poetry and similar topics. Her translation of Corneille’s Pompée was acted in Dublin with great success. Cowley, in an elegy, mourned her death from smallpox in 1664.]

  SHE WAS VERY religiously devoted when she was young; prayed by herself an hower together, and tooke Sermons verbatim when she was but 10 yeares old. (At the age of nine yeares, Thomas Randolph wrot the History of our Saviour’s Incarnation in English verse, which his brother John haz to shew under his owne handwriting—never printed, kept as a Raritie.)

  She was when a Child much against the Bishops, and prayd to God to take them to him, but afterwards was reconciled to them. Prayed aloud, as the hypocriticall fashion then was, and was overheated.

  From her cosen Blacket, who lived with her from her swadling cloutes to eight, and taught her to read:—when a child she was mighty apt to learne, and she assures me that she had read the Bible thorough before she was full four yeares old; she could have sayd I know not how many places of Scripture and chapters. She was a frequent Hearer of Sermons; had an excellent Memory and could have brought away a sermon in her memory. Very good-natured; not at all high-minded; pretty fatt; not tall; read pumpled face; wrote out Verses in Innes, or Mottos in windowes, in her table-booke.