were throwing their nett, asked them what they would take for their
draught; they answered _so much_: his lordship would offer them no more
but _so much_. They drew-up their nett, and <in> it were only 2 or 3
little fishes: his lordship then told them it had been better for them
to have taken his offer. They replied, they hoped to have had a better
draught; '_but_,' sayd his lordship, '_Hope is a good breakfast, but an
ill supper_.'
When his lordship was in dis-favour, his neighbours hearing how much he
was indebted, came to him with a motion to buy Oake-wood of him. His
lordship told them, '_He would not sell his feathers_.'
The earle of Manchester being removed from his place of Lord Chiefe
Justice of the Common Pleas[297] to be Lord President of the Councell,
told my lord (upon his fall) that he was sorry to see him made such an
example. Lord Bacon replied 'It did not trouble him since _he_ was made
_a President_.'
The bishop of London did cutt-downe a noble clowd of trees at Fulham.
The Lord Chancellor told him that he was _a good expounder of darke
places_.
Upon his being in dis-favour his servants suddenly went away; he
compared them to the flying of the vermin when the howse was falling.
One told his Lordship it was now time to looke about him. He replyed,
'I doe not looke _about_ me, I looke _above_ me.'
Sir Julius Cæsar (Master of the Rolles) sent to his lordship in his
necessity a hundred pounds for a present[XIV.]; quaere + de hoc of
Michael Malet.
[XIV.] Most of these enformations I have from Sir John Danvers.
His Lordship would often drinke a good draught of strong beer (March
beer) to-bedwards, to lay his working fancy asleep: which otherwise
would keepe him from sleeping great part of the night.
I remember Sir John Danvers told me, that his lordship much delighted
in his curious[298] garden at Chelsey, and as he was walking there
one time, he fell downe in a dead-sowne. My lady Danvers rubbed his
face, temples, etc. and gave him cordiall water: as soon as he came to
himselfe, sayd he, 'Madam, I am no good _footman_.'
<_His death and burial._>
[299]Mr. Hobbs told me that the cause of his lordship's death was
trying an experiment: viz., as he was taking the aire in a coach with
Dr. Witherborne (a Scotchman, Physitian to the King) towards High-gate,
snow lay on the ground, and it came into my lord's thoughts, why flesh
might not be preserved in snow, as in salt. They were resolved they
would try the experiment presently. They[300] alighted out of the
coach, and went into a poore woman's howse at the bottome of Highgate
hill, and bought a hen, and made the woman exenterate it, and then
stuffed the bodie with snow, and my lord did help to doe it himselfe.
The snow so chilled him, that he immediately fell so extremely ill,
that he could not returne to his lodgings (I suppose then at Graye's
Inne), but went to the earle of Arundell's house at High-gate, where
they putt him into a good bed warmed with a panne, but it was a damp
bed that had not been layn-in in about a yeare before, which gave him
such a cold that in 2 or 3 dayes, as I remember he[301] told me, he
dyed of suffocation.
Mr. George Herbert, Orator of the University of Cambridge, haz made
excellent verses on this great man. So haz Mr. Abraham Cowley in his
Pindariques. Mr. Thomas Randolph of Trin. Coll. in Cambr. haz in his
poems verses on him.
[302]In the north side of the chancell of St. Michael's church (which,
as I remember, is within the walles of Verulam) is the Lord Chancellor
Bacon's monument in white marble in a niech, as big as the life,
sitting in his chaire in his gowne and hatt cock't, leaning his head on
his right hand. Underneath is this inscription which they say was made
by his friend Sir Henry Wotton.
Franciscus Bacon, Baro de Verulam,
Sti Albani Vicecomes, seu, notioribus titulis,
Scientiarum Lumen, Facundiae Lex,
sic sedebat.
Qui postquam omnia Naturalis sapientiae
et Civilis arcana evolvisset,
Naturae decretum explevit
'Composita solvantur,'
Anno Domini MDCXXVI
aetatis LXVI.
Tanti viri
mem.
Thomas Meautys[XV.]
superstitis cultor,
defuncti admirator,
H. P.
[XV.] His lordship's secretarie, who maried a kinswoman (<Anne> Bacon),
who is now the wife of Sir Harbottle Grimston, Master of the Rolles.
<_His relatives._>
[303]He had a uterine[XVI.] brother ANTHONY BACON, who was a very great
statesman and much beyond his brother Francis for the politiques, a
lame man, he was a pensioner to, and lived with ... earle of Essex. And
to him he dedicates the first edition of his Essayes, a little booke
no bigger then a primer, which I have seen in the Bodlyan Library.
[XVI.] His mother was <Anne> Cooke, sister of ... Cooke of Giddy-hall
in Essex, 2nd wife to Sir Nicholas Bacon.
His sisters were ingeniose and well-bred; they well understood the use
of the globes, as you may find in the preface of Mr. Blundevill of the
Sphaere: see if it is not dedicated to them. One of them was maried to
Sir John Cunstable of Yorkshire. To this brother in lawe he dedicates
his second edition of his Essayes, in 8vo; his last, in 4to, to the
duke of Bucks.
[304]Blundevill's _Exercises_, preface:--'I began this
arithmetique more then seven yeares since for that vertuous
gentlewoman Mris Elizabeth Bacon, the daughter of Sir Nicholas
Bacon, knight (a man of most excellent witt and of a most
deep judgement and sometimes Lord Keeper of the great seale
of England), and lately the loving and faithfull wife of my
worshipfull friend Mr. Justice Windham, who for his integrity
of life and for his wisdome and justice dayly shewed in
government and also for his good hospitalitie deserved great
commendation; and though at her request I had made this
arithmetique so plaine and easie as was possible (as to my
seeming) yet her continuall sicknesse would not suffer her to
exercise herself therin.'
<_His residences._>
[305]I will write something of Verulam, and his house at Gorhambery.
At Verulam is to be seen, in some few places, some remaines of the
wall of this citie[XVII.]; which was in compass about ... miles. This
magnanimous Lord Chancellor had a great mind to have made it a citie
again: and he had designed it, to be built with great uniformity: but
Fortune denyed it him, though she proved kinder <to> the great Cardinal
Richelieu, who lived both to designe and finish that specious towne of
Richelieu, where he was borne; before, an obscure and small vilage.
(The ichnographie, etc., of this towne and palais is nobly engraved).
[XVII.] Verolamium, Virolamium, Cassivelani oppidum.
Within the bounds of the walls of this old citie of Verulam (his
lordship's Baronry) was Verulam howse, about 1/2 a mile from St.
Albans; which his Lordship built, the most ingeniosely contrived little
pile[XVIII.], that ever I sawe. No question but his lordship was the
chiefest architect; but he had for his assistant a favourite of his
(a St. Albans man) Mr. ... Dobson (who was his lordship's right hand)
a very ingeniose person (Master of the Alienation Office); but he
spending his estate upon woemen[306], necessity forced his son William
Dobson to be the most excellent painter that England hath yet bred, qui
obiit Oct. 1648; sepult. S. Martin's in the fields[307].
[XVIII.] I am sorry I measured not the front and breadth; but I little
suspected it would be pulled downe for the sale of the materialls.
[308]The view of this howse from the entrance into the gate by the
high-way is thus. The parallel[309] sides answer one another. I doe not
well remember if on the east side were bay windowes, which his lordship
much affected, as may be seen in his essay _Of Building_. Quaere
whether the number of windowes on the east side were 5 or 7: to my best
remembrance but 5. This model I drew by memorie, 1656.
VERULAM HOWSE[310].
This howse did cost nine or ten thousand the building, and was
sold about 1665 or 1666 by Sir Harbottle Grimston, baronet, (now
Master of the Rolles) to two carpenters for fower hundred poundes;
of which they made eight hundred poundes. Memorandum:--there were
good chimney-pieces; the roomes very loftie, and all were very well
wainscotted. Memorandum:--there were two bathing-roomes or stuffes,
whither his Lordship retired afternoons as he sawe cause. All the
tunnells of the chimneys were carried into the middle of the howse,
as in this draught; and round about them were seates. The top of
the howse was well leaded. From the leads was a lovely prospect to
the ponds, which were opposite to the east side of the howse, and
were on the other side of the stately walke of trees that leades to
Gorhambery-howse: and also over that long walke of trees, whose topps
afford a most pleasant[311] variegated verdure, resembling the workes
in Irish-stitch. The kitchin, larder, cellars, &c., are under ground.
In the middle of this howse was a delicate staire-case of wood, which
was curiously carved, and on the posts of every interstice was some
prettie figure, as of a grave divine with his booke and spectacles, a
mendicant friar, &c.--(not one thing twice). Memorandum:--on the dores
of the upper storie on the outside (which were painted darke umber)
were the figures of the gods of the Gentiles (viz. on the south dore,
2d storie, was Apollo; on another, Jupiter with his thunderbolt, etc.)
bigger then the life, and donne by an excellent hand; the heightnings
were of hatchings of gold, which when the sun shone on them made a most
glorious shew.
Memorandum:--the upper part of the uppermost dore, on the east side,
had inserted into it a large looking-glasse, with which the stranger
was very gratefully decieved, for (after he had been entertained a
pretty while, with the prospects of the ponds, walks, and countrey,
which this dore faced) when you were about to returne into the
roome[312], one would have sworn _primo intuitu_, that he had beheld
another prospect through the howse: for, as soon as the stranger was
landed on the balconie, the conserge[313] that shewed the howse would
shutt the dore to putt this fallacy on him with the looking-glasse.
This was his lordship's summer-howse: for he sayes (in his essay) one
should have seates for summer and winter as well as cloathes.
From hence to Gorhambery is about a little mile, the way easily
ascending, hardly so acclive as a deske.
From hence to Gorambury in a straite line leade three parallell walkes:
in the middlemost three coaches may passe abreast: in the wing-walkes
two may. They consist of severall stately trees of the like groweth
and heighth, viz. elme, chesnut, beach, hornebeame, Spanish-ash,
cervice-tree, &c., whose topps (as aforesaid) doe afford from the walke
on the howse the finest shew that I have seen, and I sawe it about
Michaelmas, at which time of the yeare the colour of leaves are most
varied. The manner of the walke is thus:--
u u u u
t t t t
s s s s
r r r r
o o o o
n n n n
m m m m
x x x x
u u u u
t t t t
s s s s
r r r r
o o o o
n n n n
m m m m
x x x x
u u u u
t t t t
s s s s
r r r r
o o o o
n n n n
m m m m
[314]The figures of the ponds were thus: they were pitched at the
bottomes with pebbles of severall colours, which were work't in to
severall figures, as of fishes, &c. which in his lordship's time were
plainly to be seen through the cleare water, now over-grown with
flagges and rushe.
If a poor bodie had brought his lordship halfe a dozen pebbles of a
curious colour, he would give them a shilling, so curious was he in
perfecting his fish-ponds, which I guesse doe containe four acres.
In the middle of the middlemost pond, in the island, is a curious
banquetting-house of Roman architecture, paved with black and white
marble; covered with Cornish slatt, and neatly wainscotted.
(_a_) = cutt hedge about the island.
(_b_) = walke between the hedge and banquetting-howse.
[Illustration]
Memorandum:--about the mid-way from Verolam-house to Gorambery, on the
right hand, on the side of a hill which faces the passer-by, are sett
in artificiall manner the afore-named trees, whose diversity of greens
on the side of the hill are exceeding pleasant. These delicate walkes
and prospects entertaine the eie to Gorambery-howse, which is a large,
well-built Gothique howse, built (I thinke) by Sir Nicholas Bacon,
Lord Keeper, father to this Lord Chancellor, to whom it descended
by the death of Anthony Bacon, his middle brother, who died sans
issue.[315]The Lord Chancellor made an addition of a noble portico,
which fronts the garden to the south: opposite to every arch of this
portico, and as big as the arch, are drawen, by an excellent hand
(but the mischief of it is, in water-colours), curious pictures, all
emblematicall, with mottos under each: for example, one I remember is
a ship tossed in a storme, the motto, _Alter erit tum Tiphys_. Enquire
for the rest.
Over this portico is a stately gallerie, whose glasse-windowes are
all painted; and every pane with severall figures of beast, bird, or
flower: perhaps his lordship might use them as topiques for locall
memory. The windowes looke into the garden, the side opposite to them
no window, but that side is hung all with pictures at length, as of
King James, his lordship, and severall illustrious persons of his time.
At the end you enter is no windowe, but there is a very large picture,
thus:--in the middle on a rock in the sea stands King James in armour,
with his regall ornaments; on his right hand stands (but whither or no
on a rock I have forgott), King Henry 4 of France, in armour; and on
his left hand, the King of Spaine, in like manner. These figures are
(at least) as big as the life, they are donne only with umbre and shell
gold: all the heightning and illuminated part being burnisht gold,
and the shadowed umbre, as in the pictures of the gods on the dores
of Verolam-house. The roofe of this gallerie is semi-cylindrique, and
painted by the same hand and same manner, with heads and busts of Greek
and Roman emperours and heroes.
In the hall (which is of the auncient building) is a large storie very
well painted of the feastes of the gods, where Mars is caught in a
nett by Vulcan. On the wall, over the chimney, is painted an oake with
akornes falling from it; the word, _Nisi quid potius_. And on the wall,
over the table, is painted Ceres teaching the soweing of corne; the
word, _Moniti meliora_.
The garden is large, which was (no doubt) rarely planted and kept in
his lordship's time: vide vitam Peireskii de domino Bacon. Here is a
handsome dore, which opens into Oake-wood; over this dore in golden
letters on blew are these six verses[316].
[317]The oakes of this wood are very great and shadie. His lordship
much delighted himselfe here: under every tree he planted some fine
flower, or flowers, some wherof are there still (1656), viz. paeonies,
tulips,....
From this wood a dore opens into ..., a place as big as an ordinary
parke, the west part wherof is coppice-wood, where are walkes cutt-out
as straight as a line, and broade enoug for a coach, a quarter of
a mile long or better.--Here his lordship much[318] meditated, his
servant Mr. Bushell attending him with his pen and inke horne to
sett downe his present notions.--Mr. Thomas Hobbes told me, that his
lordship would employ him often in this service whilest he was there,
and was better pleased with his _minutes_, or notes sett downe by him,
then by others who did not well understand his lordship. He told me
that he was employed in translating part of the Essayes, viz. three of
them, one wherof was that of the Greatnesse of Cities, the other two I
have now forgott.
The east of this parquet (which extends to Veralam-howse) was
heretofore, in his lordship's prosperitie, a paradise; now is a large
ploughed field. This eastern division consisted of severall parts; some
thicketts of plumme-trees with delicate walkes; some of rasberies. Here
was all manner of fruit-trees that would grow in England; and a great
number of choice forest-trees; as the whitti-tree, sorbe-, cervice-,
etc., eugh[319]. The walke<s>, both in the coppices and other boscages,
were most ingeniosely designed: at severall good viewes[320], were
erected elegant sommer-howses well built of Roman architecture, well
wainscotted and cieled; yet standing, but defaced, so that one would
have thought the Barbarians had made a conquest here. This place in his
lordship's time was a sanctuary for phesants, partridges, etc. birds
of severall kinds and countries, as white, speckled etc., partridges.
In April, and the springtime, his lordship would, when it rayned, take
his coach (open) to recieve the benefit of irrigation, which he was
wont to say was very wholsome because of the nitre in the aire and the
_universall spirit of the world_.
His lordship was wont to say, _I will lay my mannor of Gorambery on't_,
to which Judge ... made a spightfull reply, saying he would not hold a
wager against that, but against _any other_ mannour of his lordship's
he would. Now this illustrious Lord Chancellor had only this mannor of
Gorambery.
=Roger Bacon= (1214-1294).
[321]Roger Bacon, friar ordinis <S. Francisci>:--Memorandum, in Mr.
Selden's learned verses before Hopton's _Concordance of yeares_, he
speakes of friar Bacon, and sayes that he was a Dorsetshire gentleman.
There are yet of that name in that countie, and some of pretty good
estate. I find by ... (which booke I have) that he understood the
making of optique glasses; where he also gives a perfect account of the
making of gunpowder, vide pag ... ejusdem libri.
[322]Friar Roger Bacon:--Dr. Gerard Langbain had a Catalogue[AO] of all
his workes, which Catalogue Dr. <Thomas> Gale, schoolmaster of Paule's,
haz now.
_Note._
[AO] The reference is probably to a list of pieces by Roger Bacon which
were found among Thomas Allen's MSS. Langbaine's draft of it is found
in MS. Langbaine 7, p. 393: see Clark's Wood's _Life and Times_, iv.
253.
=Thomas Badd= (1607-1683).
[323]The ... happinesse a shoemaker haz in drawing on a fair lady's
shoe.... I know one that it was the hight of his ambition to be
prentice to his mris<'s> shoemaker upon that condicion.
Sir Thomas Bad's[324] father, a shoemaker, married the brewer's widow
of Portsmouth, worth 20,000 _li._
=Edward Bagshaw= (1629-1671).
[325]Edward Bagshaw was borne at Broughton in Northamptonshire; 42 when
he dyed--from his widowe[AP].
[326]My old acquaintance, Mr. Edward Bagshawe, B.D., 3rd son of Edward
Bagshawe, esq., a bencher of the Middle Temple, was borne (the day nor
moneth certaine to be knowne) November or December at Broughton in
Northamptonshire, where Mr. Boldon[327], quondam Coll. Aeneinas., was
parson.
He was a king's scholar at Westminster schole, then student of Christ
Church. Scripsit severall treatises.
Obiit on St. Innocents day, 28 Dec., 1671, in Tuttle street,
Westminster, a prisoner to Newgate 22 weekes for running into a
praemunire for refusing to take the oath of allegiance (he boggled at
the word 'willingly' in the oath): aetatis 42. Sepult., Newyeares day,
in the fanatique burying-place by the Artillery-ground in Moorfields,
where his sorrowfull widdowe will place his epitaph.
1500 or 2000 people were at his funerall.
[328]'Here[329] lyes interred | the body of | Mr. Edward Bagshaw |
minister of the Gospell | who recieved from God | faith to embrace it
| courage to defend it | and patience to suffer for it | when by most
despised and by many persecuted | esteeming the advantages of birth,
education, and learning | as things of worth to be accounted losse for
the knowledge | of Christ. | From the reproaches of pretended friends
| and persecutions of professed adversaries | he | took sanctuary | by
the will of God | in eternall rest.'
_Note._
[AP] MS. Aubr. 27:--'A review and conclusion of the Antidote against
Mr. Baxter's palliated cure of Church Divisions,' by Edward Bagshaw,
Lond. 1671, has the note 'donum Margaretae, viduae autoris: Jan. 27,
1671 <i.e. 1/2>, Jo. Awbrey.'
=Jean Louis Guez de Balzac= (1594-1655).
[330]Monsieur de Balzac ended his dayes in a Cappucine's cell, and was
munificent to them: vide _Entretiens de monsieur de Balzac_, printed
above 20 yeares since.
=Richard Bancroft= (1544-1610).
In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 119ᵛ, is this jotting:--
'Dr. Mat. Skinner. _Resp._ 'tis archbishop Bancroft's
picture--quod N.B., and inscribe.'
This is probably to be interpreted as meaning--'Enquire
whether the portrait,' in a certain place, 'is that of Dr.
Matthew Skinner.' Finding that it is the portrait of Richard
Bancroft, 'see that the name is inscribed on it,' for future
identification.
=John Barclay= (1582-1621).
=Robert Barclay= (1648-1690).
[331]Johannes Barclaius, Scoto-Britannus:--from Sam. Butler--was in
England some time tempore regis Jacobi. He was then an old man, white
beard; and wore a hatt and a feather, which gave some severe people
offence.
Dr. John Pell tells me, that his last employment was Library-Keeper of
the Vatican, and that he was there poysoned.
Memorandum:--this John Barclay haz a sonne[332], now (1688) an old man,
and a learned quaker, who wrote a Systeme of the Quakers' Doctrine in
Latine[333], dedicated to King Charles II, now <to> King James II; now
translated by him into English, in.... The Quakers mightily value him.
The booke is common.
=Isaac Barrow= (1630-1677).
[334]Isaac Barrow, D.D.--from his father, (who was borne Aprill 22,
1600, 1/2 a yeare older then King Charles 1st), May 17, 1682.
His father, Thomas Barrow, was the second son of Isaac Barrow of
Spinney Abbey in the countie of Cambridge, esq., who was a Justice
of the Peace there above fourtie yeares. The father of Thomas never
designed him for a tradesman, but he was so severe to him <that>
he could not endure to live with him and so came to London and was
apprentice to a linnen-draper. He kept shop at the signe of the
White-horse in Forster lane near St. Forster's church in St. Leonard's
parish; and <his son[335]> was christened at St. John Zacharie's in
Forster lane, for at that time St. Leonard's church was pulled downe
to be re-edified. He was borne anno Dni 1630 in October[336] after
King Charles IIⁿᵈ. Dr. Isaac Barrow had the exact day and hower of
his father, which may be found amongst his papers. His father sett it
downe in his English bible, a faire one, which they used at the king's
chapell when he was in France and he could not get it again. His father
travelled with the King, Charles 2ⁿᵈ, where ever he went; he was sealer
to the Lord Chancellor beyond sea, and so when he came into England.
Amongst Dr. Barrowe's papers it may be found. Dr. Tillotson has all his
papers--quaere for it, and for the names of all writings both in print
and MSS.
He went to schoole, first to Mr. Brookes at Charterhouse two yeares.
His father gave to Mr. Brookes 4 _li._ per annum, wheras his pay was
but 2 _li._, to be carefull of him; but Mr. Brokes was negligent
of him, which the captain of the school acquainted his father (his
kinsman) and sayd that he would not have him stay there any longer than
he[337] did, for that he[337] instructed him.
Afterwards to one Mr. Holbitch, about fower years, at Felton[338] in
Essex; from whence he was admitted of Peterhouse College in Cambridge
first, and went to schoole a yeare after. Then he was admitted of
Trinity College in Cambridge at 13 yeares old.
Quaere whose daughter his mother was.
His mother was Anne, daughter of William Buggin of North Cray in Kent,
esq. She died when her sonne Isaac was about fower yeares old.
Anno Domini ... he travelled, and returned, anno Domini....
He wrote.... What MSS.?--quaere Dr. Tillotson, and quaere Mr. Brabazon
Aylmer, bookseller, nere Exchange Alley.
His humour when a boy and after:--merry and cheerfull and beloved where
ever he came. His grandfather kept him till he was 7 years old: his
father was faine to force him away, for there he would have been good
for nothing there.
A good poet, English and Latin. He spake 8 severall languages.