losse, neer 1000 _li._; upon which he wrote to Mr. Holbitch, a Puritan,
to be pleased to take a little paines more than ordinary with him,
because the times growing so bad, and such a losse then received, that
he did not knowe how he might be able to provide for him, and so Mr.
Holbitch tooke him away from the howse where he was boarded to his owne
howse, and made him tutor to my lord viscount Fairfax, ward to the lord
viscount Say and Seale, where he continued so long as my lord continued.
This viscount Fairfax[340] died a young man. This viscount Fairfax,
being a schooleboy, maried a gentleman's daughter in the towne there,
who had but a thousand pounds. So leaving the schoole, would needs have
Mr. Isaac Barrow with him, and told him he would maintaine him. But the
lord Say was so cruel to him that he would not allow anything that 'tis
thought he dyed for want. The 1000 _li._ could not serve him long.
During this time old Mr. Thomas Barrow was shutt-up at Oxford and could
not heare of his sonne. But young Isaac's master, Holbitch, found him
out in London and courted him to come to his schoole and that he would
make him his heire. But he did not care to goe to schoole again.
When my lord Fairfax faild and that he sawe he grew heavy upon him,
he went to see one of his schoolfellowes, one Mr. Walpole, a Norfolke
gent., who asked him 'What he would doe?' He replyed he 'knew not
what to doe; he could not goe to his father at Oxford.' Mr. Walpole
then told him 'I am goeing to Cambridge to Trinity College and I
will maintaine you there'; and so he did for halfe a yeare till the
surrender of Oxford; and then his father enquired after him and found
him at Cambridge. And the very next day after old Mr. Barrow came to
Cambridge, Mr. Walpole was leaving the University and (hearing nothing
of Isaac's father) resolved to take Isaac along with him to his howse.
His father then asked him what profession he would be of, a merchant
or etc.? He begd of his father to lett him continue in the University.
His father then asked what would maintain him. He told him 20 _li._
per annum: 'I warrant you,' sayd he, 'I will maintaine myselfe with
it.' His father replyed 'I'le make a shift to allow you that.' So his
father then went to his tutor and acquainted him of, etc. His tutor,
Dr. Duport, told him that he would take nothing for his reading to him,
for that he was likely to make a brave scholar, and he would helpe him
to halfe a chamber for nothing. And the next newes his father heard of
him was that he was chosen in to the howse.[341]Dr. Hill[342] was then
master of the college. He mett Isaac[343] one day and layd his hand
upon his head and sayd 'thou art a good boy; 'tis pitty that thou art a
cavalier.'
He was a strong and a stowt man and feared not any man. He would fight
with the butchers' boyes in St. Nicholas' shambles, and be hard enough
for any of them.
He went to travell 3 or 4 yeares after the king was beheaded, upon the
colledge account[344]. He was a candidate for the Greeke professor's
place, and had the consent of the University but Oliver Cromwell putt
in Dr. Widrington[345]; and then he travelled.
He was abroad 5 yeares[346], viz. in Italie, France, Germany,
Constantinople.
As he went to Constantinople, two men of warre (Turkish shippes)
attacqued the vessell wherin he was. In which engagement he shewed
much valour in defending the vessell; which the men that were in that
engagement often testifye, for he never told his father of it himselfe.
Upon his returne, he came in <a> ship to Venice, which was stowed with
cotton-wooll, and as soon as ever they came on shore the ship fell on
fire, and was utterly consumed, and not a man lost, but not any goods
saved--a wonderfull preservation.
His personall valour--At Constantinople, being in company with the
English merchants, there was a Rhadamontade that would fight with any
man and bragged of his valour, and dared any man there to try him. So
no man accepting his challenge, said Isaac (not then a divine), 'Why,
if none els will try you I will'; and fell upon him and chastised him
handsomely that he vaunted no more amongst them.
After he had been 3 years beyond sea, his correspondent dyed, so that
he had no more supply; yet he was so well beloved that he never wanted.
At Constantinople he wayted on the consul Sir Thomas Bendish, who made
him stay with him and kept him there a yeare and a halfe, whether he
would or no.
At Constantinople, Mr. Dawes (afterwards Sir Jonathan Dawes, who dyed
sherif of London), a Turkey merchant, desired Mr. Barrow to stay but
such a time and he would returne with him, but when that time came
he could not goe, some businesse stayd him. Mr. Barrow could stay no
longer; so Mr. Dawes would have had Mr. Barrow have C[347] pistolles.
'No,' said Mr. Barrow, 'I know not whether I shall be able to pay you.'
''Tis no matter,' said Mr. Dawes. To be short, forced him to take fifty
pistolls, which at his returne he payd him again.
[348]Memorandum, his pill (an opiate, possibly Matthews his pil),
which he was wont to take in Turkey, which was wont to doe him good,
but he tooke it preposterously at Mr. Wilson's, the sadler's, neer
Suffolke-house, where he was wont to lye and where he dyed, and 'twas
the cause of his death--quaere + de hoc there.
As he lay expiring[349] in the agonie of death, the standers-by could
heare him say softly 'I have seen the glories of the world'--<from> Mr.
Wilson.
I have heard Mr. Wilson say that when he was at study, was so intent at
it that when the bed was made, or so, he heeded it not nor perceived
it, was so _totus in hoc_; and would sometimes be goeing out without
his hatt on.
He was by no meanes a spruce man[350], but most negligent in his
dresse. As he was walking one day in St. James's parke, looking ...,
his hatt up, his cloake halfe on and halfe off, a gent. came behind him
and clapt him on the shoulder and sayd 'Well, goe thy wayes for the
veriest scholar that ever I[351] mett with.'
He was a strong man but pale as the candle he studyed by.
His stature was....
The first booke he printed was Euclid's Elements in Latin, printed at
Cambridge, impensis Gulielmi Nealand, bibliopolae, Anno Domini MDCLV.
Euclidis data succincte demonstrata, printed at Cambridge ex officina
Joannis Field, impensis Gulielmi Nealand, bibliopolae, anno Domini 1657.
Euclid's Elements in English.
Euclid's Elements in Latin--in the last impressions of this is an
appendix about the sphaere itselfe, it's segments and their surfaces,
most admirably derived and demonstrated by the doctrine of infinite
arithmetique and indivisibles.
[352]Lectiones XVIII Cantabrigiae in scholis publicis habitae in
quibus opticorum phaenomenωn genuinae rationes investigantur
ac exponuntur. Annexae sunt lectiones aliquot geometricae. Londini,
prostant venales apud Johannem Dunmore et Octavianum Pulleyn. MDCLXIX.
Archimedes.
Apollonius.
Theodosius.
Now printing, 22 initiating lectures about mathematics[353], to which
will be subjoined some lectures that he read about Archimedes, proving
that he was an algebraist, and giving his owne thoughts by what method
Archimedes came to fall on his theoremes.
Bookes writ by the learned Dr. Isaac Barrow and printed for Brabazon
Aylmer at the Three Pidgeons over against the Royall Exchange in
Cornhill:--
12 Sermons preached upon severall occasions; in 8vo, being the first
volume.
10 Sermons against evil speaking; in 8vo, being the second volume.
8 Sermons of the love of God and our neighbour; in 8vo, being the third
volume.
The duty and reward of bounty to the poor, in a sermon, much enlarged,
preached at the Spittall upon Wednesday in Easter weeke anno Domini
1671, in 8vo.
A sermon upon the Passion of our blessed Saviour preached at Guildhall
chapell on Good Fryday the 13th day of April 1677, in 8vo.
A learned treatise of the Pope's supremacy, to which is added a
discourse concerning the unity of the church; in 4to.
The sayd discourse concerning the Unity of the Church is also printed
alone in 8vo.
An exposition of the Lord's Prayer, of the Ten Commandments, of the
doctrine of the Sacraments; in 8vo.
All the sayd books of the learned Dr. Isaac Barrow (except the sermon
of bounty to the poor) are since the author's death published by Dr.
Tillotson, deane of Canterbury.
'The true and lively effigies of Dr. Isaac Barrow' in a large print,
ingraven from the life by the excellent artist D. Loggan; price,
without frame, 6_d._
[354]Thomas Barrow, (father of Isaac, S.T.D.) was brother to Isaac
Barrow late lord bishop of St. Asaph, and sonne of Isaac Barrow of
Spiney Abbey, who was sonne of Philip Barrow[355], who hath in print a
method of Physick, and he had a brother Isaac Barrow, a Dr. of Physick,
who was a benefactor to Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, and was there
tutor to Robert Cecill that was earle of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer.
[356]Isaac Barrow, D.D., (<a> Cambridge <man>, borne in Essex), is
buried in the south crosse aisle of Westminster Abbey with this
inscription[357]:--
Isaacus Barrow
S.T.P. Regi Carolo IIº a sacris
Vir prope divinus et vere magnus si quid magna habent
Pietas, probitas, fides, summa eruditio, par modestia,
Mores sanctissimi undiquaque et suavissimi.
Geometriae professor Londini Greshamensis,
Graecae linguae et Matheseos apud Cantabrigienses suos,
Cathedras omnes, ecclesiam, gentem ornavit.
Collegium SS. Trinitatis praeses illustravit,
Jactis bibliothecae vere regiae fundamentis auxit.
Opes, honores, et universum vitae ambitum,
Ad majora natus, non contempsit sed reliquit seculo.
Deum quem a teneris coluit cum primis imitatus est,
Paucissimis egendo, beneficiendo quam plurimis,
Etiam posteris quibus vel mortuus concionari non desinit.
Caetera et poene majora ex scriptis peti possunt.
Abi lector et aemulare.
Obiit IVto die Maii anno Domini MDCLXXVII
aetatis suae XLVII.
Monumentum hoc Amici posuere.
This epitaph was contrived by Dr. John Mapletoft and perfected by Dr.
<Thomas> Gale.
He was the ... son of ... Barrow, <who> was a brewer at Lambith; a
King's Scholar at Westminster.
Anno 1655 he printed at Cambridge Euclidis Elementorum libri XV
breviter demonstrati.
Anno ..., he travelled; was at Constantinople; sawe part of Graece,
Italie, France.
He was a good poet, of great modestie and humanity, careles of his
dresse.
=... Barrow= (16..-168.).
[358]Dr. ... Barrow, M.D., secretary to the lord generall Monke
in Scotland, and who wrote the life or history of the generall,
was cosen-german to Thomas (father of Isaac, D.D.). He was a very
good-humoured man. He much resembled and spake like Dr. Ezerel Tong.
Obiit 2 yeares since: quaere ubi.
=Thomas Batchcroft= (15..-1670).
[359]Memorandum: in Sir Charles Scarborough's time (he was of Caius
College) Dr. ... (the head of that house) would visit the boyes'
chambers, and see what they were studying; and Charles Scarborough's
genius let him to the mathematics, and he was wont to be reading of
Clavius upon Euclid. The old Dr. had found in the title '... ..., _e
Societate Jesu_,' and was much scandalized at it. Sayd he, 'By all
meanes leave-off this author, and read Protestant mathematicall bookes.'
One sent this Doctor a pidgeon-pye from New-market or thereabout, and
he askt the bearer whither 'twas hott, or cold? He did out-doe Dr.
Kettle.
=George Bate= (1608-1668).
[360]Kingston super Thames; north aisle chap<el>.
Spe resurrectionis felicis
heic juxta sita est
Elizabetha
conjux lectissima
Georgii Bate, M.D.,
Car. 2 medici primarii,
Qui cineres suos adjacere curavit
ut qui unanimes convixerant
quasi unicorpores condormientes
una resurgant.
Mortem obiit 17 Apr., 1667, aet. 46
ex hydro-pulmon.,
funesta Londini conflagratione
acceleratam.
Obiit ille 19 Apr., 1668
aetatis suae 60.
=Francis Beaumont= (1584-1616).
[361]Mr. Francis Beaumont was the son of Judge Beaumont[362]. There
was a wonderfull consimility of phansey[XIX.] between him and Mr. John
Fletcher, which caused that dearnesse of frendship between them.
[XIX.]
Utrumque nostrum[363] incredibili modo
Consentit astrum.
HORACE, lib. 2, ode 17.
I thinke they were both of Queen's College in Cambridge.
I have heard Dr. John Earles (since bishop of Sarum), who knew them,
say that his maine businesse was to correct the overflowings[364] of
Mr. Fletcher's witt.
They lived together on the Banke side, not far from the Play-house,
both batchelors; lay together--from Sir James Hales, etc.; had one
wench in the house between them, which they did so admire; the same
cloathes and cloake, &c., betweene them.
He writt (amongst many other) an admirable elegie on the countesse of
Rutland, which is printed with verses before Sir Thomas Overburie's
_Characters_. John Earles, in his verses on him, speaking of them,
'A monument that will then lasting bee,
When all her marble is more dust then shee.'
Ex registro:--he was buryed at the entrance of St. Benedict's chapell
where <is> the earl of Middlesex' monument, in Westminster Abbey, March
9, 1615/6[XX.].
[XX.] Memorandum:--Isaac Casaubon was buryed at the entrance of the
same chapell. He dyed July 8, 1614.
I searched, severall yeares since, in the Register-booke of St. Mary
Overies, for the obiit of Mr. John Fletcher, which I sent to Mr.
Anthony à Wood.
He hath a very good prefatory letter before Mr. Speght's edition of Sir
Geofrey Chaucer's Workes printed by Adam Islip, 1602, London, where he
haz judicious observations of his writing.
=William Bedwell= (15..-1632).
[365]... Bedwell, professor of ... at Gresham College, translated into
English Pitisci _Trigonometria_. Published _The turnament of Totnam_.
He was an Essex man--from his grand-niece.
=William Beeston= (16..-1682).
[366]Did I tell you that I have mett with old Mr ...[367] who knew all
the old English poets, whose lives I am taking from him: his father
was master of the ... play-house.
[368]The more to be admired, quaere--he was not a company keeper; lived
in Shorditch; would not be debauched; and if invited to court, was in
paine.
_W. Shakespeare_--quaere Mr. Beeston, who knowes most of him from
Mr. Lacy. He lives in Shoreditch at Hoglane within 6 dores north of
Folgate. Quaere etiam for _Ben Jonson_.
[369]Old Mr. Beeston, whom Mr. <John> Dreyden calles 'the chronicle
of the stage,' died at his house in Bishopsgate street without, about
Bartholomew-tyde, 1682. Mr. Shipey in Somerset-house hath his papers.
=Richard Benese= (14..-1546).
[370]I did see, many yeares since, in a countrey-man's house, a little
booke in 8vo in English, called
Arsmetrie, or the Art of numbring:
printed in an old black letter about Henry VIII. The author's name I
doe not remember--quaere in Duck lane.
* * * * *
The next old mathematicall booke in English that I have seen hath this
title, viz:--
This booke sheweth the manner of measuring of all manner of land, as
well of woodland as of lande in the felde, and comptinge the true
nombre of acres of the same.
✠
Newlye invented and compiled by Syr Rycharde Benese, chanon of Marton
Abbay besyde London.
¶ Printed in Southwarke in Saint Thomas hospital by me James Nicolson.
'Tis a quarto.
[371]This Sir Richard Benese was also author of a little booke, in 8vo,
called....
: quaere Absolom Leech for it--'tis about physick.
=Berkeley.=
[372]Mris ... Barckley, sister of the late lord Fitz-Harding[373], was
cosen german to Mr. Sydney Godolphin, and also his mistresse. He loved
her exceedingly. After Mr. Godolphin's death she maried one Mr. Davys
who I thinke is now[374] dead, and she lives at Twicknam--from Philip
Packer, esq.
=Willoughby Bertie=, 3rd earl of Abingdon (1692-1760).
[375]<Willoughby> Bertie, filius primus Jacobi Bertie, 2ⁿᵈⁱ filii
Jacobi, comitis de Abington, natus Westmonast. 28 die Novembris,
2ʰ. P.M. 1692.--The child is yet living, notwithstanding the 8ᵗʰ
house[376]: mend the figure, but the time is right.
[377]I know not how to retreive the fashion or shape of the old engine
of the _battering-ramme_, but from the coate of the Bertyes, which is
'or, 3 battering rammes barrewise,' as in the margent, the timber is
proper, the head azure, the hornes and ironworke gilded.
[Illustration]
[378]Memorandum:--the battering ramme, the armes of Bertie, hung in
equilibrio in an engine they call the triangles--from Mr. Nicolas
Mercator: vide Bertie's coate in primo volumine[379]. See[380] the old
glasse windowes in Aldersgate street--from Mr. <Edward> Bagshawe.
[Illustration]
=Henry Billingsley= (15..-1606).
[381]Sir Henry Billingsley[AQ], knight.--On the north side of the
chancell of St. Katharine Coleman church London at the upper end is
this inscription, viz:--
Here lieth buried the body of Elizabeth, late the wife of Henry
Billingsley, one of the Queene's majestie's customers of her
port of London, who dyed the 29th day of July in the yeare of
our Lord God 1577.
_In obitum ejus._
Stat sua cuique dies atque ultima funeris hora
Cum Deus hinc et mors invidiosa vocant;
Nec tibi nec pietas tua vel forma, Elizabetha,
Praesidium leto[382] ne trahereris erat.
Occidis exactis ternis cum conjuge lustris,
At septem vitae lustra fuere tuae.
Fecerat et proles jam te numerosa parentem,
Filiolae trinae, caetera turba mares.
Undecimo partu cum mors accessit et una
Matrem te et partum sustulit undecimum--
Scilicet ex mundo, terrena ex fece, malisque,
Sustulit; at superis reddidit atque Deo.
Est testis sincera fides, testis tua virtus,
Grata viro virtus, grata fidesque Deo.
* * * * *
Quem posuit tumulum tibi conjux charus, eodem
In tumulo condi mortuus ipse petit.
<Vide> the Register book <of the church>.
Memorandum:--Billingsley (a village) is in the countie of Salop. 'Tis a
Shropshire familie; but the village now is one Mr. Norton's.
This Sir Henry Billingsley was one of the learnedst citizens that
London has bred. This was he that putt forth all Euclid's Elements in
English with learned notes and preface of Mr. John Dee, and learned men
say 'tis the best Euclid. He had been sheriff and Lord Mayor of the
city of London. His howse was the faire howse in Fenchurch street where
now Jacob Luce lives, a merchant, of of whom quaere +. Vide in Fuller's
Worthies and Stowe's Survey. His Euclid was printed at London by John
Day, 1570.
'The Translator to the Reader--Wherfore considering the want and lack
of such good authors hitherto in our English tongue, lamenting also
the negligence and lacke of zeale to their countrey in those of our
nation to whom God hath given both knowledge and also abilitie to
translate into our tongue and to publish abroad such good authors and
bookes: Seeing moreover that many good witts, both of gentlemen and
others of all degrees, much desirous and studious of these artes,--I
have for their sakes with some chardge and great travaile faithfully
translated into our vulgar tounge and set abroad in print this booke
of Euclid wherunto I have added plaine declarations and examples,
manifold additions, scholies, annotations, and inventions which I have
gathered.'--He promises (here) some more translations and sayes that in
religion he hath alreadie don, quaere.
Memorandum P. Ramus in his Scholia's sayes that the reason why
mathematiques did most flourish in Germanie was that the best authors
were rendred into their mother tongue, and that publique lectures of it
were also read in their owne tongue--quod nota bene.
Memorandum when I was a boy, one Sir ... Billingsley had a very
pleasant seate with a faire[383] oake-wood adjoyning to it, about a
mile 1/2[384] east of Bristoll--quaere if[385], etc.
Vide de Sir Thomas Billingsley, pag. <44b>[386]; who was gentleman of
the horse to Richard, earl of Dorset. He managed the great horse best
of any man in England. He taught the Prince Elector and brothers to
ride. Quaere if descended hence.
In those dayes[387] merchants travelled much abroad into Italie,
Spaine, etc. Quaere Mr. Abraham Hill of what company he was. Probably
good memorialls may be there found of his generous and publique spirit.
_Respondet_:--He was of the Goldsmiths' Company, where is a good
picture of him.
R. B., i.e. Robert[388] Billingsley, teaches Arithmetique and
Mathematiques at ... in.... He hath printed a very pretty little
booke of arithmetique and algebra, London (scilicet, _<The> Idea of
Arithmetic_): was Sir Henry's great grandson--from Mr. Abraham Hill,
Regiae Societatis Socius.
[389]In the table of benefactors in the church of St. Catherine Colman,
viz.--
'1603 {Dame Elizabeth} Billingsley did will to the poor 1_s._ per
{Sir Henry }
weeke for ever and 200_li._ which their heires etc. have not payd'--
The minister here, Mr. Dodson, sayes that it was not payd because the
parish did not find-out in due time land to make a purchase of.
Many yeares since Mr. Abraham Hill, Regiae Societatis Socius, citizen,
told me that Sir Henry Billingsley was of the Goldsmiths' Company, and
that his picture was in Goldsmiths' Hall, which I went lately to see.
No picture of him, and besides the clarke of the Company told me that
he is sure _he_ was never of that Company. But Mr. Hill tells me since
that in Stowe's Survey you may see of what Company all the Lord Mayers
were, which see[390] and tell me.
[391]Sir H. Billingsley--Mr. Leeke, mathematician, saith that he was of
the company of goldsmiths, quaere. Quaere the clarke of the company:
vide register booke. Vide Heralds' Office (Salop, and neer Bristowe).
Vide Fuller's Worthyes where he mentions the Lord Mayers.
[392]_Ex registro_ <of St. Catherine Coleman>:--Sir Henry Billingsley,
knight, buried in the vault under his pewe in the church of St.
Catherine Coleman, London, December the 18th, 1606. I find by the
register that he had two more wives besides Elizabeth mentioned in the
inscription; his second was the lady Trapps; third,....
Memorandum his house (which is a very faire one), which is neer the
church, is still remayning untoucht by the fire. In the parlour
windowe are scutchions of his family, which gett. There now lives Mr.
Lucy[393], a great merchant.
He was sheriff of the citie of London anno Domini <1584>, reginae
Elizabethae 26; he was Lord Mayor of the city of London anno Domini
<1596>, reginae Elizabethae 38--Sir Thomas Skinner served one part
and Sir Henry Billingsley the other:--Baker's Chronicle, reigne queen
Elizabeth.
[394]Out of the visitation in the great booke[395] of Wilts, Dorset,
and Somerset:--
Sir Henry Billingsley, _maried_ ...
Lord Mayer |
|
+--------------------------+----------------------------+
| | |
1. Sir Henry Billingsley, 2. William Billingsley, _m._ ... 3. Thomas[396]
of Sysam in |
Glocestershire, |
filius et haeres. +--------------+--------------+
| |
1. Henry Billingsley, _m._ ... 2. Thomas
of Graye's Inne |
|
+-------+-------+
| |
1. Blanch 2. Elizabeth
[397]Sir Henry Billingsley<'s life is> already donne[398]. Friar
Whitehead[AR], of Austin Friars (now Wadham College), did instruct him.
He kept him at his house and there I thinke he dyed.
_Notes._
[AQ] Aubrey gives in colour this very elaborate coat:--'quarterly in
the 1 and 4, gules, a fleur-de-lys or, a canton of the second; in the
2, ..., on a cross between four lions rampant 5 mullets ...; in the 3,
per saltire or and azure two birds (? martlets); _impaling_, quarterly,
in the 1 and 4, azure 2 lions passant in pale or; in the 2, or, a fess
sable, 2 mullets in chief gules; in the 3, barry of six argent and
gules a bend sable and a canton gules.'
[AR] See Clark's Wood's _City of Oxford_, ii. 454, 471. It is suggested
that Billingsley in his Euclid published Whitehead's papers as his own.
=Martin Billingsley.=
[399]Mr. Martin Billingsley (captain <Edward> Shirburne knew him) was a
writing master in London. He printed an excellent copie-booke (quaere
if he descended from this[400]): vide his scutcheon[401] above his
picture before his booke.
[402]Martin Billingsley, who made the copie booke, 1623, port.[403] ut
in margine, '..., a cross between 4 lions rampant ..., 5 mullets ... on
the cross.'
=Richard Billingsley.=
[404]Richard Billingsley[405] scripsit:--
'An Idea of Arithmetick, at first designed for the use of the
free-schoole at Thurlow in Suffolk, by R. B. schoolmaster there':
stitch't 8vo, 3 sheetes, London, 'printed by J. Flesher, and are to be
sold by W. Morden booke-seller in Cambridge, 1655.'
=Thomas Billingsley= (obiit 167..).
[406]Sir Thomas Billingsley was the best horseman in England, and out
of England no man exceeded him.
He taught this[407] earle <of Dorset> and his 30 gentlemen to ride the
great horse. He taught this[408] Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine
and his brothers.