of this delicious parquet[1676], now (1656) plowed up and spoil'd.
The east part of it which extends towards Verulam-house (pulled
downe, and the materialls sold by Sir H<arbottle> Grimston, about
ten yeares since) consisted of severall parts, viz. some thickets
of plumme-trees, with fine walkes between; some of rasberies. Here
were planted most fruit-trees which would grow in our climate; and
also severall choice forest-trees. The walkes both of boscages and
fruit-trees; and in severall places where were the best prospects, were
built elegant summerhouses[1677] of Roman architecture, then standing
(1656) well[1678] wainscotted, but the paving gonne. One would have
thought the most barbarous nation had made a conquest here. This place
was, in his lordship's time, a sanctuary for phesants, partridges,
and those of severall kinds and nations, as Spanish, &c. speckled,
white, etc. I have, in this lib. B., four leves in fol. close written
of the two houses, gardens, woods, &c. and of his lordship's manner of
living and grandarie, which perhaps would doe well in a description of
Hartfordshire, or, perhaps[1679], in his lordship's life.'
[FR] (P. 332.) In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 1ᵛ, is this note:--'Dr. <John>
Pell says that for a man to begin to study mathematics at 40 yeares
old, 'tis as if one should at that age learne to play on the
lute--applicable to Mr. Thomas Hobbes. Vide vitam Jonae Moore.'
[FS] (P. 338.) In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 26, thus:--
'Memorandum:--about the time of the King's returne[CXXX.], he was
makeing of a very good poëme in Latin hexameters. It was the history of
the encroachment of the clergie (both Roman and Reformed) on the civill
power. I sawe at least 300 verses (they were mark't). At what time
there was a report the bishops would have him burn't for a heretique.
So he then feared the search of his papers and burned the greatest part
of these verses.'
[CXXX.] Quaere in what yeares his bookes were writ.
[FT] (P. 339.) The first draft of this passage stood as follows,
MS. Aubr. 9, foll. 40, 41:--'In April following was the dawning of
the coming in of our gracious soveraigne, who being a great lover
of curious painting I knew could not but sett for his picture to my
ever honoured friend Mr. S. Cowper, who[1680] besides his art was an
ingeniose person and of great humanity. In April I wrott a letter to
Mr. Hobbes in Derbyshire, by all meanes desiring him to come-up and
make use of the opportunity of renewing his majestie's graces to him at
our friend's howse. He thanked me for'--etc.
[FU] (P. 341.) Aubrey, writing to Wood, on Feb. 3, 1672/3, enlarges on
this treatise: Wood MS. F. 39, fol. 196ᵛ:--
'The old gent. (T. Hobbes) is strangely vigorous, for his
understanding, still; and every morning walkes abroad to meditate.
'He haz writt a treatise concerning lawe, which 8 or 9 yeares since
I much importuned him to doe, and, in order to it, gave him the Lord
Chancellor Bacon's _Maximes of the Lawe_. Now every one will doe him
the right to acknowledge he is rare for definitions, and the lawyers
building on old-fashiond maximes (some right, some wrong) must need
fall into severall paralogismes. Upon this consideration I was earnest
with him to consider these things. To which he was unwilling, telling
me he doubted he should not have dayes enough left to doe it.
'He drives on, in this, the king's prerogative high. Judge <Sir
Matthew> Hales, who is no great courtier, has read it and much mislikes
it, and is his enemy. Judge Vaughan has read it and much commends it.'
[FV] (P. 355.) Note, however, that on some of the letters from Hobbes
in MS. Aubr. 9, viz., those of date March 25, 1679 (fol. 11ᵛ, fol.
13ᵛ), and that of date Aug. 18, 1679 (fol. 15ᵛ), the seal shows a gate
or portcullis, with an R turned backwards, i.e. Я, on the left side of
it.
James Wheldon's letter of Jan. 16, 1679/80 (fol. 17ᵛ), has a seal
bearing a man's bust, with helmet and cuirass.
[FW] (P. 357.) In MS. Aubr. 21, p. 19, Aubrey, in his projected comedy,
makes use of this verdict on the innate cruelty of some dispositions.
He puts into the mouth of his country-justice this speech:--
"If ye talke of skinnes, the best judgment to be made of the fineness
of skinnes is at the whipping-post by the stripes. Ah! 'tis the best
lechery to see 'em suffer correction. Your London aldermen take great
lechery to see the poor wretches whipt at the court at Bridewell."
On which Aubrey goes on to comment: 'Old Justice Hooke gave ...
per lash to wenches; as also my old friend George Pott, esq. Vide
Animadversions Philosophicall on that ugly kind of pleasure and of
crueltie--were it not for the law there were no living; some would take
delight in killing of men.'
[FX] (P. 375.) The substance is:--
'Hobbes brought to the investigation of facts an acute intellect and
long experience, and carried on, into the next generation, the Baconian
spirit.
'He had been Bacon's secretary, and owed much to his master, from whom,
in particular, he borrowed his comparative, i.e. inductive, methods.
But he had also fine natural gifts.
'He excited the fears, and therefore the hostility, of the clerical
party in England, and of the Oxford mathematicians and their
supporters. For this reason, Charles II compared him to a bear, worried
by mastiffs.
'In his political system, he insisted on the necessity of wisdom in
sovereigns. In not meddling with the Creeds of the Churches and in
assailing the Presbyterians and the Bishops of England, he is not to be
blamed.'
* * * * *
Note that, on fol. 42ᵛ of MS. Aubr. 9, is a note 'to the earl
of Devon, then in Great Queen Street,' with a mark referring it
to the opposite page. The then opposite page is, in the present
foliation, fol. 48, but has now nothing to which the note can
be attached. There are traces, however, which show that a slip
has been torn off it.
=Thomas Hobbes' life, by himself.=
<_Aubrey's preface._>
[1681]This was the draught that Mr. Hobbs first did leave in my hands,
which he sent for about two yeares before he died, and wrote that which
is printed in his Life in Latin by Dr. Richard Blackburn which I lent
to him and he was carelesse and not remaunded it from the printer and
so 'twas made wast paper of.
<_Hobbes' autobiography._>
[1682]Thomas Hobbes, natus Apr. 5, 1588, Malmesburiae agri
Wiltoniensis, literis Latinis et Graecis initiatus, annum agens decimum
quartum missus est Oxonium: ubi per quinquennium mansit, operam
impendens studio Logicae et Physicae Aristotelicae.
Cum annum ageret vicesimum commendatus ab amicis, Oxonio relicto,
recepit se in domum domini Gulielmi Cavendish, baronis de Hardwick et
(paulo post) comitis Devoniae: ubi filio ejus primogenito, adolescenti
sibi fere coaetaneo, servivit, placuitque tum filio tum patri,
temperans, sedulus, hilaris.
Anno sequente cum domino suo in urbe perpetuo fere degens, quod
didicerat linguae Graecae et Latinae magna ex parte amiserat.
Deinde per Italiam et Galliam peregrinantem dominum sequutus, gentium
illarum linguas eousque didicit ut intelligere eas mediocriter
potuerit. Interea Graecam et Latinam paulatim perire sibi sentiens,
Philosophiam autem Logicamque (in quibus praeclare profecisse se
arbitrabatur) viris prudentibus derisui esse videns, abjecta Logica
et Philosophia illa vana, quantum temporis habebat vacui impendere
decrevit linguis Graecae et Latinae.
Itaque cum in Angliam reversus esset, Historias et Poetas (adhibitis
grammaticorum celebrium commentariis) versavit diligenter, non ut
floride sed ut Latine posset scribere, et vim verborum cogitatis
congruentem invenire, itaque verba disponere ut lectio perspicua et
facilis esset. Inter Historias Graecas, Thucididem prae caeteris
dilexit et vacuis horis in sermonem Anglicum paulatim conversum cum
nonnullâ laude circa annum Christi 1628 in publicum edidit, eo fine ut
ineptiae democraticorum Atheniensium concivibus suis patefierent.
Eo anno comes Devoniae, cui jam servierat viginti annos, diem obiit,
patre ejus biennio ante defuncto.
Anno sequente, qui erat Christi 1629, cum attigisset annum
quadragesimum, rogatus a nobilissimo viro domino Gervasio Clinton
ut vellet filium adolescentem suum comitari in Galliam, accepit
conditionem. In peregrinatione illa inspicere coepit in elementa
Euclidis; et delectatus methodo illius non tam ob theoremata illa quam
ob artem rationandi diligentissime perlegit.
Anno Christi 1631 revocatus est in familiam comitissae Devoniae ut
filium suum comitem Devoniae, natum annos 13, in literis instrueret;
quem etiam circiter triennium post comitatus est in Galliam et Italiam,
studiorum ejus et itinerum rector.
Dum moraretur Parisiis, principia scientiae naturalis investigare
coepit. Quae cum in natura et varietate motuum contineri sciret,
quaesivit inprimis qualis motus is esse posset qui efficit sensionem,
intellectum, phantasmata, aliasque proprietates animalium, cogitatis
suis cum reverendo patre Marino Mersenno, ordinis Minimorum, in omni
genere philosophiae versatissimo viroque optimo, quotidie communicatis.
Anno Christi 1637 cum patrono suo in Angliam rediit et apud illum
mansit; unde de rebus naturalibus commercia cum Mersenno per literas
continuavit.
Interea Scoti, depulsis episcopis, sumpserunt arma contra regem,
faventibus etiam ministris Anglis illis qui vocari solent
Presbyteriani. Itaque convocatum est in Anglia Parlamentum illud
notissimum quod inceptum est Nov. 3, 1640. Ex iis quae in illo
Parlamento tribus quatuorve diebus primis consulta viderat, Bellum
Civile ingruere et tantum non adesse sentiens, retulit se rursus in
Galliam, scientiarum studio Parisiis tutius vacaturus cum Mersenno,
Gassendo, aliisque viris propter eruditionem et vim in rationando
celeberrimis--non enim dico philosophis, quia nomen illud, a plurimis
nebulonibus jamdiu gestatum, tritum, inquinatum, nunc infame est.
Cum jam Parisiis ageret, libellum scripsit _De Cive_, quem edidit
anno 1646, quo tempore, praevalentibus Parlamentariis, multi eorum
qui partes regis sequuti erant, et in illis princeps Walliae (qui
nunc est rex Angliae), Parisiis confluxerunt. Statuerat circa idem
tempus,[1683]hortatu amici cujusdam nobilis Languedociani, migrare
in Languedociam, et praemiserat jam quae sibi necessaria erant, sed
commendatus principi ut elementa Mathematicae illi praelegeret,
substit<it> Parisiis.
Quod ab hoc munere temporis habuit vacui consumpsit in scribendo
librum qui nunc non solum in Anglia sed in vicinis gentibus notissimus
est, nomine _Leviathan_; quem etiam in Anglia edendum curavit, ipse
manens adhuc Parisiis, anno 1651, annum agens 63ᵐ. In eo opere jus
regium tum spirituale tum temporale ita demonstravit tum rationibus
tum authoritate scripturae sacrae, ut perspicuum fecerit pacem in
orbe Christiano nusquam diuturnam esse posse nisi vel doctrina illa
sua recepta fuerit vel satis magnus exercitus cives ad concordiam
compulerit: opus ut ille sperabat concivibus suis, praesertim vero
illis qui ab episcopis steterant, non ingratum. Quanquam enim
unicuique, illo tempore, scribere et edere theologica quae vellet
liberum erat, quia regimen ecclesiae (potestate declarandi quae
doctrinae essent haereses, ipsius regis authoritate sublata, episcopis
exutis, rege ipso trucidato) tum nullum erat, diligenter tamen cavit
ne quid scriberet non modo contra sensum scripturae sacrae sed etiam
contra doctrinam ecclesiae Anglicanae qualis ante bellum ortum
authoritate regia constituta fuerat. Nam et ipse regimen ecclesiae per
episcopos prae caeteris formis omnibus semper approbaverat, atque hoc
duobus signis manifestum fecit. Primo, cum in oppido Sti. Germani prope
Parisios morbo gravissimo lecto affixus esset, venit ad eum Mersennus,
rogatus a quodam amico communi ne amicum suum extra ecclesiam Romanam
mori pateretur. Is lecto assidens (post exordium consolatorium) de
potestate ecclesiae Romanae peccata remittendi aliquantisper disseruit,
cui ille 'Mi pater,' inquit. 'haec omnia jamdudum mecum disputavi,
eadem disputare nunc molestum erit: habes quod dicas amoeniora,--quando
vidisti Gassendum?' Quibus auditis, Mersennus sermonem ad alia
transtulit. Paucis post diebus accessit ad illum Dr. Johannes Cosenus,
episcopus (post) Dunelmensis, obtulitque se illi comprecatorem ad
Deum. Cui ille cum gratias reddidisset, 'Ita,' inquit, 'si precibus
praeiveris juxta ritum ecclesiae nostrae.' Magnum hoc erga disciplinam
episcopalem signum erat reverentiae.
Anno 1651 exemplaria aliquot illius libri, Londini recens editi, in
Galliam transmissa sunt, ubi theologi quidam Angli doctrinas quasdam
in illo libro contentas, tum ut haereticas tum ut partibus regiis
adversas, criminati sunt; et valuere quidem aliquamdiu calumniae
illae in tantum ut domo regia prohibitus fuerit. Quo factum est ut,
protectione regia destitutus, metuensque ne a clericis Romanis, quos
praecipue laeserat, male tractaretur, in Angliam conatus sit refugere.
Rediens in Angliam concionantes quidem invenit in ecclesiis sed
seditiosos; etiam preces extemporarias, et illas audaces et nonnunquam
blasphemas; symbolum autem fidei nullum, decalogum nullum; adeo ut
per tres primos menses non invenerit quibuscum in sacris communicare
potuerit. Tandem ab amico ductus ad ecclesiam a suo hospitio[1684]
plusquam mille passus distantem ubi pastor erat vir bonus et doctus,
qui et coenam Domini ritu ecclesiastico administravit, cum illo
in sacris communicavit. Alterum hoc signum erat non modo hominis
partium episcopalium sed etiam Christiani sinceri; nam illo tempore
ad ecclesiam quamcunque legibus aut metu cogebatur nemo. Quae igitur
episcopo cuiquam cum illo causa irae esse potuit, nisi ei qui neminem a
se dissentire pati per superbiam posset?
Interea doctrinam ejus academici et ecclesiastici condemnabant fere
omnes; laudabant nobiles, et viri docti, ex laicis. Refellebat nemo:
conati refellere, confirmabant. Scripsit enim non ex auditione et
lectione ut scholaris, sed ex judicio proprio cognita et pensitata
omnia, sermone puro et perspicuo, non rhetorico. Stantem inter amicos
et inimicos quasi in aequilibrio, fecerunt illi ne ob doctrinam
opprimeretur, hi, ne augeretur. Itaque fortuna tenui, fama doctrinae
ingenti, in patroni sui, comitis Devoniae, hospitio per caeterum vitae
tempus perpetuo delituit, studio vacans geometriae et philosophiae
naturalis; ediditque jam senex librum quendam quem inscripsit _De
Corpore_, continentem Logicae, Geometriae, Physicae (tum sublunaris,
tum coelestis) fundamenta, deducens Logicam quidem a significatione
nominum, Geometriam autem et Physicam ex figurarum et effectuum
naturalium generationibus.
Hominis ergo neque genere neque opibus neque negotiis belli aut
pacis assueti vitam scribo et in publicum emitto, sed in omni
genere scientiae excellentis et fere singularis. Cujus ingenium ut
cognoscerent, partim etiam ut sua ostentarent, convenerunt <ad> eum
viri innumeri tum nostrates tum exteri, et inter illos nonnulli legati
principum aliique viri nobilissimi; adeo ut conjectura inde facta de
voluntate hominum eruditorum qui posthac erunt, non ingratum fore
posteritati existimavi si quem vidisse voluerunt illius vitam literis
posteritati tradiderim, praecipue quidem ut quae scientiis ille primus
addidit, deinde etiam caetera vitae ejus quae a lectoribus desiderari
posse videbuntur cognoscerent.
Quae scripsit de jure naturali, de constitutione civitatum, de jure
eorum qui summam habent potestatem, et de officiis civium, in libris
_Leviathan_ et _De Cive_ (quia domi forisque nota et maxime celebrata
sunt) praetereunda censeo.
In Physicis causam sensuum, praecipue visus, una cum doctrina
omni optica et natura lucis, refractionis reflectionisque causas
naturales, ignotas ante, primus demonstravit, in libro _De Homine_.
Item causas qualitatum sensibilium nimirum colorum, soni, caloris, et
frigoris. Somnia autem et phantasmata quae antea pro spiritibus et
mortuorum animis habebantur et rudi vulgo terriculamenta erant, omnia
profligavit. Causam autem aestuum marinorum et descensionis gravium,
a motu quodam telluris praecipue derivavit. Nam phaenomena illa omnia
ad motum refert, non ad rerum ipsarum potentias intrinsecas neque ad
qualitates occultas, ut ante illum omnes physici. De motu autem in
libro _De Corpore_ satis fuse scripsit et profundissime. In Ethicis
ante illum nihil scriptum est praeter sententias vulgares. At ille
mores hominum ab humana natura, virtutes et vitia a lege naturali, et
bonitatem[1685] maliciamque actionum a legibus civitatum, derivavit.
In Mathematicis principia geometriae nonnulla correxit; problemata
aliquot difficillima, a summis geometris (ab ipsis geometriae
incunabulis) summo studio frustra quaesita, invenit, nimirum haec--
1º. arcui circuli lineam rectam, areae circuli quadratum aequale,
exhibere, idque variis methodis--in diversis libris.
2º. datum angulum dividere in data ratione;
3º. cubi ad sphaeram rationem invenire--in _Problematibus Geometricis_.
4º. inter duas rectas datas medias continue proportionales invenire
quotcunque--in _Problematibus Geometricis_.
5º. polygonum regulare describere quotcunque laterum--in _Roseto_.
6º. centrum gravitatis invenire quadrantis circuli et bilinei quod
continetur arcu quadrantis et subtenta ejus--in _Roseto_.
7º. centra gravitatis invenire paraboli-formium omnium, in libra _De
Corpore_.
Haec omnia primus construxit et demonstravit, et praeterea alia multa
quae (quia legentibus occurrent et minoris sunt) praetereo.
Facient opinor haec ut vita ejus non indigna videatur quae tum ad
exteros tum ad posteros scientiarum studiosos transmittatur, praesertim
hoc tempore, cum scribuntur vulgo vitae obscurorum hominum nulla
virtute insignium, desiderante nemine.
Scripsit praeterea, circa annum aetatis suae octagesimum, historiam
belli civilis Anglicani inter regem Carolum primum et parlamentum ejus,
anno ...; item ortum et incrementa potestatis pontificiae, carmine
Latino, versuum duûm millium, sed non sinebant tempora ut publicarentur.
Silentibus tandem adversariis, annum agens octagesimum, <pri>mum,
Homeri Odyssea edidit a se conversum in versus Anglicanos, ...; deinde,
proximo, etiam Iliada; denique Cyclometriam, annum agens <...>gessimum
primum, integram nondum editam.
Quod ad formam attinet, vultu erat non specioso sed cum loqueretur non
ingrato. Effigies ejus ad vivum a pictore excellente descripta, qualis
erat anno aetatis suae septuagesimo, in conclavi regis Caroli secundi
conservatur. Extant etiam ejusdem imagines ab aliis pictoribus diversis
temporibus factae rogatu amicorum in Anglia non paucae et in Gallia
aliquot.
Natura sua et primis annis ferebatur ad lectionem historiarum et
poetarum; et ipse quoque carmen tentavit, nec (ut plurimi judicabant)
infoeliciter. Postea autem cum in congressu quodam virorum doctorum,
mentione facta de causa sensionis, quaerentem unum quasi per contemptum
'quid esset sensus?' nec quemquam audivisset respondentem, mirabatur
quî fieri potuerit ut qui sapientiae titulo homines caeteros tanto
fastu despicerent suos ipsorum sensus quid essent ignorarent. Ex eo
tempore de causa sentiendi saepe cogitanti, forte fortunâ mentem subiit
quod si res corporeae et earum partes omnes conquiescerent aut motu
simili semper moverentur[1686]sublatum iri omnium rerum discrimen et
(per consequens) omnem sentionem, et propterea causam omnium rerum
quaerendam esse in diversitate motuum: atque hoc principio usus est
primo. Deinde, ut cognosceret varietates et rationes motuum, ad
geometriam cogebatur, et a principiis suis ingenio suo theoremata
illa quae supra commemoravi foeliciter demonstravit. Tantum interest
inter illos qui proprio genio et illos qui in archivis veterum aut ad
quaestum docentium scientiarum veritatem quaerunt.
In colloquiis familiaribus jucundus erat, praeterquam illorum qui
ad illum venerant disputandi causa contra ea quae jam ediderat
(nec revocari poterant) de jure summarum potestatum civili aut
ecclesiastico; nam cum his vehementius aliquando disputabat quam erat
necessarium.
Naturaliter apertus erat, et inter adversarios qui multi potentesque
erant innocentia magis quam consilio tutus.
Justiciae erat cum scientissimus, tum tenacissimus. Nec mirum, cum
esset pecuniae neglegentissimus, et pro tenuitate fortunarum suarum
ultra modum beneficus. Sed beneficio patronorum suorum et regis optimi
dulcissimique Caroli secundi satis copiose senex vixit.
=William Holder= (1616-1697/8).
[1687]William Holder[FY], D.D., the ...d son[1688] of ... Holder;
his mother's mayden name was Brudenell. He was borne the ... in
Nottinghamshire; went to schoole at ...; went to Pembroke-hall[1689] in
Cambridge, where he had a Greeke-scholar's place. Anno <1636/7>, Artium
Baccalaureus; anno <1640> Artium Magister.
About 1640, he maried ... the ... daughter of <Christopher> Wren, deane
of Windsore and rector of Knowyll in Wiltshire.
Anno Domini 1642, had his institution and induction for the rectorie of
Bletchington in com. Oxon.
In the troublesome times he was with his father-in-lawe Wren at the
garrison of Bristowe. After the surrender of it to the Parliament, he
lived ... year at Knowyll with him.
Anno about 1646[1690], he went to Bletchington to his parsonage,
where his hospitality and learning, mixt with great courtesie, easily
conciliated the love of all his neighbours to him. The deane came with
him thither, and dyed and is buryed there.
He was very helpfull in the education of his brother-in-law, Mr.
Christopher Wren (now knighted), a youth of a prodigious inventive
witt, and of whom he was as tender as if he had been his owne
child, who[1691] gave him his first instructions in geometrie and
arithmetique, and when he was a young scholar at the University of
Oxford, was a very necessary and kind friend.
The parsonage-house at Bletchington was Mr. Christopher Wren's home,
and retiring-place; here he contemplated, and studied, and found-out
a great many curious things in mathematiques. About this house[1692]
he made severall curious dialls, with his owne handes, which are still
there to be seen. ☞ Which see, as well worthy to be seen.
But to returne to this honest worthy gentleman--he is a good poet. I
have some very good verses (about 100) in Latin on St. Vincent's-rocks
and the hott-well, neere Bristowe. He is very musicall, both
theorically and practically, and he had a sweet voyce. He hath writt an
excellent treatise of musique, in English, which is writt both _doctis
et indoctis_, and readie for the presse. He is extremely well qualified
for his[1693]place, of Sub-Deane of the King's Chapell, to which he was
preferred[1694] anno 167<4>, as likewise of the Sub-Almoner, being a
person abhorring covetousnes, and full of pitty[1695].
Anno 16--(vide his ...) ... Popham (the only son of ... Popham,
admirall for the Parliament), being borne deafe and dumbe[1696], was
sent to him to learne to speake, which he taught him to doe: by what
method, and how soon, you may see in the Appendix concerning it to
his _Elements of Speech_, 8vo, London, printed <1669>. It is a most
ingeniose and curious discourse, and untouched by any other; he was
beholding to no author; did only consult with nature. This booke I
sent to Mr. Anthony Lucas, at Liege, who very much admires it and I
have desired him to translate it into French. Dr. John Wallis unjustly
arrogates the glory of teaching the sayd young gentleman to speake, in
the Philosophical Transactions, and in Dr. Robert Plott's History of
Oxfordshire; which occasioned Dr. Holder to write a ... against him, a
pamphlet in 4to, 167-.
He has good judgement in painting and drawing.
In anno <1652> he was made a prebendary of Ely. Anno <1663> had the
parsonage of <Northwold> in Norfolk.