Fifeild,
the 21ᵉ Aprill 1681.
[11]In the table of benefactors in the Church of St. Catherine Colman,
viz.--
'1620: Mr. Richard Isaacson'--the
chronologer[12]--'2 _li._ 12_s._ per annum to the poor.'
=James I= (1566-1625).
<A life of 'James R.' is entered in the index to MS. Aubrey 6 (see vol.
i. p. 8), as contemplated by Aubrey. If written, the life was hostile
in tone, as may be seen from the following query towards it (Aubrey, in
MS. Wood F. 39, fol. 347: 8 Sept. 1680):--
'Pray search that booke[13], and see if you can find the ballad, or
verses, on the coronation of king James--
And at the erse of them marched the Scotish peeres
With lowzie shirts, and mangie wrists, went pricking-up their eares.'>
=... Jaquinto.=
[14]Dr. Jaquinto: physitian to pope ..., then to king James[15]. He
went into the marshes of Essex, where they putt their sheep to cure
them of the rott, where he lived sometime purposely to observe what
plants the sheep did eat, of which herbs he made his medicine for the
consumption, which Mr. E. W.[16] haz.
=David Jenkins= (1586-1663).
[17]Judge Jenkins, prisoner in the Tower of London, Windsor, etc.,
<eleven> yeares, for his loyalty. He would have taken it kindly to have
been made one of the judges in Westminster Hall, but would give no
money for it, [so[18] the Lord Chancellor Hyde never preferred him].
He was of very good courage. Rode in the lord Gerard's army in
Pembrokeshire, in the forlorne-hope, with his long rapier drawne
holding it on-end.
Obiit Dec. 3, anno Domini 1663; sepult. at Cowbridge church in the
south aisle in Glamorganshire. No remembrance yet (1682) set up for him.
[Quaere[19] Sir Robert Thomas whereabout in the church or chancell.]
[20]David Jenkins hath writt a learned treatise of the lawe, in folio,
of cases twice judged (quaere nomen); and an 'opusculum' (_Lex terrae_,
etc.) in 16mo.
Borne at ... in Glamorganshire. He was of Edmund Hall. Afterwards of
Graye's inne. One of the judges[21] in South Wales. Imprisoned a long
time in the Tower, Newgate, and Windsore. Was the only man that never
complied. Dyed about 1665, at Cowbridge in Glamorganshire.
He marryed Sir John Aubrey's sister.
[22]David Jenkins, judge, was borne at Hensol, the place where he
lived, in the parish of Pendeylwyn in com. Glamorgan. He was reciting
this verse out of Ausonius, not long before he dyed, to Sir Llewellin
Jenkins:--
Et baculo innitens, in qua reptabat arena.
Scripsit Opuscula, contayning severall little treatises, viz. Lex
terrae, etc.; Rerum judicatarum censurae octo, in folio; praeter alias
ejusdem naturae ineditas.
He was one of the judges of the Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembrokeshire
circuit before the wars. In the warres he was taken prisoner at
Hereford. Long time prisoner in the Tower, Newgate, Wallingford, and
Windsore. Never submitted to the usurping power (I thinke, the only
man). All his estate was confiscated; and was always excepted by the
parliament in the first ranke of delinquents.
In his circuit in Wales at the beginning of the warres, he caused
to be indicted severall men of those parts (that were parliament,
etc. engaged against the king) for highe treason; and the grand jury
indicted them. Afterwards, when he was prisoner in Newgate, some of
these grandees came to him to triumph over him, and told him that if
they had been thus in his power, he would have hanged them. 'God forbid
els!' replied he--which undaunted returne they much admired.
The parliament intended to have hanged him; and he expected no lesse,
but resolved to be hangd with the Bible under one arme and Magna Charta
under the other. And hangd he had been, had not Harry Martyn told them
in the house that
Sanguis martyrum est semen ecclesiae,
and that that way would doe them more mischiefe. So his life was saved,
and they removed him out of the way to Wallingford Castle.
He dyed upwards (something[23]) of fowrscore yeares of age at Cowbridge
in the county of Glamorgan,[24] on St. Nicholas day, November[25] the
sixth, 1663; and in that church lyes buried, yet without a monument,
but I thinke my cosen intends one.
'Tis pitty he was not made one of the judges of Westminster-hall for
his long sufferings; and he might have been, he told me, if he would
have given money to the Chancellor--but he scornd it. He needed it not,
for he had his estate againe (1500 _li._ per annum), and being old and
carceribus confractus. Mr. T. H., Malmesburiensis, told him one day at
dinner that 'that hereafter would not shew well for somebodie's honour
in history.'
[26]Sir Llewellin Jenkins remembers himself kindly to you. He hath made
a very fine inscription (which is an abstract of his life) in laxe
Iambiques for judge David Jenkins. I would have him send it to you, but
he is too modest.
=Sir Leoline Jenkins= (1623-1685).
[27]Sir Lleuellin Jenkins, knight, was borne at Llantrithid in the
countie of Glamorgan, anno domini....
His father (whom I knew) was a good plaine countreyman, a coppyholder
of Sir John Aubrey, knight and baronet (eldest son of Sir Thomas),
whose mannour it is.
He went to schoole at Cowbridge, not far off.
David Jenkins, that was prisoner in the Tower (maried a sister of Sir
John Aubrey), was some remote kin to him; and, looking on him as a boy
towardly, diligent, and good, he contributed something towards his
education.
Anno Domini 164<1>, he was matriculated of Jesus College in Oxford,
where he stayed till (I thinke) he tooke his degree of Bac. Artium.
About that time Sir John Aubrey sent for him home to enforme his eldest
sonne Lewis Aubrey (since deceased, 1659) in grammar; and that he might
take his learning the better, he was taught in the church-house where
severall boyes came to schoole, and there were 6 or 7 gentlemen's
sonnes (Sir Francis Maunsell, bart.; Mr. Edmund Thomas; Mr. ... ...)
boarded in the towne. The young gentlemen were all neer of an age,
and ripe for the University together; and to Oxford they all went
under Mr. Jenkins' care about anno 1649 or 50, but by reason of the
disturbances of those times, Sir John would not have his sonne of any
college. But they all studyed at Mr. (now Sir) Sampson White's house,
a grocer, opposite to University College. Here he stayed with my cosen
about 3 yeares or better, and then, in anno 165- (vide Mr. Hobbes' _de
Corpore_, 'twas that yeare), he travelled with my cosen and two or 3 of
the other gentlemen into France, where they stayd about 3 yeares and
made themselves masters of that language.
He first began[28] the Civill lawe, viz., bought <Arnold> Vinnius on
Justinian, 1653[29].
When he brought home Mr. Lewis Aubrey, he returned to Jesus College
(quaere, if he was of the foundation).
After his majestie's restauration Dr. <Francis> Maunsell was restored
to his principallship of that house, but being very old and wearie
of worldly cares, he kept it not long, before he resigned it to Mr.
Jenkins.
Gilbert Sheldon, archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir John Aubrey were
_co-etanei_, and contracted a great friendship at Oxon in their youth,
which continued to their deaths. In the troublesome times after Dr.
Sheldon was expelled, he was a yeare (I thinke) or two with Sir John
at Llantrithid, where he tooke notice of the vertue and assiduity of
the young man Mr. Jenkins. After the king's restauration Sir John
Aubrey recommended Mr. Jenkins to him; made him. Anno <1668> he was
archbishop of Canterbury: Sir <William> Meyric, LL.D. and Judge of <the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury>, dyed, and the archbishop conferred
that place on Mr. Jenkins.
Anno ... he had the honour of knighthood.
Anno 1673, <he> was sent with Sir Joseph Williamson, plenipotentiaries,
to Nemeghen: I remember that very time they went away was opposition
of Saturn and Mars. I sayd then to the earl of Th<anet> that if that
ambassade came to any good I would never trust to astrologie again.
Anno 167- sent ambassador to ..., from whence he returned anno
16[79/80].
March 25, 1680, he was made Principall Secretary of Estate.--When
I came to wayte on him to congratulate for the honour his majestie
had been pleased to bestowe on him, he recieved me with his usuall
courtesie, and sayd that 'it had pleased God to rayse-up a poore worme
to doe his majestie humble service.'
He haz a strong body for study, indefatigable, temperate and vertuous.
God blesse him.
When Mary the queen-mother dyed at Paris, the king of Fraunce caused
her jewells and treasures to be locked up and sealed. His majestie of
Great Britaine sent Sir Llewellin (which is Leoline in Latin) to Paris
concerning the administration [1668[30]].
=George Johnson= (1625/6-1683).
[31]It pleased God at Whitsuntide last to bereave me of a deare,
usefull, and faithfull friend Mr. Johnson who had the reversion of
the place of Master of the Rolles; who generously, for friendship
and neighbourhood sake (we were borne the same weeke and within 4
miles and educated together), gave me the graunt to be one of his
secretaries--which place is worth 500 _li._ per annum. He was a strong
lustie man and died of a malignant fever, infected by the earl of
Abington's brother, making of his will. It was such an opportunity that
I shall never have the like again.
[B]George Johnson, esq., borne at Bowdon parke, March the sixth 1625/6;
respondet that he remembers his mother sayed 'twas just at noone. His
mother was three dayes in labour with him.
Fever at Bowdon about 1669; quaere R. Wiseman.
Fever, most dangerous, at London Nov. and Dec, 1677.
Burghesse of Devises, 166-; made one of the judges of Ludlow, ...;
maried about 1660; reader of the Middle Temple,....
Mr. Vere Bertie[32] was his chamber-fellowe in anno 1655, the
wintertime, which was his rise.
My honoured and kind friend George Johnson, esq., died at his house at
Bowdon-lodge, of an ague and feaver on the 28th of May[33] at 10ʰ A.M.,
being Whit-munday,
cujus animae propitietur Deus.
His death is an extraordinary losse to me, for that had he lived to
have been Master of the Rolles I had been one of his secretarys, worth
600 _li._ +:--sed fiat voluntas Domini.
He went from London the Monday before; came home Tuesday; ill that
night. Thursday pretty well. Fell ill again of an intermitting fever
and died.
_Note._