[AE] He is found at Exeter College ('Richard Napper'), aet. 17, Dec.
20, 1577. Aubrey intended to include his life in his collection, and
has mentioned it in the index to MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 9ᵛ:--'... Nepier,
M.D.: <his life is> donne by Mr. Ashmole.' Ashmole's, and Aubrey's,
interest in him arose from his astrological practice: 'nativities had
(Dec. 1681) from Elias Ashmole, esq., out of Dr. Napier's papers,' are
found in MS. Aubr. 23, fol. 121, 121ᵛ, and on a slip there.
=Sir Richard Napier= (1608-1675/6).
[390]Yesterday I was with Mr. Elias Ashmole, who tells me that Sir
Richard Napier[AF] was of Allsoules, and about 1642.
I writt to you from Mr. Ashmole in a former letter[AG] that Sir Richard
Napier is buryed at Lindford, but died at Besels-leigh; but before he
came thither, he lay at an inne at ..., where, when the chamberlain
brought him up to his chamber, and the Dr. look't on the bed and saw a
dead man lye in or on the bed--'What!' sayd he, 'do you lodge me where
a dead man lies?' Sayd the chamberlain, 'Sir, here is no dead man.' The
Dr. look't at it again, and saw _it was him selfe_. And from thence he
went (ill) to Besil's-leigh and died.
[391]On Sunday last I dined with Mr. Ashmole, who bids me answer
you[AH] _positively_ that Sir Richard Napier never did write anything,
and sayes he haz acquainted you thus much before by letter.
_Notes._