_Ut apes Geometria._
<_His horoscope_[615]: MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 12ᵛ>.
Monday, Maii 26to, 1623: 11ʰ 42´ 56˝ P.M., natus Gulielmus Petty,
miles, sub latitudine 51° 10´ (tempus verum), at Rumsey in Hants.
This was donne, and a judgement[616] upon it, by Charles Snell, esq.,
of Alderholt neer Fordingbridge in Hampshire--'Jupiter in Cancer makes
him fatt at heart.' John Gadbury also sayes that vomitts would be
excellent good for him.
[617]Sir William Petty, knight, was the [eldest[618], or only,] son
of ... Petty, of Rumsey in Hampshire, by ... his wife.
His father was borne on the Ashwednsday, before Mr. Hobbes, scil. 1587;
and dyed and was buryed at Rumsey 1644, where Sir William intends to
sett up a monument for him. He was by profession a clothier, and also
did dye his owne cloathes: he left little or no estate to Sir William.
He[619] was borne at his father's house aforesaid, which is ..., on
Monday, the twenty-sixth of May 1623, eleven houres 42´ 56˝ afternoone
(vide Scheme[620]): Xtⁿᵉᵈ on Trinity Sunday.
Rumsey is a little haven towne, but hath most kinds of artificers
in it. When he was a boy his greatest delight was to be looking on
the artificers,--e.g. smyths, the watch-maker, carpenters, joyners,
etc.--and at twelve years old could have worked at any of these
trades. Here he went to schoole, and learn't by 12 yeares a competent
smattering of Latin, and was entred into the Greek. He haz had few
sicknesses. About 8, in April very sick and so continued till towards
Michaelmas. ☞ About 12 (or 13), i.e. before 15, he haz told me,
happened to him the most remarkable _accident of life_ (which he did
not tell me), and which was the foundation of all the rest of his
greatnes and acquiring riches.
He[621] enformed me that, about 15, in March, he went over into
Normandy[622], to Caen, in a vessell that went hence, with a little
stock, and began to merchandize[623], and had so good successe that he
maintained himselfe, and also educated himselfe; this I guesse[624]
was that most remarkable _accident_ that he meant. Here he learn't
the French tongue, and perfected himselfe in the Latin, and had
Greeke enough to serve his turne. Here (at Caen) he studyed the arts.
Memorandum:--he was sometime at La Flesshe in the college of Jesuites.
At 18, he was (I have heard him say) a better mathematician then he is
now: but when occasion is, he knows how to recurre to more mathematical
knowledge. At Paris he studyed anatomie, and read Versalius with Mr.
Thomas Hobbes (vide Mr. Hobbs' life), who loved his company. Mr. H.
then wrot his Optiques; Sir W. P. then had a fine hand in drawing and
limning, and drew Mr. Hobbes's opticall schemes for him, which he was
pleased to like. At Paris, one time, it happened that he was driven to
a great streight for money, and I have heard him say, that he lived a
weeke on two peniworth (or 3, I have forgott which, but I thinke the
former) of walnutts. Quaere whether he was not sometimes a prisoner
there?
Anno Domini 164- he came to Oxon, and entred himselfe of Brasen-nose
college. Here he taught[625] anatomy to the young scholars. Anatomy was
then but little understood by the university, and I remember[626] he
kept a body that he brought by water from Reding a good while to read
on, some way preserv'd or pickled[627].
Anno Domini <1650> happened that memorable accident and experiment of
the reviving Nan Green[628], which is to be ascribed and attributed to
Dr. William Petty, as the first discoverer of life in her, and author
of saving her. Vide and insert the materiall passages in the tryal, and
anatomicall experiment of Nan Green at Oxon: vide the narrative.
Here he lived and was beloved by all the ingeniose scholars[629],
particularly Ralph Bathurst of Trin. Coll. (then Dr. of Physique);
Dr. John Wilkins (Warden of Wadham Coll.); Seth Ward, D.D.,
Astronom. Professor: Dr. <Robert> Wood; Thomas Willis, M.D.,
&c.--Memorandum:--about these times experimentall philosophy first
budded here and was first cultivated by these vertuosi in that darke
time.
Anno Domini ... (quaere) he was chosen musique professor at Gresham
Colledge, London, v. pag.[e] 2.
Anno Domini ... (quaere Edmund Wyld, esq., when) the Parliament sent
surveyors to survey Ireland; vide pag.[630] 2.
[631]Dr. Petty was resident in Oxon 1648, 1649, and left it (if Anthony
Wood[632] is not mistaken) in 1652. He tooke his degree of Dr. of
Physique anno Domini ... at ... (quaere).
He was about 1650 (quaere) elected Professor of Musique at Gresham
Colledge, by, and by the interest of, his friend captaine John Graunt
(who wrote the Observations on the Bills of Mortality), and at that
time was worth but fourtie pounds in all the world.
Shortly after (scil. anno Domini 1652 in August, he had the patent for
Ireland) he was recommended to the Parliament[LIV.] to be one of the
surveyors of Ireland, to which employment capt. John Graunt's interest
did also helpe to give him a lift, and Edmund Wyld, esq., also, then a
member of Parliament, and a great fautor of ingeniose and good men, for
meer meritt sake[LV.] (not being formerly acquainted with him) did him
great service, which perhaps he knowes not of.
[LIV.] Quaere annum.--E. W. esq. respondet 'circiter 1651.'
[LV.] Severall made offers to the Parliament to survey it (when the
Parliament ordered to have it surveyed) for 4000 _li._, 5000 _li._,
6000 _li._; but Sir William (then Dr.) went _lower_ then them all and
gott it. Sir Jonas More contemnd it as dangerous, loving to sleepe in a
whole skin: he was afrayd of the Tories.--From Edmund Wyld, esq. Vide
pag.[633] 2.--MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 13ᵛ.
To be short, he is a person of so great worth and learning, and haz
such a prodigious working witt, that he is both fitt for, and an honour
to, the highest preferment.
By this surveying employment he gott an estate in Ireland (before the
restauration of King Charles II) of 18000 _li._ per annum, the greatest
part wherof he was forced afterwards to refund[634], the former owners
being then declared innocents. He hath yet there 7 or 8000 _li._ per
annum and can, from the Mount Mangorton in the com. of Kerry, behold
50000 acres of his owne land. He hath an estate in every province of
Ireland.
The kingdome of Ireland he hath surveyed, and that with that exactnesse
(quaere Sir J. H. de modo), that there is no estate the<re> to the
value of threscore pounds per annum but he can shew, to the value,
and those that he employed for the geometricall part were ordinary
fellowes, some (perhaps) foot-soldiers, that circumambulated with their
_box and needles_, not knowing what they did, which Sir William knew
right well how to make use of.
Anno Domini 1667 (vide his Scheme[635]), he maried on Trinity
Sunday ... the relict of Sir <Maurice> Fenton, of Ireland, knight,
daughter of Sir Hasdras Waller of Ireland by ..., a very beautifull
and ingeniose lady, browne, with glorious eies, by whom he
hath ... sonnes, and ... daughters, very lovely children, but all like
the mother. He has a naturall daughter that much resembles him, no
legitimate child so much, that acts at the Duke's play-house, who hath
had a child by ... about 1679. She is (1680) about 21.
[636]I remember about 1660 there was a great difference between him
and Sir ... ..., one of Oliver's knights, about.... They printed one
against the other: this knight was wont to preach at Dublin. The knight
had been a soldier, and challenged Sir William to fight with him.
Sir William is extremely short sighted, and being the challengee it
belonged to him to nominate[637] place and weapon. He nominates, for
the place, a darke cellar, and the weapon to be a great carpenter's
axe. This turned the knight's challenge into ridicule, and so it came
to nought.
He can be an excellent droll (if he haz a mind to it) and will preach
extempore incomparably, either the Presbyterian way, Independent,
Cappucin frier, or Jesuite.
[638]He recieved the honour of knighthood Anno Domini....
He had his patent for earle of Kilmore and baron of ... 166- which he
stifles during his life to avoyd envy[LVI.], but his sonne will have
the benefitt of the precedency.--[I expected[639] that his sonne would
have broken-out a lord or earle: ☞ but it seemes that he had enemies at
the court at Dublin, which out of envy obstructed the passing of his
patent.]
[LVI.] Χρυσᾶ ἔπη Pythagorae: Πέφυλαξό γε ταῦτα ποιεῖν ὁπόσα φθόνον ἔχει.
Anno 1660 he came into England, and was presently recieved into good
grace with his majestie, who was mightily pleased with his discourse.
Anno Domini 1663 he made his double-bottom'd vessell (launched about
new-yeere's tide), of which he gave a modell to the Royall Societie
made with his owne hands, and it is kept in the repository at Gresham
College. It did doe very good service, but anno 16--happned to be lost
in an extraordinary storme in the Irish sea. (Memorandum:--there is yet
a double bottomd vessell in the Isle of Wight, made by one Mr. ... ...
which, they say, sailes well: quaere capt. Lee.)
[640]Anno Domini 1675/6 (vide the yeare of T. Deer's lettres), March
18, he was correpted by the Lord Chancellor Finch, when the patent
for the farming of Ireland was sealed, to which Sir William would not
seale. Monday, 20th March, he was affronted by Mr. Vernon: Tuesday
following Sir William and his ladie's brother (Mr. Waller). Hectored
Mr. Vernon and caned him.
[641]He went towards[642] Ireland in order to be a member of that
Parliament, March 22, 1679/80--God send him a prosperous journey.
1680[643] ..., he went to Rumsey to see his native country, and to
erect a monument to his father.
He is a person of an admirable inventive head, and practicall parts. He
hath told me that he hath read but little, that is to say, not since 25
aetat., and is of Mr. Hobbes his mind, that had he read much, as some
men have, he had not known so much as he does, nor should have made
such discoveries and improvements.
I remember one St. Andrewe's day (which is the day of the generall
meeting of the Royall Society for annuall elections), I sayd,
'methought 'twas not so well that we should pitch upon the Patron of
Scotland's day, we should rather have taken St. George or St. Isidore'
(a philosopher canonized). 'No,' said Sir William,' I would rather have
had it[644] on St. Thomas day, for he would not beleeve till he had
seen[645] and putt his fingers into the holes,' according to the motto
_Nullius in verba_.
He haz told me that he never gott by legacies in his life, but only x
_li._ which was not payd.
[646]He has told me, that wheras some men have accidentally come into
the way of preferment, by lying at an inne, and there contracting
an acquaintance; on the roade; or as some others[LVII.] have donne;
he never had any such like opportunity, but hewed out his fortune
himselfe--quod N.B.
[LVII.] E.g. my cosen Rowland Plattes, whom the lord Cottington never
having seen before, liked so well, that he made him his gentleman
of the horse when he went his embassy into Spaine[647]. This was on
ship-board.
He is a proper handsome man, measured six foot high, good head of
browne haire, moderately turning up: vide his picture as Dr. of
Physique. His eies are a kind of goose-grey, but very short sighted,
and, as to aspect, beautifull, and promise sweetnes of nature, and
they doe not decieve, for he is a marveillous good-natured person, and
εὔσπλαγχνος. Eie-browes thick, darke, and straight (horizontall). His
head is very lardge, μακροκέφαλος. He was in his youth very slender,
but since these twenty yeares and more past he grew very plump, so
that now (1680) he is _abdomine tardus_. This last March, 1679/80, I
perswaded him to sitt for his picture to Mr. Loggan, the graver, whom
I forthwith went for myselfe, and he drewe it just before his goeing
into Ireland, and 'tis very like him. But about 1659, he had a picture
in miniture drawne by his friend and mine, Mr. Samuel Cowper (prince of
limners of his age), one of the likest that ever he drew.
_Scripsit:_
1. W. P.'s Advice concerning the Education of Youth[648], sticht, 4to,
printed.
2. [A[649] contest and controversie between him and Sir ...: about
which Sir William printed a little discourse in 8vo: quaere nomen
libri.]