'Kilmanton,
Decemb. 7º, 1652.'
<The address (on fol. 62ᵛ) is:--
'To the right worshipfull, his
'much honoured friend, Mr. John
'Aubrey, at the signe of the
'Rainebowe, a stationer's shop
'In Fleetstreet by Temple
'gate, give these
'Post-payd.'
The letter has been sealed with numerous seals: e.g. (1) a rose; (2)
'on a cross, 5 pheons; impaling, 2 lions rampant combattant'; (3)
Aesculapius, with his staff, a vase in front of him; (4) a male head,
in profile, with long hair and moustaches; (5) an antique head, with
basket-work cap having a circle of spikes round it.>
[731]Anno Domini 166--he was chosen fellowe of the Royall Societie,
and was there admitted and recieved with much respect.
As he was never a strong man, so in his later times he had his health
best, only about four or five yeares before his death his eie-sight was
bad, and before he dyed quite lost. He dyed ... and is buryed in ... of
the chancell at Kilmanton.
Memorandum: he played at chesse as well as most men. Col. Bishop, his
contemporary at Trinity Coll., is accounted the best of England. I
have heard Mr. Potter say that they two have played at Trin. Coll. (I
thinke 2 daies together) and neither gott the maistery. Memorandum: he
would say that he look't upon the play at chesse <as> very fitt to be
learn't and practised by young men, because it would make them to have
a foresight and be of use to them (by consequence) in their ordering of
humane affaires. Quod N.B.
He haz told me that he had oftentimes dream't that he was at Rome, and
being in fright that he should be seised on and brought before the
pope, did wake with the feare.[LXII.]
[LXII.] Pope ... (against whom Robert Grotest, bishop of Lincolne,
wrote) dreamt that the bishop of Lincolne came to him, and gave him a
great blowe over the face with his staffe: vide Platinam.
'Twas pitty that such a delicate inventive witt should be staked to
a private preferment in an obscure corner (where he wanted ingeniose
conversation), from whence men rarely emerge to higher preferment,
but contract a mosse on them like an old pale in an orchard for want
of ingeniose conversation, which is a great want even to the deepest
thinking men (as Mr. Hobbes haz often sayd to me).
The last time I sawe this honoured friend of mine, Octob. 1674. I had
not seen him in 3 yeares before, and his lippitude then was come even
to blindnesse, which did much grieve me to behold. He had let his beard
be uncutt, which was wont to be but little. I asked him why he did not
get some kinswoman[732] or kinsman of his to live with him, and looke
to him now in his great age? He answer'd me that he had tryed that way,
and found it not so well; for they did begrudge what he spent that
'twas too much and went from them, whereas his servants (strangers)
were kind to him and tooke care of him.
In the troublesome times 'twas his happinesse never to bee sequestred.
He was once maliciously informed against to the Committee at Wells (a
thing very common in those times). When he came before them, one of
them (I have forgot his name) gave him a pint of wine, and gave him
great prayse, and bade him goe home, and feare nothing.
[733]Kilmington, November 8ᵗʰ, 1671.
Sir,
I recieved your letter but yesterday. I was borne upon Trinitie Sunday
eave; baptized May the 22, 1594, but what day of the moneth Trinity
Sunday was that year[734] I know not.
1671
1594
----
0077
I heare that bis<hop> Ironsid is lately dead, but where hee was borne
or when he was buried I know not.