[BT] MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 87, is a lithographed chart for inserting a
scheme of nativity, 'sold by George Parker at the Leopard in Newgate
Street.' On it Aubrey has put the scheme for the subject of this
biography, on the calculation 'Mr. Thomas Street natus March 5ᵗʰ, 1621,
at 5ʰ 43´ 12˝ P.M., latitude 51° 46´.' Some notes about astrological
conjunctions at various times in his life follow; and the note 'maried
at 55ᵃⁿⁿ. 232ᵈⁱᵉˢ.'
=Sir Francis Stuart.=
[1016]This Sir Francis Stuart[1017] was uncle (or great uncle) to the
present dutchesse of Richmond.
He was a sea-captaine, and (I thinke) he was one summer a vice or
rere-admirall. He was a learned gentleman, and one of the club at
the Mermayd, in Fryday street, with Sir Walter Ralegh, etc., of that
sodalitie: heroes and witts of that time. Ben Jonson dedicates _The
Silent Woman_ to him.
'To the truly noble by all titles Sir Francis Stuart.
'This makes that I now number you not only in the names of favour but
the names of justice to what I write, and doe presently call you to
the exercise of the noblest and manliest vertue as coveting rather to
be freed in my fame by the authority of a judge than the credit of an
undertaker.'
=Henry Stubbe= (1631/2-1676).
[1018]Dr. Henry Stubbs, physitian at Warwick, drowned July the middest
1676, riding between Bath and Bristol. Born 1631 Febr.
=Sir John Suckling= (1608/9-1641).
[1019]Sir John Suckling[BU], knight, was the eldest son of <Sir John>
Suckling, of the Green Cloath, tempore[1020] ... (I thinke, Car. I).
His mother was the daughter of.... He was borne <Febr. 1608/9>.
I have heard Mris Bond say, that Sir John's father was but a dull
fellow (her husband, Mr. Thomas Bond, knew him): the witt came by the
mother.
Quaere Dr. Busby if he was not of Westminster schoole? he might be
about his time. I have heard Sir William Davenant say that he went to
the university of Cambridge at eleaven yeares of age, where he studied
three or four yeares (I thinke, four). By 18 he had well travelled
France and Italie, and part of Germany, and (I thinke also) of Spaine.
He returned into England an extraordinary accomplished gentleman, grew
famous at court for his readie sparkling witt which was envyed, and he
was (Sir William sayd) the bull that was bayted. He was incomparably
readie at repartyng, and his witt most sparkling when most sett-upon
and provoked.
He was the greatest gallant of his time, and the greatest gamester,
both for bowling[LXXXVII.] and cards, so that no shop-keeper would
trust him for 6_d._, as to-day, for instance, he might, by winning, be
worth 200 _li._, the next day he might not be worth half so much, or
perhaps be sometimes _minus nihilo_. Sir William (who was his intimate
friend, and loved him intirely) would say that Sir John, when he was
at his lowest ebbe in gameing, I meane when unfortunate, then would
make himselfe most glorious in apparell, and sayd that it exalted his
spirits, and that he had then best luck when he was most gallant, and
his spirits were highest.
[LXXXVII.] He was one of the best bowlers of his time in England. He
playd at cards rarely well, and did use to practise by himselfe a bed,
and there studyed how the best way of managing the cards could be. His
sisters comeing to the Peccadillo-bowling-green crying for the feare he
should loose all <their> portions.
Sir William would say that he did not much care for a lord's converse,
for they were in those dayes damnably proud and arrogant, and the
French would say that 'My lord d'Angleterre ...[1021] comme un
mastif-dog'; but now the age is more refined, and much by the example
of his gracious majestie, who is the patterne of courtesie.
Anno Domini 163- there happened, unluckily, a difference between Sir
John Suckling and Sir John Digby (brother to Sir Kenelme) about a
mistresse or gameing, I have now forgott. Sir John was but a slight
timberd man, and of midling stature; Sir John Digby a proper person
of great strength, and courage answerable, and yielded to be the best
swordman of his time. Sir John, with some 2 or 3 of his party assaults
Sir John Digby goeing into a play-house; Sir J. D. had only his lacquey
with him, but he[1022] flew on them like a tigre, and made them run.
'Twas pitty that this accident brought the blemish of cowardise to such
an ingeniose young sparke. Sir J. D. was such a hero that there were
very few but he would have served in the like manner.
Anno Domini 163- when the expedition was into Scotland, Sir John
Suckling, at his owne chardge, raysed a troope of 100 very handsome
young proper men, whom he clad in white doubletts and scarlett
breeches, and scarlet coates, hatts, and ... feathers, well horsed,
and armed. They say 'twas one of the finest sights in those dayes. But
Sir John Menis made a lampoon[BV] of it (vide the old collection of
lampoons):
'The ladies opened the windows to see
So fine and goodly a sight-a,' &c.
I thinke the lampoon sayes he made an inglorious chardge against the
Scotts.
Quaere in what army he was in the Civill Warres.
[1023]Anno ... he went into France, where after some time being come to
the bottome of his fund that was left, reflecting on the miserable and
despicable condition he should be reduced to, having nothing left to
maintaine him, he (having a convenience for that purpose, lyeing at an
apothecarie's house, in Paris) tooke poyson, which killed him miserably
with vomiting. He was buryed in the Protestants church-yard. This was
(to the best of my remembrance) 1646.
His picture, which is like him, before his Poems, says that he was but
28 yeares old when he dyed.
He was of middle stature and slight strength, brisque round eie,
reddish fac't and red nose (ill liver), his head not very big, his
hayre a kind of sand colour; his beard turnd-up naturally, so that he
had brisk and gracefull looke. He died a batchelour.
Memorandum:--he made a magnificent entertainment in London, at ...,
for a great number of ladies of quality, all beauties and young, which
cost him ... hundreds of poundes, where were all the rarities that this
part of the world could afford, and the last service of all was silke
stockings and garters, and I thinke also gloves.
Anno Domini 1637 Sir John Suckling, William Davenant, poet laureat (not
then knighted), and Jack Young came to the Bathe. Sir John came like
a young prince for all manner of equipage and convenience, and Sir W.
Davenant told me that he had a cart-load of bookes carried downe,
and 'twas there, at Bath, that he writt the little tract in his booke
about Socinianism. 'Twas as pleasant a journey as ever men had; in the
heighth of a long peace and luxury, and in the venison season. The
second night they lay at Marlborough, and walking on the delicate fine
downes at the backside of the towne, whilest supper was making ready,
the maydes were drying of cloathes on the bushes. Jack Young had espied
a very pretty young girle, and had gott her consent for an assignation,
which was about midnight, which they happened to overheare on the other
side of the hedge, and were resolved to frustrate his designe. They
were wont every night to play at cards after supper a good while; but
Jack Young pretended wearinesse, etc. and must needes goe to bed, not
to be perswaded by any meanes to the contrary. They had their landlady
at supper with them; said they to her, 'Observe this poor gentleman
how he yawnes, now is his mad fit comeing uppon him. We beseech you
that you make fast his dores, and gett somebody to watch and looke to
him, for about midnight he will fall to be most outragious: gett the
hostler, or some strong fellow, to stay-up, and we will well content
him, for he is our worthy friend, and a very honest gentleman, only,
perhaps, twice in a yeare he falls into these fitts.' Jack Young slept
not, but was ready to goe out as the clock struck to the houre of
appointment, and then goeing to open the dore he was disappointed,
knocks, bounces, stampes, calls, 'Tapster! Chamberlayne! Hostler!'
sweares and curses dreadfully; nobody would come to him. Sir John
and W. Davenant were expectant all this time, and ready to dye with
laughter. I know not how he happened to gett-open the dore, and was
comeing downe stayres. The hostler, a huge lusty fellow, fell upon him,
and held him, and cryed, 'Good sir, take God in your mind, you shall
not goe out to destroy your selfe.' J. Young struggled and strived,
insomuch that at last he was quite spent and dispirited, and faine to
goe to bed to rest himselfe. In the morning the landlady of the house
came to see how he did, and brought him a cawdle. 'Oh sir,' sayd she,
'you had a heavy fitt last night, pray, sir, be pleased to take some
of this to comfort your heart.' Jack Young thought the woman had been
mad, and being exceedingly vexed, flirted the porrenger of cawdle in
her face. The next day his camerades told him all the plott, how they
crosse-bitt him. That night they went to Bronham-house, Sir Edward
Baynton's (then a noble seat, since burnt in the civill warres), where
they were nobly entertained severall dayes. From thence, they went to
West Kington, to parson ... Davenant, Sir William's eldest brother,
where they stayd a weeke--mirth, witt, and good cheer flowing. From
thence to Bath, six or seven miles.
Memorandum:--parson Robert Davenant haz told me that that tract about
Socinianisme was writt on the table in the parlour of the parsonage at
West Kington.
[1024]My lady Southcot, whose husband hanged himselfe, was Sir John
Suckling's sister, to whom he writes a consolatory letter, viz.
the first. She afterwards maried ... Corbet, D.D., of Merton Coll.
Oxon[BW]. At her house in Bishop's Gate-street, London, is an originall
of her brother, Sir John, of Sir Anthony van-Dyke, all at length,
leaning against a rock, with a play[1025]-booke, contemplating. It is a
piece of great value. There is also another rare picture, viz. of that
pretty creature, Mris Jane Shore, an originall.
When his _Aglaura_ was <acted>, he bought all the cloathes himselfe,
which were very rich; no tinsill, all the lace pure gold and silver,
which cost him ... I have now forgott. He had some scaenes to it, which
in those dayes were only used at masques.
Memorandum:--Mr. Snowdon tells me, that after Sir John's unluckie
rencounter, or quarrell, with Sir John Digby, wherin he was baffled:
'twas strange to see the envie and ill nature of people to trample,
and scoffe at, and deject one in disgrace; inhumane as well as
un-christian. The lady ... Moray (quaere) had made an entertainment
for severall persons of quality at Ashley (in Surrey, near Chertsey),
whereat Mr. Snowdon then was. There was the countesse of Middlesex,
whom Sir John had highly courted, and had spent on her, and in treating
her, some thousand of pounds. At this entertainment she could not
forbeare, but was so severe and ingrate as to upbraid Sir John of his
late recieved baffle; and some other ladys had their flirts. The lady
Moray (who invited them) seing Sir John out of countenance, for whose
worth she alwaies had a respect: 'Well[1026],' sayd shee, 'I am a merry
wench, and will never forsake an old friend in disgrace, so <co>me sitt
downe by me, Sir John' (said she), and seated him on her right hand,
and countenanced him. This raysed Sir John's dejected spirites that
he threw his reparties about the table with so much sparklingness and
gentilenes of witt, to the admiration of them all.
[1027]Sir John Suckling--from Mr. William Beeston--invented the game
of cribbidge. He sent his cards to all gameing places in the country,
which were marked with private markes of his: he gott 20,000 _li._ by
this way. Sir Francis Cornwallis made _Aglaura_, except the end.
_Notes._