'Natus apud Colshill[XCIV.] in agro Hartfordiensi juxta ... Denatus
Oct. 20, 1687; sepultus Beconsfield in agro Buckinghamiensi. Pater,
Robertus Waller; mater, Anne Hamden.'
[XCIV.] 'Tis a mistake: vide next leafe--<i.e. fol. 113>.
[CH] Aubrey notes that he was of 'Cambr.', and gives in colours the
coat 'sable, 3 walnut leaves in bend between two bendlets or.' Also,
he notes (_a_) 'vide Heralds' Office'; (_b_) 'gett his nativity'--see
_supra_, p. 273.
[CI] Gerard Dobson, M.A., Magd. Coll., Oxon. 1613, Vicar of High
Wycombe 1629.
[CJ] Dorothy, daughter of Robert Sydney, 2nd earl of Leicester, married
Henry Spencer, 3rd baron Spencer of Wormleighton, created earl of
Sunderland in June, 1643, and killed at Newbury Sept. 20, 1643.
=John Wallis= (1616-1703).
[1166]John Wallis, D.D.--I find at Lid in Kent that his father was Mr.
John Wallis, minister of Ashford, in Kent.
[1167]John Wallis[CK], D.D., was borne at Ashford, in the county of
Kent, Anno Domini <1616>. His father was minister there. He went to
schoole there.
At ... yeares old he was admitted at Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge;
'ubi fuit alumnus, deinde Collegii Reginalis ibidem socius' (Mr.
Oughtred's preface to his _Clavis_). Anno <1636/7> A.B.; anno
<1640> M.A. He was a good student, but fell not to the study of the
mathematiques till he was above twenty.
A[CL] remarkable passage of his life, was, that he was a witnesse of W.
Laud's (archbishop of Canterbury) tryall, for his introducing popish
innovations into the University of Cambridge: see _Canterbury's Doome_,
printed 1646, pag. 73, and elswhere. The first remarqueable passage of
his life was his decyphering the letters of King Charles I taken at the
battle at Nasby, which booke is called _The King's Cabinet Opened_,
printed at London, ... Anno ... was scolar to Mr. W. Oughtred.
Anno 164<9> after the Visitation by the Parliament, he came to Oxon,
and was made Savillian Professor of Geometrie. ..., <elected> Fellow
of the Royall Societie. Great[1168] contests between him and Mr.
Thomas Hobbes, of Malmesbury: sure their Mercuries are in □[1169] or
opposition. Anno Domini 1657, he gott himselfe to be chosen by unjust
meanes[XCV.] to be Custos Archivorum of the University of Oxon, at
which time Dr. <Richard> Zouch had the majority of voyces, but because
Dr. Zouch was a malignant (as Dr. Wallis openly protested, and that he
had talked against Oliver), he was putt aside. Now, for the Savillian
Professor to hold another place besides, is so downeright against Sir
Henry Savile's statutes, that nothing can be imagined more; and if he
does, he is downeright perjured. Yet the Dr. is allowed to keepe the
other place still.
[XCV.] Vide Henry Stubbes' (The Savillian Professour's case stated:
Lond. 1658) de hoc: who haz told him of it.
Anno <1654> he tooke his degree of Doctor, at the Act, at Oxon, and
went out grand-compounder (which costes 200 _li._), only that he might
take place[1170] of Dr. Seth Ward, who was about a yeare his senior.
In 1661 Dr. Ward was made deane of Exon, and the next yeare bishop of
the same place; and so Dr. Wallis's 200 _li._ was meerly cast away. The
bishop protested he was troubled for the losse of his brother Wallis's
two hundred pounds.
He hath writt severall treatises, and well; and to give him his due
prayse, hath exceedingly well deserved of the commonwealth of learning,
perhaps no mathematicall writer so much.
'Tis certaine that he is a person of reall worth, and may stand[CM]
with much glory upon his owne basis, needing not <to> be beholding to
any man for fame, of which he is so extremely greedy, that he steales
flowers from others to adorne his owne cap,--e.g. he lies at watch, at
Sir Christopher[1171] Wren's discourse, Mr. Robert Hooke's, Dr. William
Holder[1172], &c.; putts downe their notions in his note booke, and
then prints it, without owneing the authors. This frequently, of which
they complaine.
But though he does an injury to the inventors, he does good to
learning, in publishing such curious notions, which the author
(especially Sir Christopher Wren) might never have the leisure to write
of himselfe.
When Mr. Oughtred's _Clavis Mathematica_ was printed at Oxford (editio
tertia, with additions), Mr. W. O.,[1173] in his preface, gives
worthy characters of severall young mathematicians that he enformed,
and, amongst others, of John Wallis, who would be so kind to Mr.
Oughtred, as to take the paines to correct the presse, which the old
gentleman doth with respect there thus acknowledge, after he hath
enumerated his titles and preferments; _viri ingenui, pii, industrii,
in omni reconditiore literatura versatissimi, in rebus Mathematicis
admodum perspicacis, et in enodatione explicationeque scriptorum
intricatissimis Zipherarum involucris occultatorum (quod ingenii
subtilissimi argumentum est) ad miraculum foelicis_. This last, of the
cyphers, was added by Dr. Wallis himselfe; which when, the booke being
printed, the old gentleman sawe, he was much vexed at it; and sayd,
that he had thought he had given him sufficient prayse, with which he
might have rested[1174] contented.
He maried ... and haz a good temporall estate in Kent.... He has only
two daughters, handsome young gentle-woemen; one maried to Mr. ...
Blencowe, of Middleton-Cheyney, in....
He lives at a well-built house, near New Colledge, in Oxon; is a
Justice of the Peace there, and has been 167-, 1679, 1680.
_Catalogus librorum ab illo scriptorum._
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
_Notes_.
[CK] Aubrey gives in colours the coat, 'gules, a bend ermine.' In
MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 6ᵛ, he gives in trick, for John Wallis, the coat,
'ermine, a bend argent.'
[CL] This sentence stood at first:--'The first remarkable passage of
his life was that he was an instrument of fetching Laud's (archbishop
of Canterbury) head of, by being a witnesse at the tryall.' Then Aubrey
noted in the margin:--'Quaere which of these <i.e. Laud's trial, or the
king's letters _infra_> was first in time'; and afterwards altered the
sentence to what it now is.
[CM] A duplicate draft of this sentence is--'and may stand very
gloriously upon his owne basis, and need not be beholding to any man
for fame, yet he is so extremely greedy of glorie, that he steales
feathers from others to adorne himselfe.'
=Lucy Walters.=
[1175]Memorandum:--Mr. Freeman (who maried the lady Lake) has the
duke of Monmouth's mother's--Mrs. Lucy[1176] Walters, who could deny
nobody--picture, very like her, at Stanmore neer Harrow-on-the-hill.
=Seth Ward= (1617-1688/9).
<_Birth and education._>
[1177]Seth Ward[CN], lord bishop of Sarum, was borne at Buntingford, a
small market-towne in Hartfordshire, anno Domini 1618[1178], December
the ..., (when the great blazing starre appeared). His father was an
attorney there, and of a very honest repute.
At <16> yeares old he went to Sydney Colledge in Cambridge; he was
servitor[XCVI.] to Dr. <Samuel> Ward (Master of the Colledge, and
Professor of Divinity), who, being much taken with his ingenuity and
industry, as also with his suavity of nature, quickly made him scholar
of the howse, and after, fellowe. Though he was of his name, he was
not at all akinne to him (which most men imagined because of the great
kindnesse to him); but the consimility of their dispositions was a
greater tye of friendship then that of blood, which signifies but
little, as to that point.
[XCVI.] Expunge 'servitour,' _euphoniae gratia_.--MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 8.
<_Mathematical studies._>
His father taught him common arithmetique, and his genius lay much to
the mathematiques, which being naturall to him, he quickly and easily
attained.
Sir Charles Scarborough, M.D. (then an ingeniose young student,
and fellowe--quaere--of Caius Colledge in Cambridge), was his great
acquaintance; both students in mathematiques; which the better to
perfect, they went to Mr. Willam Oughtred, at Albury in Surrey, to be
enformed by him in his _Clavis Mathematica_, which was then a booke of
aenigmata. Mr. Oughtred treated them with exceeding humanity, being
pleased at his heart when an ingeniose young man came to him that would
ply his Algebra hard. When they returned to Cambridge, they read the
_Clavis Mathematica_ to their pupills, which was the first time that
that booke was ever read in a[1179] university. Mr. Laurence Rooke,
a good mathematician and algebrist, (and I thinke had also been Mr.
Oughtred's disciple[1180]) was his great acquaintance. ☞ Mr. Rooke (I
remember) did read (and that admirably well) on the sixth chapter of
the _Clavis Mathematica_ in Gresham Colledge.
<_Ejected from Cambridge._>
Anno Domini 164<4>, at the breaking out of the civill warres, he was a
prisoner, together with Dr. <Samuel> Ward, Dr. <Samuel> Collins, Sir
Thomas Hatton, &c. for[1181] the king's cause, in St. John's Colledge
in Cambridge, and was[1182] putt out of his fellowship at Sydney
Colledge. Being gott out of prison, he was very civilly and kindly
received by his friend and neighbour, Ralph Freeman, of Apsten, esq., a
vertuous and hospitable gentleman, where he continued....
<_Professor in Oxford._>
Anno Domini <1648> the Visitation of the Parliament was Oxford, and
turned out a great many professors and fellowes. The Astronomy Reader
(Dr.[1183] <John> Greaves) being sure to be ejected, Seth Ward, A.M.
(living[1184] then with my lord Wenman, in Oxfordshire, and ... Greaves
was unwilling to be turned out of his place, but desired to resigne
it rather to some worthy person, wherupon Dr. Charles Scarborough and
William Holder, D.D. recommended to ... Greaves, their common friend,
Mr. Seth Ward) was invited to succeed him, and came from Mr. Freeman's
to Oxford, had the Astronomy Professor's place, and lived at Wadham
Colledge, where he conversed with the warden, Dr. John Wilkins.
<_First ecclesiastical dignity._>
[1185]Anno Domini 165- (quaere), he had from B<rownrigg> bishop of
Exon, the grant of the chantor's place of Exon, which then signified
nothing.
<_President of Trinity College, Oxford._>
Anno Domini 165<9> William Hawes, ...[1186], then president of Trinity
Colledge in Oxford, having broken in his lunges a vein (which was not
curable), Mr. Ward being very well acquainted and beloved in that
colledge; by the consent of all the fellowes, William Hawes resigned
up his presidentship to him, and dyed some few dayes after[CO]. Anno
1660, upon the restauration of King Charles II, Dr. Hannibal Potter
(the president sequestred by the Parliamentary Visitors) re-enjoyed the
presidentship again.
[1187]Dr. Seth Ward, now bishop of Sarum, when he was president of
Trinity College, Oxon, did draw his geometricall schemes with black,
red, yellow, green, and blew inke to avoid the perplexity of A, B, C,
etc.
<_His doctorate._>
[1188]I should have said that, anno 165<4>, he[1189] tooke his degree
of doctor in Divinity, at the Act, at Oxford, at the same time with Dr.
John Wallis.
<_Church preferment._>
He then enjoyed his chanter's place at Excester, and, I thinke, was
certainly minister of St. Laurence <Jewry> church (quaere) in London.
Anno Domini 166<1>, the deane of Exon dyed, and then it was his right
to step-in next to the deanry.
<_Becomes bishop of Exeter._>
Anno Domini 1663, the bishop of Exon dyed: Dr. Ward, the deane, was
in Devonshire at that time, at ... (I thinke 'twas Taverstoke), at a
visitation at ...,[XCVII.] where were a great number of the gentrey
of the countrey. Deane Ward was very well knowne to the gentry, and
his learning, prudence, and comity had wonne them[1190] all to be his
friends. The newes of the death of the bishop being brought to them,
who were all very merry and rejoycing with good entertainment, with
great alacrity the gentlemen cryed all, _uno uno_[1191], 'Wee will have
Mr. Deane[1192] to be our Bishop.' This was at that criticall time when
the House of Commons were the king's darlings. The deane told them that
for his part he had no interest or acquaintance at Court; but intimated
to them how much the king esteemed the members of parliament (and a
great many Parliament men were then there), and that his majestie would
deny them nothing. 'If 'tis so, gentlemen' (sayd Mr. Deane), 'that
you will needes have me to be your bishop, if some of you make your
addresse to his majestie, 'twill be donne.'--With that they[XCVIII.]
dranke the other glasse, a health to the king, and another to their
wished-for bishop; had their horses presently made ready, putt foot in
stirrup, and away they rode merrily to London; went to the king, and he
immediately graunted them their request. This is the first time that
ever a bishop was made by the House of Commons. Now, though envy cannot
deny, that this worthy person was very well worthy any preferment could
be conferred on him, yet the old bishops (e.g. Humphrey <Henchman>,
bishop of London; John Cosins, bishop of Durham; etc.)[1193] were
exceedingly disgruntled at it, to see a briske young bishop that could
see through all their formall gravity, but 40 yeares old, not come
in at the right dore but leape over the pale. It went to their very
hearts. Well, bishop of Excester he was, to the great joy of all the
diocese[1194]. Being bishop he had then free accesse to his majestie,
who is a lover of ingenuity and a discerner of ingeniose men, and
quickly tooke a liking to him.
[XCVII.] Vide the _Mercurius_ of that time; quaere H. Broome[1195] for
it.
[XCVIII.] Sir Edward Seymore; ... ...; ... ...; ... ...; ... ...
[1196]His great friend and patrone, Dr. <Samuel> Ward, ...; quaere what
preferment did Dr. <Seth> Ward give him in the Church?
<_Translated to Salisbury._>
[1197]Anno 1667, Alexander Hyde, the bishop of Sarum, dyed, and then he
was made bishop of Sarum, mense <Sept.>
<_Personal characteristics._>
He is (without all manner of flattery) so prudent, learned, and good a
man, that he honours his preferment as much as the preferment does him;
and is such a one that cannot be advanced too high. My lord (Lucius)
Falkland was wont to say that he never knew any one that a paire of
lawne sleeves had not altered from himselfe, but only bishop Juxon; had
he knowne this excellent prelate, he would have sayd he had knowne one
more. As he is the pattern of humility and courtesie, so he knowes when
to be severe and austere; and he is not one to be trampled or worked
upon. He is a batchelour, and of a most magnificent and munificent mind.
He hath been a benefactor to the Royall Societie, (of which he was one
of the first members and institutors[XCIX.]), gave them, Anno
Domini ... _li._ He also gave a noble pendulum clock to the Royall
Societie (which goes a weeke), to perpetuate[1198] the memory of his
deare and learned friend, Mr. Laurence Rooke.
[XCIX.] The beginning of Philosophicall Experiments was at Oxon, 1649,
by Dr. Wilkins, Seth Ward, Ralph Bathurst, &c.
Quaere, was the bishop ever professor at Gresham College?
He gave anno 167-, ... _li._ towards the making of the river at
Salisbury navigable to Christ Church. Anno 1679 he gave to Sydney
Colledge a thousand pounds.
He haz perused all the records of the Church of Sarum, which, with
long lyeing, had been conglutinated together; read them all over, and
taken abridgements of them, which haz not been donne by any of his
predecessors I beleeve for some hundreds of yeares.
He had an admirable habit of body (athletique, which was a fault), a
handsome man, pleasant and sanguine; he did not desire to have his
wisdome be judged by the gravity of his beard, but his prudence and
ratiotination. This, methinkes, is strange to consider in him, that
being a great student (and that of mathematiques and difficult knotty
points, which does use to make men unfit for businesse), he is so
cleare and ready, as no sollicitor is more adroit for looking after
affaires.
_Sicknes_[1199].
[1200]The black malice of the dean[CP] of Sarum--he printed
sarcasticall pamphletts against him--was the cause of his disturbd
spirit, wherby at length he quite lost his memorie. For about a moneth
before he dyed he tooke very little sustenance, but lived on the stock
and died a skeleton. He deceased at his house at Knightsbridge neer
London, on Sunday morning, January the sixth, 1688/9: the Gazetts and
Newsletters were severally mistaken as to the day of his death.--This
from Mr. Seth Ward, B.D.
<_His burial._>
[1201]Seth, episcopus Sarum, is buried at Sarum as neer as may be to
John Davenant, episcopus.
<_His papers._>
[1202]I searcht all Seth, episcopus Sarum's, papers that were at his
house at Knightsbridge where he dyed: of which I will give and bring
you an account when I come to Oxon about the latter end of this moneth.
I have taken care with his nephew and heir[1203] to looke over his
papers in his study at Sarum. He tells me the custome is, when the
bishop of Sarum dies, that 'the deane and chapter lock-up his studie
and put a seale on it.' It was not opened lately, but when it is he
will give me an account for you.
[1204]_Scripsit:_--
That there is a God--16mo: quaere nomen libri.
Vindiciae, 4to, Oxon.
... contra Thomam Hobbium, 8vo, Oxon.
Trigonometria, 4to, Oxon.
Astronomia geometrica, 4to, Oxon.
Severall sermons, wherof one was at the funerall of the duke of
Albemarle, who was his great friend, and whose eies he closed.
[1205]Seth Ward, lord bishop of Salisbury, studied the common lawe, and
I find this paper, which is his owne handwriting, amongst his scattered
papers which I rescued from being used by the cooke since his death,
which was destinated with other good papers and letters to be put under
pies.
[1206]He writ a reply to Bullialdus, which might be about the bigness
of his Astronomia Geometrica, which he lent to somebody (forgot), and
is lost. In the bishop's study are several letters between Bullialdus
and him, and between Hevelius and him.
<_His foundation at Buntingford._>
[1207]At Buntingford, Hertfordshire[CQ]:--
[1684.
This hospitall was erected and endowed by Seth Ward, D.D., lord bishop
of Salisbury and chancellor of the most noble order of the Garter, who
was born in this towne within the parish of Aspden and educated in the
free-schoole of Buntingford.]
The bishop's will not observed: the people there say so: cosen
Freeman[1208] said <so>.
<_Corrigendum._>
[1209]Seth Ward, episcopus Sarum:--Whereas I put downe in my
memorandums, from his owne mouth, viz. that he said, occasionally, that
'he was borne when the great comet appeared' (that, I am sure, was
in anno 1618); but his nephew, Seth Ward, treasurer of the church of
Sarum and his executor, told me that the last sommer he searched in the
register at Buntingford where he was born, and finds thus:--
'Seth Ward christned April 5, 1617.'
_Notes._