1680.
[The original is amongst Aubrey's MSS. in the Ashmolian Museum: annexed
to it is the following note by Aubrey: "This account I received from Mr.
Isaac Walton (who wrote Dr. Donne's Life), &c. Decemb. 2, 1680, he being
then eighty-seven years of age. This is his own hand-writing, I.A." _See
Walton's Lives, With Notes and the Life of the Author by Thomas Zouch,
third edition. York, 1817._ Vol. II. pp. 353-356.]
_ffor y'r friends q'ue this._
I only knew Ben Jonson: But my Lord of Winton knew him very well; and
says, he was in the 6th, that is, the uppermost fforme in Westminster
scole, at which time his father dyed, and his mother married a brickelayer,
who made him (much against his will) help him in his trade; but in a short
time, his scolemaister, M'r. Camden, got him a better imployment, which
was to atend or acompany a son of Sir Walter Rauley's in his travills.
Within a short time after their return, they parted (I think not in cole
bloud) and with a love sutable to what they had in their travilles (not
to be commended). And then Ben began to set up for himself in the trade
by which he got his subsistance and fame, of which I need not give any
account. He got in time to have a 100£ a yeare from the king, also a
pension from the cittie, and the like from many of the nobilitie and some
of the gentry, w'ch was well pay'd, for love or fere of his railing in
verse, or prose, or boeth. My lord told me, he told him he was (in his
long retyrement and sickness, when he saw him, which was often) much
afflickted, that hee had profained the scripture in his playes, and
lamented it with horror: yet that, at that time of his long retyrement,
his pension (so much as came in) was giuen to a woman that gouern'd him
(with whome he liu'd and dyed near the Abie in Westminster); and that
nether he nor she tooke too much care for next weike: and wood be sure
not to want wine: of w'ch he usually tooke too much before he went to
bed, if not oftener and soner. My lord tells me, he knowes not, but
thinks he was born in Westminster. The question may be put to Mr. Wood
very easily upon what grounds he is positive as to his being born their;
he is a friendly man, and will resolve it. So much for braue Ben. You will
not think the rest so tedyous as I doe this.
ffor y'r 2 and 3 q'ue of Mr. Hill, and Bilingsley, I do neither know nor
can learn any thing worth teling you.
for y'r two remaining q'ue of Mr. Warner, and Mr. Harriott this:
Mr. Warner did long and constantly lodg nere the water-stares, or market,
in Woolstable. Woolstable is a place not far from Charing-Crosse, and
nerer to Northumberland-house. My lord of Winchester tells me, he knew
him, and that he sayde, he first found out the cerculation of the blood,
and discover'd it to Dr. Haruie (who said that 'twas he (himselfe) that
found it) for which he is so memorally famose. Warner had a pension of 40l.
a yeare from that Earle of Northumberland that lay so long a prisner in
the Towre, and som allowance from Sir Tho. Aylesbury, and with whom he
usually spent his sumer in Windsor Park, and was welcom, for he was
harmles and quet. His winter was spent at the Woolstable, where he dyed
in the time of the parlement of 1640, of which or whome, he was no louer.
Mr. Herriott, my lord tells me, he knew also: That he was a more gentile
man than Warner. That he had 120£ a yeare pension from the said Earle
(who was a louer of their studyes), and his lodgings in Syon-house, where
he thinks, or believes, he dyed.
This is all I know or can learne for your friend; which I wish may be
worth the time and trouble of reading it.
I.W.
Nou'r. 22, 80.
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