Chapter 207

Tho' I am now past ninety, and too oldT' expect preferment in the court of Cupid,And many winters made mee ev'n so coldI am become almost all over stupid,

Yet I can love and have a mistresse too,As fair as can be and as wise as fair;And yet not, proud, nor anything will doeTo make me of her favour to despair.

To tell you who she is were very bold;But if i' th' character your selfe you findThinke not the man a fool thô he be oldWho loves in body fair a fairer mind.

[1534]Catalogue[1535]of his learned familiar friends and acquaintances, besides those already mentioned, that I remember him to have spoken of.

Mr. Benjamin Johnson, Poet-Laureat, was his loving and familiar friend and acquaintance.

Aiton, Scoto-Britannus, a good poet and critique and good scholar. He was neerly related to his lord's lady (Bruce). And he desired Ben: Johnson, and this gentleman, to give their judgement on his style of his translation of Thucydides.[1536]He lyes buryd in Westminster Abbey, and hath there an elegant monument and inscription[1537], which I will insert here or so much as may be pertinent.

Memorandum next after ... Ayton should in order be namedSydney Godolphin, esq., who left him, in his will, a legacy of an hundred poundes: and Mr. Hobbes hath left him an eternall[1538]monument in lib.... pag.... of his Leviathan.

Lucius Carey, lord Falklandwas his great friend and admirer, and so wasSir William Petty; both which I have here enrolled amongst those friends I have heard himspeake of, but Dr. Blackburne left 'em both out[1539](to my admiration). I askt him why he had donne so? He answered because they were both ignote to foreigners.

Mr. Henry Gellibrand, Astronomy professor at Gresham Colledge.

[1540]James Harrington, esq., who wrote against him in hisOceana.

Henry Stubbes[1541].

Mr. Charles Cavendish[1542], brother to the duke of Newcastle, a learned gentleman and great mathematician.

Mr. Laurence Rooke, Geometry and Astronomy professor.

Mr. ... Hallely, his intimate friend, an old gent.

[1543]When he was at Florence (16..; vide vitam) he contracted a friendship with the famousGalileo Galileo, ...[1544], whom he extremely venerated and magnified; and not only as he was a prodigious witt, but for his sweetnes of nature and manners. They[1545]pretty well resembled one another as to their countenances, as by their pictures doeth[1546]appeare; were both cheerfull and melancholique-sanguine; and had both a consimilitie of fate, to be hated and persecuted by the ecclesiastiques.

16..[1547],Petrus Gassendus[1548], S. Th. Doctor et Regius Professor Parisiis,—vide his titles—whom he never mentions but with great honour and respect[CXXIV.], 'doctissimus, humanissimus'; and they loved each other entirely.

[CXXIV.]I have heard Mr. Edmund Waller say that (William) the lord marquisse of Newcastle was a great patron to Dr. Gassendi, and M. Des Cartes, as well as Mr. Hobbes, and that he hath dined with them all three at the marquiss's table at Paris.—MS. Aubr. 9. fol. 50.

As also the like love and friendship was betwixt him and

Marinus ... Mersennus;

Monsr.Renatus Des Cartes[1549];

as also—

Niceron;

Samuel Sorbier, M. D.—vide his epistle and Gassendus's before hisDe Cive.

... Verdusius, to whom he dedicates his... Dialogi([1550]vide myDialogifor his Christian name—'tis dedicated to him).

[1551]T. H. would say thatGassenduswas the sweetest-natured man in the world.

Des Cartesand he were acquainted and mutually respected one another. He would say that had he kept himself to Geometry he had been the best geometer in the world but that his head did not lye for philosophy.

[1552]Mr. Hobbes was wont to say that had MieurDes Cartes (for whom he had a high respect) kept himselfe to geometrie, he had been the best geometer in the world; but he could not pardon him for his writing in defence of transubstantiation, which he knew was absolutely against his opinion[1553]and donne meerly to putt a compliment[1554] the Jesuites.

[1555]I have heard Mr. Oates say that the Jesuites doe much glorie that he had his education under[1556]them. 'Tis not unlikely that the Jesuites putt him upon that treatise.

Edmund Waller[1557], esq., poet.

[1558]Sir Kenelm Digby, amicus T. H.

[1559](1648 or 49[1560], at Paris.)Sir William Petty(of Ireland[1561]), Regiae Societatis Socius, a person[1562]of a stupendous invention[1563]and of as great prudence and humanity, had anhigh[1564]esteeme of him. His acquaintance began at Paris, 1648 or 1649, at which time Mr. Hobbes studied Vesalius' Anatomy, and Sir William with him. He then assisted Mr. Hobbes in draweing his schemes[1565]for his booke of optiques, for he had a very fine hand in those dayes for draweing[1566], which draughts Mr. Hobbes did[1567]much commend. His facultie[1568]in this kind conciliated them the sooner to the familiarity[1569]of our common friend.

Mr. S. Cowperaforesayd[1570], at whose house they often mett.—He drew his picture twice: the first the king haz, the other is yet in the custody of his widowe; but he gave it, indeed, to me (and I promised I would give it to the archives at Oxon,[1571]with a short inscription on the back side, as a monument of his friendship to me and ours to Mr. Hobbes—sed haec omnia inter nos)[1572]but I, like a foole, did not take possession of it, for something of the garment was not quite finished, and he dyed, I being then in the countrey—sed hoc non ad rem.

[1573] I have a very fine letter from Mr. Hobbes to me where he gives him thanks and for his booke of Duplicate Proportion I sent him, which letter I will insert (so much as concerns it). Sir William Petty would keepe the originallhonoris ergoand gave me a copie of it, which I have not leisure to looke out.

[1574](At Paris.)Mr. Abraham Cowley, the poet, who hath bestowed on him an immortal pindarique ode, which is in his poems.

(1651 or 52.)William Harvey, Dr. of Physique and Chirurgery, inventor of the circulation of the bloud, who left him in his will ten poundes, as his brother told me at his funerall. Obiit anno 1657, aetat. 80, sepult. at Hempsted in Essex, in their[1575]vault.

Mr. Edmund Wallerof Beconsfield was his great friend, and acquainted at Paris—I believe before.

When his Leviathan came out, he sent by his stationer's (Andrew Crooke) man a copie of it, well-bound, toMr. John Seldenin Aedibus Carmeliticis. Mr. Selden told the servant, he did not know Mr. Hobbes, but had heard much of his worth, and that he should be very glad to be acquainted with him. Wherupon Mr. Hobbes wayted on him. From which time there was a strict friendship between to his dyeing day. He left by his will to Mr. Hobbes a legacy of ten poundes.

Sir John Vaughan, Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas, was his great acquaintance, to whom he made visitts three times or more in a weeke—out of terme in the morning; in terme-time, in the afternoon.

Sir Charles Scarborough, M.D. (physitian to his royal highnesse the duke of Yorke), who hath a very good and like picture (drawne about 1655)[1576]of him, under which is this distich (they say of Mr. Hobbes's making[CXXV.]),

[CXXV.]This was made by Sir Charles Scarborough, M.D.

Si quaeris de me, Mores inquire, sed IlleQui quaerit de me, forsitan alter erit;

and much loved his conversation.

Sir Jonas Moore, mathematicus, surveyor of his majestie's ordinance, who had a great veneration for Mr. Hobbes, and was wont much to lament[CXXVI.]he fell to the study of the mathematiques so late.

[CXXVI.]Does this lamenting come in aptest here, or pag.[1577]7?—MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 52v.

Mr. Richard White, who writt Hemispherium Dissectum.[1578]I have heard Mr. Thomas Hobbes commend Richard White for a solid mathematician and preferred him much before his brotherThomas de Albiis[1579]for it.

Sir Charles Cavendish[1580].

Edward, lord Herbert of Cherberyand Castle Island.

Sir William Davenant, Poet Laureat after B. Johnson, and generall of the ordinance to the duke of Newcastle—at Paris[1581](e.g. epistle); perhaps before.

William Chillingworth, D.D.—he would commend this doctor for a very great witt; 'But by G——' said he, 'he is like some lusty fighters that will give a damnable back-blow now and then on their owne party.'

George Eglionby, D.D. and deane of Canterbury, was also his great acquaintance. He died at Oxford[1582], 1643, of the epidemique disease then rageing.

[1583]Jasper Mayne, Doctor of Divinity (chaplain to William, marquesse of Newcastle), an old acquaintance of his.

Mr. Francis Osburne, author of 'Advice[1584]to a son' and severall other treatises, was his great acquaintance.

John Pell, Dr. of Divinity, mathematicus, quondam professor ...[1585]at Breda, who quotes him in his ... contra Longomontanumde Quadratura circuli, for one of his jury (of 12).

Sir George Ent, M.D.—In a letter to Mr. J A from Mr. Thomas Hobbes:—

'Worthy Sir,

I have receaved from Mr. Crooke the booke of Sir George Ent of the Use of Respiration. It is a very learned and ingeniose booke full of true and deepe philosophy. I pray you to present unto him my most humble service. Though I recieved it but three dayes since, yet, drawen-on by the easinesse of the style and elegancy of the language, I have read it all over, and I give you mosthumble thankes for sending it to me. I pray you present my service to Mr. Hooke[1586].

I am,Sir, your most obliged and humble servant,Tho: Hobbes.Chatsworth,March 25,1679.'

Ralph Bathurst, S.T.D., now deane of Welles, who hath writt verses before his booke of Humane Nature[1587].

Mr. Henry Stubbes, physitian, whom he much esteemed for his great learning and parts, but at latter end Mr. Hobbs differ'd with him for that he wrote against the lord chancellor Bacon, and the Royall Societie. He wrote in Mr. Hobbes' defence—vide librum[1588].

Walter Charleton, M.D., physitian to his majestie, and one of the Colledge of Physitians in London, a high admirer of him.

Mr. Samuel Butler, the author of Hudibras.

In his ... Dialogi (vide librum) he haz a noble elogie ofSir Christopher Wren, then a young scholar in Oxon, which quote; but I thinke they were not acquainted.

Mr. Hookeloved him, but was never but once in his company.

[1590]To conclude, he had a high esteeme for the RoyallSocietie, having sayd (vide Behemoth pag. 242, part ...) that 'Naturall Philosophy was removed from the Universities to Gresham Colledge,' meaning the Royall Societie that meetes there; and the Royall Societie (generally) had the like for him: and he would long since have been ascribed a member there, but for the sake of one[CXXVII.]or two persons, whom he tooke to be his enemies. In their meeting at Gresham Colledge is his picture, drawen by the life, 166-(quaere date[1591]), by a good hand, which they much esteeme, and severall copies have been taken of it.

[CXXVII.]Dr. Wallis (surely their Mercuries[1592]are in opposition), and Mr. Boyle. I might add Sir Paul Neile, who disobliges everybody.—MS. Aubr. 9, fol. 53v.

[1593]Memorandum:—Dr.Isaac Barrowhath mentioned Mr. T. Hobbes in his mathematicall lectures, printed and unprinted.

[1594]Edmund Waller, esq., of Beconsfield:—'but what he was most to commended for was that he being a private person threw downe the strongholds (ὀχυρώματα) of the Church, and lett in light.'

Robert Stevens, serjeant at Lawe, was wont to say of him, and that truly, that 'no man had so much, so deeply, seriously, and profoundly[1595]considered humane nature as he.'

[1596]Mr. John Dreyden, Poet Laureat, is his great admirer, and oftentimes makes use of his doctrine in his playes—from Mr. Dreyden himselfe.

[1597]Memorandum he hath no countryman living hath knowne him so long (1633[1598]) as myselfe, or of his friends, &c. doth know so much When he had printed his translation of Thucydides <1676: edit. 2>, his life is writt by him selfe (at my request) in the third person, a copie wherof I have by me, [to[1599]publish after his death if it please God I survive him.]

[1600]Now as he had these ingeniose and learned friends, and many more (no question) that I know not or now escape my memory; so he had many enemies (though undeserved; for he would not provoke, but if provoked, he was sharp and bitter): and as a prophet is not esteemed in his owne countrey, so he was more esteemed by foreigners then by his countreymen.

His chiefe antagonists were

—[Dr.[1601]John]Bramhall, bishop of [Londonderry], afterwards [archbishop of Armagh and] primate of Ireland.

—Seth Ward, D.D., now bishop of Sarum, who wrote against him in hisVindiciae Academiarum[1602]ἀνονυμῶς, and in.... With whom though formerly he had some contest, for which he was sorry, yet Mr. Hobbes had a great veneration for his[1603]worth, learning and goodnes.

—John Wallis, D.D., a great mathematician, and that hath deserved exceedingly of the commonwealth of learning for the great paines etc...., was his great antagonist in the Mathematiques. 'Twas pitty, as is said before, that Mr. Hobbs began so late, els he would have layn so open.

'Theophilus Pike' ( [William[1604]]Lucy, bishop of St. David's) who wrote ['Observations, censures, and confutations of notorious errours' in his Leviathan, 1664; they are but weak ones.]

Mr.[Richard]Baxter, who wrote....

[Edward[1605]Hyde, earl of Clarendon, who wrot against the politicall part of his Leviathan: I have mentioned this in some letter, but you have forgot it.]

[1606]Samuelis Siremesii; Praxiologia apodictica, seu Philosophia moralis demonstrativa, pythanologiae Hobbianae opposita: Francofurti, 1677, 4to.

[1607](In 16mo)—Liberty and Necessity asserted by Thomas Hobbes and opposed byPhilip Tandy, register-accomptant, formerly minister and now established so again, Lond. 1656.

[1608]Meditationes Politicae iisdem continuandis et illustrandis addita Politica parallelaXXVdissertationibus Academicis antehac exposuit Johannes ChristopherusBecmanus, LL.D., editio 3ª, FrancofurtiMDCLXXIX, vide pag. 417 ubi magnopere laudat T. Hobbium—which transcribe.

[1609]In 8vo:—Meditationes Politicae iisdemque continuandis et illustrandis addita Politica ParallelaXXIVdissertationibus academicis antehac exposuitJohannes Christopherus Becmanus, D. et Hist. prof. publ. ord. in Acad. Francofurtanâ; additae sunt dissertationes de lege regia et de quarta monarchia: editio tertia: Francofurti ad Oderam, annoMDCLXXIX:—pag. 417, 418:—

'In Hobbesii libris eorum quae de cive et civitate agunt (nam reliqua nobis neutiquam curatio est)scopus generalisest e primis principiis naturae rationalis ac vitae socialis res politicas eruere (quo quidem nomine prae caeteris laudandus est cum nemo politicorum ante illum id ausus fuerit),specialisest dirigere principia sua ad monarchiam (qui si genium gentis spectes in qua vixit non minori laude dignus est, licebitque aliis eadem principia ad statum aristocraticum et democraticum applicare, modo sciat istos potius quam monarchiam reipublicae suae congruere).In aliis scriptis quae publicavit itidem eo nomine laudandus est quod e primis principiis moralibus, licet haud perinde vulgò notis, res suas eruere conetur: sed rursus etiam culpandus quod sacra adconceptus suos trahat cum hos ad sacra pertrahere indeque perficere debuisset. Profani tamen qui videntur apud eum occurrere loquendi modi non possunt plenumatheismuminferre, nunquam enim qui rebus moralibus mediocriter incumbit atheus esse potest, tanto minus Hobbesius qui ad prima usque principia moralium progredi conatur. Quod vero maxime sapere videtur, id velsecuritatemdixeris velneutralismumquendam, ut Deum quidem colat sed modum colendi a sacro codice derivandum esse non necessarium agnoscat; esseque hunc animum ejus ex eo patet quod superius diximus, ipsum sacra ad conceptus suos morales trahere cum e contrario moralia quae habemus aut invenire etiam possumus e sacris peti debeant quippe quae clarius semper rem exprimunt quam sine eis exprimi potest. Acciditque hic[1610]ipsi quod chymicorum multis aliisque rerum naturalium scrutatoribus qui, dum in causis secundis indagandis nimii sunt, eis ita alligantur ut ulterius eoque ad Deum usque pergere non opus esse judicent, unde similiter inneutralismumincidunt. Brevius—Hobbesius principia vitae socialis vere explicat sed male applicat; unde omnis illa in doctrina ejus perversitas quam tamen Christiano vitandam esse merito cum piis probisque omnibus pronunciamus. Concludimus cum judicio autoris Gallici inItiner. Angl.[CXXVIII.]pag. (edit. Germ.) 411, 412:—[CXXVIII.]This is in High-dutch, which I desire Mr. Th. Haack to render into English.

In aliis scriptis quae publicavit itidem eo nomine laudandus est quod e primis principiis moralibus, licet haud perinde vulgò notis, res suas eruere conetur: sed rursus etiam culpandus quod sacra adconceptus suos trahat cum hos ad sacra pertrahere indeque perficere debuisset. Profani tamen qui videntur apud eum occurrere loquendi modi non possunt plenumatheismuminferre, nunquam enim qui rebus moralibus mediocriter incumbit atheus esse potest, tanto minus Hobbesius qui ad prima usque principia moralium progredi conatur. Quod vero maxime sapere videtur, id velsecuritatemdixeris velneutralismumquendam, ut Deum quidem colat sed modum colendi a sacro codice derivandum esse non necessarium agnoscat; esseque hunc animum ejus ex eo patet quod superius diximus, ipsum sacra ad conceptus suos morales trahere cum e contrario moralia quae habemus aut invenire etiam possumus e sacris peti debeant quippe quae clarius semper rem exprimunt quam sine eis exprimi potest. Acciditque hic[1610]ipsi quod chymicorum multis aliisque rerum naturalium scrutatoribus qui, dum in causis secundis indagandis nimii sunt, eis ita alligantur ut ulterius eoque ad Deum usque pergere non opus esse judicent, unde similiter inneutralismumincidunt. Brevius—Hobbesius principia vitae socialis vere explicat sed male applicat; unde omnis illa in doctrina ejus perversitas quam tamen Christiano vitandam esse merito cum piis probisque omnibus pronunciamus. Concludimus cum judicio autoris Gallici inItiner. Angl.[CXXVIII.]pag. (edit. Germ.) 411, 412:—

[CXXVIII.]This is in High-dutch, which I desire Mr. Th. Haack to render into English.

[1611]Es[FX]werden sehr wenig gefunden welche die Sachen genauer durchsehen denn Er und die der Natürlichen Wissen-schafft eine so lange Erfahrung beygebracht hätten. Ja Er ist ein überbliebenes von dem Bacon, unter welchem Er in seiner Jugend geschrieben und an allem was ich von Ihm gehöret und was ich in seiner Art zu screiben mercke sehe ich wol, dasz Er viel davon behalten. Er hat durch das Studieren seine Weise die Dinge zu wenden und greiffet gerne in die Gleichnüssen. Aber Er hat natürlich viele von seiner schönen und guten Eigenschafft ja auch von seiner feinen Leibes Gestalt. Er hat der Priester-schafft seines Landes, den Mathematisten zu Oxfurt und ihren Anhängen eine Furcht eingejaget, darumb Ihre Majestät mir Ihn einem Bähren[1612]verlichen, wider welche Er die doggen, umb sie zu üben anreitzet; sonder Zweiffel hat Er die gekrönte Häupter in den Gründen seiner Welt Klugheit höchlich verbunden, und wenn Er die Lehren der Religionen nicht berühret, oder sich begnüget hätte de Presbyterianer und genannte Bischöffe seines Landes anzugreiffen, find ich nichts darin zu tadeln.'

[1613]Casparis Zeigleri de juribus majestatis tractatus Academicus; Wittenbergae, 1681. Vide pag. 112 § IVubi honoris gratiâ citat Hobbium de differentiis inter pactum et legem ex element. philosoph. de Cive, cap. 14.

[1614](In 12mo)—Epistolica dissertatio de principiis justi et decori continens Apologiam pro tractatu clarissimi Hobbaei de Cive ἀνονυμῶς Amstelodami apud Ludovicum Elzevirium,MDCLI.

James Harrington, esquire:Oceana, vide.

[1615]... Zeigler, a German jurisconsultus, quotes him with great respect, as also some other German civilians, of which enquire farther.

[1616]Samuelis Pufendorf: Elementa Jurisprudentiae Universalis[1617], 1672: in praefatione—

'Nec parum debere nos profitemur Thomae Hobbes, cujus hypothesis in librode Cive, etsi quid profani sapiat, pleraque tamen caetera satis arguta ac sana.Quos heic velut in universum allegasse voluimus, in ipso autem opere quoties eorundem expressa fuit sententia ipsos numerare supersedimus, quia, praeter taedia crebrae citationis, rationes eorum potius quam autoritatem secuti sumus. Nam quando ab iisdem atque aliis veritatis studium dissentire nos subegit, nomina eorundem ideo dissimulavimus ne magnorum virorum naevos vellicando gloriolam captare velle videremur. Et stultum semper judicavimus, cum ipse te hominem noris ab erroribus haudquidquam immunem, aspera in alios censura reliquos ad paria tibi reponenda irritare.'

'Nec parum debere nos profitemur Thomae Hobbes, cujus hypothesis in librode Cive, etsi quid profani sapiat, pleraque tamen caetera satis arguta ac sana.

Quos heic velut in universum allegasse voluimus, in ipso autem opere quoties eorundem expressa fuit sententia ipsos numerare supersedimus, quia, praeter taedia crebrae citationis, rationes eorum potius quam autoritatem secuti sumus. Nam quando ab iisdem atque aliis veritatis studium dissentire nos subegit, nomina eorundem ideo dissimulavimus ne magnorum virorum naevos vellicando gloriolam captare velle videremur. Et stultum semper judicavimus, cum ipse te hominem noris ab erroribus haudquidquam immunem, aspera in alios censura reliquos ad paria tibi reponenda irritare.'

[1618]Samuel Pufendorfius, professor in jure naturae apud regem Sueciae: in praefatione sui libri De Jure Naturae et Gentium, Amstelodam, 1688:

'Sic et Thomas Hobbius in operibus suis ad civilem scientiam spectantibus plurima habet quantivis pretii et nemo cui rerum ejusmodi est intellectus negaverit tam profunde ipsum societatis humanae et civilis compagem rimatum fuisse ut pauci priorum cum ipso heic comparari queant. Et qua a vero aberrat, occasionem tamen ad talia meditanda suggerit quae fortasse aliàs nemini in mentem venissent. Sed quod et hic in religione peculiaria sibi et horrida dogmata finxerit, hoc ipso apud multos non citra rationem suiaversationem excitavit. Quanquam et illud non raro contingere videas ut ab illis maximo cum supercilio condemnetur abs quibus minime lectus fuit aut intellectus.'

'Sic et Thomas Hobbius in operibus suis ad civilem scientiam spectantibus plurima habet quantivis pretii et nemo cui rerum ejusmodi est intellectus negaverit tam profunde ipsum societatis humanae et civilis compagem rimatum fuisse ut pauci priorum cum ipso heic comparari queant. Et qua a vero aberrat, occasionem tamen ad talia meditanda suggerit quae fortasse aliàs nemini in mentem venissent. Sed quod et hic in religione peculiaria sibi et horrida dogmata finxerit, hoc ipso apud multos non citra rationem suiaversationem excitavit. Quanquam et illud non raro contingere videas ut ab illis maximo cum supercilio condemnetur abs quibus minime lectus fuit aut intellectus.'

[1619]I would have, just before FINIS,

Pascitur in vivis Livor: post fata quiescit;Tunc suus ex merito quemque tuetur honos.

Pascitur in vivis Livor: post fata quiescit;Tunc suus ex merito quemque tuetur honos.

Ovid.Eleg.[1620]

[1621]Last of all insert the pindarique ode on Mr. Hobbes made by Mr. Abraham Cowley; and after that, in the next page, the verses made by Dr. Ralph Bathurst of Trinity College in Oxon, which are before Mr. Hobbes'sHumane Nature.

[1622]For my much honored friend Mr. Josias Pullen, Vice-principall of Magdalen Hall in Oxon.

Honour'd Sir,

I understand by a letter from Mr. Aubry that you desire to have the bookes I have published to put them into the library of Magdalen Hall. I have here sent them you, and very willingly, as being glad of the occasion, for I assure you that I owe so much honour and respect to that society that I would have sent them, and desired to have them accepted, long agoe, if I could have donne it as decently as now that you have assured me that your selfe and some others of your house have a good opinion of them so that though the house refuse them they are not lost. You know how much they have been decryed by Dr. Wallis and others of the greatest sway in the University, and therfore to offer them to any Colledge or Hall had been a greater signe of humility than I have yet attained to.

For your owne civility in approving them, I give you many thanks; and remain

Sir,Your most humble servant,Tho. Hobbes.1672[1623], London,Febr. 1st.

[1624]Noble Sir,

I am very glad to hear you are well and continue your favours towards me.

'Tis a long time since I have been able to write my selfe, and am now so weake that it is a paine to me to dictate.

But yet I cannot choose but thanke you for this letter of Jan. 25thwhich I receaved not till the last of ffebruary. I was assured a good while since that Dr. Wallis his learning is no where esteemed but in the Universities by such as have engaged themselves in the defence of his geometry and are now ashamed to recant it. And I wonder not if Dr. Wallis, or any other, that have studyed mathematicks onely to gaine preferment, when his ignorance is discovered, convert his study to jugling and to the gaining of a reputation of conjuring, decyphering, and such arts[1625]as are in the booke[1626]you sent me.

As for the matter it selfe, I meane the teaching of a man borne deafe and dumbe to speake, I thinke it impossible. But I doe not count him deafe and indocible that can heare a word spoken as loud as is possible at the very entrance to his eare, for of this I am assured that a man borne absolutely deafe must of necessity be made to heare before he can be made to speake, much lesse to understand. And he that could make him heare (being a great and common good) would well deserve both to be honouredand to be enriched. He that could make him speake a few words onely deserved nothing. But he that brags of this and cannot doe it, deserves to be whipt.

Sir, I am most heartilyYour most faithfull and most humble servant,Thomas Hobbes.Hardwick,March the 5th, 1677[1627].

[1628]To my most honored frend Mr. John Awbry, esqre, to be left for him at Mr. Crooke's, a bookseller, at the Green Dragon without Temple barre, London.

It appears by the post-stamps on the backs of these letters that the charge for a letter was 3d., with 3d.for each enclosure. Thus the letters of Aug. 18, 1679, March 5, 1679/80, Sept. 7, 1680, are all marked as costing 3d.postage (MS. Aubr. 9, foll. 15v, 10v, 21v); while this letter to Crooke, with its enclosure, cost 6d.(ibid., fol. 11v); and the letter of Jan. 16, 1679/80, with its two enclosures, cost 9d.(ibid.fol. 17v).>

[1629]Sir,

I have receaved Sir George Ent's booke and Mr. Aubrey's letter, to which I have written an answer, but I cannot tell how to send it to him without your helpe, and therefore I have sent it to you here inclosed, for I believe he comes now and then to your shop, and I pray you doe me the favour to deliver it to him.

I rest, your humble servantTho. Hobbes.Chatsworth,March the 25th1679.[1630]For Mr. William Crooke,Bookeseller,At the Green Dragon without Temple barrLondon.

[1631]Worthy Sir,

I have receaved from Will: Crooke the booke of Sir George Ent of the use of respiration. It is a very learned and ingenious booke, full of true and deepe philosophy, and I pray you to present unto him my most humble service. Though I receaved it but three days since, yet drawn on by the easinesse of the style and elegance of the language I have read it all over. And I give you most hearty thankes for sending of it to me, and to Mr. Ent[1632]who was pleased to bestow it upon me, and I am very glad to hear that Sir George him selfe is alive and in good health, though I believe he is very near as old as I am.

I knew not how to addresse my letter to you, but at all adventure I sent it inclosed in a letter to Mr. Crooke at whose shop I suppose you sometimes looke in as you passe the street.

I pray you present my service to Mr. Hooke and thanke him for the honour of his salutation.

I am, Sir, your most obliged and humble servant,

Thomas Hobbes.Chatsworth,March the 25th, 1679.[1633]To my most honoured frend,Mr. John Aubrey.

[1634]Honored Sir,

I thanke you for your letter of Aug. 2d, and I pray you present my humble thanks to Sir George Ent that he accepteth of my judgment upon his booke. I fear it is rather his good nature then my merit. I am sorry for the news you write of his son.

I have been told that my booke of the Civill Warr is come abroad, and am sorry for it, especially because I couldnot get his majestye to license it, not because it is ill printed or has a foolish title set to it, for I believe that any ingenious man may understand the wickednesse of that time, notwithstanding the errors of the presse.

The treatiseDe Legibus, at the end of it, is imperfect. I desire Mr. Horne to pardon me that I consent not to his motion, nor shall Mr. Crooke himselfe get my consent to print it.

I pray you present my humble service to Mr. Butler[1635].

The priviledge of stationers is (in my opinion) a very great hinderance to the advancement of all humane learning.

I am, Sir, your very humble servant,Tho. Hobbes.Chatsworth,Aug. the 18th, 1679.

[1636]To my much honoured frend Mr. John Aubrey, at Mr. Hooke's lodging in Gresham College, London.

v.James Wheldon to William Crooke, with enclosure to John Aubrey, and a copy of Hobbes' will.

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