[334]Isaac Barrow, D.D.—from his father, (who was borne Aprill 22, 1600, ½ a yeare older then King Charles 1st), May 17, 1682.
His father, Thomas Barrow, was the second son of Isaac
Barrow of Spinney Abbey in the countie of Cambridge,
esq., who was a Justice of the Peace there above fourtie
yeares. The father of Thomas never designed him for
a tradesman, but he was so severe to him
He went to schoole, first to Mr. Brookes at Charterhouse two yeares. His father gave to Mr. Brookes 4li.per annum, wheras his pay was but 2li., to be carefull of him; but Mr. Brokes was negligent of him, which the captain of the school acquainted his father (his kinsman) and sayd that he would not have him stay there any longer than he[337]did, for that he337[337]instructed him.
Afterwards to one Mr. Holbitch, about fower years, atFelton[338]in Essex; from whence he was admitted of Peterhouse College in Cambridge first, and went to schoole a yeare after. Then he was admitted of Trinity College in Cambridge at 13 yeares old.
Quaere whose daughter his mother was.
His mother was Anne, daughter of William Buggin of North Cray in Kent, esq. She died when her sonne Isaac was about fower yeares old.
Anno Domini ... he travelled, and returned, anno Domini....
He wrote.... What MSS.?—quaere Dr. Tillotson, and quaere Mr. Brabazon Aylmer, bookseller, nere Exchange Alley.
His humour when a boy and after:—merry and cheerfull and beloved where ever he came. His grandfather kept him till he was 7 years old: his father was faine to force him away, for there he would have been good for nothing there.
A good poet, English and Latin. He spake 8 severall languages.
[339]His father dealt in his trade to Ireland where he had a great losse, neer 1000li.; upon which he wrote to Mr. Holbitch, a Puritan, to be pleased to take a little paines more than ordinary with him, because the times growing so bad, and such a losse then received, that he did not knowe how he might be able to provide for him, and so Mr. Holbitch tooke him away from the howse where he was boarded to his owne howse, and made him tutor to my lord viscount Fairfax, ward to the lord viscount Say and Seale, where he continued so long as my lord continued.
This viscount Fairfax[340]died a young man. This viscount Fairfax, being a schooleboy, maried a gentleman's daughterin the towne there, who had but a thousand pounds. So leaving the schoole, would needs have Mr. Isaac Barrow with him, and told him he would maintaine him. But the lord Say was so cruel to him that he would not allow anything that 'tis thought he dyed for want. The 1000li.could not serve him long.
During this time old Mr. Thomas Barrow was shutt-up at Oxford and could not heare of his sonne. But young Isaac's master, Holbitch, found him out in London and courted him to come to his schoole and that he would make him his heire. But he did not care to goe to schoole again.
When my lord Fairfax faild and that he sawe he grew heavy upon him, he went to see one of his schoolfellowes, one Mr. Walpole, a Norfolke gent., who asked him 'What he would doe?' He replyed he 'knew not what to doe; he could not goe to his father at Oxford.' Mr. Walpole then told him 'I am goeing to Cambridge to Trinity College and I will maintaine you there'; and so he did for halfe a yeare till the surrender of Oxford; and then his father enquired after him and found him at Cambridge. And the very next day after old Mr. Barrow came to Cambridge, Mr. Walpole was leaving the University and (hearing nothing of Isaac's father) resolved to take Isaac along with him to his howse. His father then asked him what profession he would be of, a merchant or etc.? He begd of his father to lett him continue in the University. His father then asked what would maintain him. He told him 20li.per annum: 'I warrant you,' sayd he, 'I will maintaine myselfe with it.' His father replyed 'I'le make a shift to allow you that.' So his father then went to his tutor and acquainted him of, etc. His tutor, Dr. Duport, told him that he would take nothing for his reading to him, for that he was likely to make a brave scholar, and he would helpe him to halfe a chamber for nothing. And the next newes his father heard of him was that he was chosen in to the howse.[341]Dr. Hill[342]was then master ofthe college. He mett Isaac[343]one day and layd his hand upon his head and sayd 'thou art a good boy; 'tis pitty that thou art a cavalier.'
He was a strong and a stowt man and feared not any man. He would fight with the butchers' boyes in St. Nicholas' shambles, and be hard enough for any of them.
He went to travell 3 or 4 yeares after the king was beheaded, upon the colledge account[344]. He was a candidate for the Greeke professor's place, and had the consent of the University but Oliver Cromwell putt in Dr. Widrington[345]; and then he travelled.
He was abroad 5 yeares[346], viz. in Italie, France, Germany, Constantinople.
As he went to Constantinople, two men of warre (Turkish shippes) attacqued the vessell wherin he was. In which engagement he shewed much valour in defending the vessell; which the men that were in that engagement often testifye, for he never told his father of it himselfe.
Upon his returne, he came in ship to Venice, which was stowed with cotton-wooll, and as soon as ever they came on shore the ship fell on fire, and was utterly consumed, and not a man lost, but not any goods saved—a wonderfull preservation.
His personall valour—At Constantinople, being in company with the English merchants, there was a Rhadamontade that would fight with any man and bragged of his valour, and dared any man there to try him. So no man accepting his challenge, said Isaac (not then a divine), 'Why, if none els will try you I will'; and fell upon him and chastised him handsomely that he vaunted no more amongst them.
After he had been 3 years beyond sea, his correspondent dyed, so that he had no more supply; yet he was so well beloved that he never wanted.
At Constantinople he wayted on the consul Sir Thomas Bendish, who made him stay with him and kept him there a yeare and a halfe, whether he would or no.
At Constantinople, Mr. Dawes (afterwards Sir Jonathan Dawes, who dyed sherif of London), a Turkey merchant, desired Mr. Barrow to stay but such a time and he would returne with him, but when that time came he could not goe, some businesse stayd him. Mr. Barrow could stay no longer; so Mr. Dawes would have had Mr. Barrow have C[347]pistolles. 'No,' said Mr. Barrow, 'I know not whether I shall be able to pay you.' ''Tis no matter,' said Mr. Dawes. To be short, forced him to take fifty pistolls, which at his returne he payd him again.
[348]Memorandum, his pill (an opiate, possibly Matthews his pil), which he was wont to take in Turkey, which was wont to doe him good, but he tooke it preposterously at Mr. Wilson's, the sadler's, neer Suffolke-house, where he was wont to lye and where he dyed, and 'twas the cause of his death—quaere + de hoc there.
As he lay expiring[349]in the agonie of death, the standers-by
could heare him say softly 'I have seen the glories of
the world'—
I have heard Mr. Wilson say that when he was at study, was so intent at it that when the bed was made, or so, he heeded it not nor perceived it, was sototus in hoc; and would sometimes be goeing out without his hatt on.
He was by no meanes a spruce man[350], but most negligent in his dresse. As he was walking one day in St. James's parke, looking ..., his hatt up, his cloake halfe on and halfe off, a gent. came behind him and clapt him on the shoulder and sayd 'Well, goe thy wayes for the veriest scholar that ever I[351]mett with.'
He was a strong man but pale as the candle he studyed by.
His stature was....
The first booke he printed was Euclid's Elements in Latin, printed at Cambridge, impensis Gulielmi Nealand, bibliopolae, Anno Domini MDCLV.
Euclidis data succincte demonstrata, printed at Cambridge ex officina Joannis Field, impensis Gulielmi Nealand, bibliopolae, anno Domini 1657.
Euclid's Elements in English.
Euclid's Elements in Latin—in the last impressions of this is an appendix about the sphaere itselfe, it's segments and their surfaces, most admirably derived and demonstrated by the doctrine of infinite arithmetique and indivisibles.
[352]Lectiones XVIII Cantabrigiae in scholis publicis habitae in quibus opticorum phaenomenωn genuinae rationes investigantur ac exponuntur. Annexae sunt lectiones aliquot geometricae. Londini, prostant venales apud Johannem Dunmore et Octavianum Pulleyn. MDCLXIX.
Archimedes.
Apollonius.
Theodosius.
Now printing, 22 initiating lectures about mathematics[353], to which will be subjoined some lectures that he read about Archimedes, proving that he was an algebraist, and giving his owne thoughts by what method Archimedes came to fall on his theoremes.
Bookes writ by the learned Dr. Isaac Barrow and printed for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pidgeons over against the Royall Exchange in Cornhill:—
12 Sermons preached upon severall occasions; in 8vo, being the first volume.
10 Sermons against evil speaking; in 8vo, being the second volume.
8 Sermons of the love of God and our neighbour; in 8vo, being the third volume.
The duty and reward of bounty to the poor, in a sermon, much enlarged, preached at the Spittall upon Wednesday in Easter weeke anno Domini 1671, in 8vo.
A sermon upon the Passion of our blessed Saviour preached at Guildhall chapell on Good Fryday the 13th day of April 1677, in 8vo.
A learned treatise of the Pope's supremacy, to which is added a discourse concerning the unity of the church; in 4to.
The sayd discourse concerning the Unity of the Church is also printed alone in 8vo.
An exposition of the Lord's Prayer, of the Ten Commandments, of the doctrine of the Sacraments; in 8vo.
All the sayd books of the learned Dr. Isaac Barrow (except the sermon of bounty to the poor) are since the author's death published by Dr. Tillotson, deane of Canterbury.
'The true and lively effigies of Dr. Isaac Barrow' in a large print, ingraven from the life by the excellent artist D. Loggan; price, without frame, 6d.
[354]Thomas Barrow, (father of Isaac, S.T.D.) was brother to Isaac Barrow late lord bishop of St. Asaph, and sonne of Isaac Barrow of Spiney Abbey, who was sonne of Philip Barrow[355], who hath in print a method of Physick, and he had a brother Isaac Barrow, a Dr. of Physick, who was a benefactor to Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, and was there tutor to Robert Cecill that was earle of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer.
[356]Isaac Barrow, D.D., ( Cambridge
Isaacus Barrow
S.T.P. Regi Carolo IIº a sacris
Vir prope divinus et vere magnus si quid magna habentPietas, probitas, fides, summa eruditio, par modestia,Mores sanctissimi undiquaque et suavissimi.Geometriae professor Londini Greshamensis,Graecae linguae et Matheseos apud Cantabrigienses suos,Cathedras omnes, ecclesiam, gentem ornavit.Collegium SS. Trinitatis praeses illustravit,Jactis bibliothecae vere regiae fundamentis auxit.Opes, honores, et universum vitae ambitum,Ad majora natus, non contempsit sed reliquit seculo.Deum quem a teneris coluit cum primis imitatus est,Paucissimis egendo, beneficiendo quam plurimis,Etiam posteris quibus vel mortuus concionari non desinit.Caetera et poene majora ex scriptis peti possunt.Abi lector et aemulare.Obiit IVto die Maii anno Domini MDCLXXVIIaetatis suae XLVII.Monumentum hoc Amici posuere.
Vir prope divinus et vere magnus si quid magna habentPietas, probitas, fides, summa eruditio, par modestia,Mores sanctissimi undiquaque et suavissimi.Geometriae professor Londini Greshamensis,Graecae linguae et Matheseos apud Cantabrigienses suos,Cathedras omnes, ecclesiam, gentem ornavit.Collegium SS. Trinitatis praeses illustravit,Jactis bibliothecae vere regiae fundamentis auxit.Opes, honores, et universum vitae ambitum,Ad majora natus, non contempsit sed reliquit seculo.Deum quem a teneris coluit cum primis imitatus est,Paucissimis egendo, beneficiendo quam plurimis,Etiam posteris quibus vel mortuus concionari non desinit.Caetera et poene majora ex scriptis peti possunt.Abi lector et aemulare.Obiit IVto die Maii anno Domini MDCLXXVIIaetatis suae XLVII.Monumentum hoc Amici posuere.
This epitaph was contrived by Dr. John Mapletoft and
perfected by Dr.
He was the ... son of ... Barrow,
Anno 1655 he printed at Cambridge Euclidis Elementorum libri XV breviter demonstrati.
Anno ..., he travelled; was at Constantinople; sawe part of Graece, Italie, France.
He was a good poet, of great modestie and humanity, careles of his dresse.