[1196]Mr. Nicholas Hill:—This Nicholas Hill was one of the most learned men of his time: a great mathematician and philosopher and traveller, and a poet[1197]. His writings had the usuall fate of those not printed in the author's life-time. He was so eminent for knowledge, that he was the favourite of ...[LXXXVIII.]the great earle of Oxford, who had him to accompanie him in his travells (he was his steward), which were so splendid and sumptuous, that he kept at Florence a greater court then the Great Duke. This earle spent in that ... of travelling, the inheritance of ten or twelve thousand pounds per annum.
[LXXXVIII.]'Twas that earle of Oxford that lett the f— before queen Elizabeth: wherupon he travelled. Vide Stowe de hoc, in Elizabeth about the end.
[LXXXVIII.]'Twas that earle of Oxford that lett the f— before queen Elizabeth: wherupon he travelled. Vide Stowe de hoc, in Elizabeth about the end.
Old Serjeant Hoskins (the poet, grandfather to this Sir John Hoskins, baronet, my hondfriend) knew him (was[1198]well acquainted with him), by which meanes I have this tradicion which otherwise had been lost; as also his very name, but only for these verses[FE]in Ben Johnson's 2d volumine, viz.:—
I fancy that his picture, i.e. head, is at the end of the Long Gallery of Pictures at Wilton[LXXXIX.], which is the most philosophicall aspect that I have seen, very much of Mr. T. Hobbes of Malmesbury, but rathermore antique. 'Tis pitty that in noblemen's galleries, the names are not writt on, or behind, the pictures.
[LXXXIX.]Philip, earl of
Montgomery,
Lord Chamberleyn,
maried
[LXXXIX.]Philip, earl of
Montgomery,
Lord Chamberleyn,
maried
He writt 'Philosophia Epicureo-Democritiana, simpliciter proposita, non edocta': printed at Colen, in 8vo or 12mo: Sir John Hoskins hath it.
Thomas Henshawe, of Kensington, esq., R. Soc. Soc., hath a treatise of his in manuscript, which he will not print, viz. 'Of the Essence of God, &c. Light.' It is mighty paradoxicall:—That there is a God; What he is, in 10 or 12 articles:Of the Immortality of the Soule, which he does demonstrate παντουσία and ὀντουσία.
[Fabian Philips, the cursiter, remembers him[1199].]
He was, as appeares by A. Wood'sHistorie, of St. John's Colledge in Oxford, where he mentions him to be a great Lullianist.
In his travells with his lord, (I forget whither Italy or Germany, but I thinke the former) a poor man begged him to give hima penny. 'A penny!' said Mr. Hill, 'what dost say to ten pound?' 'Ah! ten pound!' (said the beggar) 'that would make a man happy.' N. Hill gave him immediately 10li.and putt it downe upon account,—'Item, to a beggar ten pounds, to make him happy.'
[1200]He printed 'Philosophia Epicurea Democritiana,' dedicated 'filiolo Laurentio.'—There was one Laurence Hill that did belong to the queen's court, that was hangd with[1201]Green and Berry about Sir Edmund-Berry Godfrey. According to age, it might be this man, but we cannot be certain.
[1202]Mr. Thomas Henshaw bought of Nicholas Hill'swidow, in Bow lane, some of his bookes; among which is a manuscriptde infinitate et aeternitate mundi. He finds by his writings that he was (or leaning) a Roman Catholique. Mr. Henshaw believes he dyed about 1610: he dyed an old man. He flourished in queen Elizabeth's time. I will search the register of Bowe.
[1203]I have searched the register of Bow, ubi non inventus Nicolas Hill.
[1204]Vide tom. 1 of Ben: Johnson's workes, pag. 48, epigramCXXXIV, title 'The famous voyage'....
Here sev'rall ghosts did flitt,About the shore, of ..., but late departed;White, black, blew, greene; and in more formes out-startedThan all thoseAtomiridiculousWherof old Democrite and Hill Nicholas,One sayd, the other swore, the world consists.
Here sev'rall ghosts did flitt,About the shore, of ..., but late departed;White, black, blew, greene; and in more formes out-startedThan all thoseAtomiridiculousWherof old Democrite and Hill Nicholas,One sayd, the other swore, the world consists.
Note.[FE]Aubrey was most anxious to have these verses inserted, three times directing
Anthony Wood to do so. MS. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 4:—'Past on Nicholas
Hill, in his proper place in part 1st'
[FE]Aubrey was most anxious to have these verses inserted, three times directing
Anthony Wood to do so. MS. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 4:—'Past on Nicholas
Hill, in his proper place in part 1st'
[FE]Aubrey was most anxious to have these verses inserted, three times directing
Anthony Wood to do so. MS. Aubr. 8, a slip at fol. 4:—'Past on Nicholas
Hill, in his proper place in part 1st'
A dock there is ... calledAvernus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . concern us."'
A dock there is ... calledAvernus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . concern us."'