The various papers of which the MS. is composed are bound up
confusedly, and the separate notes are in some cases entered on a page,
or a page and its opposite, in no order. Considerable re-arrangement
has therefore been necessary; but the exact MS. references have
been given throughout. Some few notes relating to Hobbes, found
in other Aubrey MSS., have here been brought into their natural
place.> [1205]The Life of Mr. Thomas Hobbes, of Malmesburie[1206]. The writers[1207]of the lives of the ancient philosophers
used to, in the first place, to speake of their lineage[1208]; and
they tell us that in processe of time severall great[1209]families
accounted it their glory to be branched[1210]from such or
such aSapiens. Why now should that method be omitted in thisHistoriolaof our Malmesbury philosopher? Who though
but[1211]of plebeian descent[1212], his renowne haz and will give
brightnesse to his name and familie, which hereafter may
arise glorious and flourish in riches and may justly take it
an honour to be of kin to this worthy person, so famous,
for his learning[1213], both at home and abroad. [1214]... Hobbes,m....|+---------+----------+| |1. Francis Hobbes, 2. Thomas Hobbes,m.... Middleton, of Brokenboroughobiit sine prole. vicar of Westport. | (vide Camden[1215]).|+----------------------------+-----+--------------------+| | |1. Edmund Hobbes,m.... 2. Thomas Hobbes, ..., a daughter,m....| philosophus, obiit| coelebs Dec. 4, 1679.|+--------------+--------------+------------------------+| | |1. Mary,m.... Tirell. 2. Eleanor,m.... Harding. Francism....| | Hobbes, ||+------------------------+-----------------------+--+---+------+| | | | |1. Thomas, a clothier, 2. This heraldique way of expressing a genealogie is most
intelligible and makes the best impresse in the memory orfancy; but[1216]will it not be thought here to My brother[1217]W. A. will set all this right[FF]. [1218]Thomas Hobbes[FG], then, whose life I write, was second
son of Mr. Thomas Hobbes, vicar of Westport juxta
Malmesbury, who maried ... Middleton of Brokinborough
(a yeomanly family).[1219]He was also vicar of Charlton
(a mile hence): they are annexed, and are both worth 60
or 80li.per annum.—[1220]Memorandum, Brokenborough
also is appendant to Charlton vicaridge—160li.per annum—from
Philip Laurence, whose father-in-law was vicar.
[[1221]The vicaridge of Malmesbury is butXXnobles per
annum = 6li.13s.4d.; but Coston and Radbourne belongs
to it, which addition is equal to 50 or 60li.per annum.] [1222]Thomas, the father[1223], was one of the ignorant
'Sir Johns[1224]' of queen Elizabeth's time; could[1225]only read
the prayers of the church and the homilies; and disesteemed[1226]learning (his son Edmund told me so), as not
knowing the sweetnes of it. [1227]As to his father's ignorance and clownery,
'twas as good metall in the oare which wants excoriating
and refineing. A witt requires much cultivation, much
paines, and art and good conversation to perfect a man. [1228]He[1229]had an elder brother[FH]whose name wasFrancis, a wealthy man, and had been alderman[XC.]of the
borough; by profession a glover[XCI.], which is a
great trade here[XCII.], and in times past much
greater. Having no[1230]child, he contributed
much to, or rather altogether maintained, his
nephew Thomas at Magdalen hall in Oxon; and
when he dyed gave him anagellum(a moweing-ground[1231])
called the Gasten-ground, lyeing neer
to the horse-faire, worth 16 or 18 poundes per
annum; the rest of his landes he gave to his
nephew Edmund. [XC.]'Alderman' is
the title of the
chiefe magistrate
here.
Alderman and...; vide;quaere Sir
J [XC.]'Alderman' is
the title of the
chiefe magistrate
here.
Alderman and...; vide;quaere Sir
J [XCI.]Shall I
expresse or
conceale this
(glover)? The
philosopher
would
acknowledge it.—MS. Aubr. 9,
fol. 29v. [XCI.]Shall I
expresse or
conceale this
(glover)? The
philosopher
would
acknowledge it.—MS. Aubr. 9,
fol. 29v. [XCII.]Malmesbury
famous for good
gloves. [XCII.]Malmesbury
famous for good
gloves. [1232]At Sherston about 3 miles hence (vide
map) are groundes likewise called the Gasten-grounds—perhaps
'tis Garston grounds. At Sherston was heretofore
a castle, and perhaps (and quaere) if these grounds
are not where thevallumor bulwarkes might be drawne.Gaer, Britannicè, signifies some such thing, vide Dr. Davys'
British Dictionary. In Hexham's Dutch dictionaryGastsignifies 'a guest';
so thatGasten-groundwill be 'the ground for the guests';
probably to putt the horses of the guests (that came to lye
at the abbey) to grasse. They speake broad in our
countrey, and do pronounce guest,gast, etc. Monasterys
had their guest-halls; and it should seeme they had likewise
their guest-grounds for the strangers' horses: as here. [1233]Thomas, the vicar of Westport, maried ... Middleton[FI]of Brokenborough[XCIII.](of a yeomanly family), by whom he
had two sonnes and one daughter (quaere my
brother William Aubrey)—Edmund, his eldest
(was bred-up to[1234]his uncle's profession of a
glover); and Thomas (philosopher), second son, whoselife I now write. Edmund was neer[1235]two yeares elder
then his brother Thomas, and something resembled him
in aspect[1236], not so tall, but fell much short of him in his
intellect, though he was a good plain understanding
countrey-man[1237]. He had been bred at schoole with
his brother; could have made theme, and verse, and
understood a little Greek to his dyeing day. He dyed
(quaere William Aubrey) about 13 yeares since, aetat.
circiter 80. [XCIII.]Brokenbrig:
vide Camden.—MS.
Aubr. 9, fol.
30v. [XCIII.]Brokenbrig:
vide Camden.—MS.
Aubr. 9, fol.
30v. This Edmund had only one son named Francis, and two
daughters maried to countreymen (renters) in the neighborhood.
This Francis pretty well resembled his uncle
Thomas, especially about the eie; and probably had he
had good education might have been ingeniose; but he
drowned his witt[1238]in ale[XCIV.]. He was left by his
father and uncle Thomas, 80li.(quaere W. A.)
or better per annum, but he was an ill husband. He
dyed about two yeares after his father, and left five
children.—His eldest son is Thomas, a clothier, now about
23, living at[XCV.]... (quaere W. A.[1239]). The second,
[XCIV.]This part
much given to
drunkennes. [XCIV.]This part
much given to
drunkennes. [XCV.]He did live at
Tedbury. [XCV.]He did live at
Tedbury. [XCVI.]Did live at
Chippenham. [XCVI.]Did live at
Chippenham. For this purpose in MS. Aubr. 9 he has drawn three plans[1243]:— (a) plan of environs of Malmsbury (a slip at fol. 31v). (b) plan of Malmsbury (fol. 31v). (c) a drawing of the house in which Hobbes was born (fol. 31v).
These are reproduced in facsimile at the end of this edition. He gives there (fol. 31v) these dimensions of the town:—'From
St. John's Bridge The references on the plan of Malmsbury (see the facsimile) are:— On fol. 31vof MS. Aubr. 9, Aubrey has these remarks about these
plans, etc.:— 'If these notes are not now inserted, probably they will be lost: or
should it not be a marginall commentary?' 'I have drawne this rude sketch meerly for your clearer understanding,
not that I think it worth while to grave it for 'tis at randome.
I intended if it had pleased God that I had prospered in the world to
have had taken an exact map[1244]of Malmesbury.' 'Whitechurch, about a mile ferè off:—quaere ubi stat?' 'Vide
Speed's mappe in Wiltshire.' 'Burnevall, quasi Bournevall.'> [1245]Westport[FJ]is the parish without the west-gate (which
is now demolished), which gate stood on the neck of land
that joines Malmesbury (vide verses[FK]) to Westport. Here[FL]was, before the late warres, a very pretty church, consisting
of 3 aisles, or rather a nave and two aisles (which
tooke up the whole area[1246]), dedicated to St. Mary; anda fair spire-steeple, with five tuneable bells, which, when the
towne was taken (about 1644; quaere William Aubrey)
by Sir W. Waller, were converted[1247]into ordinance, and the
church pulled-downe to the ground, that the enemie might
not shelter themselves against the garrison. The steeple
was higher then that now standing in the borough, which
much added to[1248]the prospect. The windowes were well
painted, and in them were inscriptions that declared much
antiquitie; now is here rebuilt a church like a stable. Thomas Hobbes, Malmesburiensis, Philosophus, was borne
at his father's house in Westport, being that extreme howse
that pointes into, or[1249]faces, the Horse-fayre; the farthest
howse on the left hand as you goe to Tedbury, leaving the
church on your right. To prevent mistakes, and that hereafter
may rise no doubt[1250]what house was famous for this
famous man's birth; I doe here testifie that in April, 1659,
his brother Edmond went with me into this house, and into
the chamber where he was borne. Now things begin to be
antiquated, and I have heard some guesse it might be at
the howse where his brother Edmund lived and dyed.
But this is so, as I here[1251]deliver it. This house was given
by Thomas, the vicar, to his daughter[XCVII.]... whose
daughter or granddaughter possessed[1252]it, when I was there.[1253]It is a firme house, stone-built
and tiled, of one roome (besides[1254]a buttery, or the like,
within) below, and two chambers above. 'Twas in the
innermost where he first drew breath. [XCVII.]Quaere
William Aubrey
if ... Potluck[1255]. [XCVII.]Quaere
William Aubrey
if ... Potluck[1255]. The day of his birth was April the fifth, Anno Domini
1588, on a Fryday morning, which that yeare was Good
Fryday. His mother fell in labour with him upon the
fright of the invasion of the Spaniards— [[1256]Fama[1257]ferebat enim, sparsitque per oppida nostraExtremum genti classe venire diem;Atque metum tantum concepit tunc mea materUt pareret geminos meque metumque simul.] [[1256]Fama[1257]ferebat enim, sparsitque per oppida nostraExtremum genti classe venire diem;Atque metum tantum concepit tunc mea materUt pareret geminos meque metumque simul.] —[1258]he told me himself between the houres of four and
six: but by rectification his nativity is found to be
at ...[XCVIII.]. [XCVIII.]See my
collection of
genitures[FM],
where I have it
more exact
from his owne
mouth, viz.
5 h. 2´ mane. [XCVIII.]See my
collection of
genitures[FM],
where I have it
more exact
from his owne
mouth, viz.
5 h. 2´ mane. His horoscope[FN]is Taurus, having in it asatellitiumof 5 of the 7 planets. It is a maxime
in astrologie—vide Ptol. Centil.—that a native
that hath asatellitiumin his ascendent becomes[1259]more eminent in his life then ordinary[1260], e.g. divers which
see in Origanus, etc., and Oliver Cromwell had so, etc. At four yeares old[FO]he went to schoole in Westport
church, till eight; by that time[1261]he could read well, and
number four figures. Afterwards he went to schoole to
Malmesbury, to Mr. Evans, the minister of the towne;
and afterwards to Mr. Robert Latimer, a young man of
about nineteen or twenty, newly come from the University,
who then kept a private schoole in Westport, where the
broad place (quaere nomen) is, next dore north from the
smyth's shop, opposite to the Three Cuppes[1262](as I take it).
He was a batchelour and delighted in his scholar, T. H.'s
company, and used to instruct him, and two or three
ingeniose youths more, in the evening till nine a clock.
Here T. H. so well profited in his learning, that at fourteen
yeares of age, he went away a good schoole-scholar to
Magdalen-hall, in Oxford. It is not to be forgotten, that
before he went to the University, he had turned EuripidisMedea[1263]out of Greeke into Latin Iambiques, which he
presented to his master. Mr. H. told me that he would faine
have had them, to have seen how he did grow in....
Twenty odde[1264]yeares agoe I searcht all old Mr. Latimer's
papers, but could not find them; the[1265]good huswives
had sacrificed them. I have heard his brother Edmund and Mr. Wayte (his
schoolefellowe) say that when he was a boy he was
playsome enough, but withall he had even then a contemplative
melancholinesse; he would gett him into a
corner, and learne his lesson by heart presently. His
haire was black, and his schoolfellows[1266]were wont to call
him 'Crowe.' This Mr. Latimer was a good Graecian, and the first
that came into our parts hereabout since the Reformation.
He was afterwards minister of Malmesbury, and from
thence preferred to a better living of 100li.per annum,
or +, at Leigh-de-la-mere within this hundred. At Oxford Mr. T. H. used, in the summer time especially,
to rise very early in the morning, and would tye the leaden-counters
(which they used in those dayes at Christmas,
at post and payre) with pacthreds[1267], which he did besmere
with[1268]birdlime, and bayte them with parings of cheese, and
the jack-dawes would spye them a vast distance up in the
aire[XCIX.]and as far as Osney-abbey, and strike at
the bayte, and so be harled in the string,
which the wayte of the counter would make
cling about ther wings. He did not much
care for logick, yet he learnd it, and thought himselfe a
good disputant. He tooke great delight there to goe to
the[1269]booke-binders' shops, and lye gaping on mappes, of
which he takes notice in his life written by himselfe in
verse: [XCIX.]This story he
happened to tell
me, discoursing
of the Optiques,
to instance such
sharpnes of sight
in so little an eie. [XCIX.]This story he
happened to tell
me, discoursing
of the Optiques,
to instance such
sharpnes of sight
in so little an eie. Ergo ad amoena magis me verto, librosque revolvo,Quos prius edoctus, non bene doctus eram.[1270]Pascebamque animum chartis imitantibus orbem,Telluris faciem, et sydera picta videns,Gaudebam soli comes ire, et cernere cunctisTerricolis justos qua facit arte dies; etc. Ergo ad amoena magis me verto, librosque revolvo,Quos prius edoctus, non bene doctus eram.[1270]Pascebamque animum chartis imitantibus orbem,Telluris faciem, et sydera picta videns,Gaudebam soli comes ire, et cernere cunctisTerricolis justos qua facit arte dies; etc. [1271]Quaere A [He[1272]came[1273]to Magdalen hall in the beginning of an.
1603, at what time, Dr. James Hussee, LL.D., was
principall. This James Hussee was afterwards knighted
by king James and was made Chancellour of Sarum.
This Dr. Hussee was a great encourager of towardly youths.
But he resigning his principallity about 1605, Mr. John
Wilkinson succeeded him: so that Mr. Hobs was under
the government of two principalls.[FP]—Thomas Hobs was
admitted to the reading of any book of logic ('ad[1274]lectionem cujuslibet libri logices'), that is, he was admitted
to the degree of Bachelaur of Arts, 5 Feb., 1607[1275], and
in the Lent that then began did determine[1276], that is, did
his exercise for the completion of that degree. VideHist. [1277]After he had taken his batchelor of Arts degree
(quaere A. Wood de hoc), the than principall of Magdalen-hall
(Sir James Hussey[1278]) recommended him to his yong
lord when he left Oxon, who had a conceit[1279]that he should
profitt more in his learning if he had a scholar of his owne
age to wayte on him then if he had the information of
a grave doctor. He was his lordship's page, and rodea hunting and hawking with him, and kept his privy-purse. By this way of life he had almost forgott his Latin;
vide Latin verses. He therefore[1280]bought him bookes of
an Amsterdam print that he might carry in his pocket
(particularly Caesar's Commentarys), which he did read
in the lobbey, or ante-chamber, whilest his lord was making
his visits. The Lord Chancellour Bacon loved to converse[C.]with him.
He assisted his lordship in translating severall of
his Essayes into Latin, one, I well remember,
is[1281]thatOf the Greatnes of Cities: the rest
I have forgott. His lordship was a very contemplative
person, and was wont to contemplate in his delicious
walkes at Gorambery[FQ], and dictate to Mr. Thomas
Bushell, or some other of his gentlemen, that attended him
with inke and paper ready to sett downe presently his
thoughts. His lordship would often say that he better
liked Mr. Hobbes's taking his thoughts[1282], then any of the
other, because he understood what he wrote, which the
others not understanding, my Lord[1283]would many times
have a hard taske to make sense of what they writt. [C.]This, I beleeve,
was after his
first lord's
death[1284]. [C.]This, I beleeve,
was after his
first lord's
death[1284]. It is to be remembred that about these times, Mr. T. H. was
much addicted to musique, and practised on the base-violl. 1634: this summer—I remember 'twas in venison
season[1285](July or August)—Mr. T. H. came into his native
country[1286]to visitt his friends, and amongst others he camethen to see his old school-master, Mr. Robert Latimer[CI.],
at Leigh-de-la-mer, where I was then at
schoole[CII.]in the church[1287], newly entred into my
grammar by him. Here was the first place and
time that ever I had the honour to see this
worthy, learned man, who was then pleased to
take notice of me, and the next day visited[1288]my
relations[1289]. He was then a proper man, briske,
and in very good habit[1290]. His hayre was then
quite black[1291]. He stayed at Malmsbury and
in the neighborhood a weeke or better. 'Twas
the last time that ever he was in Wiltshire. [CI.]Robert
Latimer obiit
November 2,
1634; sed hoc
nihil ad
rhombum.—MS.
Aubr. 9,
fol. 35v. [CI.]Robert
Latimer obiit
November 2,
1634; sed hoc
nihil ad
rhombum.—MS.
Aubr. 9,
fol. 35v. [CII.]I had then a
fine little horse
and commonly
rode—(but this is
impertinent)—i.e.
I was not a
vulgar boy and
carried not a
satchell at my
back.—Sed hoc
inter nos.—MS.
Aubr. 9,
fol. 31. [CII.]I had then a
fine little horse
and commonly
rode—(but this is
impertinent)—i.e.
I was not a
vulgar boy and
carried not a
satchell at my
back.—Sed hoc
inter nos.—MS.
Aubr. 9,
fol. 31. [1292]His conversation about those times was much about
Ben: Jonson, Mr. Ayton, etc. [1293]He was (vide his life) 40 yeares[1294]old before he looked
on geometry; which happened accidentally. Being in a
gentleman's library in ..., Euclid's Elements lay open,
and 'twas the 47 El.[1295]libri I. He read the proposition.
By[CIII.]G—,' sayd he, 'this is impossible!' So
he reads the demonstration of it, which referred
him back to such a proposition; which proposition
he read. That referred him back to another, which
he also read. Et sic deinceps, that at last he was demonstratively
convinced of that trueth. This made him in
love with geometry. [CIII.]He would now
and then sweare,
by way of
emphasis[1296]. [CIII.]He would now
and then sweare,
by way of
emphasis[1296]. I have heard Sir Jonas Moore (and others[FR]) say
that 'twas a great pity he had not began the study ofthe mathematics sooner, for such a working head[1297]would
have made great advancement in it. So had he donne[1298],
he would not have layn so open to his learned mathematicall
antagonists[1299]. But one may say of him, as one (quaere
who) sayes of Jos. Scaliger, that where he erres, he erres
so ingeniosely, that one had rather erre with him then
hitt the mark[1300]with Clavius. I have heard Mr. Hobbes
say[1301]that he was wont to draw lines[1302]on his thigh and
on the sheetes, abed, and[1303]also multiply and divide. He
would often complain that algebra[CIV.](though
of great use) was too much admired, and so
followed after, that it made men not contemplate
and consider so much the nature and power
of lines, which was a great hinderance to the
groweth of geometrie; for that though algebra did rarely
well and quickly, and easily in right lines, yet 'twould notbiteinsolid(I thinke) geometrie. Quod N.B. [CIV.]Vide de hoc in
hisDe corpore,
and also in his
5 Dialogue.
Quaere Dr.
Blackburne:—MS.
Aubr. 9,
fol. 36. [CIV.]Vide de hoc in
hisDe corpore,
and also in his
5 Dialogue.
Quaere Dr.
Blackburne:—MS.
Aubr. 9,
fol. 36. [1304]Memorandum—After he began to reflect on[1305]the
interest of the king of England as touching his affaires
between him and the parliament, for ten yeares together
his thoughts were much, or almost altogether, unhinged
from the mathematiques; but chiefly intent on hisDe Cive,
and after that on hisLeviathan: which was a great putt-back
to his mathematicall improvement[1306]—quod N.B.—for
in ten yeares' (or better) discontinuance of that study
(especially) one's mathematiques will become very rusty[1307]. [1308]VideMr. Hobbes considered, p.4: printed London
1662 (since reprinted, 1680, by William Crooke):— 1640: 'when the parliament sate that began in April
1640 and was dissolved in May following, and in whichmany pointes of the regall power, which were necessary for
the peace of the kingdome and safety of his majestye's
person, were disputed[1309]and denyed, Mr. Hobbes wrote
a little treatise in English, wherin he did sett-forth and
demonstrate, that the sayd power and rights were inseperably
annexed to the soveraignty, which soveraignty
they did not then deny to be in the king; but it seemes
understood not, or would not understand, that inseperability.
Of this treatise, though not printed, many gentlemen had
copies, which occasioned much talke of the author; and
had not his majestie dissolved the parliament, it had
brought him in danger of his life.' [1310]VideMr. Hobbes considered, if more may not be
inserted, scilicet as to the politiques. Sed cave—
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