HE

SIR A. WELLDON

THE CHARACTER OF KING JAMES I.

E was of a middle stature, more corpulent through his clothes than in his body, yet fat enough, his clothes ever being made large and easy, the doublets quilted for stiletto proof, his breeches in great pleats and full stuffed: he was naturally of a timorous disposition, which was the reason of his quilted doublets; his eyes large, ever rolling after any stranger that came in his presence, insomuch, as many for shame have left the room, as being out of countenance; his beard was very thin: his tongue too large for his mouth, which ever made him speak full in the mouth, and made him drink very uncomely, as if eating his drink, which came out into the cup on each side of his mouth; his skin was as soft as taffeta sarsnet, which felt so, because he never washed his hands, only rubbed his fingers-ends slightly with the wet end of a napkin; his legs were very weak, having had (as was thought) some foul play in his youth, or rather before he was borr that he was not able to stand at seven years of age, that weakness made him ever leaning on other men's shoulders; his walk was ever circular, his fingers ever in that walk fiddling about. ; he was very temperate in his exercises and in his diet, and not intemperate in his drinking; however, in his old age, Buckingham's jovial suppers, when he had any turn to do with him, made him sometimes overtaken, which he would the very next day remember and repent with tears, it is true he drank very often, which was rather out of a custom than any delight, and his drinks were of that kind for strength as Frontignal, canary, high country Wine, tent wine, and Scottish ale, that, had he not had a very strong brain, might have daily been overtaken, although he seldom drank at any one time above four spoonfuls, many times not above one or two. He was very

constant in all things. . . . In his diet, apparel and journeys,

he was very constant; in his apparel so constant, as by his good will he would never change his clothes until worn out to very rags; his fashion never, insomuch, as one bringing to him a hat of a Spanish block, he cast it from him, swearing he neither loved them nor their fashions. Another time, bringing him roses on his shoes, he asked, If they would make him a ruff-footed dove? one yard of sixpenny ribbon served that turn; his diet and journeys were so constant, that the best observing courtier of our time was wont to say, were he asleep seven years, and then awakened, he would tell where the king every day had been, and every dish he had had at his table.

IZAAK WALTON

LIFE OF RICHARD HOOKER

THIS parsonage of Borne is from Canterbury three miles,

and near to the common road that leads from that city to Dover; in which parsonage Mr Hooker had not been twelve months, but his books, and the innocency and sanctity of his life became so remarkable, that many turn'd out of the road, and others (scholars especially) went purposely to see the man, whose life and learning were so much admired: and alas, as our Saviour said of St John Baptist, What went they out to see? a man clothed in purple and fine linen? No, indeed but an obscure, harmless man; a man in poor clothes, his loins usually girt in a coarse gown, or canonical coat; of a mean stature, and stooping, and yet more lowly in the thoughts of his soul; his body worn out, not with age, but study and holy mortifications; his face full of heat-pimples, begot by his unactivity and sedentary life. And to this true character of his person, let me add this of his disposition and behaviour: God and Nature blessed him with so blessed a bashfulness, that as in his younger days his pupils might

easily look him out of countenance; so, neither then, nor in his age, did he ever willingly look any man in the face: and was of so mild and humble a nature, that his poor parish clerk and he did never talk but with both their hats on, or both off, at the same time: and to this may be added, that though he was not purblind, yet he was weak or short-sighted; and where he fixt his eyes at the beginning of his sermon, there they continued till it was ended: and the reader has a liberty to believe, that his modesty and dim sight were some of the reasons why he trusted Mrs Churchman to choose his wife.

THOMAS DECKER

A WHIP JACKE

Then is there another sort of nimble fingered Knaves, and they are called Whip jacks: who talk of nothing but fights at sea, piracies, drownings and shipwrecks, travelling both in the shape and names of mariners, with a counterfeit licence to beg from town to town, which licence they call a Gybe, and the seals to it Jarkes. Their colour of wandring from shire to shire, (especially along the sea-coasts) is to hearken after their ship that was overthrown, or for the merchandize stolen out of her, but the end of their land-voyages is to rob booths at fairs, which they call Heaving of the Booth. These Whip jacks will talk of the Indies, and of all countries that lie under Heaven, but are indeed no more than fresh water soldiers.

MR

JOHN AUBREY

THOMAS HOBBES

R HOBBE'S person, etc. :-hazel, quick eye, which continued to his last. He was a tall man, higher than I am by about half a head. . . i.e. I could put my

hand between my head and his hat. When young he loved music and practised on the lute. In his old age he used to sing prick-song every night (when all were gone, and sure nobody could hear him) for his health, which he did believe would make him live two or three years longer.

Complexion. In his youth he was unhealthy; and of an ill complexion: (yellowish).

His lord, who was a waster, sent him up and down to borrow money, and to get gentlemen to be bound for him, being ashamed to speak himself: he took colds, being wet in his feet (then were no hackney coaches to stand in the streets) and trod both his shoes aside the same way. Notwithstanding he was well-beloved: they loved his company for his pleasant facetiousness and good-nature. From forty, or better, he grew healthier, and then he had a fresh, ruddy, complexion. He was sanguineo, melancholicus; which the physiologers say is the most ingeniose complexion. He would say that there might be good wits of all complexions; but good-natured, impossible.

Head. In his old age he was very bald (which claimed a veneration); yet within door, he used to study, and sit, bareheaded, and said he never took cold in his head, but that the greatest trouble was to keep off the flies from pitching on the baldness. His head was . . . inches in compass (I have the measure), and of a mallet form (approved by the physiologers).

Skin. His skin was soft and of that kind which my Lord Chancellor Bacon in his History of Life and Death calls a goose skin, i.e. of a wide texture.

Crassa cutis, crassum cerebrum, crassum ingenium.

Face. Not very great; ample forehead; whiskers yellowishreddish, which naturally turned up,-which is a sign of a brisk wit, e.g. James Howell, Henry Jacob of Merton College.

Beard. Below he was shaved close, except a little tip under his lip. Not but that nature could have afforded a venerable beard (Sapientem pascere barbam-Horat Satyr lib 2), but

being naturally of a cheerful and pleasant humour, he affected not at all austerity and gravity and to look severe. He desired not the reputation of his wisdom to be taken from the cut of his beard, but from his reason.

Eie. He had a good eye, and that of a hazel colour, which was full of life and spirit, even to the last. When he was earnest in discourse, there shone, (as it were) a bright live coal within it. He had two kind of looks: when he laughed, was witty, and in a merry humour, one could scarce see his eyes; by and by, when he was serious and positive, he opened his eyes round (i.e. his eye-lids). He had middling eyes, not very big, nor very little. (From Sir W. P.)

Stature. He was six foot high, and something better (quaere James Wh) and went indifferently erect, considering his great age very erect.

Sight-Wit. His sight and wit continued to the last. He had a curious sharp sight, as he had a sharp wit; which was also so sure and steady (and contrary to that men call broadwittedness) that I have heard him oftentimes say that in multiplying and dividing he never mistook a figure; and so in other things.

He thought much and with excellent method and steadiness which made him seldom make a false step.

His books. He had very few books. I never saw (nor Sir William Petty) above half a dozen about him in his chamber. Homer and Virgil were commonly on his table; sometimes Xenophon, or some probable history, and Greek Testament, or so. Reading. He had read much, if one considers his long life; but his contemplation was much more than his reading. He was wont to say that if he had read as much as other men, he should have known no more than other men.

His physique. He seldom used any physic (quare Sir W. P.). What 'twas I have forgot, but will enquire of Mr Shelbrooke his apothecary at the Black Spread Eagle in the Strand. Memorandum. Mr Hobbes was very sick and like to die at Bristol House in Queen Street about 1668. He was wont to say that he had rather have the advice, or take physic