[431]Sir Henry Blount obiit 9th Oct. last[432] in the morning.
[433]Sir Henry Blount[AS], knight:—he was borne (I presume) at Tittinghanger in the countie of Hertford. It was heretofore the summer seate of the Lord Abbot of St. Alban's.
He was of Trinity College in Oxford[434], where was a great acquaintance[435] between him and Mr. Francis Potter. He stayed there about <four> yeares. From thence he went to Grayes Inne, where he stayd ... and then sold his chamber there to Mr. Thomas Bonham[AT] (the poet) and travelled—voyage into the Levant. May 7, 1634, he embarqued at Venice for Constantinople: vide his Voyage into the Levant, printed London 16—, in 4to. He returned....
He was pretty wild when young, especially addicted to common wenches. He was a 2d brother.
He was a gentleman pensioner to King Charles I, on whom he wayted (as it was his turne) to Yorke (when the King deserted the Parliament); was with him at Edge-hill fight; came with him to Oxford; and so returned to London; walkt[436] into Westminster hall with his sword by his side; the Parliamentarians all stared upon him as a Cavaleer, knowing that he had been with the King: was called before the House of Commons, where he remonstrated to them he did but his duty, and so they acquitted him.
In these dayes he dined most commonly at the Heycock's[437] ordinary, neer the Pallzgrave-head taverne, in the Strand, which was much frequented by Parliament-men and gallants. One time colonel Betridge being there (one[438] of the handsomest men about the towne) and bragged much how the woemen loved him; Sir H. Blount did lay a wager of ... with him that let them two goe together to a bordello; he only (without money) with his handsome person, and Sir Henry with a XXs. piece on his bald crowne, that the wenches should choose Sir Henry before Betridge; and Sir H. won the wager. E<dmund> W<yld>, esq., was one of the witnesses.
Memorandum:—there was about 164.. a pamphlet (writt by Henry Nevill, esq., ἀνονυμῶς) called The Parliament of Ladies, 3 or 4 sheets in 4to, wherin Sir Henry Blount was first to be called to the barre for spreading abroad that abominable and dangerous doctrine that it was far cheaper and safer to lye with common wenches[439] then with ladies of quality[440].
☞ His estate left him by his father was 500 li. per annum, which he sold to ... (quaere) for an annuitie of 1000 li. per annum in anno Domini 16..; and since his elder brother dyed.
Anno Domini 165<[*½]> he was made one of the comittee for regulating the lawes. He was severe against tythes, and for the abolishing them, and that every minister should have 100 li. per annum and no more.
Since he was ... year old he dranke nothing but water or coffee. 1647 or therabout, he maryed to Mris [Hester[d] Wase, [daughter of Christopher Wase[441]], who dyed 1679; by whom he haz two sonnes, ingeniose young gentlemen. Charles Blount (his second son) hath writt Anima Mundi, 8vo, 167<9> (burnt by order of the bishop of London) and of Sacrifices, 8vo.