[1065]Mr. Hariot went with Sir Walter Ralegh into Virginia, and haz writt the Description of Virginia, which is printed.
Dr. Pell tells me that he finds amongst his papers (which are now, 1684, in Dr. Busby's hands), an alphabet that he had contrived for the American language, like Devills[1066].
He wrote a Description of Virginia, which is since printed in Mr. Purchas's Pilgrims.
Vide Mr. Glanvill's Moderne Improvement of Usefull Knowledge, where he makes mention of Mr. Thomas Harriot, pag. 33.
When <Henry Percy, ninth> earle of Northumberland, and Sir Walter Ralegh were both prisoners in the Tower, they grew acquainted, and Sir Walter Raleigh recommended Mr. Hariot to him, and the earle setled an annuity of two hundred pounds a yeare on him for his life, which he enjoyed. But to[1067] Hues[LXXV.] (who wrote De Usu Globorum) and to Mr. Warner he gave an annuity but of sixty pounds per annum. These 3 were usually called the earle of Northumberland's three Magi. They had a table at the earle's chardge, and the earle himselfe had them to converse with, singly or together.
[LXXV.] Robert Hues was buried in Xt. Ch. Oxon.
He was a great acquaintance of Master ... Ailesbury, to whom Dr. Corbet sent a letter in verse, Dec. 9, 1618, when the great blazing starre appeared,—
'Now for the peace of God<s> and men advise,
(Thou that hast wherwithall to make us wise),
Thine owne rich studies and deepe Harriot's mine,
In which there is no drosse but all refine.'
<Vide> Dr. Corbet's poems.
The bishop of Sarum (Seth Ward) told me that one Mr. Haggar (a countryman of his), a gentleman and good mathematician, was well acquainted with Mr. Thomas Hariot, and was wont to say, that he did not like (or valued not) the old storie of the Creation of the World. He could not beleeve the old position; he would say ex nihilo nihil fit. But sayd Mr. Haggar, a nihilum killed him at last: for in the top of his nose came a little red speck (exceeding small), which grew bigger and bigger, and at last killed him. I suppose it was that which the chirurgians call a noli me tangere.