[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 rode a 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.
<Is servant to Francis Bacon.>
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] that Of 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].
It is to be remembred that about these times, Mr. T. H. was much addicted to musique, and practised on the base-violl.
<Visits his native county, Wiltshire.>
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 came then 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.
[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.