[1456]In the countrey, for want of a tennis-court, he would walke up-hill and downe-hill in the parke, till he was in a great sweat, and then give the servant some money to rubbe him.
[1457]Prudence. He gave to his amanuensis, James Wheldon (the earle of Devon's baker; who writes a delicate hand), his pention at Leicester, yearly, to wayte on him, and take a care of him, which he did performe to him living and dying, with great respect and diligence: for which consideration he made him his executor.
Habit. In cold weather he commonly wore a black velvet coate, lined with furre; if not, some other coate so lined. But all the yeare he wore a kind of bootes[1458] of Spanish leather, laced or tyed along the sides with black ribons.
Singing. He had alwayes bookes of prick-song lyeing on his table:—e.g. of H. Lawes' etc. Songs—which at night, when he was abed, and the dores made fast, and was sure nobody heard him, he sang aloud (not that he had a very good voice) but[1459] for his health's sake: he did beleeve it did his lunges good, and conduced much to prolong his life.
[1460]Shaking palsey. He had the shaking palsey in his handes; which began in France before the yeare 1650, and haz growne upon him by degrees, ever since, so that he haz not been able to write very legibly since 1665 or 1666, as I find by some of his letters[1461] to me.
<His readiness to help with advice and money.>
[1462]His goodnes of nature and willingnes to instruct any one that was willing to be informed and modestly desired it, which I am a witnesse of as to my owne part and also to others.
[1463]Charity. His brotherly love to his kinred hath already been spoken of. He was very charitable (pro suo modulo) to those that were true objects of his bounty[1464]. One time, I remember, goeing in the Strand, a poor and infirme old man craved[1465] his almes. He, beholding him with eies of pitty and compassion, putt his hand in his pocket, and gave him 6d. Sayd[1466] a divine (scil. Dr. Jaspar Mayne) that stood by—'Would you have donne this, if it had not been Christ's command?'—'Yea,' sayd he.—'Why?' quoth the other.—'Because,' sayd he, 'I was in paine to consider[1467] the miserable condition of the old man; and now my almes, giving him some reliefe, doth also ease me.'