Des Cartes and he were acquainted and mutually respected one another. He would say that had he kept himself to Geometry he had been the best geometer in the world but that his head did not lye for philosophy.
[1552]Mr. Hobbes was wont to say that had Mieur Des Cartes (for whom he had a high respect) kept himselfe to geometrie, he had been the best geometer in the world; but he could not pardon him for his writing in defence of transubstantiation, which he knew was absolutely against his opinion[1553] and donne meerly to putt a compliment[1554] <on> the Jesuites.
[1555]I have heard Mr. Oates say that the Jesuites doe much glorie that he <Des Cartes> had his education under[1556] them. 'Tis not unlikely that the Jesuites putt him upon that treatise.
Edmund Waller[1557], esq., poet.
[1558]Sir Kenelm Digby, amicus T. H.
[1559](1648 or 49[1560], at Paris.) Sir William Petty (of Ireland[1561]), Regiae Societatis Socius, a person[1562] of a stupendous invention[1563] and of as great prudence and humanity, had an high[1564] esteeme of him. His acquaintance began at Paris, 1648 or 1649, at which time Mr. Hobbes studied Vesalius' Anatomy, and Sir William with him. He then assisted Mr. Hobbes in draweing his schemes[1565]for his booke of optiques, for he had a very fine hand in those dayes for draweing[1566], which draughts Mr. Hobbes did[1567] much commend. His facultie[1568] in this kind conciliated them the sooner to the familiarity[1569] of our common friend.
Mr. S. Cowper aforesayd[1570], at whose house they often mett.—He drew his picture twice: the first the king haz, the other is yet in the custody of his widowe; but he gave it, indeed, to me (and I promised I would give it to the archives at Oxon,[1571] with a short inscription on the back side, as a monument of his friendship to me and ours to Mr. Hobbes—sed haec omnia inter nos)[1572]but I, like a foole, did not take possession of it, for something of the garment was not quite finished, and he dyed, I being then in the countrey—sed hoc non ad rem.
[1573]<Sir William Petty.> I have a very fine letter from Mr. Hobbes to me where he gives him thanks and for his booke of Duplicate Proportion I sent him, which letter I will insert (so much as concerns it). Sir William Petty would keepe the originall honoris ergo and gave me a copie of it, which I have not leisure to looke out.
[1574](At Paris.) Mr. Abraham Cowley, the poet, who hath bestowed on him an immortal pindarique ode, which is in his poems.
(1651 or 52.) William Harvey, Dr. of Physique and Chirurgery, inventor of the circulation of the bloud, who left him in his will ten poundes, as his brother told me at his funerall. Obiit anno 1657, aetat. 80, sepult. at Hempsted in Essex, in their[1575] vault.