[FQ] (P. [331].) On fol. 34v of MS. Aubr. 9, Aubrey has the following account of Gorhambury:—
'Memorandum in my Liber B[1675]. I have sett downe an exact description of this delicious parquet[1676], now (1656) plowed up and spoil'd. The east part of it which extends towards Verulam-house (pulled downe, and the materialls sold by Sir H<arbottle> Grimston, about ten yeares since) consisted of severall parts, viz. some thickets of plumme-trees, with fine walkes between; some of rasberies. Here were planted most fruit-trees which would grow in our climate; and also severall choice forest-trees. The walkes both of boscages and fruit-trees; and in severall places where were the best prospects, were built elegant summerhouses[1677] of Roman architecture, then standing (1656) well[1678] wainscotted, but the paving gonne. One would have thought the most barbarous nation had made a conquest here. This place was, in his lordship's time, a sanctuary for phesants, partridges, and those of severall kinds and nations, as Spanish, &c. speckled, white, etc. I have, in this lib. B., four leves in fol. close written of the two houses, gardens, woods, &c. and of his lordship's manner of living and grandarie, which perhaps would doe well in a description of Hartfordshire, or, perhaps[1679], in his lordship's life.'
[FR] (P. [332].) In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 1v, is this note:—'Dr. <John> Pell says that for a man to begin to study mathematics at 40 yeares old, 'tis as if one should at that age learne to play on the lute—applicable to Mr. Thomas Hobbes. Vide vitam Jonae Moore.'
[FS] (P. [338].) In MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 26, thus:—
'Memorandum:—about the time of the King's returne[CXXX.], he was makeing of a very good poëme in Latin hexameters. It was the history of the encroachment of the clergie (both Roman and Reformed) on the civill power. I sawe at least 300 verses (they were mark't). At what time there was a report the bishops would have him burn't for a heretique. So he then feared the search of his papers and burned the greatest part of these verses.'
[CXXX.] Quaere in what yeares his bookes were writ.
[FT] (P. [339].) The first draft of this passage stood as follows, MS. Aubr. 9, foll. 40, 41:—'In April following was the dawning of the coming in of our gracious soveraigne, who being a great lover of curious painting I knew could not but sett for his picture to my ever honoured friend Mr. S. Cowper, who[1680] besides his art was an ingeniose person and of great humanity. In April I wrott a letter to Mr. Hobbes in Derbyshire, by all meanes desiring him to come-up and make use of the opportunity of renewing his majestie's graces to him at our friend's howse. He thanked me for'—etc.
[FU] (P. [341].) Aubrey, writing to Wood, on Feb. 3, 1672/3, enlarges on this treatise: Wood MS. F. 39, fol. 196v:—
'The old gent. (T. Hobbes) is strangely vigorous, for his understanding, still; and every morning walkes abroad to meditate.
'He haz writt a treatise concerning lawe, which 8 or 9 yeares since I much importuned him to doe, and, in order to it, gave him the Lord Chancellor Bacon's Maximes of the Lawe. Now every one will doe him the right to acknowledge he is rare for definitions, and the lawyers building on old-fashiond maximes (some right, some wrong) must need fall into severall paralogismes. Upon this consideration I was earnest with him to consider these things. To which he was unwilling, telling me he doubted he should not have dayes enough left to doe it.